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House of the Dragon Season 2 has kicked off the Red Sowing, one of the crucial events that provided more leverage to the Blacks in their quest. With Vhagar being the dominant advantage to Aegon and the Greens, it was apparent that Rhaenyra would lose if there would be an all-out war, given she already lost Rhaenys and her dragon, and Daemon and his dragon was still in Harrenhall.
As seen in Episode 5 of Season 2, it was Lucerys who assured her mother that they still had an advantage by suggesting to put the Dragonseed, or in Ice & Fire’s parlance, the Targaryen bastards, on the non-rider dragons.
In Episode 6, the first individual revealed to be closely related to the Targaryen family line was Ser Steffon Darklyn (played by Anthony Flanagan), one of the royal knights who left the King’s Landing to serve Rhaenyra after Aegon II usurped the throne. Follow along with the article to learn more.
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Disclaimer: This article contains major spoilers for House of the Dragon series. Reader discretion is advised.
Ser Steffon Darklyn is Rhaenyra’s distant relative in House of the Dragon
In House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 6, Ser Steffon Darklyn was introduced as the first Dragonseed who Rhaenyra discovered after diving into the records. As Rhaenyra revealed, Steffon was born into a noble family and his grandmother’s grandmother was Aeriana Targaryen, making him a distant relative to her and the other Targaryens present.
Steffon was a prominent knight from House Darklyn, the noble house that ruled Duskendale and the surrounding territories within the crownlands for centuries. The Darklyns were among the First Men reputed as petty kings of Duskendale during the Age of Heroes, an era prior to the Andal invasion.
Even though their house was inferior to the might of the Andals, their influence and power reached as far as Crackclaw Point. The Darklyns had been serving the Targaryens since Aegon’s Conquest, when the conqueror’s brother, Orys Baratheon overpowered and made the petty kings of Duskendale as well as the Mootoons of the Maidenpool bend their knees.
Ser Robert Darklyn, aka Darkrobin, was the first from House Darklyn to become the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, who served Aegon I faithfully during his reign. Ser Davos Darklyn was another Kingsguard who served Aegon I and played a significant role during the Battle Beneath the God’s Eye.
Even the bastard daughter of Lord Darklyn, the head of the house, served as the sworn shield for Queen Alysanne Targaryen. Darklyns have been playing a prominent role by mainly serving the Targaryens since Aegon’s Conquest and Steffon also followed on the same path as his predecessors, serving King Viserys I Targaryen during his reign, and later Queen Rhaenyra.
Why did Seasmoke reject Ser Steffon Darklyn as his new rider in House of the Dragon?
The pale silver-grey dragon was initially bonded with Laenor Velaryon, but after his rider abandoned him, he was left unclaimed. As seen in House of the Dragon’s latest episode, Seasmoke was often seen snarling up in the sky and flying like he was utterly frustrated. After the During the Red Sowing event, Seasmoke was chosen to become Steffon’s dragon.
For starters, Seasmoke seemingly obliged Steffon’s command in High Valyrian, but the dragon eventually rejected the new claimant and burned him alongside a dragonkeeper. As described in The Song of Ice & Fire, dragons are majestic and intelligent creatures who can’t be compared to livestock.
Read more: Who plays Alyssa Targaryen in House of the Dragon?
A dragon has their own will and upon bonding with their rider, they form a connection that is more than symbiotic. Dragons only choose the Valyrian noble-borns as their riders, which is why the dragonlords frequently marry within their families to keep the bloodline pure. Claiming a dragon was never a simple task, as it also depended on the creature to accept their rider.
Given that Steffon wasn’t a pure-blooded Targaryen, Seasmoke rejected him, but later flew away and spotted Addam of Hull, who would eventually become his new rider.
Stay tuned for more news and updates on House of the Dragon Season 2 and all your favorite TV shows and movies as 2024 progresses.
