Background

Littlefinger laughed aloud. "With gold and boys and promises, of course. Ser Lyn is a man of simple tastes, my sweetling. All he likes is gold and boys and killing." -AFFC, Alayne I

In this post, I thought it would be interesting to discuss a character who I think is going to play quite a decent role in TWoW: Ser Lyn Corbray. The second son of House Corbray and wielder of the valyrian steel sword, Lady Forlorn, he is an extremely dangerous man, whose desires/ambitions/loyalties will certainly have an effect on the Vale Plotline.

If interested: Anything/Everything on the Tourney of the Brotherhood of the Winged Knights

Note: If you have a good understanding of who Lyn is and his place in the story and want to get right to what could happen next, just skip ahead to the section: "The Tourney of the Brotherhood of the Winged Knights and Beyond"

Lyn Corbray's Background

While I did not mention him in my post on Characters from the AGoT Appendix, his presence there does somewhat makes sense if he has a larger role in the story (which one can argue that he has already played).

Ser Lyn earned Lady Forlorn during Robert's Rebellion (after first fighting for the Targaryens). He defended his wounded father and killed (a wounded) Prince Lewyn Martell.

With this his older brother Lyonel (heir to Heart's Home) has resented the fact that the sword was bestowed upon Lyn even after their father died and Lyonel became Lord (with Lyn as his heir).

If interested: Acquiring Valyrian Steel for Non-Heirs

As a second son, Lyn has no incomes/seat and therefore is always short on coin (likely for other reasons as well).

Note: While it is stated that Ser Lyn likes "boys", it is unclear if boys = pedophile. I think we should treat it as Elio stated here on Twitter/X:

it's an assumption without proof, so at least should be qualified.

Lynn's Skill at Arms

While he does have reknown for killing an injured Prince Lewyn and has a great sword, he also is someone that is extremely dangerous/known for being quick tempered/hot to kill as it is noted over and over again:

Ser Kevan cleared his throat. "I would sooner have Petyr Baelish ruling the Eyrie than any of Lady Lysa's other suitors. Yohn Royce, Lyn Corbray, Horton Redfort . . . these are dangerous men, each in his own way. And proud. Littlefinger may be clever, but he has neither high birth nor skill at arms. The lords of the Vale will never accept such as their liege." He looked to his brother. When Lord Tywin nodded, he continued. "And there is this—Lord Petyr continues to demonstrate his loyalty. Only yesterday he brought us word of a Tyrell plot to spirit Sansa Stark off to Highgarden for a 'visit,' and there marry her to Lord Mace's eldest son, Willas." -ASOS, Tyrion III

and:

"Lyn Corbray is a dangerous man," Lord Nestor said doggedly. "What do you intend to do?" -AFFC, Sansa I

and:

His words did little to soothe her fears. Lyn Corbray had slain almost as many men in duels as he had in battle. He had won his spurs during Robert's Rebellion, she knew, fighting first against Lord Jon Arryn at the gates of Gulltown, and later beneath his banners on the Trident, where he had cut down Prince Lewyn of Dorne, a white knight of the Kingsguard. Petyr said that Prince Lewyn had been sorely wounded by the time the tide of battle swept him to his final dance with Lady Forlorn, but added, "That's not a point you'll want to raise with Corbray, though. Those who do are soon given the chance to ask Martell himself the truth of it, down in the halls of hell." If even half of what she had heard from Lord Robert's guards was true, Lyn Corbray was more dangerous than all six of the Lords Declarant put together. "Why is he coming?" she asked. "I thought the Corbrays were for you." -AFFC, Alayne I

and:

Just Lord Robert. Him, and the Vale." Petyr smiled. "There will be eight of them. Lord Nestor is showing them up, and they have Lyn Corbray with them. Ser Lyn is not the sort of man to stay away when blood is in the offing." -AFFC, Alayne I

and:

"My tongue is my concern," Corbray replied. "Your ladyship should take care to mind her own. I have never taken kindly to chastisement, as any number of dead men could tell you."

If interested: The Most Dangerous Man in...

