Although this page is based on canonical information, the actual name of this subject is pure conjecture.

A duel on Dragonstone took place early on in the Dance of the Dragons in 132 AC. It was fought between the Cargyll twins, Ser Arryk of the Kingsguard of King Aegon II Targaryen and Ser Erryk of the Queensguard of Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen, resulting in the deaths of both brothers.

History[]

Prelude[]

During the coup in King's Landing, the Cargyll twins on the Kingsguard were divided. While Ser Arryk Cargyll supported Aegon II's ascent due to their Kingsguard oath, Ser Erryk Cargyll saw Aegon II's coronation as treason and fled King's Landing with Viserys I's crown.^[4] Erryk eventually found his way to Dragonstone, where he swore himself to Rhaenyra as she was crowned with her father's crown. Erryk thus joined her Queensguard, while Arryk remained on Aegon II's Kingsguard.^[2]

After the death of her son Lucerys, Rhaenyra declared her want for Prince Aemond Targaryen. Hoping to appease his wife's desire for vengeance, Daemon snuck into King's Landing, where he hired Blood and Cheese to slay Aemond, or "a son for a son" if they did not find him. The two ultimately murdered the young Prince Jaehaerys, son of Aegon II and Queen Helaena Targaryen.^[2] With his own son's death, Aegon II sought vengeance and declared war against Rhaenyra, beginning the Dance of the Dragons in earnest. Lord Commander Criston Cole, subsequently charged Ser Arryk with infiltrating Dragonstone, disguised as his twin, in order to kill Rhaenyra, under threat of branding him a traitor to the king like his brother.^[1]

The duel[]

Arryk, impersonating his brother Erryk, arrives on Dragonstone via boat and walks towards the castle amongst a group of smallfolk. On his way, he is spotted by Mysaria, who calls forth her escort to issue a warning. Arryk sneaks through the castle undetected, eventually finding Rhaenyra's bedchambers. Arryk locks the back door before approaching Ser Lorent Marbrand posing as his brother, relieving him of the evening watch. After Lorent departs, Arryk enters the room and draws his blade, confessing to Rhaenyra he had no choice in what he was about to do. Before he can attack, Erryk walks into the room and calls out his brother. Erryk pleads with him to stop, but Arryk accuses him of treason and advances at Rhaenyra, prompting Erryk to intercept. Rhaenyra sends her handmaiden, Elinda Massey, to find Ser Lorent as the two brothers fight. Arryk slices Erryk at the knee and charges toward Rhaenyra again, but Erryk catches him and knocks him down.^[1]

Ser Lorent enters the room and grabs Rhaenyra, who cannot flee through the locked back door. Lorent is unable to assist Erryk, however, as he cannot tell the brothers apart. Pinned to the ground by his brother, Erryk reminds him they were born together. Arryk accuses Erryk of abandoning him but confesses he still loves him. Erryk then throws his brother off by digging into an open wound with his hand. Arryk crawls toward his sword and, lifting it, turns back towards his brother to continue the duel. Erryk, however, charges at him with his own sword, piercing him through his armor and killing him as guards rush in. Still unable to tell the brothers apart, the guards make no move as Lorent stands by Rhaenyra's side with his sword pointed toward Erryk. Injured and devastated over slaying his brother, Erryk tearfully apologizes to Rhaenyra before finally killing himself by falling on his sword.^[1]

In the books[]

In Fire & Blood by George R. R. Martin, the duel between the Cargyll twins is not described in detail, and accounts differ on how it took place. One account claims that the brothers died cursing each other as traitors, while another states they died with tears on their cheeks after professing their love. Rhaenyra was also not present for the duel, as the brothers happened upon each other in the halls of Dragonstone rather than in Rhaenyra's bedchambers, but it was said that the clashing of their steel woke half the castle. As in the show, the two were witnessed by onlookers who did not intervene as they could not tell the brothers apart. What's more, the target of the attack was disputed: while one account suggested that Rhaenyra was the target, another suggested that it was her sons Jacaerys and Joffrey Velaryon. Ultimately, the duel resulted in the deaths of both brothers, though it was said that they both dealt one another mortal wounds, as opposed to one of the brothers slaying the other before committing suicide. The fate of the two brothers was written poetically into a tragic ballad known as "Farewell, My Brother."

In A Song of Ice and Fire novels, Bran and Sansa relate to the Cargyll twins' tragic death.^[5][6]

References[]

Notes[]