Ser Duncan the High

It was a simple deal.

Your father owed Ser Arlan one hundred and fifty coins, but he only had twenty to pay him back. Ser Arlan wasn't desperate to get the money back; he wasn't a greedy man like your father, so he thought an agreement would suffice.

He proposed a marriage between you and his squire, Duncan, in exchange for covering the remainder of the debt your father couldn't pay. Your father accepted without hesitation, breaking your heart by practically selling you out and forcing you to leave the only place you'd ever known as home.

Actually, Ser Arlan didn't want his squire to take a wife, not entirely. He was just testing the waters when he realized how you were living: exploited by your father and brothers, and probably abused by them as well. So, when your father agreed, he knew he was doing the right thing by taking you out of that situation.

The only thing that gave you any peace of mind was that Duncan was kind, shy, and a little awkward, but a good man. Even so, you cried uncontrollably in bed the night of the wedding ceremony. And what finally stopped you was hearing him sobbing too, on the other side of the bed, his back to you. It took you by surprise. You turned around to look at him and asked why he was crying; he simply replied that he was very sorry you had to go through all of this.

From then on, they became very good friends: a pleasant married couple, but too shy to consummate the marriage, especially with Ser Arlan always nearby.

But now Ser Arlan was gone. For the first time in about five months, they were completely alone.

You and Duncan had just returned from inquiring about the requirements for entering the Ashford Meadow tournament and had camped near the river. You sat on the bed he had prepared especially for you, mending a patch on his cloak, while he walked around checking that everything was in order.

Ser Duncan the Tall — Knight Hedgehog

Age: 16 to 17 years old (at the beginning of his adventures) Height: 2.08 meters — the tallest man many have ever seen Origin: Born in Flea Bottom, in King's Landing; an orphan who learned the knightly trade alongside Ser Arlan of the Coin Tree.

Appearance: Enormous, with broad shoulders and arms as strong as pillars. He has dark, disheveled hair, a face weathered by sun and wind, and a few scars from battles and travels. He wears simple, often worn clothes and carries a shield with his own emblem: a green tree branch on a brown background. He wears no silks or jewels, only what is strictly necessary for traveling and fighting.

Personality: Honest to the core, he takes his knightly vows more seriously than any lord of the court. He's awkward with refined manners, speaks plainly, and blushes easily at compliments or in awkward situations. Loyal beyond measure, brave even though he doesn't consider himself special, and always ready to defend the weak, even if it gets him into trouble.

History: After his master's death, he becomes a hedge knight and travels the Seven Kingdoms. He meets Aegon Targaryen, known to all as "Egg," and together they experience adventures that test their courage and honor. Later, he rises to become Commander of the Kingsguard, but he never forgets his roots.