Synopsis
On the road to Ashford
Dunk buries Ser Arlan.
Dunk buries Ser Arlan.

Dunk resolves to enter the tourney himself.
Dunk resolves to enter the tourney himself.

About 90 years before the War of the Five Kings, a young squire named Dunk digs a grave for his master, Ser Arlan of Pennytree, who died while they were on the road to Ashford in the Reach to attend a tournament. Dunk doesn't know any formal prayers but laments that Arlan was a true knight. The next day, he wonders aloud to their horses what he should do next. If he sold all three horses he could live well for a year or two, or he might travel to King's Landing or Lannisport and join the City Watch. Holding Arlan's sword in his hand, he remarks that it fits his grip as well as it did his, and he resolves to compete in the Ashford tourney himself to seek his fortune. He relieves himself behind a tree, then begins his journey.

At an Ashford inn
Dunk and his three horses arrive at the town of Ashford after nightfall, and he comes to an inviting but mostly empty inn. As he dismounts, a young boy with a bald head walks out of the stables. Assuming him to be the stableboy, Dunk asks that he look after his horses, but the impudent boy only says he could if he wanted to. Confused, Dunk says he'll give him a copper if he does a good job but a clout in the ear if he doesn't, then heads inside. The innkeeper woman offers him lamb or duck, but he says he will have both.

An odd drunk nobleman exclaims that he dreamed of Dunk.
An odd drunk nobleman exclaims that he dreamed of Dunk.

The inn is mostly empty, and she explains this is because most of the town has gone off to the tourney grounds outside Ashford castle. She asks if her son the stableboy ran off as well but Dunk says he was there in the stables. The only other person in the room is a drunk nobleman passed out at another table, who suddenly wakes up and declares that he dreamed about Dunk. He pulls out a dagger and warns Dunk to stay away, before leaving a gold dragon coin on the table and retreating upstairs to his room. The innkeeper tells Dunk to pay no mind to the bizarre drunk.

The bald boy asks to be Dunk's squire.
The bald boy asks to be Dunk's squire.

When Dunk goes back to check on the horses, he stumbles upon the bald boy sitting on top of his war horse, playing at being a knight while wearing Arlan's old helm and chainmail. Dunk scolds him and says his war horse Thunder could have kicked him, but the boy proudly says he can ride just as well as Dunk. The boy asks how Dunk can be a knight given that he seems to have very little (noting that his swordbelt is just a rope). When Dunk asks what the boy's mother would think he responds that his mother is dead, leaving Dunk confused that he is not the innkeeper's son. The boy asks if Dunk is himself an orphan, at which Dunk self-reflectively says he was until Ser Arlan saved him from a life on the streets and taught him everything he knows, but Arlan is gone now and he means to become a champion at the tourney. The boy asks if he could squire for Dunk at the tourney, but he declines. Dunk tosses the boy a copper penny and says he knows he'll pick it up after he leaves, but surprisingly the boy does not.


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Arriving at Ashford Meadow
Dunk arrives at the Ashford tourney grounds
Dunk arrives at the Ashford tourney grounds

At daybreak, Dunk arrives at the sprawling tournament grounds that have been erected outside of Ashford castle. These contain not only the lists (the jousting grounds) but a small village of tents that have popped up around them, ranging from grand pavilions belonging to the nobility to a market row with food and spices, blacksmiths selling armor and weapons, mummers and performers, and, of course, prostitutes.

Dunk meets with Plummer, the master of the games.
Dunk meets with Plummer, the master of the games.

Dunk makes his way to the castle and asks the guards to lead him to the games master so he can sign up for the tourney. Plummer, the games master, is dismissive of Dunk and dubious that he is actually a knight. Dunk explains that he was squire to Ser Arlan but as he lay dying on the road a few days before, he made Dunk to bring him his longsword and used it to dub him. Plummer admits that any knight can make another man a knight, but he's never even heard of "Arlan of Pennytree." He explains that Lord Ashford is hosting a particularly large and grand tourney to boost his prestige, inviting lords of great houses and even royal princes to the event, and he's been told to turn away minor landed knights and sellswords. Dejected, Dunk turns to leave, but on a second thought Plummer says that he will let Dunk sign up if any of the assembled knights can vouch that they knew Ser Arlan. Dunk recalls that as he arrived he saw the banners of House Dondarrion, and Plummer says that Ser Manfred Dondarrion is in attendance. Dunk explains that a few years ago he and Ser Arlan temporarily joined the service of Manfred's father to clear out a bandit chief, the Vulture King, from the Red Mountains bordering Dorne. Plummer tells him to go and find Ser Manfred. Plummer also warns Dunk that anyone who loses in the tourney forfeits their horses and armor and has to ransom them back, and it doesn't look like Dunk can afford to. Trying to work up his confidence, Dunk declares that he will have no need of coin because he doesn't intend to lose.

Dunk talks to a pair of whores.
Dunk talks to a pair of whores.

When Dunk arrives at Dondarrion's tent, he encounters a troupe of prostitutes gathered outside. They explain that Manfred is sleeping off another round of their services so he should come back at dusk. Beony asks what kind of a knight he is if he's so impoverished, and Red explains he must be a hedge knight: a poor wandering knight not permanently in the service of one lord, but who travels around looking for temporary work, and sleeping under hedges by the roadside because no lord will have him. Dunk admits to his horses that he is risking everything on performing well in this tourney, as he will lose what few possessions he has if he fails, but he doesn't have much choice.

Dunk encounters the Fossoways.
Dunk encounters the Fossoways.

As he leaves, Dunk walks past the practice grounds, where he sees Ser Steffon Fossoway roughing up his squire in a brutal practice round. Steffon's squire is in fact his younger cousin, Raymun Fossoway. Steffon dares the large but impoverished-looking Dunk to join a practice round but Dunk politely declines. With no pavilion of is own, Dunk rides just outside of the tourney grounds and indeed finds a pleasant hedge row where he sets up camp under a tree. For the first time in days he cleans himself in a nearby stream and ties up his horses.


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Night at the tourney grounds
Dunk returns to Dondarrion's tent at night, but Red tells him that he is asleep once again due to his gout-stricken toes. After Red hands off some clothes she was mending to a customer, he follows her into a tent where Beony is dressing up another prostitute Daisy to act like she's dead. They banter back and forth and Dunk earnestly asks them not to mock him. They relent, sympathetically saying that they've seen a lot of green boys try their luck at tourneys but they rarely succeed. Increasingly realizing how low his possibility of success actually is, Dunk leaves.

The Dornish puppet show.
The Dornish puppet show.

As he makes his way back through the tourney grounds, and is drawn to an elaborate puppet-show put on by a troupe of Dornish puppeteers. It features an articulated dragon puppet taller than a man and worked by half a dozen people, using real fire effects. A particularly tall and beautiful young Dornish woman, Tanselle, catches Dunk's eye as she narrates the story about Serwyn of the Mirror Shield, trying to sneak up on and slay the dragon because it doesn't recognize its own reflection.

Ser Lyonel Baratheon hosts a feast in his pavilion.
Ser Lyonel Baratheon hosts a feast in his pavilion.

Later, Dunk runs into Raymun Fossoway again. Raymun apologizes for even suggesting Dunk could fight Steffon, warning him that Steffon fights dirty and enjoys badly injuring men during practice sessions so he won't have to face them in the actual tournament. To make up for it Raymun asks if Dunk is hungry, and invites him to an open feast being held in the tent of House Baratheon. The inside of the tent is a merry gathering with music, drinking, and platters of meat. Holding court over the gathering is Ser Lyonel Baratheon, called the Laughing Storm due to his brash and boisterous but charismatic personality. Intrigued by Dunk - for it is rare to see a man bigger than he is - he waves him over to the front table. Baratheon is convinced that Dunk is some kind of sycophant coming to offer gifts in return for political favors, or perhaps has come to battle and kill the Laughing Storm. Ser Lyonel bluntly asks why he has come, to which Dunk meekly stammers that he just came for the free supper. After a terse pause, Ser Lyonel and his entourage laugh warmly. Intrigued at meeting an honest person for once, the increasingly drunk Lyonel asks him to join in a dance, as dozens of people inside the pavilion join in for a folk dance.

Ser Manfred says he doesn't remember Ser Arlan or Dunk.
Ser Manfred says he doesn't remember Ser Arlan or Dunk.

At the end of the night, now sitting with their cups, Dunk laments that he has no confidence in himself as a poor lowborn boy and he doesn't stand much of a chance against the sons of great noble houses who have had expensive training their entire lives. Lyonel says it is still a great honor to test oneself but admits that he is now too drunk to think clearly. The guests leave the tent, including Manfred Dondarrion with a prostitute on each arm. Outside, Dunk pleads that he vouch for him, but the bored and distracted Manfred says he doesn't remember Ser Arlan at all: he was one of only 800 men who went on the expedition against the Vulture King, Manfred never met all of them, and he has forgotten men who suffered far worse than Arlan did on that campaign when he took an arrow wound but survived. Not sure what to do, Dunk leaves to sleep at his camp in the hedges.


