As the sun rose on a cool winter day in Sunspear, the heir to Yronwood received his knighthood in the sept of the Princes of Dorne. His vigil through the night had been undisturbed and serene, as such things should be, and at dawn septons entered and with them also were Ser Quinlan Qorgyle, Farien’s mother Lady Linnet, and other lords and ladies of note from the court and from throughout Dorne. They witnessed as Farien was raised to knighthood by Ser Quinlan, the Lord Protector of the Realm, on behalf of his son Prince Marence.
There were some who thought Lady Yronwood seemed not best pleased by Qorgyle bestowing the honor upon her son, but she made no apparent complaint—after all, it was her son’s wedding day. The wedding itself was conducted in the Tower of the Sun’s throne room with great pomp and circumstance, a glittering sea of Dornish nobility around the regal princess and the new-made knight. The feast that followed was extravagant and open-handed, a show of Martell largess (and Yronwood, as well, for it’s said Lady Linnet contributed substantially). Surprisingly, despite the bevy of Yronwoods present, no untoward incidents took place—not even with Prince Rhodry, who is well-known to feel a peculiar enmity to the Lady of Yronwood.
The feast came to an end, and bride and groom retired to the nuptial chamber. Ser Farien was heard to jest with some of his kin that he would beg that his princess withhold her attentions, so he could be fresh for the wedding tourney, in which he intended to ride; whether Princess Ariana obliged him is, of course, a question.
The next day proved less auspicious for a tourney than might have been desired: not only chill, but wet as well, a drizzle from the sea raining down cold and unpleasant. Despite this, more than three score competitors entered the tourney, chasing the prize of a 1,000 gold coins for the victor. When the field was whittled down to eight knights—each who had defeated three opponents—the contest shifted so that each knight would ride twice, first towards the victory and then, if defeated, for a second chance to prove victorious.
Most notable of all was the fact that Ser Farien had managed the feat of reaching the narrow field; so, too, had his kinsman, Ser Kay Yronwood. Others of note included Ser Felix Sand, Ser Darion Fowler, Ser Valerin Dayne, Ser Tamlyn Toland, Ser Laurent Dalt, and the prince Rhodry Martell. The contests that followed proved notable, for Ser Felix seemed invincible, while Prince Rhodry won a hard-fought match against the Sand Dog only to be overthrown by Ser Kay Yronwood ultimately leading to a pitched with the famed Toland knight before Ser Laurent faced him once again and had his revenge.
In the end, it came down to Ser Laurent Dalt and Ser Felix Sand, and perhaps the gods finally gave Ser Laurent their benevolence, or perhaps Ser Felix grew tired; he was unhorsed not once but twice, and the prize went the Keeper of the Sandship who proceeded to crown his wife, Caitrin of House Blackmont, as queen of love and beauty.