She insisted that he was highborn and had as much right to attend as anyone. That evening, Lyanna persuaded the crannogman to attend the feast marking the start of the tournament. She cleaned his wounds and bound them with linen, then introduced the guest to her brothers Brandon Stark ('the wild wolf'), Eddard Stark ('the quiet wolf'), and Benjen Stark ('the pup'). The crannogman was wounded and Lyanna took him back to her 'lair', probably a tent. She beat off his attackers with a tourney sword, scattering them away. Help arrived in the person of Lyanna Stark ('the she-wolf'), who shouted indignantly that Howland was her father's bannerman. His assailants repeatedly mocked him, shoved him, and kicked him. His only offensive weapon, a three-pronged spear, was easily snatched away by his opponents. He had already 'grown to manhood', but the boys were all larger than him in size. The crannogman found himself bullied by three squires, none older than fifteen-years-old. Used to illustrate the duel of the Knight of the Laughing Tree and the Porcupine Knight in the 'Art of Ice and Fire' website. Artwork by Alfred Fredericks, currently in the public domain. Her champions were her four brothers and famous uncle, Oswell Whent. His daughter reigned as queen of love and beauty at the opening of the tourney, though her title had to be defended against challengers. Walter Whent of Harrenhal hosted the tourney. Among the women present were Elia Martell ('the wife of the dragon prince') and a dozen of her lady companions. However, many of the knights and bannermen of House Lannister did attend the tourney. Meera reports that Tywin had quarelled with Aerys and intentionally stayed away. Notably absent was Tywin Lannister ('the great lion of the rock'). Īmong the lords present in the tourney were Robert Baratheon ('the storm lord') and Mace Tyrell ('the rose lord'). Based on their known composition of the time, the knights present would be Lord Commander Gerold Hightower, Jonothor Darry, Arthur Dayne, Lewyn Martell, Barristan Selmy, and Oswell Whent. With the Targaryens were the Kingsguard ('the White Swords'), there to welcome Jaime Lannister ('a new brother') into their ranks. Īccording to Meera's tale, a crannogman-most likely her own father, Howland Reed-attended the tourney at Harrenhal, finding there Aerys II Targaryen ('the king') and Rhaegar Targaryen ('the dragon prince'). He later explains that Old Nan was the one narrating stories to him, not his father. Jojen expects Bran to have heard this tale 'a hundred times' from his father, Eddard Stark, but Bran denies any knowledge of the tale.

As an introduction to her story, Meera suggests that this knight 'might have been a crannogman', to which Jojen Reed adds 'or not'. Most of what is known about the Knight of the Laughing Tree comes from a story told by Meera Reed to Bran Stark. According to a semi-canon source, the bullied crannogman was Howland Reed. The Knight of the Laughing Tree is so-called because of the blazon on his shield, a smiling weirwood. He defended the honor of a crannogman by challenging and defeating three knights whose squires had bullied the crannogman, demanding that they chastise the squires in order to ransom back their horses and armor.

The Knight of the Laughing Tree was a mystery knight who fought at the tourney at Harrenhal in 281 AC.

Knight of winter