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 Desmond by Lee Johnson © Fantasy Flight Games | ||||
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| Culture | Rivermen | |||
| Born | 238–240 AC (roughly)[1] | |||
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Desmond Grell is a knight of House Grell and the master-at-arms at Riverrun.[2] He has spent the better part of his life in service to House Tully.[3]
Appearance and Character
An old knight,[3][4] Desmond is stout with a large belly.[3][5] Courteous[3] and brave,[4] he enjoys alcohol[4][6] and bawdy jokes.[6]
History
Desmond was born of House Grell, one of the minor houses of the riverlands. He entered the service of Lord Hoster Tully at a young age. He was a squire when Hoster's daughter Catelyn was born, a knight by the time she learned to ride, and the master-at-arms at Riverrun before she was wed to Lord Eddard Stark.[5] During Catelyn's bedding on her wedding night, Desmond drunkenly apologized for each bawdy joke he made.[6]
Recent Events
A Clash of Kings
Desmond trains new bowmen after the Battle of the Camps and the proclamation of Robb Stark as King in the North. Instead of accompanying Catelyn Stark to see their father, Lord Hoster Tully, Ser Edmure Tully goes to speak with the bowmen.[7]
During the attempt to free Ser Jaime Lannister from his cell at Riverrun, Desmond's squire Myles is slain by Jaime.[3] Desmond is introduced to Brienne Tarth when she and Catelyn return from Storm's End.[3]
When Edmure rides out to meet the Lannister forces at the Battle of the Fords, he leaves Desmond as commander of Riverrun's meager garrison in his absence. Desmond provides updates about the fighting to Catelyn.[4] Desmond drunkenly sings along when Rymund the Rhymer performs "Wolf in the Night" in the Great Hall of Riverrun.[4] The knight is elated when Edmure sends word of Lord Tywin Lannister's retreat from the Red Fork, and he has some casks opened to celebrate Edmure's victory at Stone Mill.[4] Desmond later has twenty casks of nut-brown ale brought up from the cellar so that the smallfolk within Riverrun can celebrate Edmure's imminent return and the storming of the Crag by King Robb, Catelyn's son.[8]
A Storm of Swords
Desmond was named castellan of Riverrun when Edmure departed to defend the fords of the Red Fork. After Catelyn releases Jaime Lannister from the dungeon without permission, Utherydes Wayn and a red-faced Desmond reluctantly address her treason. Desmond agrees with Catelyn's suggestion to be confined in her father Hoster's chambers while awaiting the return of her brother Edmure and son Robb.[5] Desmond sends Ser Robin Ryger in pursuit of Jaime, Brienne, and Ser Cleos Frey,[5] but Robin and his men are forced to retreat after their river galley is destroyed.[9]
Desmond escorts Catelyn to the Great Hall when Robb returns from the westerlands.[10]
Desmond is to be one of the nobles who launch Lord Hoster's funeral boat after his passing. When Lothar Frey, the envoy from the Twins, arrives with Lord Walder Frey's response to Robb's overtures, however, Robb quietly asks Desmond to step aside so that Lothar can participate in the ceremony.[11]
A Feast for Crows
After Jaime achieves the surrender of Riverrun, Desmond and Robin ask to join the Night's Watch. Both are to be escorted to Maidenpool by a dozen of the Mountain's men under the command of Raff the Sweetling.[12]
Quotes
Desmond: Would that Lord Hoster could have seen that. It would have made him dance.
Catelyn: My father's dancing days are past, I fear, and this fight is just begun. The Lannisters will come again. Lord Tywin has twice my brother's numbers.
Catelyn: I pray that you are right.[4]
Desmond: He could have ten times and it would not matter. The west bank of the Red Fork is higher than the east, my lady, and well wooded. Our bowmen have good cover, and a clear field for their shafts ... and should any breach occur, Edmure will have his best knights in reserve, ready to ride wherever they are most sorely needed. The river will hold them.
—Desmond and Catelyn Stark
Desmond: Oh, if only I might have been with him. Where is that fool Rymund? There's a song in this, by the gods, and one that even Edmure will want to hear. The mill that ground the Mountain down, I could almost make the words myself, had I the singer's gift.
Catelyn: I'll hear no songs until the fighting's done.[4]—Desmond and Catelyn Stark
Desmond: Your sons. Maester Vyman told us. The poor lads. Terrible. Terrible. But ...
Utherydes: We share your grief, my lady. All Riverrun mourns with you, but ...
Catelyn: I did. I understood what I was doing and knew it was treasonous. If you fail to punish me, men will believe that we connived together to free Jaime Lannister. It was mine own act and mine alone, and I alone must answer for it.[5]
Desmond: The news must have driven you mad, a madness of grief, a mother's madness, men will understand. You did not know ...
—Desmond, Utherydes Wayn, and Catelyn Stark
This castle's been my home for forty years. You say I'm free to go, but where? I'm too old and too stout to make a hedge knight. But men are always welcome at the Wall.[12]
—Desmond to Jaime Lannister
Quotes about Desmond
Ser Desmond Grell had served House Tully all his life. He had been a squire when Catelyn was born, a knight when she learned to walk and ride and swim, master-at-arms by the day that she was wed. He had seen Lord Hoster's little Cat become a young woman, a great lord's lady, mother to a king. And now he has seen me become a traitor as well.[5]
—thoughts of Catelyn Stark
References
- ↑ See the Desmond Grell calculation.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Appendix.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 39, Catelyn V.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 45, Catelyn VI.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 2, Catelyn I.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 51, Catelyn VII.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 7, Catelyn I.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 55, Catelyn VII.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 1, Jaime I.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 14, Catelyn II.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 35, Catelyn IV.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 44, Jaime VII.