276 Years After Conquest, Lannisport, the Westerlands of Westeros
"It is the greatest honour of my lord Tywin Lannister to declare the final day of the jousts of this tournament, held in honour of His Grace, Aerys of the House Targaryen, the Second of His Name, King of the Andals and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm." boomed the herald announcing the tournament; "The tournament is dedicated to Viserys Targaryen, newborn Prince of Westeros, third of his name, Heir to the Iron Throne and the House Targaryen."
The Master of the Lists stepped forward, unfurling a roll of parchment as he took over from the herald.
"The competitors of today's joust are as follows. Prince Rhaegar Targaryen of the House Targaryen." he stated as a tall man with shoulder-length silver hair rode up on a white horse, bowing to the royal box. "Ser Tygett and Ser Gerion of House Lannister." he continued, pausing as two men, not unlike the first, though with darker, shorter blond hair, riding bay steeds came up. "Kingsguard Ser Barristan Selmy." another pause as a man of about forty rode up, confidently poised in the saddle, clad in the gold-tinted armour and white cloak of one of the elite Kingsguard. "And finally, the Knight of Black." a final competitor rode up, not wearing the heavy plate of any of the others. On a coal-black charger, he was swathed in a black cloak, hood casting his face into shadows. Chainmail was visible beneath a black leather surcoat, itself darkened. A silver cuirass was visible extending over his shoulders from under the surcoat. He bowed in the saddle to the the royal box before turning away and trotting to the far end of the tilt.
"The first bout is between Ser Tygett and the Knight of Black!" he called out as the two knights turned towards each-other, on each side of the tilt barrier. Somehow, the Black Knight had placed a great helm on, without removing the hood of his cloak.
Taking a shield, as black as his cloak with no crest, he held it close to his side, taking a lance, its only decoration being thin gold rings every couple of feet, he turned his charger to face down the tilt and at an unseen signal, charged. The two horses galloped forward, the Black Knight stood in the saddle, lunging forward with the lance. Balanced carefully in the stirrups, he leaned over the galloping horse's head, cloak billowing around him, extending his reach. The weapon struck true, landing on Tygett Lannister's shield, throwing him from the saddle, though fracturing the Black knight's lance.
At the end of the tilt, the Black Knight wheeled his horse around to see Tygett struggling in the mud, churned by the hoof-beats of a hundred charges. Silently, he trotted down before the royal box, bowed in the saddle before turning away, tossing his fractured lance to the boy who he had paid to be his squire. Another knight entered the lists, another Lannister by his coat of arms.
"After victory in the first bout of the day, the Knight of Black retires for the next bout, between Prince Rhaegar Targaryen and Ser Gerion Lannister." called out the Master of the Lists as the Lannister took the Black Knight's place and the Prince entered at the far end. Within moments, a second Lannister was thrown from his saddle and once again the nameless knight took his place. "Ser Arthur Deyne and the Knight of Black face each-other in the third and third from last bout!" the Master of the Lists announced.
Raising shield and lance, the Black Knight charged toward Deyne, the thrum of hooves on the packed mud as the two horses and their riders closed. There was a crash as the lances met their targets. Deyne's weapon shattered in the centre as it struck the Black Knight's shield, couched against his side to absorb the blow, while he received the tip of the lance to his chest, throwing him from the saddle.
The penultimate joust soon followed, Ser Barristan Selmy unhorsed by the Prince after breaking two lances. Taking a fresh lance, Rhaegar turned his horse to face the Black Knight as he entered the lists, taking up his own weapon, the first of three allowed for each joust. At an unseen signal, they both charged.
One lance shattered on the first pass, that of the Black Knight, whose weapon struck the Prince's shield. Returning to his end of the list, the black-swathed horseman seized another lance and charged. This time, neither rider's weapons struck their opponent, both missing. Wheeling around, they waited for no signal, charging. Both lances struck home, Rhaegar's shattering in the centre while the tip broke off the black lance, rendering it useless. Throwing it to the ground, the Black Knight took up his third and final lance, while the prince took up his second. Again, there was no signal. Just a thrum of hooves and a crash as the Black Knight unhorsed his opponent, his lance striking the prince's leg with a sickening crack.
The first page of the history of an infamous, nameless and faceless knight. Knighted by the king simply as Ser Black. It wasn't a good day for the Lannisters, who had hoped to recoup some of the costs of the event with their champions taking the prize money, when the prize money vanished with the Black Knight.
277 Years After Conquest, before the walls of Storm's End
"In the name of my lord, Steffon Baratheon, I declare this tournament begun!" called out the herald, projecting his voice to, and above, the crowd around the tilt. "Today, the entrants are as followed. Prince Rhaegar of the House Targaryen. Prince Oberyn of the House Martell. Lord Steffon of the House Baratheon. Lord Jason of the House Mallister. Lord Leyton of House Hightower. Lord Jon of the House Connington. Kingsguard Ser Arthur Dayne of the House Dayne. Kingsguard Ser Barristan Selmy of House Selmy. A nameless knight. And finally, Ser Black."
Ten riders entered the arena, bowing to the royal box. One of them, at the far end of the line, was swathed in the distinctive black robe, well-known from the famous joust at Lannisport. It was another massacre split three ways. In the first bout, Lord Steffon Baratheon, the host, was unhorsed by Ser Black. The second bout resulted in Rhaegar Targaryen sending Jason Mallister from the saddle, followed by the eldest son of Steffon Baratheon, Robert, being unhorsed by Ser Barristan Selmy, an almost legendary knight. Skilfully, Ser Black sent Oberyn Martell into the dust with a lunge in the saddle. The prince broke a lance before unhorsing the nameless knight. Barristan Selmy drove Leyton Hightower into the dust before Ser Black entered the lists again, bringing down Jon Connington.
With both sides breaking near a dozen lances, Rhaegar finally removed Ser Arthur Deyne from the tournament, leaving just the three of them. Ser Barristan then unhorsed him, followed in a bout between him and Ser Black resulting in both knights being unhorsed. By mutual agreement, they decided to finish their business on foot, sword to sword. Finally, after three shattered shields between them, the Black Knight threw Barristan the Bold to the ground, a sword at his throat.
AN: I began this, not realising how very little I know about Game of Thrones, having never read the books and only watched clips on Youtube pertaining to my favourite characters (the irreverent Tyrion Lannister and the regretful Barristan Selmy). This is an idea of how I might start a story. You can probably guess who is beneath the black cloak. Yep, Harry. Feel free to adopt as a start.