Tower of Joy

From A Wiki of Ice and Fire

The Tower of Joy was a round tower in the south of Westeros, close to the Red Mountains of Dorne.^[1] It lay in the Prince's Pass.^[2]

Showdown at the Tower of Joy
Conflict	Robert's Rebellion
Date	283AL
Place	The Prince's Pass, Red Mountains of Dorne
Result	Pyrrhic Stark victory Failure to rescue Lyanna Stark alive
Combatants House Stark Kingsguard of Aerys II Commanders Lord Eddard Stark Lord Commander Gerold Hightower, the White Bull Strength 7 3 Casualties Willam Dustin Ethan Glover Martyn Cassel Theo Wull Mark Ryswell Ser Gerold Hightower Ser Oswell Whent Ser Arthur Dayne, the Sword of the Morning

History

It was used as a hideout by Prince Rhaegar Targaryen, where he kept Lyanna Stark. Lyanna stayed there after Rhaegar left to lead his father, Aerys II's war against Robert Baratheon's rebellion. At the end of the War, Eddard Stark found his sister there, dying, after he and six of his companions (Howland Reed, Lord Willam Dustin, Ethan Glover, Martyn Cassel, Theo Wull, and Ser Mark Ryswell) approached the tower, finding it guarded by three members of the Kingsguard: Ser Arthur Dayne, Ser Oswell Whent, and Lord Commander Gerold Hightower.

“

“I looked for you on the Trident,” Ned said to them. “We were not there,” Ser Gerold answered. “Woe to the Usurper if we had been,” said Ser Oswell. “When King's Landing fell, Ser Jaime slew your king with a golden sword, and I wondered where you were.” “Far away,” Ser Gerold said, “or Aerys would yet sit the Iron Throne, and our false brother would burn in seven hells.” “I came down on Storm's End to lift the siege,” Ned told them, and the Lords Tyrell and Redwyne dipped their banners, and all their knights bent the knee to pledge us fealty. I was certain you would be among them.” “Our knees do not bend easily,” said Ser Arthur Dayne. “Ser Willem Darry is fled to Dragonstone, with your queen and Prince Viserys. I thought you might have sailed with him.” “Ser Willem is a good man and true,” said Ser Oswell. “But not of the Kingsguard,” Ser Gerold pointed out. “The Kingsguard does not flee.” “Then or now,” said Ser Arthur. He donned his helm. “We swore a vow,” explained old Ser Gerold. Ned’s wraiths moved up beside him, with shadow swords in hand. They were seven against three. “And now it begins,” said Ser Arthur Dayne, the Sword of the Morning. He unsheathed Dawn and held it with both hands. The blade was pale as milkglass, alive with light. “No,” Ned said with sadness in his voice. “Now it ends.”[3]

”

^[4] Eddard Stark and Howland Reed were the only survivors. Afterwards, Eddard pulled stones from the tower to make cairns for the dead. He took his sister's body back North with him so she could be buried with her brother Brandon and her father Rickard, but not before bringing Dawn to the Dayne castle at Starfall. With Ned's execution, Lord Reed is now the only survivor of the skirmish, and the only witness to Lyanna's promise.

References and Notes