4th Month of 284 A.C. King's Landing
Ser Gerold Hightower
Rest easy little one, for soon enough the burden of the crown will be on your shoulders. That was what Ser Gerold Hightower Lord Commander of the Kingsguard thought as he looked down at the king who was growing fast, he had already seen his first name day, a raucous celebration had been held in the Red Keep and in King's Landing. And the lords and ladies who were still present in the capital had all celebrate, Gerold and his sworn brothers had kept a look out as they always did and ensured there was nothing to suspicious. There had been no further attempts on the king's life and as such things were looking good, but one could never be too weary. As for the child in the cradle before him, Gerold had high hopes for King Jonothor. He was a babe now, but he was the son of two ancient bloodlines that had produced noble kings and lords alike as well as the odd mad man. Gerold was determined that this time the king would not turn out how Aerys had, there would be no decline into madness, the king would be everything a king should be, just, noble and chivalric. There would be no wars to tear the dynasty apart.
He continued to stand guard for sometime, as the king gurgled and giggled at him and the faces the king's wetnurse Wylla was pulling, before he eventually fell asleep. Once the king was confirmed as asleep, Gerold was relieved of his duty by his fellow sworn brother Ser Barristan as well as by two northern guards named Torrhen Umber and Theo Wull. Good men all of them and he knew they would keep the king safe. Ser Oswell was guarding Prince Viserys in his chambers as he slept, and Princess Daenerys would be watched over by Ser Jaime soon enough. That the king's aunt and uncle had finally arrived from Dragonstone was a source of much relief to Gerold, as he had been worried as to what would happen to them. He walked from the nursery to the rooms where the Lord Regent was stationed knocked and was allowed to enter. Once offered a seat, the Lord Regent spoke. "I am sure you know why you are here Ser Gerold. As Lord Commander of the Kingsguard it falls to you to formally decide who is named to the Kingsguard, I as lord regent can approve the appointments. Now whom do you have in mind?"
Gerold considers this for a moment and then responds. "I have two names in particular that I think could be very useful in the Kingsguard. Ser Mark Ryswell, a man from the north, but a man who has shown he has courage and is not afraid to stand up for what he believes in. that is what I believe a true knight should be. I recommend him highly for the Kingsguard. A second man is Ser Willam Darry, Ser Willam has shown himself to be incredibly loyal to the King and the royal family. I know for a fact that he would take a sword or an arrow for the royal family if asked."
The lord regent seems to take his proposals into serious consideration. "Aye Mark is a good man, honest and true. All good qualities to have in a knight of the Kingsguard, furthermore he is someone with good experience and with the loss of the members during the rebellion this is most definitely someone who would fill the void well. Ser Willam, whilst I can see why he would be suggested, he is ageing and shall not last very long I worry with the duties the Kingsguard shall have to perform. If he were younger perhaps, but not now. Not with there being threats still lingering."
Gerold nods and then asks. "Who would you suggest if not Ser Willam?"
The Lord Regent is silent for a long time as he ponders this matter, but if Gerold knows the man, then he has already somewhat decided. "I believe Ser Jon Redfort could well make a good choice. He is also a proven warrior, is young and can be moulded into what the Kingsguard should stand for. Furthermore it would be a good way to reward his house and father for siding with King Jonothor."
Gerold considers this and says. "Jon Redfort is a good choice my lord. I have seen him in the practice yards and he is good with a sword, very good. In fact I do not think I have seen anyone with such promise since Ser Arthur. Though I do wonder about naming him to the Kingsguard as a reward for his father's service. If anything, the Kingsguard must retain its neutrality and it must be made up of knights solely loyal to the royal family."
"So are you suggesting that Ser Jon not make it to the Kingsguard then? I disagree with you on that front, the Kingsguard has long been used as a political tool, look at Ser Jaime's appointment, look even at yours, used to gather support for King Aegon's reforms. But in essence I can see what you are saying, still, Redfort is an ambitious man having his son in the Kingsguard will sate those ambitions somewhat and also help to cool the fires with the Vale." The lord regent responds.
Gerold nods and then says. "What of Ser Jaime, if I know Lord Tywin correctly you would have had to agree to release the lad from the Kingsguard in return for the man's support."
"Aye, indeed I did. Ser Jaime with your consent will be freed from his vows and will be allowed to take up position as heir of the Rock once more." Lord Stark responded.
Gerold ponders this before responding. "I can see the benefits of allowing the lad to go, though once a Kingsguard swears their vows they are in for life. Only death can free them of their vows."
"Yes the vows are important and for life, yet Ser Jaime did break one vow when he killed his king. He has sworn another vow to compensate for that, but what is there to say he won't break that vow as well. After all Lannisters are notably treacherous." The lord regent responds.
Gerold feels torn as he considers this argument, it makes sense, the lad though good, has broken his vows once before, and the promise not to break them again could have for all Gerold know it could have been a ruse orchestrated by him and his father. He ponders this and turns it over and over in his head before finally sighing and saying. "Very well, I agree to allow Ser Jaime to leave the Kingsguard, but this cannot set a precedent."
