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House Cargyll
Kingsguard

"Something must be done. Aegon is unfit to rule."
―Erryk to Arryk[src]

Ser Erryk Cargyll is a renowned knight, and member of the Queensguard of Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen, as well as the twin of Ser Arryk Cargyll, a member of the opposing Kingsguard of King Aegon II Targaryen. He formerly served in the Kingsguard of King Viserys I Targaryen, as the sworn shield of Aegon II before his accession to the throne.

Biography[]

Background[]

Sometime before 112 AC, Erryk and his twin brother Arryk were both appointed members of the Kingsguard to King Viserys I. After the birth of Prince Aegon, 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 of Aemma Arryn.[2]

Erryk approaches Queen Alicent Hightower after a meeting of the Small Council to inform her of an incident with the servant girl Dyana 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 Princes Jacaerys and Lucerys Velaryon recall their memories of training in the Keep from years past. He is later present in the throne room as Vaemond Velaryon petitions to have himself named the heir to Driftmark, and stands against Daemon Targaryen after he executes Vaemond for his words of outrage.[4]

TGC Arryk and Erryk Still

Erryk searches Flea Bottom with Arryk.

During the Greens' coup in King's Landing, Erryk is given the task of finding the disappeared Prince Aegon by Otto Hightower, and travels to Flea 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 the White Worm, who offers the prince's location in exchange for a meeting with Otto.[5]

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 the Grand Sept. Unbeknownst to any in the meeting, they are observed by Ser Criston Cole and Prince Aemond 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.[5]

TGC Erryk and Rhaenys Still 2

Erryk frees the captive Princess Rhaenys.

Erryk steals the crown of King Viserys I and breaks into the chambers of the imprisoned Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, with the intent to spirit her out of the city and take her to Dragonstone. He attempts to bring her to his prepared horses, but she insists on retrieving her dragon Meleys. As they flee, crowds of smallfolk being corralled by the City Watch toward the Dragonpit 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.[5]

TBQ Erryk Cargyll Still

Erryk bequeaths Viserys's crown to Rhaenyra.

Erryk travels alone to Dragonstone, where the Blacks have congregated. He approaches Rhaenyra Targaryen in the courtyard as she mourns the loss of her stillborn daughter Visenya, and offers the crown of her father to her husband Daemon 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.[3]

During a war meeting of the Black Council, he enters to announce the arrival of a ship bearing the royal standard of Aegon II. He, along with fellow Queensguard members Steffon Darklyn and Lorent 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 the Starks, Arryns, and Baratheons 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 present The Seven-Pointed Star for the brothers to swear upon to not act in violence as guests.[3]

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. 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.

Behind the scenes[]

During a Black Council scene in "The Black Queen," Erryk was briefly played by Luke Tittensor, Elliott's brother who plays Arryk, as Elliott had contracted COVID-19 and was thus unavailable.[6]

Quotes[]

Spoken by Erryk[]

"I swear to ward the Queen, with all my strength, and give my blood for hers. I shall take no wife. Hold no lands. Father no children. I shall guard her secrets. Obey her commands. Ride at her side and defend her name and honor."
―Erryk[src]

In the books[]

In the A Song of Ice and Fire novels, Ser Erryk Cargyll was also the twin brother of Ser Arryk, and both were knights of the Kingsguard.

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

In 129 AC, following Viserys's death, Erryk followed Ser Steffon Darklyn and Ser Lorent Marbrand in siding with the blacks 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.

Appearances[]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Erryk Cargyll. HBO. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  2. 2.0 2.1 House of the Dragon: Season 1, Episode 1: "The Heirs of the Dragon" (2022).
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 House of the Dragon: Season 1, Episode 10: "The Black Queen" (2022).
  4. House of the Dragon: Season 1, Episode 8: "The Lord of the Tides" (2022).
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 House of the Dragon: Season 1, Episode 9: "The Green Council" (2022).
  6. House of the Dragon had to swap twin Cargyll actors for finale after COVID scare | EW.com
  7. Wake the Dragon (December 3, 2023). Episode 2. X. Retrieved December 7, 2023.

External links[]


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