ASOIF. Kingsguard. Sword of the Morning and Ashara Dayne

[alexandral]

I love how full of wonderful details and beautiful secondary characters "A Song of Ice and Fire" is. I am in a great fascination with Ser Arthur Dayne and his sister Ashara.



The story is so romantic: Arthur Dayne is one of the members of Aerys’s kingsguard. Bran remembers Ned’s words that the old kingsguard were “a marvel, a shinig lesson to the world” . Ned also told Bran that “The finest knight I ever saw was Ser Artur Dayne, who fought with the blade called dawn, forged from the fallen star”. **sighs**. And “Sword of the Morning” comes froms the name of a star **sighs again**

There is a beautiful story remembered by Jaime how Ser Arthur Dayne broke Kingswood Brotherhood . Ser Arthur was fighting with the Smiling Knight (madman unable feel fear) who said “It’s that white sword of yours I want”. “Then you shall have it, ser”, the Sword of the Morning replied..

Ser Arthur was the best friend of Rhaegar, according to Jorah Mormont. He died in a front of red tower with Dorne mountains behind him, In a great combat between seven of Ned and his people and three of the old kingsgurd. Some stories are told that Ned killed The Sword of The Morning, but Ned himself told to Bran that “he would have killed me but for Howland Reed”. Howland Reed is a crannogman in Ned’s company , I remember the winterspel’s post about Harrenhal tournament and crannogman and again – everything seems to fit so nicely together (love to Mr.Martin). I am dying to know more about combat between 3 and 7!

At Harrenhal tournament Ned met Ser Arthyr’s sister Ashara and they fell in love. Ned seemed to be mentioned as quiet at those days ;)
After Ser Arthur’s death Ned took Ser Arthur’s sword Dawn back to his sister and she killed herself in grief for her brother and also maybe because after his death she could not be together with Ned. But again, at that time Ned was already married or prepared to be married to Catelyn .

Story of Ashara and Ned is so romantic and sad. She also had violet eyes, does it mean that she had “royal blood” ?

I am in love with Sword of the Morning, even his name is “like music” to me..;)

This is the picture of old kingsguard by Jason Engle, I love this picture. I sort of worked out who is who, I found the names of three guys in the middle and the rest is just a guess..: I COULD BE WRONG! (most likely)

Left to Right:
1. Ser Arthur Dayne
2. Ser Lewyn of Dorne
3. Ser Aerys OakHeart
4. Ser BArristan Selmy
5. Ser Meryl Trant
6. Ser Gerold Hightower
7. Jaime

Comments

[sunbrae.livejournal.com]

*love*

I love how regal Barristan Selmy looks. I think it's time for a reread. :)

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I love, love this picture, and Ser Barristan standing upright like that! WOW!

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I haven't read the books, but just wanted to say I love your icon!

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much! This is prince Rhaegar, who has the most romantic and heart-breaking story of all..Musician and warrior **sighs** (plus i think he looks in this picture a little like Heath Ledger ;)

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

What happend to Rhaegar.

Re: looking like HL. So that's who he reminds me of.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

It is a long story, but i will try ;) Some of it is also just implied, so it could be just my perception ;) I apologise! (It is a little spoilery, but really all this is a "background of the actual story)

Prince Rhaegar was a son of terrible and mad king Aerys. because of his position in life, he had to be a warrior, take part in tournaments . Rhaegar was good at all that , because it is said that he was good at everything. But his heart was not in it, he was a wonderful musician, played harp and sang beautifully. And he was sad. Because his father was crazy and because he could never do what he wanted. Or may be he felt what is going to happen. He was married.

Then there was this beautiful lady from one of the great houses, Lyanna. She was strong willed and spirited. And she was betrothed (or sort of betrothed) to Robert Baratheon who also was from the great family with some royal connection

At the one of the tournaments (Rhaegar won this one) he and Lyanna met each other, fell in love and she eloped.

On the background king Aerys does terrible things, cooks people alive and all..
After elopement everything breaks loose, Robert starts the rebellion (fueled by his love to Lyanna), wins the throne and kills Rhaegar in single combat. Lyanna dies as well ** sighs and sniffs **

[winterspel.livejournal.com]

The artwork is beautiful.

