House of the Dragon Season 2: What Are Dragon Seeds?
The second season of House of the Dragon currently broadcast exclusively on HBO, is bringing to the screen one of the main parts of the novel Fire and Blood by George RR Martin from which it is about the TV series. Known in the book as The Dance of the Dragons, the war for the rightful heir to the Throne waged in House of the Dragon between the Greens and the Blacks inevitably ends up involving most of those residing in the Seven Kingdoms. In this context, the so-called Dragon Seeds also come into play, illegitimate children of Valyrian blood who can not only side with one of the two Targaryen factions. But precisely because of their descent, they are also able to interact with dragons. In House of the Dragon Season 2, some Dragon Seeds related to George RR Martin’s novels have already been introduced, although, in the first two episodes of the TV series, their true identity has not yet been revealed. If you want to know more about it, all you have to do is continue reading this article which contains some spoiler previews taken from Martin’s novels.
House of the Dragon Season 2: What Does Dragon Seed Mean?
In the fantasy world created by George RR Martin, all illegitimate children born outside of official unions are considered bastards. In most cases, illegitimate children are difficult to recognize by their parents, especially because the Lords usually have several bastard children, often through occasional relationships with prostitutes. However, at any time an illegitimate child can be recognized by the father and included in the parent’s family unit. Bastards with high lineage are given the surname of the place where they were born, which often coincides with the home of their father. For example, those born in the cold North are assigned the surname Snow as was done in Game of Thrones with Jon Snow, initially thought to be a bastard of Eddard Stark. In the same way as what happens to Ramsay Snow before being officially recognized by his father Roose Bolton.
As for the illegitimate children of House Targaryen and House Velaryon, the bastards are defined as Dragon Seeds, although even in this case the surname assigned depends on their place of birth. The two houses descend from the ancient civilization of Valyria and are the last survivors of the homonymous disaster that in the past swept away what remained of that dynasty. For the Targaryens and the Velaryons, it is essential to unite in marriage between members of their respective houses or between blood relatives, to strengthen what they define as pure dragon blood. Even Dragon Seeds are half of the same blood type, despite being bastard children. For this reason, just like legitimate children, Dragon Seeds are also able to interact with dragons, both to tame them and to ride them. These skills are certainly indispensable during the Dance of the Dragons. Owning multiple winged specimens offers a considerable advantage over the opponent, but it is also useful for intimidating potential allies before they decide to become such. Also considering that in a war there are inevitably deaths, Dragon Seeds can take the place of the previous deceased knight and still use the relative dragon in battle, if it has survived its master.
Dragon Seeds in House of the Dragon?
The first season of House of the Dragon has already introduced Dragon Seeds into the story, though it doesn’t dwell on them much or identify them as such. Rhaenyra’s own three children, Jacaerys, Lucerys, and Joffrey, are bastards, having been conceived by Harwin Strong while Rhaenyra was married to Laenor Velaryon. However, since Laenor still acknowledged the children as hers, giving them her surname, and there being no actual evidence of Rhaenyra’s betrayal, the Dragonseed conversation is curbed. For his part, Aegon II also has bastard children whose number has not been quantified, having been accustomed from a young age to getting drunk and associating with various women. In the ninth episode of House of the Dragon when Aegon himself disappears from the Red Keep before being crowned as the new ruler, he once again finds himself in the capital completely drunk. While the guards Erryk and Arryk Cargyll are looking for Aegon on Otto Hightower’s orders, in a building where clandestine fights between children take place they notice one of Aegon’s illegitimate children.
The descendants of Valyria generally have an unmistakable very light hair color that distinguishes them unmistakably from members of other houses. For this reason, it is difficult to see among the people any very blond people unless they are in fact, unrecognized bastards. In other cases, despite the presence of half Valyrian blood, the part of “common” genes can predominate making it more difficult to identify the legitimacy of a child. Again taking Rhaenyra’s first three children as an example, although the Princess is a pure Targaryen, her children mainly inherited the genes of their father Harwin Strong, including the very dark hair type. Above all for this reason, a marital betrayal on the part of Rhaenyra is questioned, given that her husband Laenor in turn is a pure Valyrian and has light hair like the Princess. In this specific case, the fact that Laenor is black, while Rhaenyra’s children have white and very light skin, also matters.
The New Dragon Seeds in House of the Dragon Season 2?
In House of the Dragon Season 2, new characters have been introduced since the first episode of the season, who as the story continues will reveal themselves to be Dragon Seeds. Here’s who it is as told in George RR Martin’s novels.
Alyn and Addam From Hull?
In House of the Dragon Alyn and Addam are the children of Marilda of Hull, who claims that their father is Laenor Velaryon. According to other rumors, however, the real father of the two brothers is Corlys Velaryon, who theoretically would have betrayed his wife Rhaenys during the stopovers of his sea travels. Alyn appears in the first episode of House of the Dragon Season 2 as a sailor in Corlys’s fleet, while Addam appears in the second episode where he is revealed to be a shipwright. In George RR Martin’s novels when during the Dance of the Dragons the Blacks seek new Dragonriders, Addam claims Seasmoke which previously belonged to Laenor. Alyn instead tries to tame Sheep Thief, a wild specimen present in the dragons of House of the Dragon that no one has ever managed to tame, while others have lost their lives trying. Alyn is also attacked by the Sheep Thief and due to the injuries, he suffered, he gives up on becoming his knight.
Hugh
Hugh is a blacksmith who lives on Dragonstone with his wife Kat and their daughter. He makes an appearance in the first episode of House of the Dragon Season 2 where he petitions King Aegon II. Due to the naval blockade implemented by Corlys Velaryon, the Red Keep is currently not receiving the usual resources and the Greens are forced to tighten up on spending. Hugh and the other blacksmiths are working without any compensation and the situation is becoming difficult for them even in private life, as they have no money to live on. In George R.R. Martin’s novels, when the Blacks seek new dragon riders during the Dance of the Dragons, Hugh manages to reclaim the dragon Vermithor that once belonged to King Jaehaerys I Targaryen.
Ulf
Ulf called the White and the Drunkard, is a resident of King’s Landing known for being a heavy drinker and a storyteller. Ulf appears in the second episode of House of the Dragon Season 2 when, after seeing the hanging corpses of the Ratslayers, he asks a lady who the dead are. In George R.R. Martin’s novels, when the Blacks search for new Dragonriders during the Dance of the Dragons, Ulf manages to tame Silverwing. A female dragon that once belonged to Queen Alysanne, wife of King Jaehaerys I Targaryen.
