Aeron Goldfyre

Captain-General Aeron Goldfyre of the Golden Company is the bastard son of the late King Rhaegar I Targaryen and an unknown peasant woman in Flea Bottom. He cannot remember her name, or much else about her for that matter. Born in 338 A.C., Aeron, at the time called Asher, has taken the hard road all his life. Although the bastard of the king at the time of his birth, he was not recognized as such until years later, his father long dead. Despite his partially royal standing, Aeron has long lived a life of little prestige, viewed for a great deal of time even by his own blood as nothing more than an upjumped peasant.

In 346 A.C. Asher was brought into the Red Keep and recognized as the illegitimate son of the late King Rhaegar, known thereafter as Asher Waters. Early on in his time at the Red Keep, Asher slept in the stables of the Red Keep, reeking of horse shit most of the time, save for an occasional wash when he was to appear at court. King Aenar had offered his young bastard brother an apartment to fit his blood after Queen Helaena's death, but Asher refused; he never felt deserving of the honour. His immense respect for his family was solidified by this kind gesture, however, and Asher trained diligently in hopes of one day defending his family as an honoured member of the Kingsguard.

Appearance and Character
Aeron is a tall, muscular man with features distinctly Valyrian, though he presumably takes after his mother considerably with a square jaw, strong brow, very chiseled cheekbones and broad nose. Unlike Targaryens, however, rather than sporting a violet, magenta or purple pair of eyes, his are instead a frosty ice blue hue. His thick hair of medium length and matching beard once shone as the typical Targaryen platinum, but age and stress have faded them considerably to a snowy white. His face is marked by countless faded scars from past encounters. Aeron carries himself with a confidence earned by years of faithful service and skill. Despite his advancing age, he finally feels the dragon he always aspired to be, and the fire in his eyes doesn't dare dim yet. Aeron can always be seen donning plate armor and an ornate cloak of red, gold and black. Never without a sword at his hip, the old knight is always prepared to defend his family from anyone who would do them harm.

A man of loyalty, duty and honour, the Captain-General of the Golden Company has ever held his family in the highest regard. He holds significant love in his heart for the queen, having been very close with her father, Viserys, and seeing her as a beloved niece. As Asher, Aeron revered his Targaryen brethren and ancestors, believing wholeheartedly in the greatness of their blood. This has lead him to question the validity of the Faith of Seven, instead pondering privately the idea that Targaryens are really gods made flesh, roaming the world until such time as their souls tire of the mortal world. In addition, he never read the Seven Pointed Star, though this is a fact he has  also shared with none. He idolizes his paternal grandfather, Aegon VI, who lived much of his life among the small folk under a different name. Troubled by the ambitions of his younger kin, he hopes to end the coming conflicts with as little Targaryen blood spilled as possible, for to him kinslaying is the ultimate crime, and among Targaryen blood yet worse. Aeron is well-renowned in the Seven Kingdoms for his military genius and prodigious skill with a blade, though the latter has long since faded. So far into his long life, Aeron has set aside personal ambition; now is the time to support his family, and he will not waver in his duty.

Early Life
Asher Waters was born somewhere in Flea Bottom in 338 A.C., suspected to be one of many bastard children of King Rhaegar I Targaryen, and assumed to be mothered by a common whore. He can recall precious little of his mother, but some nights dreams of her voice, a melodious sound just beyond comprehension. She died sometime during the ravaging Summer Sickness. His earliest memories are of the orphanage called Dustwood, nicknamed for its dusty walls and floorboards, in the dirtiest of slums of Flea Bottom. It was there in the abandoned building that he lived among other children left without parents to care for them. He faced bullying for his Valyrian appearance by the other children, who blamed the Targaryens for the deaths of their parents and assumed him to be one of them. This lead Asher to wonder at his lineage, and he eventually began to identify with the Targaryens, dreaming of a life at court and in his emotional state fighting anyone who spoke ill of them. In spite of this, at first life there went well enough, under the guidance of an adult he can hardly remember. However, this man was arrested for a crime none of them had been told of, never to return and unable to provide for the orphans any longer. This exploded the orphanage into a time of chaos and disorder as the children were left without a mature hand to guide them. Asher turned to a life of petty thievery, though often unsuccessful in his endeavours, earning him countless beatings at the hands of men old and young alike. La Tengo's young residents would face further hardship in the form of a murderer who kidnapped and slaughtered most of the remaining orphans to put in his soup, later known as Butcher Petyr. Eventually Asher himself was kidnapped, but after escaping and hiding until Petyr went to sleep, he personally put a dagger through the man's throat for killing so many of his peers. Quite the drastic action for a boy of only six years. The Goldcloaks were quick to discover this, and before long Asher was discovered for his deed. A brief investigation revealed the bones of Petyr's past victims, justifying Asher's actions. No-one missed the murderer and word spread like wildfire through the city of a platinum-haired boy with blood on his hands. Not long after, mysterious men would spirit Asher away in the night to a better part of the city, and he would leave behind La Tengo forever only as a dim memory in a dark corner of his mind.

