Name: Ser Leyton Tyrell
Age: 27 (born in 84 AC)
Appearance: Though not overly short at 5ft 10, Leyton has always been insecure about his height with a brother & father of greater reach than himself. He sports a crop of thick and curly dark brown hair that is classical for the Tyrells and serves to make him look more boyish than he actually his. Dark brown eyes and modestly good-looking, Leyton would have been able to attract a half-decent wife if not for his complete lack of courting abilities. Unlike many lords and ladies from the Reach, Leyton cares little for his appearance. Whilst in his former years he would dress formerly in his house colours, at the behest of his mother, he now prefers to simply dress in his knightly attire when possible.
Biography:A boisterous lad throughout his childhood, Leyton was over-confident and demanding to his peers. If another child did not want to play with him, he would insist on it, running to his father if he did not get his way. Somehow his outgoing nature seemed to make up for this though and he found he could make friends easy enough...though being the son of the Lord Paramount of the Reach may have helped. He often wanted to play at swords and horses, preferring the idea of a real battle over that of a tournament. Lord Tyrell even had the woodworkers craft him miniature soldiers and horses, so that he could act out mock battles, his father secretly taking much amusement in playing this game with him. Though he may not have much of a knack with politics, he consequently has a decent knowledge of battle strategies and tactics.
Born the second son of Lord Tyrell, Leyton was never expected to be the heir to Highgarden. His brother Garrett, an intelligent and healthy male two years his elder, was always on course to take over rule once their father passed. The two were close throughout their formative years, Garretts more laid-back and calming attitude helping to balance his brother out. Whilst Garrett would sit in on his father's meetings, studying carefully the ways of a Lord, Leyton instead dreamt of the Kingsguard. And where he could not fight in real battles, he would partake in tourneys. Though many squires and knights dreamt of winning the joust, Leyton only cared for the melees. Naturally agile of foot, with an aptitude for sword-fighting (although you could have handed him any weapon and he would have barrelled on ahead), he became known for his talents, attracting many an approving eye.
At the age of 12 he was permitted to go and squire under Ser Bryndon Hightower in Oldtown. A rowdy lad and unused to being told what to do, Leyton had a steep learning curve, nearly being shipped back to Highgarden on more than one occasion. However, Bryndon was the perfect mentor for the boy, having no qualms in putting him in his place. Eventually, he settled into the role and though not studious when it came to books, he was keen on learning all that came with being a knight. He even took pride in polishing the armour to perfection, surprising for a boy who found it difficult to keep still for more than a minute at a time. During his time in Oldtown he also became close with Ormund Hightower, the two training together and providing a
somewhat healthy level of competition for one another.
Knighted at twenty, he journeyed to the Stepstones in 107 AC to fight alongside Daemon Targaryean. It took the young Tyrell a while to get his sea legs but on land he was able to prove his worth. A single-minded knight with seemingly unlimited energy, Leyton became known for ceasing only when there was no-one left to fight, never running from a battle or leaving a man behind. He seemed to care little for politics but rather would remain firmly loyal to whomever he had pledged himself. Likely the young Tyrell would have remained in the Stepstones far longer if not for his family, the chaos of fighting & piracy suiting him down to a tee. His father and grandmother disliked that he was fighting for Daemon, concerned that is would reflect on the Tyrells as a whole, therefore he begrudgingly returned to The Reach. It was not long after his return, and after a rather splendid effort at a small tourney his father had thrown, that Leyton was offered a place in the Kingsguard. Leyton suspects that his grandmother may have had a hand to play in it, although she denies it to this day and states that it was simply his prowess & reputation that must have gained the Kings attention.
Though he will never have a wife or lands, this is probably for the best as his methods of courting ladies are dubious at best, usually involving talking in gory details about battles & war tactics. Either that or he becomes so daunted by the prospect of talking to a lady in his fancy, that he will became overly drunk. To his dismay the other members of the Kingsguard have taken to naming him
The Blushing Rose due to the lovely shade of rouge that spreads across his cheeks whenever he speaks to a pretty maiden.
Only a few short months after Leyton had arrived at Kings Landing, his eldest brother become suddenly ill with a great fever. The maesters tried all their remedies but no cure could be found, and only a week later he passed on with the aid of milk of the poppy. A tragedy for the family and the Reach as a whole, the Tyrells still mourn his loss to this day. With Leyton in the Kingsguard, the mantle passed down to the next youngest son. Alester, a boy of sixteen, smart enough though a tad too bookish for his fathers liking, was now burdened with the future of being the next Lord Tyrell.
For now Leyton remains at Kings Landing, intent on staying true to his pledge and serving his King faithfully. His temperament has certainly calmed as he has aged, though he still can be stubborn and single-minded in his pursuits. Once he has decided on something, he will follow it through to the end. That provides a double-edge sword in many situations, but it also means that he is loyal to a fault. Its not clear what his views are on the issues of Targaryean inheritance, for he does not speak of it, though it is likely that he would serve whoever next ruled, regardless of whom they were.