It’s been clear that Egg is hiding an important part of his story and that finally comes out on A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 1 episode 3. Meanwhile, Dunk makes an enemy of someone important.
Caution: This post contains SPOILERS from A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 1 episode 3.
The episode opens with Egg sneaking away with a horse and Dunk’s sword, but don’t worry, he’s not doing something mean or evil. Nor is he trying to keep Dunk away from the tourney. Instead, he wants to practice, and we get an adorable moment of him practicing being a squire, while trying to control a stubborn horse.
When he comes across Ser Robyn Rhysling, he makes it clear that he is a squire. I’m not really sure what Robyn was going to do, but I genuinely just think he was making sure Egg hadn’t stolen a horse and sword.
Dunk realizes he needs to teach Egg on A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
When Egg gets back, Dunk is awake. He realizes that he needs to teach Egg, and while he initially tries to teach him in the way that Ser Arlan taught him, Dunk realizes he needs to take another approach. He is kinder and gentler, but he is still strict.
As the two spend more time together, we can see their bond grow more. Egg wants to stick around as Dunk’s squire after the tourney, and you can tell that Dunk is worried that he won’t make it through the tourney. In fact, he’s been throwing up all morning with nerves, and is shocked to find out that the first day is for high born and knights of note — and Dunk is neither.
Ser Ashford’s steward knows that Dunk isn’t a knight of importance, but he is one who could help to rig the tourney. Ser Ashford has overspent on the whole thing, and the best way to get the money back is to rig the draw to make sure Dunk wins. It’s a win-win situation, but will Dunk be willing to go through with it all?
A prophecy of note for both Dunk and Egg
Dunk may decide that it best to be part of a rigged fight. He and Egg watch Aerion face off against an opponent of choice, but Aerion takes things way too far. As Dunk sees that Aerion’s lance is too low, we’re shocked with the lance going straight through the horse’s neck, causing the knight to fall off and the horse to land on him.
The people riot after this, but they’re pushed back by the Kingsguard while the squire has to come out to kill the horse. This is a teachable moment for Egg, who is shocked by the events, and Dunk makes it clear that as a squire, Egg needs to be ready for anything to happen to him.
As they head back to the tents, a wise woman comes up to them to share that she can tell them their prophecies. While she tells Dunk that he will be a great knight and richer than the Lannisters, she tells Egg that he will be king, dying in hot first with people rejoicing. Dunk doesn’t believe a word of it, but Egg is terrified of this accurate prophecy. It’s all a hint at what’s to come at the end of the episode.
However, Dunk is shocked by the events from that duel. Raymun explains to Dunk that Aerion is usually kept in line by Maekar being there, but Maekar is currently on the hunt for the two Targaryen princes who haven’t made it to the tourney. Maekar is concerned about what’s happened to his sons, and with him gone, Aerion has decided to act out.
Sure enough, Aerion continues to act out. When Tanselle performs a puppet where she takes down a dragon, Aerion gets angry and decides to attack her. Egg rushes to Dunk for help, and Dunk ends up beating Aerion without even thinking about the consequences. Just as Aerion is about to kill Dunk, Egg steps forward, revealing that he is Aegon!
Now it makes sense why Dunk is going to face a trial by combat on A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms airs on Sundays at 10/9c on HBO and HBO Max.