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For six years, Dunk has had his soulmate’s first words etched into his skin. For six years he had wondered what kind of person would be behind those odd words: Boy stop gaping, see to my horse.
Dunk had never met anyone who spoke like that, let alone to him of all people. From the moment his words appeared, Ser Arlan taught him the importance of a soulmate. They were rare nowadays—fated pairs who were meant to parallel and complete each other—causing couples to be even stronger matches, destined for greatness together. Dunk had never had much of a family, so the thought of a forever partner excited him.
That changed quickly the moment Dunk had met Prince Aerion Brightflame. Anger filled his eyes the moment Dunk had responded, jumping down his mount demanding Dunk show him his words. His anger was confusing to Dunk, but he listened to his soulmate regardless, uncovering the writing on his forearm. However, that only seemed to enrage the prince further. He shoved Dunk’s arm away and insisted that he tell no one of their “disgraceful pairing”.
…
The Gods must’ve been cruel, to set two soulmates up against each other in this fashion—or rather they must think of themselves as humorous, to put Dunk in this predicament. Dunk hadn’t meant to hurt the prince, he just watched as he broke the puppeteer’s finger and his vision blacked out. Now Dunk was sat in a cell, destined to die for hurting his soulmate—the soulmate that denied their sacred connection. His soulmate wanted him dead, and Dunk figured that to be fair for hurting him. Hurting the very person that Dunk swore at nine or ten to protect with his every being.
Prince Baelor suggested a trial by combat. It was the last thing that Dunk wanted to do—to fight against his soulmate—,but he hadn’t had enough time to honor Ser Arlan; not enough time to prove himself as a knight. He figured he could get Prince Aerion to a point of yielding, and everything would be over. Until the prince decided to call for a Trial of Seven.
Seven on seven meant more people in the mix. More people that Dunk had to defend himself from, and more people whose attention would be on Aerion. Dunk didn’t want anyone to die for his sake, didn’t want Aerion to die even if he hated Dunk for the rest of their lives.
The battle started and Dunk felt like he was dying. He was sure he died at one point. His body just gave up and he found himself laying on the ground unable to move. He heard the boy’s screams and wanted to tell him that he was alright, he was still alive, but he found that his mouth wouldn’t work. He thought back to Rafe, his friend before Ser Arlan had saved him, how scary it must’ve been to die of a sliced throat. They were but of five or six years, orphaned and fighting for survival with only the other to depend on. He was alone for a time after Rafe, following behind Ser Arlan in secret until his body nearly gave up. Ser Arlan saved him then, and Dunk had wanted to repay that by being that same figure for Egg.
It was Ser Arlan’s memory that woke Dunk back up, that demand for Dunk to get up. It had saved him once, and had ended up saving him again. Dunk stood—slowly and painfully but he got up—and prepared himself to continue the battle.
The Trial of Seven couldn’t be described as just a win for Duncan the Tall. His actions had caused the death of the heir to the throne, and for his soulmate to be sent to the Free Cities. Whether or not they acknowledged the existence of their pairing, Dunk still wanted to be close to the man—protecting him and ensuring the safety of his fated pair, but Aerion wanted nothing to do with him and Dunk couldn’t find it in him to join the Kingsguard. Instead they went their separate ways as Dunk took Egg to squire and Aerion fulfilled his punishment.
Aerion slept in the most lavish places—drinking and fucking his way through Lys, while Dunk slept in ditches and rundown taverns making sure his companion went to bed warm and full throughout Westeros. They found themselves servicing many different lords, finding work and shelter as often as they could. Dunk thought of his soulmate often, never letting anyone learn of the words that tied his heart and soul to the prince—not even his traveling companion. If he couldn’t be with Aerion, the least he could do for harming him was keeping their secret.
…
Dunk and Aerion’s paths next crossed during the Third Blackfyre Rebellion. Egg—no, Prince Aegon—and Aerion fought side by side as Dunk fought alongside them, protecting the lives of both princes with everything in him. His heart burned with the want to be with Aerion, but the other man barely even looked at him—never uttering a single word to him. How was it that it burned Dunk to not be with Aerion, but it seemed as though the other was completely unaffected by their situation. Was this the Gods’ way of punishing Dunk for the trial? The Seven truly had a cruel sense of humor.
