"Ser" Harry the Heir and the Tourney of the Brotherhood of the Winged Knights (Spoilers Extended)

Background

In this post I thought it would be interesting to discuss Harrold Hardyng (Sweetrobin's heir to the Vale) in the upcoming Tourney of the Brotherhood of the Winged Knights. While this subject is often discussed, my goal here is to look at some parallels in Westerosi tourney/GRRM's writing to see if we can find any parallels that could foreshadow what is to come for him as well as just look at the general situation/context of his place in the Vale plotline/Sansa's storyline going forward.

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

Harry and Sweetrobin

Pretty astute observation by Lord Robert (or someone whispered in his ear):

“I hate that Harry,” Sweetrobin said when she was gone. “He calls me cousin, but he’s just waiting for me to die so he can take the Eyrie. He thinks I don’t know, but I do.”

“Your lordship should not believe such nonsense,” Alayne said. “I’m sure Ser Harrold loves you well.” And if the gods are good, he will love me too. Her tummy gave a little flutter.

“He doesn’t,” Lord Robert insisted. “He wants my father’s castle, that’s all, so he pretends.” -TWoW, Alayne I

If interested: Parallels: The Tourney at Harrenhal & an upcoming Vale Tourney

Harry's Skill at Arms

While Harry is knight now, unlike say the darling of the Vale, Mychel Redfort, Harry doesn't seem to have earned his spurs:

"Our cousin Bronze Yohn had himself a mêlée at Runestone," Myranda Royce went on, oblivious, "a small one, just for squires. It was meant for Harry the Heir to win the honors, and so he did."

"Harry the Heir?"

"Lady Waynwood's ward. Harrold Hardyng. I suppose we must call him Ser Harry now. Bronze Yohn knighted him." -AFFC, Alayne II

and:

Near the keep, she ran headlong into Ser Lothor Brune and almost knocked him off his feet. “Harry the Heir? Harry the Arse, I say. He’s just some upjumped squire.”

Alayne was so grateful that she hugged him. “Thank you. Have you seen my father, ser?” -TWOW, Alayne I

Sansa's Favor

While there are several contenders for Alayne's favor in the tourney imo (Lothor Brune, someone new,
a recommendation from LF,) we know it won't be Harry:

He grinned. “I will hold you to that promise, my lady. Until that day, may I wear your favor in the tourney?”

“You may not. It is promised to… another.” She was not sure who as yet, but she knew she would find someone. -TWoW, Alayne I

If interested: The Different Queens of Love & Beauty & Some Sansa/Lyanna Parallels and what it could mean for TWOW

Previous Tournaments

We have seen previous tourneys that involve a Hardyng get injured (later killed) in the Mystery Knight:

Dunk did not know the colors, but Egg said they belonged to a knight from the Vale of Arryn named Ser Humfrey Hardyng. "He won a great melee at Maidenpool last year, ser, and overthrew Ser Donnel of Duskendale and the Lords Arryn and Royce in the lists." -The Hedge Knight

as well as one that involved an upjump squire from the Vale getting killed as well:

"Hugh was Jon Arryn's squire for four years," Selmy went on. "The king knighted him before he rode north, in Jon's memory. The lad wanted it desperately, yet I fear he was not ready." -AGOT, Eddard VII

and:

The most terrifying moment of the day came during Ser Gregor's second joust, when his lance rode up and struck a young knight from the Vale under the gorget with such force that it drove through his throat, killing him instantly. The youth fell not ten feet from where Sansa was seated. The point of Ser Gregor's lance had snapped off in his neck, and his life's blood flowed out in slow pulses, each weaker than the one before. His armor was shiny new; a bright streak of fire ran down his outstretched arm, as the steel caught the light. -AGOT, Sansa II

Wildcard(s)

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, but Shadrich does not plan to fight in the tourney:

“Will you be seeking wings?” the Royce girl said.

“A mouse with wings would be a silly sight.”

“Perhaps you will try the melee instead?” Alayne suggested. The melee was an afterthought, a sop for all the brothers, uncles, fathers, and friends who had accompanied the competitors to the Gates of the Moon to see them win their silver wings, but there would be prizes for the champions, and a chance to win ransoms.

“A good melee is all a hedge knight can hope for, unless he stumbles on a bag of dragons. And that’s not likely, is it?” -TWoW, Alayne I

If interested: Ser Shadrich of the Shady Glen aka the Mad Mouse

other potential characters that could injure/harm Harry during the Tourney are:

• Ser Lothor Brune aka Lothor Apple Eater

Ser Lothor is not a big fan of Harry:

Near the keep, she ran headlong into Ser Lothor Brune and almost knocked him off his feet. “Harry the Heir? Harry the Arse, I say. He’s just some upjumped squire.”

Alayne was so grateful that she hugged him. “Thank you. Have you seen my father, ser?” -TWOW, Alayne I

and he has protected Sansa from Marillon, Sweetrobin somewhat, etc.

• Ser Lyn Corbray

Ser Lyn is forever short of gold, and his anger at his brother's new heir being conceived might cause for him to give his Lady some blood:

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

If interested: "Gold and Boys and Killing": Ser Lyn Corbray in TWoW

GRRM's "Plan"

As I mentioned above at one point the Mad Mouse was going to die and Sansa was going to head back North. While neither of these things are set in stone to still happen, there are frameworks for both potential plotlines. Especially with this line tied to Harry:

"When Robert dies. Our poor brave Sweetrobin is such a sickly boy, it is only a matter of time. When Robert dies, Harry the Heir becomes Lord Harrold, Defender of the Vale and Lord of the Eyrie. Jon Arryn's bannermen will never love me, nor our silly, shaking Robert, but they will love their Young Falcon . . . and when they come together for his wedding, and you come out with your long auburn hair, clad in a maiden's cloak of white and grey with a direwolf emblazoned on the back . . . why, every knight in the Vale will pledge his sword to win you back your birthright. So those are your gifts from me, my sweet Sansa . . . Harry, the Eyrie, and Winterfell. -AFFC, Alayne II

although the main issue is that she is currently still wed to Tyrion.

If interested: "An Unconsummated Marriage can be set aside"

Final Thoughts

• While Sansa is just being flirtatious here, I think her words ring true. Harry is no competition for actual knights such as Lothor/Lyn, not even in a melee against Ser Shadrich:

Ser Harrold studied her face. “You are comely enough, I grant you. When Lady Anya first told me of this match, I was afraid that you might look like your father.”

“Little pointy beard and all?” Alayne laughed.

“I never meant**…**“

“I hope you joust better than you talk.”

For a moment he looked shocked. But as the song was ending, he burst into a laugh. “No one told me you were clever.” -TWOW, Alayne I

• I like Harry as a character, but something bad is seemingly going to happen to him at this Tourney imo (maybe even after as they descend from the Vale and encounter the recently armed Vale Clansmen
• Interesting to see if we get a "council of the faith" to get Sansa officially unmarried

TLDR: A post on Harry the Heir's participation in the Tourney of the Brotherhood of the Winged Knights. As a new made knight/upjump squire, Harry is likely going to face some strong competition in the field he is facing. There are a large number of competitors in addition to Harry (64 total) but the two biggest names that have potential conflict with Harry are Ser Lyn Corbray and Ser Lothor Brune. He will also contend with whoever has Sansa's favor (if it is not one of the above).