House Fossoway of Cider Hall

Legend traces the Fossoways back to Foss the Archer, one of the many sons tradition credits to Garth Greenhand. He is said to have shot arrows at apples balanced on the heads of maidens who caught his eye, a feat the house still keeps alive in its name and in the fruit on its shield.

In the early years of Jaehaerys I's reign, Lord Martyn Tyrell married Lady Florence Fossoway, and it is said she was the one who raised Highgarden's income by a third. When Martyn served as Master of Coin, it was Florence who actually kept his books.

Later, at a tourney Lord Oakheart held to celebrate a son's birth, Prince Baelon unhorsed both Fossoway twins.

During the Dance of the Dragons, the Fossoways backed the Greens, and Lord Owen Fossoway fell at the Second Battle of Tumbleton. At some point between that war and the year 209 AC the house lost its lordly rank, though neither the reason nor the exact date is known.

In 209 AC, Ser Duncan the Tall noticed the Fossoways' red apple among the heraldry gathered at Ashford. There were Ser Steffon Fossoway, who hoped to enter the lists, and his cousin Raymun, who squired for him up to the Trial of Seven. Steffon had given Duncan his word, but ended up declaring for Prince Aerion Targaryen instead, justifying himself by saying that either way he would be "Lord Fossoway" before the day was out. Raymun took the opposite side and fought alongside Duncan; when Ser Lyonel Baratheon knighted him, he painted his own apple green, and from that New Barrel branch was born.

The house also claimed Ser Derrick Fossoway, an exiled knight of murky repute who rode with the Band of Nine and later had a hand in setting off the War of the Ninepenny Kings.

In the War of the Five Kings, the Fossoways' red apple flew beneath the walls of Bitterbridge, among the banners Renly Baratheon had gathered. At a feast Catelyn Tully attended, Ser Tanton Fossoway climbed onto a table and swore he would kill Sandor Clegane in single combat; and in a parley with his brother Stannis, Renly boasted of counting the Fossoways among his bannermen.

After Renly's death, both branches turned to Stannis. In his parley with Cortnay Penrose, Cortnay pointed out among those present Ser Jon, of the green apple, and Ser Bryan, of the red; and when Cortnay died, the man who took command after him — Lord Elwood Meadows, a Fossoway cousin — surrendered Storm's End without further fighting.

On the march toward King's Landing, the red apple appeared again among the vanguard banners carried by Ser Guyard Morrigen. At the Battle of the Blackwater, Lothor Brune cut through some fifty Fossoway men-at-arms, captured Ser Jon, and killed Ser Bryan and Ser Edwyd, earning himself the nickname Comemanzanas, the Apple-eater. When the battle was over, both branches knelt to King Joffrey I.

Lady Leonette Fossoway accompanied her husband, Ser Garlan Tyrell, to court in King's Landing. For his conduct at the Battle of the Blackwater, Garlan was granted the lands, title, and income of Brightwater Keep, making Leonette its lady; she was also often part of Lady Margaery Tyrell's retinue.

At the royal wedding of Joffrey I and Margaery, Tyrion Lannister noticed among the guests Jon Fossoway and his then-pregnant wife.

Some time later, Brienne of Tarth recognized the red apple badge among those gathered from the dead after the Battle of Duskendale.