Daeron Targaryen: Fourth Child of Alicent Clarified
Though he has been absent all through, Daeron Targaryen, the fourth and youngest child of Alicent Hightower and Viserys Targaryen, is eventually addressed in *House Of The Dragon* season 2. Given that the show has only highlighted Alicent's three eldest, Aegon, Helaena, and Aemond, fans unfamiliar with George R.R. Martin's *Fire & Blood* may find surprise in learning about Alicent's fourth child. Daeron's absence—even in the previous timeframe when the younger Targaryen generation was still young—has spurred ideas that he will not be included into the show. Showrunner Ryan Condal verified, though, that Daeron remained a character in the series, and HBO included him on the Targaryen family tree. Still, it's interesting as Daeron's parents or siblings never acknowledge him, especially following Viserys's death in *House of the Dragon* season 1. Now on his way to Oldtown to supervise Daeron after Otto Hightower's departure as Hand of the King, he is preparing for his much awaited introduction on the prequel series.
Daeron Targaryen's Visit to Oldtown
Daeron Targaryen had been living in Oldtown, the seat of House Hightower, since at least before Rhaenyra's son Joffrey Velaryon was born. Only Aegon, Helaena, and Aemond were in King's Landing when *House Of The Dragon* season 1 leaped ten years from Rhaenyra's wedding to the birth of Joffrey. King Viserys I Targaryen dispatched his youngest to Oldtown to serve as a cupbearer and squire for Otto's brother, Lord Hobert Hobert Hightower, while his two eldest sons already occupied King's Landing. Showrunner Ryan Condal has revealed that Otto's nephew Lord Ormund Hightower is the Lord of Oldtown during the conflict, while Daeron starts squiring for Lord Hobert Hightower.
Ser Otto Hightower's direction of Daeron's upbringing in Oldtown guaranteed that Otto and Alicent would remain in control over House Hightower even without a seat there. Daeron's presence most certainly helped Oldtown's people to become ardent supporters of Otto's plans, which finally drove them to take control when Otto and Alicent took the Iron Throne to name Aegon king. Since Daeron is connected with the young dragon Tessarion, his presence in Oldtown also meant that the seat of House Hightower was under protection by a dragon.
Given the mounting hostilities between Alicent and Rhaenyra's offspring, Viserys might also have decided to send Daeron to Oldtown. *Fire & Blood* claims that Viserys tried to avoid conflict between Jacaerys and Daeron by having them share a wet nurse, as they were born about the same time. This effort failed, as *House of the Dragon* makes clear, and the animosity between the younger Targaryen Greens and Blacks deepened. Seeing how these early grudges have developed with Daeron's absence from Oldtown for several years will be fascinating.
Tessarion Explained: Daeron Targaryen's Dragon
When Daeron Targaryen is mentioned, *House of the Dragon* season 2 gently shows Team Green's more dragon strength in the Dance Of The Dragons. Helaena is not anticipated to ride Dreamfyre, as she cannot do in the book even Aegon and Aemond rode Sunfyre and Vhagar. Still, Team Green possesses Daeron's dragon Tessarion in Oldtown to support King Aegon's army in the Reach. Moreover, Daeron won't need instruction to command Tessarion since he is already a dragonrider before the Dance of the Dragons starts.
Called the "Blue Queen," Tessarion and Daeron bonded sometime before he headed for Oldtown. *Fire & Blood* says he had not really learnt to ride his dragon until he left King's Landing. According to the book, Daeron is the only known rider of this female dragon sporting copper scales and blue wings. Tessarion hatched an egg from which newborn Daeron was cradled; the dragon that laid it is not known. Among Team Green's battle dragons, Tessarion is the youngest and characterized as only one-third the size of Vermithor, who will shortly be claimed by the smith Hugh Hammer.
The Part Daeron Targaryen Played in the Dragon Dance
Throughout the Dance of the Dragons, Daeron becomes more vital component of Team Green's battle plan. Daeron and Tessarion will be in the Reach marching with the Oldtown army and the adjoining houses who joined Team Green when the fighting really start in *House of the Dragon*. The Battle of the Honeywine, a major forthcoming conflict in *House of the Dragon* will cause Daeron to be knighted and assigned the moniker "Daeron the Daring." Later on when Rhaenyra arrives at King's Landing, Daeron poses a serious challenge to her authority because of his military prowess and Tessarion control.
Following Daeron's burning of Bitterbridge as payback for the death of Prince Maelor Targaryen, the yet-unseen son of Helaena and Aegon rapidly acquires the might of Ulf White, Silverwing, Hugh Hammer, and Vermithor when they turn on Queen Rhaenyra at the First Battle of Tumbleton. After that, Aemond Targaryen dies in a combat with Daemon, therefore Daeron becomes King Aegon's heir. But Daeron Targaryen dies in a disputed manner during the Second Battle of Tumbleton, leaving Aegon without a male heir. Although Daeron will be very important in *House of the Dragon*'s later conflicts, he is not likely to be a regular feature in the program's immediate future.
