Erryk Cargyll

Erryk Cargyll

SerErryk Cargyll was a renownedknight, and member of theQueensguard ofQueenRhaenyra Targaryen, as well as the twin of SerArryk Cargyll, a member of the opposing Kingsguard of KingAegon II Targaryen. He formerly served in the Kingsguard of KingViserys I Targaryen, as the sworn shield of Aegon II before his accession to the throne.

Biography[]

Background[]

At the age of 18,^[5] Erryk and his twin brother Arryk were both appointed members of theKingsguard to KingViserys I. After the birth of PrinceAegon, he was named the prince's sworn protector, allowing him a full view of Aegon's perverse hedonism.

House of the Dragon: Season 1[]

Erryk and his brother Arryk attend the funeral ofAemma Arryn.^[3]

Erryk approaches QueenAlicent Hightower after a meeting of theSmall Council to inform her of an incident with the servant girlDyana in Prince Aegon's chambers. She briefly mistakes him for his brother, to which he duly corrects her. He and Arryk practice their swordsmanship against one another in the courtyard of the Red Keep as the PrincesJacaerys andLucerys Velaryon recall their memories of training in the Keep from years past. He is present in the throne room asVaemond Velaryon petitions to have himself named the heir to Driftmark, announcing the arrival of KingViserys and later standing againstDaemon Targaryen after he executes Vaemond for his words of outrage.^[6]

During theGreens'coup in King's Landing, Erryk is given the task of finding the disappeared Prince Aegon byOtto Hightower, and travels toFlea Bottom alongside Arryk. The pair search the streets, eventually reaching an underground child fighting ring that Aegon frequents. He and Arryk argue about whether Aegon is fit to rule, and Erryk points out one of the prince's silver-haired bastards to concede his dissatisfaction. They are approached by an agent of theWhite Worm, who offers the prince's location in exchange for a meeting with Otto.^[7]

Erryk accompanies Otto to the meeting and sits at his side while he comes to an agreement with Mysaria. She informs them of Aegon's hiding place within theGrand Sept. Unbeknownst to any in the meeting, they are observed by SerCriston Cole and PrinceAemond Targaryen, who are independently searching for Aegon on the order of Queen Alicent. Erryk and Arryk travel to the Grand Sept, and find Aegon beneath an altar. They depart to bring Aegon to Otto outside the walls of the city but are intercepted by Cole and Aemond. A fight breaks out, Arryk dueling against Criston as Aemond pursues the fleeing Aegon. During the fight, Erryk stands aside at the top of the steps of the Sept, fully disillusioned by the Greens from this display of infighting. He takes his leave as Cole disarms Arryk and Aemond subdues Aegon.^[7]

Erryk steals the crown of King Viserys I and breaks into the chambers of the imprisoned PrincessRhaenys Targaryen, with the intent to spirit her out of the city and take her toDragonstone. He attempts to bring her to his prepared horses, but she insists on retrieving her dragonMeleys. As they flee, crowds of smallfolk being corralled by the City Watch toward theDragonpit for the coronation of Aegon block their way and separate them. Erryk loses sight of Rhaenys in the hordes of people, fleeing the city as she retrieves her dragon and escapes independently.^[7]

Erryk travels alone to Dragonstone, where theBlacks have congregated. He approachesRhaenyra Targaryen in the courtyard as she mourns the loss of her stillborn daughterVisenya, and offers the crown of her father to her husbandDaemon to place upon her head. He recites the oath of the Kingsguard in the name of Rhaenyra and is accepted into the ranks of her Queensguard.^[4]

During a war meeting of theBlack Council, he enters to announce the arrival of a ship bearing the royal standard of Aegon II. He, along with fellow Queensguard membersSteffon Darklyn andLorent Marbrand, accompany Daemon during a confrontation with Otto to discuss a potential compromise between the factions. Tensions grow and blades are drawn as the Blacks reject the terms of the Greens, and in the ensuing stand-off Erryk and Arryk meet each other's gaze. An angered Daemon demands that Erryk bring Otto forth to be castrated for his treachery against the named succession, but Rhaenyra's intervention stays any bloodshed. Upon the resummation of the meeting, he stands vigil at the Painted Table as Rhaenyra discusses ensuring the loyalty of theStarks,Arryns, andBaratheons to her cause. During the meeting Prince Jacaerys offers himself and Lucerys to be envoys to the Starks and Baratheons, respectively, so the Queen has Erryk retrieve and presentThe Seven-Pointed Star for the brothers to swear upon to not act in violence as guests.^[4]