The High Life
344-46 A.C.

Asher spent the next two years of his life in considerable luxury, and he thought little of it at the time. He lived in a small home with an old septa on the Street of Sisters, which smelled far better than most areas of King's Landing. Often the scent of herbs and spices would fill the air as the old septa gave him lessons on history, letters, words and numbers. Even things like good manners and how to wash properly, all the way to eating politely. As if a peasant boy would ever need such trivial skills, or so he once thought. On occasion they would be visited by another, a man with hair like Asher's but with blonde added to the mix and eyes of deep purple. The man would ask him questions about his mother, about his past, even about his favorite stories. Always Asher would speak of the great Targaryen heroes such as Aemon the Dragonknight, and the man's smile only grew. In the stranger Asher saw without a doubt the visage of a Targaryen, and for a time believed him to be his own father. In the night Asher would clutch at his pillow and think of the kind Targaryen, no doubt a hero of the greatest caliber, a light in the darkness of the world. And so as Asher grew to love the man who visited him, he appeared less and less, until finally Asher himself was taken away, ushering in the next strange experience of his days.

Life in the Red Keep
346-52 A.C.

Asher's early days in the Red Keep were a tumultuous time indeed, and countless rumours spread to explain the presence of this new Valyrian child. Treatment befitting a noble child only served to further the confusion, and after Queen Helaena began questioning King Aenar on the existence of this child, an official announcement was made. Asher was recognized as an illegitimate son of the late King Rhaegar before the court, and all rumours of his parentage were put to rest. However, the enmity of Queen Mother Olenna toward her late husband's bastard earned Asher a home in the stables, where he would sleep in hay and horse shit for many years to come. Aenar's coaxing of his mother gave Asher the opportunity to take up a more luxurious life once more, but he refused, feeling that he did not deserve the honour yet. He would spend most of his time training with the Master-at-Arms of the Red Keep, striving to become a great warrior and protect his blood.

The next few years would see Asher take on a very minimal role in the Red Keep. He trained his sword arm ever diligently, and as time went on he seemed to be mostly forgotten and faded from the eyes of the court. From the servants in the keep, he learned the value of loyalty and humility. From the noble children, he learned the price of pride. From the Master-at-Arms, he learned to hold his sword properly, lest he feel another smash of blunted steel against his crooked nose.

As Aenar's children grew, Asher had the opportunity to come to know them quite well, princes Aenys and Viserys in particular. While Aenys and Asher spent their time as friends and rivals, often challenging each other to contests of the blade or competing in hunting contests, Viserys presented a completely different opportunity. Together the pair participated in many plots. Viserys made the plans and Asher had the criminal skill to pull it off. They infiltrated the larder, delved deep into the depths of the Red Keep, and participated in many childish pursuits together. This cemented a bond between the two that would last even beyond Viserys' death, in the form of his daughter, Visaera, a child who would prove dear to them both.

A Tale of Guts and Glory
352-55 A.C.

In 352 A.C., to celebrate the wedding of King Aenar and Patrice Hightower, an incredible event was held. The Blackwater Tourney was an opportunity for Asher to prove himself to his family, he believed; a victory in the melee would no doubt cement his place as a true dragon. Aenys dared him to infiltrate the tourney, and he then knew he must; honour demanded it. Asher's height apparently made him look old enough, and he persuaded Sadly, a boy of four-and-ten stood little chance against men full-grown in a fight. Still, he was determined to improve his swordsmanship further in the future. And he would. Upon the death of Peremore Vance, a tourney was held in Harrenhal to honour his memory. Asher attended this tourney, and at the age of ten-and-seven won the melee as he had dreamt of doing for so long. He gave up on his dream of joining the Kingsguard around this time, instead believing he could better serve House Targaryen some other way.

