Helaena Targaryen

Helaena was the firstborn daughter of Aemon and Rhaenys Targaryen, and the cousin of Daeron III Targaryen. She was best known for her cruelty and her skill with a sword. She fought for Daeron during the Dragon's Defiance.

## Family Information

### Siblings

Aelyx TargaryenMaegor Targaryen

 Saera Targaryen

## Early years

Helaena Targaryen was born in 358 AC to Prince Aemon and Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, the children of King Aerys III. She grew up in the Red Keep with her younger siblings and cousins, all of whom she delighted in terrorizing.

Even as a child, she was arrogant, vain, and violent, relishing in playing mean tricks on her fellow children and on the servants.

Since she showed no promise whatsoever with her letters, her numbers, and much less with any of the femenine pursuits, her father agreed to let her train with the master-at-arms, hoping this would help soothe her down. It did help, but it also gave her a new tool with which to inflict pain on others.

Regardless, she proved to be a natural, picking up sword and riding skills quickly, and she was soon besting boys larger than her.

As she began to grow up, she developed an interest in Old Valyria and a conviction in the superiority of her breeding, which only led her to become more proud.

## Appearance & Personality

She is a typical Targaryen beauty who dresses severely in the red and black of her House. Her violet eyes are narrow and cat-like, her features sharp, her mouth almost always twisted in a scowl. She is tall and slender, but strong.

As for her temper, she is prone to fits of rage, despises being bested at anything, and is narcissistic and vicious. Her blood runs hot, and she is as bold as she is merciless.

Like most Targaryens, she answers to neither gods nor men. She believes in Valyrian superiority and acts accordingly. She cares little for anything or anyone beyond fighting and spilling blood, and believes she is owed the world due to the superiority of her birth.

## Family

Her relationships with her family are strained at best, as she's brought them nothing but grief. Her parents look the other way, and her siblings avoid her (although they have tried, on occasion, to stop her). Her cousin Daeron frequently covered up her messes.

Despite her egocentrism, she does prefer the company of her family members to those of others, due to her considering them to be almost her equals. She's taken some of her cousins as lovers, including Jaehaerys Storm and Lucerys Velaryon.

## Tourneys & Battles

Despite her gender, she's taken part in many tourneys and jousts as a Mystery Knight, often adopting names such as the Crimson Knight and the Knight of Embers. During the tourney held at Storm's End to commemorate then-Prince Daeron's wedding, she was defeated by another Mystery Knight who turned out to be Rhea Reyne. Helaena never forgave her this humiliation, and developed a one-sided hatred for the girl since.

Although she doesn’t care for politics (as long as her family is in power, of course), she agreed to lend her sword to Daeron’s service in exchange for a knighthood, which she felt was owed to her due to her skill and her birth. As such, she fought in the civil war on Daeron’s side, participating in the battles around the Stormlands, where she almost slew Leyton Hightower, which resulted in a deadly rivalry between the two.

## Present

Helaena was recently knighted by the king.

During the Great Feast of 380 AC, she bluffs her way into blackmailing Ser Roger Rogers, a knight of the Kingsguard. She also gets into a fight with princess Alysanne Martell, but it's broken up by her Kingsguard, Ser Willem Manderly. Later that night, she and Vaegon Velaryon get into trouble when they're caught fighting some levies from House Reyne.

Shortly after the feast, she gets into a verbal match with Kyra Karstark that results in a scuffle between the Northwoman and Helaena and her guards. Helaena chops Kyra's ear off for her insolence and locks her in a cell.

But it is her insults to Lord Grafton, who complains about her behavior to Lord Arryn, that land her in trouble with the King. He resolves to punish her by forcing her to do charity work with the High Septon. Instead of submitting, Helaena runs off to Stonedance with the help of her friend Triston Massey. She is almost stopped by Ser Roger Rogers, but she calls in her favor from him and he lets her go.

Still, she returns soon, as Triston commands her to leave Stonedance after his uncle dies. She's intercepted by the Royal Fleet, who escort her back to King's Landing, where the displeased king sentences her to be confined to the Maidenvault in front of all the court. Secretly, though, he allows her to leave at night to punish the criminals that haunt the streets and alleys of the city.

While she's in the Vault, she spends time with the High Septon, who chastises her for her behavior and forces her to apologize to Kyra Karstark, going so far as to bringing the girl from her cell into the Maidenvault so Helaena can do so. The apology isn't received well.

Later, Helaena manages to sleep with Jaime Arryn while in the Vault.

During the eighth moon of 380 AC, she attends the trial of Kyra Karstark as a key witness.

She is released by the king shortly afterwards, who asks her to avoid further scandals. He also tells her her secret trips to the city while she was in the Vault were meant to prepare her for a future trip to the Stepstones. Immediately after her release, Helaena acquires a the same dog that ate Kyra Karstark's ear, and names it *Kyra*.

She dies in the tenth moon of 380 AC, together with her cousin Aegon and Robert Reyne, at the hands of Baratheon soldiers.

## Timeline

358- Born the firstborn daughter of Prince Aemon and Princess Rhaenys Targaryen.

361- Her brother Aelyx is born.

362- Her brother Maegor is born.

364- Her sister Saera is born.

366- Her father allows her to begin training with the master-at-arms.

377- Participates in the tourney held at Lannisport as the Knight of Embers, but is defeated by her Uncle, King Vaegon I Targaryen.

378- Participates in the tourney at Storm’s End as a Mystery Knight, the Knight of Embers, where she is defeated by Rhea Reyne, leading her to develop a hatred for the girl.

379- Takes part in the tourney at the Iron Islands as the Crimson Knight, where she is defeated and unmasked by her cousin and sometimes lover, Jaehaerys Storm. Later that year, she joins the Dragon’s Defiance on Daeron’s side. Almost slays Ser Leyton Hightower, resulting in a deadly rivalry between the two.

380- Knighted by king Daeron. Dies at sea, ambushed by Baratheon men.

## Family tree

https://www.familyecho.com/?p=UT90B&c=2pmx7qjv3b&f=537446847500925035

## Quotes by and about Helaena

* "Arryn, your wit is as sharp as the blades the Starks' keep in those ancient crypts of theirs." - Helaena to Jaime Arryn
* The Princess Helaena, in Raynald's mind, was more a hedgehog than a dragon. Oh, she still had much of her family's draconic nature, that much was assured. But he wasn't sure he'd met a more prickly woman. - Septon Raynald, thinking about Helaena
* "Perhaps she should take the Black, for the good of the realm. The Wildlings would be wiped out within the moon, I would figure." - Jaime Arryn to Aelyx Targaryen, about Helaena
* *Princess Helaena.* A viper with legs if there ever was one. - Tytos Brax, thinking about Helaena

## Companions & Supporting Characters

**Adrian Netley**, an Ironborn Warrior (Axes)

**Igon Harte**, Huntsman

**Qhamrine**, a Medic from Asshai

**Jocelyn Lydden**, her lady-in-waiting, a Scion of House Lydden

***Shadow***, her destrier

***Kyra***, her dog