Chapter 11 - Kingsguard at Highgarden

- Two Weeks after Hanko's Arrival at Sunspear -

The two Kingsguard went off the newly docked boat without armor and wearing light clothing with hoods. They had thought of possibly blending in easier and hiding their identities with the hoods, but Gerold's build and Arthur's twin swords seemed to work against them in that regard.

As they made their way through the streets, they were able to get a pulse on the thoughts of the smallfolk; seemingly positive after all the war had finally ended so men-folk were coming back home to their wives, and just enough time passed where the mourning for their dead was not as prevalent in the atmosphere.

"I do not know what is worse, that the smallfolk are happy being under new leadership, or they are celebrating not being under the Mad King," Gerold offered to his travelling companion.

"Let them celebrate for now. They have some time before the true threat comes for us all," Arthur replied in a hush whisper.

Gerold frowned, "Truly, ignorance is bliss for them indeed."

"Come," Arthur changed topic. "I have found ourselves an inn to rest for the night." He said, pointing to a two story building down the way.

They managed to get a single room with dual large comfortable beds reserved while they went back out to roam Oldtown.

"It feels weird being back, even though I don't plan on staying long," Gerold reminisced

"I still don't get why Hanko wants us to contact this Maester," Arthur grumbled. "Hanko even admitted this man's reputation makes him out to be crazy by most."

"Well if you tried to tell regular people about magic when its existence is all but gone, I'd bet most people would think you crazy."

"Even after all we have seen from Hanko alone, I'm still debating on my own sanity."

They walked the steps to the Citadel and quickly ended up in front of the Maester novitiate manning the front desk.

"What do you want?" The Maester novitiate rudely remarked without looking up from his papers at the desk. It took only a short moment of silence before the wiry man looked up and noticed the two muscular and heavily armed, and one giant man in front of him.

"We would like to speak to Arch-Maester Marwyn," Gerold gruffly stated.

The novitiate was now looking wide-eyed at the martial men in front of him before hurriedly checking his sign-in logs. "I'm sorry but Arch-Maester Marwyn has not entered the Citadel today according to the logs."

"That is fine," Arthur chimed in, asking for him to pass a message to the inn they were staying at, before heading back out the entrance with Gerold walking beside him.

Once they got out to the crowded, more noisy streets, Arthur chimed in. "Did you notice it?"

"Yes, it seems the Citadel has about as many eyes as the Red Keep," Gerold offered. "We don't know who those eyes report to as well."

"I'll go back to the inn to await the reply. Want to treat with your family before we meet with Marwyn?"

"Yes," Gerold confirmed. "I would tell them of my part in the plans, and hopefully get them on-board with the events to come."

"I wish you luck then brother," Arthur gave him a pat on the back and a smile before going their separate ways.

- A half hour later at Hightower -

"My Lord, Ser Gerold is here to see you." The servant came in to pass the message along quickly.

The Lord Leyton Hightower stood up. A member of his family has shown up whom he thought was lost forever. He was eager to see Ser Gerold, his uncle. "Bring him here to my solar immediately!"

The servant quickly nodded and ran to pass the reply message. It wasn't long before his towering uncle stood before him.

"I thought we lost you," Lord Hightower said as he came up to his uncle to embrace him with a jovial chuckle. "I thank the gods that you are here before me."

"Trust me, you would have lost me if it wasn't for the forgiveness of an opponent I faced."

Lord Hightower looked at his uncle now with wide eyes, "Someone bested you? I cannot believe it! What man could do such a thing?"

Gerold chuckled, "If only I could say it was a simple man." He shook his head in self-mockery. "No, I wouldn't call him a man, but something more, that beat three kingsguard thoroughly without breaking a sweat."

Now Lord Hightower looked wide-eyed and slightly afraid. "Do we or our house have a lingering enmity with this...monster?"

Gerold chuckled. "No, the ninja as he proclaims himself, has bigger things to worry about than petty squabbles." Gerold turned serious. "Nephew, I come before you now to pass along words that could be taken as both a message and warning. Not from this man himself, but from me, as an uncle who has seen and witnessed feats that would otherwise make most other people think I was insane if I spoke of events out loud."

