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“ | Men call me Darkstar, and I am of the night. | „ |
~ Gerold Dayne, to Myrcella Baratheon. |
Ser Gerold Dayne, also known as Darkstar, is a supporting antagonist in the A Song of Ice and Fire novel series.
He is a landed knight, the head of House Dayne of High Hermitage, a cadet branch of House Dayne of Starfall, and a former lover of Princess Arianne Martell. He serves as the primary antagonist of her point of view and the Dorne storyline as a whole in A Feast for Crows. According to Prince Doran Martell, Gerold is the most dangerous man in Dorne.
He is cut from the TV series adaptation Game of Thrones, and his antagonistic role is instead adopted by Ellaria Sand.
Appearance[]
Gerold Dayne was a handsome clean-shaven man with high cheekbones, a strong jawline, an aquiline nose, and dark purple eyes. He had thick silver hair with a singular black streak in it which reached down to his lower neck.
Biography[]
Gerold Dayne was born into House Dayne in between the years 170-174 AC, during the reign of King Aerys II Targaryen. His elder cousin, Ser Arthur Dayne, served as the Sword of the Morning and as the deadliest member of Aerys' Kingsguard. Because of his reputation, this made Gerold jealous, as Arthur is widely considered to be the most chivalrous knight in the Seven Kingdoms. Gerold trained in the use of the blade, and was eventually named a Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Ser Gerold was a lover of Princess Arianne Martell, the daughter and heir of Dorne's ruler, Prince Doran Martell.
A Feast for Crows[]
Darkstar allied himself with Princess Arianne Martell during her conspiracy to crown Princess Myrcella Baratheon as a new queen of the Seven Kingdoms, using her betrothal with Trystane Martell and the Dornish law where the eldest child, whether they be male or female, should inherit. The idea is to put both Myrcella, Tommen and their supporters against each other. Arianne, who thinks her father hates her and wants her brother Quentyn to rule Dorne, and is also unaware of his real plans, hopes that the Dornishmen will rise to defend her claim for a chance to go to war against the Lannisters.
During their travels in the desert on their way to Hellholt, they were ambushed at the Greenblood by Areo Hotah, who ordered them to surrender in the name of Prince Doran Martell. While Kingsguard Ser Arys Oakheart, in his arrogance, rode to his death, Ser Gerold, in an attempt to force Doran into going to war, tried to kill Myrcella, but failed as the princess's horse had reared, and he only managed to slice off Myrcella's ear and scarred her face. He then rides off into the deserts of Dorne, escaping from Areo's guards in the process. Maester Caleotte saved Myrcella's life, but she permanently lost an ear and now has a hideous facial scar. Doran angrily scolds Arianne for her conspiracy and for making Darkstar a part of it, warning her that he is the most dangerous man in all of Dorne.
A Dance with Dragons[]
Ser Balon Swann of the Kingsguard, along with Obara Sand was tasked by Doran to hunt down Ser Gerold at High Hermitage, the seat of House Dayne of High Hermitage. Arianne instructs Myrcella to tell Ser Balon that Darkstar was to be blamed for the death of Arys Oakheart, as Balon has been expected to meet the latter. In King's Landing, Ser Kevan Lannister tells his niece Cersei Lannister, who was imprisoned by the Faith, of Darkstar's assault on Myrcella. In addition, the princess has blamed Gerold for attacking her and for killing Ser Arys. Paranoid, Cersei believed that Gerold has been sent as a catspaw by her brother Tyrion Lannister, whom she has blamed for the deaths of both her son, Joffrey I Baratheon and her father Tywin.
The Winds of Winter[]
While travelling in the Stormlands, Arianne Martell discusses with Daemon Sand, former squire of the late Prince Oberyn Martell, on Gerold Dayne. Daemon is doubtful over Arianne's claim that both Tyene Sand and Areo Hotah can kill Ser Gerold. Arianne Martell expressed regret on having trusted Darkstar as well as on not believing half of the stories told about him due to his handsome look. Both Arianne and Daemon agree he should have died long time before and consider him a traitor.