A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms: The Knights Of The Trial of Seven

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The fourth episode of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms culminates with the knights preparing for a rare trial by combat – the first in a hundred years. This battle will determine the fate of Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey), who now faces consequences for attacking a member of the royal family.

Prince Aerion (Finn Bennett), who feels wronged, insists on settling the dispute with violence. Duncan, however, requests a formal duel. Given their size difference, Duncan appears to have a clear advantage. Aerion hesitates, but his father, Maekar (Sam Spruell), is upset by his son’s reluctance to fight. Seeing he’s losing ground, Aerion then proposes a more challenging contest: a trial by seven combatants.

The Trial of Seven is a very old and unusual tradition where two teams of seven knights compete to prove their innocence. If you can’t find six other knights to support you, it’s considered a sign of bad luck and certain failure. Luckily, both Duncan and Aerion manage to assemble their teams, so let’s take a look at who’s on each side.

Duncan The Tall’s Six Knights

All the excitement surrounding Duncan the Tall in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms stems from his actions. Though he was right to defend Tanselle (Tanzyn Crawford) and confront Aerion, he must face consequences for hitting a member of the royal family. Despite lacking experience in actual battles, Duncan is certainly no stranger to a fight.

Lyonel Baratheon

Lyonel Baratheon (Daniel Ings), who rules Storm’s End, is eager to support Duncan, especially after they spent a fun night together. Known as the “Laughing Storm,” Lyonel loves a good fight and can’t resist the chance to battle the Kingsguard in a famous Trial of Seven.

Raymun Fossoway

Raymun Fossoway, played by Shaun Thomas, is one of Dunk’s new friends at Ashford. Initially, he couldn’t fight alongside Dunk because he wasn’t a knight. But after his cousin switches sides to support Aerion, Lyonel offers to make Raymun a knight. Raymun chooses a green apple as his symbol, deliberately contrasting it with his cousin’s “rotten” red one.

Humfrey Beesbury

Sir Humfrey Beesbury of Honeyholt (played by Danny Collins) is a knight who competes in a joust against his brother-in-law, Sir Humfrey Hardyng (Ross Anderson). He supports Duncan’s position, though he remains silent when Duncan expresses his gratitude. This could simply mean Humfrey believes in Duncan’s innocence and feels no need to elaborate.

Humfrey Hardyng

I witnessed a terrible event at the Ashford Meadow tourney. Sir Humfrey Hardyng, a truly skilled jouster, was facing Aerion in the final match. It wasn’t a fair fight, though. Aerion deliberately struck Humfrey’s horse in the neck, killing it instantly and badly breaking Sir Humfrey’s leg. Now, Sir Humfrey is determined to see Duncan avenge this dishonorable attack on him and his horse.

Robyn Rhysling

In the third episode of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, titled “The Squire,” the one-eyed knight, Robyn Rhysling (played by William Houston), meets Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell) and playfully hints at the secret about Targaryens. He tells Duncan, speaking about himself in the third person as he often does, that Ser Robyn is loyal to the crown unless it conflicts with his religious beliefs.

Prince Baelor Targaryen

Dunk desperately needs a seventh warrior, but no one answers his call, leaving him with little hope. Just when things seem hopeless, Prince Baelor Targaryen (played by Bertie Carvel) unexpectedly arrives, much to the surprise of everyone present – and the annoyance of his brother, Maekar. Baelor, nicknamed “Breakspear” after winning a famous tournament, is a skilled and formidable fighter.

Prince Aerion Targaryen’s Six Knights

Prince Aerion Targaryen is an experienced jouster, but he usually wins competitions in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms by fighting unfairly. He avoids direct challenges from Duncan, preferring a larger competition where he can rely on the skilled knights of the King’s Guard to fight for him.

Prince Daeron Targaryen

Daeron Targaryen, Aerion’s older brother (played by Henry Ashton), is introduced early in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, but he’s so intoxicated he can’t even tell Dunk who he is. While Daeron despises his brother Aerion, he feels obligated to fight alongside him. He confides in Dunk that he doesn’t feel any pressure to win the fight for Aerion, though.

Prince Maekar Targaryen

I’ve heard Prince Maekar Targaryen, Aerion’s father, is a pretty stern man, but he does have a strong sense of what’s right. He was definitely upset that Dunk hit Aerion, but honestly, he seemed even more angry with Aerion’s behavior. I really think if it hadn’t been for Prince Maekar stepping in, Aerion would have tried to punish Dunk himself, outside of any proper trial. It’s good he was there to keep things from escalating.

Steffon Fossoway

Steffon Fossoway (played by Edward Ashley) is consistently unpleasant. We first see him bullying a younger relative, and although he initially offers help to Dunk by promising to raise an army, he quickly switches sides when offered a lordship by Aerion. A skilled warrior, Steffon has been overly harsh with his cousin Raymun, ultimately driving him to leave.

Willem Wylde

Willem Wylde served as a Kingsguard member at Ashford under King Daeron II. He received the position despite a promise Daeron II’s father, Aegon IV, had made to a knight named Ser Quentyn “Fireball” Ball. This broken promise deeply angered Fireball, ultimately leading him to join the Blackfyre Rebellion against Daeron II.

Donnel Of Duskendale

Donnel of Duskendale (played by Bill Ward) is one of the kingsguard serving Daeron II and appears in the second episode of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. He quickly becomes friendly with Dunk, bonding over their humble beginnings. While Donnel might embellish his family’s past struggles, he encourages Dunk to aim for more than he believes possible.

Roland Crakehall

Roland Crakehall, played by Wade Briggs, is one of the knights sworn to protect Aerion and appears in the second episode of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. He’s from a noble family and playfully teases Dunk upon meeting him, though it seems all in good fun. Roland also shares a friendly competitive relationship with Donnel.

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2026-02-06 12:00