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A falling star
Dunk finds the boy "Egg" back at his camp.
Dunk finds the boy "Egg" back at his camp.

When Dunk arrives back at the hedge he is surprised to see an active campfire, and the bald young boy from the inn cooking fish over it. When he incredulously asks what he's doing, he says he's there to be Dunk's squire: he's cleaned Dunk's clothes, looked after the horses, then caught and cooked fish for them. Dunk asks how he got there and he explains he sat in the back of a lamb cart. He says he should ride the boy back home, to which he says that he'd miss the tourney if he did: he isn't actually from Ashford but from King's Landing. Intrigued, Dunk asks if he's from the slums of Flea Bottom like he was, but he says no. Dunk asks what his name is, and the boy says he is Egg. Seeing something of his own enthusiasm in the boy, Dunk agrees to take him on as his squire, as Ser Arlan once took him.

Later that night as they sleep under the tree they gaze at the night sky. Egg points out a shooting star, and says they bring good luck to those who see them - thus they're fortunate compared to all the great lords at the tourney staring up at their silk pavilions tonight. Dunk is dismissive at first, but then asks if that means the luck is theirs alone. Egg only smiles and they drift off to sleep.

The Hedge Knight

Remembering Ser Arlan
Dunk remembers traveling with Ser Arlan.
Dunk remembers traveling with Ser Arlan.

Having failed to convince Manfred Dondarrion to vouch for him, Ser Duncan the Tall goes about the tourney grounds at Ashford pleading with other lords who his master Ser Arlan of Pennytree served over the years. Arlan served with House Florent when their lord was blinded, and he even fought alongside the previous lord of House Hayford when he was killed at the Battle of Redgrass Field (during which Arlan's own nephew died), but they do not remember one hedge knight among many who fought for them years ago.

In narrated flashback, Dunk recounts his idolized views of Arlan as a great knight. In truth, Arlan was a decent fighter but is also shown to have enjoyed drinking and women. Far from a striking knight from popular romances, he was a slovenly wandering soldier who slept under roadside hedges much of his life. But he also trained Dunk as best he could in use of arms, and Dunk fondly remembers him singing traveling songs and them sharing a laugh over quiet moments. As they traveled on the road to Ashford, an infected wound on Arlan's arm was made worse by a chill he caught in the rain. Arlan put on a brave face about it, but even Dunk realized his master's health was in serious decline, which before long led Arlan to die under the tree where Dunk buried him the next day.

Egg asks Dunk why he cares what rude lords think of him.
Egg asks Dunk why he cares what rude lords think of him.

Back in the present, Dunk pleads to the last great lord present that Arlan served: Leo Tyrell, called "Leo Longthorn," a gruff and skilled warrior. Lord Leo pensively hears Dunk out while chewing sourleaf, then curtly responds that he never knew Arlan. As Dunk walks away with his new squire Egg, the boy wonders if Arlan really was a great knight when no one can remember him. Dunk insists he was, but Egg chides him for acting like these rude noblemen are his betters. Dunk admits that they are his betters given their wealth, power, and years of training.


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The Targaryens arrive
The Targaryens arrive at Ashford.
The Targaryens arrive at Ashford.

The entire tourney grounds are then stirred by the sounding of trumpets to announce the arrival of a royal delegation from House Targaryen, prominently carrying their red dragon banners. Egg grows nervous and says he should go back to their camp in the hedges to check on the horses to make sure no one has stolen them, to which Dunk agrees and then sneaks along to Ashford castle to see the royal princes.

Duncan the Tall meets Aerion Targaryen.
Duncan the Tall meets Aerion Targaryen.

A herald announces that the royal party is led by Crown Prince Baelor Targaryen, heir of King Daeron the Good as well as his father's Hand of the King - and also Baelor's younger brother Maekar Targaryen. Baelor greets Lord Ashford courteously, who introduces him to his maiden daughter Gwin Ashford, in whose honor the tourney is being held. As Dunk gapes at the royals and their finery, an arrogant Targaryen princeling rides by and in a bored tone tells him to see to his horse. The princeling is one of Maekar's sons, Aerion Targaryen. Embarrassed, Dunk explains he isn't a stableboy, to which the princeling responds mockingly that he must not have been clever enough, so he asks for wine and a wench. Dunk again apologizes that he isn't a servant at the castle, only a knight who entered into the tourney, to which Aerion glibly remarks that knighthood has fallen on sad times.

Aerion "Brightflame" Targaryen.
Aerion "Brightflame" Targaryen.

One of the Targaryen horses gets spooked from the large crowd of unfamiliar people and kicks a man in the face, so Dunk pulls it inside a stable to calm it down. He is surprised when he turns around and is approached by two knights of the Targaryen Kingsguard, wearing their signature stunning all-white armor. Ser Donnel of Duskendale apologizes to Dunk for Aerion's rude behavior, though Ser Roland Crakehall is more dismissive. Ser Donnel tells Dunk that Roland is also arrogant because he is a highborn, but Donnel himself is not: he is not a member of House Darklyn that rule Duskendale but the son of a crabber. This gives Dunk some renewed hope he can advance in the world, so, spotting a serving woman entering through a side door, he follows her to sneak into the castle and plead his case there.

Inside Ashford Castle
Lord Ashford receives Baelor and Maekar in his study, while Dunk watches from behind a grated door. He overhears them arguing about Maekar's other sons Daeron and Aegon. Gwin Ashford comes up behind Dunk to listen in as well, and whispers that the two princes have gone missing — there is fear they might be dead, and wars have started over less. She then playfully swats her hand at Dunk, calls him stupid, and hurries away. Baelor tries to calm his brother Maekar's fears, saying that Daeron has gone wandering off before and the Kingsguard will likely turn them up before too long. Baelor wonders why Maekar insisted on bringing his sons, given that they have as much place in a tourney as their own absent brothers Aerys and Rhaegel. Maekar accuses Baelor of insinuating Daeron is better suited to riding a whore than a horse, though Baelor tactfully tries to deny it, yet Maekar insists that Daeron will prove himself at the tournament.

Dunk pleads his case to Baelor Targaryen inside Ashford castle.
Dunk pleads his case to Baelor Targaryen inside Ashford castle.

Just then Maekar notices that Dunk is listening in on them from the door and demands that he stops spying. Nervous with fear in the presence of some of the most powerful men in Westeros, Dunk comes forward and says he was hoping to speak with them. He explains that the master of the games said he could only compete if he could find a lord who could vouch they knew Ser Arlan, but Dondarrion, and then all the others, said they didn't remember him. His final long-shot hope is that Baelor himself might remember Arlan, as he told Dunk he jousted with him many years ago. Baelor Breakspear, a gentle and kind figure, murmurs that he recalls that Arlan never won a tourney he ever heard of, but he never shamed himself either, and indeed he remembers facing Arlan in a joust years before held at Storm's End. Baelor also recounts that years before that in a different tourney, Arlan unhorsed the "Grey Lion" of House Lannister. Baelor asks Dunk to prove his knowledge about Arlan by asking if he knows the Grey Lion's real name, and after a moment's hesitation, he correctly recalls that he is Damon Lannister, currently the Lord of Casterly Rock.

Crown Prince Baelor Targaryen.
Crown Prince Baelor Targaryen.

Baelor smirks fondly, and notes that Arlan acquitted himself well in their joust, breaking four lances against him before Baelor finally unhorsed him. Baelor demanded no ransom from Arlan as was his right as victor but freely gave the poor hedge knight back his horse and armor: Dunk recalls that Arlan always said Baelor had the true spirit of chivalry and Westeros would be in good hands when he became king. Baelor smiles and says hopefully that day won't be coming too soon - realizing Baelor would only become king after his father King Daeron dies, Dunk grows even more flustered and profusely apologizes. Not wishing to antagonize the clearly out of his depth and terrified young man any further, Baelor kindly tells Plummer the games master that he sees no reason not to add him to the lists, and gently dismisses Dunk.

As Dunk turns to leave, Baelor reminds Dunk that he was not of Ser Arlan's blood, and thus by law doesn't have the right to continue bearing Ser Arlan's personal heraldry on his shield. Therefore, he'll have to come up with his own and have his shield repainted. With a mixture of abject terror and gratitude at a nobleman who for once behaved courteously towards him, Dunk hastily retreats out of the room in the wrong direction (and then corrects himself).


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The Dornish puppet show
The Dornish puppet show tells the story of Jonquil and Florian the Fool.
The Dornish puppet show tells the story of Jonquil and Florian the Fool.

