7 intriguing mysteries from A Song of Ice and Fire

Who was the Knight of the Laughing Tree?

The Knight of the Laughing Tree is the story of a mystery knight who emerged victorious in the Tourney at Harrenhal, which was held years before the beginning of A Song of Ice and Fire. As Meera Reed tells Bran, a “crannogman” — someone who dwells in the swamps of the Neck — was bullied by the squires of three of knights. (According to A World of Ice and Fire, the bullied crannogman was Howland Reed.) After the crannogman prays to the old gods, a mysterious challenger enters in the tournament, a knight with the symbol of a white weirwood with a laughing red face on their shield. Whoever it was, they defend the honor of the crannogman by defeating the knights of the squires who had bullied him.

The mystery knight attracted the unwanted attention of Robert Baratheon, who was determined to unmask him, while King Aerys was certain that the man was his enemy. By the next day, the knight had disappeared. An angry Mad King sent his men, including Prince Rhaegar, to search for the vanished knight, but only his shield could be found, abandoned in a tree.

The true identity of the Knight of the Laughing Tree remains unknown, but Meera suggests that this knight “might have been a crannogman,” to which Jojen Reed adds, “or not.” Interestingly, Jojen expects Bran to have heard this tale “a hundred times” from his father, but Bran denies any knowledge of it. Possible candidates include Ned Stark, Howland Reed himself, and most popularly, Lyanna Stark.

These seven mysteries are a few out of hundreds in George R. R. Martin’s epic fantasy series. With two books — if all goes according to plan — left to wrap up A Song of Ice and Fires, fans are hopeful we’ll get some answers.

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