Editing Laena Velaryon

{{For|her granddaughter of the same name|Laena Velaryon (daughter of Alyn)}}
{{Infobox character
| firstname = Laena
| lastname = Velaryon
| arms = Velaryon
| arms2 = Targaryen
| title = Lady
| image = Laena Velaryon 2 by Riotarttherite.jpg
| image_caption = Laena Velaryon, by riotarttherite ©
| Alias =
| Title = Lady{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
| Allegiance = [[House Velaryon]]<br>[[House Targaryen]]<br>[[Blacks]]
| Race = [[Valyria]]n
| Culture = [[Crownlands]]
| Father = Lord [[Corlys Velaryon]]
| Mother = Princess [[Rhaenys Targaryen (daughter of Aemon)|Rhaenys Targaryen]]
| Spouse = Prince [[Daemon Targaryen]]
| Issue = [[Baela Targaryen]]<br>[[Rhaena Targaryen (daughter of Daemon)|Rhaena Targaryen]]<br>Stillborn son
| Place_of_Birth =
| Date_of_Birth = late {{Date|92}}{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}<ref group="N" name=birth>Earlier editions of ''[[Fire & Blood]]'' mentioned Rhaenys learning of her pregnancy in early 92 AC and giving birth to Laena in 93 AC. Later editions corrected Laena's birth to late in the year 92 AC.</ref>
| Place_of_Death = [[Driftmark]]{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
| Date_of_Death = 7<sup>th</sup> day of the 1<sup>st</sup> moon of {{Date|120}} <small>(aged 27)</small>
| Books = ''[[The World of Ice & Fire]]'' (mentioned)<br>''[[Fire & Blood]]'' (mentioned)<br>''[[The Rise of the Dragon]]'' (mentioned)<br>''[[The Rogue Prince]]'' (mentioned)<br>''[[The Princess and the Queen]]'' (mentioned)
| Coat-of-arms =
| Played_by = [[w:Nanna Blondell|Nanna Blondell]] <small>(adult)</small><br>[[w:Savannah Steyn|Savannah Steyn]] <small>(teen)</small><br>Nova Foueillis-Mosé <small>(child)</small>
| TV_series = ''[[House of the Dragon]]'': [[House of the Dragon - Season 1|Season 1]] {{!}} [[House of the Dragon - Season 2|2]]
}}

Lady '''Laena Velaryon''' was the eldest child and only daughter of Lord [[Corlys Velaryon]] and Princess [[Rhaenys Targaryen (daughter of Aemon)|Rhaenys Targaryen]]. She was the second wife of Prince [[Daemon Targaryen]] and gave birth to his twin daughters, [[Rhaena Targaryen (daughter of Daemon)|Rhaena]] and [[Baela Targaryen]]. Laena was a [[dragonrider]] and rode the she-[[dragon]] [[Vhagar]].{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

In the television adaptation ''[[House of the Dragon]]'', Laena is portrayed by [[Nanna Blondell]] (adult), [[Savannah Steyn]] (teen), and [[Nova Foueillis-Mosé]] (child).<ref name=HBO/><ref name=Warner/>

==Appearance and Character==
{{See also|:Category:Images of Laena Velaryon|l1=Images of Laena Velaryon}}
Laena had a great mane of silver-gold ringlets that fell down past her waist.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

By the age of twelve, Laena had freshly [[flowered]], and was considered a fiery young girl. It was said she had inherited the beauty of her mother, [[Rhaenys Targaryen (daughter of Aemon)|Rhaenys Targaryen]], and the bold, adventurous spirit from her father, [[Corlys Velaryon]]. By two-and-twenty, Laena had grown into a tall, slender, and beautiful woman. According to the [[fool]] [[Mushroom]], she was "almost as pretty as her brother", [[Laenor Velaryon]].{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

Laena loved to fly, and when she was young, showed "far more interest in flying than in boys", according to the [[maester]] of [[High Tide]].{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

