WARNING! This article contains SPOILERS for Fire & Blood and House of the Dragon season 1, episode 7!Despite Aegon’s protests, Alicent’s plan to marry him to Helaena will play a significant role in House of the Dragon’s civil war. As has often been discussed throughout House of the Dragon, marriage is simply a political arrangement in Westeros. Even Daemon and Rhaenyra’s marriage in House of the Dragon episode 7 is primarily a way to formalize their alliance and strengthen their power against the greens. Although Prince Aegon Targaryen dreads the idea of marrying his sister Helaena, who he deems to be odd, Alicent’s strategy will turn out to be important in House of the Dragon’s war.
As Aemond mentions in House of the Dragon episode 7, marrying Aegon to Helaena makes his claim to the Iron Throne stronger by enhancing their Valyrian bloodline. The Targaryen tradition of wedding siblings is also done to keep more members of their family in the highest positions of power, with Aegon and Helaena’s heirs also being full-blooded Targaryens. Considering Rhaenyra’s heirs are “allegedly” bastards of House Strong, Aegon’s claim would be further strengthened by his children with Helaena being legitimate Targaryens. Aegon can’t risk having children without silver hair like Rhaenyra, so taking Helaena Targaryen as a wife ensures his heirs will have Valyrian features. Alicent’s decision also erases the possibility of Helaena marrying Rhaenyra’s son, which is what Rhaenyra had just proposed in House of the Dragon episode 6. Marrying Helaena to Jacaerys would have been a strategic way to bring the factions of House Targaryen together and would perhaps be their best chance at avoiding war, but Alicent makes this impossible.
How Aegon Marrying Helaena Benefits The Green Party
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Blood is one of the most important factors in House of the Dragon’s story, with an emphasis on the power of Targaryen blood. As such, blood will play a major role in the fight for the Iron Throne, so the green party’s legitimacy is enhanced by Aegon marrying the possible dragon dreamer Helaena Targaryen and having full-blooded Targaryen children. Keeping their family closer creates a stronger front for the greens, indicating that the more Targaryens one has on their side, the more the rest of the realm will support their cause. Alicent is also under the assumption that she can only trust her own family members, so marrying Aegon to Helaena reduces potential strife with other houses ahead of the Dance of the Dragons.
However, Rhaenyra’s marriage to Daemon directly combats Aegon and Helaena’s strategic betrothal, as now both potential rulers have Targaryen spouses. When Daemon and Rhaenyra have children of their own, they kids will have even stronger Targaryen blood than Aegon and Helaena’s heirs. Aegon and Helaena are half-Hightower through Alicent, whereas Daemon and Rhaenyra’s parents all directly descend from King Jaehaerys I Targaryen.
Does Aegon Marry Helaena In House Of The Dragon?
Many of the betrothals between House of the Dragon’s young characters will be disrupted by the devastation of the Targaryen civil war, but this isn’t the case for Alicent’s eldest children. Aegon and Helaena Targaryen marry long before the Dance of the Dragons begins, and will likely have children by House of the Dragon episode 8's timeline. House of the Dragon episode 8 picks up after another significant time jump, which will see even more young Targaryens born into the family chaos. Helaena and Aegon are likely married shortly after House of the Dragon episode 7’s ending, as George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood book reveals they have 6-year-old twins Jaehaerys and Jaehaera when the Targaryen civil war starts.
Did Aemond Want To Marry Helaena? Why He Defends Her To Aegon
When Aegon complains about having nothing in common with Helaena, Prince Aemond Targaryen defends her by saying she’s their sister and the future queen. Aemond remarks that he would have married Helaena if only Alicent had arranged their betrothal instead, as the younger Targaryen understands that it would be his duty in the tradition of their house. Aemond is a much more serious and politically-minded character than Aegon, so he understands the weight of what it means to marry within House Targaryen, and would have done so without protest. The new dragon-rider Aemond Targaryen doesn’t necessarily love Helaena romantically or have a deep desire to marry her in House of the Dragon, but he knows he could have carried out the responsibility of such a betrothal better than Aegon.
Out of Alicent and Viserys’ children, it’s Aemond Targaryen who best understands his mother’s political strategies and the importance of what these moves mean for their grasp on the Iron Throne down the line. Rather than ostracize Helaena for being more quiet and mysterious, Aemond knows that it’s smarter to keep her united with them as one family unit. By being understanding of her eccentric interests and including her as an important figure in the greens’ larger plans, Helaena will be more devoted to their cause when House of the Dragon’s civil war arrives.
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