Steffon Darklyn

Steffon served as one of the seven knights of the Kingsguard under King Viserys I. At his side as squire stood Ser Harrold Darke, a distant kinsman of his own house.

His nephew, Lord Gunthor Darklyn, ruled Duskendale at the time, and the whole house stood among the firmest supporters of Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen at her father's court.

Viserys I died in his sleep. Steffon was then one of five Kingsguard knights present in the capital; the other two were guarding Princess Rhaenyra at Dragonstone. Once the news broke, Ser Criston Cole sent Steffon and the rest to rouse the Small Council, meaning to set Rhaenyra's half-brother Aegon on the throne.

Steffon did not carry out the order to the end. Under cover of night he slipped out of the capital taking with him his squire, two stewards and four guards, along with the dead king's crown, and left through a back gate to cross Blackwater Bay rowing in a fisherman's boat.

His arrival at Dragonstone lifted the spirits of Rhaenyra's supporters, all the more once they saw he had brought the crown with him: with it, they could crown her without further delay. Steffon became the first Lord Commander of her Queensguard.

When Prince Jacaerys Velaryon gathered candidates to mount the riderless dragons, Steffon put himself forward among them during the Sowing of the Seeds.

Seasmoke did not accept him: the dragon threw him off and burned him alive, right there at Dragonstone. Ser Lorent Marbrand succeeded him as Lord Commander of the Queensguard.