Lyn Corbray in the Main Story

With his older brother as Lord of Heart's Home, Ser Lyn spent much of his time early in the story trying to woo a recently single Lysa Tully upon her return to the Eyrie:

Nestor Royce had been silent all this while, but now he spoke up loudly. "I once hoped to wed Lady Lysa myself. As did Lord Hunter's father and Lady Anya's son. Corbray scarce left her side for half a year. Had she chosen any one of us, no man here would dispute his right to be the Lord Protector. It happens that she chose Lord Littlefinger, and entrusted her son to his care." -AFFC, Alayne I

and:

Across the terrace, Lysa laughed gaily at some jest of Lord Hunter's, and nibbled a blackberry from the point of Ser Lyn Corbray's dagger. They were the suitors who stood highest in Lysa's favor … today, at least. Catelyn would have been hard-pressed to say which man was more unsuitable. Eon Hunter was even older than Jon Arryn had been, half-crippled by gout, and cursed with three quarrelsome sons, each more grasping than the last. Ser Lyn was a different sort of folly; lean and handsome, heir to an ancient but impoverished house, but vain, reckless, hot-tempered … and, it was whispered, notoriously uninterested in the intimate charms of women. -AGOT, Catelyn VII

even volunteering to fight in Tyrion's first Trial by Combat

"The gods favor the man with the just cause," said Ser Lyn Corbray, "yet often that turns out to be the man with the surest sword. We all know who that is." He smiled modestly. -AGOT, Tyrion V

it should also be noted that Mychel Redfort (one of the best swords in the Vale/recently married/ex lover of Robert's bastard Mya Stone) was his squire:

"Mychel's my love," Mya explained. "Mychel Redfort. He's squire to Ser Lyn Corbray. We're to wed as soon as he becomes a knight, next year or the year after."

She sounded so like Sansa, so happy and innocent with her dreams. Catelyn smiled, but the smile was tinged with sadness. The Redforts were an old name in the Vale, she knew, with the blood of the First Men in their veins. His love she might be, but no Redfort would ever wed a bastard. His family would arrange a more suitable match for him, to a Corbray or a Waynwood or a Royce, or perhaps a daughter of some greater house outside the Vale. If Mychel Redfort laid with this girl at all, it would be on the wrong side of the sheet. -AGOT, Catelyn VI

before Mycel was knighted and he took a new one (for the gold):

Mychel Redfort was the one. He used to be Lyn Corbray's squire. A real squire, not like that loutish lad Ser Lyn's got squiring for him now. He only took that one on for coin, they say. Mychel was the best young swordsman in the Vale, and gallant . . . or so poor Mya thought, till he wed one of Bronze Yohn's daughters. Lord Horton gave him no choice in the matter, I am sure, but it was still a cruel thing to do to Mya." -AFFC, Alayne II

The Lords Declarant/Littlefinger's Agent

While Ser Lyn is seemingly anti Littlefinger on the surface, he is actually a double agent (for now):

"Lord Lyonel Corbray is well disposed toward my rule," said Petyr, "but his brother goes his own way. On the Trident, when their father fell wounded, it was Lyn who snatched up Lady Forlorn and slew the man who'd cut him down. Whilst Lyonel was carrying the old man back to the maesters in the rear, Lyn led his charge against the Dornishmen threatening Robert's left, broke their lines to pieces, and slew Lewyn Martell. So when old Lord Corbray died, he bestowed the Lady upon his younger son. Lyonel got his lands, his title, his castle, and all his coin, yet still feels he was cheated of his birthright, whilst Ser Lyn . . . well, he loves Lyonel as much as he loves me. He wanted Lysa's hand for himself."

"I don't like Ser Lyn," Robert insisted. "I won't have him here. You send him back down. I never said that he could come. Not here. The Eyrie is impregnable, Mother said." -AFFC, Alayne I

and:

He put down his quill. "Redfort and Waynwood are old. One or both of them may die. Gilwood Hunter will be murdered by his brothers. Most likely by young Harlan, who arranged Lord Eon's death. In for a penny, in for a stag, I always say. Belmore is corrupt and can be bought. Templeton I shall befriend. Bronze Yohn Royce will continue to be hostile, I fear, but so long as he stands alone he is not so much a threat."

"And Ser Lyn Corbray?"

The candlelight was dancing in his eyes. "Ser Lyn will remain my implacable enemy. He will speak of me with scorn and loathing to every man he meets, and lend his sword to every secret plot to bring me down."

