ĭeeds of his mentioned in the book are: suppressing the Kingswood Brotherhood, relieving White Harbor from the siege of the Sea Kings, rescuing Rickard Stark from drowning, unmasking Ser Harlan Grandison of the Kingsguard as the Mystery Knight, being appointed to the Kingsguard when he was twenty years old, killing the Bandit Lords to free the Lord and Lady of House Dondarrion, subduing Steffon Baratheon who in drunken stupor tried to violate the dignity of a noble lady, working for the betterment of the smallfolk. However, it later corrects itself to say he was the son of Beric Dayne. In it, he is erroneously shown as the third son born to Lord Symon of House Gaunt. While flipping through The Book of Brothers, Lord Commander of the Kingsguard Brienne of Tarth comes across a section on Ser Arthur Dayne. Īfter killing Dayne, Eddard runs up into the tower where he finds Lyanna, dying after giving birth to Rhaegar's last living son, whom Eddard would pass off as his bastard son, Jon Snow. Eddard delivers the final blow, killing the legendary Sword of the Morning and sparing him from a slower, crueler death.
Although in agony, Arthur seems accepting of his fate he had done his duty to the last. The two look at each other as Eddard picks up Dawn, seeming ashamed of how he had survived. Ser Arthur is mortally wounded by the attack and falls to his knees, holding on to his sword for a few seconds before dropping it as his strength fades. Ser Arthur is stabbed by Howland Reed before Ned Stark finishes him off with Dawn.
Dayne eventually disarms Eddard but as he moves to strike him down, Howland Reed, who had been wounded earlier in the battle, sneaks up behind Dayne and stabs him in the back of the neck. The Three-Eyed Raven corrects him: " far better". As Bran watches them duel, he observes that Dayne is a better swordsman than his father. Gerold is quickly killed by Lord Eddard in the melee, but Ser Arthur easily holds his own against the Northmen, cutting down most of them with his two swords, leaving just him and Eddard. Knowing there is no alternative, Ser Arthur and Ser Gerold fight the Northmen to hold the tower. Ser Arthur is shown to be cordial to Eddard, but refuses to tell him why exactly the now-deceased Rhaegar wanted them to remain there or the whereabouts of Eddard's sister. When Lord Eddard Stark of Winterfell arrives with his bannermen, including Lord Howland Reed, in order to rescue the captive Lyanna Stark, Ser Arthur and Ser Gerold Hightower prevent the Northmen from entering the tower, peacefully. Near the end of Robert's Rebellion, Ser Arthur and Ser Gerold were stationed to guard the Tower of Joy by Prince Rhaegar Targaryen himself. Ser Arthur Dayne is seen with Ser Gerold Hightower, the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard under King Aerys II Targaryen, in a vision when Bran Stark sees into the past with the aid of the Three-Eyed Raven. Ser Arthur Dayne with Lord Commander Gerold Hightower at the Tower of Joy. The Book of Brothers also mentions that at one point he was granted temporary command over the Kingsguard after Lord Commander Gerold Hightower suffered injuries. While skimming The Book of Brothers, King Joffrey Baratheon reads through the entry on Ser Arthur Dayne, mentioning his leading of the attack on the Kingswood Brotherhood and his defeat of the Smiling Knight, one of its members, in single combat. He also saw to it that the commoners were compensated for their goods being taken by the forces of the realm. Arthur was an accomplished swordsman and fought against Prince Rhaegar Targaryen in many tournaments, including during the Great Tourney at Harrenhal.Īrthur worked for the betterment of the smallfolk, often bringing their problems before the king. During the battle to suppress the outlaws, he also knighted Jaime Lannister for his bravery. He was sent to deal with the Kingswood Brotherhood and subsequently killed the Smiling Knight in a duel. As the wielder of the sword Dawn, which had been forged from the metal of a fallen star, he bore the title of "the Sword of the Morning". Ser Arthur was the second son of Beric Dayne, Lord of Starfall. Ser Arthur's and Ser Gerold's entries in The Book of Brothers.