House of the Dragon Season 2: Why Did Alicent Send Daeron to Oldtown?

Daeron Targaryen has been one of the most-anticipated but elusive characters in House of the Dragon. After he didn’t appear in season 1, there were speculations among fans whether he had been cut from the show. However, series co-creator Ryan Condal revealed before the release of the second season that Daeron was very much part of the show’s narrative. And indeed, he has been mentioned multiple times in the second season. But unlike his siblings, he has spent a considerable portion of his life in Oldtown, the city from which House Hightower rules their part of the Reach.

Here’s everything we have learned about Alicent’s reasons for sending Daemon to Oldtown.

Why did Alicent send Daeron away to Oldtown in House of the Dragon?

House of the Dragon hasn’t yet explicitly mentioned why Alicent allowed Daeron to be taken to Oldtown and fostered by his great-uncle Lord Hobert Hightower and his son, Ormund. While speaking to Alicent, Gwayne Hightower reveals that Daeron is now 16 years old and describes the younger man, as “stalwart,” “clever,” and “as adept with his lute as he is with sword.” Gwayne then realizes what his sister really wants to hear and tells her that Daeron is “kind,” making Alicent observe that it’s a quality that Aegon II and Aemond don’t have.

The show hasn’t also made it clear exactly when Daeron was set out for Oldtown. However, it’s probably safe to speculate that he left Red Keep before Joffrey Velaryon’s birth. The series has a 10-year time jump following Rhaenyra and Laenor’s wedding, and when the narrative resumes, only Aegon and Aemond are in King’s Landing.

There can be multiple reasons as to why Daeron grew up in Oldtown. In the world of House of the Dragon and Game of Thrones, children of noble houses are often sent to the lords belonging to other noble houses for fostering. For instance, Ned Stark and Robert Baratheon were the wards of Jon Arryn in their youths. So, it’s completely natural for someone like Daeron, who was neither Viserys’ first-born child nor first-born son, to be warded at his maternal home.

Alternatively, Otto might have wanted to keep him in Oldtown as leverage against the crown after losing the position of the Hand. It’s also important to note that fostering Daeron in Oldtown came with the presence of his dragon Tessarion. While the dragon was quite young when Daeron arrived, it was likely a matter of prestige for the House Housetower.

Will Daeron Targaryen become king if Aemond dies?

Yes, Daeron will become king if Aemond dies. After all. Daeron is in the line of succession for the Iron Throne among the Greens.

However, it is unlikely that Daeron will ever become king in House of the Dragon as in the books, Aegon II outlives both his male siblings and later orders statues to be built in their memory. After Aegon’s death, Tyland Lannister puts a stop to the construction.