One of House of the Dragon season 2’s new characters is Alyn of Hull, whose parentage was finally revealed in a Fire and Blood book change. Alyn was first introduced in season 2, episode 1, played by Abubakar Salim in House of the Dragon‘s ensemble cast. Alyn appeared alongside his brother Addam, with both being taken from the storyline of Fire and Blood, the precursor to George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire book series on which House of the Dragon is based.

As of House of the Dragon season 2 episode 4’s ending, Alyn of Hull appears once more. The man was shown working on the Velaryon fleet, a role he has taken up after saving Corlys Velaryon’s life during the events of season 1. Before the climactic ending of the episode that saw the Dance of Dragons truly come to life with the Battle at Rook’s Rest, a big detail about Alyn was revealed. Not only was Alyn’s parentage confirmed, but it also resulted in another House of the Dragon book change that could mean big things for future episodes.

Alyn of Hull Is Corlys Velaryon’s Son

Corlys Fathered Several Illegitimate Children

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As was revealed in House of the Dragon season 2, episode 4, Corlys Velaryon’s connection to Alyn of Hull goes deeper than first thought. Initially, Corlys’ somewhat affection for Alyn was depicted to center around the latter saving the former’s life. That said, it seems that Corlys took more of an interest in Alyn as he is his child. Corlys Velaryon, like many high lords of Westeros, has sired illegitimate children on the island of Driftmark, with two of those coming from the town of Hull.

Alyn and Addam are brothers, both of whom are bastard children of Corlys. This was revealed in House of the Dragon season 2, episode 4 thanks to Rhaenys, Corlys’ wife. Rhaenys meets with Alyn and recognizes the similar traits between Alyn and Corlys, telling the latter that he should consider legitimizing the former. With Alyn and Addam both depicted as important new cast members of House of the Dragon season 2, this reveal only makes them more vital to the coming war as Rhaenyra and Aegon continue to grapple for the Iron Throne.

Who Is Alyn Of Hull’s Mother?

Alyn’s Mother Is Yet To Be Seen In House Of The Dragon

With the reveal that Alyn and Addam are sons of Corlys Velaryon, the burning question is who their mother is. Thus far, Corlys and Rhaenys have been one of the few genuine couples in House of the Dragons and Game of Thrones, yet this reveal may change that. Either Corlys sired Alyn and Addam before marrying Rhaenys or he was unfaithful to his wife after their wedding. Regardless, either scenario involves another woman, one who is yet to be seen in House of the Dragon, though is mentioned in Martin’s Fire and Blood.

Marilda was written to have eventually formed a small fleet of seven ships that her sons sailed on before becoming embroiled in the Dance of Dragons…

In Fire and Blood, Addam and Alyn’s mother is named Marilda of Hull. The woman is described as someone who often spends her time at the Driftmark docks, before having her two sons at the ages of 16 and 18. Marilda was also described as the daughter of a shipwright, who died around a decade after Alyn’s birth. Using the money from his shipyard, Marilda began captaining a trading vessel known as the Mouse. Marilda was written to have eventually formed a small fleet of seven ships that her sons sailed on before becoming embroiled in the Dance of Dragons.

How House Of The Dragon Changed Alyn’s Story From The Book

House Of The Dragon Is Once Again Taking Liberties With Fire & Blood’s Unreliable Narrators

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Although Alyn’s parentage is mentioned in Fire and Blood, House of the Dragon is utilizing the source material’s unreliable narrative to make some changes. Interestingly, Martin wrote Fire and Blood as an in-universe collection of multiple sources that chronicled the history of Game of Thrones‘ House Targaryen. Two sources used in the book are Archmaester Gyldayn and a court jester named Mushroom. The former writes that Marilda of Hull, Alyn’s mother, claimed her sons were sired by Laenor Velaryon.

Mushroom, however, claimed that Alyn and Addam’s father was Laenor’s father, Corlys. In House of the Dragon, the aspect of Addam and Alyn’s connection to Laenor has been completely removed. For one, this may have been too confusing for audiences now that Laenor is no longer a part of House of the Dragon and his season 1 story outlined his sexuality. Similarly, the reveal that Rhaenyra’s children were fathered by Harwin Strong and not Laenor already gave the latter character a parentage-based storyline. Another one involving Addam and Alyn would simply have been too much.

For these reasons, House of the Dragon has chosen to follow Mushroom’s source in Fire and Blood. The court jesters claim that Corlys fathered Alyn and Addam has been made canon to House of the Dragon, confirmed by season 2, episode 4. Not only does this give Corlys more of a connection to two big future House of the Dragon characters, but it matches the casting of Salim and Liberty much better, as they look more akin to Steve Toussaint’s Corlys than John MacMillan’s Laenor.