"Events are in motion, they will be happening over the next couple years, however they are in motion all the same. Plots are to be unraveled and their respective parties rooted out. One such plot is that of the Maesters of the Citadel and the depths they have gone to influence the events and futures of houses all over the Kingdoms."

"What do you mean uncle?" Lord Hightower inquired with an aghast expression.

"I have here-" Gerold handed him a parchment from his side-pouch, "-a rendition of crimes of the Maester at Starfall; written by Lord Dayne himself. All crimes that were proven by the maester's own journals." As he noticed his nephew reading the list he continued. "There is also speculation as to actions they might have taken to redirect / obstruct communications by raven. Such actions prevented key information from getting to the right hands and thus stoking the rebellion even further."

Now Lord Hightower looked pale. "How...how could they do that."

"They have their grubby rats in every keep of every Lord and High Lord. The fact that they seem to be the knowledge keepers in every Kingdom also means they hoard all the knowledge to themselves." Gerold shrugged. "That is also going to change soon."

"Others have tried to compete with the Citadel before, but have ended up with less for their labors," Lord Hightower answered. "Even if someone tried it, they would have a hard time with the sheer amount of effort and coin it would take to do such a task."

Gerold looked to his nephew. "I don't know the specifics yet, but from what I do know, the northern-most kingdom is going to change. I do know they plan on working with Maester's that are not a part of the grand conspiracy in order to spread knowledge to the masses."

Lord Hightower looked on thoughtfully. "If what you say about the current Citadel is true; I would look to clear out the Citadel of those treasonous rats."

Gerold shrugged. "I cannot say you should do so at this moment. As of right now we do not have a list of bad Maesters, and I have only been given the name of one good maester."

"Who is this maester that has been cleared?" Gerold inquired, leaning over his desk; ready to write down the name.

"Marwyn."

"Marwyn the Mage?" Lord Hightower asked for clarification. "Everyone has heard of him. Most think he is a raving lunatic."

"If he is a raving lunatic, then I am a lost cause." Gerold answered bitterly.

"Why is that uncle?"

"Because I've seen magic being used in front of me."

Lord Hightower looked over his uncle to see if he could 'spot the jape'. When nothing gave it away, he looked on in awe. "Was this the...ninja we were talking about earlier."

"Yes. The ninja is incredibly powerful. If I had to put his power at a level, I would put it close to a dragon. And I'm sure I haven't seen everything."

"You are saying this one ninja is a potential army-killer?"

"At least," Gerold confirmed. "And this ninja is going to be working with the North to grow their population, industry, and economy to be in league with the other kingdoms, including the Reach."

"Power doesn't necessarily get one those things; I'm guessing there are other plans then if that is indeed their goal."

"That is right. Again, I don't know exactly what those are, however I won't be around to find out either way."

"What do you mean?" Lord Hightower asked. His expression turned somber as he mulled over his thoughts out loud. "I understand you aren't back in Kings Landing as a kingsguard right now which tells me you either plan to forsake your vows and flee somewhere, or you plan on ending things early?" He looked to his uncle now pleadingly. "Please don't do that."

"I will not be doing either of those things nephew," Gerold calmed him. "I plan on volunteering with the Night's Watch."

"WHAT!?" Lord Hightower yelled out in shock. "Look, I can plead on your behalf to the new King so that you can stay in retirement or even be a man-at-arms to my household. He wouldn't punish us that harshly. Please, don't go to that penal colony."

"At the rate things are going right now, House Hightower is not in a good position," Gerold noted. "Once more people find out about the Citadel's schemes, and trust me, they will; our House will be guilty by association just for being the one that houses their grand location. The other thing is I said I would go to the Night's Watch. I didn't say I would take the same vows."

"Why would the Night's Watch take you at all if you don't do their vows?"

"Because of all the other things I will offer them, and the fact that I will be doing this at the orders of the ninja."

"Why are you following his commands?" Lord Hightower now asked exasperatedly. "I could understand a king and the honor of being in a Kingsguard. I didn't like it, but I understood. Now you are going to follow another person's orders."

