Be warned, this article reveals key plot points from A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms and The Hedge Knight! It can be challenging for any author to keep track of all the details in their own created world, and George R.R. Martin is no exception. While he’s written many stories, his A Song of Ice and Fire series remains his most famous and complex work. With the future of the Game of Thrones novels uncertain – and fans still waiting for The Winds of Winter – many are now focusing on Martin’s other Westeros stories: the Tales of Dunk and Egg.
The first book in the series, The Hedge Knight, was published in 1998, with The Sworn Sword following in 2003 and The Mystery Knight in 2010. Although these three prequel stories are relatively simple, a particular question has puzzled readers for nearly three decades since The Hedge Knight first came out. Fortunately, the new Game of Thrones spin-off, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, finally provides an answer.
Was Dunk Ever Actually Knighted? ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ Confirms the Truth
HBO
The first episode of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms begins with Dunk, a young squire, burying his mentor, Ser Arlan of Pennytree. Dunk keeps Ser Arlan’s sword and travels to the Ashford Meadow tournament hoping to establish himself as a knight, despite not being one yet. He gets some help from Ser Lyonel Baratheon in choosing a knightly name, and the episode ends with Dunk announcing himself as “Ser Dunk the Tall.”
The story follows the same basic plot as the beginning of The Hedge Knight. Dunk buries Ser Arlan, claims his sword, and travels to Ashford. The story doesn’t show Ser Arlan actually knighting Dunk, not even through a memory. Instead, Dunk becomes a knight through his actions and determination – he behaves like a knight, and so he is one.
A source confirms Ser Arlan never officially made Dunk a knight before he passed away. The show also reveals more about how Dunk felt about his relationship with Ser Arlan. Dunk claims to Plummer that Ser Arlan knighted him and always believed he was destined for knighthood. However, a flashback shows young Dunk asking Ser Arlan if he’d ever become a knight, and Ser Arlan responding with silence. This contradiction proves Dunk didn’t become a knight through legitimate means.
We Know Dunk Is Destined for Greatness in the ‘Game of Thrones’ Universe
HBO
As a longtime watcher of Game of Thrones, I’ve always appreciated the subtle foreshadowing, and it’s fascinating to revisit early seasons knowing what comes later. Even way back in Season 1, Old Nan attempts to share the tale of Ser Duncan the Tall with Bran, a little seed planted for those who knew the story. Then, in Season 4, the delightfully cruel Joffrey uses the historical records – specifically The White Book and its entries on Dunk – to needle Jaime about his performance as Kingsguard. It’s a clever little nod that rewards dedicated viewers and hints at the larger world George R.R. Martin was building.
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Each knight has their own story, and Dunk’s path to becoming one was particularly unusual. While he wasn’t officially made a knight, he embodies everything a knight should be – kind, honorable, and incredibly brave.
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2026-01-24 00:32