The Lord Regent nods. "Indeed, that is very true. With Ser Jaime leaving the Kingsguard we shall need to decide on another knight to take his place. There is Ser Jon Connington who is now of course Lord of Griffin's Roost, though I would prefer he did not join the Kingsguard as having a loyalist lord in the Stormlands will always be useful. There is Ser Addam Osgrey son of Lord Gerold Osgrey, though of course one might think there is too much preference to the Reach."
Gerold nods along, and then says. "Ser Rolland Storm could well make a good choice my lord. He is a fierce fighter, has shown himself to be notably loyal and would ensure that House Caron did definitely remain onside. And furthermore no Stormlords could truly complain."
The regent considers this. "A bastard in the Kingsguard, unusual but it has been done before. I see no reason why it could not be done again. Very well Ser Rolland it is then."
Both men happy with this decision, get up shake hands and Ser Gerold turns and leaves for his own room in White Sword Tower, where he spends the night sleeping easily, for the first time in a long while. He wakes just as the sun is rising to relieve Ser Barristan of his duty in guarding the king and remains with the king for some time until Ser Oswell comes to relieve him of his own duty. His morning meal has been had and by the time he arrives in the throne room for court, he is much more awake then he was at the beginning of his morning guard. He and Ser Jaime stand at the base of the throne guarding it, Gerold does a quick calculation in his head and he knows that with Barristan resting and Ser Oswell guarding the King and the Princess, Ser Arthur will be guarding Prince Viserys. Satisfied with that he refocuses his attention to the events at hand. The lords and ladies are filling in and are talking quite excitedly, Lord Rickard is already sat on the throne, but he is allowing all to somewhat shake the tiredness from their eyes and voices, and then at a sign Gerold calls for quiet and the hall does fall quiet, and still after all these years he is amazed at just how powerful that makes him feel.
The proceedings of court are somewhat dull, usual affairs of land and disputes and various lords trying to press their own claims on things that truly should be of no concern to them. The lord regent handles these issues with effectiveness that has not been seen in King's Landing since Lord Tywin ruled as hand, and as such the issues begin to thin considerably. Before the issues of the Greyjoys are brought forward, the announcements are made for the regency council and there is some muttering and mumbling about some of these choices especially seeing Prince Oberyn and Tywin Lannister serving on the same council. Once that announcement has been made news comes from the westerlands about the Ironborn and what is being done about them. It appears the attack on Fair Isle and its sack was led by Lord Donnor Saltcliffe, and there are concerns that the raiding will span to other coastal areas on the Westerlands. The regent orders for a letter to be sent to Pyke demanding answers, and also tells the hand to return with his men to the Westerlands to prepare for defence after today has finished. There is murmuring at all of this, and Gerold suspects there is something more at play here, but as usual keeps his mouth quiet.
Eventually, the Lord Regent speaks. "Now, before court is dismissed for the day, there is one more matter that is quite pressing that must be dealt with. Ser Gerold if you please?"
Gerold stood forward and said. "I, Ser Gerold Hightower, Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, after consultations with the lord regent have decided that Ser Mark Ryswell and Ser Jon Redfort shall be the new members of the Kingsguard. If they could come forward and bow before the throne." Both men do so with applause ringing through the hall, though it is especially loud for Ser Mark, none have forgotten his defiance of Robert Baratheon. Once the applause has died down and both knights have gone back to their places Gerold speaks once more. "The Kingsguard, is traditionally of seven places, one for each element of the seven who is one. And at present this is the case, however, there is one member who has shown himself above and beyond the call of duty, but in showing so broke a most sacred oath, and for that he must remove himself from the Kingsguard. Ser Jaime please step forward."
Ser Jaime steps forward and then bows before the throne as they had told him to. There are some shocked gasps in the throne room, and Ser Jaime himself still can't quite believe it is happening. Still Gerold presses on. "Ser Jaime, you have admitted to slaying King Aerys, breaking your oaths to him and as a knight of the Kingsguard. Though it was done as a noble act to save the city of King's Landing from burning under the madness of King Aerys and the wildfire he so favoured. Still an oath is an oath, and as such one must pay the consequence. As the action and the oath somewhat conflict, you shall not join the Night's Watch, but you shall no longer be a member of the Kingsguard. Ser Jaime, I under the authority of King Jonothor Targaryen as Lord Commander of the Kingsguard do hereby dismiss you from the Kingsguard, with honour and prestige befitting a true knight."
There is a lot of murmuring at this and Ser Jaime is silent still kneeling. But then he does speak. "I thank you for giving me this chance at a new future Ser Gerold and Lord Regent Stark. I shall live up to the vows I swore before you as heir to the Rock." The man stands unclasps his white cloak and hands it to Gerold before walking out of the hall to White Sword Tower.
Following the closing of the doors of the throne room Gerold speaks once more. "Ser Rolland Storm, come forward and accept your new position as a knight of the Kingsguard." The man comes forward and bows and then stands moves back to his place.
