Gareth Tyrell (379 AC - 439 AC) was Lord of Highgarden, Defender of the Marches, High Marshal of the Reach, and Warden of the South. Formerly a squire to Prince Aemon Targaryen, Gareth was knighted during The War of the Three Thieves and served House Targaryen as a commander and military advisor. After securing the surrender of the Reach for Queen Visaera Targaryen during the Mummer's War, he was made Lord of Highgarden and Warden of the South.

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Appearance and Character

Gareth is a lean and well-built Reachman standing 6'2" who displays many of the common Tyrell traits from voice to appearance. A handsome face with light brown eyes accompanies dark brown medium length hair and pale skin. Now in his late thirties, strands of grey have began to appear alongside the early appearance of wrinkles around his eyes.

Unlike other reachmen that wear opulent outfits and intricate armors, Gareth prefers more practical clothing and can often be seen wearing more smartly fitted leathers with brocade bases or loose casual wear allowing for agile movement. His armor is primarily a combination of plate and chainmail with a verdant tabard displaying the dual roses of House Tyrell of Brightwater Keep.

Lacking some of the flamboyancy of his Tyrell relatives, Gareth has a deep, well-spoken voice that commands respect amongst his troops. In emulating the character of his ancestor, Garlan the Gallant, Gareth is outwardly chivalric in his actions and fancies himself a champion of the common folk. However, despite a gregarious and outgoing public face, Gareth maintains a very private personal life.

History

Early Life

Gareth was born in 379 AC to Luthor Tyrell and Leonette Rowan at his family's holdfast of Brightwater Keep which sits at the source of the Honeywine. His early childhood was fairly typical for children born into noble Reach families with days mixed between education and play. He was taught his letters, the basics of history and law, and court etiquette.

Around the age of seven, Gareth became a page to his father, Luthor Tyrell. It was under his father's tutelage that Gareth began to hear stories about his great-grandfather, Garlan the Gallant, who had founded their cadet branch of House Tyrell after being awarded the ancestral seat and holdings of House Florent after the Battle of the Blackwater. Gareth admired his ancestor and came to emulate him, believing his actions to be the conduct of a properly chivalrous and skilled knight.

The Great Famine

When The Great Famine struck in 392 AC, Gareth and his family were in attendance at a regional tourney in King's Landing. Gareth was still but a page in his father's service in the new tradition established by his great-grandfather, but Gareth was no less skilled than others his age who had already attained a squireship under a knight or lord. Much of his free time was spent on physical conditioning and developing his swordsmanship. Despite this and due to his age, he still had a lanky, boyish build that made him appear more servant than future knight.

While the various lords and knights competed in the tourney, Gareth was tending to his father's pavilion in the tournament encampment when he was approached by a group of three commoners around the same age as himself. They wore tattered rags and, despite their near starvation, appeared to be healthy enough to risk their life scavenging the baggage trains of trained warriors. A terse exchange of words was had before the group attacked Gareth with stick and fist. Despite being outnumbered 3-to-1, Gareth managed to fend off the assailants. The victory was hard fought, however, and after they had seemingly fled he fell to one knee with numerous cuts and bruises. In that moment he feared they would return to finish him off from behind once they realized he had fallen. Instead, he felt a hand arc over his shoulder and lift him up to his feet. Surprisingly, it was Aemon Targaryen who had helped the young Gareth up and upon commending his fighting spirit, took the Tyrell youth to be one of his squires.

The War of the Three Thieves

Like most of the nobility of Westeros, Gareth was a combatant in the war against the Stepstones. He accompanied his mentor, Aemon, into battle for each engagement and gradually increased his responsibilities within the army on foot while his Targaryen superior took to battle in the skies upon Rhaegal. Within the army, Gareth began to make a name for himself as both a skilled fighter and an even more skilled commander and strategist.

It was during the Battle of the Broken Arm that he really shined, leading a naval detachment to overpower a pair of larger ships that were harassing Westerosi forces in one of the bloodiest battles of the war. In recognition of his skill in battle, Aemon knighted his squire who entered into the Targaryen's retinue as a commander of men.

The Scarlet Winter

Years had passed with Gareth in the service of House Targaryen. Through each conflict that Westeros and the Crown faced he served faithfully while his father maintained the lordship of Brightwater Keep and tended to the duties of the house. By 405 AC, The Scarlet Winter had resulted in the deaths of thousands across all of Westeros. However, no death was felt more heavily to Gareth than the death of Aemon who departed on The Night With No Moon. Gareth had attempted to dissuade Aemon from leaving on his mission abroad but to no avail and now his mentor and friend was dead.

Gareth's place in service to the Targaryen's was in flux for a short time before he fell into service with Aemon's wife, Visaera Targaryen, who recognized him for his skill just as her husband had. From that moment on, Gareth became Visaera's sworn shield and military adviser, offering his military expertise and strategic insight to the princess and her immediate family.

The Mummer's War

During the Mummer's War, Gareth was appointed to the Small Council as Master of Laws and marched at the head of the Stormlander army beside Lord Gwayne Baratheon and Princess Rhaenys Targaryen with the intent of pacifying any rebellious elements within the Reach. The army secured the surrender of Highgarden and House Tyrell without casualty on either side.

Upon returning to King's Landing with Lady Margaret Tyrell and Lord Lucifer Hightower as prisoners, Queen Visaera Targaryen named Gareth to be Lord of Highgarden and Warden of the South in recognition of his service. She further decreed that he marry Maekar Targaryen's widow, Leona Tyrell, in order to strengthen his claim--a marriage neither of them desired.

The Long Peace

The Reach flourished in the years after the Mummer's War. Short winters and bountiful harvests allowed the Reach to begin to rebuild and regrow in every meaning of the words. Marriages were arranged, tournaments held, and knights set out on quests of all varieties.

In Highgarden, Gareth adapted quickly to the demands of lordship. Prior to his installation the man had been raised as heir presumptive of Brightwater Keep and thus had the foundation of what it meant to be a good lord. While different in many ways from commanding men in times of war the principles were the same. Justice--whether delivered within the court or within an army camp--followed a similar procedure. Dealing with subordinates felt like dealing with lieutenants though some did require more political finesse than stern rebukes. Despite feeling overwhelmed at times the man managed. Would another man have done better? Perhaps. But the realm enjoyed a long period of peace and that alone he considered a success.

Within his household, however, things did not move with such ease. Neither Gareth nor Leona had desired the marriage arranged between them and their interactions had a cold politeness to them. Leona performed her spousal duties only to the extent that was required and the two slept in different bedchambers. Together they had four children but to say the experience of copulation was a loving one would be to lie. The pair tolerated each other for the sake of their children and for the sake of the political boon their marriage represented.

The Bleeding

TBA

Present Day

In the years since his installation as Lord of Highgarden and Warden of the South, Gareth has ruled the Reach with a just hand during a period of peace and prosperity. The Starry Faith has seen a revival receiving considerable monetary and political support from Highgarden at the prompting behest of Leona Tyrell. Meanwhile, years of tense marital relations have led Gareth to begin to question the value of his virtues.

Family

See: House Tyrell