Dunk Is Exactly Right About Why He Won The Trial Of Seven In A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms

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Dunk kneeling during the trial of seven in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

Published Feb 24, 2026, 6:30 PM EST

Angel Shaw is a Lead Writer and Peer Mentor on ScreenRant's New TV team, covering new-release TV shows across all major streaming platforms. She has been a writer with ScreenRant since 2022 and specializes in Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, and fantasy.

Angel holds a bachelor's degree in language interpreting and is passionate about all things culture and communication—especially in how it relates to popular media throughout history (from Shakespeare to Friends to Game of Thrones).

Warning! Spoilers for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 1 ahead!

Dunk spent a lot of time trying to figure out why he won the trial of seven in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' season 1 finale, and his best guess is exactly right. This episode followed up on the tragic death of Prince Baelor Targaryen, who had volunteered to fight against his own family in Dunk's defense. Though this future ruler of the realm should have been as safe as could be, an accidental blow from his brother Maekar's mace brought his life to an end. It's an idea Dunk just couldn't wrap his mind around.

The trial of seven is meant to place a legal issue into the hands of the gods, so any outcome—including the deaths of any participants—is supposed to be by their design. It's precisely this that baffled Dunk in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Had Dunk lost the trial of seven, he would have had his hand and foot removed for the crime of attacking Prince Aerion. It simply didn't make sense that the gods would save a hedge knight's limbs over the future king's life.

When Dunk presented this question to Prince Maekar, he almost bashfully stated his own theory that the gods had a plan for his hand and foot. Perhaps the realm would have needed this hedge night for some reason or another. It's a hopeful thought on Dunk's end, which only brings a smidge of comfort considering the whole tragedy. However, George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire lore reveals that this modest knight is exactly right.

Westeros Really Does End Up Needing Dunk In The Future

Duncan with Raymun and Steely Pate behind him in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

Whether or not the seven gods of Game of Thrones are real, it's evident throughout Martin's books that fate plays a significant role in just about everything that happens. The events of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms are no different. The trial of seven had exactly the outcome needed. Dunk really does have an important role in Westeros' future, since he ultimately gives his life to save none other than Prince Rhaegar Targaryen.

After the events of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, Egg becomes King Aegon IV Targaryen, often called Aegon the Unlikely (since he was born several steps away from the throne in the line of succession). Egg ultimately makes Dunk his Commander of the King's Guard, and together they achieve a great deal in their goal to improve the lives of the small folk. Unfortunately, their story ends, as many in Game of Thrones do, in tragedy.

Egg was obsessed throughout his rule with bringing back dragons, and after decades of research, he thought he figured out just how to do it. During the celebration of his great-grandson's birth, King Aegon attempted to hatch petrified dragon eggs with wildfire. Things got out of control, and all of Summerhall burned down. Dunk managed to get Egg's great-grandson, the newly born Prince Rhaegar, to safety before he went back into the flames to find Egg and perished alongside his king.

It's a sad story, but, like every other tragedy in the world of Game of Thrones, there was purpose to it. Had Dunk lost the trial of seven and had his hand and foot taken in punishment, he never would have become Egg's Lord Commander. Had he never become Lord Commander, he wouldn't have been there to save Rhaegar's life. Had that not happened, the rest of Game of Thrones wouldn't have either.

Nothing In Game Of Thrones Would Have Been The Same If Dunk Hadn't Won The Trial Of Seven

Bertie Carvel as Baelor Targaryen in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

Just about everything in Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire is about preventing the Long Night. The "Prince that was Promised" prophecy describes the Targaryen(s) who would rise to save the realm from the Night King and his army of the dead. All the characters who are killed and brought back to life in the name of the Lord of Light play prominent roles in this great enemy's downfall. Similarly, the outcome of Dunk's trial of seven serves this single overarching goal.

Dunk saving Rhaegar's life meant the prince was able to carry on and fall in love with Lyanna Stark. This led to Robert's Rebellion, which ultimately lined the Starks up for their involvement against the Night King. Of course, Dunk also saves Rhaegar's father, Prince Aerys, who becomes the Mad King. Without Aerys, Daenerys would never have been born, and without Rhaegar, Jon wouldn't have existed either.

Dunk's trial of seven in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is, therefore, responsible for everything that happens in Game of Thrones, including the defeat of the Night King. The gods had everything all set up to end precisely how it was meant to. Prince Baelor would have made a great king, but Westeros needed a simple hedge knight even more.