The old, The true, The brave

Speaking from my non-medical perspective, I think Alyn’s burn scars were quite serious because he was hit by dragonfire. The books say that his back and legs were burnt, and that the scarring from that never disappeared.

Alyn Velaryon would carry the scars of the encounter on his back and legs for the rest of his long life.

— Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons

His brother, Alyn, had less success with Sheepstealer, and for the rest of his days bore the marks of the dragon’s flames on his back and legs.

— The World of Ice & Fire, Aegon II

So it’s anywhere from deep second-degree burns to third degree burns.

This is how I imagine Alyn’s scars probably looked like:

Artwork by amoratearte

As for Alyn’s experience with his scars, since he was on rest for most of the war, he most likely developed contractures along his knees and ankles. Which means that once he started moving again, it would take some practice to get his limbs back into motion due to the tightness in the burn sight (they might not be as nimble as they were before). Depending on the type of burns, the severity of the pain can vary. If there’s any nerve damage, then Alyn wouldn’t feel pain in that area. However, once the nerves begin to regrow, that’s when it leads to the shooting pain that’s described as being stabbed by pins. Neuropathic pain is very common after burn injuries, which means any kind of physical contact with other people is bound to have some difficulties for Alyn. There’s obviously the PTSD that would result from the whole ordeal. From what I read online, burn injuries frequently cause sleep problems as well. There’s also the need to be mindful of what kind of clothing you wear because certain materials can cause the burn site to become inflamed or irritated (apart from just being uncomfortable to wear), especially while it’s in the healing stage. There is the possibility of Alyn developing body image issues as well.

Plainly speaking, house Velaryon and Rhaenyra do not get along that well. 90% of the family is in conflict with her, and that includes Corlys. As much as Corlys has accepted the situation with Rhaenyra’s sons, it’s still a conditional form of acceptance that’s partially based on the betrothals between the children. As those betrothals come to an end, one by one, Corlys distances himself more from Rhaenyra’s cause. There’s other stuff as well, such as Rhaenys’ death, that creates further tension. These details are important to consider because it creates an atmosphere of hostility and suspicion between the Queen and her Hand.

Enter Addam. His very existence in Rhaenyra’s court would be considered a problem. He has the distinct appearance of house Velaryon and has managed to claim a dragon for himself to assert his identity as a Velaryon. Regardless of what Addam’s true paternity may be, to the public eye, he is the son of Laenor. Specifically, Addam was fathered during the time that Laenor was married to Rhaenyra. In different circumstances, this may not be a big deal since Laenor/Rhaenyra have an open marriage; in present circumstances however, it matters. Especially because of what it means for Addam to be legitimized as the son of Laenor, granting him the right to whatever political power his newfound place in the family holds.

The Driftmark succession has been an ongoing issue for house Velaryon and Rhaenyra. Corlys is suspiciously silent on the matter of naming any of Rhaenyra’s sons as his heir. The text is so ambiguous on this that fans can have all sorts of interpretations about whether he really did or not. What is explicitly stated though is that Corlys named Addam his heir. At this point during the war, with Luke dead, Joffrey should be next in line (Jace is for the Iron Throne). Yet it’s Addam who ends up the heir, and in doing so, he bypasses a royal prince in the Velaryon line of succession. Rhaenyra, who had previously killed Vaemond for attempting to take the Driftmark inheritance from her son, Luke, quietly accepts another son of hers to be sidelined and for herself to be humiliated via the public claim that Laenor’s bastard will now inherit the Driftwood Throne. Although readers know there wasn’t any kind of romance between Laenor/Rhaenyra, those two did keep up the appearance of having children together. If a “trueborn” child of this marriage is getting sidelined for a bastard Laenor had with a commoner (by cheating on his royal wife), it’s a pretty embarrassing situation. Public perception matters, especially for a Queen. Rhaenyra knows she needs Corlys more than he needs her, which is why she grudgingly agreed. Fire & Blood also tells us that she agreed only after Jace spoke with her about the matter (implying reluctance on Rhaenyra’s part originally). The situation being what it is could lead to Rhaenyra having a negative view of Addam. She’s primed to see the worst in him as a result.