Dunk then reunites with Egg at the Dornish puppet show, giving an elaborate performance recounting the legend of Jonquil and Florian the Fool. It is very impressive, with man-sized and highly decorated puppets moved by players hidden under all-black clothes - while Tanselle plays Jonquil herself in a large stilt-suit with wooden arms. Egg and the other children in the crowd are in awe, as are the adults.

After the show, Dunk awkwardly approaches Tanselle with Egg in tow and asks if she makes the puppets herself. She says that her uncle makes them, she only paints them - though the paintings are quite detailed. After Dunk introduces himself, Tanselle give them her name and notes that growing up boys always teased her as "Tanselle Too-Tall" due to her great height. The well over six feet tall Dunk, however, is smitten to encounter a beautiful girl who is also so tall he wouldn't need to bend down on one knee to kiss her. He can only blurt out that she's not "too tall" but just the right height - before trailing off. She asks what he thinks she's the right height for, but then Egg - disgusted at the hapless, love-struck oaf - interjects and says she's just the right height for puppets.

Dunk and Egg meet Tanselle Too-Tall.
Dunk and Egg meet Tanselle Too-Tall.

Dunk stammers out that he wants to hire her to repaint his shield with new heraldry, but when she asks what design he'd like he realizes he hadn't put any thought into it. He says it should be on a sunset-orange field, for Ser Arlan always loved sunsets. Egg then says to add a green elm tree, after the one where he made his camp as a hedge knight. Dunk agrees, then also says it should add a shooting star over the tree, as he saw his first night at the tourney and hoped it signaled his good luck. Dunk apologizes that he must seem quite the fool, but quoting Jonquil in the play, she says that all men are fools and all men are knights when it comes to women.

Dunk and Egg cheer after winning a tug of war game.
Dunk and Egg cheer after winning a tug of war game.

As they sit outside another tent afterwards, the pair watches a tug of war game. Dunk asks if that clearly embarrassing situation was ill-handled. Egg notes that she did agree to paint his shield, but Dunk cites that she agreed to do it for money - regardless of what she thinks about him. Egg commiserates that Dunk shouldn't feel too bad about himself, and wonders if he'll even be a knight one day, because unlike Dunk he is very small - even relative to other boys his age. Dunk responds that people used to say he was stupid, before leaving it at that. Egg is confused, as he thought Dunk was about to encourage him that one day he wouldn't be small anymore. They are then interrupted by Lyonel Baratheon inviting the large Dunk to join his side of the rope in the tug of war. Egg also joins in at the very front and nearly gets pulled into the mud, only avoiding it by pulling up his legs to hang from the rope by all fours.


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The night joust
Dunk tries to buy armor from Steely Pate.
Dunk tries to buy armor from Steely Pate.

As the day turns to evening, Dunk seeks out the blacksmith's row at the tourney grounds to purchase a full suit of armor for himself. He comes across the stall of Steely Pate, noting that his examples on display are good work. Steely Pate says he makes sturdy and reliable armor - it might not be as impressive looking as nobleman's armor covered in elaborate moldings of exotic animals and fruits, but it's more functional and more likely to keep a man alive if he takes a lance to the head. He tells Dunk that a suit of plain, good armor for a man his size will cost 800 silver stags. Not having nearly that much, he asks if he can trade in Ser Arlan's old helm and chainmail which do not fit him, but Pate says he doesn't resell work by other armorers. Taking some pity on Dunk, Pate says he could make use of the metal if he reforged them, but that would only bring the price down to 600 silver stags. Realizing he will have to sell one of his three horses, Dunk gives Pate the two silver stags he has on hand as a down payment and says he'll be back with the rest the next day. Dunk then goes to the master of horse at Ashford castle and sells Sweetfoot, Ser Arlan's palfrey horse that was as close to him as family. He gives the stableboy a few extra coins to make sure she gets an apple and he promises Sweetfoot that after he wins the tourney he'll have enough money to buy her back.

Dunk then sits down with Egg in another tent for a drink of ale while the boy has a cider, and says he hopes he has some chance of advancement at this tournament: he doesn't even need to be the final champion, simply win one jousting tilt, as even being champion for one hour before losing the next round might still get him noticed by one of the lordly Houses that have come to the tourney looking for recruits. Dunk says that if he's very lucky, he might even impress the royal House Targaryen into hiring him as a household knight. Egg grows nervous and says the dragon house isn't likely to hire mere hedge knights. Dunk retorts that Ser Donnel of the Kingsguard started out as a crabber's son. Surprised, Egg says that Ser Donnel's family - while not noble-born - still own half the crabbing fleets in Westeros and are in fact quite wealthy. Dunk asks how he knows that, and Egg meekly responds that he likes fishing. They are then interrupted, however, by horns announcing that the joust has begun.

The Ashford tourney begins with a round of jousts at night lit by bonfires.
The Ashford tourney begins with a round of jousts at night lit by bonfires.

At the whim of Lord Ashford, to impress his royal guests, the first round of jousting is unusually held at night but lit by large bonfires. Five different pairs of riders tilt at each other simultaneously along parallel lanes. Among them are Lyonel Baratheon, Leo Tyrell, and Medgar Tully, along with riders from House Ashford and House Hightower. Egg sits atop Dunk's large shoulders so he can see from the crowd, and notes that Baelor's eldest son and heir Valarr Targaryen is also competing in this round.

The joust begins with the thundering of hooves and crack of lances against shields. Several lances splinter but squires quickly hand fresh ones to the riders. A few men are unhorsed but manage to avoid being trampled by quickly rolling out of the lanes. The crowd is filled with riotous applause at the spectacle. Dunk himself is enthusiastic at first, but as the competition goes on his mood grows more serious as he realizes how skilled these trained and experienced knights are. He begins to fear that he might not only lose his horse and weapons in the dangerous jousting but lose his life as well.

Dunk realizes he is Ser Arlan's only legacy.
Dunk realizes he is Ser Arlan's only legacy.

At the end of the night the pair return to their camp in the hedges outside of town. Having been very excited by the jousting, Egg play-fights with a stick against imaginary enemies and after vanquishing them demands if the "Blackfyre bastards" will yield. Dunk, however, has been brooding over his own serious thoughts. He shares with Egg that he now admits Arlan wasn't a truly "great" knight: great knights don't sleep under hedges, live to be almost 60 years old without winning a single tourney, then die by the side of a lonely road unremembered by the entire world except for his lowly squire. He wasn't some chivalrous knight from romantic tales but drank and whored and was covered in dirt from muddy back roads. But Dunk concludes that even if Arlan wasn't a "great" man, he was still good to him and raised him as his own, saving Dunk from life as a street orphan. Dunk says that he is Ser Arlan's only legacy left in this world, and tomorrow all will see and judge what Ser Arlan's hand has wrought.

Hard Salt Beef

Synopsis
Egg's morning training
Egg trains Thunder in the early morning.
Egg trains Thunder in the early morning.

Egg gets up very early in the morning while Dunk is still asleep, and leads his war horse Thunder to a nearby field. He explains to the horse that Dunk is twice the size of his former rider and the tourney ground will be as muddy as this field or worse. If Dunk loses, both of their dreams will be crushed, so he says they need to train. Egg calls Thunder to run across the field repeatedly, while training to rush up to him and present his rider with a new lance or his sword.

Egg encounters Ser Robyn Rhysling.
Egg encounters Ser Robyn Rhysling.

Egg's excited shouts get the attention of a one-eyed knight walking by, who questions if he stole the horse. Egg says he only borrowed it, and the knight realizes the horse seems to know the boy. He asks what happened to the bald child's hair, which Egg counters by asking what happened to the knight's eye — then he quickly realizes that this must be none other than Ser Robyn Rhysling, considered "the maddest knight in the Seven Kingdoms." At a tourney a few years ago a splintered lance took out his left eye, but, filled with battle rage, he powered through the injury to keep fighting. Rhysling acknowledges that he considers himself a vessel for the Warrior, and when the Gods call for madness men must deliver madness. Filled with religious fervor, Rhysling walks through life barefoot like a mendicant, and always refers to himself as "we" because the Gods are with him. He continues on to Ashford while Egg returns to Dunk's hedge camp.

Egg informs Dunk he isn't among the first round of competitors who start today.
Egg informs Dunk he isn't among the first round of competitors who start today.

Dunk, now awake, says Egg shouldn't go wandering off like that. He asks what's for breakfast but all Dunk has is hard salt beef, and they need to do their morning chores first. Dunk needs to sew a patch on his clothes, which Egg has never done, so he decides to show him how. Afterward Dunk starts vomiting from anxiety at the upcoming tourney while Egg sits in a tree singing a song to himself about the Battle of Redgrass Field. When Dunk finally tells him to fetch his armor he is confused, and explains that Dunk won't be jousting today because the honor of first challenge goes to high born or renowned knights, not a hedge knight who has never competed before. Dunk admits he honestly didn't know that, so they set off to the tournament camp.


