#gerold hightower

“Yet when the jousting began, the day belonged to Rhaegar Targaryen. The crown prince wore the armor he would die in: gleaming black plate with the three-headed dragon of his House wrought in rubies on the breast. A plume of scarlet silk streamed behind him when he rode, and it seemed no lance could touch him. Brandon fell to him…” —A Game of Thrones

Rhaegar Targaryen defeats Brandon Stark at the Tourney at Harrenhal by Mark Smylie

I just realized with the entire Targaryen house gathered at Summerhall, that would mean the presence of all of the Kingsguard. Their job is to guard the royal family, and so if all of House Targaryen were gathered at Summerhall, that means all seven Kingsguard would have been there as well including one in particular: Gerold Hightower.

Gerold would have witnessed his old Lord Commander Ser Duncan the Tall putting everything on the line to save newborn prince Rhaegar in spite of the odds including defying his own king. Where would Gerold have been in that situation? Would he have sided with his king, his Lord Commander or stayed neutral not knowing what to do? Would he have had regrets?

By the end of his story, Gerold would now find himself the old Lord Commander at the tower of joy. It adds another layer of meaning to his actions as he ends up channeling the spirit of his predecessor Dunk in giving his life to defend a newborn prince. The boy happened to be son to the same one Dunk had saved.

like imagine him as king. the silver prince/last dragon as king of the seven kingdoms with the sword of the fucking morning, the kingslayer, barristan the bold, the white bull, and gerold hightower among others being his kingsguard.

would he have been a good king? debatable (though I do lean towards yes). but you cannot deny that his reign would have looked cool as fuck.

44_Tormenta de espadas_Jaime VI

Las sombras desmontaron de sus caballos espectrales. No hicieron ruido alguno al desenvainar las espadas largas. 

—Iba a quemar la ciudad —dijo Jaime—. No quería dejar más que cenizas para Robert.

 —Era vuestro rey —dijo Darry.

 —Jurasteis protegerlo —dijo Whent. 

—Y también a los niños —apuntó el príncipe Lewyn. 

—Dejé en vuestras manos a mi esposa y a mis hijos. —El príncipe Rhaegar ardía con luz fría, blanca, roja y oscura alternativamente. 

—Jamás pensé que les haría daño. —La luz de la espada de Jaime era cada vez menos brillante—. Yo estaba con el rey...

 —Matando al rey —dijo Ser Arthur. 

—Cortándole el cuello —dijo el príncipe Lewyn. 

—El mismo rey por el que juraste que darías la vida —dijo el Toro Blanco.