Can a non Velaryon ride a dragon?

Can a non Velaryon Ride a Dragon?

For centuries, the ability to ride dragons has been considered a privilege reserved for members of House Velaryon, a powerful and respected family in Westeros. However, in recent episodes of the popular HBO show House of the Dragon, we have seen a major deviation from this norm with the character of Laenor Velaryon skillfully riding a dragon, despite not being a true Targaryen. This got us wondering – can anyone, regardless of their house or bloodline, learn to ride a dragon?

The Canon on Dragonriding

Let’s start by looking at the canon. According to the books and show, the ability to ride a dragon is deeply tied to the blood of Old Valyria. The ancient Valyrians were able to bond with dragons and ride them through a powerful magical connection that was believed to be exclusive to the Valyrian bloodlines.

Targaryen Legacy

The Targaryens, descended from the great Valyrian dragonlords, are the only known dragonriders in the Seven Kingdoms. The Targaryens inherited the legacy of the Valyrians and were able to use their magical blood to connect with the dragons. From the time of Aegon the Conqueror to the reign of Viserys Targaryen, the Targaryens were the supreme rulers of the Seven Kingdoms, thanks in no small part to their dragonriding abilities.

Laenor Velaryon, a Non-Targaryen Dragonrider?

So, what makes Laenor Velaryon, a member of House Velaryon, suddenly able to ride a dragon? According to the show, Laenor’s great-great-grandfather had a secret: he married a Targaryen, making Laenor and his descendants have a quarter-Targaryen blood. This subtle addition to Laenor’s lineage allowed him to tap into the same magical connection that his great-great-grandfather and other Targaryens had with the dragons.

The Exceptions to the Rule

Laenor Velaryon is not the only exception to the rule, however. We have also seen instances where non-Velaryon, non-Targaryen dragonriders have emerged:

• Viserion: Although Viserion was a loyal servant to Stannis Baratheon and a skilled fighter, there is no mention of any Targaryen blood in his family tree.
• Jon Snow: Despite being raised as Jon Snow, many fans have speculated that Jon might actually be a Targaryen, thanks to Rhaegar’s claims that he took Lyanna Stark as his queen-to-be. Even if not, Jon’s Stark-Mormont heritage is an anomaly in itself, giving him a special connection with the dragons.
• Bran Stark: Like Jon, Bran’s lineage is also anomalous. His ability to ride a white wolf and eventually a giant direwolf shows that, at the very least, his Stark bloodline grants him a connection to certain magical forces that allow for unusual abilities.

Is It Possible for a Non-Velaryon Non-Targaryen to Ride a Dragon?

Given the examples above, it seems that there is no hard and fast rule about who can and who cannot ride a dragon. It appears that the ancient Valyrian magic coursing through the blood of certain families (like House Velaryon and some Starks) allows certain individuals to bond with and ride dragons, regardless of their house or bloodline.

Table: Family Trees and Dragonriding Affiliations

Conclusion

In conclusion, while the ability to ride a dragon was originally exclusive to House Velaryon and their Targaryen relatives, Laenor Velaryon’s unexpected dragonriding abilities open up new possibilities. Perhaps, as the show develops, we will see even more exceptions to the rule, or discover that other houses have secrets hidden in their family trees.

Remember: magic can be mysterious, and family ties are often more complicated than we initially think. So, the question remains open – can a non Velaryon ride a dragon? The answer is up to the writers, the showrunners, and most importantly, the characters within the world of House of the Dragon.