The Hedge Knight

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The Hedge Knight is the first of a planned series of novellas written by George R. R. Martin, often referred to as "Dunk and Egg stories" after their protagonists. The stories take place in the same universe as Martin's Song of Ice and Fire cycle, roughly a century before the events in A Game of Thrones.

1 Stories
- 1.1 The Hedge Knight
- 1.2 The Sworn Sword
2 House Targaryen at the time of the Hedge Knight (209)
3 References in other Song of Ice and Fire Novels
4 External links

[edit] Stories

[edit] The Hedge Knight

The first novella was originally published August 25, 1998 in the Legends anthology, edited by Robert Silverberg. The story was later adapted to a graphic novel published June 1, 2004 by Ben Avery which was drawn by Mike S. Miller.

The story is set in 209 after Aegon's Landing and revolves around a young man, Dunk, styling himself Ser Duncan the Tall, on his way to his first tournament, the Ashford tourney, where he hopes to become a champion. He soon meets a young boy, Egg, and reluctantly accepts him as his squire. Apart from the developing relationship between Dunk and Egg, a large part of the story is devoted to a vivid description of the tournament at Ashford, and its momentous consequences.

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

A hedge knight, Ser Arlan of Pennytree, has died during the night. His squire, a large young man named Dunk, buries him and pays his last respects. After considering several options, Dunk decides to continue his journey to Ashford and compete in the tourney as a knight. At an inn on the road, he meets a boy with a shaved head named Egg who secretly follows him to Ashford. Impressed by the boy's spirit, Dunk takes him on as his own squire for the upcoming tourney.

At Ashford, Dunk sells one of his horses to commission armor, then attempts to enter the lists of the tourney. Without proof of his knighthood, he is nearly barred from competition until Prince Baelor Targaryen vouches for him. Dunk watches the first day of competition amongst the commoners, with Egg on his shoulders. After several spectacular tilts, the day ends after Prince Aerion Targaryen disgraces himself by killing Ser Humpfrey Hardying's horse.

That night, Egg informs Dunk that a puppeteer girl he had met earlier is being beaten by Prince Aerion. Dunk leaps to her defense and attacks Aerion, striking him in the face. As the royal guard arrests Dunk, Egg reveals himself to be Aerion's brother, Prince Aegon. In jail, Dunk chooses to take a trial by combat rather than undergo mutilation (the removal of the offending hand). Prince Aerion demands the combat to be a Trial of Seven, as his brother, Prince Daeron, also accused Dunk of kidnapping Aegon from his charge. Dunk must find six champions to fight with him against seven accusing knights, or he will forfeit.

Steffon Fossaway is the first ally Dunk finds. He promises to bring Dunk more champions, as do Steffon's squire, Raymun, and Aegon. Raymun returns with Ser Humfrey Hardying and Ser Humpfrey Beesbury, good-brothers seeking revenge for the grievance Aerion committed against Hardying. Aegon brings Ser Robyn Rhysling and Ser Lyonel Baratheon, both eager for the glory of competing in the first Trial of Seven in a century. Steffon returns only to say he has decided to fight with the accusors for the reward of a lordship. Angered by his cousin's treachery, Raymun begs to be knighted and fight in Steffon's place. Lyonel knights him on the spot. Still needing a seventh champion, Dunk appeals unsuccessfully to the crowd. Finally, Prince Baelor announces that he will champion Dunk himself, though the accusors include three of his family members and three of his father's Kingsguard.

The fourteen champions line their mounts along opposite sides of the tourney grounds and charge. Dunk tilts against Aerion, but is quickly unhorsed. Though nearly defeated, Dunk manages to grapple Aerion and use his size advantege to pummel Aerion into submission. Aerion recants his accusation, ending the Trial. The fighting costs the lives of both Humpfreys, as well as Baelor, who took a blow to the head. Aerion's father, Maekar, meets with Dunk after the funeral, revealing that it was his mace that killed Baelor. He regrets Aerion's behavior and offers Dunk a position in his household to train Aegon. Dunk insists on being allowed to travel, and offers to take Aegon as his squire to learn to be a better knight than Aerion. Maekar agrees, making sure Aegon continues to use his alias of Egg to avoid scandal. Dunk and Egg set to out to Dorne, in search of the puppeteer whom Dunk had saved.

[edit] The Sworn Sword

The second novella was published 2003 in the Legends II anthology, edited by Robert Silverberg.

