Dark Sister

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Dark Sister is a famous Valyrian steel longsword, one of two ancestral swords of House Targaryen, the other being Blackfyre.

History

Visenya and Dark Sister, by Amok©.

Dark Sister has been in the possession of House Targaryen since before Aegon's Conquest.[1] It may have been forged for a woman warrior originally, as its slender blade is designed for a woman's hand.[2]

Queen Visenya Targaryen was skilled in the use of Dark Sister, having trained beside her younger brother, King Aegon I Targaryen, since childhood. During the First Dornish War, the Targaryens were attacked on multiple occasions by assassins sent by Dorne,[3] and Visenya twice wielded Dark Sister against Dornish assassins in Aegon's defense.[4] One such attack took place in 10 AC;[5] Two of Visenya's guards were killed, but Visenya slew the last assassin with her Valyrian steel blade.[3] When Aegon proclaimed he still felt sufficiently protected by his guards, Visenya quickly drew Dark Sister and cut Aegon's cheek before the king's defenders could react. Aegon then entrusted Visenya with establishing the Kingsguard.[5]

Visenya bestowed Dark Sister on her thirteen-year-old son, Prince Maegor Targaryen, in 25 AC.[6] When his brother Aenys I became king in 37 AC, Maegor was given Blackfyre. Since that day, he hung Dark Sister on the walls of his chambers on Dragonstone, while wielding Blackfyre in battle.[7] After Dowager Queen Visenya died on Dragonstone in 44 AC, the hostage Dowager Queen Alyssa Velaryon, Aenys's widow, fled from with her children Jaehaerys and Alysanne, taking Dark Sister from Visenya's chamber.[8] In 48 AC, Jaehaerys carried Dark Sister when he announced his claim to the Iron Throne at Storm's End.[6]

Prince Baelon Targaryen wielded Dark Sister when avenging the death of his brother, Prince Aemon, who had been slain by Myrish exiles who had invaded and occupied Tarth. Baelon slew countless of the Myrish with the blade.[9]

Dark Sister, as depicted by Velvet Engine in The World of Ice & Fire.

Prince Daemon Targaryen was given Dark Sister by King Jaehaerys I himself for his prowess.[10] Ser Criston Cole defeated Daemon in the tourney for King Viserys I's accession, knocking Dark Sister from the prince's hand with a morningstar.[11] Daemon wielded Dark Sister during his war for the Stepstones, using it to behead Craghas Drahar in 108 AC.[11] In 115 AC, he fought and defeated the Braavosi betrothed of Laena Velaryon with the blade in a duel.[11] During the Dance of the Dragons, Daemon fought against Aemond Targaryen with the blade in the Battle Above the Gods Eye, leaping from the back of his dragon, Caraxes, to plunge Dark Sister into Aemond's eye. When Aemond's bones were found some years later in the waters of the Gods Eye, Dark Sister was thrust hilt-deep through his eye socket.[12]

Prince Aemon Targaryen, the Dragonknight, was later given Dark Sister.[13][14]

Dark Sister was later bestowed upon Lord Brynden Rivers, though Brynden's favorite weapon was a weirwood longbow.[14][2] According to a semi-canon source, Brynden took Dark Sister with him when he went to the Wall to join the Night's Watch.[15] The sword's current whereabouts are unknown.

Known wielders

Quotes

Dark Sister was made for nobler tasks than slaughtering sheep. She has a thirst for blood.[11]

References

  1. The World of Ice & Fire, The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest.
  2. 2.0 2.1 So Spake Martin: More Targaryen Descriptions (December 24, 2005)
  3. 3.0 3.1 The World of Ice & Fire, Dorne: Dorne Against the Dragons.
  4. Fire & Blood, Three Heads Had the Dragon - The Wars of Aegon I.
  5. 5.0 5.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aegon I.
  6. 6.0 6.1 The Sons of the Dragon.
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 Fire & Blood, The Sons of the Dragon.
  8. The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Maegor I.
  9. Fire & Blood, The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progeny, and Pain.
  10. The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Viserys I.
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 The Rogue Prince.
  12. The Princess and the Queen.
  13. The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Viserys II.
  14. 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 The Sworn Sword.
  15. /r/asoiaf: GRRM confirms long-held theory about Dark Sister, August 15, 2018
  16. Fire & Blood, Aegon's Conquest.
  17. Fire & Blood, The Long Reign — Jaehaerys and Alysanne—Policy, Progeny, and Pain.
  18. The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Viserys I.
  19. Fire & Blood, Heirs of the Dragon — A Question of Succession.
  20. The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Viserys II.