The Royal Tour
360 A.C.

Asher accompanied the Royals as they toured the Seven Kingdoms, even getting himself caught up in the scandal of Aenys and Lenore, aiding Aenys in earning her affection. He hoped that their union would help to keep the kingdom stable, but oh how wrong he would turn out to be.

The Halfblood Incursion
365-66 A.C.

The Halfblood Incursion occured when Asher was a man of seven-and-twenty. Prince Maron Halfblood and Princess Mara Halfblood, twin children of Regnar Twice-Crowned, emerged from the east with a huge army of mercenaries to burn and pillage all across the Seven Kingdoms. King Aenar dispatched several armies to deal with this threat, one of which was lead by Asher himself. It was a bold move by Aenar to put an untested man of so little military experience in such a role, but Asher had begged for the opportunity to prove himself. And so, while lands burned, men were killed and women raped, Asher and his men fought on. They carved a path across the Riverlands, driving off bands of raiding mercenaries wherever they went. Finally, Asher's host caught Maron Halfblood's forces in an ambush after the burning of his ships and a devastating loss outside Harrenhal sent the latter scurrying westward. The enemy forces, tired from running, were massacred. Asher confronted Maron then and slew him in single combat. It struck him as dishonourable at the time to cut down such a weary opponent, but he knew it was the right thing to do regardless. Upon returning to King's Landing, Asher was hailed as a hero by many. He felt a surge of pride like never before, which was only built upon by Lysandro Rogare's invitation to join the Golden Company. Finally, Asher's skills were being recognized, he felt, and finally he felt like a true honour to his blood. But all of that was far eclipsed by Aenar's gift: before every man and woman at court, and before the Seven, King Aenar knighted and legitimized Asher Waters as Ser Aeron Goldfyre. This decree was not received favorably by all, however. Some began to fear that Aeron would one day attempt to seize the throne, and so he made public that his intentions were to serve, nothing more. Still, not all were convinced. He vowed from then on he would do everything in his power to preserve his kin, to keep unspilled the sacred blood of the Targaryens. He grew wary of the Ironborn after this point, seeing them only as a threat to the royal blood, despite their aid of the crown in the war against the Halfbloods.

A Tragic Time
366-67 A.C.

Serving in the Golden Company, and quartering in Bittersteel's bastion, Aeron did not have the time to spend at court that he once did, but was granted leave for an occasional appearance as befitted his lineage. It was around this time that his good friend and nephew Aenys' wife, Lenore Blackwood, was caught up in a series of scandals. Aeron had grown to dislike the woman he helped Aenys win so many years ago, seeing her as a treacherous schemer, intent only on eroding the Targaryen name for her own benefit. It was not a viewpoint entirely his own, however, and he was swayed significantly by Viserys' thoughts on the matter. Still, he knew the look in Aenys' eyes when her machinations were revealed, and worried for his old friend.

After the annulment of their marriage and Lenore's execution, Aenys retreated to Dragonstone with their young son, Maegor. It saddened Aeron deeply to see Aenys reduced to a shell of his former self, but there was nothing he could do. The prince never responded to Aeron's ravens, and he began to fear. Fear that his old friend would soon be gone.

His fears were well founded, and not a year later word reached the capital of Aenys' death. Aeron met with Viserys on the matter, but he did not mourn for his late brother; Aeron questioned his nephew's intentions silently, but knew no good would come of stirring more trouble. Instead, he turned his eyes to Maegor. No doubt the boy would be in danger, an orphan bearing the blood of the dragon, a potential claimant to the throne. But Aeron refused to risk more of his family's blood being spilled, so when he was tasked to retrieve the boy, he knew what he would do. Upon reaching Dragonstone, Aeron found the young Maegor, left with nothing after the deaths of his parents. Aeron saw something of himself in the boy, and could not bring himself to take him back to those who would do him harm. Instead, Aeron allowed a small group loyal to Aenys to ferry Maegor away in the night. When asked the whereabouts of the former Targaryen, Aeron claimed only that the boy was gone before he arrived. A secret he has held all his life.

