Gerardys

Gerardys served Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen as maester on Dragonstone, already known there for his skill as a healer before his name spread beyond the island.

In 120 AC, Prince Daemon Targaryen flew there to ask for his help: his wife, Laena Velaryon, was failing after giving birth to their third child. Gerardys arrived once the childbed fever was past treating, and Laena died soon after.

When King Viserys I Targaryen badly injured himself falling onto the Iron Throne and cut his hand, Grand Maester Mellos could not heal the wound. Rhaenyra sent for Gerardys instead, whose skill as a healer already outstripped Mellos's own.

Gerardys amputated two of the king's fingers and saved his life by doing it, a service that stayed tied to his name at court.

When Mellos died, Rhaenyra put Gerardys forward to take his place as Grand Maester, while Queen Alicent Hightower backed a maester tied to her own house. Viserys I chose neither of the two candidates and left the decision to the Citadel, which settled on Archmaester Orwyle instead.

Years later, with the war for the succession already underway, Rhaenyra seized King's Landing, had Orwyle locked up, and put Gerardys, her most trusted maester, in his place as Grand Maester. After the Two Betrayers deserted to the enemy, Gerardys was one of the few who spoke up to the queen for the dragonseeds she still had, Nettles and Addam Velaryon, when Rhaenyra began to doubt them too.

The Queen's Hand, Lord Corlys Velaryon, joined that defense and was jailed for it; Gerardys's own loyalty came under suspicion as well, though he denied knowing Corlys's plans. Having lost Rhaenyra's trust, he was sent back to Dragonstone, spared the dungeons only for his past service.

Back on Dragonstone, Gerardys was taken captive when the island fell to Aegon II Targaryen and his men. Ser Marston Mares caught him before he could send word to warn Rhaenyra of the attack.

Gerardys offered Aegon II milk of the poppy to ease the pain of battle, but the king refused it, fearing poison, and called the maester his sister's creature. Aegon then had him hanged slowly with the very chain Rhaenyra had given him as Grand Maester: he was raised nearly to death, lowered so he could catch his breath, then hoisted up again. After the third time he was disemboweled and hung before the dragon Sunfyre, who feasted on his legs and entrails, while the king ordered a piece of the body kept aside to "welcome" his sister.