Editing Kingsguard (section)

===Duties===
The Kingsguard is composed of seven men,{{Ref|AGOT|8}} all of them sworn [[knight]]s.{{Ref|AGOT|57}} A Kingsguard knight serves for life,{{Ref|ASOS|12}}{{Ref|ASOS|44}} regardless of age or any physical or mental ailments.{{Ref|ASOS|62}} When an invalid Kingsguard knight is incapable of performing his duties, they are taken up by his sworn brothers.<ref name=kingsguard>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/1027 The Kingsguard (May 22, 1999)]</ref> The knights of the Kingsguard are forbidden to [[Marriage|marry]], father children, and to hold land.{{Ref|ASOS|4}} Regardless, the White Swords may retain or be granted certain titles. [[Aemon Targaryen (son of Viserys II)|Aemon Targaryen]] and [[Lewyn Martell]] continued to use the style of "prince",{{Ref|AGOT|8}}{{Ref|AGOT|57}} while Lords Commander [[Ryam Redwyne]], [[Criston Cole]], and [[Marston Waters]] also acted as [[Hand of the King]],{{Ref|ASOS|54}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Jaehaerys I}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon II}}{{Ref|TPATQ}}{{Ref|FAB|The Lysene Spring and the End of Regency}} and Ser [[Jaime Lannister]] was named [[Warden of the East]].{{Ref|AGOT|4}}

The first duty of the Kingsguard is defending the king from harm. They are sworn to obey the king's commands, to keep his secrets, to counsel him when requested and to keep silent when not, and to defend his name and honor.{{Ref|ADWD|55}} The king can decide to extend the protection offered by the Kingsguard to others. Some kings have chosen to extend this protection to their wives, children, and other relatives, and some have even chosen to grant this protection to their lovers, mistresses, and [[Bastardy|bastards]].{{Ref|ADWD|55}} The Kingsguard are sworn to protect the queen, though not from anything the king might do.{{Ref|AFFC|16}} They are also sworn not to harm any member of the royal family.{{Ref|THK}}

In order to protect the king and the royal family night and day, the seven-man Kingsguard must rely to some degree on others.{{Ref|FAB|Birth, Death and Betrayal Under King Jaehaerys I}} Prince [[Joffrey Baratheon]] has [[Sandor Clegane]] as his [[sworn shield]],{{Ref|AGOT|33}} and other knights are trusted with the king's security when the entire Kingsguard meets in [[White Sword Tower]].{{Ref|ASOS|67}} The queen may be guarded by her own sworn shield, such as [[Jonquil Darke]] for [[Alysanne Targaryen]],{{Ref|FAB|Birth, Death and Betrayal Under King Jaehaerys I}} or [[household knight]]s, such as [[Vylarr]] and his [[House Lannister guards|red cloaks]] for [[Cersei Lannister]].{{Ref|ACOK|25}}

The Lord Commander of the Kingsguard serves on the king's [[small council]].{{Ref|ASOS|8}} When the small council is in session, one of the Kingsguard always stands guard outside the council chambers, while another is usually posted at the end of the bridge into [[Maegor's Holdfast]].{{Ref|ACOK|3}}{{Ref|AFFC|17}}