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S1·E4 — A Trial of Seven

Daeron II Targaryen, the Good holds the throne Hand: Prince Baelor Breakspear

The hour retold

The law catches up with the fists, and it wears the oldest shape the Faith allows. Rather than a simple trial by combat, Aerion demands a trial of seven — the Andal way, seven champions a side — knowing exactly what he is doing: a hedge knight with no name must find six men willing to fight and perhaps die for him, and the price of losing is precise and cruel, the hand and the foot that struck the prince. The hour becomes a study in what an oath actually weighs when it is asked for out loud, as Dunk begs the length of the meadow and mostly hears reasons.

What he finds, in the end, restores exactly as much faith as the tourney has spent. Raymun Fossoway shames his cousin Steffon into a promise Steffon sells to Aerion by morning — and is knighted at dawn to stand in the traitor's place, the first green apple of his branch. Broken-legged Ser Humfrey Hardyng demands a place against the prince who killed his horse; Ser Humfrey Beesbury and Ser Robyn Rhysling stand as well; the Laughing Storm takes his place with a roar. And with the horn already blowing and Dunk still one man short, the Prince of Dragonstone himself, Baelor Breakspear, the best man in the realm, takes up a plain shield and remarks that his helm seems dusty — the seventh man, on a hedge knight's side.

What happens

Aerion demands a trial by combat — and names it a trial of seven, the old Andal way: seven against seven, and Dunk must find six men to die for a hedge knight's honor.
The price of losing is a hand and a foot, the parts that struck the prince. The price of asking men to stand: everything they have to lose.
Raymun Fossoway shames his cousin Steffon into promising help; Steffon sells his promise to Aerion instead by morning — and Raymun is knighted on the spot to take his place.
Ser Humfrey Hardyng, broken leg and all, demands a place against the prince who killed his horse. Ser Humfrey Beesbury and Ser Robyn Rhysling stand with him.
One man short at the horn's blowing — until the Prince of Dragonstone takes up a plain shield: 'It seems my helm is dusty.'

The people of the episode

DtSer Duncan the Tall — Begs half the meadow for champions and learns what men's oaths weigh.EEgg — Aegon Targaryen, revealed — and it is his word that makes the trial possible at all.BBBaelor Breakspear — The seventh man. The best man in the realm, on a hedge knight's side.RFRaymun Fossoway — Knighted at dawn by the Laughing Storm — the first green-apple Fossoway.SFSer Steffon Fossoway — Sells his cousin's cause for a promise of advancement. The red apple, rotten.LBSer Lyonel Baratheon — "Ours is the fury" — laughing, he takes his place in Dunk's seven.HHSer Humfrey Hardyng — Carried to the lists rather than miss his answer to Aerion.HBSer Humfrey Beesbury — Young, bold, and unwilling to let injustice stand.ABAerion Brightflame — Assembles his seven from Kingsguard white and bought apples.MTPrince Maekar Targaryen — Stands with his sons against his son's squire's knight. Blood before justice.