"There are multiple reasons why, however you wouldn't believe me if I told you," Gerold just sighed. "I understand your concerns, all I can tell you is it's the right thing to do. Besides, you will be protected from my decisions if the new regime thinks I will be taking the black. They won't come after you and our house for my head."

"... I just wanted my uncle back with us."

"I have come here have I not? However if I can give you just two pieces of advice it would be; deal amicably with the North and the Night's Watch, and when it comes to Maesters, work with Marwyn the Mage if you can. After all, he would be the foremost expert on magic, and trust me, magic will be coming back to Westeros."

- a few hours later -

"Want to bet if this is a trap?" Arthur offered as both himself and Gerold followed the child messenger.

They had been sitting in their inn room going over their travel plans when the knock came at the door. Of course on their guard, they opened the door to find the child standing out of the door. At the sight of the men, the child became awed at the near legendary figures before him.

"Ser's I've been sent to fetch you by Maester Marwyn."

And with that they had left the inn and gone through the streets which were now getting dark with the night. Many streets and back-alleys later they arrived in front of a door that the child knocked on in a predetermined pattern before the latch opened up to take in the prospective entrants. Finally the latch closed and the door opened to another adult servant who let them in. The place was a disaster as furniture and fine pieces of glass and pottery were broken or damaged. After making their way through the wreckage and doorways, they came upon Marwyn.

Marwyn had a thick neck and a strong jaw. He stood short and squat with enormous hands, a thick chest and a hard ale-belly. White hair poked from his nose and ears. With a beetle-brow, his nose has been broken more than once, and his teeth are stained red, most likely from whatever it was he was chewing.

"I thought I was truly mad when I heard that two renowned knights of the realm were looking for me," Marwyn poked fun at himself. "I would ask, whatever business you have, it needs to be done quickly as we can't stay here long." He quickly looked around as he continued to pack salvageable items into boxes.

"Why are you afraid?" Arthur inquired.

"Because this used to be one of my labs that was already raided by thugs recently. The only reason I'm using this place again is because you two are like a beacon in the sky that says 'recognize us!'" Marwyn pointed out exasperatedly. "It doesn't matter if they follow you to this place anymore as they already know of it."

"Apologies, however we were told to seek you out as a task so that is what we have done," Gerold explained.

"A task you say," Marwyn harrumphed. "And who is giving you tasks, Kingsguard? As far as I know your king is dead and the realm hasn't heard you swear your allegiance to the new king."

"We do not serve the usurper," Arthur spoke venomously. "We serve the future -"

Gerold slapped the back of Arthur's head. When Arthur turned to find out why, Gerold looked solemn as they looked to Marwyn who had a gleam in his eyes.

"Interesting, so there is a true heir to the iron throne out there," Marwyn surmised. "Though that still doesn't explain what you are doing here as the known Targaryens are just children and I don't think you would be taking orders from a child."

"You would be right in that," Gerold confirmed. "Why we are doing this concerns the future of the realm once our king takes his rightful place."

Marwyn gave a short -"HA! So now the Kingsguard knows what's going to happen in the future?" He gave them a smirk looking between the two. However once he realized they weren't going to announce their jape, he then took on an awed silence. "What makes you think you know what is going to happen?"

"Because we have witnessed things that can only be considered magical by definition," Gerold offered. A true greenseer has deemed fit to warn us of the great evil coming back from the far North; in the lands of Always Winter. They have warned us about the need for the kingdoms to come together to face the enemy that comes for all of us. To that end, they have also informed us of plots and schemes happening that would threaten to destroy the peace and weaken us enough that we would be unable to face the growing threat."

Gerold didn't give that time to sink in as he continued. "One of those plots seems to be in regards to the Citadel and what they have grown into; a filthy den of 'plague-rats' that would shape the kingdoms to their image. Controlling entire lines of houses just to get where they want."

"So you do know of such things," Marwyn noted.

Arthur bristled at this. "You have knowledge of this and you didn't come forward?"