I have to confess that I have very mixed feelings about the great knights of the Kingsguard, despite the fact that they were all great warriors.

Dayne's story IS very romantic and heroic (and I sometimes wonder if there isn't more to it), but...from what we learn later in ASOS and AFFC, my feelings about men like Dayne and Hightower and Selmy have changed quite a lot and NOT in the direction of admiration, I am sorry to say.

However, I am glad that the Sword of the Morning died protecting Lyanna (not that she needed protecting from her own brother, but, still...)!

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Spoil me please! Do you mean that they we standing by watching mad king Aerys doing terrible things?.. I haven't read up to it properly yet..

I guess that like everything in Martin's books there is no right or wrong, and there is nobody "clean as snow" , but i so hope that they will not turn out to be villains. **sighs** Just misunderstanding of their vows will do for me ;). I always have great fascination with people capable to stand by their vows..

I think i perceived the admiration with which Ned remembered kingsguard and also in Jaime's dreams he has a great regard for them too..

And anyway, something like beautiful name and a romantic story and ability to be a good swordsman can make me love anybody..

However, I am glad that the Sword of the Morning died protecting Lyanna (not that she needed protecting from her own brother, but, still...)!

Please, please, tell me the story in short! And as you say, there definitely should be more to Sword of the Morning's death (considering that it was haunting Ned so much).

But of course- Brienne is one true knight !

[winterspel.livejournal.com]

Okay, just the spoilers...these knights stood by (I can't remember exactly who was there when which event happened) when Aerys murdered people horribly, and in AFFC, they guarded the door when Aerys raped his wife, and they heard her cries, and Jaime wanted to stop it because they had sworn an oath to protect her, too, but he was told that yes, they swore an oath to protect her, but not from the king. When she left the next day (left from King's Landing, never to return), Jaime remembers she looked like she had been mauled by some wild animal. It just makes me wonder about the honor of men who would stand by and let innocents be ravaged by a crazy man instead of protect them as they had sworn to do. They were supposed to be such great and noble men, but they could let Aerys be so horrible and disgusting without flinching. I don't think they are so honorable, then.

And anyway, something like beautiful name and a romantic story and ability to be a good swordsman can make me love anybody..

I can understand that! As I said, Dayne's story IS romantic, for sure. It just has a very dark underside to it, that's all - not unlike most of the characters we meet in Martin's world. There's a flip side to every story, good or bad, or something in between. (like the Hound)

I don't actually know what happened with the three White Swords outside the Tower of Joy, but I'm just guessing, from what I remember and what I infer, that Rhaegar left them to guard his unborn child (which is amazing all by itself) and there was a great battle between them and Ned's men, and they lost. If Robert Baratheon had been there, Lyanna might have been killed, too, and certainly her child would have died, but luckily it was Ned and Howland Reed at the end.

And yes! Brienne is the truest knight, the one we can all believe in. Her honor is ever intact! :D

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

It just makes me wonder about the honor of men who would stand by and let innocents be ravaged by a crazy man instead of protect them as they had sworn to do. They were supposed to be such great and noble men, but they could let Aerys be so horrible and disgusting without flinching. I don't think they are so honorable, then.

It is difficult for me to judge as i am biased now ;), but i always thought that Jaime's most terrible deed was to stand by Aerys's crimes. And the same goes for the Hound. And it must be even more so for the rest of the kingsgurds because they were older and noble and had to know better.. But i know that if they saw that they can't break the oath , it could be of a great importance for them. I don't justify them , i just can see this happening. I think Jaime was perfectly justified in killing Aerys, but Aerys's murder tortures him so much. It just something in a way Jaime says he has a shit for honor and such. Jaime knows he did the right thing, but this right thing has power to torture him because he broke his oath.
And i already construed in my biased mind (based on the fact that as you said, Ser Arthur was protecting Lyanna) , that Sword of the Morning went through the "redemption" process and died defending the weak. It makes him right in my mind ;)

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Just to make myself feel better, i found a place with Aerys's rape of his wife and it was Jon Darry who said this thing to Jaime ** sighs with relief **

And , Gerold Hightower told Jaime "You swore a vow to guard the king, not to judge him" after Lord Rickards murder. Poor, poor Jaime!