House of the Dragon: Season 2[]

Erryk sails aboard a ship of theVelaryon fleet blockading the Gullet. When his ship intercepts a vessel trying to crossBlackwater Bay, Erryk leads a boarding party and findsMysaria hiding in the cargo hold as a stowaway. He takes her back toDragonstone as a prisoner and is a witness to her subsequent interrogation by Prince Daemon. Erryk tries to speak up in Mysaria's defense, corroborating the truth of her claims to Daemon, who furiously asks why Erryk cares. When Erryk calls it a matter of honor, Daemon rounds on him, asking if honor led him and his "traitorous twin" to stand aside and let the Greensusurp the throne. Erryk argues that honor compelled him to abandon the Greens and side with Rhaenyra, but an unappeased Daemon notes that Erryk hadAegon in his grasp so many times (both as the prince's sworn shield and when he and Arryk recovered Aegon from Mysaria's hiding place in theGrand Sept) and demands to know why Erryk didn't kill Aegon when he had the chance. Erryk replies that the vows of the Kingsguard didn't include what to do when the royal family turned on each other. Before Daemon can say more, a roar fromSyrax outside the castle alerts both men toRhaenyra's return fromShipbreaker Bay.^[5]

Erryk attends a subsequent meeting of the Black Council and witnesses his queen's command thatAemond Targaryen die in retaliation for his murder of her son,Lucerys.^[5]

Erryk accompanies his Queen to Mysaria's cell, and witnesses Rhaenyra agree to honor her husband's promise to free Mysaria in return for information. Rhaenyra instructs Erryk to let Mysaria collect her things then have a guard escort her to theCorwyn, a ship docked at Dragonstone that will take Mysaria toMyr by way ofPentos. Some time afterwards, Erryk is alerted to the fact his brother Arryk has infiltrated Dragonstone, disguised as him, to assassinate Rhaenyra; he races to the royal apartments to find Arryk threatening Rhaenyra with a drawn sword. Erryk begs Arryk not to go throw with his orders, but when Arryk tries to attack Rhaenyra, Erryk intervenes, and a savage duel between the pair ensues. The pair inflict brutal wounds on each other, the noise bringing Erryk's Sworn Brother, SerLorent Marbrand running, who gets Rhaenyra to safety but is unable to tell Erryk apart from Arryk to aid him. Ultimately, Erryk triumphs, running Arryk through with his sword. Broken with grief for what he just did and unable to live with the guilt of being akinslayer, he begs Rhaenyra for forgiveness before falling on his sword, committing suicide.^[1]

Erryk and Arryk are buried together on Dragonstone.^[8]

Personality[]

Ser Erryk maintains a strong code of personal morals. He believes the ruler of Westeros should be of strong character and integrity, and is so disgusted that King Aegon is an irresponsible, depraved hedonist that he forsakes the sworn life oath of the Kingsguard to follow his personal code of honor. Erryk's personal honor led him to defend Mysara against Daemon and Rhaenyra against his brother Arryk.

He also shows animosity to more neutral positions, as he leaves his brother to fend for himself in a potentially deadly duel against Ser Criston after he insisted they were to follow orders and perform their duty, even if they know it isn't right to crown Aegon.

He also shows a side of cunning when he both steals the crown of Viserys and frees Rhaenys under the cover of darkness, going unregarded by the rest of the Red Keep's various servants.

Despite ending up on opposite sides during the Dance of the Dragons, Erryk deeply loved his twin Arryk, so much so that the pain of killing him to defend Rhaenyra led him to take his own life.