When the Two Betrayers switch sides, and Rhaenyra lashes out at the other Dragonseeds in anger, it could potentially be due to the resentment she feels about the unfortunate situation she was put into by the people around her. She has all her existing problems with Corlys, now add to that the matter of the Driftmark succession concerning Addam, and you have a powder keg waiting to explode. In fact, just before Rhaenyra moves forward with her accusation against Addam, Corlys brings up the detail about Addam as his heir once again. It’s interesting that GRRM chose to include this specific line in this specific instance.

Only Lord Corlys and Grand Maester Gerardys spoke in defense of the dragonseeds. The Grand Maester said that they had no proof of any disloyalty on the parts of Nettles and Ser Addam; the path of wisdom was to seek such proof before making any judgments. Lord Corlys went much further, declaring that Ser Addam and his brother, Alyn, were “true Velaryons,” worthy heirs to Driftmark.

Rhaenys and Meleys: The Battle at Rook's Rest, The Dance of the Dragons.

“... the sound of leathern wings was heard across the sea, and the dragon Meleys appeared above Rook’s Rest. The Red Queen, she was called, for the scarlet scales that covered her. The membranes of her wings were pink, her crest, horns, and claws bright as copper. And on her back, in steel and copper armor that flashed in the sun, rode Rhaenys Targaryen, the Queen Who Never Was.”   

I had the privilege of doing an art trade with the talented and lovely @nalustrepalustre who shares my love for House Targaryen and wanted to pay tribute to some of the main characters from The Dance. I chose Rhaenys and Meleys, because I hadn't drawn either of them before and they were both such badass queens. 

Check out Nastia's drawing of Aemond and Vhagar here.

A commission from last year. Commissioned by @cygnea

Modern Adam and Alyn Velaryon Book version.

Men may plot and plan and scheme, but they had best pray as well, for no plan made by man has ever withstood the whims of the gods above.

…. Tumbleton woke in the black of night to screams and shouts.

Addam Velaryon before his final battle

Queen Alyssa Velaryon

Wife to King Aenys I Targaryen

More

Titles

Lord of the Tides

Master of Driftmark

Lord admiral

Master of ships

Hand of the King

Allegiance

House Velaryon

Race

Valyrian

Culture

Crownlands

Born

11 BC — 1 AC

Died

77–89 AC (aged 88)

Father

Lord Aethan Velaryon

Mother

Lady Alarra Massey

Issue

Corwyn Velaryon

Jorgen Velaryon

Victor Velaryon

At least four daughters

Daemon Velaryon was the Lord of the Tides, Master of Driftmark, and the head of House Velaryon during the reigns of King Maegor I Targaryen and King Jaehaerys I Targaryen. He served as master of ships and lord admiral for both kings, as well as Hand of the King for his nephew, King Jaehaerys I.

Daemon was the son of Lord Aethan Velaryon of Driftmark, and was brother to Queen Alyssa Velaryon, wife of King Aenys I Targaryen. He had severe sons and daughters.

Character

Daemon Velaryon was a prideful man who enjoyed his family’s position as the “second house” of the realm, on account of the Velaryons’ close ties to House Targaryen.

Daemon served ably during his long tenure as master of ships and Hand of the King.

History

Early Life

Daemon was the eldest son and heir of Lord Aethan Velaryon and Lady Alarra Massey. He had several brothers, and a sister, Alyssa, who wed their cousin Prince Aenys Targaryen in 22 AC, and later became the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms.

After King Aenys’ death, his brother Maegor I Targaryen usurped the throne from Alyssa’s eldest son Aegon. Fleeing to Driftmark, Alyssa named her son the rightful king, but a visit from Dowager Queen Visenya Targaryen and her dragon Vhagar convinced Daemon’s family to return to court. In 42 AC, Daemon, Alyssa, and their brothers and cousins did homage to Maegor as the true king.

