While attending a tournament at Ashford in the Reach, Ser Duncan the Tall, a poor hedge knight, became smitten with a beautiful Dornish woman. However, the arrogant Prince Aerion "Brightflame" Targaryen accosted the young woman, at which Ser Duncan sprang to her defense - as any true knight should - and struck Prince Aerion. To strike a member of the royal blood was treason, and the corresponding sentence would usually be the loss of the offending hand. Ser Duncan, however, demanded a trial by combat, which at the insistence of Prince Aerion then became a rare "trial by seven", involving two teams of seven men each.