==History==
===Early life===
Laena was born in late {{Date|92}}.<ref group="N" name=birth/> She was the daughter of Lord [[Corlys Velaryon]] and Princess [[Rhaenys Targaryen (daughter of Aemon)|Rhaenys Targaryen]], and the great-granddaughter of King [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen]].{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} Princess Rhaenys's father, Prince [[Aemon Targaryen (son of Jaehaerys I)|Aemon Targaryen]], the eldest son and heir of King Jaehaerys I, died shortly after Rhaenys learned she was pregnant. Although Rhaenys was Aemon's heir, Jaehaerys I named his second son, Prince [[Baelon Targaryen (son of Jaehaerys I)|Baelon]], as his new heir, passing over Rhaenys and her potential unborn son. The unborn Laena, also referred to as "the boy in the belly", was subject of much debate on the succession until her birth.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

In {{Date|101}}, Laena's claim to the [[Iron Throne]] was put forward once more during the [[Great Council of 101 AC|Great Council]], but she was passed over, together with her mother, on account of her sex.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Viserys I}}{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

Before the age of twelve, Laena had become a [[dragonrider]] by claiming the largest [[House Targaryen|Targaryen]] [[dragon]] left alive, [[Vhagar]]. Following the death of Queen [[Aemma Arryn]] in late {{Date|105}}, [[Grand Maester]] [[Runciter]] urged King [[Viserys I Targaryen]] to remarry, and suggested the just-turned-twelve and newly flowered Laena as a bride, so that Viserys could heal the rift between [[House Targaryen]] and [[House Velaryon]]. However, Viserys chose [[Alicent Hightower|another noblewoman]], and though this angered Laena's father, Laena herself was untroubled. According to a letter the maester of [[High Tide]] wrote to the [[Citadel]], Laena was interested more in flying than boys. When King Viserys I married [[Alicent Hightower]] in {{Date|106}}, [[House Velaryon]] was noticeably absent from the wedding.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} 

===Marriage and Death===
[[File:The Rogue Prince and His Lady by Naomimakesart.png|thumb|Laena and [[Daemon Targaryen]], by naomimakesart ©]]
At the age of twelve, Laena was [[betrothal|betrothed]] to a son of the [[Sealord of Braavos]]. When the Sealord died, Laena's betrothed squandered his father's money and power and came to [[Driftmark]]. There, for nearly ten years, Laena's father repeatedly found ways to postpone their wedding, unwilling to let it go through, but unable to gracefully break the betrothal. When Prince [[Daemon Targaryen]] arrived on Driftmark in {{Date|115}}, the singers claim he fell in love with Laena, although others believe he saw her as a means to further his ambition. He insulted Laena's betrothed until the boy challenged him to a duel, in which he was killed by Daemon with [[Dark Sister]]. Laena wed Daemon a fortnight later.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

Aware that the king and court would not be pleased with their marriage, Laena and Daemon flew on their [[dragon]]s to [[Pentos]], where they were hosted by the [[Prince of Pentos|Prince of the city]]. From Pentos, Daemon and Laena traveled to [[Volantis]], up the [[Rhoyne]] to [[Qohor]] and [[Norvos]]. They eventually returned to Pentos, where Laena discovered she was pregnant. Laena and Daemon remained in Pentos for the remainder of her pregnancy. In {{Date|116}}, in Pentos, Laena gave birth to their twin daughters, [[Rhaena Targaryen (daughter of Daemon)|Rhaena]] and [[Baela Targaryen|Baela]]. When the children were half a year old, Laena sailed with them to Driftmark, while Daemon flew their dragons home.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

Laena became good friends with her good-sister, [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]]: it is said the princess was "fond and more than fond" of her uncle's wife. Laena and Daemon would often visit Rhaenyra on [[Dragonstone]], and Rhaenyra would often visit them on Driftmark. In {{Date|118}}, Laena's two-year-old twins were betrothed to Rhaenyra's two eldest sons, with the blessing of King [[Viserys I Targaryen|Viserys I]].{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

