Editing Duncan the Tall (section)

===Tourney at Ashford Meadow===
[[File:Dunk and Egg by Even Mehl Amundsen.jpg|thumb|Dunk and [[Aegon V Targaryen|Egg]], by Even Mehl Amundsen ©]]
In {{Date|209}}, a [[tourney]] was to be held at [[Ashford Meadow]] in the [[Reach]]. Ser [[Arlan of Pennytree]] died on the way to [[Ashford|Ashford Castle]], however, and after Dunk had buried the [[hedge knight]], he decided to compete in the [[tourney at Ashford Meadow]] in Arlan's stead. At [[inn near Ashford|an inn]] along the way, Dunk met a [[Daeron Targaryen (son of Maekar I)|drunken man]] who claimed to have dreamed about him, and who became distraught at the sight of him. Dunk also met a bald-headed boy who begged Dunk to be allowed to become his [[squire]] when Dunk left. Dunk refused, left, and shortly thereafter arrived at Ashford.{{ref|THK}}

Duncan made camp, and that evening discovered the bald boy from the inn at his camp. When the boy assumed that Dunk's name was short for Duncan, Dunk agreed, calling himself Ser Duncan the Tall, for his height and because it sounded powerful. The boy claimed to be called "Egg" and said he came from [[King's Landing]], causing Dunk to believe the boy was an orphan from [[Flea Bottom]], just like he had been. Because he did not have a squire, Dunk accepted Egg as his squire for the duration of the tourney. That night, in their camp under an [[elm]] tree, Dunk saw a green [[astronomy|falling star]], which he believed was lucky.{{Ref|THK}}

Once at the tourney grounds, Duncan was forced to sell [[Sweetfoot]], one of his [[horse]]s, and Arlan's old [[armor]], in order to buy armor of his own from [[Steely Pate]]. He met a puppeteer named [[Tanselle]], who was performing at a stall on the tourney grounds. The day after Dunk's arrival, he went to register for the tourney, which required [[knighthood]] to participate. Identifying himself as Ser Duncan the Tall, Dunk told [[Plummer]], [[Lord Ashford]]'s steward, how Arlan had knighted him before his death. Several of his thoughts and actions, as well as other facts, however, suggest that his tale is not completely true.{{Refn|group="N"|name=knighthood|There is a Noreascon report{{Ref|ssm|1307}} with a paraphrased statement by [[George R. R. Martin]], confirming that Duncan had not been knighted by Ser Arlan. Besides this [[So Spake Martin|SSM]], other indications have been laid out by readers. Immediately after burying Arlan, Duncan considers finding another knight to squire for,{{Ref|THK}} which is at odds with his supposed new-made knighthood. Duncan also becomes uncomfortable at several occasions when his knighting is brought up, such as when Lady [[Rohanne Webber]] asks if he was knighted by Arlan, and Duncan looks at his feet while saying "No one else was like to do it."{{Ref|TSS}} Duncan wonders if his ears have turned red when [[Plummer]] asks if he is a knight. Duncan is extremely hesitant to knight [[Raymun Fossoway]], feeling both relieved and guilty when [[Lyonel Baratheon]] steps in to knight Raymun instead.{{Ref|THK}} Lastly, Duncan admits to himself that "He knew what it was like to want something so badly that you would tell a monstrous lie just to get near it."{{Ref|THK}} Readers have suspected that this refers to his lie about his knighthood.}} Plummer suggested that Duncan find someone to vouch for him and return the next day.{{ref|THK}}

Unable to find anyone, Duncan returned to the castle the next day, where he accidentally interrupted Prince [[Baelor Targaryen (son of Daeron II)|Baelor]] and Prince [[Maekar I Targaryen|Maekar Targaryen]], who were occupied with the missing Princes [[Daeron Targaryen (son of Maekar I)|Daeron]] and [[Aegon V Targaryen|Aegon]], two of Maekar's sons. After Duncan explained his problem to the princes, Baelor recalled jousting against Arlan years before, and vouched for Duncan, allowing his participation. Since Dunk's shield displayed the winged chalice arms of the late Arlan, Baelor said he could not bear the sigil himself, as he was not Arlan's trueborn son. Dunk paid Tanselle to paint over the shield with a new design, a green shooting star above an elm tree at sunset; a sunset because Arlan liked them, an elm for the tree by his camp, and a shooting star for the lucky one he had seen.{{Ref|THK}}

When Tanselle was attacked by Prince [[Aerion Targaryen]], Duncan rushed to her defense, attacking the prince in the process. When Aerion's guards intervened, Egg protected Duncan from further harm by revealing his identity as Prince Aegon. Duncan was arrested and brought to the castle, where Prince Baelor informed him how Prince Daeron had claimed to his father that the missing Aegon had been kidnapped by a robber knight, while Aerion was twisting the puppeteer story into treason. Due to the lies of both Aerion and Daeron, Maekar became furious with Duncan. Baelor was forced to allow Aerion a trial, and Aerion demanded a [[trial of seven]].{{Ref|THK}}

With help from Aegon, Duncan found six allies: Ser [[Robyn Rhysling]], Ser [[Humfrey Hardyng]], Lord [[Lyonel Baratheon]], Ser [[Humfrey Beesbury]], the newly-knighted [[Raymun Fossoway]], and Prince Baelor. Aerion was supported by Daeron, Maekar, Ser [[Steffon Fossoway]], Ser [[Willem Wylde]], Ser [[Donnel of Duskendale]], and Ser [[Roland Crakehall (Kingsguard)|Roland Crakehall]], the latter three being knights of the [[Kingsguard]]. To his surprise, Duncan discovered that the [[smallfolk]] supported him, as he had remembered his vows as a knight{{Ref|THK}} ("protecting the weak and defending the innocent"){{Ref|ACOK|32}}{{Ref|ACOK|52}}{{Ref|ADWD|27}} by protecting Tanselle. During the combat, Duncan eventually found himself facing Aerion one on one, and he managed to best Aerion by using his strength and his fighting skills from Flea Bottom. Duncan forced Aerion to yield. As Daeron had already faked his defeat—as he had promised Duncan the day before—Duncan was declared cleared free of all charges.{{Ref|THK}}

Humfrey Beesbury was slain in the fighting, and Humfrey Hardyng died from his wounds in the night. Prince Baelor was mortally wounded as well by his own brother, Prince Maekar, leaving Duncan feeling extremely guilty. Maekar offered Duncan a place at [[Summerhall]] so his son Aegon could squire for Duncan. While Duncan agreed to take the prince as his squire, he insisted on remaining a hedge knight, convinced it would teach Egg humility. The next morning Aegon departed with Duncan, saying his father had told him to serve Duncan.{{Ref|THK}}