Why Alicent Won't Let Helaena Ride Dreamfyre in "House of the Dragon"
Remember Helaena Targaryen, the queen who’s kinda… different? She's Aegon's sister and has this huge, awesome dragon named Dreamfyre, but even though she’s got that "Targaryen" in her name (meaning dragon-riding royalty, basically!), she hasn’t been exactly racing to get on a battlefield. But it got even more intense when Aegon and Aemond started butting heads over who deserved to sit on the Iron Throne.
Aemond, like any self-respecting Targaryen brother, was determined to get their sister Helaena to fight alongside him! It would be amazing for him, not so much for her. Well, their mother, Alicent Hightower, who is probably the most patient person on Earth (or Westeros), stepped in to put a stop to it. In the Season 2 finale, Aemond and Helaena go for a bit of a chat, and Alicent goes full mom-shield, putting her foot down to prevent Helaena from doing some serious dragon-powered combat. Now everyone is wondering - is it the end of the Dragon-Ride?
The Difference Between Brothers and a Daughter
Think of Helaena’s family – they're kinda a mess. Her brother Aegon? Yeah, he was king for a hot minute until Rhaenyra went full on “my-family-is-the-true-queen!” Now everyone's stuck in this terrible, bloody feud. As for Aemond, he’s not exactly your most agreeable family member – especially not now that he's riding Vhagar! The only thing is – they are boys, right? That means their whole idea of "leadership" is usually fight, fight, and fight again, even with their own sisters. Helaena seems to understand that. The only issue? Aemond might not be in the mood for her subtle advice.
Now, look at Alicent's love for Helaena - she’s clearly not okay with letting her only daughter follow her brothers' footsteps. Imagine how terrifying it must be for her. It seems that with Helaena's dreams (you know, those super important prophetic ones that can predict events!) Alicent might be concerned she’s destined to end up hurt if she’s caught in the midst of all this battle madness. Alicent doesn’t exactly make a whole lot of waves (and you’d have to try real hard to create more drama than her family) but you can bet this choice isn't something she took lightly. This wasn’t some spur of the moment "I don't want to give up my dragon! " kinda situation! This is a mom protecting her daughter with real reasons that make a lot of sense.
Protecting the Family Jewels?
If we consider the whole Targaryen legacy and how Aegon treated Helaena (by, for example, allowing Jaehaerys to be murdered right under her nose!), it’s clear that Alicent feels some pretty major responsibility for keeping her safe. You can feel the protectiveness, because while Helaena may not be on a throne, Alicent clearly loves and protects her, even above her other children.
Aemond and Helaena were forced together in an act of kindness from Aegon II and it doesn’t sound like the pair have a super healthy sibling connection, but, Alicent wants to prevent this! Helaena’s more sensitive, insightful way of approaching the world isn't meant for violent battles, and you get the feeling Alicent wants to spare her the brutality that comes with her family legacy. That makes sense, doesn't it? You want to shield those you care about.
Dragons are Awesome (And Also Dangerous!)
Aemond could make a case for why his sister and her dragon would be good on a battlefield! I mean, Dreamfyre is an awesome dragon – powerful and scary – just like all those others in the Targaryen arsenal.
However, you know that Targaryen magic that pops up every few generations – Helaena isn’t just an ordinary dragonrider, her prophetic visions could end up as the strongest weapons they’ve got in this whole conflict. Helaena and Alicent are not doing battle like Aemond. Their plan seems more strategic and focused, allowing Helaena’s prophetic visions to get her involved with a lesser risk, even if she’s not in the thick of things with the dragons.
A Different Targaryen Queen
When we see Aemond get all riled up in the Season 2 finale, Alicent's concern for Helaena shows how her approach to the throne and war is not a violent approach, as her actions speak volumes! It's more about love, and, maybe, a deep understanding of who Helaena is – and perhaps even the bigger game they're playing! So keep those dragons in mind when you see "House Of The Dragon", but remember that those strong-willed mothers, queens, and advisors, can be powerful in ways we might not always understand. It's just another aspect of a really cool, exciting drama and some family tension you probably want to get caught up in!
Now, we know that “House Of The Dragon” is inspired by George R.R. Martin’s book series, and that often, it follows the storylines pretty close to the source material, so we'll see how this plays out for Helaena! In the meantime, one thing is pretty clear, Alicent won't give up without a fight, especially when it comes to protecting her beloved daughter!
