Chapter Text
Lord Commander Gerold Hightower has had a long life. He remembers the day he and his brother used to climb to its top every day at dusk, they would see the beacon lit, its light guiding ships from all over the world to Old Town's harbors. He remembers when he first took up the sword. Even though he was younger he always beat his brother in the yard, his brother always preferred books to swords. He remembers when he first squired for his cousin Lord Urrick Tarly. He remembers his knighting when he was first called Ser. He remembers when he impressed King Aegon V and Lord Commander Duncan the Tall in a melee when he prevailed against six opponents all attacking him at once. He remembers his Kingguard vows, and he remembers Summerhall, the death, the destruction. He was able to save King Jaehaerys II, and then Prince Aerys, Princess Rhaella was saved by Ser Duncan, who went back to save other survivors. He was made Lord Commander the next day. He remembers the brothers of the white cloak he lost and gained. He remembers when Jaehaerys passed and when Aerys ascended to the throne.
He remembers how promising the beginning of his reign was until all the babes started dying. Rhaegar was born during Summerhall, the reason why they were convening in the first place, Shaena was stillborn, Daeron had fluid in his lungs and died after an hour, Aegon died in the cradle, Jaehaerys lasted a year then died of a chill, even the birth of Viserys never calmed the now mad King. Gerold remembers when King Aerys finally broke, in 277 Duskendale refused to pay taxes, King Aerys himself went to solve the issue, not trusting the Hand of the King his old friend and now rival Tywin Lannister. Aerys went with one Kingsguard who was slain, Aerys was captured, imprisoned, and tortured for nearly a year when Ser Barristan, a fellow Kingsguard, rescued his King. But Aerys returned as a madman. Gerold still remembers the screams of the Darklyn children when Aerys ordered them ripped apart in front of the Iron Throne, he remembers Lady Darklyn's pleas before she was set alight, he remembers how Aerys looked at the flames like how a child would a new toy.
Since that day he swore to remember his Knightly vows, to protect women and the innocent, to protect the realm. So he along with the rest of the Kingsguard swore to the Prince of Dragonstone, Prince Rhaegar, that they would help him usurp his father with the Lords Whent, Martell-Rhaegar's good brother-, and Mooton to organize a tourney to gain support among other Lords, but we were betrayed, Varys the spider informed the king of a plot at the tourney. And to make things worse a young northern lady caught the Prince's eye, Gerold remembers the silence where after his victory Rhaegar rid past his wife and placed the crown of love and beauty on Lady Lyanna Stark's head, the Betrothed of Robert Baratheon, Lord of the Stormlands.
He remembers his return to the red keep, how he heard how Rhaegar kidnapped the lady, how her brother Brandon came to the Capitol threatening the Prince, and how King Aerys killed Lord Rickard Stark after he summoned him to Kingslanding along with his son. How houses Stark, Arryn, Tully, and Baratheon raised their banners in rebellion, he remembers hearing of Rhaegar's death on the Trident, he remembers how Rhaegar sent him and his Sword brother Oswell Whent to the Mountains of Dorne to be stationed at an old watchtower, now called the Tower of Joy. He never told them what they were guarding. When they arrived they were met by Ser Arthur Dayne, a fellow Kingsguard, who told them that Lady Lyanna was in that tower, how she and the prince fell in love, how with the consent of Princess Elia they married, and how she now carried Rhaegar's child.
They waited for a year for any news, Lord Dayne knew of their location and was a loyalist so provided them with provisions and supplies. Gerold remembers how for nearly six months he and his brothers guarded Lady Lyanna. She was endearing, Gerold thought, she always had a way to bring a smile to anyone's face. She told us how she met Princess Elia and Prince Rhaegar, how she fell in love, and most surprisingly how she was the Knight of the Laughing Tree, the Knight who participated in the tourney of Harrenhal but after King Aerys demanded the Knight reveal themselves they fled.
Gerold was now sitting with his Brothers. It is the end of the year 284 and it is a cool Dornish night. Lady Lyanna had been in her labors for nearly a day, he could hear the screams even though she was at the top of the tower and they were at the base. Lord Dayne has provided a Maester and Midwives but they refused his offer for the birth to be held in Starfall, they need secrecy, and Kingsguard and a Northern Lady in a Starfall would lead to too much suspicion. Especially now when we have heard rumors from Lord Dayne that Kingslanding has fallen with the death of the King, all at the hands of Lord Tywin Lannister. Further rumors say Lord Tyrell has also surrendered to the Rebels at Stormsend. The only Loyalists left are in Dorne, but they will surrender soon to keep their lives.
