Born of an ancient and noble bloodline, the legendary warrior Arthur Dayne traced his
lineage back to the dawn Age when the First Men populated Westeros and House Dayne ruled
as Kings of the Torrentine.
Stories say the Dayne’s built their fortress of Starfall in the area where they discovered
a fallen star, using its metal to craft Dawn, a pale white sword as strong and sharp as
Valyrian Steel, which remained in their family for thousands of years.
Yet unlike other family swords in Westeros, Dawn was not passed down through inheritance,
but was instead reserved for the best most honourable warriors of their House, those
who proved worthy to carry the title Sword of the Morning.
If no such person existed, then the sword remained unused.
Following in the footsteps of men like Ser Davos and Ser Ulrick Dayne, Ser Arthur was
recognized a worthy claimant for the title of Sword of the Morning, earning a reputation
as the best swordsmen in all of Westeros.
Yet his honor extended beyond the battlefield, as he was considered valiant, loyal, chivalrous
and utterly selfless, a shining example of a true knight.
And with the ancient sword Dawn strapped to his back, his reputation and legend only grew.
During the reign of Aerys II, Arthur Dayne’s reputation won him a position with the Kingsguard,
a small group of elite warriors responsible for protecting the royal family.
To many in Westeros, the Kingsguard were the best and most honerable warriors in the continent,
and so Arthur was proud to join their ranks, and quickly developed a friendship with the
king’s son Rhaegar Targaryen.
A great warrior in his own right, Rhaegar often competed with Arthur in tournaments,
being defeated in Tourneuy of Lannisport in 276 AC, but winning a victory at the Tourney
of Storm’s End where they broke 12 lances against each other.
Among the many battles, duels and adventures which won Arthur Dayne his legendary status,
one of the most famous was when he rode with the Kingsguard to take on the Kingswood Brotherhood.
An outlaw gang with its own burgeoning reputation, causing trouble in the forests near King’s
Landing, where they robbed from exclusively from the rich and were thus protected by the
common folk.
Though many Knights and soldiers had ventured into the forest to end this threat, any who
found them were quickly slaughtered and so the warriors of the Brotherhoood became famed
throughout the land.
Yet the most feared of all was a man simply referred to as the Smiling Knight, a master
swordsmen once described as madness, cruelty and chivalry all jumbled together, and as
a man who did not know the meaning of fear.
Although the small folk were protecting the Brotherhood, Ser Arthur petitioned the king
to declare new rights for the common people, winning their loyalty and eliminating the
outlaw’s base of support.
When at last the warriors met in combat, the Smiling Knight engaged with a young squire
named Jaime Lannister, who held him off long enough for Ser Arthur Dayne, to arrive and
take over the duel, pressing the attack do fiercly he broke his enemies sword.
Being a man of honor, he allowed the Smiling Knight to replace his weapon, before continuing
the fight and slaying the outlaw.
After the battle, Jaime Lannister was knighted by Ser Arthur as a reward for his bravery
and skill, a moment which he long remembered as one of his fondest memories.
Unfortunately, despite his incredible skill and popularity, value as warrior, Ser Arthur
soon found himself on the losing side of a terrible conflict with drastic repercussion
for the entire continent.
When Arthur’s best friend Rhaegar Targaryen was named Champion at the Tourney of Harrenhal
in 281 AC, he chose to plant the seeds of division and civil war by ignoring his wife
Elia Martell to name Lyanna Stark the Queen of Love and Beauty, a woman betrothed to Robert
Baratheon, the Lord of Storm’s End.
After insulting House Martell, Baratheon and Stark, stories say Rhaegar abducted Lyanna
Stark, taking her to the Tower of Joy in Dorne, where she was guarded by Ser Arthur Dayne,
alongside his fellow white Cloaks Ser Oswell Whent and Ser Gerold Hightower.
The disappearance of Lyanna Stark, and the events that followed such as the Mad King’s
execution of Brandon and Rickard Stark, led to rebellion and war, culminating in the Battle
of the Trident, where Lord Robert Baratheon killed Prince Rhaegar and defeated royal forces,
allowing him to claim the Iron Throne in King’s Landing.
Yet while the fate of the realm was decided in this famous battle, Rhaegar did not send
for Ser Arthur Dayne and the others to come fight by his side, instead deeming it more
important that the White Cloaks remain in Dorne, guarding Lyanna Stark.
After the battle was won by rebel forces, Eddard Stark, the brother of Lyanna and best
friend of Robert Baratheon led a group to rescue his sister from the Tower of Joy, bringing
with him Howland Reed, Willam Dustin, Ethan Glover, Martyn Cassel, Theo Wull, and Mark
Ryswell.
These men were then met by Ser Arthur and his sworn brothers, and so they engaged in
a storied battle which left all dead but Eddard Stark and Howland Reed.
Ned then ran up the steps to find his sister Lyanna dying in a pool of blood but she still
had the strength to speak some final words to her brother, asking him to make a promise
before she died.
Although Ser Arthur Dayne lost his life in service to a mad king and irresponsible prince
whose actions led to a devastating war, Eddard Stark recognized that the Kingsguard were
not to blame, as they were bound by oath to do as instructed.
As a result Lord Stark still considered Ser Arthur a man of honour, worthy of respect.
And so after destroying the tower of joy, he used its stones to build a cairns for the
dead, before taking the sword Dawn to Starfall, where he returned it to House Dayne.