How did Laenor Velaryon die in the book House of the Dragon?

*WARNING: Spoilers ahead for House of the Dragon*

As a prequel series set 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones, we know that every character in House of the Dragon will die at some point.

Laenor Velaryon is a character that has been around since the opening episode and he has grown in importance as time goes on.

But what happens to Laenor Velaryon in House of the Dragon and how does he die in the books?

The story of Laenor Velaryon in the House of the Dragon so far

Laenor Velaryon is the son of Corlys Velaryon and first appeared in episode 1 as a child.

As the series progresses, Laenor becomes increasingly important, notably fighting alongside Daemon Targaryen in the war for the Stepstones where he rides his dragon, Seasmoke, into battle.

Recently, it was arranged that he and Rhaenyra Targaryen should marry to strengthen the bond between the two families.

However, Laenor is gay so he and Rhaenyra come to an understanding that allows them to be with whichever partner they choose. At the end of episode 5, his current girlfriend, Joffrey Lonmouth is brutally murdered by Criston Cole.

After a 10 year time jump in episode 6, it was revealed that Rhaenyra had given birth to three children during their marriage, but their origins were questioned and the subject of rumors as the children had curly brown hair – similar to Harwin Strong’s – rather than Laenor Velaryon’s white hair.

Episode 6 ends with Laenor and Rhaenyra leaving King’s Landing to sit on Dragonstone, with Rhaenyra allowing Laenor to bring her new lover, Ser Qarl Correy.

How did Laenor Velaryon die?

In the book, Laenor Velaryon is killed by Qarl Correy after they had an argument while visiting Spicetown.

Fire & Blood, the book on which House of the Dragon is based, was written mostly as a fictional history book with multiple sources providing their accounts of events.

In the case of Laenor’s death, the sources in the book differ as to the motivation behind her and Qarl’s fight.

One source, Septon Eustace, insists that Qarl killed Laenor out of jealousy, believing his lover Velaryon had been turned away by a new, younger favourite.

However, a somewhat unreliable source, Mushroom, a dwarf who acts foolishly in the Red Keep, suggests that Qarl kill Laenor on the orders of Daemon Targaryen so he can marry his niece, Rhaenyra.

Who is Ser Qarl Correy?

Qarl Correy is a knight who becomes Laenor Velaryon’s lover in the years following his marriage to Rhaenyra.

In episode 6, we see the couple returning from a boisterous drinking session together and arguing in the final moments of the episode.

After Qarl killed Laenor in the book, he was never seen again. Speculation by Mushroom suggests that Qarl escaped on a ship sent by Daemon Targaryen and that he was killed during the voyage and his body thrown overboard into the Narrow Sea.

House of the Dragon airs weekly on HBO in the US and on Sky in the UK after premiering on August 21 and 22, respectively.

Show all

In other news, Uzaki-chan Wants to Hang Out S2 release date, time and stream explained