While Episode 7 of House of the Dragon was packed with the season’s culminating moments—from Daemon and Rhaenyra marrying to unite their power to Alicent and Rhaenyra finally butting heads and drawing battle lines—one scene is perhaps a little less clear and even a little confusing.
The funeral for Laena Velaryon is the occasion that unites the Targaryen and Velaryon households at Driftmark. The significant risk of death during childbirth makes her rush out into the sand and order her dragon, Vhagar, to burn her to death with dragon fire when she struggles to give birth while in Pentos with Daemon and her two children.
Even though Laena is allowed to pass away according to her wishes, this was nonetheless a terrible and horrible event. The family and extended relatives get together to bury Laena after Daemon returns to Westeros with her body and his daughters Baela and Rhaena.
There from Driftmark are Vaemond Velaryon, Rhaenys Targaryen, and Corlys. Arriving with their boys, Jacaerys “Jace” Velaryon and Lucaerys “Luke” Velaryon, are Rhaenyra and Laenor.
Arriving with Alicent, his retained Hand Otto Hightower, and his three children, Aegon, Aemond, and Helaena, is King Viserys I. Oh, and for some reason, Larys is present. It’s a large family affair, and tensions are really high, as they are in all family matters.
Why Is Daemon Laughing at the Funeral of Laena?
So why does he chuckle during Laena’s funeral in front of his family and the extended family? Interestingly enough, Daemon isn’t the issue at all. Vaemond, Corlys’ younger brother in the show, addresses the audience in High Valyrian, a language that most of the people present can comprehend, during his eulogy.
Using flowery language, he talks about putting Laena back in the sea and essentially expresses his desire that her afterlife would be peaceful. It becomes problematic when he brings up her daughters.
“Lady Laena leaves two true-born daughters on the shore,” Vaemond explains. They will all be joined together in blood, even though their mother will not return from her journey. The blood of Velaryons flows with salt.
We have a hefty one. Ours is accurate. Furthermore, ours must never thin. Daemon begins to giggle at this moment, which naturally causes everyone to glare at him.
Vaemond’s remarks are consistent with what Rhaenys tells her husband later in the episode and constitute an outright denunciation of Rhaenyra’s children. Rhaenys wants Driftmark to pass to Baela rather than a bastard, and they are well aware that Laenor’s boys are not truly her sons.
Vaemond publicly humiliates Rhaenyra while Rhaenys talks about this in private with Corlys, while talking about what legacy means. Viserys observes that he stares straight at Rhaenyra and her boys when he says, “Velaryon blood runs thick and true.”
It’s an odd decision to call out your niece’s brother and sister-in-law as you lay her to rest. As we saw in Episode 6, even though Laena knew the truth, she dismissed the idea of paternity difficulties when she and Daemon were debating the paternity of the new baby Joffrey.
It was obvious that Leana and Laenor were close, and she probably wouldn’t enjoy her uncle using this time to speak out while her brother is in mourning. Vaemond is using this opportunity to blame Rhaenyra for having children with Harwin Strong (Ryan Corr), which makes Daemon giggle.
What is Vaemond’s Reason for Doing This, According to the Book?
Vaemond has a right to discuss this in certain respects, but this was not the appropriate moment or location. A more subtle narrative element that will intensify now that Laenor is thought to be dead is the question of who will inherit Driftmark.
Aemond’s goal is unclear, although Rhaenys wants Driftmark to pass to Baela rather than through to Luke.
Vaemond’s goal with this eulogy is made evident in Fire & Blood, the book by author George R. R. Martin served as the inspiration for House of the Dragon. Naturally, it’s for his own benefit.
Vaemond intervenes to assert that he is Corlys’ legitimate heir after Corlys passes away (suddenly, which may cause some people to raise an eyebrow).
After accusing Rhaenyra’s sons of being illegitimate, he dismisses Baela and Rhaena’s claim to Driftmark on the grounds that they are girls and insists on taking his proper seat.
Given that Corlys spent so much time defending his wife and her near-accession to the Iron Throne, it is interesting to wonder why Vaemond would believe Rhaenys and Corlys would object to a daughter inheriting Driftmark.
Naturally, at this time, Daemon and Rhaenyra are wed, and Vaemond openly questions their children’s status. According to the chronicles, Rhaenyra ordered Daemon to seize Vaemond, and after she chopped off his head and fed his body to Syrax, Viserys severed the tongues of Vaemond’s five younger cousins for spreading the rumor.
There’s a good chance that we’ll witness a situation like this later on because we saw Viserys threaten this in this episode.
It appears that Vaemond’s goal is evident, even though readers of the book are now aware that what is depicted on the screen in House of the Dragon does not necessarily match what is described in the pages of Fire & Blood. Corlys deserves the Driftmark throne if he dies.
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