As House of the Dragon season 2’s episodes plunge further into the depths of war between the Greens and Blacks, plenty of new characters are being introduced to add more complications to the Targaryen, Velaryon, and Hightower families’ conflicts. Two of the most important new characters in House of the Dragon season 2 are Alyn (Abubakar Salim) and Addam of Hull (Clinton Liberty), whose roles will continue to grow in significance as the travesties of war take their toll. While HBO’s show will see some changes to Alyn and Addam’s depictions in George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood book, their developments and backstories are no less important.
Addam & Alyn Of Hull’s Backstory
What Fire & Blood reveals about the brothers
According to Fire & Blood, Addam and Alyn are bastard brothers who hail from the small town of Hull in Driftmark, the seat of House of the Dragon’s noble House Velaryon. Their mother is a trader from Hull named Marilda, also nicknamed “Mouse,” the daughter of a shipwright. Growing up, Addam and Alyn’s mother refused to name the identity of their father, though their silver hair gave way to plenty of speculation regarding their parentage. Still, it wasn’t until the time when Prince Jacaerys Velaryon called for Targaryen and Velaryon bastards to attempt to claim dragons in the Sowing of the Seeds that their parentage would be revealed.
The “Sowing” is when Prince Jacaerys Velaryon calls for primarily Targaryen and Velaryon bastards to attempt to claim riderless dragons for Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen’s side in the war. Those successful in claiming dragons include Addam, Nettles, Hugh Hammer, and Ulf White.
The backstories of Addam and Alyn are slightly different in House of the Dragon. Rather than working on their mother’s cog, the brothers have been working under Lord Corlys Velaryon on his ships and seemingly fighting alongside him in the battles in the Stepstones from House of the Dragon season 1. Additionally, given Alyn’s tense interaction with Corlys in the HBO show, it appears that a major change is being generated to the rumors about who truly fathered them.
In George R.R. Martin’s book, Marilda claims that Alyn and Addam of Hull were fathered by Ser Laenor Velaryon. However, given Laenor’s sexuality and the fact that his fathering of Rhaenyra’s sons was already widely doubted, this claim was taken with plenty of skepticism. Rather, though the “official” story was that Laenor Velaryon was their father (which was more difficult to disprove given his presumed death in the novel), it was widely speculated that Addam and Alyn were actually sired by Laenor’s father, Lord Corlys Velaryon.
Who Is Addam & Alyn’s Father?
House of the Dragon will confirm their true parentage
Though the season 2 premiere doesn’t explicitly state as much, it’s fairly clear that Corlys Velaryon is Addam and Alyn’s father in House of the Dragon. For one, the idea that Alyn and Addam could be Laenor’s sons is ridiculous, given they seem to be about the same age as him. Fire & Blood situated Addam and Alyn as being around the same age as Rhaenyra Targaryen’s children and Daemon’s daughters, so the rumors about Laenor being their father had a bit more credibility. But, in House of the Dragon, it wouldn’t be surprising if Alyn was actually older than Laenor.
As in the book, it seems likely that Addam and Alyn’s backstory will come to light as being the products of a long-standing affair Corlys had while fixing his ships and docking between his sea adventures. Additionally, as it was speculated by Fire & Blood sources, Corlys likely kept his connection to Alyn and Addam a secret to avoid having Rhaenys learn of his infidelities. Given Alyn makes a comment to Corlys about the tragedy of the demise of his “heir,” referring to the death of Prince Lucerys Velaryon, House of the Dragon is setting up Alyn and Addam’s future with House Velaryon’s succession before their parentage is even revealed.
What Happens To Addam Of Hull
Addam meets a tragic end in Fire & Blood
Addam of Hull arguably has the more exciting storyline coming up in House of the Dragon season 2. As teased in the show’s trailers, Addam will claim Laenor Velaryon’s dragon Seasmoke. While Addam doesn’t have a direct Targaryen parent, he’ll come forward to claim Seasmoke now that he’s without a rider, as House of the Dragon season 1 revealed Laenor fled to Essos while faking his death in Westeros. It’s unclear how House of the Dragon will explain Addam’s ability to claim Seasmoke given Laenor is still alive and bonded with him, but rest assured that Addam will become a huge asset for Rhaenyra’s side in the war.
After joining Rhaenyra’s forces as Seasmoke’s rider, Fire & Blood reveals that Lord Corlys petitions for Addam and Alyn to be made legitimate Velaryons. Rhaenyra accepts Corlys’ wishes, and Addam becomes Corlys Velaryon’s heir to Driftmark given Lucerys’ death, as Jacaerys is already the heir to the Iron Throne and Joffrey the heir to Dragonstone. However, it seems as if Alyn may be older than Addam in House of the Dragon, which means the former may be named Corlys’ heir instead.
It’s unclear how House of the Dragon will explain Addam’s ability to claim Seasmoke given Laenor is still alive and bonded with him, but rest assured that Addam will become a huge asset for Rhaenyra’s side in the war.
Addam continues to ride Seasmoke into many of House of the Dragon’s battles, including the Battle of the Gullet, the Fall of King’s Landing, and the Second Battle of Tumbleton. After two other “dragonseeds” (Targaryen or Velaryon bastards who claimed dragons for Rhaenyra’s Party) betray the Queen, Addam attempts to prove his loyalty by flying to the Second Battle of Tumbleton and defeating the Greens. Sadly, as is the case with many of the characters in the war, Addam Velaryon dies in battle during the Dance of the Dragons.
At Tumbleton, Addam and Seasmoke are tragically killed by the riderless Vermithor and Tessarion during a battle at night. While Addam didn’t survive the fight, his efforts led to a retreat by the Greens’ forces, giving Rhaenyra’s side an essential win towards the Dance of the Dragons’ ending. Following Addam’s death, his brother Alyn would honor him by celebrating his loyalty, which he died proving.
What Happens To Alyn Of Hull
Alyn becomes Corlys Velaryon’s successor
While Addam becomes a dragonrider in House of the Dragon, this isn’t the case for his brother, Alyn. In the book, Alyn attempts to claim the dragon Sheepstealer but is unsuccessful and scarred by his burns, though it’s unclear whether House of the Dragon will include this event for Alyn. Following Addam’s death, Alyn is made heir to Driftmark and helps command House Velaryon’s fleet with Corlys, ultimately transporting Aegon II Targaryen back to King’s Landing when terms are struck after the death of Rhaenyra Targaryen.
When both Rhaenyra and Aegon II Targaryen die, Alyn sieges Dragonstone and reclaims it from the deceased King’s men, restoring it to the control of the new King Aegon III Targaryen, Rhaenyra’s eldest surviving son. Fire & Blood reveals that Alyn becomes Lord of the Tides after Lord Corlys Velaryon dies of old age, with Alyn marrying Baela Targaryen soon after, so as to avoid her undesirable political marriage to another. After Baela and Alyn “Oakenfist” have a daughter, the ruler of Driftmark takes up his father’s navigational and battle skills and is sent to deal with uprisings, conquests, and various voyages for the crown.
While House of the Dragon’s timeline isn’t expected to reach this point in Alyn Velaryon’s life, George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood book reveals that Alyn falls in love with Priness Elaena Targaryen (the daughter of King Aegon II Targaryen) despite being married to Baela. Elaena and Alyn have two bastard children named Jon and Jeyne Waters, the former of whom has their family name changed to Longwaters, which is still around during Game of Thrones. Alyn’s future becomes a mystery about 40 years after House of the Dragon’s war, as he goes missing at sea and is never found.
New episodes of House of the Dragon season 2 release Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and Max.
