In House of the Dragon, arranged marriages are common in King’s Landing, but Rhaenyra and her first husband, Laenor Velaryon, have a surprisingly healthy and mutually beneficial relationship. Their arrangement is more about convenience than romance, which is a bit unusual for the setting.
Laenor Velaryon’s fate in House of the Dragon season 2, explained
Laenor Velaryon, portrayed by John Macmillan, is from two prestigious families: House Velaryon and House Targaryen. As the eldest son of Lord Corlys Velaryon and the late Princess Rhaenys, Laenor faced immense pressure to marry well and produce heirs to continue his family’s legacy. However, Laenor was not interested in women, and his marriage to Rhaenyra (played by Emma D’Arcy) was more about practicality than passion. They reached a compromise: Rhaenyra could have an affair with Ser Harwin Strong and bear his children, while Laenor was free to pursue relationships with other men. Despite the unconventional nature of their marriage, they developed a deep friendship and understanding, which lasted for several years.
But, as is often the case in the world of Westeros, good things don’t last forever. Rhaenyra’s desire to marry her uncle Daemon (Matt Smith) became a driving force, and the couple schemed to end their marriage. They staged Laenor’s death by hiring his lover Qarl (Arty Froushan) to fight him in a duel, with Daemon killing someone else and burning the body to make it look like Laenor had perished. Laenor and Qarl then escaped together, allowing Rhaenyra and Daemon to marry and solidify Rhaenyra’s claim to the Iron Throne.
However, Laenor’s fate is shrouded in mystery. In House of the Dragon season 2, Seasmoke, Laenor’s dragon, appears to be grieving and searching for a new rider, which hints that Laenor might have died after all. This theory aligns with the book Fire & Blood, where Laenor dies following a conflict with Qarl. Nevertheless, the show hasn’t confirmed Laenor’s ultimate fate, so it remains uncertain whether he truly met his end or simply left his dragon heartbroken.