“This birth must end quickly, we are told close to the Reach for my comfort. The Rebel Lords will come for Dorne once they lick their wounds.” Said Ser Oswell, stopping their silent dinner.
“After the birth, my Brother said he could provide a ship for us to head for Braavos. Dragonstone will not last the year, Rhaegar had a lot of friends in Braavos through the Iron Bank, and Braavos can and will defy the rebels for the Royal Family. My brother has informed me that the body of Elia was presented to the Usurper."
"What of Jaime Lannister and the young Prince and Princess." Asked Oswell with a worry in his voice.
"There is no news, not even a rumor of their location. If I had to guess Lannister got out of the Capitol and is either laying low or is at Dragonstone by now.” Said a sad and solemn Ser Arthur. He is always writing to his brother for any information.
“Then we must remain ready to go at a minute's notice, I want to be at Starfall by six hours after the birth. Arthur you will need to get the Princess and share a horse.” Gerold ordered. He would have liked to wait a day at least but the rebels were on the way and they were running out of time.
Just then the Maester provided by Lord Dayne came down, he looked tired, old, and ragged. He moves to speak to Gerold and his brothers. “Sers, the Princess has birthed a child, it is a girl and she is healthy and screaming.” The Maester paused and Gerold assumed he had more to say but was choosing his words. “However there were complications, she has lost a lot of blood and I suspect she will not last long. She wishes to speak to all of you and say her goodbyes.”
Quickly Gerold gets up off his seat in front of the Tower of Joy, Arthur and Oswell following close behind him. As they ascend the spiral stairs up the tower Gerold thinks about how kind of a soul Lady Lyanna is. He reminds her of his sister, Bethany, who also died in childbirth. She always had a way to lighten up the room and start a conversation, just like Lady Lyanna. It was a great sadness that the birthing bed took so many good souls.
As Gerold and his fellow Kingsguard get to the top of the tower they stand just outside of Lady Lyanna's room. Gerold noted that the screaming had stopped some time ago, and now that he was at the door he could hear the soft coos of a new babe. Gerold finally opens the door and is hit immediately with the smell of blood, he remembers the smell of death in the 5th Blackfyre rebellion and the hospice tents set up, how he could smell a dead man waiting for the Stranger to collect him.
He finally gazes at Lady Lyanna and sees everything below her waist covered in sheets of blood. She held a babe close to her bosom, the babe in qustion held a silence in the arms of her mother. Just then Lyanna catches the three and speaks with what Gerold thinks is a voice filled with the resignation of death.
“I would like to thank you all for being my bit of peace ever since Rhaegar left. All of you filled my days with happiness. I want you to look after my Daughter, her name is Visenya, Rhaegar wanted the name and I find it beautiful but fierce. Just the name for a Targaryen Princess.”
As Lyanna gave the new Princess to the Maester she looked on at her daughter mumbling sweet words as she drifted into a death. “Fear not my lady, we are Kingsguard, we will protect our charge till death.” Gerold softly utters hoping Lyanna can hear his late response.
The Maester now walks to him holding the bundle filled with the babe. As he reaches for her and holds her he notices her purple-on-gray eyes and her silver-gold hair that is just now a tuft on her head. She looks upon him with melancholy, as if she already knows out of the womb that her parents are dead and her life in danger.
As he gives the babe to Arthur, Oswell motions to the window something has caught his attention. As Gerold moves to the lone window in the tower he sees them. Twenty riders torches in hand all wearing mail, but not the style of the Dornish. As they get closer he can father identify them and to his horror he sees heavy Northern Mail and Plate. The Rebels have come.
“Ser Arthur, Ser Oswell you will ride to Starfall with the Princess Visenya. You will escort her to Dragonstone or wherever the Royal Family has retreated to in Essos. You will serve as Kingsguard to whoever is the rightful King or Queen and see them to the Iron throne.” Ordered Gerold as he continued to stare at the encroaching party. He was certain now that Lyanna's brother Eddard Stark had come to find his sister.
