Catelyn Stark

Bran’s mother started to suspect that Bran’s fall from the tower and the attempt on his life were connected. She started to investigate and convened a secret meeting of those she trusted — Robb Stark, Theon, Ser Rodrik Cassel, Maester Luwin — to discuss her findings, which is how the dagger ended up with …

Ser Rodrik Cassel

The Starks’ master-at-arms pointed out that the weapon was “too fine” for a hired gun, being that the blade was Valryian steel, the handle dragonbone. “Someone gave it to him,” Cassel deduced. But who? The Starks assumed it was the Lannisters, and Theon offered to back up Robb. (“What, is there to be a battle in the godswood?” Maester Luwin quipped. Why, yes, and with this very dagger deciding the fight.) Not content to wait this one out, Catelyn set out for King’s Landing with Cassel to make further inquires, which is how the dagger ended up with …

Petyr Baelish

Catelyn’s manipulative childhood friend Littlefinger, at least for a brief while, reclaimed custody of the dagger, which had once been his. He lost it, or so he claimed, betting during a tournament. (Littlefinger claimed he made a bet with Tyrion Lannister, in which he backed Jaime Lannister in a joust against Loras Tyrell, which Jaime lost.) This, of course, was a lie, but the Starks fell for the bait, as well as Littlefinger’s promise to help them get to the “truth,” which is how the dagger ended up with …

Ned Stark

Ned, who was by then the hand of the king, kept the blade in his office, and put it on his desk during a pivotal conversation with Littlefinger about what to do regarding the line of succession after King Robert died. This did not go unnoticed, which is how the dagger ended up with …

Petyr Baelish

Whether he swiped it off Ned’s desk or took it off Ned’s belt in the throne room, Littlefinger proved he had sticky fingers. He held the blade to Ned’s throat while gloating about how untrustworthy he is. Years later, in an attempt to prove that he was trustworthy, he inexplicably decided to present it as a gift, which is how the dagger ended up with …