Alyn

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Alyn
Alyn TheMico.jpg

Allegiance House Stark
Died In 298 ALthe Riverlands
Books

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

Appearance and Character

Sansa considers Alyn more handsome than Jory Cassel.[1] Alyn dreams about becoming a knight.[2]

Recent Events

A Game of Thrones

Alyn is among the guardsmen who accompany Lord Eddard when he travels south to assume the office of Hand of the King to Robert I.[3] On the Kingsroad, it is Alyn who wakes Lord Eddard on the morning that King Robert takes his Hand on a ride to discuss matters of state.[3]

Like the rest of the Stark household, Alyn does nothing to prevent Sandor Clegane from killing the butcher son Mycah. Arya Stark, remembering how Alyn is going to be a knight one day, resents him over his inaction.[4]

He admits Petyr Baelish to Lord Eddard's chambers, when Littlefinger comes to offer help in relation to the death of Lord Jon Arryn. Later, Alyn leads Lord Eddard to the armory of Tobho Mott in the Street of Steel.[5]

When Janos Slynt, commander of the City Watch, asks for reinforcements to deal with increased disorder caused by the Tourney of the Hand, Lord Eddard gives him twenty men from his household under the command of Alyn.[6] Alyn himself takes part in the tourney where he is defeated by Ser Balon Swann. Lord 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 Varys appears to talk about Jon Arryn's death. Lord 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.[7]

After Lord Eddard is attacked in the street by Ser Jaime Lannister, it is Alyn who sends a raven to Winterfell with the news of Lord Eddard's wounding and the deaths of Jory Cassel, Wyl, and Heward.[8] With Jory dead, Alyn is promoted to commander of the Stark household guard.[9]

When Lord Eddard awakes, Alyn informs him that Ser Jaime has fled the city, probably to join with his father at Casterly Rock, and that the news of Lady Catelyn taking Tyrion Lannister captive has become common knowledge. He tells Lord Eddard that Sansa is praying quietly while Arya is full of anger over what has happened. Lord Eddard tells him to keep his daughters safe under any circumstance. Alyn also informs Lord Eddard that he has given the bodies of the dead Stark guards over to the silent sisters so that they can be sent to Winterfell. Lord Eddard applauds Alyn's actions.[8]

Alyn is present in the throne room when Lord Eddard commissions Lord Beric Dondarrion to bring Ser Gregor Clegane to justice.[10] As with the City Watch, Lord Eddard sends twenty of his own guardsmen under the command of Alyn along with Lord 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.[1]

After Alyn's departure, command of the Stark household guard passes to Tomard, which disquiets Lord Eddard, as "Fat Tom" is past 50 and has never been energetic.[9] Lying in his dark cell after his arrest, Lord Eddard tries to build up hope by thinking of the return of Alyn and the other Stark men after they have dealt with Ser Gregor Clegane.[11]

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 manage to break free, led by Thoros of Myr.[12] It is not clear whether Alyn dies in this engagement or a later one with Lannister men, but his death is later mentioned at the trial the Brotherhood Without Banners stages for Sandor Clegane.[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 very little knowledge of the Battle at the Mummer's Ford and also thinks of Harwin, who is actually 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.[12]

When Sandor Clegane is put on trial by the brotherhood without banners, Tom of Sevenstreams lists Alyn among the deaths Sandor is supposedly shares responsibility.[13]

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".[2]

References and Notes