As Gerold turns around he sees Arthur with the Princess. He looks at him with understanding and leaves, Oswell not far behind him. Gerold gathers himself and descends the tower slowly.
He remembers how before Summerhall Prince Duncan would spar with him. He remembers when he Knighted Prince Rhaegar. He remembers when Prince Viserys only four had snuck into the Red Keep's kitchen and how he begged Ser Grandpa not to tell his Mother. He remembers how King Jaehaerys had begged him to look after his daughter and how he wished he never married her to Aerys, at the time no one knew how bad Aerys would have been but Jaehaerys always suspected something unseen to others.
As Gerold finally reaches the bottom he sees his sword. He has had this sword for three years, this will be its true first taste of blood. Gerold wishes he was on the Trident, maybe then he could have saved his Prince, no it is better not to dwell on the past. He takes a step outside and grabs a whetstone and takes a seat on a rock and begins sharpening his sword. Arthur and Oswell come past him,l on Dornish sand steeds, in Arthur's hands is a bundle which holds Princess Visenya and her renewed wails. Arthur and Oswell nod to him as they leave, both taking off south as fast as their horses can go. If he can hold the Rebels for just ten minutes then there is no way they will catch up to the pair of Knights.
After a few minutes the band of Northerners finally makes their way to the tower. He was right in his assumption that this is Eddard Stark. He recognized him from the tourney of Harrenhal, but now his face is stubbled, his hair filled with dirt, and in full Northern Plate with a overshirt emblazoned with the Stark direwolf.
All twenty of them then dismount. Gerold then stands up from his rock and tosses the whetstone aside as the Stark men surround him with Lord Stark still facing him to his direct front. “We looked for you in the Trident, and the Lannisters couldn't find any Kingsguard with their King as he lay dead.” Said the young Northern Lord, he had a great sword on his hip which was clearly Ice, the Valyrian Steel sword of house Stark. Gerold stayed silent, so it's true Aerys is dead, only a few years late.
“The Lannisters scoured the Capitol, all they could find was Princess Elia who died of poison, her children missing.” Internally Gerold relaxed at that news. But that feeling ended when all twenty Northerners drew their steel.
“I will ask one time where my sister is, where is the woman who was stolen by the Prince? And where is the Knight who helped steal her? Where is Arthur Dayne!!?” He looks to the tower and it clicks. “You will take me to her, do something right and not serve the foolish wishes of that dead and dishonorable Prince.” Lord Stark's voices with righteous anger and his eyes Gerold notices are filled with maniacal determination.
“You will not find comfort in the truth, or loyalty to your Usurper. She could have explained to you, but alas you are late.” Gerold Hightower said with a true sadness to him. “But since you are late, I am Gerold Hightower. I am who they call the White Bull. And I am a Kingsguard and a Kingsguard always protects his charge. I can not allow you to proceed so I must ask you to return to your Usurper or face the Justice of Aegon sixth of his name, King of the Andals, Rhoynar, and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and of all Westeros, and Protector of the Realm.” Gerold then draws his steel, ready for one last fight. He is ready to die for his King and Princess.
Gerold surges backwards. He catches a short man wearing a Lizard shirt off guard and lobs off his head. Next a Northerner with two axes on his chest attacks him. Gerold quickly parries and cuts off his sword arm. But then a great sword plunges through his stomach from the back. He feels his fingers numb and his lips loosen. Gerold looks down at his stomach and sees a blade of black Valyrian steel sticking out his front. And then Lord Stark whispers into his ear. “I said bring me to my sister.”
The blade is taken out, the pain too much to process. Gerold Stares at the moon. It is full and hangs high in the sky. He remembers the nights in his youth where the Moon hung high and he and his brother would climb the Hightower and see it light and they would watch ships from as far as Qarth dock in its harbor. Gerold Hightower then felt himself dragged to a stone, his chest lying just on it and his head sticking off the end. He remembered when he and Lord Commander Duncan sparred, he only beat him three times, but he remembers each one.
Gerold hears pieces of a voice pierce through his his fogged mind.
"In th... ing Robert... theon... irst... I Eddar... Warden of... rth... you to death... for treason."
Gerold hears the swoosh of a sword and it all goes black.