Addam Velaryon

Addam Velaryon, originally known as Addam of Hull, is one of the main characters of this story. Born on Hull, a little town situated on the island of Driftmark, Addam and his brother Alyn Velaryon , are the son of Merilda, the young daughter of a shipbuilder. At the age of five, he and his brother were recognized by Lord Corlys as his only grandchildren and were sent to Dragonstone to be tried as squires under the protection of Prince Daemon; there Addam met the five princes, children of the Queen, becoming their friend.   During the Civil War, Addam aligned himself with the Blacks, playing an important role in persuading Queen Rhaenyra's youngest half-brother, Daeron Targaryen, to betray his brother and join their cause: his strategic contributions facilitated the capture of Oldtown and the downfall of House Hightower. To express her gratitude, the queen knighted Addam and granted him the opportunity to swear vows, inducting him into her royal guard at the tender age of sixteen.   Although Lord Corlys personally confirmed that the two young men were children of his deceased son, who died of poisoning, Addam and Alyn's origins remained a matter of dispute among historians for years. Due to Laenor's known sexual preference for men, many started to believe that the two boys - who then became first in order of succession to the title of Lord - were in reality fathered by Laenor's father, Lord Corlys Velaryon, who without direct heirs, decided to use the name of his late son in order to recognize his only male offspring, without offending his fiery-tempered wife, Princess Rhaenys Targaryen. However, the Sea Snake always denied such rumours and even on his deathbed he continued to perjure himself that Addam and Alyn were absolutely Leanor's children and not his; still, those doubts never faded and continued to circulate even in the following years.   At the start of the first book, we discover that Addam assumed the role of Princess Rhaena Targaryen 's sword shield, with whom is believed he has a secret affair; such affair will continue even after her marriage to her uncle Daeron, and together they will have a son, Rhaengal, who, however, will be recognized by her husband as his.   Addam Velaryon etches his name in history as the second dragonrider to form a bond with Seasmoke. Furthermore, he becomes the inaugural member of House Velaryon to wield the Lady of the Sea, a longsword crafted from the molten iron of Criston Cole's former Morningstar, bestowed upon him by Lord Corlys following his investiture.