re: Crackpot ASOIAF Theories SPOILERS

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From an visual point of view, both Willem Darry & the Elder Brother are large and strong, even at an older age, but this is hardly reason for confirmation.

Next thing, family logistics. In AGOT, Eddard thinks:

Ser Raymun [Darry] lived under the king’s peace, but his family had fought beneath Rhaegar’s dragon banners at the Trident, and his three older brothers had died there, a truth neither Robert nor Ser Raymun had forgotten.

Eddard III, AGOT.

Therefore Ser Raymun had a minimum of four older brothers, three of which had died on the Trident and the fourth being Ser Willem Darry, whom fled Dragonstone with the Targaryen children later on. We know the names of one of these three brothers, Ser Jonothor Darry, who was a knight of the kingsguard, though the other two were never mentioned by name.

This keeps in line with the Elder Brother’s recollection of all of his brothers being knights. This would also have to assume that when the Elder Brother Darry was knocked unconcious in the river, stripped of all armour and weapons, he was assumed dead. Nobody would have any reason to suggest he was still alive if he did not return after the battle. If this were true, it would make the family line look something like this:

Lord Unnamed Darry.
Ser Willem Darry, heir.
Ser Jonothor Darry, of the kingsguard.
[Speculated] Ser Elder Brother Darry.
[Speculated] Ser Unnamed Darry.
Ser Raynum Darry.

This would mean the family alignment is definitely possible, though not certain.

It is also interesting to note three more points that may support this theory. The first is that the Elder Brother refers to the Darry family twice in the same chapter; whereas almost no other minor character makes constant reference to that family name. One reference is most intriguing:

“… there is a new young lord in Darry, a pious man who will surely set his lands to rights.”

Brienne VI, AFFC.

There is a clear fondness for the Darry lands in the Elder Brother’s words, which may give credence to his past history.

The second point refers to the House Sigil: A Man Holding a Plow Sable. This is most fitting for a holy brother, who must constantly plow the rough land in order for it to be possible that better things can grow from it (Sandor Clegane reference anyone?).

The third point is that it would be an interesting realisation that Sandor’s brother was the one that killed the Elder Brother’s younger brother (if that makes sense), as Ser Gregor killed Ser Raymun in an ambush.

Like all good theories, however, there are two main points that cast shadows of doubt into the validity of this idea.

1 - Serving the Lord

“I could not tell you why, save that the lord I served served a lord who served a lord who had decided to support the dragon rather than the stag.”

Brienne VI, AFFC.

Darry was a bannerman of the Riverlands, and after a while Hoster Tully raised his banners for the Rebellion, not for Rhaegar. By saying that the Elder Brother Darry’s decision to support Rhaegar was based on higher lords’ political stances would mean by logic that he would have supported the Rebellion, regardless of how loyal the Darry’s were to the Targaryens. This could just mean he served his lord father, who served the Lord of the Seven Kingdoms who served the Seven; but that is just as unlikely and open to your own opinion.

2 - Not getting to marry his love

“There was a girl I wished to marry, the younger daughter of a petty lord, but I was my father’s thirdborn son and had neither land nor wealth to offer her... only a sword, a horse, a shield.”

Brienne VI, AFFC.

This is not technically a counterpoint, as even if the Elder Brother was a Darry, officially he would not have any land nor wealth unless his father and older brother died (excludes Jonothor as he is part of the Kingsguard). But I still imagine being married to the third heir of Darry would be enough for a petty lord to give up his younger daughter to even if she wasn’t destined to be a Lady of a holdfast. Darry, at the time before the rebellion, was still a prominent lordship.

So what does this all mean? Nothing really, it just pissed me off that I had no idea who he was and this makes sense to me. Plus I have waaaaaaay too much time on my hands. Thoughts and opinions are most welcome.

So yeah. TL;DR: The Elder Brother that Brienne encounters in AFFC is actually a Darry, which technically makes him the only living male Darry left in Westeros.

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