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| “ | Only a fool humbles himself when the world is so full of men eager to do that job for him. | „ |
| ~ Theon to "Esgred" |
| “ | She studied Theon Greyjoy's sly smile, wondering what it meant. That young man had a way of looking as though he knew some secret jest that only he was privy to; Catelyn had never liked it. | „ |
| ~ Thoughts of Catelyn Stark |
Theon Greyjoy is one of the deuteragonists of the A Song of Ice and Fire novel series and its television adaptation Game of Thrones.
He is the only surviving son of Lord Balon Greyjoy and Lady Alannys Harlaw. His eldest siblings are Rodrik, Maron and Asha (renamed Yara in the TV series). When he was a boy of nine, his father crowned himself King of the Iron Islands; this lead to a failed Ironborn rebellion that resulted in Balon bending the knee to King Robert I Baratheon and Lord Eddard Stark, taking young Theon hostage to Winterfell. Though he was there against his will initially, Theon grew to regard the Stark family highly and saw Robb Stark, Eddard's eldest son, as his best friend.
He was portrayed by Alfie Allen, who also played Iosef Tarasov in John Wick and Victor in Night Teeth.
Personality[]
Theon Greyjoy is cocky, vain, promiscuous, confident and arrogant. Despite his status as a ward of House Stark, Theon remains proud and boastful of his Ironborn lineage. He is a womanizer and has slept with several women. He has a, "bad boy," reputation. Unlike the show, Theon was much less torn between his loyalty to the Starks and Greyjoys, and had little to no resolve about attacking the people who kept him home. The only instance of remorse Theon had during his time as Prince of Winterfell was a prophetic dream involving Robb. It wasn't until his transformation from Reek back into Theon that he grew to appreciate the Starks. Book Theon is much more ruthless and callous, as seen when he once killed an Ironborn man for falling asleep, as well as raping his lover after he had a nightmare. It was not until after his torture by Ramsay that he realized just how good the Starks were to him.
Theon in the show is much more relatable and sympathetic, as from the beginning he was torn between Stark and Greyjoy. He was genuine friends with Robb Stark and, at one point, attempted to write a letter warning him of the Ironborn invasion of the north, even though he didn't send it. Just like in the books, it took a lot of effort for him to move past his identity as Reek and reclaim his old identity as Theon Greyjoy. Although he regained his old identity, he always remained guilt ridden over his betrayal of the Starks and was torn between his two identities. Jon Snow told him he was both a Greyjoy and a Stark. In the end, he died protecting Bran from the Night King, and Sansa placed a Stark pin on Theon's body before his cremation, signifying that Theon had succeeded in redeeming himself.
Appearance[]
Novels[]
In the novels, Theon is described as conventionally attractive, being tall, tan and handsome. He is 19 years old at the beginning of the series, and has a lean build, jet black hair and a lean, dark face. He is almost always smirking cockily. He wears fancy and ornate clothes, especially upon returning home to the Iron Islands.
After his torture at the Dreadfort, Theon is unrecognizable. All of his good looks are gone. His trauma aged him decades, resulting in his hair becoming stark white. He is bone thin from starvation. He is missing several teeth, fingers and toes, and walks with a limp. He smells appalling due to his deprivation of bathing. Many people mistake him for an old man.
Television Series[]
In the series, Theon is slightly older. He has fair skin, green eyes and brown hair with short facial hair.
After his torture, he appears relatively the same but appears to be skinnier as a result of being tortured, and has a gaunter face as a result.
Biography[]
Life in the Iron Islands[]
Before returning to his home, Theon remembered his childhood at Pyke as an happy one. He loved his mother Alannys and was trained with the sword by the former master-at-arms Dagmer Cleftjaw. His favorite uncle was Aeron, who loved to joke and laugh, and was always the heart of many parties. He seems to have mostly a negative memory of his dead brothers, particularly Maron, whom Theon only remembers his cruel japes and compulsive lies. Theon lived in fear of both Rodrik and Maron, who used to regularly beat him. Since he was a child Theon forgot about the harder ways of the islands compared to the green lands. When he returns the castle of Pyke seems to be smaller and colder to him, and the maester and steward he knew are both dead and replaced. Aeron became known as Damphair, now leader of his own following known as the Drowned Men and a cold religious fanatic.
Life in the North[]
At the start of the story, Theon is nineteen years old and is the ward of Lord Eddard Stark, his captor. He is on surprisingly good terms with the entire Stark family, although most of them never trusted him and kept seeing him as an outsider, especially Lady Catelyn Stark. Most of Ned Stark's children were too young for Theon to grow close with and he and Jon Snow did not like each other. When he was a child, Theon lived in fear of Ned Stark and his blade. Theon and Robb Stark on the other hand, grew up very close and treated each other as brothers. Overall Theon is apparently not resentful toward the Starks, other than the fact that they never treated him as one of them. However, he is often reminded by others, both in and out of the family, that he doesn't really belong to it. This happens most often in the TV series.