[winterspel.livejournal.com]

Yes, I knew that Ser Arthur Dayne never said anything to Jaime, but in my mind, I've balled him up with all of the Kingsguard guys who just stoically let their insane king run amok. I know that is unfair, but I can't help it - I get so mad at them sometimes! ;) And you are right, that Dayne did the right thing by staying Lyanna (although I don't think she needed protection from her own brother, but Rhaegar probably worried that Robert would have reached her first) and defending her to the death. It is so sad to think those knights probably need not have died - what was Ned Stark going to do to his own sister? Or her child? I do hope that someday perhaps through Howland Reed's eyes (who I really, *really* hope we get to meet) that we find out what happened exactly at the Tower of Joy. I'm dead curious.

I love reading your impressions as you continue reading! Can't wait for more! :)

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I do hope that someday perhaps through Howland Reed's eyes (who I really, *really* hope we get to meet) that we find out what happened exactly at the Tower of Joy. I'm dead curious.

So do I, he is Meera’s And Jojen’s father whom both I adore

Yes, I knew that Ser Arthur Dayne never said anything to Jaime, but in my mind, I've balled him up with all of the Kingsguard guys who just stoically let their insane king run amok. I know that is unfair, but I can't help it - I get so mad at them sometimes! ;)

I know, so do i.. But in my biased mind I already construed that Ser Arthur Dayne was not there and may be like Jaime, didn’t like it at all.;)
But on a serious note – Something Jorah was saying to Dany about king Aerys, I think he was not always mad, he could have started as a decent king, and I think it is more difficult when somebody who you are extremely loyal to goes crazy.Also I definitely think that Robert was usurper and that he had no right to what he did. Mad or no mad, Aerys was a king, and had an heir in Rhaegar who was good. What I am trying to say – I am mad with kingsguard concerning Aerys’s crimes, but I adore them for the fact that they died for him .. **sighs**

And as concerning Tower of Joy, I am not sure because I have read a little less then you did, Ned has a dream about in AGOT, and he remembers a conversation with Ser Arthur which goes mostly about “Our knees don’t bend so easily” (love this phrase) and that Ser Arthur is sorry he wasn’t there at the Trident.(this is so sa, considering Rhaegar was his best friend). So I thought that Ser Arthur and company fought with Ned because he WAS usurper’s ally. I just understood it like this. But it is very sad..

[winterspel.livejournal.com]

I think you are definitely right, alexandral - Rhaegar may have left those knights there to guard Lyanna, but they would have fought with anyone who was allied against the Targaryens.

[nutmeg3.livejournal.com]

I, too, find the Ned/Ashara story very sad. He and Catelyn had a good marriage against all odds, but neither was the other's first choice, and I can't help wondering how different so many lives might have been if they'd gotten to marry for love, not duty.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Sorry, had to delete due to spelling!

It is so fascinating for me to think that this stiff and honorable Ned was in love, and as you say, interesting what could have happened if he could marry for love, could he be slightly different? All this sad thing change us so much. I love that Ned made an effort and build his love with Catelyn, even if Ashara died..

happy find

[drew hill (from livejournal.com)]

I'm glad to find someone else interested in the back story of the Sword of the Morning, his sister, and Ned Stark. Arthur Dayne and the events at the Tower of Joy are a classic tragedy. Ned seems to hold Arthur Dayne in such high regard. I hope Jon Snow is Arthur Dayne's nephew and I am hoping Bran gets in touch with Howard Reed and more light is brought to this tale.

Re: happy find

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Oh, this is such an old post! I am still terribly fascinated by his story. I do think that Jon is Lyanna and Rhaegar's son, though. But my second best theory is Ned and Ashara DAyne.

PS: I hope we will find put what happpned in the Tower of Joy, one day.