That was when her suspicion turned to certainty. "And how shall you reward him for this service?"

Littlefinger laughed aloud. "With gold and boys and promises, of course. Ser Lyn is a man of simple tastes, my sweetling. All he likes is gold and boys and killing." -AFFC, Alayne I

as we see with this example:

For a moment it seemed as though they had come to an impasse, until Lyn Corbray turned from the fire. "All this talk makes me ill. Littlefinger will talk you out of your smallclothes if you listen long enough. The only way to settle his sort is with steel." He drew his longsword.

Petyr spread his hands. "I wear no sword, ser."

"Easily remedied." Candlelight rippled along the smoke-grey steel of Corbray's blade, so dark that it put Sansa in mind of Ice, her father's greatsword. "Your apple-eater holds a blade. Tell him to give it to you, or draw that dagger."

She saw Lothor Brune reach for his own sword, but before the blades could meet Bronze Yohn rose in wrath. "Put up your steel, ser! Are you a Corbray or a Frey? We are guests here."

Lady Waynwood pursed her lips, and said, "This is unseemly."

"Sheathe your sword, Corbray," Young Lord Hunter echoed. "You shame us all with this."

"Come, Lyn," chided Redfort in a softer tone. "This will serve for nought. Put Lady Forlorn to bed."

"My lady has a thirst," Ser Lyn insisted. "Whenever she comes out to dance, she likes a drop of red."

"Your lady must go thirsty." Bronze Yohn put himself squarely in Corbray's path.

"The Lords Declarant." Lyn Corbray snorted. "You should have named yourselves the Six Old Women." He slid the dark sword back into its scabbard and left them, shouldering Brune aside as if he were not there. Alayne listened to his footsteps recede. -AFFC, Alayne I

If interested: The Lords Declarant

Knowledge About Alayne/Sansa?

There are numerous characters that know the true identity of Alayne and while we have no confirmed proof that Ser Lyn is one of them, the following facts are at least in his favor:

• He recently saw Catelyn Stark when she visited the Vale, its possible he made the visual connection
• He is in Littlefinger's employ
• Sansa hasn't exactly done what she was supposed to do in order to hide her identity:

"I was teasing. Your mother was a gentlewoman of Braavos, daughter of a merchant prince. We met in Gulltown when I had charge of the port. She died giving you birth, and entrusted you to the Faith. I have some devotional books you can look over. Learn to quote from them. Nothing discourages unwanted questions as much as a flow of pious bleating. In any case, at your flowering you decided you did not wish to be a septa and wrote to me. That was the first I knew of your existence." He fingered his beard. "Do you think you can remember all that?" -ASOS, Sansa VI

maybe.

Lord Lyonel's Wedding

The biggest issue with Lyn's loyalty to Littlefinger is the loss of being heir to Heart's Home:

Petyr Baelish was clear across the Vale, though, attending Lord Lyonel Corbray at his wedding. A widower of forty-odd years, and childless, Lord Lyonel was to wed the strapping sixteen-year-old daughter of a rich Gulltown merchant. Petyr had brokered the match himself. The bride's dower was said to be staggering; it had to be, since she was of common birth. Corbray's vassals would be there, with the Lords Waxley, Grafton, Lynderly, some petty lords and landed knights . . . and Lord Belmore, who had lately reconciled with her father. The other Lords Declarant were expected to shun the nuptials, so Petyr's presence was essential. -AFFC, Alayne II

and so reminiscent of King Viserys and his brother Daemon any children had by Lyonel at this point are likely going to cause resentment (remember "heir for a day").

The Tourney of the Brotherhood of the Winged Knights & Beyond

I linked this earlier, but I will link this again: Anything/Everything on the Tourney of the Brotherhood of the Winged Knights as I really only want to focus on Ser Lyn's role.

Once Ser Lyn finds out about his brother's upcoming child, we see him quite angry:

Myranda stopped to gaze across the yard at the knights at their practice. “Now there’s the very sort of husband I need.”

A few feet away, two knights were fighting with blunted practice swords. Their blades crashed together twice, then slipped past each other only to be blocked by upraised shields, but the bigger man gave ground at the impact. Alayne could not see the front of his shield from where she stood, but his attacker bore three ravens in flight, each clutching a red heart in its claws. Three hearts and three ravens.

