As we get deeper and deeper into the second season of The House of the Dragon, fans can seemingly do nothing but wait for the narrative to delve into the chaos that continues to be only on the precipice. However, there is little doubt that the war between the Greens and the Blacks will eventually break out in violent, brutal, and heart-wrenching fashion, and well, we can hardly wait.
What is to come in the form of George R.R. Martin’s narrative via the Dance of Dragons is a brutal war between kin, which will leave more victims than survivors. It will also have more than its fair share of betrayals, secret allies, and well, pure, dragon-invoked wrath.
Regardless, we are here to see how one character, who has until now been somewhat loyal to the Blacks if only due to him being in love with stark Rhaenyra Targaryen supporter Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, played by Eve best, set to betray the cause. It might as well prove to be the most unexpected twist for the series viewers, even if the book readers might already be a few steps ahead.
Corlys Velaryon may have already given indication that he is set to betray Rhaenyra Targaryen in House of the Dragon
The Sea Snake, and one of the most gifted sailors across the Seven Seas, Corlys Velaryon has until now been a stark Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy) supporter. This is partly due to his marriage with Rhaenys Targaryen, who is arguably the biggest, most trustable ally that the usurped heir to the Iron Throne currently has.
After all, Rhaenyra has had a bit of a falling out with Matt Smith’s Daemon Targaryen, who is also her uncle. Daemon was last seen taking over Harrenhal, from where he intends to launch a quest for the Iron Throne, but in his own stead. Fans can expect Daemon to eventually come to his senses and for him to once again join forces with Rhaenyra, who is after all, the love of his life.
However, that is not true for Corlys Velaryon, as he has already been shown to be a bit of a loose canon. In episode 3, Corlys had been asked by his wife to stay at the side of Rhaenyra, who obviously needs his expertise considering the lack of trustable allies, and the fact that she was not-so-subtly asked to let the council wage war in her name by all members apart from Rhaenys. (via Screen Rant)
Regardless, Corlys, in the books, goes on to betray the Blacks, and we believe that will also happen in the House of the Dragon, setting the series up for its biggest twist thus far. That is of course, assuming that no other big surprises come the viewers’ way, until then.
Corlys Velaryon goes on to betray the Blacks during Dance of the Dragons
The impending war is set to invoke huge losses for the Velaryons, who end up losing all of Rhaenyra and Laenor Velaryon’s heirs, in the form of Lucerys, Jacaerys, and Joffrey. Further, Corlys also has to deal with the loss of his own life during the Battle of Rook’s Rest, which he blames on Rhaenyra Targaryen in the book.
This acts as fuel for his betrayal, as Corlys, despite being appointed as Queen Rhaenyra’s hand. However, Corlys is tipped over the edge when further deaths on his side occur, of characters that have not yet been introduced in the show. They are none other than Addam and Alyn of Hull, who are rumored to be two of Corlys’ illegitimate sons and become dragonriders in Rhaenyra Targaryen’s army. Hence, there are still a number of events that must occur before Corlys Velaryon ends up betraying Rhaenyra Targaryen.
Painstaking loss and a bunch of deaths eventually convince Corlys to leave Rhaenyra’s side, which brings about Rhaenyra’s own demise, but that is a spoiler not fit for this article.
House of the Dragon can be streamed on HBO Max.
