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

At the end of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 4, the knights gather for the first trial of seven in a century, and the stage is set for a glorious battle to decide Ser Duncan the Tall's (Peter Claffey) fate. Duncan has done it now. He's attacked a member of the royal family, and now he must pay.

While the "victim", Prince Aerion (Finn Bennett), demands violent restitution, Duncan asks for a trial by combat. By the size difference, it seems that Duncan would be the easy winner. Aerion demurs, but his father, Maekar (Sam Spruell), is shocked at his son's cowardice. Always the clever one, Aerion ups the ante and demands a trial of seven.

This trial of seven is an ancient, rarely observed, tradition that pits seven knights against seven knights, with victory determining innocence. If you can't gather six knights to your cause, too bad; the gods hate you, and your fate is sealed. Fortunately, Duncan gets his guys, and so does Aerion, so let's play Bill Simmons and check out the squads.

Duncan The Tall's Six Knights

Duncan the Tall is the cause of all this hoopla in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. As honorable as defending Tanselle (Tanzyn Crawford) and punching Aerion was, he has to pay the price of striking a member of the royal family. While he's never been in real combat, he's no stranger to fighting.

Lyonel Baratheon

Lyonel Baratheon (Daniel Ings), the Lord of Storm's End, is of course, willing to fight on Duncan's side, particularly after their night of partying together. The "Laughing Storm" enjoys battle, and the idea of bloodying the Kingsguard in a legendary Trial of Seven is too great an opportunity to pass up.

Raymun Fossoway

Raymun Fossoway (Shaun Thomas) is one of the few friends Dunk has met at Ashford. He at first cannot fight for Dunk because he is not a knight. However, after his cousin betrays Dunk and sides with Aerion, Lyonel offers to knight Raymun, who takes up a green apple as his sigil to contrast with his cousin's "rotten" red one.

Humfrey Beesbury

Humfrey Beesbury of Honeyholt (Danny Collins) is a knight who is seen jousting against his brother-by-marriage, Humfrey Hardyng (Ross Anderson). Humfrey takes up Duncan's cause though he doesn't speak up when Duncan thanks him. It may be that Humfrey simply believes in Duncan's innocence, and doesn't need to say more.

Humfrey Hardyng

Humfrey Hardyng of House Hardyng (Ross Anderson) was one of the best jousters at the tourney of Ashford Meadow, but in his final tilt, he's challenged by Aerion. Aerion dishonorably sticks his lance into Hardyng's horse's neck, killing the animal and breaking Humfrey's leg. He fights for Duncan to take his vengeance on Aerion.

Robyn Rhysling

The one-eyed knight Robyn Rhysling (William Houston) encounters Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell) in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 3, "The Squire", and teases the secret Targaryen. He tells Duncan, in the third person, as always, that Ser Robyn is the crown's faithful servant, except when the crown goes against the gods.

Prince Baelor Targaryen

When no one heeds Dunk's call to be his seventh warrior, all seems lost. That is until Prince Baelor Targaryen (Bertie Carvel) rides through the gates to everyone's surprise, and his brother Maekar's anger. Baelor "Breakspear" is so named for a famous tournament victory, so he is quite the capable fighter.

Prince Aerion Targaryen's Six Knights

Prince Aerion Targaryen is no stranger to jousting and tourney fighting, but his victories in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms mostly come through underhanded tactics. He refuses to fight Duncan one on one, instead opting for a trial of seven, knowing he'll have access to the greatest knights in the realm in the King's Guard.

Prince Daeron Targaryen

Aerion's older brother, Daeron (Henry Ashton), is one of the first Targaryens we meet in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, though he's so drunk he can't identify himself to Dunk. Daeron hates his evil brother, but is honor bound to fight on his side. However, he tells Dunk he's not honor bound to fight well for Aerion.

Prince Maekar Targaryen

Aerion's father, Prince Maekar Targaryen, is a grim man, but he does have a sense of honor, and though he's disgusted with a hedge knight for striking his son, he's also furious about how his son conducted himself. Without Maekar, Aerion may have taken his own extrajudical vengeance on Dunk.

Steffon Fossoway

Steffon Fossoway (Edward Ashley) is a jerk at every turn. When we meet him, he's thrashing his smaller cousin, and later he offers to gather knights for Dunk, but ends up betraying him when Aerion offers Steffon a lordship. A formidable fighter, Steffon has pushed his cousin Raymun too far, who breaks away from him.

Willem Wylde

Willem Wylde is a member of Daeron II's Kingsguard at Ashford. In the books, Willem was given his position by Daeron II despite Daeron II's father, Aegon IV, promising the next open position to a knight known as Ser Quentyn "Fireball" Ball, which angered Fireball so much, he joined in the Blackfyre Rebellion against Daeron II.

Donnel Of Duskendale

Donnel of Duskendale (Bill Ward) is another of Daeron II's Kingsguard and meets Dunk in episode 2 of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Donnel takes a liking to Dunk, and commiserates with Dunk about their low births. Though he may have exaggerated his family's poverty, he still inspires Dunk to reach higher than he thinks he's capable of.

Roland Crakehall

Roland Crakehall (Wade Briggs) is the third knight of the Kingsguard fighting for Aerion, and he also meets Dunk in episode 2 of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Roland is a highborn who teases Dunk when he first meets him, but it seems fairly good-natured, and he has a friendly rivalry with Donnel.