Guyard Dondarrion

Guyard Dondarrion is the Lord of Blackhaven, a position he has held since 397 AC, since the death of his father, Lord Arlan Dondarrion.

Appearance and Character
Guyard Dondarrion had once been a valiant knight, but his body does not display it. Having assumed the position of lordship in his nineteenth year, Lord Guyard has not trained himself in combat for many a year. Where many who have not trained themselves become fat, and slovenly, the Lord of Blackhaven is quite the opposite - gaunt and slim, his time behind the desk has taken away from his time in the training yard, and at the dinner table. However, his lack of physical action has not reduced his stress, and his once-red-gold hair has been grey since his thirties, and his ever-watchful brown eyes are surrounded by wrinkles.

Early Life, Tragedy, and Hammers
Guyard Dondarrion was born in the early half of 378 AC, to Ser Arlan Dondarrion, the heir to Blackhaven, and Shireen Dondarrion, once of House Musgood. From the year after his birth, the young Marcher was a witness to tragedy. With the rest of his family, he was dragged along to the Kingswood, to witness King Aenar's grand tourney. Whilst Ser Arlan objected to his son witnessing a potentially deadly event, Lord Dondarrion was insistent on the entire family visiting the Kingswood. Upon the return to Blackhaven after the tourney and its multitude of deaths and maimings were over, Lord Dondarrion found himself agreeing with his son.

Within two years of the Kingswood Tourney, Lord Dondarrion was dead. Taken by a bad heart, Arlan's father died on the same day that Guyard's first sibling, Cyrenna, was born. However, after three years of tragedy, the Seven saw fit to grant House Dondarrion a reprieve. Guyard was blessed with a simple, comfortable childhood, serving as a page for his father, and learning from him how to be the next Lord of Blackhaven. Soon enough, he was more than a page - he was a squire, and a great one at that. As he roamed the castle, he collected an entourage of visiting lordlings and ladies, and common folk as well, one of whom was Johanna Cafferen. Whilst Guyard was close with all of his companions, he was closest to the girl he referred to as "his fawn".

However, his squireship would soon tear him away from his young love, as in 388 AC, the realm was torn apart at the seams when Brynden Hammer rose in rebellion against House Targaryen. Lord Arlan levied a force of five hundred men, and marched to the end of the mountain pass that contained his castle. It was lucky for the squire and his father that Brynden Hammer was dead within a year, as even the small parties of disgruntled smallfolk who tried to approach the black basalt walls of Blackhaven gave the Dondarrion men a challenge. For two years, the army was camped, holding both the mountain pass and the rough road from Summerhall into the Reach, so close to their homes, and yet so far. Men of House Cafferen and Selmy joined them, eventually, to replenish the losses they had taken, and to bolster the ranks. It was only in 390 AC, when the final revolt was put down, that Lord Arlan's party could return. Guyard had survived untouched, and had seen little combat. Lord Arlan was less lucky, and by his return to Blackhaven, the Lord Dondarrion was missing one finger and one eye, both on his left. It was not all unlucky, however, and within nine months of their return, a new Dondarrion was born to Arlan and Shireen, named Lucas.

Bandits and Thieves
Guyard Dondarrion's life was filled with two year peaces. Brynden Hammer's legacy remained, but his revolts did not, and the twelve year old boy could once again spend time with his dear Johanna. At fourteen, however, the Great Famine swept the realm, and once more the pair were torn apart. Lord Arlan had arranged a tour of Dondarrion lands, and Guyard, as his heir, was to come with him. As much as the pair begged the Lord of Blackhaven to let Johanna come along, he would not have it. Once again, as during the Hammer Uprising, bandits swept the land, and Arlan would not see an innocent woman slain by brigands. And so, Guyard and his father set out alone, with only a token retinue, and a wagon filled with food, to replace the dead crops that the famine had taken.