Dawn, the ancestral sword of House Dayne, is as strong and sharp as Valyrian Steel,
but pale as milkglass and said to have been forged from the metal of a fallen star.
Though the weapon has remained in the possession of House Dayne for thousands of years, it
could not be inherited, often remaining at their stronghold of Starfall, waiting for
the emergence of a knight of their House, worthy of the blade and title Sword of The
Morning. The last known wielder of the sword was Arthur Dayne, the Kingsguard who died
fighting Ned Stark and Howland Reed at the Tower of Joy. After which Lord Stark returned
Dawn to Starfall, to await the next Sword of the Morning.
The sword of young Prince Joffrey Baratheon, Lion’s Tooth, was a specially sized double
edged longsword, made of Castle forged blue steel. It was lost when Arya stark disarmed
the young Prince and threw it in a river. Lion’s Tooth was later replaced by Hearteater,
named before the Battle of the Blackwater. Joffrey often used the sword to psychologically
torture Sansa and others, though he never actually used the sword, perhaps fearing embarrassment
for his lack of skill, and so used a crossbow for personal executions.
The valyrian steel sword of House Stark, Ice was named after the legendary blade of House
Stark during the Age of Heroes, and had been with the Starks of Winterfell for four hundred
years. Said to have a dark and smoky appearance, the sword was taken from Lord Stark after
his arrest, and given to Ser Ilyn Payne, who used it in the execution of the Northern Lord.
Afterwhich the sword was reforged into the Lannister Swords Widow’s Wail and Oathkeeper.
After the death of King Robert Baratheon, Joffrey Baratheon inherited the throne. At
the Wedding of King Joffrey to Lady Margaery Tyrell, Lord Tywin Lannister presented the
boy King with Widow’s Wail, a Valyrian steel longsword, forged by Tobho Mott, a Qohori
trained Master Armourer. Created from the Ancestral greatsword, Ice, the deadly blade
had red and black ripples throughout the steel, and a golden lion’s head pommel with ruby
eyes. After the death of Joffrey, possession of the sword passed down to his younger brother,
King Tommen Baratheon. The second Valyrian steel sword forged from,
Ice, this Lannister sword was originally given to Jaime Lannister by his father Tywin, but
Jaime then gave it to Brienne of Tarth, naming it Oathkeeper, hoping it would aid Brienne
in finding Arya and Sansa Stark and seeing to their safety, thereby fulfilling the oath
once made to their mother Catelyn. Oathkeeper was larger than Widow’s wail, but with similar
black and red ripples throughout the blade. When Brienne was captured by the Brotherhood
Without Banners, the sword was used as evidence against her, suggesting it was payment for
her betrayal of the Starks to the Lannisters. After the Red wedding and the betrayal of
the North, young Ryon Forrester had a wooden sword carved and named it Two Brothers, engraving
the names of his brothers Ethan and Roderick on the either side of the wooden blade. In
creating this symbol of solidarity with House Forrester, the young boy vowed to avenge his
House and Elder brother, from the betrayal orchestrated by their enemies in House Bolton
, Frey and Whitehill. For the Lord of their House, there was the
family sword, simply known as the Forrester Greatsword. After the death of Lord Gregor
Forrester at the Red Wedding, and the perceived death of Ser Roderick, his heir, the Sword
passed down to Ethan Forrester, the third born son of the House. Yet soon he too was
killed by Ramsay Bolton, who wished to demonstrate his new found power in the North. The greatsword
would technically pass down to the youngest Forrester male, young Lord Ryon, but he was
taken as a captive of House Whitehill to ensure Forrester obedience. Yet when it is discovered
Roderick Forrester survived the Red Wedding, he took his place as head of the House and
took up the Forrester Greatsword, vowing to restore his family’s power and have vengeance
against their enemies. The ancestral 2 handed valyrian steel greatsword
of House Tarly, Heartsbane had been with the Tarly family for five hundred years and is
currently in the possession of the head of the house, Lord Randal Tarly who wielded the
sword on behalf of King Renly Baratheon during the War of Five Kings. After Renly’s death,
House Tarly followed his liege Lords in House Tyrell, switching allegiance to House Lannister
and King Joffrey Baratheon. The ancestral valyrian steel greatsword of
House Lannister, Brightroar, was lost at sea when King of the Rock, Tommen II sailed for
Valyria, never to be heard from again. Many Years later in 291 AC, Gerion Lannister, brother
to Tywin Lannister, also took to the seas, vowing to search of their families lost sword,
but he too disappeared during the voyage. For years, Lord Tywin Lannister attempted
to replace the sword, but was unable to find a family willing to part with their Valyrian
Steel. Yet at long last the Lannister’s were able to acquire two Valyrian steel blades,
in Widow’s Wail and Oathkeeper, forged from, Ice, the captured greatsword of House Stark.