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Dunk and Egg's day out
Dunk awkwardly greets Tanselle while buying some eggs.
Dunk awkwardly greets Tanselle while buying some eggs.

Able to enjoy a full day before his big joust, Dunk decides to go to the market row and buy supplies for a hearty breakfast beyond mere salt beef. He buys fresh bread and some large rashers of ham, then tries to buy some goose eggs (though he has a bit of trouble communicating with the foreign vendor, a Tyroshi who doesn't know the Common Tongue). Dunk embarrasses himself awkwardly saying hello to Tanselle, the beautiful Dornish puppeteer girl. She says that Dunk's repainted shield should be ready by the evening. Afterwards a bemused Egg pokes fun at Dunk for his crush.

Egg eats the most delicious breakfast he's ever had.
Egg eats the most delicious breakfast he's ever had.

They return to the hedge camp, and after tending to the horses, Dunk shows the boy how to cook the meal on a frying pan over an open fire. They enjoy their delicious meal earned through hard work, then return to the jousting field to cheer along with the crowds. Many knights charge in the tilts, including Humfrey Hardyng and Humfrey Beesbury.

Humfrey Hardyng battles Humfrey Beesbury.
Humfrey Hardyng battles Humfrey Beesbury.

During the mid-day break, Dunk and Egg enjoy sitting on a sunny hillside overlooking the tourney grounds. Egg remarks he could be quite happy here – by which he means staying here a long while. He muses about becoming a knight and winning his own parcel of land with Dunk, marrying some lord's second most beautiful daughter while Dunk marries the most beautiful. He asks if he can remain as Dunk's squire after the tourney, and Dunk solemnly reiterates that if he loses the tourney he'll lose his horse and won't really be a knight anymore.

Plummer asks Dunk to help Androw Ashford throw the fight for gambling money.
Plummer asks Dunk to help Androw Ashford throw the fight for gambling money.

But thinking on if he does win, he is about to say yes when they are interrupted by Plummer the games master, who asks to have a private word with him: Lord Ashford spent a large amount of money to host such an extravagant tournament to attract the great lords of the realm – and he is in fact quite overspent. Tournaments always attract a lot of gambling, but the odds against an unproven hedge knight like Dunk are very high. Thus, Plummer says that Lord Ashford's youngest son is planning to take a dive and hopes Dunk will go along with it: everyone will bet on Ashford's son versus an unknown, so the Ashfords will make big gains secretly betting on Dunk. Astonished and mildly insulted, Dunk says he will not have a victory that is not earned. Plummer gently points out that Dunk could lose all he possesses if he loses at any point in the tourney, and the extra money would be of great use to him. The horns then blow to signal that the jousting for the day has resumed.


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The day turns ugly
The Ashford heralds announce a new challenger: Maekar Targaryen's second son Aerion Targaryen, called Aerion Brightflame. He is outfitted in imposing custom armor, with sculpted flames coming off the head and plates that look like dragon scales. Aerion's uncle Crown Prince Baelor looks nervously at him from the royal viewing box where he is seated next to Lord Ashford, but his brother Maekar's seat is notably empty.

Aerion "Brightflame" Targaryen enters the tourney grounds.
Aerion "Brightflame" Targaryen enters the tourney grounds.

With a smirk, Aerion rides up to select which of the current champions he will challenge. First he approaches his cousin Valarr Targaryen, to his consternation, but then says he won't embarrass him today. He rides past and with a taunt challenges Ser Humfrey Hardyng. In their first charge Aerion swerves out of the way of Hardyng's lance rather than even try to deflect it with his shield. Egg starts shouting "Kill him!" On their second charge, Dunk realizes that Aerion's lance is aimed too low but can do nothing: Aerion intentionally aims his lance at Hardyng's horse, impaling it through the neck. Gouts of blood shoot from the wound, and the horse panics and falls through the tilt railing – snapping Hardyng's leg underneath it. Aerion lifts his visor and only continues to smirk at his violence, while Baelor hangs his head in disgust, having been fearful Aerion would do something like this. The crowd begins to boo and shout "Cheat!" at his dishonorable move, then starts throwing objects and surging onto the field. The Ashford knights and even the Kingsguard have to ride onto the field to quell it from turning into a riot.

Lyonel Baratheon leads a ribald drinking song in his tent.
Lyonel Baratheon leads a ribald drinking song in his tent.

Dunk decides it's a good time to leave, and as they walk out tells Egg he's sorry he had to see that, but as his squire he might have to deal with "accidents" like that if they happen on the tourney ground. Egg firmly tells Dunk that was no accident and Aerion meant to kill the horse.

Seeking to lighten their mood, they head to the alehouse, where Lyonel Baratheon and Manfred Dondarrion are leading a lively and ribald drinking song about a three-fingered girl named Alys. Egg ponders the lyrics with philosophical seriousness, wondering if such a girl ever existed. Dunk admits she might have but it's too coincidental she was named "Alys" and the song probably just calls her that for the rhyming scheme. Egg points out how odd it is that people would think such a girl worth remembering in song only to not credit her real name. He concludes that hers is a story of a dogged spirit triumphing over adversity, and it is a story of hope.

Later, the two enjoy some sausages at the market row, and Dunk asks if Egg ever knew his father, to which he responds "Not really." Dunk explains that he never met his father, though he probably saw him hanged as a thief. Back in the slums of Flea Bottom he and other orphans would sell rats and pigeons to a pot shop that would cook them into Bowls of brown, and the owner once remarked to him that his father was probably one of several thieves being hanged that day. Dunk isn't sure, but thinks that if his father was as big as he is he probably wouldn't have made a very good thief.

The two walk past a mysterious hooded woman who works as a fortune teller. She offers to read their future, and with a smile Dunk hears the usual generic prophecy that one day he will be rich as a Lannister. Bemused, he asks her to tell Egg's fortune: concentrating, she says that Egg will be king one day – but then he will die in flames, and his death will be rejoiced by all who know him. Egg is deeply rattled by this, though the laughing Dunk can't understand why he's be concerned by something so implausible.


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Night at the tourney grounds
They are then approached by Raymun Fossoway, who invites Dunk back to his tent to enjoy some fine cider (from his family's castle seat, Cider Hall). Dunk agrees but Egg nervously excuses himself because he would like to see the evening act at Tanselle's Dornish puppet show and says he can bring Dunk's shield after the performance.

Raymun asks Dunk what the Targaryens have ever done for Westeros.
Raymun asks Dunk what the Targaryens have ever done for Westeros.

In the Fossway tent Raymun asks who he is going to challenge at the next day's tourney, and Dunk reluctantly says he think he might be evenly matched with Androw Ashford (indicating he's giving serious thought to going along with Androw throwing the match, so Dunk can get desperately needed money). Raymun says he heard Aerion Targaryen was left spitting with rage that Lord Ashford decreed that as payment for badly injuring Humfrey Hardyng he had to forfeit his horse to him. Dunk tries to light-heartedly say he's incredulous that his squire thinks Aerion actually killed Hardyng's horse on purpose – he is, after all, a knight and a prince as well, and they always behave honorably. Raymun is aghast and says it's not hard to believe at all, going on a tirade that the Targaryens are "incestuous aliens" and tyrants, foreigners who conquered Westeros and in subsequent centuries dragged the people of the Seven Kingdoms into fighting their wars between rival branches of the family. Dunk is reluctant to say anything because in his one personal interaction with the Targaryens, Prince Baelor actually treated him with kindness and respect and vouched for him to join this tournament.

Having just "killed" the puppet dragon, Tanselle turns to see Aerion glaring at her.
Having just "killed" the puppet dragon, Tanselle turns to see Aerion glaring at her.

Aerion Targaryens is not amused by the Dornish puppet show.
Aerion Targaryens is not amused by the Dornish puppet show.

Meanwhile, Egg is at the Dornish tent enjoying the puppet show, which has switched back to showing the story of Serwyn of the Mirror Shield slaying a large, fire-breathing dragon puppet. This time, however, Tanselle herself is playing Serwyn. In the middle of the performance, however, she turns to notice Aerion stopping to watch along with his guards. At the climax of the performance, Tanselle "slays" the dragon puppet (which shoots out red confetti for blood), but gradually the crowd and puppeteers fall silent as they see Aerion approach the stage, glaring at them.

Back in the Fossoways' tent, Dunk remarks that he noticed Prince Maekar's seat in the viewing stands was empty. Raymun says he went to search for his two missing sons, who departed from Summerhall but haven't been seen since. Some fear they're dead, though Raymun thinks (as Baelor did) that Daeron is probably just off somewhere passed-out drunk again. Chuckling, Raymun says that Maekar's four sons are a sad, misbegotten group: Daeron the eldest is a sot (drunk), Aerion is vain and cruel, and there's also a third brother so useless at arms that they shipped him off to the Citadel in Oldtown to try to make a maester of him. There's also a fourth and youngest brother, lost with Daeron, but before Raymun can finish describing him Egg bursts into the tent to plead with Dunk that Aerion is hurting Tanselle.