She knew right then how the fight would end.

and I think its interesting GRRM goes out of his way again to remind us again exactly just who Ser Lyn is again in this opening chapter (gold/boys/killing):

A few moments later and the big man sprawled dazed in the dust with his helm askew. When his squire undid the fastenings to bare his head, there was blood trickling down his scalp. If the swords had not been blunted, there would be brains as well. That last head blow had been so hard Alayne had winced in sympathy when it fell. Myranda Royce considered the victor thoughtfully. “Do you think if I asked nicely Ser Lyn would kill my suitors for me?”

“He might, for a plump bag of gold.” Ser Lyn Corbray was forever desperately short of coin, all the Vale knew that.

“Alas, all I have is a plump pair of teats. Though with Ser Lyn, a plump sausage under my skirts would serve me better.”

Alayne’s giggle drew Corbray’s attention. He handed his shield to his loutish squire, removed his helm and quilted coif. “Ladies.” His long brown hair was plastered to his brow by sweat.

“Well struck, Ser Lyn,” Alayne called out. “Though I fear you’ve knocked poor Ser Owen insensible.”

Corbray glanced back to where his foe was being helped from the yard by his squire. “He had no sense to start with, or he should not have tried me.”

before showing us just what is going to make Ser Lyn's loyalties less secure:

There is truth in that, Alayne thought, but some demon of mischief was in her that morning, so she gave Ser Lyn a thrust of her own. Smiling sweetly, she said, “My lord father tells me your brother’s new wife is with child.”

Corbray gave her a dark look. “Lyonel sends his regrets. He remains at Heart’s Home with his peddler’s daughter, watching her belly swell as if he were the first man who ever got a wench pregnant.”

Oh, that’s an open wound, thought Alayne. Lyonel Corbray’s first wife had given him nothing but a frail, sickly babe who died in infancy, and during all those years Ser Lyn had remained his brother’s heir. When the poor woman finally died, however, Petyr Baelish had stepped in and brokered a new marriage for Lord Corbray. The second Lady Corbray was sixteen, the daughter of a wealthy Gulltown merchant, but she had come with an immense dowry, and men said she was a tall, strapping, healthy girl, with big breasts and good, wide hips. And fertile too, it seems.

“We are all praying that the Mother grants Lady Corbray an easy labor and a healthy child,” said Myranda.

and then we see the seed planted is Ser Lyn still LF's or is actually just pretending now?:

Alayne could not help herself. She smiled and said, “My father is always pleased to be of service to one of Lord Robert’s leal bannermen. I’m sure he would be most delighted to help broker a marriage for you as well, Ser Lyn.”

“How kind of him.” Corbray’s lips drew back in something that might have been meant as a smile, though it gave Alayne a chill. “But what need have I for heirs when I am landless and like to remain so, thanks to our Lord Protector? No. Tell your lord father I need none of his brood mares.”

The venom in his voice was so thick that for a moment she almost forgot that Lyn Corbray was actually her father’s catspaw, bought and paid for. Or was he? Perhaps, instead of being Petyr’s man pretending to be Petyr’s foe, he was actually his foe pretending to be his man pretending to be his foe.

Just thinking about it was enough to make her head spin.

And at this tourney, while I think our biggest "wildcard" is easily the Mad Mouse, (early outlines of AFFC had the Mad Mouse dying in whatever he was attempting to do such as kidnap Sansa, etc) Lyn's anger about this child's birth makes him a close second imo.

Ser Humfrey Hardyng/Aerion Brightflame Parallels?

I have posted about some potential parallels between previous tourneys (Harrenhal) and the upcoming one in the Vale before and while I didn't really notice anything there that might parallel Ser Lyn that well (feel free to disagree, I guess you could argue Jaime in some ways) when I looked at some other tourneys throughout history, the one I best noticed was from The Hedge Knight.