The Lord Regent calls an end to court there and then with the lords and ladies all whispering. Gerold remains in the throne room guarding the Lord Regent, as he remains on the Iron Throne in thought. Gerold knows that Jaime will be missed in the Kingsguard, a promising talent, but sometimes the game comes to interrupt all of them especially those who foreswear it. Once the Lord Regents gets up off the throne and walks down the stairs Gerold moves aside and then follows him back to the man's own chambers. Where he stands guard outside.
The next few days are quite chaotic as preparations are made for the swearing in of the new sworn brothers of the Kingsguard, as well as seeing Jaime off from White Sword Tower and back to his father's part of the castle. Gerold does not say much to his former sworn brother apart from to wish him well in whatever he so does. After that, he spends most of his time ensuring everything is done according to plan in the Great Sept and when the day does come, all three knights come forward to swear their vows and take their vigil, and Gerold has a feeling, a hope that perhaps this could be the start of something new for the Kingsguard. A chance to recover from the darkness of Aerys reign and into the new regime of King Jonothor, a golden age for the kingdoms.
Three new sworn brothers join Gerold and his fellow sworn brothers Ser Barristan, Ser Arthur and Ser Oswell in White Sword Tower two days after the ceremony, their names Ser Mark Ryswell- the dark stallion-, Ser Jon Redfort and Ser Rolland Storm. Gerold begins the meeting with the customary question. "Greetings my fellow sworn brothers, now that we are all here, I must ask who guards the king?"
Ser Mark responded. "My cousin Rickard Ryswell and Lord Umber's brother Torrhen Umber, Lord Commander."
Gerold nods and then says. "Will they defend them to the best of their ability and put his life above their own?"
Ser Mark nods and says. "They will Lord Commander."
Gerold then looks to Ser Oswell and asks. "Who guards Prince Viserys and Princess Daenerys?"
Ser Oswell unusually straight faced today responds. "Ser Laenor Velaryon and Ser Jon Waters guard Prince Viserys. Whilst Lord Raymun Darry and Ser Argus Rivers guard Princess Daenerys."
Gerold nods and then asks them all to sit. Once they are all seated he takes a deep breath and then says. "This meeting has been called to discuss the future course of the Kingsguard. We learnt during Aerys reign that there are limits to what we can do as knights and as bodyguards. We did things that I am sure none of us are proud of in the name of the king, things that came directly into conflict with our vows. We lost many good men and three fellow sworn brothers because of the actions of the King we served. Such a thing cannot happen again, losing three brothers to the actions of a mad man cannot happen ever again. it is time we discussed what course we wish to take. Complete obedience to the point we become nothing more than hired swords, or obedience to the point where we avoid becoming hired swords. The Kingsguard was and is a position of high honour, we represent the best of chivalry in Westeros, and we must work to keep that title and honour."
There is silence and then Ser Arthur speaks. "I believe that complete obedience is something that should be looked at with deep questions when the King is a child, as he is at present. Commands given by the king, I believe need to be looked at in comparison with the vows we swore as knights. We must defend the weak and the innocent, under Aerys we did not do this. As the king is a child at present I do not think that this will come into question. But when the king is not a child, then it shall become a very strong issue. I believe if the king asks us to do something that does not stay true to our knightly vows we must bring the issue to the Lord Commander."
Silence follows this and then Oswell speaks. "Following on from Arthur's point, I believe that having a close relationship with the king, especially as the king is a child at present is something that must be worked on and developed. Only then, I believe will we truly be able to judge the level of command the King has given us. This is something that I feel is where we went wrong with Aerys, we did not try to establish a relationship with him, and so we became hired swords. And under Prince Rhaegar as well."
Barristan speaks up then. "I disagree with this. We are Kingsguard, it is our duty to obey. We are not supposed to question the king's decision. We are supposed to be able to trust the king. With Aerys, he was the exception to the rule, and not the set tradition. Just because one king was mad, and ordered atrocities does not mean other kings, particular King Jonothor will as well."
Ser Rolland speaks then. "I agree with Ser Barristan. We are knights of the Kingsguard, we are the ones who are supposed to ensure the king's peace and ensure his protection as well as that of the royal family. That is our duty, nothing more nothing less."
Arthur speaks then. "I agree that we must do our duty and protect the king and ensure he is safe and protected. But we must also ensure that the king does not do anything that brings himself into harm or others into harm. Having a good personal relationship with the king is a good way to ensure that the king does not do something or ask us to do something that would lead us down the slope that brought us to Aerys reign."
There is some more backwards and forwards arguing between Arthur and Barristan, though Gerold notes that Ryswell and Redfort keep quiet, observing everything as par for course. Eventually Gerold asks for quiet and says. "This is of course a divisive issue. But we must all agree that as the king is an infant we have the perfect chance to help raise and mould him so that we never again get a King Aerys the Mad." There are nods of agreement from all other members and then he continues. "Also, speak now if you have any objections to what I say next. If the king asks you to do something and it fits within your beliefs and vows, then do it. But if he asks you to do something that goes against those beliefs and vows, come to me first. Do not blindly follow the king, for he is young still and is learning and will be learning for some time."
His fellow sworn brothers all voice their agreement with this and when they depart the white sword tower for their respective posts, Gerold feels somewhat lighter. Perhaps there is a bright light at the end of this tunnel after all.