The Heiress is Born
369 A.C.

Not long after Aeron's first-and-thirtieth name day, the princess Visaera was born. A precocious and at times haughty child, she was nonetheless a presence at court, and reminded Aeron much of her father as a child, albeit less devious and deceitful in nature. Still, she grew to be a jewel of the court, even at times practicing the blade with the Master-at-Arms. Aeron even taught her a few tricks. Despite his waning trust of her father, Aeron still held young Visaera dear in his heart, and hoped she would one day prove the great woman he knew she could be.

Captain-General
375 A.C.

Aeron has known many tragedies in his life, but none have been so opportune as the untimely death of Lysandro Rogare. Crushed in his sleep by the great gilded head of the company's last elephant, he left the Golden Company in need of a new captain-general. Several of the wardens of the company submitted candidates for the new position, but no name appeared near so often as Aeron Goldfyre. A proven warrior and general, he was the clear choice. King Aenar named his bastard brother to the position soon after, and it secured the prestige of Aeron. He drew much attention at court, as he spent most of his time at the Red Keep when not with his men.

Not long after his ascension to leadership of the Golden Company, a woman at court caught Aeron's eye. Renyse Celtigar was her name, elder sister of Lord Corlys. Her silver hair, bright as a star, and eyes of royal purple to match the gowns she often wore to court had him smitten. The feeling was mutual, and not long after the two were married in the Sept of Baelor by the High Septon himself. Theirs would be a brief marriage, for tragedy struck only a few years later. But at the time, they were happy together, and Aeron eagerly hoped to have a son of his own.

The Kingswood Tourney
379 A.C.

Participating as many had in the Kingswood Tourney, Aeron was there to see many of the scandals that took place. During the melee, a hedge knight attempted to take his life, so he was forced to kill the man. Others in the melee had apparently targeted those with royal blood, but no discovery was made relating to the perpetrator of these attacks. He was bested by Baelor Targaryen in the melee, a man whom Aeron rarely saw eye to eye with, in part due to his favorable relationships with the man's half-brothers. In the joust, however, Aeron bested his nephew and crowned his pregnant wife as the Queen of Love and Beauty. Renyse seemed to glow that day, but she would grow dim before the moon was out. She suffered from a grave complication giving birth to what would have been their son, and neither mother nor child survived. It drove Aeron into a state of depression, and from then on he focused simply on the duties of the Captain-General of the Golden Company, pushing away the company of women and spending most of his time at Bittersteel's Bastion. He would eventually emerge from his grieving state, but the same Aeron never appeared again afterward.

The Hammer Uprising
388 A.C.

In his advancing age, Aeron began to feel restless. He was growing old, his sword heavy, his command of the Golden Company becoming a bore. It was for this reason that word of the Warsmiths excited him. Word had reached the capital that Brynden Hammer and his men laid waste to the tournament at Foolskeep, slaying Lord Follard and several of his sons. The crown had grown wary of the outlaw group, but tensions increased dramatically after the raid of Helmshall saw the lord's coffers emptied and his beard removed. No longer able to abide by the chaotic rebels, King Aenar dispatched a force of loyal warriors including the kingsguard to the Kingswood to eliminate this threat. Despite his age, Aeron requested to join the force and took up joint leadership alongside the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, Ser Daven Crakehall.

The Battle of the Weeping Willows
With their rapidly increasing numbers the Warsmiths had begun to find hiding difficult. No longer were they as nimble and able to evade pursuit by larger forces whenever they came marching. When word arrived that the Kingsguard were leading a force into the woods to find them, the Warsmiths decided against rapid flight - and chose instead to stand and face them.

Aeron, alongside the royal company, tracked the rebels through the trees, and engaged them in the ruins of an ancient stone keep surrounded by weeping willows. The Battle of the Weeping Willows was the first real battle that the Warsmiths fought against the forces of the crown, and not even Aeron in his experience knew what to expect. Arrows rained down upon the royal party from all directions as they made their approach. Aeron himself narrowly dodged a few arrows that would otherwise have been his end. The royals pressed forward, pushing the outlaws deeper into the ruins of the courtyard; but a charge led by Brynden gave the Warsmiths the courage they needed, and the battle raged on for a great deal of time. In an attempt to break the Warsmiths' line, Aeron joined several knights in fighting a giant man known as Gentle Geoff for the postern gate of the ruin; however, an injury forced Aeron to withdraw. Eventually, the battle was lost and the royal forces were forced to retreat, leaving several score men dead.