The ancestral sword of House Corbray, Lady Forlorn was named after a legend from the
Age of Heroes, and was held by Andal King Qyle Corbray during the andal invasion of
Westeros. After the King’s death in battle, the sword was taken by King Robar Royce II,
who had united the first men of the vale against the Andal invaders. Eventually Ser Jaime Corbray
killed Robar in battle, taking back the sword for his House. The sword was wielded again
during the first blackfyre rebellion, held by Gwayne Corbray during his fight with Daemon
Blackfyre at the Battle of the Redgrass Field. It was also used during the Battle of the
Trident, held by the Lord of Corbray who died in the fighting. His son Lyn then took up
the sword, killing the man who attacked his father and then charging against Prince Lewyn
Martell, killing the Dornish Loyalist commander. For his bravery and skill, the sword was given
to Lyn Corbray, instead of his Elder brother Lyonel who became head of the House.
The Valyrian Steel Bastard sword of house Mormont, Longclaw is a hybrid of a single
and 2 handed blade, held by the Mormont family for 500 years. It was passed down to Jorah
Mormont, when his Father Jeor took the oath of the night’s watch. But when Jorah disgraced
himself, engaging in the slave trade and then fleeing the continent for fear of arrest,
he left the sword behind and it was returned to Jeor Mormont who had become Lord Commander
at the wall. Seeing it as a reminder of his son's dishonor, he put the sword aside, until
his Steward Jon snow saved him from an Wight attack. Mormont then gave the sword to Jon
Snow, and it has remained at his side ever since.
Commissioned by Jon Snow and Forged by Mikken, the Master Balcksmith of Winterfell, Needle
was made lightweight and slender, for the hand of a young girl, but also strong and
deadly steel. The Blade was given to Arya, who named it and began training with the Sword
whenever possible. She later adopted a style of fighting known as Water Dancing, which
allowed her to use her speed and skill with the thin blade more effectively. *Though she
lost the blade for a time, she recovered it from the dead body of an enemy, then taking
it with her to Braavos and the House of Black and White. When ordered to rid herself of
all worldly possessions to begin training as a faceless assassin, she could not bring
herself to cast the sword aside, as so hid it in a crack of the stairwell leading to
the Temple. The Valyrian steel sword of King Aegon I,
Blackfyre, was passed down through the Targaryen Kings until Aegon IV, who gave the sword to
his bastard son Daemon Waters. The symbolism of the event allowed Daemon to take the name
Blackfyre I, eventually rebelling against his half Brother King Daeron II, who inherited
their father’s crown. Yet many saw the sword, even more than the crown, as the true symbol
of a Targaryen King and so supported Daemon Blackfyre, believing Aegon IV had meant for
him to inherit the throne. Though the rebellion failed with Daemon dying at the Battle of
the Redgrassfield, Westeros was torn apart by the civil war and would continue to see
hardship and violence for many years to come. The sword was recovered by Aegor Rivers, known
as Bittersteel, who took it to Essos in exile and gave it to Daemon’s heirs. Aegor and
the Blackfyre loyalists would return to Westeros a number of times engaging in 4 more Blackfyre
Rebellions. Over time and with the death of Aegor Rivers, the sword has become lost to
history, though rumors persist that it may be in the possession of Ilyrio Mopatis, suggesting
a possible connection between the Pentoshi Merchant and House Blackfyre.
The second Valyrian steel sword brought over by the Targaryens during the conquest of Westeros,
Dark Sister was held by Queen Visenya and may have been forged specifically for her
or another Valyrian woman, as it is crafted lighter and for slender, smaller hands. The
sword would be passed down to such famous figures as the Rogue Prince Daemon Targaryen,
“The Dragon Knight” Aemon Targaryen and was last seen in the possession of Brynden
Rivers, called Bloodraven, who held the sword as Hand of the King. Yet the ultimate fate
of the sword remains unknown, with none sure about whether Bloodraven took the sword with
him to the Wall and the Night’s Watch, or whether he left the sword behind, possibly
in the possession of another. The legendary Red Sword of Heroes, Lightbringer
was said to have been forged by Azor Ahai during the Long Night, to fight against the
Others and liberate the world from impending Doom. Legends state Azor Ahai labored for
30 days and nights to forge the sword but it shattered as he tempered it in water. Again
he tried to forge the sword, this time working 50 days and nights, capturing a lion and driving
the sword into its heart hoping to imbue it with the lion’s power, but once again he
failed. Finally he labored for 100 days and nights and called for his wife Nissa Nissa.
With great sadness he drove the sword into his wife’s heart, imbuing it with her soul.
At last he had his weapon, Lightbringer, glowing bright with eternal flame.
Though the blade was lost to history after the presumed defeat of the Others in the Long
Night, eastern prophecies suggest that the sword will return when a new hero emerges
to once again battle the darkness.
In an attempt to fulfill prophecy, the Red Priestess Melisandre forged a new Lightbringer
for Stannis Baratheon, who she believed to be Azor Ahai Reborn. And while the sword seemed
to shine with flame, it produced no heat, and was therefore unlikely to be a legitimate
reincarnation of the Lightbringer sword.