Alyn

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Alyn
Alyn TheMico.jpg
Alyn, by The Mico

Title Captain of the guard
Allegiance House Stark
Culture Northmen
Born North[1]
Died In 298 AC, the riverlands
Books

Alyn is a member of the household guard of Lord Eddard Stark at Winterfell.

Appearance and Character

Sansa Stark considers Alyn more handsome than Jory Cassel.[2] He dreams about becoming a knight.[3]

Recent Events

A Game of Thrones

Alyn is among the guardsmen who accompany Lord Eddard Stark when he travels south to assume the office of Hand of the King to Robert I Baratheon.[4] On the kingsroad, it is Alyn who wakes Eddard on the morning that Robert takes his Hand on a ride through the barrowlands to discuss matters of state.[4]

Like the rest of the Stark household, Alyn does nothing to prevent Sandor Clegane from killing the butcher son's, Mycah. Arya Stark, remembering how Alyn is going to be a knight one day, resents him over his inaction.[5]

In King's Landing, Alyn admits Lord Petyr Baelish to Eddard's chambers, when Littlefinger comes to offer help in relation to the death of Lord Jon Arryn. Later, Alyn leads Eddard to the armory of Tobho Mott in the Street of Steel.[6]

When Janos Slynt, commander of the City Watch of King's Landing, asks for reinforcements to deal with increased disorder caused by the Hand's tourney, Eddard gives him twenty men from his household guard under the command of Alyn.[7] Alyn himself takes part in the tourney where he is defeated by Ser Balon Swann. Eddard sends Alyn to recruit Anguy, the tournament's archery champion, but Anguy refuses the offer. Later that day, Alyn is guarding the stairs in the Tower of the Hand when Lord Varys appears to talk about Jon Arryn's death. Eddard is surprised that Varys got past Alyn and his other guards, but is told that there are ways in the Red Keep known only to ghosts and spiders.[8]

After Eddard is attacked in the street by Ser Jaime Lannister, it is Alyn who sends a raven to Winterfell with the news of Eddard's wounding and the deaths of Jory Cassel, Wyl, and Heward.[9] With Jory dead, Alyn is promoted to commander of the Stark household guard.[10]

When Lord Eddard awakes, Alyn informs him that Jaime has fled the city, probably to join with his father, Lord Tywin Lannister, at Casterly Rock, and that the news of Lady Catelyn taking Tyrion Lannister captive has become common knowledge. He tells Eddard that Sansa Stark is praying quietly while Arya is full of anger over what has happened. Eddard tells him to keep his daughters safe under any circumstance. Alyn also informs Eddard that he has given the bodies of the dead Stark guards over to the silent sisters so they can prepare them to be sent back for burial at Winterfell. Eddard applauds Alyn's actions.[9]

Alyn is present in the throne room when Lord Eddard commissions Lord Beric Dondarrion to bring Ser Gregor Clegane to justice.[11] As with the City Watch, Lord Eddard sends twenty of his own guardsmen under the command of Alyn along with Beric. As commander of the Stark contingent, Alyn carries the direwolf standard of House Stark. When the force is leaving the Red Keep and Alyn rides alongside Lord Beric, Sansa notices that he is handsomer than Jory Cassel, and she believes that he is going to be a knight.[2]

After Alyn's departure, command of the Stark household guard passes to Tomard, which disquiets Eddard, as "Fat Tom" is past fifty and has never been energetic.[10] Lying in his dark cell after his arrest, Eddard tries to build up hope by thinking of the return of Alyn and the other Stark men after they have dealt with Gregor.[12]

Alyn participates in the Battle at the Mummer's Ford, where the men led by Lord Beric Dondarrion are caught in a trap set by Lannister forces under the command of Ser Gregor Clegane. At the end of the engagement, when their situation is seemingly hopeless, Alyn manages to restore order to the ranks, and a third of the force manages to break free, led by Thoros of Myr.[13]

A Clash of Kings

During the harvest feast at Winterfell, Bran Stark muses the number of new faces at the feast this year, filling the positions of those of the Stark household who went south with Lord Eddard Stark and died eventually. Bran counts Alyn among the dead. However, this is likely just an assumption, as Bran has little knowledge of the Mummer's Ford and also thinks of Harwin, who is alive.[14]

A Storm of Swords

Harwin tells Arya Stark about the Battle at the Mummer's Ford and how Alyn's actions contributed to the escape of a third of the force led by Lord Beric Dondarrion, including Harwin himself, Lord Beric and Thoros of Myr.[13]

When Sandor Clegane is put on trial by the brotherhood without banners, Tom of Sevenstreams lists Alyn among the deaths for which Sandor supposedly shares responsibility. It is not clear whether Alyn died at the Mummer's Ford or in a later conflict with Lannister men.[15]

A Dance with Dragons

During the wedding of Ramsay Bolton and "Arya Stark" at Winterfell, Theon Greyjoy thinks of former members of the Stark household who have died since the War of the Five Kings began, including Alyn "with his dreams of knighthood".[3]

References

Preceded by Captain of the guards
298 AC
Served under: Eddard Stark
Succeeded by