A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Ep 4 Recap: Dunk's Trial of Seven & Surprise Ally

Warning! Spoilers for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 4 ahead!

Things are really getting interesting for Ser Duncan the Tall in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 4. The last time we saw this character in AKOTSK episode 3, he jumped in to defend Tanselle from Prince Aerion Targaryen. Though this action was in keeping with Dunk's vows as a knight, the fact that he struck a member of the House of the Dragon guaranteed swift punishment. However, Dunk's life was at least temporarily saved in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms when his squire, Egg, stepped forward and revealed that he is actually Prince Aegon Targaryen.

Going into A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 4, Dunk is stuck in a cell beneath Ashford Castle, awaiting word of what will happen next. Egg is the first we see visit him, this time dressed as a prince should be. After some tearful apologies from Egg and harsh words from Dunk, Prince Baelor summons Dunk to discuss what will happen next.

It's revealed that Egg's other brother, Daeron, claimed that Dunk had kidnapped Egg, adding further necessity for the hedge knight's punishment. Though Baelor recognizes Dunk's valor, he expresses that his hands are tied. Dunk must face trial for his crimes against the Targaryens. At the start of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 4, Baelor advises that Dunk demand a trial by combat. However, things quickly become more complicated than that.

Dunk Is Required To Fight In A Trial Of Seven

When Dunk is brought before the Lords of Ashford and Targaryen princes, he does as Baelor suggested and demands a Trial by Combat. Aerion immediately objects, but Baelor and Maekar remind him that this is Dunk's legal right. So, the prince demands that Dunk have a Trial of Seven.

It's explained in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 4 that a Trial of Seven is an ancient, though rarely practiced, ritual in which an accused must fight six allies against the accuser and his own six fighters. The seven-vs-seven battle is meant to honor the Seven Gods, ensuring their involvement in dispensing judgment.

Prince Maekar immediately identifies his son's demand for a Trial of Seven as what it is—a way to avoid facing Ser Duncan one-on-one. If Dunk doesn't arrive at the Trial with seven swords, the gods' judgment is considered fulfilled. Arion knows that it would be nearly impossible for a hedge knight of no reputation to find six men to stand by his side. Dunk knows this as well. As far as both men are concerned, Dunk might as well wave goodbye to his right hand.

Dunk Receives His New Shield Ahead Of The Battle

Back in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 3, Egg was meant to pick up Dunk's shield from Tanselle, who had painted it over with a new sigil. This was when Prince Aerion attacked Tanselle, and Dunk was fetched to intervene. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 4 reveals that the puppet performers got out of dodge as quickly as they could following Dunk's arrest. However, Tanselle left the shield with the armorer Steely Pate.

Taselle did a beautiful job with Dunk's shield. However, as the hedge knight looks at it, he fears that he has unintentionally asked for an omen of his own death. The orange background appears as a sunset, foreshadowing the coming night. The shooting star is falling downward, indicating a great fall.

These depressing observations are reasonable considering Dunk's hopeless situation. Still, Steely Pate reminds Dunk that the elm tree is green with life, and only accepts a single copper as payment for the reinforcements he added to the shield. It's a reminder that Dunk isn't alone. He has more friends than he might have realized.

Prince Daeron's Dream About Dunk Explained

As Dunk laments the fact that he has no friends aside from the Fossoways, Egg arrives with his brother, Prince Daeron. Dunk wasn't exactly thrilled to see Daeron. The drunken Targaryen prince had told his father, Maekar, that Egg had been kidnapped before the boy was discovered with Dunk. So, Dunk is technically being tried for several different crimes against the crown. Though it doesn't make matters much better, Daeron is, at least, sorry.

Daeron has no choice but to fight alongside Aerion in the Trial of Seven. However, he tells Dunk that he won't put up any real fight on the battlefield. The real purpose of Daeron's visit, however, is to tell Dunk about his dream (the one he screamed about back in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 1 after seeing Dunk at the pub).

In Daeron's dream, a dragon fell on top of Dunk. However, rather than squashing the hedge knight, Dunk emerged alive, while the dragon lay dead. In A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 4, Dunk asks if he himself killed the dragon. Daeron doesn't know, but he seems to feel that, one way or another, Dunk will be connected to the death of a Targaryen.

Daeron mentions that his dreams come true. This indicates that the prince is what the A Song of Ice and Fire books call a "dragon dreamer" in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Every so often in the Targaryen line, a member is born who has prophetic dreams and visions. In one way or another, they do tend to come true.

Ser Steffon Fossoway’s Betrayal Explained

Dunk's best hope in the Trial of Seven is, initially, Ser Steffon Fossoway, who promises his sword to Dunk and sets out into the night to find more allies. The next morning, Dunk surely finds men outside his tent who are eager to fight by his side. However, none of them were brought there by Steffon. Instead, it was Egg who rounded up Lyonel Baratheon, Robyn Rhysling, and the Humfreys (Beesbury and Hardying).

Dunk should only have needed to find one more man to have the necessary seven, but he is betrayed by Steffon Fossoway, who, at the very last minute, reveals that he will be fighting for Prince Aerion instead. It's a nasty move, and one that might have doomed Dunk entirely. However, Steffon's cousin, Raymon Fossoway, immediately asks that he be knighted so that he can fight instead. Said and done, Ser Lyonel does the honor, but Dunk is still short one man.

Prince Baelor Targaryen Takes Ser Duncan’s Side In The Trial Of Seven

All Dunk's efforts to find these men in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 4 could have been for nothing. Without another sword, it would be deemed that the gods saw Dunk as guilty. Absolutely desperate, Dunk aims a moving speech toward the crowd at Ashford Meadow. He reminds them that he defended Tanselle out of his vow as a knight, and begs them to demonstrate their own honor and courage by standing with him now. At one point, a man stands as if to offer himself as Drunk's ally. Rather than his sword, the man gives Dunk a massive, rumbling fart.

Dunk's moving words might have only moved gas among the crowd, but his honor and chivalry did impress someone at Ashford that day. Just as Dunk gives up hope, Prince Baelor, Hand of the King and heir to the Iron Throne, rides into the lists in all his glory, declaring himself Dunk's ally.

Baelor's announcement is easily the biggest moment of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms yet. It even apparently warranted the use of that Game of Thrones title song. The effect was perfect, since there's something thrilling about watching a Targaryen prince volunteer to fight against his kin for the honor of a simple hedge knight. With an ending like that, there's little question we will be back for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 5.