A habit that social networks have turned into a hobby is having fans theorize about the stories they like most, looking for tips, anticipating revelations, and creating a creative game that often surpasses what is delivered. It’s a game that George R. R. Martin fed into his books, delivering information loose enough that attentive minds can figure out what’s coming. Obviously, House of the Dragon is a paradise for theorists on duty.

In Fire and Blood, even more than in Songs of Fire and Ice, all the stories about the Targaryens leave between the lines to be deciphered, some that the first season of the series has already ‘confirmed’, others that ‘changed’ and even those that are ‘new’ ‘ (Mysaria being Otto Hightower’s informant is one of them).

Of all the theories, there is one that the series reinforced so much that every day I review it I wonder if the showrunners will have to adopt what the public determined as truth. And, in this case, many things have changed in history. Yes, we are talking about the connection between Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell) and Helaena (Phia Saban)

Supporting the Greens is practically impossible if it weren’t for the tragic story of Helaena, Rhaenyra’s (Emma D’Arcy) half-sister, whose shyness has always left her more isolated, preferring the company of insects (her obsession), hating being touched, but always sweet, affectionate even with her nephews who arouse the ire of her brothers Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney) and Aemond.

Another problem for Helaena was that both were due to family tradition. Because she was a strategic part of her grandfather, Otto Hightower (Rhys Iphans), and her mother, Alicent (Olivia Cooke), she was forced to marry her disgusting brother, Aegon. The two are parents of three children who will have one of the most tragic and bloody fates in the GOT universe and that means it is VERY BAD. So much so that the poor queen goes crazy and… well, she doesn’t have a happy ending.

His children are the target of revenge that takes on an even more tragic aspect with the alternative that House of the Dragon presented, in which Aemond killed Lucaerys almost accidentally. Rhaenyra’s response, via Daemon (Matt Smith), will be “an eye for an eye, a son for a son”. So fans ask: why kill Aegon’s son when Aemond killed Luke?

The most simplistic answer, and likely to be the intention, is that Aemond would have acted on the orders of Aegon, Otto, or Alicent, therefore for the Green Team. As the book makes clear, it was Aemond’s initiative and one that both Otto and Alicent criticized because it opened the door to retaliation and they were still seeking a diplomatic response. Aegon, however, loved it. Therefore, for their children to be the target of the Blacks’ wrath, it was “natural”.

However… the promise of revenge is clear: SON FOR SON. Rhaenyra did not attack Alicent’s son, but a grandson. And if the answer was to who killed Lucaerys, killing one of Helaena’s children suggests that the child’s father was not Aegon, but Aemond. It would balance the accusations of bastard children on both sides.

I confess that when I saw the series I became partial to this theory, much more exciting and effective in bringing pain to the Greens. There are several “hints” in season 1 that reinforce this version. Shall we remember?

1- Proximity

While Aegon attacks maids and escapes from the Red Keep, Aemond is always physically close to Helaena, entering her room unannounced, as in episode 8, making clear the intimacy between them.

2- The defense

Aemond always defends or acts kindly towards Helaena when they are together, something we haven’t seen him do with anyone else. When Aegon complains about having to marry Helaena and calls her strange, Aemond stands up to his brother in her defense.

3- Envy

Aemond is the typical middle brother: he feels more ready for the throne than the heir. And that includes confessing that he wishes Alicent had given Helaena to him instead of Aegon. And he would gladly do his duty. “It would strengthen the family. It would keep our Valerian Blood pure”, he says.

4- Jealousy

At Viserys’ last dinner with his family, Jacaerys asks Helaena to dance. Aegon remains indifferent, but Aemond seems to be irritated, watching every gesture carefully.

5- The tips

At the family dinner, Helaena makes it clear that her marriage to Aegon is a sham, with him only coming close to her “when he is drunk and ends quickly”. This makes Aemond’s constant presence in her rooms even more suspicious.

6- The succession order

In episode 9, Aemond claims to be next in line to the Iron Throne, but in this case, it would be Aegon’s son, Jaehaerys. Would it have been a mistake? Some fans think so, because if he is really Jaehaerys’ father, and not Aegon, then the statement would be correct.

7- Protection

When Rhaenys looks like she will attack all the Greens at the time of the coronation, Aemond steps in front of Helaena to protect her. No one else worried about the young queen.

8- The Target

As we have already said, what makes it clearer that Aemond would be the father of Helaena’s children is the accuracy of Mysaria’s information, who knows EVERYTHING that happens among the Targaryens. Cheese and Blood go after “a son for a son”, but, if Aegon were the father, the revenge would be “a nephew for a son”, even if officially it is not so obvious.

How will we know? In June, when the dreaded and anticipated episode airs. In the trailer, Aegon suffers from his son’s death and we don’t see Aemond’s reaction. Can we bet?

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