Quotes[]

Spoken by Erryk[]

Spoken about Erryk[]

Behind the scenes[]

During aBlack Council scene in "The Black Queen," Erryk was briefly played byLuke Tittensor, Elliott's brother who plays Arryk, as Elliott had contracted COVID-19 and was thus unavailable.^[9]

His character description forSeason 2 reads as follows:

"A former member of Viserys’ Kingsguard who left King’s Landing – and his twin brother – to swear fealty to Queen Rhaenyra and join her Queensguard."^[10]

In the books[]

In theA Song of Ice and Fire novels, Ser Erryk Cargyll was also the twin brother of Ser Arryk, and both were knights of Viserys I's Kingsguard.Bran andSansa relate to their tragic death.^[11][12]

In 120 AC, King Viserys made Erryk the sworn shield of Rhaenyra, replacing SerHarwin Strong.

In 129 AC, following Viserys's death, Erryk followed SerSteffon Darklyn and SerLorent Marbrand in siding with theblacks and joined the Queensguard of Rhaenyra. His twin, however, supported Aegon II.

It was not Erryk but Steffon Darklyn who stole the golden crown and delivered it to Rhaenyra.

Olenna Tyrell's personal guards (whom Olenna humorously call Left and Right, since she cannot tell them apart) are named Erryk and Arryk, perhaps named after the legendary twin Kingsguards.^[13]

According toGeorge R.R. Martin, the Cargyll twins have been inspired by the twin knights of Arthurian myth,Sir Balin and Sir Balan.^[14]

Appearances[]

• – "The Kingsguard - Bronn"(illustrated)
• – "The Heirs of the Dragon"
• – "The Lord of the Tides"
• – "The Green Council"
• – "The Black Queen"
• – "A Son for a Son"
• – "Rhaenyra the Cruel"
• – "The Burning Mill"(corpse)

References[]

Notes[]

External links[]

• Erryk Cargyll onA Wiki of Ice and Fire)
• Erryk Cargyll onThe Official Guide

v • d • e
Head	Unknown	Heir	Unknown
Seat	Unknown	Region	Crownlands
Deceased	Arryk Cargyll ·Erryk Cargyll
Overlords	House Targaryen

v • d • e
Head	Disputed: Aegon II Targaryen Rhaenyra Targaryen	Heir	Disputed: Aemond Targaryen Jacaerys Velaryon
Seat	Red Keep,King's Landing · Dragonstone,Dragonstone island(secondary)	Region	Crownlands
Titles	Lord of Dragonstone(historical) ·King of the Andals and the Rhoynar and the First Men ·Lord of the Seven Kingdoms ·Protector of the Realm
Ancestors	Aenar ·Elaena ·Daenys ·Aeriana ·Aegon I, the Conqueror ·Visenya ·Rhaenys ·Aenys I ·Alyssa Velaryon ·Maegor I, the Cruel
Members	Daemon Targaryen ·Alicent Hightower ·Helaena Targaryen ·Daeron Targaryen ·Laenor Velaryon ·Joffrey Velaryon ·Baela Targaryen ·Rhaena Targaryen ·Jaehaera Targaryen ·Aegon Targaryen the Younger ·Viserys Targaryen
Deceased	Rhaena Targaryen ·Aegon Targaryen ·Jaehaerys I, the Conciliator ·Alysanne Targaryen ·Viserys Targaryen ·Vaella Targaryen ·Aegon Targaryen ·Daenerys Targaryen ·Aemon Targaryen ·Jocelyn Baratheon ·Baelon Targaryen ·Alyssa Targaryen ·Maegelle Targaryen ·Vaegon Targaryen ·Daella Targaryen ·Saera Targaryen ·Viserra Targaryen ·Gaemon Targaryen ·Valerion Targaryen ·Gael Targaryen ·Rhaenys Targaryen ·Viserys I, the Peaceful ·Aemma Arryn ·Baelon Targaryen ·Rhea Royce ·Laena Velaryon ·Lucerys Velaryon ·Visenya Targaryen ·Jaehaerys Targaryen
Household	In King's Landing:Addam ·Annora · {Arryk Cargyll} ·Criston Cole ·Dyana ·Eddard ·Jon ·Septa Marlow · {Grand Maester Mellos} ·Maester Mickon ·Grand Maester Orwyle · {Ryam Redwyne} ·Samwell ·Howland Sharp · {Talya} ·Rickard Thorne ·Harrold Westerling On Dragonstone:Alfred Broome · {Erryk Cargyll} · {Steffon Darklyn} ·Lorent Marbrand ·Elinda Massey ·Maester Gerardys ·Oswin