Lucerys Velaryon
Lucerys Velaryon | |
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Lucerys in childhood, by Douglas Wheatley, as depicted in The World of Ice & Fire | |
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Aliases | |
Title | Prince[1] |
Allegiances | |
Race | Valyrian |
Culture | Crownlands |
Born | 115 AC[1] |
Died |
129 AC[2] Shipbreaker Bay[2] |
Books |
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- For the master of ships during the reign of King Aerys II, see Lucerys Velaryon (master of ships).
Prince Lucerys Velaryon, also known as Luke, was the secondborn son of Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen and her first husband, Ser Laenor Velaryon. He was a dragonrider whose dragon was Arrax.[2]
Contents
Appearance and Character
Luke was a strong strapping lad, skilled in arms. Like his brothers Jacaerys and Joffrey, he had brown eyes and hair, and a pug nose. This made many at court suspect that Ser Harwin Strong was their true father.[1][3]
History
Youth
King Viserys I Targaryen was delighted with Luke when he was presented at court. In 118 AC Rhaenyra Targaryen announced the betrothal of her eldest sons, Jacaerys and Lucerys, to Rhaena and Baela Targaryen, the daughters of Prince Daemon Targaryen and Laena Velaryon.[1]
When Prince Aemond Targaryen attempted to ride Vhagar, one of House Targaryen's dragons, he was confronted by the Velaryon brothers. Aemond broke the nose of five-year-old Luke, who eventually took out Aemond's eye with his dagger.[1]
When Lord Corlys Velaryon fell ill, Rhaenyra wanted him to name Luke as his heir to Driftmark, as his elder brother Jacaerys was in the line of succession to the Iron Throne.[1]
Dance of the Dragons
Prior to the Dance of the Dragons Lucerys had long served as a squire. He was fourteen years old at the start of the civil war.
Luke was sent on a mission that was considered shorter and safer than his brother Jacaerys's, flying on Arrax as a messenger to Storm's End where it was expected that Lord Borros Baratheon would give him a warm welcome. Prior to his mission he swore on the Seven-Pointed Star to his mother on Dragonstone that he would take no part in fighting.
Prince Aemond Targaryen had already arrived at the castle on Vhagar, however. Upon his arrival in the Round Hall Luke ignored Aemond and delivered his letter to Borros. The Lord of Storm's End asked which of his four daughters in the Round Hall Luke would wed, but the Velaryon prince admitted he was betrothed to his cousin, Rhaena Targaryen. Borros replied that he thought as much and told him to go home. Aemond drew his sword but Lucerys told him he came as an envoy, not a knight.[2]
Lucerys was escorted back to the castle yard where Arrax waited amidst a terrible storm. In the Round Hall, Borros granted Aemond's request to leave. Arrax was struggling to stay aloft as Aemond mounted Vhagar and went after Luke. Arrax was younger and swifter, and on a calm day might have been able to outfly his pursuer, but the weather impeded him and Vhagar was five times the size of her foe and the hardened survivor of a hundred battles.
The two dragons met above Shipbreaker Bay. According to Archmaester Gyldayn, if there was a fight it could not have lasted long. Arrax fell, broken, to be swallowed by the storm-lashed waters of the bay. His head and neck washed up beneath the cliffs below Storm's End three days later. Prince Lucerys's corpse washed up as well.
On Dragonstone, Rhaenyra collapsed when told of his death and Luke's younger brother Joffrey swore an oath of vengeance against Aemond and Borros. Prince Daemon Targaryen avenged Luke's death by sending "Blood and Cheese" to assassinate one of Aegon II's sons.[4]
Quotes
Our uncle calls us Strongs, and claims we are bastards, but when the lords see us on dragonback they will know that for a lie. Only Targaryens ride dragons.[2]
—Lucerys, to the black council
Little Luke Strong, the bastard. You are wet, bastard. Is it raining, or did you piss yourself in fear?[2]
—Aemond Targaryen to Lucerys
And with his death, the war of ravens and envoys and marriage pacts came to an end, and the war of fire and blood began in earnest.[2]
An eye for an eye, a son for a son. Lucerys shall be avenged.[4]
—Daemon Targaryen writing to Rhaenyra Targaryen
Family
Notes: |