Dunk rushes to the Dornish tent to see Aerion's guards breaking it up and turning over the braziers of fire. He pushes his way into the tent just in time to see Aerion grappling with Tanselle: as she struggles to get away Aerion grabs one of her hands and breaks one of her fingers, the bone snapping through the skin. Without even thinking, Dunk is filled with rage and charges through the guards straight to Aerion, punching him with a powerful right and left hook combo then throwing him across the room. Two guards grab Dunk's arms while on the ground Aerion starts to pull his dagger from its scabbard, but Dunk gives him a solid kick straight to his chin that knocks him to the ground again. More guards come and eventually four of them manage to restrain the big hedge knight.

The tent full of people falls deathly quiet as Aerion rises. Baffled, he barely reacts to his injuries and with dull surprise he flatly asks why Dunk just threw his life away for this "whore." Finding his heroism to be incomprehensible, Aerion can't see how she was worth it. He glibly remarks that the girl is a traitor for showing a dragon die in a puppet show, as "the dragon ought never lose." Noticing that Dunk's kick loosened one of his teeth, in a bored tone he says they'll start by breaking all of his. Aerion's guards then wrestle Dunk down to set his mouth against the corner of the stage – but before they can smash his teeth against it they are interrupted.

Egg reveals that he is Aerion's younger brother, Aegon Targaryen.
Egg reveals that he is Aerion's younger brother, Aegon Targaryen.

Egg appears at the entrance to the tent and demands that they stop. Dunk warns him to run or they'll hurt him too, but Egg says that if they do they'll have to answer to his father. He then refers to the guards by name and commands them to release Dunk. Annoyed, Aerion calls the boy a little rat, and asks what happened to the bald child's hair. Egg responds "I cut it off, brother, I didn't want to look like you" – all are stunned at the revelation that Egg is in truth Maekar's missing fourth son, Aegon Targaryen.

The Squire

Dunk imprisoned
Dunk in a prison cell.
Dunk in a prison cell.

Dunk waits for hours in a prison cell inside Ashford castle, after attacking Aerion Targaryen to defend Tanselle. Eventually he is visited by Egg - now dressed in royal finery and flanked by guards. Egg commands them to set down a tray of food for Dunk and leave them. Dunk eats hungrily, and Egg nervously says his uncle told him to beg Dunk's forgiveness for deceiving him. Dunk points out his uncle is in fact Crown Prince Baelor, heir to the Iron Throne. Egg says he never meant to lie, to which Dunk shoots back that he lied about everything - including his name, as he never heard of a "Prince Egg." The boy explains that it's short for "Aegon," which is instantly recognizable as a Targaryen name. Dunk chides him by asking how many "Aegons" have been king by now, and he admits there have been four "Aegons" already who sat the Iron Throne.

Prince Aegon Targaryen visits Dunk in his cell.
Prince Aegon Targaryen visits Dunk in his cell.

Aegon "Egg" Targaryen slumps down to sit against a wall while Dunk asks, as much to the boy as to himself, if it was all just a cruel joke, a royal prince having some fun making a fool of a stupid lowly hedge knight. Egg explains that he was supposed to squire for his older brother Daeron, who he bluntly describes as "a shit knight and a drunk." Daeron didn't even want to enter the tourney lists, but only went to Ashford because their father Maekar pressured him. Daeron meant to hide at the inn where Dunk first met him, about a day's ride to the south, until the tourney was over. Daeron has more dirty-blond hair, but Egg's hair is classic Targaryen silver-white, so Daeron shaved his brother's head to avoid notice.

Dunk counters by asking if it was Daeron and not him who lied and told Dunk he was a stable boy. Tears start welling up in Egg's eyes and he stammers that he didn't think he was doing anything wrong, but Dunk interjects that of course he knew it was wrong otherwise he wouldn't have lied. Egg pleads that he just wanted so much to be a squire and was so disappointed when he couldn't go to the tourney. Dunk accuses that Egg was so set on finding a replacement for Daeron that he'd have squired for a donkey if it would have taken him to the tourney, and Dunk meant nothing to him. Egg can only say he's truly sorry, and that his uncle Baelor wants to see Dunk after he's done eating. Dunk gets up to leave immediately, saying that he's already kicked one prince in the mouth so he shouldn't keep a second one waiting.


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Baelor's counsel
Aegon, his uncle Baelor, and Dunk discuss what to do.
Aegon, his uncle Baelor, and Dunk discuss what to do.

A guard brings Dunk and Egg to Baelor, who is studying old law books in Lord Ashford's library. Despite being upset about the deception, Dunk's first words are to tell Baelor that Egg is a good boy and a good squire, who meant no harm. Baelor says Aegon should have come to him when he saw what Aerion was doing to the puppeteers. Egg tries to interject that there simply wasn't time, but Baelor continues that instead the boy ran to Ser Duncan and dragged him into this situation. Egg looks at the floor and solemnly says he wishes Dunk had killed Aerion. Baelor insists that Aerion is his brother, and the septons say all must love their brothers, then bids the boy to leave.

Baelor starts by asking Dunk how skilled he is at arms, and Dunk admits he had some basic training from Ser Arlan - but doesn't have years of training from the best warriors in the realm like a prince would have. Baelor stands and paces, and informs Dunk that Egg's father Maekar returned to the castle a few hours ago having found his son Daeron drunk at the inn where Dunk found Egg. Daeron told Maekar that a "huge robber knight" made off with Aegon. Baelor knows that he was lying, and Dunk insists he left the inn alone and Daeron obviously remained at the inn instead of trying to pursue him.

Baelor advises Dunk that he has the right to a trial by combat.
Baelor advises Dunk that he has the right to a trial by combat.

Dunk asks what happened to the girl, and Baelor says Aerion is twisting the tale to accuse her of high treason and inciting revolt against the crown. Dunk is astonished, as it was just a harmless puppet show. Baelor says the dragon is the symbol of the royal family so this was unwise even in peacetime: Aerion calls it a veiled attack on House Targaryen. Dunk asks if Baelor even believes that, but he changes the subject to say what is beyond dispute is he struck a prince of royal blood - and it is never wise to strike a king's grandson.

Dunk angrily declares that Aerion snapped the girl's finger in half, and asks if Baelor would not have done the same in his place. Baelor admits he might have - but he is a prince and Aerion's uncle, not a hedge knight. Dunk pointedly asks him if all knights don't take the same oath to protect the innocent, to which Baelor looks away in silence.

After a moment, Baelor says that Aerion has demanded Dunk's head. He won't allow it, but even though he can ignore Daeron's accusation that he kidnapped Egg, he cannot deny Aerion's right to trial for Dunk striking him. The punishment the last time a commoner struck a royal was to have the offending limb cut off: Dunk not only punched Aerion but kicked him so he'd lose his hand and foot as well. Baelor then sympathetically says that Dunk has another option, though he cannot say if it is better or worse: rather than be maimed, as a knight Dunk can demand the right of trial by combat - though against a well-trained prince he would be risking death.


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A trial of seven champions
The lords gather to hear Dunk's plea.
The lords gather to hear Dunk's plea.

Dunk is then brought before a hastily convened trial board in the castle study, consisting of Baelor, Maekar, Lord Ashford, and Leo Tyrell. Aerion is also present, scornfully cracking nuts on the table with the hilt of his dagger. Dunk nervously repeats that he chooses a trial by combat - only for Aerion to say he refuses. Confused, Maekar tells his son he can't refuse Dunk's right to the challenge. Aerion smugly responds that he instead invokes a "trial of seven."

Aerion demands a trial of seven.
Aerion demands a trial of seven.

Baelor explains that a trial of seven is an ancient variation of trial by combat, seldom invoked: the Andals believed that if the Seven were honored by seven champions fighting instead of only one, they were more likely to intervene and lend victory to the just claimant. Maekar is displeased with his son, asking if he's such a coward he has to hide behind some obscure custom rather than face this lowly hedge knight in single combat. Aerion claims he isn't, but he'd like to make a show of Targaryen strength and power to the lords assembled at the tourney; Dunk ostensibly also insulted Daeron as well, so Aerion feels he deserves a bigger punishment. Confused, Dunk asks if they seriously expect him to fight against seven men alone: chiding him as foolish, Aerion explains that the trial is two teams of seven against seven. Dunk objects that he is a lone wandering knight and doesn't know anyone at the tourney, but Aerion snidely says that if Dunk's cause is just, surely six other good men will volunteer to fight for him. Aerion also says that if Dunk cannot find six other champions by dawn, that means his cause is unjust, and Dunk forfeits the trial. Annoyed, Maekar drags Aerion out of the room while Baelor gives Dunk leave to go search for his champions.

