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

Maekar orchestrates whispers of kinslaying not to escape a curse, but to legitimize a succession he has already chosen.

Maekar names the whisper mechanism

Crop failures blamed on Baelor's death

Dunk shares the whisper burden

Maekar's shaken face at the pyre

Whispers as permanent, not temporary

Whispers tied to Targaryen succession

Maekar Targaryen already knows he will rule, and his private conversation with Dunk after Baelor's death is not grief or candor. It is the opening maneuver of a kingship. In one conversation, he maps the kinslayer whispers that will define his reign and removes the liability most likely to deepen them, while simultaneously converting the one witness capable of doing him the most damage into a dependent.

Whispers Will Crown Maekar a Kinslayer

Maekar's Conversation with Dunk Is a Single Political Act in Two Moves

Egg's knife mirrors Aerion's childhood threat, suggesting he replicates cruelty rather than simply avenging it.

Egg enters Aerion's room armed

Mirror and returning Targaryen hair

Aerion's childhood room threats

Maekar already present in room

Knife as inherited Targaryen violence

The knife scene establishes that Egg's Targaryen inheritance is not latent but already operational, activated at the mirror before Maekar's silent presence stops what the show refuses to resolve. Dunk accepts the squire arrangement not as generosity but as the only psychologically coherent move available to him, reframing his limitations as a pedagogy he cannot afford to be wrong about. The sharpest possibility the show holds open is that Egg engineered this outcome from the beginning, which means the arrangement's most consequential agent is not the hedge knight who believes he chose freely.

Egg's Knife Reveals His Targaryen Inheritance

Egg Already Inherited What Dunk Cannot Fix

Dunk may have knighted himself, meaning every authority he wielded at Ashford rested on a lie he told the world.

Dunk Asks Why He Was Never Knighted

Flashback Cuts Before Ceremony Confirmation

No Witnesses to the Knighting

Pre-Tourney Uncertainty About Status

Dunk Questions Gods Favoring Him

World Treats Dunk as Knight Without Confirmation

Dunk's question to the dying Arlan is not a grievance about affection but a confession that he cannot confirm his own knighting occurred. Every right he exercised at Ashford, from entering the tourney to knighting Egg to standing trial, rests on a ceremony the show deliberately refuses to place on screen. The implication is not that Dunk is consciously lying but that he has actively constructed a version of Arlan honorable enough to have performed the ceremony, because a disgraced drunk who died in a ditch could not have made Dunk a knight worth being.

Arlan Died Before He Could Knight Dunk

Baelor's holy trial was rigged: he fought only sworn protectors while his champions faced actual danger, making his death poetic justice for calculated cowardice.

Lyonel Names the Asymmetric Risk

Two Champions Died, Baelor Did Not Fight

Lyonel Calls It Divine Punishment

Maekar's Fatal Blow From Within

Borrowed Armor That Did Not Fit

Baelor Targaryen engineered institutional safety into what he presented as personal sacrifice, placing himself against oath-bound Kingsguard who could not harm him while his champions absorbed lethal risk against unsworn opponents. His death was the structural consequence of the one threat his design could not account for: a brother inside his own line, carrying no oath. Dunk's survival was not the justice side of that equation but its contemptuous inversion; a hedge knight of no consequence left standing while better men died for a fraud.

Baelor Risked Nothing, His Champions Everything

Baelor Built a Closed Honor System With One Unguarded Entrance, and Dunk's Survival Was Its Contemptuous Remainder

Dunk refuses mercy not from honor, but from the conviction that his survival at Baelor's cost demands permanent self-exile.

Broken Shield Visible at Camp

Dunk Claims He Brings Suffering

Maekar Confirms Shared Blame

Valarr Questions Why Gods Spared Dunk

Raymun's Absolution Undercut by Scene

Dunk Refuses Maekar's Offer

Dunk's refusal of Maekar's offer was not independence. It was self-punishment disguised as principle. The episode builds a guilt architecture so precise that every scene of offered comfort is immediately revoked, arguing that Dunk has decided his survival at Baelor's expense is not something he is permitted to recover from.

Broken Shield, Broken Self

Maekar's contempt for Dunk's borrowed wisdom suggests the series will force Dunk to earn his convictions or expose his optimism as hollow inheritance.

Dunk Repeats Arlan's Phrase to Maekar

Maekar's Dismissal Left Unanswered

Lyonel's War Warning

Valarr's Unanswerable Question

Episode Structured Around Aftermath

Arlan's Phrase as Moral Inheritance

The show is positioning Maekar as the character who is actually right. Dunk inherits a dead man's optimism, delivers it to a grieving prince as though it settles something, and the episode never contradicts Maekar's contempt for it. The unconfirmed claim is that the series intends to force Dunk to either earn the phrase through demonstrated consequence or stand exposed as someone who mistook inheritance for conviction.

Arlan's Phrase Encodes the Season's True Stakes

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

Dunk's Foot Worth a Prince's Life

Maekar's Dismissal Left Unrefuted

Dunk Refuses Every Safe Path

Ser Arlan's Evening Wondering