While Ser Humfrey and Harry Hardyng are quite different in skill, I could see Ser Lyn's anger (and desire to kill) boiling over into something like this:

Dunk was certain that Aerion meant to strike it . . . but then he laughed and trotted past, and banged his point hard against Ser Humfrey Hardyng's diamonds. "Come out, come out, little knight," he sang in a loud clear voice, "it's time you faced the dragon.

and:

Prince Aerion's lance, gold-tipped and painted in stripes of red, orange, and yellow, swung down across the barrier. Low, too low, thought Dunk the moment he saw it. He'll miss the rider and strike Ser Humfrey's horse, he needs to bring it up. Then, with dawning horror, he began to suspect that Aerion intended no such thing. He cannot mean to . . .

At the last possible instant, Ser Humfrey's stallion reared away from the oncoming point, eyes rolling in terror, but too late, Aerion's lance took the animal just above the armor that protected his breastbone, and exploded out of the back of his neck in a gout of bright blood. Screaming, the horse crashed sideways, knocking the wooden barrier to pieces as he fell. Ser Humfrey tried to leap free, but a foot caught in a stirrup and they heard his shriek as his leg was crushed between the splintered fence and falling horse.

All of Ashford Meadow was shouting. Men ran onto the field to extricate Ser Humfrey, but the stallion, dying in agony, kicked at them as they approached. Aerion, having raced blithely around the carnage to the end of the lists, wheeled his horse and came galloping back. He was shouting too, though Dunk could not make out the words over the almost human screams of the dying horse. Vaulting from the saddle, Aerion drew his sword and advanced on his fallen foe. His own squires and one of Ser Humfrey's had to pull him back. Egg squirmed on Dunk's shoulders. "Let me down," the boy said. "The poor horse, let me down."

Lothor Brune

They have already "almost" come to swords once:

"Easily remedied." Candlelight rippled along the smoke-grey steel of Corbray's blade, so dark that it put Sansa in mind of Ice, her father's greatsword. "Your apple-eater holds a blade. Tell him to give it to you, or draw that dagger."

She saw Lothor Brune reach for his own sword, but before the blades could meet Bronze Yohn rose in wrath. "Put up your steel, ser! Are you a Corbray or a Frey? We are guests here."

and we see some potential things like (although this just could be GRRM showing Lyn's status):

All save Nestor Royce, who hesitated before walking around the table to take the empty chair beside Lord Petyr, and Lyn Corbray, who went to stand beside the hearth instead. The heart-shaped ruby in the pommel of his sword shone redly as he warmed his hands. Alayne saw him smile at Ser Lothor Brune. Ser Lyn is very handsome, for an older man, she thought, but I do not like the way he smiles. -AFFC, Alayne I

Random Thoughts

Just random things I saw while putting this together that didn't really have a section but might be fun to discuss:

• Stark Blood

There is a small/unlikely chance that Ser Lyn has Stark blood:

"No," Catelyn agreed. "You must name another heir, until such time as Jeyne gives you a son." She considered a moment. "Your father's father had no siblings, but his father had a sister who married a younger son of Lord Raymar Royce, of the junior branch. They had three daughters, all of whom wed Vale lordlings. A Waynwood and a Corbray, for certain. The youngest . . . it might have been a Templeton, but . . ." -ASOS, Catelyn V

• Corbray/Baelish History

While we know Ser Lyn's motivations (gold/boys/killing), there also might be some history between the houses that causes the initial loyalty, etc. (and LF's assistance with Lyonel):

The device painted on the shield was one Sansa did not know; a grey stone head with fiery eyes, upon a light green field. "My grandfather's shield," Petyr explained when he saw her gazing at it. "His own father was born in Braavos and came to the Vale as a sellsword in the hire of Lord Corbray, so my grandfather took the head of the Titan as his sigil when he was knighted." -ASOS, Sansa VI

• Ser Lucas Corbray

There is a third Corbray brother who has only been mentioned in the AFFC, Appendix:

- LORD LYONEL CORBRAY, Lord of Heart's Home,

- SER LYN CORBRAY, his brother and heir, who wields the famed blade Lady Forlorn,

- SER LUCAS CORBRAY, his younger brother,

TLDR: Ser Lyn Corbray's status as a second son (whose brother recently just had an heir) has somewhat changed his loyalty to Littlefinger (unless LF can come up with enough gold). While he previously was a double agent in Littlefinger's employ, it is possible that his love of killing could be a wildcard in the upcoming Tourney of the Brotherhood of the Winged Knights (or melee).