helaenarchive

[helaenarchive]

‼️ TRIGGER WARNING: CSA ‼️

My thoughts on Phia's interviews talking about Helaena's marriage as an autistic survivor and lover of Helaena:

Helaena was married aged fourteen (a child) to someone shown as sexually predacious (even described as evil by Phia), and then was pregnant not soon after.

These are all glaring signs of CSA.

All Helaena's relationships interest me and I want to explore the reality of their marriage at this time when she was a little girl. This was the first big trauma of her endlessly tragic life. Phia has discussed how Helaena puts duty before everything, and this is the root.

Helaena and Aegon are shown and described to have a distant and strained relationship, not one of mutual respect or healthy partnership. Let's explore this in the context of abuse.

Below is a script exerpt of Helaena looking at Aegon with “flat detachment” (disassociation) when faced with the aftermath of him raping Dyana. Furthermore, how Alicent hugs her as she realises that Helaena has endured a similar fate to herself.

Credit: Darksvster

Now, at the dinner we see them again. But this time, Helaena makes a toast: “Mostly he just ignores you, except sometimes when he’s drunk,” as Aegon rolls his eyes at her, implying that he neglects her as a wife except for when he needs sex (something she doesn't get a say in). He can also be seen sexually harassing Baela and Jace as Helaena sits next to him, trying to focus on other things.

From the script we get more about their dynamic in descriptions of how “lonely she has been”. She's so happily surprised that someone would pay her attention as Jace did. Loneliness and low self esteem are extremely common in survivors, just like with Helaena.

Credit: Darksvster

At Laena’s funeral, referring to their betrothal, Aegon outright calls her an idiot and (in my opinion) makes a sexual ‘joke’ involving her. This younger Aegon also masturbates out of windows, showing the pleasure he reaps from exerting sexual power over non-consenting others.

That isn't a sign that she was respected. Alongside Aegon's persistent characterisation as a sexual assaulter, implies that any consummation wasn't going to be consensual, but on his terms only.

She was a child forced to marry her raping brother and led a very lonely life.

Exploring this dynamic is incredibly important, and how it develops, but I don’t see the point if we don’t acknowledge the reality of this from Helaena’s point of view.

This life was forced upon her by the system, Aegon included.

Apologies for lack of a better example, but Daemon didn't consummate his marriage. It's not essential. If he respected her he wouldn't have had sex with her. He did because he wanted to and could without repercussions. It’s not nice to think about, but in this deeply patriarchal society, he has an immense power over her that she does not also have over him. He was abused, just as Helaena, but he also abuses her. It is not as simple as them both being equal, because they are not. In daily routine, he can frequent brothels and assault the help, she has to take care of the children and do whatever is asked of her.

It hurts and troubles me to see people act like Helaena isn’t a victim, especially with what we're shown.

At 14 she was forced to marry her rapist brother and used by him for sex. No child could consent to that.

I'm not saying that this is everything their dynamic was or will be, or that she hates him in any way, but just that this is at their core. It purposefully parallels Alicent's child marriage to Viserys.

Please be kind. I'm not attacking but trying to shed light on this. I'm trying to open up this discussion to what Helaena's perspective was and to do some honest scene, relationship and character analysis. 

[helaenarchive]

Evie Allen behind the scenes for HOTD season one.

[helaenarchive]

"So maybe Alicent's thinking is that it's better the evil [Aegon] you know? [...] To sort of, like, keep an eye on everything, because she essentially doesn't live a married life."

"If she was married to someone else and she was sent somewhere, then she wouldn't have that freedom that like being at least known by her husband has afforded her."

Phia Saban shares her thoughts on Helaena's marriage.

[helaenarchive]

New rumours for what Helaena’s arc will entail in season three below!

This leaker is one that provided true information last season, so this seems trustworthy. Although leaks can never be 100% accurate.

We are finally getting that dreamer arc 🤞 She’ll also have scenes with both of her brothers and apparently will begin to become her own person outside of her mother. This is the development we’ve been waiting for!

[helaenarchive]

Young Helaena in her pink dress 🐛

[helaenarchive]

The four occasions in which Helaena wanted touch.

Rarely does she seek it out, rarely does she not bat it away. Nevertheless, when faced with peril, she reaches out, clinging to those she feels safe with. And in a rare moment of carefree happiness, she embraces it.

These are significant moments because Helaena is portrayed as touch-averse. Furthermore, this is a device to show the development between Helaena and Alicent. Helaena shrunk and pushed away her touch in season one, but grows to want it in times of conflict in the second season.

[helaenarchive]

the thread of a tragic fate.

[helaenarchive]

[helaenarchive]

[helaenarchive]

Phia Saban behind the scenes of the season two throne room scene 🎥

[helaenarchive]

Babies who had babies.

[helaenarchive]

[helaenarchive]

A couple of paintings that remind me of Helaena.

Hands by He Lihuai (2017) & Golden Curls by Vojtěch Hynais (1904)

[helaenarchive]

BTS of Helaena's apartment wall drawings.

She inherited her apartment from Queen Alicent upon Aegon's coronation, indicating that these drawings were illustrated within the ten days before Jaehaerys' murder.

We see what is assumed to be Rhaenyra aflame and Sunfyre crowned.

This is likely where Helaena made sense of the fate of the war, which she tells Aemond about in the season two finale.

[helaenarchive]

Helaena and her daughter Jaehaera doing parallel play on their cushions in 2x01. It’s peaceful. Helaena sews Jaehaerys’ funeral shroud and Jaehaera plays with her toys.

I always think that they look like sisters in this image. I hope we’ll see more of them.

[helaenarchive]

Embroidery — one of Helaena’s favourite hobbies. 🧵🐛

[helaenarchive]

Modern Helaena Targaryen 🐌