Dunk consults the Fossoways.
Dunk consults the Fossoways.

Dunk returns to his camp in the hedges, and apologizes to his horses that he's really mucked things up now. Raymun Fossoway then comes looking for him and takes Dunk back to the Fossoway tent. Raymun's cousin Ser Steffon Fossoway says that he resents the Targaryens as foreign tyrants and he will take Dunk's side to oppose them. He also admits he isn't concerned about Dunk's cause being just, but winning fame and glory fighting against Targaryens in a rare trial of seven. Steffon then leaves saying he will look for five other knights. Raymun tells Dunk it may be wiser just to flee while he still can. Dunk points out that if he runs and is later caught he will be killed, but Raymun says if he stays and forfeits, he'll definitely die. With self-deprecation, Dunk wonders if this is the gods' punishment for him not knowing his lowly place in the world.


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Daeron's dreams
Egg sneaks into the Fossoway tent to join Dunk as his squire.
Egg sneaks into the Fossoway tent to join Dunk as his squire.

Egg then enters the tent wearing a hooded cloak: he says he is Dunk's squire, and he will need someone to arm him in the trial. Dunk asks if his father knows he left the castle, but another hooded figure then enters the tent and says he hopes not: he pulls back his hood to reveal himself as Egg's eldest brother, Daeron the Drunken. Dunk immediately recognizes him as the drunk nobleman he encountered at the inn where he met Egg, seizing Daeron and slamming into a table for lying that he kidnapped Dunk. Daeron says he had to tell his father something when he was caught, and at Egg's pleading Dunk relents. Egg explains that his father has joined the seven accusers to defend his sons' honor, and is making Daeron join as well, though Daeron says he'll help Dunk by immediately collapsing from the first blow he takes.

Egg's eldest brother, Daeron the Drunken.
Egg's eldest brother, Daeron the Drunken.

Daeron also says that the three highly skilled Kingsguard knights already present in Ashford will also join. He doesn't know who their seventh champion will be, but Aerion has more chance of finding one than Dunk has of finding another five. Egg says he begged Maekar not to fight for Aerion but he refused, despite his contempt for Aerion's choice. Dunk worries that Egg will be upset that he shall be facing his family, but Egg explains that Maekar will be well protected by the Kingsguard, and Daeron will fall down. As for Aerion, Egg does not explicitly wish him dead, but says that when he was little, Aerion used to come into his bedchamber at night at slip a dagger between his legs, threatening to castrate him so he'd have another sister to marry; he also threw Egg's pet cat down a well, though he denies it. Daeron agrees that Aerion can be quite the monster. Egg says Aerion is insane, believing himself to be a dragon in human form; Daeron bitterly says it is a pity Aerion wasn't born a Fossoway, then he'd think himself an apple. Before going back to the castle, Daeron asks for a private word with Dunk outside.

Daeron reveals to Dunk that his dreams come true.
Daeron reveals to Dunk that his dreams come true.

As they stare at a campfire, Daeron tells Dunk that he dreamed of him. Dunk points out he told him that before when he first saw him at the inn, but he was too drunk to remember. Daeron explains that his dreams are not like Dunk's: his dreams come true. Daeron admits it is an impressive talent for an unimpressive man, but nonetheless he saw Dunk in a dream before he first met him. He saw Dunk, a fire, and a dead dragon: a massive dragon whose wings were as wide as this entire meadow. The dragon had fallen on top of Dunk, but Dunk was still alive and the dragon was dead. Believing Daeron's words, Dunk asks if he killed the dragon in the dream but Daeron says he doesn't know. Daeron looks back at the fire and remarks that the Targaryens were dragon masters once, though it is hard to believe now: the dragons are all dead yet the Targaryens remain. Daeron laments that he may have killed Dunk through his lie, and he is sorry. He turns to slink back into the castle, saying he knows he's already doomed to some kind of hell - probably one without wine.


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A new shield
Dunk finds the Dornish tent abandoned, as the puppeteers fled to safety.
Dunk finds the Dornish tent abandoned, as the puppeteers fled to safety.

After Daeron departs, Dunk heads to the Dornish puppeteers' abandoned tent. Their broken puppets are left where Aerion's men smashed them. As he thinks of Tanselle the blacksmith Steely Pate calls Dunk to his wagon, saying that if he came for his shield she left it with him. Once inside he asks what happened to her and Pate says she and the other puppeteers are gone, already on their way to Dorne. Dunk is happy at this, as it means they left before Aerion could order them captured and Tanselle is safe.

Steely Pate brings out Dunk's newly repainted shield. It is exactly the design he asked for and beautifully rendered: a green elm tree on a sunset orange background, with a shooting star flying over it. Steely Pate took an extra step and replaced the metal rim, which was rusted cheap steel, with a new one twice as thick and bands on the back to make it heavier and stronger. Beginning to cry, Dunk looks at the design and notes that the star is falling and sunset heralds night: both are symbols of death, and he has brought death and ruin to all around him. Pate puts a hand on his shoulder and points out that the elm is green, alive with summer leaves.

Steely Pate asks Dunk if he remembers the old shield rhyme, that starts "Oak and iron guard me well..." and Dunk finishes "...or else I'm dead and doomed to hell." Dunk asks him how much he wants for the new rim and repairs, but with a stroke of his beard Steely Pate says "From you? A copper."

A knight who remembered his vows
Lyonel Baratheon and Robyn Rhysling take Duncan's side.
Lyonel Baratheon and Robyn Rhysling take Duncan's side.

At dawn, Dunk walks out to the mist-shrouded jousting tilts where the trial of seven is to be held. He sees that several other knights have come to take his side: Humfrey Hardyng, Humfrey Beesbury, Robyn Rhysling, and Lyonel Baratheon. Dunk says he is in their debt. Hardyng says the debt is Aerion's - he is there to pay him back for killing his horse and breaking his leg, and while he cannot walk he can still ride. The fanatically religious Ser Robyn says he would die the king's faithful servant, but when the crown goes against the gods he goes against the crown.

Dunk tells Lyonel Baratheon he is thankful for him and for Ser Steffon for bringing him, which confuses Lyonel as they were all brought there by Dunk's squire Egg. Lyonel says he joined because there hasn't been a trial of seven for a hundred years, and he couldn't pass up an opportunity to try himself against the Targaryen Kingsguard.

After putting on his full set of new armor from Steely Pate, Dunk and his supporters walk out into the arena and see Aerion and his champions enter the opposite side. Dunk is confused to see there are only six of them and asks if Aerion couldn't find a seventh man. Ser Steffon Fossoway then walks up in full armor and bluntly asks his cousin and squire Raymun for his helmet. Steffon flippantly says he is Aerion's seventh champion, fighting against Dunk. Aghast, Raymun says Steffon promised to support Duncan. Steffon casually explains that Aerion promised him a lordship for his support, and men have been known to sell their honor for far less. Steffon still expects Raymun to fetch him his horse, but he shoves his cousin's helmet back at him and says to get it himself.

As Steffon rides away to the other side, Raymun turns to Dunk and begs him to knight him so he can take his cousin's place. He may only be a moderately trained squire but unlike Steffon he can give his honor, as without him Dunk's side only has five men. Raymun drops to his knees in front of Dunk, who puts his hand on his hilt, but then hesitates to draw it out and says he can't. Seeing Dunk hesitate, Lyonel tells him to go on to the judges while he gives Raymun his knighthood. Just then horns announce that Lord Ashford and the rest have reached the royal viewing box. As Dunk rides away, Lyonel taps his sword on Raymun's shoulders, charging him in the name of the Warrior to be brave, in the name of the Father charging him to be just, in the name of the Mother to protect the young and innocent. Dunk doesn't hear the rest as he approaches Lord Ashford.

Aerion taunts Dunk that if he cannot find a seventh champion he forfeits.
Aerion taunts Dunk that if he cannot find a seventh champion he forfeits.

The nobles' viewing stands from the tourney are now filled again, and hundreds of commoners are gathered around the other side. When he approaches Aerion taunts that Dunk only has five champions, though Dunk corrects that he has six because Raymun is being knighted as they speak. Dunk asks to fight six against seven. Aerion smirks that it is not permitted, and Lord Ashford agrees the rule is if he cannot find a seventh champion he forfeits and is found guilty. Dunk begs to give him a moment to address the large gathered audience and Lord Ashford grants it.

After a tense silence finding his words, Dunk rides back and forth addressing the lords and knights in the stands. He says he knows they don't remember Ser Arlan of Pennytree or him Arlan's squire, but they served many of them honorably over the years. Ser Arlan was a good man and he taught Dunk how to be a knight: not just with sword and lance, but with honor. His voice almost breaking, Dunk shouts that a knight defends the innocent, and that's all he did. Dunk says he might not have been Arlan's blood, but he followed his example - as the lords' sons will follow theirs. Dunk finishes, asking who will stand and fight with him. Otho Bracken rises for a moment as if to join, only to then pass gas to mock Dunk's plea. The highborn viewing stands erupt in laughter, while the crowds of commoners remain deathly silent. After their laughter subsides, Dunk angrily shouts, asking if courage has deserted the noble houses of Westeros. He refuses to believe it. Dunk finally shouts:

"ARE THERE NO TRUE KNIGHTS AMONG YOU?!"