The two continued to travel Westeros until Egg married Betha Blackwood, Dunk staying true to his companion and settling with him and protecting his family as Betha found herself with child. It was soon after that the current king and Egg’s uncle, Aerys I, had died and King Maekar called all his sons to court. Where Prince Egg went, Ser Duncan the Tall followed, so the third crossing of Prince Aerion and his soulmate’s paths were met. Much like the second, Aerion kept his distance, snapping at Dunk to leave his presence any time he was near him. As usual, Dunk obeyed with a heavy heart. It was a struggle to live in the castle, near his soulmate but with the knowledge that Aerion would never truly be his.
This continued for years. Dunk staying by Egg and Betha’s side as they continued to live in peace, passing Aerion constantly but never truly being with him. Dunk was envious of Egg—although he would never admit it. His former squire getting to take a love match and siring children with the person he loved, all while Dunk was tortured by the presence of his soulmate all throughout the halls of the Red Keep. Dunk was honored, to have a son named after him from his best friend. He wished upon every fallen star that he could get to name a son after his companion.
Dunk’s worst fear happened the same year that Egg’s second child was born—Prince Aerion had gotten married. Dunk had been in attendance during the ceremony, and worst of all he had personally seen the happiness in his soulmate’s face. He wanted so badly for that happiness to be directed at him—at Aerion’s true match. Dunk lived with Aerion’s words on his body, any partner that he would ever take—and had taken—would never live up to what he was destined to have with Aerion. Dunk had lain with a few people but no one could ever compare. He couldn’t find it in himself to open his heart to anyone other than his soulmate. He couldn’t give anyone only part of himself—it wouldn’t be fair.
Aerion carried many babes, but most of them were lost during the quickening or were stillbirths. Dunk was forced to stay away from his soulmate as he grew round with someone else’s babes, and lost each and every one of them. Dunk was convinced it must be the work of the Gods, that Aerion could not properly carry a babe unless it was his—that was until little Maegor was born. It was the worst out of all of Aerion’s babes.
Aerion had nearly died giving birth to little Maegor, his screams terrorizing the halls of the Red Keep as Dunk was forced to stand guard outside his door. Dunk truly felt as though his soulmate was going to die that day, but he prevailed. His soulmate was the strongest person he knew after all.
Dunk watched from afar as Maegor grew closer to his first name day. The babe had looked just like Aerion, but with a streak of black in his hair. Dunk could find himself imagining what it would be like if that babe belonged to the both of them. His fantasy however came to an end three moons before Maegor reached his name day.
The news of Prince Aerion’s death flew through the keep just as fast as the wildfire took his life. Dunk had felt a part of himself die the exact moment that Aerion took his last breath. He and Prince Egg had been out with his children, but Dunk immediately knew that something was wrong with Aerion. He felt a deep pain that nearly made him collapse to the floor, and soon the news was floating around. Prince Aerion the Monstrous had drank wildfire, believing that he would turn himself into a dragon, and had died from it; Dunk had died that day there with him. The only thing that survived that day was Ser Duncan the Tall, Knight of the Kingsguard.
Ser Duncan the Tall went on to defeat Daemon III Blackfyre during the Fourth Blackfyre Rebellion, later becoming Lord Commander to King Aegon V. Duncan fought in trial against his old friend, Lyonel Baratheon, after his namesake ended his betrothal with Lyonel’s daughter.
Duncan was by Egg’s side throughout everything. Through his coronation, every child, grandchild, death—Duncan was there. At the back of his mind though, he always thought about how everything could’ve been different if he had just acted differently during the Ashford Tourney; all of the pain that could’ve been avoided. Duncan was by Egg’s side as he called family and friends to Summerhall to celebrate the birth of his first great-grandchild, Rhaegar Targaryen. Duncan was by Egg’s side as the fire broke out and Egg urged him to help get his family out of Summerhall. Duncan was by Egg’s side as he ran back in to the fire to save his dearest friend. However, it was too late for the both of them. Duncan enclosing Egg in his embrace as the flames became too much for their bodies to handle.
As Duncan was dying, he thought back to the late Prince Aerion Brightflame, and the writing he had on his forearm. He had never truly stopped thinking of his soulmate—what they could’ve been, what it would’ve been like if they had tried. Those beautiful silver-gold locks and those deep violet eyes. What their children would’ve looked like with those same features, maybe even some of his own. Aerion had died of wildfire, it was only fitting that his soulmate would die of it too.