Ser Steffon Darklyn was a knight of House Darklyn and Lord Commander^[5] of Rhaenyra Targaryen's Queensguard. He previously served in Viserys I Targaryen's Kingsguard.

Biography[]

Background[]

Steffon is a son of Lord Gunthor Darklyn of Duskendale.^[6] Despite being the heir to the Dun Fort,^[7] he joined the Kingsguard of Jaehaerys I, and has continued to serve the Old King's successor Viserys I.^[2] He is the great-great-grandson of Aeriana Targaryen.^[1]

House of the Dragon: Season 1[]

Steffon informs Viserys of Rhaenyra's return from Dragonstone. He later escorts Rhaenyra to Viserys's chambers in Maegor's Holdfast.^[3]

20 years later, Steffon announces Rhaenyra's return to the Red Keep. He is later present when Vaemond Velaryon petitions the Crown to name him heir to Driftmark.^[8]

Steffon and Lorent Marbrand are assigned to Rhaenyra at Dragonstone when King Viserys dies. He oversees a sparring match between Princes Jacaerys and Lucerys Velaryon: when Jace angrily berates Luke for his poor form in the bout, Steffon gently suggests Jace might go easier on his younger brother so Luke can learn what Jace is trying to teach. They both swear allegiance to Rhaenyra as queen when Daemon threatens to have Caraxes burn them as turncloaks if they choose otherwise, though Steffon truly believes that Rhaenyra is the rightful heir.^[2] They later attend the funeral of Rhaenyra's stillborn daughter Visenya and move to protect Rhaenyra when Erryk Cargyll arrives. He is in attendance at the first session of the Black Council where he raises questions about the loyalty of Houses Stark and Baratheon to Rhaenyra. Steffon, Lorent, and Erryk accompany Daemon during a parley with Otto Hightower.^[4]

House of the Dragon: Season 2[]

Steffon is present at the Black Council when Rhaenyra returns from the Stormlands.^[9]

Steffon is present at a session of the Black Council when word of Prince Jaehaerys's murder and the subsequent propaganda campaign of the Greens to vilify Rhaenyra for ordering the killing reaches Dragonstone. Steffon also brings Mysaria from her cell to Rhaenyra's chambers and remains on guard duty as Rhaenyra interrogates Mysaria about her role in helping Daemon orchestrate the assassination.^[10]

Steffon, along with Lorent Marbrand, attends the funeral of his Sworn Brothers Erryk and Arryk Cargyll following their deaths during Arryk's attempt on Rhaenyra's life.^[11]

Steffon accompanies Rhaenyra to King's Landing, disguised as a septon, as part of Rhaenyra's plan to speak with Dowager Queen Alicent Hightower to negotiate a peaceful resolution to the conflict. Steffon remains outside the Grand Sept as Rhaenyra, disguised as a septa slips into the sept to speak with Alicent. He hides a dagger up the sleeve of his septon's robe, sits on the sept's stairs and reads from a holy book as part of his disguise as he nervously waits for Rhaenyra to return.^[11]

Steffon returns to Dragonstone with Rhaenyra. At a session of the Black Council, he is informed by Lord Corlys Velaryon of the sack of Duskendale and his father's execution at Criston Cole's hands for refusing to bend the knee to King Aegon II, much to his horror.^[6]

Following the Black defeat and the deaths of Princess Rhaenys and Meleys at the Battle at Rook's Rest, Steffon is present at a session of the Black Council, where he urges a strong response in retaliation for their losses. ^[12]

As part of Queen Rhaenyra and Prince Jacaerys's plan to find riders for the unclaimed dragons on Dragonstone, Steffon volunteers himself to attempt to tame Seasmoke. Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of the Dragonkeepers, Seasmoke reacts violently to Steffon approaching him and burns the Queensguard and a nearby Dragonkeeper alive.^[1]

Personality[]

Ser Steffon was a brave knight who was always faithful to his oath and to Rhaenyra.^[1]

Behind the scenes[]

Steffon Darklyn's character description for Season 1 reads as follows:

"Member of the Kingsguard."^[13]

His character description for Season 2 reads as follows:

"A knight on the black council and commander of Rhaenyra’s Queensguard."^[5]

In the books[]

In Fire & Blood, Steffon is the uncle of Gunthor Darklyn, not his son. Ser Harrold Darke, a cousin of the Darklyns, once served as his squire.

Ser Steffon was a member of the Kingsguard during the reign of King Viserys I. In 129 AC, following Viserys's death and the coronation of Aegon II, he (not Erryk Cargyll) stole the crown and delivered it to Rhaenyra. It is not mentioned that Steffon was a member of Jaehaerys I's Kingsguard.

Appearances[]

• – "The Rogue Prince"
• – "The Lord of the Tides"
• – "The Black Queen"
• – "A Son for a Son"
• – "Rhaenyra the Cruel"
• – "The Burning Mill"
• – "The Red Dragon and the Gold"
• – "Regent"
• – "Smallfolk"
• – "The Red Sowing" (mentioned)

References[]

Notes[]

External links[]

• Steffon Darklyn on A Wiki of Ice and Fire (potential spoilers for House of the Dragon)
• Steffon Darklyn on The Official Guide

v • d • e House Darklyn
Head	Unknown	Heir	Unknown
Seat	Duskendale	Region	Crownlands
Deceased	Gunthor Darklyn · Steffon Darklyn
Overlords	House Targaryen

v • d • e House Targaryen
Head	Disputed: Aegon II Targaryen Rhaenyra Targaryen	Heir	Disputed: Aemond Targaryen Jacaerys Velaryon
Seat	Red Keep, King's Landing · Dragonstone, Dragonstone island (secondary)	Region	Crownlands
Titles	Lord of Dragonstone (historical) · King of the Andals and the Rhoynar and the First Men · Lord of the Seven Kingdoms · Protector of the Realm
Ancestors	Aenar · Elaena · Daenys · Aeriana · Aegon I, the Conqueror · Visenya · Rhaenys · Aenys I · Alyssa Velaryon · Maegor I, the Cruel
Members	Daemon Targaryen · Alicent Hightower · Helaena Targaryen · Daeron Targaryen · Laenor Velaryon · Joffrey Velaryon · Baela Targaryen · Rhaena Targaryen · Jaehaera Targaryen · Aegon Targaryen the Younger · Viserys Targaryen
Deceased	Rhaena Targaryen · Aegon Targaryen · Jaehaerys I, the Conciliator · Alysanne Targaryen · Viserys Targaryen · Vaella Targaryen · Aegon Targaryen · Daenerys Targaryen · Aemon Targaryen · Jocelyn Baratheon · Baelon Targaryen · Alyssa Targaryen · Maegelle Targaryen · Vaegon Targaryen · Daella Targaryen · Saera Targaryen · Viserra Targaryen · Gaemon Targaryen · Valerion Targaryen · Gael Targaryen · Rhaenys Targaryen · Viserys I, the Peaceful · Aemma Arryn · Baelon Targaryen · Rhea Royce · Laena Velaryon · Lucerys Velaryon · Visenya Targaryen · Jaehaerys Targaryen
Household	In King's Landing: Addam · Annora · {Arryk Cargyll} · Criston Cole · Dyana · Eddard · Jon · Septa Marlow · {Grand Maester Mellos} · Maester Mickon · Grand Maester Orwyle · {Ryam Redwyne} · Samwell · Howland Sharp · {Talya} · Rickard Thorne · Harrold Westerling On Dragonstone: Alfred Broome · {Erryk Cargyll} · {Steffon Darklyn} · Lorent Marbrand · Elinda Massey · Maester Gerardys · Oswin