Dunk and Egg traveled Dorne in search of the puppeteer Dunk had saved at Ashford, but never found her. A great plague called the spring sickness passed during their stay in Dorne. During a great drought, they left the hedges to enter regular service of a master. The story begins in the Reach with Dunk sworn to Ser Eustace Osgrey of Standfast, an old and broken man whose family were once lords of Coldmoat. Dunk and Egg's adventure illuminates several aspects of the feudal system of Westeros. Also, a series of flashbacks narrated by Ser Eustace relate the events of the Blackfyre Rebellion and its conclusion at the Battle of the Redgrass Field of 196 AL.

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Loaded with supplies, Dunk and Egg journey back to the fort of Steadfast. Upon their return, Dunk and Ser Eustace's other sworn sword, Ser Brennis the Brown, go to investigate the local river, which has dried up. They discover that a dam has been built by peasants of Lady Rohanne Webber of Coldmoat. Brennis cuts one of the peasants and scares them all away. Upon hearing the news, Ser Eustace realizes that Lady Webber will be angered by Bennis's actions, and has Dunk and Brennis begin training levies from his three villages.

Hoping for a peaceful solution, Eustace sends Dunk to Coldmoat to discuss the matters of the dam and the wounded servant. Upon entering Coldmoat, Dunk learns that Lady Rohanne is widowed and stands to lose her lands if she does not take a husband soon. Her castellan, the haughty Ser Lucas Inchfield (known as the Long Inch for his height, 6-foot 7-inches), is her most aggressive suitor. Dunk meets with Rohanne, and the two experience a subtle sexual tension. However, Dunk is unable to change her mind on either the dam's construction or seeking justice for her servant. In return, Rohanne informs him that Ser Eustance is a former traitor, having supported the usurper Daemon Blackfyre.

Shocked by the news, Dunk returns to Steadfast to leave Ser Eustace's service. That night, Ser Eustace's forest burns. Dunk fears that the fire will ignite a battle between Eustace and Rohanne, and that Eustace's levies will be slaughtered. He disperses the levies, enraging Eustace. Dunk placates him by promising to stand by him and face the lady together. At the river, they meet the Lady and her men. All parties agree to settle the matter through trial by combat between Dunk and Ser Lucas. They fight in the river and Dunk uses his grappling skills once again to win the duel, but nearly drowns in the process.

After the battle, Dunk is taken to Coldmoat to be tended by the maester for his injuries. When he awakens, Dunk learns that Ser Eustace and Lady Rohanne have been married. Before Dunk leaves, Rohanne offers him a fine stallion to make amends. He refuses, but Rohanne insists that he take something to remember her by, so he kisses her passionately and cuts a lock off of her braid as a memento. Dunk and Egg then set off to continue their travels.

[edit] House Targaryen at the time of the Hedge Knight (209)

                                                Viserys II
                                                    |
                                        +-----------+--------+
                                        |           |        |
                                     Aegon IV==+==Naerys   Aemon 
                                        |      |        Dragonknight
                                        |      |
   +-------------+-------------+--------+      | 
   |             |             |               |       
  Daemon       Aegor        Brynden           Daeron II==+==Myriah 
 Blackfyre   Bittersteel   Bloodraven                    |  Martell
   |                                                     |
 +-+---+            +---------+----------+-------+---------+ 
 |     |            |         |          |       |         |
Aemon Aegon       Baelor     Aerys    Aelinor Rhaegel  Maekar
                Breakspear                     |           |
                    |                (unnamed children)    |  
          +---------+        +---------+-----------+-----+-----+----+
          |         |        |         |           |     |     |    |
        Valarr  Matarys    Daeron    Aerion      Aemon Aegon Rhae Daella
                                    Brightflame

See also: House Targaryen.

[edit] References in other Song of Ice and Fire Novels

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Ser Duncan the Tall is listed among notable Commanders of the Kingsguard when Jaime Lannister is self-reflecting in A Storm of Swords.

From the genealogy chart of Targaryens in the reference section of A Game of Thrones, it shows that Egg would become King Aegon V (the Unlikely) and rule from 233-259. This was confirmed in A Clash of Kings, where it is revealed that Egg's brother Maester Aemon was offered the throne, he refused and suggested that Egg rule instead. As king, Egg wanted Aemon to help him rule, but Aemon chose to continue his maestering work and went to the Wall instead.

In A Feast for Crows, Brienne has her shield painted with arms that match Dunk's. Brienne takes the arms from a shield she remembers seeing in her father's armory. This suggests that she is the descendant of Dunk whom Martin has hinted appears in the series.

Also in A Feast for Crows, Maester Aemon mentions Egg's name several times in his delirium. It is revealed that one of Egg's daughters married a son of House Baratheon and became the mother of Lord Stefford Baratheon, and thus the grandmother of Robert, Renly and Stannis Baratheon.