They pulled out of the Kingswood for a time, but it would be far from the last battle between the crown and the Warsmiths.

The Fording of the Rush
Aeron and the royal forces spent several weeks outside the Kingswood, biding their time and awaiting Brynden's emergence. Their patience paid off, and one day a scout reported a ragged band of men marching north. They rode immediately, hoping to put an end to the villains once and for all.

When Aeron and the other riders gave chase, instead of standing their ground as they once had, Brynden and his forces hastened toward the nearby river. A hail of arrows kept the riders at bay, but as the retreating force reached the river, the royal riders smashed into them, and the battle now known as the Fording of the Rush commenced.

Aeron was there in the thick of the fighting, and saw for himself its brutality. Man and mount gored, bloody bodies trampled in the mud, arrows flying and steel singing. His destrier, pelted with dozens of arrows, flung him from the saddle with a few arrows of his own; one in his shoulder and the other in his hip. The rush of battle allowed him to ignore the injuries, however. Still an old man, Aeron was nonetheless invigorated by the excitement of battle. He cut down countless men, and it was as though the Halfblood Incursion was unfolding once more before his eyes. In the thick of the fighting, a huge man known as Sumner the Sunderer clove the horse of Ser Daven in two, sending the Lord Commander tumbling into the mud. Not the man to leave a loyal protector of House Targaryen to his death, Aeron engaged the Sunderer in single combat. It was hard-fought, the Sunderer younger, faster and stronger, but Aeron had far more experience. After a drawn-out duel and a large gash opened upon Aeron's face, he drove his blade though the monstrous man's heart and let the river run red with his blood. The royal force ultimately retreated back to King's Landing to lick its wounds and deal with the prisoners taken at the ford.

Aeron's exploits earned him a great deal more respect in the Golden Company, and coupled with his contributions during the Halfblood Incursion, there were few in the Seven Kingdoms who did not know his name.

The Song of Sword and Steel
Aeron was present during the battle of Kingsbridge, the last time he crossed blades with a great warrior. Weeks after the battle at the ford, Brynden and his men had been cornered at Kingsbridge, and a group of valiant knights rode to end the rebellious men once and for all. Aeron was among them, and although still recovering from his earlier injuries, fought as well as any other. In the thick of the battle, a wounded Brynden Hammer challenged Aeron to a duel to the death. A man peasant born, he'd said, had more right than any. For this, Aeron could respect him. The fight left him more scars, but in the end the Goldfyre prevailed. The crown's victory that day ended the Hammer Uprising, though the cause was not forgotten and revolts continued for a time.

A Legend Fades
In the years following the Hammer Uprising, Aeron felt spent. He'd grown old, his body weak, most of the people he'd known long since dead. He began to rely on Grand Master Selwyn for concoctions to keep him in proper health, and in the Golden Company, new, fresh and ambitious faces appeared with every passing day. And so he stepped down, the first Captain-General to do so, passing the torch to Haegon Celtigar, his former brother-by-law. He spent the next several years at court, content to witness the prosperity he helped to create for his family.

Recent Events
After the death of his brother, King Aenar, Aeron felt conflicted with himself. So many lives had passed him by, leaving him as the last remnant of the old days. No-one else could tell the tales of yesteryear, the scandals, the pieces of history left forgotten. All that was left in the world of his time, a second hand rendition. Haegon's life had been claimed, and then Alester Steelsong left the world before his time. War brews on the horizon, one half propagated by the very same man he spared so many years ago.

It came to Aeron as much of a shock as anyone to discover his name had been unanimously put forth to take up leadership of the Golden Company once more, and finally Aeron had again the chance to act, to hopefully shield the blood of the dragon from yet another needless conflict. Named the Captain-General by Queen Visaera for what time remains in his long life, he stands sword in hand, awaiting the struggles to come.

Household
WIP