Why Does Alicent Say Jacaerys And Lucerys’ Dragon Eggs Shouldn’t Have Hatched?

House of the Dragon episode 6 has been released. The show has jumped forward in time 10 years with new actors stepping into the roles

By Chandraboli Majumdar
September 26,2022
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House of the Dragon episode 6 has been released. The show has jumped forward in time 10 years with new actors stepping into the roles of Rhaenyra, Alicent, Laenor and Laena. The show is now moving ahead in full force. Episode 6 was full of crazy moments and quite a few deaths. The episode began with another childbirth scene, House of the Dragon seems to love these. Unfortunately, Rhaenyra’s sons Lucerys and Jacaerys Velaryon end up butting heads with Alicent’s son Aemond Targaryen. Then Alicent makes a comment that actually refers to an old House of the Dragon lore.

Queen Alicent is surprised that Jacaerys and Lucerys’ Dragon eggs hatched at all

Queen Alicent claims that Jacaerys and Lucerys eggs should not have hatched
Queen Alicent claims that Jacaerys and Lucerys eggs should not have hatched

All the young boys were at the Dragonpit. Here, Jacaerys was attempting to further his bond with his dragon Vermax. Vermax had hatched from the egg that was kept in the cradle of Jacaerys when he was just a newborn baby. Aemond, who was the only boy without a dragon was teased by his brother Aegon and his nephews Lucerys and Jacaerys. They brought a pig to be his dragon and made him wings and all. While Alicent complained to Viserys about the boys of Rhaenyra and how they should not have insulted her son Aemond, she refers to them as a menace. Queen Alicent shows her cruelty and vindictiveness as she describes Lucerys and Jacaerys as savages. This is when Alicent expresses her disbelief over the fact that their dragon eggs ever hatched.

What do the hatching of Dragon eggs mean?

Hatching of Dragon eggs is a sign of a true Targaryen in House of the Dragon
Hatching of Dragon eggs is a sign of a true Targaryen

This is the ancient Targaryen tradition or lore that we were referring to before. Ever since Princess Rhaena Targaryen, it became a custom to place a dragon egg in the cradle of a newborn child. This tradition was carried forward by King Jaehaerys I. In fact it basically became a customary norm for Targaryens by the time Viserys ascended the Iron throne. This tradition has also been seen in House of the Dragon when Daemon steals a dragon egg for his unborn child which was nothing more than a ruse. What’s interesting is that, the hatching of the dragon egg is of great significance. The hatching is said to indicate that a child is a true Targaryen and will be a dragonrider. In fact, when an egg did not hatch or the newborn dragon did not survive, it was considered as a bad omen.

Laena Velaryon and her daughter Rhaena Targaryen
Laena Velaryon and her daughter Rhaena Targaryen

Naturally, this is not a very accurate test at all. Since later in episode 6 of House of the Dragon we notice that 0ne of Daemon and Laena Velaryon’s daughter did not have a dragon as her egg failed to hatch. Being the daughter of Daemon Targaryen, one of the fiercest and purest Targaryens in history and Laena Velaryon, rider of the mighty Vhagar, their daughters were born to ride and have the blood of old Valyria running through their veins. Lady Laena even mentions that half of the dragon eggs don’t end up hatching.

Nonetheless, Alicent makes this underhanded comment about Rhaenyra’s sons to King Viserys. She was attempting to poison the King against his own daughter. Basically, she was insinuating that Jacaerys and Lucerys were actually fathered by Ser Harwin Strong and were not true Targaryens.

Alicent may be right after all

Alicent might be right about the true parentage of Rhaenyra's sons
Alicent might be right about the true parentage of Rhaenyra’s sons

Queen Alicent might be right about her assumptions. This episode had several signs that indicated Ser Harwin Strong to be the true father of Rhaenyra’s sons. You could see the relationship between Ser Harwin and Rhaenyra in every glance they shared. Moreover, it was obvious that Ser Harwin cared about her sons and was invested in their upbringing. His outburst when Ser Criston insulted Princess Rhaenyra, showed exactly how much he cared for her. Even Laenor Velaryon hints at the fact that their kids weren’t Velaryons after all. Nonetheless, none of this warrants Queen Alicent’s snarky and deceitful remarks.