Gwayne Hightower

Gwayne Hightower
Biographical information
Born	83-92 AC (age 40-49)
Political information
House(s)	Hightower
Affiliation(s)	Greens
Title(s)	Ser
Personal information
Culture	Reach
Father	Otto Hightower
Mother	{Alyrie Florent}
Sibling(s)	Alicent Hightower Brother(s)
World of Westeros
Series	House of the Dragon
Season(s)	1 · 2
Appeared in	6 episodes (see below)
First seen in	"The Heirs of the Dragon"
Portrayed by	Will Willoughby (Season 1) Freddie Fox (Season 2)

"If it soothes your brow, Cole, we will rendezvous with your army at first light. Or, if the wine is good, perhaps a little after first light."

―Gwayne Hightower to Criston Cole

Ser Gwayne Hightower is a knight of House Hightower and the eldest son of Ser Otto Hightower. He is a brother of Alicent Hightower.

Biography

Background

Gwayne grew up in Oldtown, while his father Otto, mother Alyrie, and younger sister Alicent left to live at the Red Keep when he was eight years old.

House of the Dragon: Season 1

Gwayne at the Heir's Tournament.

Ser Gwayne travels to King's Landing to compete in the Heir's Tournament. Prince Daemon Targaryen chooses him as his first opponent in the jousting competition as an insult to his father Ser Otto. Gwayne has the better of Daemon in the first tilt knocking him backwards but on the second Daemon aims his lance low, taking out his horse's legs and throwing Gwayne from the saddle, injuring his face.

House of the Dragon: Season 2

Ser Gwayne travels from Oldtown to King's Landing at the behest of his sister, Dowager Queen Alicent Hightower. He arrives at the capital shortly after their father has been replaced as Hand of the King by Ser Criston Cole, Lord Commander of his nephew's Kingsguard, with Alicent insisting Cole allow Gwayne to accompany him on his march to secure Harrenhal. Gwayne makes several backhanded insults to Cole's parentage and lack of fitness for his new post before departing.

Several days later, Cole intercepts Gwayne and several of his companions as they make for an inn, rather than camp with the main army. As Gwayne defends his intentions, Cole notices they are exposed on open ground, before spotting Lady Baela Targaryen atop her dragon Moondancer circling above them. Cole orders the group to make for the forest nearby, and Gwayne and his companions hastily obey, reaching the treeline just ahead of a diving Moondancer, who breaks off her attack. The group nervously waits until Baela leaves, after which a chastened Gwayne thanks Cole for saving his life. Cole berates him for giving away their presence to the Blacks and insists there will be no further stopping at inns for Gwayne.

As the campaign continues, Cole, Gwayne and their army travel by night to hide from the Blacks dragons. They reach Castle Stokeworth and Rosby, and the lords of both castles swear fealty to king Aegon. However, lord Gunthor Darklyn of Duskendale refuse to bend his knee to the Green cause, leading to a battle where Gwayne fights alongside Cole. In the aftermath, he witnesses as Cole executes lord Darklyn.

Gwayne and Cole later reach Rook's Rest, where they make camp while preparing to assault the castle. Cole decides to launch the attack in broad daylight, despite Gwayne protesting that they will easily be spotted and destroyed by one of Rhaenyra's dragons. As the attack commences, Gwayne surveys the battle alongside Cole, and watches as Rhaenys Targaryen arrives on Meleys to defend Rook's Rest. He then spots king Aegon arriving on Sunfyre and berates Cole, thinking that risking the kings life in battle is part of his plan. Soon afterwards, prince Aemond Targaryen joins the fray on Vhagar and the fight eventually causes both Sunfyre and Meleys to fall from the sky. Meleys crashes into Rook's Rest, killing Rhaenys and breaching the wall. Gwayne seizes the opening to rally the Green soldiers and take the castle while Cole goes to look for the fallen king.

Gwayne, Cole and their army later return to King's Landing, where they parade the head of the dead Meleys through the streets, to the horror of the citizens. When Cole asks if the people realize that the Green won the Battle at Rook's Rest, Gwayne questions if it really was a victory.

Aemond, now appointed Prince Regent later sends Cole out into field yet again, with Gwayne once more set to accompany him. Before leaving, Gwayne speaks to Alicent, who asks whether Gwayne has heard anything from Otto, which he hasn't. She also inquires about her son Daeron Targaryen who is a ward in Oldtown. Gwayne assures her that he is a good and skilled young man, before leaving King's Landing with ser Criston.

While encamped in the field, Gwayne brandishes his sword and confronts Cole over his relationship with Alicent, and accuses him of breaking his vows as a Kingsguard. Cole doesn't excuse his actions, and only questions whether anything men do really matters in the face of a war between dragons. This silences Gwayne, who puts away his sword and sits down next to Cole.

Personality

Gwayne is arrogant, sarcastic, and outspoken. Gwayne also disrespects Criston Cole due to being the son of a steward, constantly mocking him despite having become Hand of the King. He is a capable leader in battle. Gwayne knows that Alicent is their father's favourite but does not resent her for it. He instead tries to reach out to her and is shown to deeply care for his family. Freddie Fox, his actor, describes him as "someone who was raised with a bit of a silver spoon in his mouth and was a little quick to judge initially but as (...) battle completely breaks him down, he becomes a very human, kind person."

Family

Hobert Hightower Deceased

Lynesse Hightower

Otto Hightower

Alyrie Florent Deceased

Ormund Hightower

Gwayne Hightower

Viserys I Targaryen Deceased

Alicent Hightower

Son(s)

Aegon II Targaryen

Helaena Targaryen

Aemond Targaryen

Daeron Targaryen

Jaehaerys Targaryen Deceased

Jaehaera Targaryen

Behind the scenes

Gwayne first appears in the series premiere, portrayed by stunt performer Will Willoughby in a jousting match against Daemon Targaryen. He has no speaking lines and appears helmetless only very briefly.

On April 24, 2023, HBO announced that Freddie Fox had been cast in the role of Gwayne Hightower for House of the Dragon: Season 2. His character description reads as follows:

"An arrogant knight from Oldtown who is the son of Otto Hightower and Queen Alicent’s brother."

Freddie Fox is from a prominent multi-generational family of actors. His mother, Joanna David, portrayed Joselyn Redwyne in the first season of House of the Dragon.

In the books

In the Fire and Blood, Ser Gwayne Hightower is said to be the youngest of Alicent's brothers, rather than the eldest.

In 129 AC, Gwayne was named the second-in-command of the City Watch of King's Landing, following the Greens' coup and Aegon II's crowning. He and Ser Arryk Cargyll escorted Grand Maester Orwyle when he traveled to Dragonstone, delivering Aegon II's terms of peace to Rhaenyra.

Appearances

• – "The Heirs of the Dragon"
• – "The Burning Mill"
• – "The Red Dragon and the Gold"
• – "Regent"
• – "Smallfolk"
• – "The Queen Who Ever Was"

External links

• Gwayne Hightower on A Wiki of Ice and Fire (potential spoilers for House of the Dragon)