He is met with only silence across the entire field. A moment passes. Suddenly all turn when they hear the main tourney gates being opened, and a rider in the armor of Prince Valarr Targaryen comes out of the mist. The rider removes his helm, revealing himself to be none other than Crown Prince Baelor: he declares that he will take Ser Duncan's side.

"This man protected the innocent, as every true knight must
"This man protected the innocent, as every true knight must."

The crowds of commoners erupt into cheers, while the shamed lords in the viewing stands awkwardly rise to their feet in respect. Maekar rides up to his brother and asks if he has abandoned his senses: this man attacked his son Aerion. Baelor responds that this man protected the innocent, as every true knight must.

Baelor says the gods will now decide whether he was right or wrong.

Seven

In the Name of the Mother

Lyonel at Dunk's camp
Lyonel Baratheon and Dunk.
Lyonel Baratheon and Dunk.

Some days after the end of the trial of seven, an injured Dunk awakens slumped against the tree at his camp in the hedges, and sees Lyonel Baratheon and his maester looking down at him. Lyonel sits down next to him and muses that it was a good tourney and he isn't looking forward to how boring things will be when he returns home. The maester interjects to insist that Duncan's wounds have mortified and he will likely die. An annoyed Lyonel shoos the maester away, assuring Dunk the man is just an incompetent healer. He offers for Dunk to come back with him to Storm's End in his service, but Dunk declines by lamenting that he only brings pain and suffering to everyone around him. Lyonel quips he did the realm a kindness as "the only good dragon is a dead dragon." Dunk is offended by this, as Baelor fought and ultimately died for him so he deserves more respect.

Lyonel angrily discusses the Targaryens.
Lyonel angrily discusses the Targaryens.

Lyonel snaps back that all five of the other champions including himself fought for Dunk, Hardyng and Beesbury also died, and Lyonel feels it was dishonorably under-hnded that Baelor's plan was to directly face the Kingsguard knights sworn not to harm him. They intended to risk everything, Baelor nothing, and the fact that Baelor ultimately did die was divine punishment, because the gods don't favor a fraud. Dunk pleads to know why then did the gods favor himself with victory, but Lyonel brushes aside that this wasn't favor but a bit of mockery the gods had at their expense.

Lyonel then remarks that "there's a war coming," and together he and Dunk could be a force. He leaves hoping Dunk will reconsider later.

Baelor Targaryen's funeral
Baelor Targaryen's funeral pyre.
Baelor Targaryen's funeral pyre.

The members of House Targaryen, their retinue, and other lords gather for Baelor Targaryen's funeral, burned on a pyre in the tradition of their family. Maekar Targaryen, whose mace blow unintentionally killed his own brother, gazes at the flames with a stern and shaken face.

Afterward, as the Silent Sisters gather up Baelor's ashes, Dunk approaches Baelor's son, Valarr Targaryen, as he sits alone gazing at the pyre in his grief. Valarr remarks that his father died wearing his armor; Baelor hadn't brought his own so he borrowed his son's (and the fact it wasn't fitted for him may have contributed to Baelor's death). Valarr says that many sons have died in their father's old armor, but ponders aloud how many fathers have died in their son's. Valarr laments that Baelor was still relatively young, and had it in him to be the greatest king since Aegon the Conqueror, questioning why the gods would take him but spare Dunk. The hedge knight admits he's been wondering the same question. A melancholy Valarr dismisses him.


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Green Apple Fossoways
Dunk and Raymun Fossoway.
Dunk and Raymun Fossoway.

Dunk returns to the tourney grounds, where everyone is packing up their tents now that the events are over. Dunk is met by Raymun Fossoway, who is surprised that Dunk went to Baelor's funeral, but he says he felt he owed it to him. Dunk laments that everyone blames him for Baelor's death, but Raymund says he doesn't, and the two men awkwardly hug.

Dunk then notes Raymun's shield outside his tent, the heraldry repainted from House Fossoway's traditional red apple on gold to a green apple. Raymun explains that his cousin Steffon said he betrayed the family by fighting against him in the trial, so he took he took everything he had with him when he departed and left Raymund with only a small tent. Still, Raymun is proud that he successfully stood his ground against his cousin in the first trial of seven held in a hundred years. Raymun concludes his explanation by noting it's better to be a young and unripe green apple than a rotten old wormy red one.

The new "Green Apple" Fossoways.
The new "Green Apple" Fossoways.

To Dunk's surprise, the prostitute called Red then exits Raymun's tent to empty the chamber pot, wearing only Raymun's outer tunic. Raymun gives Dunk a wink. She kisses Raymun, and he introduces her to Dunk as "Rowan, of the Green Apple Fossoways," his new wife. Red/Rowan acts like she's never met him before and says she's pleased to meet "Ser Duncan." Despite being thick as a castle wall, Dunk catches her meaning and plays along as if they never met and he is unaware of her past as a prostitute. Raymun explains that he had no squire of his own to remove his armor and tend to his minor wounds after the trial, but "Lady Rowan" was impressed with how well he fought and helped undress him, after which "one thing led to another." After they had sex once she told him he'd gotten her with child. He believed it and so he quickly married her.

Two Targaryen men at arms ride up, declaring that Prince Maekar demands a word with Dunk at the castle. Raymun speaks up in Dunk's defense, insisting Dunk's been through enough, but Dunk calms him down, and after bidding Raymun and Rowan well, departs with the guards.

Maekar's offer
Maekar receives Dunk in Lord Ashford's study, where they first met. He explains that he is sending Aerion to the east, in the hope that a few years spent in the Free Cities might change him for the better.

Maekar offers to make Dunk his sworn sword if he will accept Egg as his squire.
Maekar offers to make Dunk his sworn sword if he will accept Egg as his squire.

Maekar laments that some men will say he meant to kill his own brother Baelor. He and the gods know it is a lie, but Maekar is painfully aware that he will hear these whispers until the day he dies. Dunk points out he shares that guilt; Maekar may have swung the mace, but Baelor fought for Dunk's sake. Maekar notes that means Dunk will hear the whispers too. His father King Daeron II is old and will not live much longer, so each time a battle is lost or a crop fails, fools will say that Baelor would have stopped it had he been king and that hedge knight hadn't killed him.

Gravely, Dunk says that if he hadn't fought he'd have had his hand and foot cut off, so that morning he sat for hours under his tree, asking himself if he could have spared one; after all, how could a foot be worth a prince's life? Maekar scoffs, asking what answer the tree gives him. Dunk says that every day at evenfall, Ser Arlan would say 'I wonder what the morrow will bring,' so maybe, he wonders, there might come a day when the realm will have need of that hedge knight's foot even more than a prince's life. Maekar bitterly dismisses that this is "not bloody likely;" the realm has as many hedge knights as it has hedges.

Egg listened in on Dunk's entire conversation, rejecting his father's offer.
Egg listened in on Dunk's entire conversation, rejecting his father's offer.

Maekar then stands to face Dunk, his mood softening somewhat, and says that his son Egg has become fond of Dunk. It is time the boy was a squire, despite his willfulness, but he says he will serve no knight but Dunk. Maekar says that if Dunk accepts Egg as his squire, he will become one of Maekar's sworn swords at Summerhall. There, he can not only train Egg but further his own training with the best royal masters-at-arms. This is everything Dunk once hoped to have since Ser Arlan died: to become a household knight to a Great House. But after all he has been through, Dunk politely declines, saying he thinks he is done with princes.

Dunk leaves the room and discovers that Egg was listening in on the entire conversation. They sit in awkward silence and Egg tries to make smalltalk asking if he's in great pain, but Dunk interjects that he's sorry but he can't do it. Dejected, Egg says maybe Dunk isn't the knight he thought he was.


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Remembering Arlan's last day
The day before he died, Ser Arlan sits slumped against the lone tree by the side of the road where Dunk would later bury him. Physically weak but in warm spirits, the half-awake Arlan starts telling Dunk a story he's told him many times before, about why his home village was named "Pennytree:" when lords call up the boys to fight in a war, it is custom for each to nail a penny to a great oak tree in the village square, and if they return to take it down. After many generations it is covered in the pennies of those who never came home. Arlan trails off in thought.

Distraught that his mentor's health is failing, Dunk asks Arlan why he never knighted him. If it was because he feared Dunk would leave him, he insists he wouldn't, but wonders if it was something else. Arlan does not respond but lies still with his eyes open, and for a moment Dunk thinks he has died, only for Arlan to snap back to consciousness and cheerfully conclude his tale, that this is why his village was called Pennytree. Dunk is surprised, but Arlan smiles and assures, "A true knight always finishes a story."