Marwyn scoffed. "You think I would have if I thought anyone would listen? My colleagues knew I would not dance to their tune and instead dragged my name in the mud so my words would go unheeded by anyone. They do not call me 'Marwyn the Mage' or 'Marwyn the Mad' because I wanted it so." Marwyn smirked as he pondered it. "Though the circumstances of them doing that allowed me to do and work on things without anyone hovering."

"Well we are here to give you more work," Gerold interrupted Marwyn's good mood. "We have been told you are one of the good Maesters which seems to be correct by what you have explained. Now we need a list of those Maesters that are conspiring and their last known locations."

"I know where you could gain that information in one fell swoop; however it's in a location hard to get into," Marwyn offered. "The archmaesters work in a particular part of the tower and in there they hold meetings. They are sticklers for documenting everything so I wouldn't be surprised if they documented all their crimes somewhere there."

"That makes it much easier for us then," Gerold said as he moved around the destroyed room to clear some space along the floor. Arthur also moved to help him, while Marwyn just looked perplexed as to why they were just 'making a hole' in the mess. Once a wide enough space was cleared, Gerold took out the Hirashin Kunai and following Hanko's instructions, he threw it with strength into the ground, then stepped back.

"Granted this lab is already messed up, but did you really have to cause more damage?"

Arthur smirked. "You will see. Besides, 'tis only a mark on the floor. It's not like you will stay here long enough for that blemish to matter."

It was only a minute later where there was a flash of black and overtop the kunai stood a masked man.

Marwyn stumbled back first before looking in awe at the newcomer. The lean-muscled man in question was covered in black skin-tight clothing with pieces of gray armor laid overtop in different places. He had both black soft-toe shoes and black gloves on. He wore a hood which only let what looked like red hair gleam out from the front in small doses. Otherwise his face was covered by a Noh mask with red lines painted on to look like a skull.

"Ah, Maester Marwyn, I was hoping to speak to you," The man spoke now. Only Arthur and Gerold knew that this man was Hanko in disguise."

"Y-y-you just t-t-teleported?"

"Yes Maester, I indeed did teleport. It is one of many feats I can do; and no it's not technically magic, but you can think it as such if you want."

"How could this not be magic!?" Marwyn exclaimed exasperatedly. He then realized where they were and quieted down. "Nothing else could manage such a feat."

"In due time Maester, in due time." Hanko consoled. He kept looking between all the parties in the room and then asked. "So what am I doing here?"

Gerold explained what Marwyn told them about the incriminating documents.

"That hastens the timeline considerably then," Hanko confirmed with glee. "I'll have to wait to grab that though so we don't rouse suspicions." He then looked to Marwyn. "Maester Marwyn, I need a list of people you trust and people that you do not trust as well as descriptions of them." He let just a miniscule portion of killing intent through when he added- "Keep in mind, any that you list on the naughty list will be terminated; then I will grab the documents. Once I have those, I can confirm anyone else not on the previous list."

Marwyn took the killing intent fairly well for a Maester who shouldn't understand martial matters at all. Only ending up on his knees. "I understand my Lord."

"I'm no one's Lord, Maester"

"No, I would pledge myself to you," Marwyn offered to everyone's surprise. They thought he was on his knees due to the killing intent. Instead he turned it to a symbol of his fealty. "You have proven that magic is real without a doubt and I would guess that you are also one of the ones responsible for sending two of the most renowned knights, and former kingsguards of the realm to seek me out. Not just anyone can do those things."

"You do not know if I am a good person," Hanko countered. "I just explained to you that I would be off-ing your brothers in knowledge that you pick out for me. That doesn't sound like a benevolent or caring individual you would want Lording over people."

"Those I will name have already broken their oaths of neutrality and gained knowledge not for the betterment of the people, but for the betterment of themselves. I have no qualms with the steps you must take to rid Westeros of those plague-rats so we can fight the true enemy."

Hanko smirked under his mask and gave a grunt of approval. "So you believe these men-" motioning to Gerold and Arthur "-of their foreboding message?"

"Yes." The tone spoke of true acceptance.

"Then besides the lists, I have things for you all to do."