Stormhedge is amazing because it's just a healthier version of Robert and Cersei's marriage.
A part of me believes that Duncan becomes such an exemplary knight due to the fact that he fully believes his life is no longer his own. A crowned prince, the greatest knight of the realm to boot, had his life taken in a match that preserved Dunk's.
"May death sustain life."
Those words must hang over him every time he thinks of Baelor. The greatest dragon that never was (unwittingly) gave his life for a simple hedge knight. Every action hence forth is fueled by that thought. Duncan is legendary because he exemplifies everything a knight should be, yes, but a small part of him must be fueled by the constant need to 'repay' Baelor's sacrifice.
Baelor, like Lyanna, will always hang over Duncan and Lyonel.
Duncan will never have eyes for Lyonel because what knight, what lord could possibly surpass the vision of Baelor that engraved itself in Duncan's mind? Baelor is the standard that Duncan will always try to reach. For just a few days, Duncan saw perfection and it was Baelor Targaryen. Even if history shows us that Duncan surpassed Baelor in terms of knigthood, Dunk will never agree. To him, Baelor is the unattainable peak of chivalry and honor, of which every other knight falls hopelessly short. Even Lyonel.
And that is so fucking juicy, bro.
Robert and Duncan grow obsessed over the ideal, Lyanna and Baelor, and they are forever haunted by their ghosts. Cersei and Lyonel will forever have to measure themselves up against phantoms that grow more and more exemplary as time passes; Duncan probably continues to exaggerate the visage of Baelor in his mind, nevermind the fact that he knew him for less than a week.
Just like Arlan's joust against Baelor, stories grow wilder if left unchecked. Four lances become seven. Baelor's honor might evolve into divinity in Dunk's own mind, and Lyonel will forever be chasing after a man and his ghost.
Like come on. The narrative potential. The tragedy.
That desperate tilt in Lyonel's voice as he tries to convince Duncan to come with him and forget the dragon whose wings overshadowed the entire land. As if he had just come up with that idea on the spot when it was so obvious Lyonel was sitting on that idea after the tourney. You don't just limp towards a tree that's out of the way of the festivities with a maester on hand to help heal a guy that is a potential friend. Lyonel was smitten with Duncan the moment that big lug said "Supper." He was plotting on Duncan, but alas, Duncan is married to the Nine Kingdoms (becausehecouldn'tservetheperfectrulerforit).
One-sided StormHedge is now my roman empire, god fucking damn it.
