House of the Dragon season 3, episode 4, has complicated things by revealing that Helaena Targaryen is pregnant. This is another one of the Game of Thrones prequel’s big changes, since Helaena was never noted to be in this condition when Rhaenyra Targaryen took the Iron Throne. Still, Fire & Blood indicates that Aegon and his sister/wife did have three children together. There were the twins, Jaehaerys and Jaehaera, and a third child. Maelor was supposed to be born quite a while ago, but House of the Dragon appears to be adding him now.

In George R.R. Martin’s version of the story, Maelor is about three years old during the Dance of the Dragons, and like many of the other young Targaryens of this time, he suffers a pretty horrible fate. If he’s only being born in House of the Dragon season 3, then we can assume that other aspects of Maelor’s life will be changed as well. In fact, at this point, truly anything could happen. The unfortunate truth is that Helaena may never even have a chance to give birth to her third child.

With so much up in the air, there’s plenty of room for speculation. For example, while the general assumption is that King Aegon II Targaryen is the father of his Helaena’s unborn baby, the events of House of the Dragon season 2 suggest that something else has happened here. Aegon has been bedridden since the Battle of Rook’s Rest, leaving his brother Aemond to rule as Prince Regent. Because this younger brother claimed Aegon’s throne, it’s possible he also claimed his wife.

Could The Father Of Helaena’s Baby Be Up For Debate?

If we go strictly by A Song of Ice and Fire canon, then Helaena’s child is Aegon’s. However, it’s worth noting that House of the Dragon has taken a rather unique approach to Aegon, Aemond, and Helaena’s relationships. Viserys’ younger son has dedicated himself to defending his brother’s claim to the Iron Throne, but he isn’t loyal to Aegon himself. In fact, he despises him. Aemond attempted to kill Aegon in the Battle of Rook’s Rest and is therefore wholly responsible for his brother’s disabled state. He wants Aegon’s crown and will take extreme measures to get it.

Aemond has already stated that, had he been born first, he would have married Helaena out of duty. He’s also far more tender toward his sister than Aegon ever was. The director of House of the Dragon season 2’s finale, Geeta Vasant Patel, has said that Helaena is the only person capable of “taming” Aemond (via TV Insider), and while there have been no signs of romance, this Prince tends to have a soft spot for his sister. This, combined with Aemond’s intense resentment and jealousy toward Aegon, could have led to some intimacy between the siblings.

Of course, the unfortunate truth here is that Helaena likely wouldn’t have given Aemond her consent. If she truly is pregnant with this brother’s child, it wasn’t by her own choosing. It’s also worth noting that the previously mentioned tenderness Aemond shows his sister could mean that he wouldn’t go as far as forcing himself on her. The prince is violent and ruthless, but that might be where he draws the line. Still, it all depends on Aemond’s mental state during the days that he might have had the opportunity to take advantage of Helaena.

Helaena’s Baby Is Sure To Meet The Same Fate Regardless

It’s certainly interesting to consider whether Aegon or Aemond is the father of Heleana’s baby. It would add further tension to the jealous rivalry between these two brothers, as well as add further complications to the succession. Rhaenyra might not know how to handle a baby who falls into such a grey area as to whether he is Aegon’s or Aemond’s heir. Still, it unfortunately won’t matter much for Helaena or her child. One way or another, both these characters will almost certainly die before House of the Dragon comes to a close.

In Martin’s Fire & Blood, Helaena takes her own life, though it’s rumored that Rhaenyra had her killed. Young Maelor is later taken away from the Red Keep to go into hiding, but he is ultimately killed and torn apart by a mob of peasants eager to claim the reward Rhaenyra placed on his head. This exact plotline doesn’t work so well for House of the Dragon, which tends to place Rhaenyra in a more sympathetic light. Still, this prequel series typically brings things to the same outcome, even if the route is different. Helaena and Maelor will die.

Given the timeline, it seems unlikely that Helaena will give birth to a live baby. Maelor may be stillborn, or else killed very shortly after birth. It’s also possible that Helaena will have a miscarriage in the coming episodes of House of the Dragon. Perhaps, in this version of the story, the child’s death is what pushed Helaena to suicide. Only time will tell.