Time jumps and actor adjustments weren’t the one jarring components of Home of the Dragon, episode 6. Sunday’s episode of the Sport of Thrones prequel collection ended with a fiery bang for one character. It was sudden and never in a great way for some. Let’s focus on within the spoiler-filled part beneath.
Warning: Spoilers forward.
King Viserys was Laena’s first suitor.
HBO
What determination does Laena make?
Two massive decisions come up on the finish of episode 6.
Just like Aemma Targaryen, Laena Velaryon suffers a troublesome childbirth, unable to push the toddler out. The surgeon suggests to Laena’s husband Daemon Targaryen that he might “lay open the womb, attempt to take away the toddler by means of the blade.” However there are not any ensures the infant or the mom would survive.
Not like Aemma — who dies after King Viserys permits his surgeon to function on her — Laena realizes what is going on on early sufficient to take issues into her personal fingers. Earlier than Daemon can have a say, Laena escapes the birthing room and limps outdoors, imploring her dragon Vhagar to breathe hearth onto her. “Dracarys!” she instructions — the Excessive Valyrian (language of the previous Valyrian Freehold) phrase for “Dragonfire.” Vhagar hesitates, visibly confused by his rider’s surprising request. However finally he appears to grasp her ache and helps to finish it, incinerating her in a robust blaze.
Why does Laena kill herself?
Sadly, earlier than going into labor, Laena was already in a foul place in additional methods than one.
We first meet Laena when she’s 12 years previous, having been carted as much as King’s Touchdown as a younger bride supplied to King Viserys. Greater than three years after Viserys rejects her, Laena reunites with the King’s youthful brother Daemon. Daemon, childless, had simply murdered his spouse. He instantly takes a shine to Laena.
Ten years later, the 2 are married with two daughters. However, as Home of the Dragon by no means fails to remind us, sons are what everyone seems to be after. In a scene earlier than Laena’s dying, she and Daemon discuss in regards to the struggles of their marriage. Daemon is stressed, unable to sleep. In addition they focus on Rhaenyra, Daemon’s ex-lover, delivering one other son. Laena clearly laments she hasn’t produced one for Daemon.
“Maybe, I too, am not the spouse you’d’ve wished for your self … It doesn’t ache me. I’ve made my peace.”
This scene seems to be foreshadowing what’s to return. Even the scene through which Laena speaks to her youngest daughter Rhaena appears to supply a contact of needed exposition, making it clear Laena is certain to Vhagar, “the most important [dragon] on this planet.”
Laena, caught in a troubled marriage, failing to satisfy her function of manufacturing male heirs for kings and princes, kills herself with Vhagar’s assist. Whereas she was going to die in childbirth anyway, on the very least Laena has the company to decide on her ending, one which no prince or king decides for her.