Master of Ships

Daemon served on Maegor’s small council as the lord admiral of the royal fleet. When Maegor, in need of an heir, sought to find a new wife, Daemon advised him to wed his niece, Princess Rhaena, suggesting that such a union would unite the Targaryen claims, prevent any fresh rebellions from forming around her, and acquire a hostage against Dowager Queen Alyssa, his sister. Maegor eventually took three brides, and followed Daemon’s counsel by taking Rhaena as one of his brides. When Daemon’s nephew, Prince Jaehaerys, began gathering forces at Storm’s End in 48 AC, Daemon and Lord Rogar Baratheon were some of the first great lords to turn against Maegor, and the rest of the realm soon followed their example. As the Velaryons were the realm’s traditional admirals, Daemon’s decision ensured that the King no longer had the royal fleet at his disposal. When Jaehaerys ascended to the Iron Throne, Daemon was confirmed as lord admiral and master of ships once again.

When considering a queen for the king, Daemon suggested that Jaehaerys wed Queen Elinor Costayne, one of Maegor’s widows. He argued that such a union would demonstrate that Maegor’s supporters had been forgiven, and Elinor’s proven fertility was another point in her favor. Daemon even suggested for the king to adopt her son by Ser Theo Boiling. In defiance of the small council, Jaehaerys ultimately wed his younger sister Alysanne, whom Lord Baratheon had decided to wed to his brother, Ser Orryn.

Both Grand Maester Benifer and Lord Rogar suspected that it had been Daemon who alerted his niece about the plot, in fear that the Baratheons were attempting to replace House Velaryon as the second house of the realm. Though Daemon served with the regents in King’s Landing, Jaehaerys and Alysanne flew their dragons to Driftmark to tour Daemon’s shipyards, accompanied by Daemon’s sons. Rogar requested for Daemon to use the Velaryon fleet to prevent lords from visiting Dragonstone to curry the king’s favor, but Daemon responded with a blunt “no”, which Baratheon took as a slight. Daemon and the other councilors objected to Lord Rogar’s plot to crown Princess Aerea in place of Jaehaerys, after which Alyssa ordered the resignation of Rogar, her own husband, as Hand of the King.

Hand of the King

Daemon was raised to the office of Hand of the King by his sister, Queen Regent Alyssa Velaryon, to replace Rogar Baratheon. Alyssa retired from public life and Daemon ruled the realm as best as he could together with the small council for the remainder of Jaehaerys’s regency, “saying little and doing less” according to Grand Maester Benifer. When Jaehaerys reached the age of majority in 50 AC, he confirmed Daemon in his office as Hand, while Manfryd Redwyne, Lord of the Arbor, was summoned to fill the post of master of ships. This marked the first time that the office of master of ships had not gone to a man of House Velaryon.

Daemon served ably as Hand of the King. After the death of the High Septon in 54 AC, Daemon advocated for a show of force, suggesting to use the royal fleet to prevent the elevation of Septon Mattheus to the office of High Septon, for Mattheus was a great opponent of the Targaryens. Later that year, when a mysterious ailment caused the death of all of Rhaena Targaryen’s companions on Dragonstone, Jaehaerys ordered Daemon to send forth his galleys to ensure no one spread the disease beyond the island. Daemon did as commanded, while grieving for his own young niece Lianna, who had been one of Rhaena’s companions.

Following the death of his sister Alyssa later that same year, Daemon resigned from the office as Hand of the King, claiming he wished to spend his remaining time with his family. Although most maesters and historians believe Daemon at his word, some say he had a rivalry with Lord Redwyne and wished to relinquish his post as a result of a bitter feud. Daemon was succeeded as Hand by Lord Myles Smallwood.

Later Life

In late 58 AC, Lord Daemon attended the tourney at King’s Landing commemorating the tenth anniversary of the king’s coronation. During the winter of 59 AC, when the Shivers spread to the crownlands, Daemon sickened on Driftmark and was at the point of death, but eventually recovered. His second son (possibly Jorgen) and three of his daughters perished. In 73 AC, Ser Lucamore Strong of the Kingsguard was disgraced for having broken his vows by marrying three women and fathering children with them. The knight’s second wife and her children were sent to Driftmark to be fostered with Daemon.

Not long after Addam of Hull had proved himself by flying Seasmoke, Lord Corlys went so far as to petition Queen Rhaenyra to remove the taint of bastardy from him and his brother. When Prince Jacaerys added his voice to the request, the queen complied. Addam of Hull, dragonseed and bastard, became Addam Velaryon, heir to Driftmark.