[[File:Daemon and Laena by chillyravenart.jpg|thumb|[[Daemon Targaryen|Daemon]] carries Laena's body back to her bed. Art by chillyravenart ©]]
In {{Date|119}}, Laena became pregnant again. Her good-sister Rhaenyra traveled to Driftmark that year to be with Laena for the birth and was at her side when she went into labor on the third day of {{Date|120}}. Following a day and night of labor, she gave birth to a twisted and malformed son, who died within an hour of birth. With all her strength gone from her labor and weakened further from grief over her lost child, childbed fever set in. Neither Driftmark's maester nor Maester [[Gerardys]] from Dragonstone could heal her. After three days of delirium, Laena died. It is said that she attempted to reach Vhagar to fly one more time before she died, but collapsed on the tower steps, where she died. Daemon carried her back to bed, where he sat vigil over Laena's body together with Rhaenyra.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

==Legacy==
In {{Date|120}}, while at Driftmark to attend the funeral of Laena's brother Laenor, Prince [[Aemond Targaryen]] claimed the riderless Vhagar, leading to strife between him and the sons of Rhaenyra, and the loss of Aemond's eye.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Viserys I}}

When Laena's daughter Baela became pregnant in {{Date|133}}, she swore to her husband, Lord [[Alyn Velaryon]], to name their first born child Laena if the child was a girl.{{Ref|FAB|Under the Regents - War and Peace and Cattle Shows}} At the child's birth the following year, Baela [[Named after|named]] her daughter [[Laena Velaryon (daughter of Alyn)|Laena]], in her mother's honor.{{Ref|FAB|Under the Regents - The Voyage of Alyn Oakenfist}}

==Quotes about Laena==
[[File:Fond and more than fond by Chillyravenart.jpg|thumb|350px|[[Rhaenyra Targaryen]] and Laena, by chillyravenart ©]]
{{Quote|By taking the girl to wife, [[Viserys I Targaryen|the king]] could heal the rift that had grown up between the [[Iron Throne]] and [[Driftmark]]. And Laena would surely make a splendid queen.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}|[[Runciter]], as paraphrased by [[Gyldayn]]}}

{{Quote|Her ladyship shows far more interest in [[Dragonrider|flying]] than in boys.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}|[[High Tide]]'s [[maester]], after [[Viserys I Targaryen]] chose [[Alicent Hightower]] instead of Laena for his queen}}

{{Quote|[She] was almost as pretty as [[Laenor Velaryon|her brother]].{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}|[[Mushroom]]}}

{{Quote|Whilst Princess [[Rhaenyra Targaryen|Rhaenyra]] misliked her stepmother, Queen [[Alicent Hightower|Alicent]], she became fond and more than fond of her good-sister Lady Laena.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}|writings of [[Gyldayn]]}}

==Family==
{{Velaryon tree Dance}}

==Notes==
{{Notes}}

==References==
{{References|refs=
  <ref name=HBO>HBO.com: [https://www.hbo.com/house-of-the-dragon/cast-and-characters House of the Dragon Cast & Characters]</ref>
  <ref name=Warner>WarnerMedia Pressroom: [https://pressroom.warnermedia.com/na/bio/house-dragon-character-descriptions House of the Dragon | Character Descriptions]</ref>
}}

==External links==
{{WoW}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Velaryon, Laena}}
[[Category:House Velaryon|Laena Velaryon]]
[[Category:House Targaryen|Laena Velaryon]]
[[Category:92 AC births]]
[[Category:120 AC deaths]]
[[Category:Blacks]]
[[Category:Characters from the Crownlands]]
[[Category:Characters with silver hair]]
[[Category:Claimants at the Great Council of 101 AC]]
[[Category:Deaths by childbirth]]
[[Category:Dragonriders]]
[[Category:Noblewomen]]

[[es:Laena Velaryon]]
[[fr:Laena Velaryon]]
[[pt:Laena Velaryon]]
[[ru:Лейна Веларион]]
[[tr:Laena Velaryon]]
[[zh:兰娜尔·瓦列利安]]