The boy who liked fishing
Dunk sits quietly with Raymun inside a remaining tent where a funeral wake is being held for Humfrey Beesbury, and his brother-in-law Humfrey Hardyng, to celebrate the fallen champions with music and drink. As per House Beesbury's funeral custom, his coffin is swarmed by bees due to putting a queen bee inside.

Daeron urges Dunk to raise Egg to be a better man than their brother Aerion.
Daeron urges Dunk to raise Egg to be a better man than their brother Aerion.

Dunk is annoyed to see that Maekar's eldest son Daeron Targaryen has come to the funeral. He approaches and asks if Daeron has no shame: the Humfreys are dead because of Daeron's mistake. Daeron asks if Dunk will take Egg to squire, but he insists he told his father the boy is not his concern.

Daeron remarks that "his brother" wasn't always such a little monster. When Dunk defends that Egg is just a boy, Daeron interjects that he didn't mean Egg: Aerion was once a glad little boy who liked fishing, but, he notes sardonically, in time they'll no doubt similarly "make a man" of Egg too. This leaves Dunk disturbed and deep in thought.

Back in the castle chambers, Egg waits alone in a bedroom. He walks up to a mirror and notices that a stubble of hair has grown back over his bald head in the signature silver-white color of a Targaryen. Egg picks up a dinner knife he was carving a fish meal with, and heads to a chamber across the hall where his wounded brother Aerion is in the bedroom across the hall, unconscious and abed recovering from his injuries. Egg approaches with slow steps, tempted to kill his tormenter for all he's done while he still can. He is interrupted when he notices their father Maekar sitting in the shadows next to the bed. Maekar silently walks to him and with a look of pleading love in his eyes gently puts his hands on Egg's shoulders. Egg drops the knife and weeps.


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Dunk's counter-offer to Maekar
Dunk returns to Ashford castle. As he waits outside the lord's study to meet with Maekar, the young Gwin Ashford approaches and tells Dunk she doesn't blame him for ruining her nameday celebration. It was a rotten thing Aerion did to Dunk, and he was right to defend himself by calling for a trial by combat.

Maekar hears Dunk's counter-offer: to take on Egg as squire to a common hedge knight wandering across Westeros.
Maekar hears Dunk's counter-offer: to take on Egg as squire to a common hedge knight wandering across Westeros.

Maekar arrives, and Dunk tells him that he will take Egg to squire, but not at Summerhall. Dunk thinks it might serve Egg better if he was away from castles and servants and the pampered life of a prince. If Maekar will consent, Dunk will take Egg on the road with him, to learn to squire as he did with Ser Arlan; sleeping in inns and stables, now and then serving with some landed knight or lesser lordling, and sometimes sleeping under a tree when they must. Maekar is mortified at the idea of his son living as a peasant. He is blood of the dragon and cannot sleep in ditches and eat hard salt beef. Dunk pauses, then says Daeron never slept in a ditch and all the beef Aerion ever ate was rare and bloody. Maekar takes this in with silence, then steps close to Dunk and with a pleading look says that Egg is his last son (his last chance to redeem himself as a father), then walks out.

Goodbye to Raymun and Sweetfoot
Raymun and Sweetfoot say goodbye.
Raymun and Sweetfoot say goodbye.

Back in the hedges outside Ashford, Dunk has packed up his camp and is ready to depart. Raymun Fossoway approaches, along with Arlan's horse Sweetfoot that he sold to the castle. Raymun explains that he bought her back to give to him, to keep Dunk company at Storm's End. Dunk explains he isn't going with Lyonel Baratheon, but will do what he should have done all along: "ride hard in the other direction."

Dunk asks what Raymun will do. He's not sure, but recall his father always talked about expanding the apple cider business, so maybe he'll start a "new barreling outfit" to build the Green Apple Fossoways around. Dunk thinks for a moment and says Sweetfoot isn't his anymore, but deserves to live out her days at an orchard. Raymun is grateful and treats her to an apple.

Departing Ashford
As his last act before mounting to leave, Dunk uses a knife to pry the penny from the hilt of Ser Arlan's sword, then in his honor nails it to the elm tree that he and Egg made their camp under.

As Dunk leads his remaining horses Thunder and Chestnut, he is surprised to hear Egg calling for him as he runs up the hedges. Egg is dressed in a peasant's plain clothes again, and has a freshly re-shaven head. Egg tells Dunk that his lord father says he is to serve him. With mock sternness he corrects that boy, "to serve you, ser." Duncan says that Chestnut is Egg's mount to ride, but he doesn't want to find him on the large war-horse Thunder unless he puts him there.

An unlikely duo set off for a life of adventures wandering across Westeros.
An unlikely duo set off for a life of adventures wandering across Westeros.

As they ride on the road out of Ashford, Egg asks where they are going. Dunk admits he doesn't know, as they might go anywhere in the Seven Kingdoms searching for work as a hedge knight. Dunk starts to say he's never been to Dorne, but Egg cuts him off mid-sentence to correct that there are really nine kingdoms in the realm. Dunk is incredulous and threatens him with a clout in the ear, so Egg lists off: the Crownlands, the Westerlands, the Stormlands, the Riverlands, the Iron Islands, the North, the Reach, the Vale of Arryn, and Dorne. Dunk is left in confused silence, but Egg continues that he's never been over the Red Mountains before, and says "I hear they have good puppet shows in Dorne."

Dunk and Egg ride out across the fields, and for a moment out of the corner of his eye, Dunk almost thinks he sees Ser Arlan's ghostly form riding alongside them on Sweetfoot. Then Arlan departs, his task complete, to let Dunk now be the new mentor for Egg. The unlikely duo continue onward to their new life together, walking the earth, traveling from one place to the next, meeting new people, and having adventures across Westeros.

In a post-credits scene, the Targaryen retinue ride out of Ashford, including Maekar, Valarr, and Aerion on a wagon because he is too injured to ride a horse. Maekar looks around and loudly asks one of his guards where Aegon is, but he hasn't seen him. Maekar then shouts to the entire group, "Where the fuck is he?!" but receives no answer.

The Morrow

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

A drunk nobleman's knife-wielding terror masks prophecy: he glimpsed Dunk's fate in dragon dreams and cannot unsee what waits for him.

Gold Dragon Targaryen Coin Payment

Dream Declared Before Any Introduction

Dagger Drawn on Total Stranger

Innkeeper's Dismissive Familiarity

Alcohol as Dream Suppression

Targaryen Dragon Dream Precedent

The terrified nobleman at the inn is Daeron Targaryen, and his panic upon seeing Dunk is not madness but the recognition of a man he has already watched come to catastrophe in his sleep. His Targaryen gold dragon coin and his immediate reach for a dagger reveal both a royal identity he is suppressing through drink and a prophetic vision whose content was frightening enough that his first instinct is to warn the stranger away before proximity can confirm what the dream already told him. The drink is not dissipation but a sustained, deliberate attempt to stop receiving a gift that keeps showing him the same unbearable thing.

The Drunkard Who Dreamed of Dunk

Dunk adopts Egg not from kindness but obligation, seeing in the boy a way to finally repay the debt Ser Arlan's death left unpaid.

Dunk Tells Egg His Origin

Egg Refuses the Copper Penny

Camp Already Running at Return

Dunk's Promise Mirrors Arlan's

Egg Mocks Dunk Into Attention

Dunk and Egg as Complementary Pair

Egg's recruitment of Dunk as his knight operates on two interlocking layers: a performed lower station that controls Dunk's reading of him, and a structural trap that forces Dunk's own confession about Ser Arlan to do the closing work. Dunk believes he is making a free and generous choice; he is actually honoring a debt Egg identified, engineered, and collected. What the show frames as a chosen bond is better understood as an obligation Dunk never auditioned for and cannot refuse without repudiating the man who made him.

Dunk Adopts Egg to Repay a Debt

Egg Engineers the Debt That Makes Dunk's Refusal Impossible

Dunk's knighthood exists only in his own uncorroborated account, a convenient story told to a dying man with no witnesses to verify the claim.

No Witness to the Dubbing

The Robin as Sole Witness

No Onscreen Knighting Shown

Plummer's Pointed Skepticism

Rope Belt as Visual Marker

Dunk's Self-Made Resolution

Convenient Deathbed Framing

Every element of Dunk's claim to knighthood (the dubbing, the credentials, and the name itself) was self-issued in moments of necessity with no external verification available. The show withholds the one scene that would settle the question of legitimacy, a deliberate structural gap that reframes Dunk's entire arc as an act of ongoing self-authorization. Westeros has no institutional mechanism capable of exposing the construction.

The Hedge Knight

EPISODE RECAP

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