Aerion Targaryen (son of Daemion)

## Lord of Dragonstone

**Bastard:**
Orys Baratheon

Lord **Aerion Targaryen** was a member of House Targaryen during the Century of Blood, the only son of Lord Daemion Targaryen of Dragonstone and Lady Vaenya Celtigar of Claw Isle. He was married to Lady Valaena Velaryon of Driftmark, together they had three children: Visenya, Aegon the Conqueror, and Rhaenys Targaryen. Aerion also fathered Orys Baratheon on Almia Sargen.

## Appearance and Character

Aerion had the common Valyrian features of House Targaryen, he had silver-gold hair and lilac eyes. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and stern.

Though Aerion was seen as an enigma, he did keep close allies. Though he held his wife Valaena in high regards, he did not keep to only her bed.

## History

### Early life

Aerion was born at Dragonstone in 54 BC to Lord Daemion Targaryen and Lady Vaenya Celtigar. When Aerion was three years old, his mother gave birth to a stillborn daughter, and when he was seven, she gave birth to stillborn twins. In 46 BC, just after Aerion's eighth nameday, his father died of a stroke. Upon his father's death, Aerion became Lord of Dragonstone and his mother Lady Regent.

At the age of seventeen, Aerion began a relationship with Almia Sargen, a daughter of one of his bannermen and childhood friend of his.

In 34 BC, Aerion was betrothed to his second cousin, eleven year old Lady Valaena Velaryon. The two were wed two years later at Dragonstone. Due to Aerion's marriage to Valaena being an arranged marriage, Aerion neglected his wife for the first few years of their marriage. Instead, he secretly continued an affair with Almia Sargen, his lover.

In early 29 BC, Almia gave birth to Aerion's bastard son, Orys Baratheon. Aerion was aware of the pregnancy and birth, giving Almia's husband a place at his court and ensuring Orys was a companion to his future children.

Just three moons after Orys' birth, Valaena gave birth to Aerion's first trueborn child, Visenya. With the birth of Visenya, Aerion had his much awaited heir. Less than two years later, in early 27 BC, Valaena gave birth to a second child and their first son, Aegon.

From birth, Aerion planned to have Visenya and Aegon marry. He intended his son and daughter to rule Dragonstone together as co-rulers, as Aegon Targaryen and his sister-wife Elaena once had.

The birth of a second daughter, Rhaenys, just a little over a year after Aegon, complicated things. It proved an obstacle in Aerion's plan when Aegon began showing more attraction for Rhaenys than Visenya.

Visenya, much like Aegon, loved wielding a sword. From the beginning, Aerion supported his daughter and taught her how to both defend herself and fight like a knight. Visenya soon became one of the best warriors at Dragonstone, defeating even Orys and Aegon, two renowned knighted men. As Visenya couldn't be knighted, on her fifteenth nameday, Aerion bestowed upon her his grandmother's sword, Dark Sister, and the title "Lady Knight".

From the very beginning, Aerion held Visenya in high regards, multiple times proving that she was his favourite. At the same time, Valaena proved that she held Rhaenys as her favourite.

After the birth of Rhaenys, Valaena began having trouble in childbearing. She became pregnant three more times: she gave birth to a stillborn son in 23 BC, she suffered a miscarriage in 18 BC, and gave birth to stillborn twin sons in 12 BC.

Going ahead with his plan, as per Targaryen tradition, Aegon was expected to marry Visenya, while Aerion planned for Rhaenys to marry Orys. However, in 10 BC, Aegon took both his sisters to wife. Though Aerion was against it, initially, he did not object.

## Death

Aerion never showed any declining health, but he was never one to truly shield himself against disease or other forms of illness. Unexpectedly, in 10 BC, Aerion died of a heart attack, his wife and eldest daughter were present. His funeral was held five days after his death. He was succeeded by his only legitimate son, Aegon, as Lord of Dragonstone.

## Legacy

Aerion's son and daughters conquered the Seven Kingdoms, establishing a long lasting dynasty.

In 48 AC, Aerion's great-granddaughter, Queen Rhaena, named her son after Aerion. In turn, it became a common name for House Targaryen of Harrenhal.

## Family

Aerion was the only living child and son of Lord Daemion Targaryen and Lady Vaenya Celtigar. He married Lady Valaena Velaryon of Driftmark with whom he had three living children: Visenya, Aegon I and Rhaenys. Aerion also kept a lover, with whom he fathered one bastard, Orys Baratheon. Through his legitimate children, he had two grandsons, Kings Aenys I and Maegor I. Through his illegitimate son, he had five grandsons, Davos, Raymont, Orryn, Durran and Axel, and two granddaughters, Theresa and Ethelide.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 *The House of the Dragon*, Daemion Targaryen.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 *The House of the Dragon*, Aerion Targaryen.