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Imagine a different twist in the tale of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms where Ser Duncan the Tall begins his journey not by getting entangled in a deadly royal feud, but rather by stumbling into Ashford Meadow. There, he enjoys hearty meals and lively conversations with none other than Lord Lyonel Baratheon. As fate would have it, Dunk could have secured a position as a sworn sword at Storm’s End, steering clear of the historical blood feud that eventually led to a Targaryen prince’s demise. Yet, in this timeline, Dunk finds himself reflecting under a tree by River Camp, pondering the whims of destiny. But for Lyonel, a drink seems to be the perfect remedy for any such musings.
The season finale, Episode 6, titled “The Morrow,” explores Dunk’s contemplations about his future as a knight. He grapples with feelings of guilt over the death of Baelor Targaryen, but Lyonel offers a controversial perspective, suggesting Dunk might have done the realm a favor. “The only good dragon is a dead dragon,” he quips. Lyonel reminds Dunk that others fought alongside him, risking everything, implying that Dunk’s burden of guilt might be heavier than necessary. With a war on the horizon, Lyonel dangles the prospect of true glory. Yet, Dunk, leaning on his crutch, opts to pay his respects at Baelor’s funeral instead.
“Why would the gods take him and leave you?” asks Prince Valarr, Baelor’s son, a question for which Dunk has no answers. It doesn’t help that Baelor was wearing Valarr’s ill-fitting armor, a factor that might have led to his tragic end. Dunk, when called upon by Prince Maekar, agrees that whispers about the trial’s brutality will follow them to their graves. What if Dunk had accepted the initial punishment of losing a foot or a hand for the affront to Prince Aerion? He muses, “How can a foot be worth a prince’s life?” He wonders if there is still a purpose for him, one that might be unveiled tomorrow or years from now. While Prince Maekar cannot equate Dunk’s worth to that of his departed brother, he does see a possible new path forward.
Maekar proposes, “My youngest son seems to have grown fond of you, ser. It is time he was a squire. But he tells me he will serve no knight but you. Swear your sword to me, and Aegon can squire for you. While you train him, my master-at-arms will finish your own training.”
Maekar is aware of his middle son Aerion’s wickedness and has sent him to the Free Cities, hoping distance might bring about change. His eldest, Daerion, lost to drinking and dreams, seems beyond redemption. It is Aegon who holds the last hope for this generation’s legacy. Duncan, this towering hedge knight, with his longsword secured by rope, might just be the one to shape the young boy into a man worthy of the throne, despite all that has transpired.
Egg was listening outside the chamber during this conversation, and he is sad to hear his ser turn his uncle down. “Maybe you’re not the knight I thought you were.”
Still conflicted over his role in the death of Baelor, and honestly still in mourning over Ser Arlan of Pennytree, Dunk needs to sit with himself for a few moments, and explore a few more memories in flashback. And this affords us one final AKOTSK Season 1 visit with the fantastic Danny Webb as Arlan, who was spinning stories even as the crusty old knight leaned against his last tree trunk. Duncan never learned why the man never officially knighted his squire. But as he considers Maekar’s offer, he recalls one of Arlan’s final lessons. “A true knight always finishes a story.”
To do it right with Egg, Ser Duncan would not train his squire inside House Targaryen. Both of Aegon’s brothers were raised at Summerhall, had all the rare beef they could eat and received every bit of coddling in the realm, and look how they turned out. “If you would consent,” Dunk says to Maekar on his return to the castle, “I would bring him on the road with me. He’ll learn to squire as I did.” And ideally, Ser Duncan could help make Prince Aegon “Egg” Targaryen into a more promising story for everybody.
Dunk is packing up Thunder and Chestnut for their journey, destination unknown, when who appears at River Camp but Egg, who ditched his black Targaryen fit and jaunty velvet beret for the sensible breeches and forest green cloak of a traveler. There is joy all over Ser Duncan’s features, beneath the purple bruises and fading shiner. But he doesn’t hug his squire or anything, just gives him a firm order. As Dunk and Egg turn toward the next adventure, they will learn from each other. And wherever they end up, out on the hedge of glory, perhaps the luck will still be theirs alone.
Helms & Hauberks for Episode 6 of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (“The Morrow”):
- Ser Duncan might be the only hedge knight around whose squire has full grasp of the realm’s changing geopolitics. A knight of the Seven Kingdoms? Don’t sell yourself short. There are actually nine. “Crownlands, Westerlands, Stormlands, Riverlands, The Iron Islands, the North, the Reach, the Vale of Arryn, and Dorne.”
- We want this pair to touch every corner of the realm in their adventures. And there will definitely be more adventures, because AKOTSK was an instant renewal. But we wonder if the Dornish plateau might be their first stop. And perhaps a reunion with Tanselle? “I’ve never been over the Red Mountains before,” Egg says with a wink in his eye, “and I hear they have good puppet shows in Dorne…”
- “Where the fuck is he??!” So maybe Maekar didn’t give Aegon his full, direct permission to join Dunk’s hedge knight road trip. As the Targaryen party train pulls up stakes from Ashford, the Prince of Summerhall is shouting for somebody to locate his youngest boy. But the squire is already with his ser. See you down the Westerosi road, Dunk and Egg. Ser Arlan of Pennytree will be watching over you.
Johnny Loftus (@johnnyloftus.bsky.social) is a Chicago-based writer. A veteran of the alternative weekly trenches, his work has also appeared in Entertainment Weekly, Pitchfork, The All Music Guide, and The Village Voice.