War of the Five Kings[]
During their journey to King's Landing, Theon offers his service to Robb and goes to his homeland, the Iron Islands, and reunites with his father, Balon. Balon is convinced that Theon had gone soft and is loyal to the Starks and not his own family. To prove his father wrong, Theon converts to the religion of the Islands and takes a garrison of men to Winterfell to claim it in the name of House Greyjoy. Balon again crowns himself King of the Iron Islands and Theon demands his men refer to him as 'Prince Theon.' He easily seizes the castle, and makes Bran Stark submit to his rule. He executes Ser Rodrick, making him pay 'the Iron Price.' Bran and his brother Rickon escape in the middle of the night. He and his men hunt them down, and apparently burn them to a crisp. This is later revealed to be a ruse.
After Greyjoy's Rebellion, Theon has been taken as a captive of House Stark. During his long staying at Winterfell he almost forgot the laws and ways of the Iron Islands and thought himself as the future of the union of his family and the Starks. While he and Robb see each others as brothers, Theon is not particularly liked by the other Stark children, while Jon Snow kind of despises him. Theon took part in many tourneys in the North and has been known to have sex with a string of prostitutes in a similar style to Tyrion who constantly overindulges to battle the prejudice he suffers from being a dwarf. Theon is initially a friendly and arrogant man, who loves to drink with his friends and also had affairs with women who are not prostitutes, including a married one and a young tavern wench named Kyra. Others perceive him as being quite arrogant and vain, boasting about the power of his house, comparing it as superior to other houses such as the Lannisters, and laughing when seeing others being killed.
However, behind this is a much more insecure and unconfident man, especially regarding his family's failed rebellion that resulted in the death his two eldest brothers, Rodrik and Maron which was later used to taunt him. During the war Theon dreamed to become the new Lord of Casterly Rock, after taking it from the Lannisters, and marry Sansa Stark to unite the Greyjoys and the Starks. Aeron Greyjoy was Theon's favorite uncle before turning into a cold religious drowned priest. During the War of the Five Kings, Theon had a great friendship with Patrek Mallister, until Lord Jason Mallister took his son away from Theon, due to the hatred between the Mallisters of Seagard and the ironborn.
After returning to Pyke, Theon receives an unexpected cold welcome from his father Balon, his sister Asha, and his uncles Victarion and Aeron Damphair. Some his childhood friends are dead and the rest became fierce ironborn warriors. House Blacktyde has been converted to the Faith of the Seven after the return of the Blacktyde captives from Greyjoy Rebellion. Theon becomes a conflicted individual, torn between his biological family and house who have raised him to "pay the Iron Price", take what is his and be an unapologetic warlord whereas the Starks have brought him up with a begrudging moral compass. Theon decides to assist his father, King Balon Greyjoy, in his plan to take the North while King Robb is fighting the war in the south.
Theon takes over the Stony Shore, Torrhen's Square, and Winterfell for his father as a way to rival against Asha, appease his family, and prove the ironborn that he's one of them. Theon allows his men to rape the women. He has Benfred Tallhart drowned for his uncle Aeron. When he takes Winterfell, he allows Mikken and Septon Chayle to be killed (the former for protesting against him and insulting him, the latter to please the Drowned God), and has Hodor beaten up by his men. Theon has his men whipped for raping two times Palla, the daughter of the kennelmaster Farlen. Thinking that the people of Winterfell will be grateful to him if he acts just as Eddard Stark, he forbids his men to rape the women. Sometimes tries to act cheerful to his old friends of Winterfell but they all look at him with hatred or fear; even Old Nan who knew him since he came to Winterfell as a child, now looks at him as if he'd be some stranger. He occupies Ned Stark's old room and has sex with a young tavern wench from the winter town named Kyra.
When Bran and Rickon escape the castle with Osha, Hodor, the Reeds, and their direwolves, Theon is infuriated and 2 of his men are killed. He almost considers to abandon his merciful treatment of his prisoners (ironmen normally kill everyone and burn everything), letting Black Lorren and charge and allowing the ironborn way on the people of Winterfell and goes to hunt the Stark children, also joined by the 2 Walder Freys. He executes Farlen for a crime he and his servant Reek (Ramsay Snow) committed (killing the ironmen who saw the 2 farmer boys being killed), and rules the castle as its prince. He considered killing Reek as well, but something about him made him uneasy. During his rule he fantasizes about raping Sansa.
Asha arrives at Winterfell with only 20 men and when she berates Theon for killing 2 precious hostages for hold the north against Robb and his northmen. She claims that Theon should have done it in the ironborn way: burn Winterfell and bring the Starks to Pyke. Even Balon is not pleased by Theon's actions and with the upcoming siege, Asha urges Theon to burn everything then and ride with her to Deepwood Motte and the rest of the ironmen. Theon refuses to abandon his prize even after Asha mentions their dying mother, Alannys Harlaw, so she lives him to die and gives him only 10 of her men. Reek offers to find at least 200 men for Theon and asks him to give him silver so he can ride back to the Dreadfort and assemble a small force to hold Winterfell. Believing that Reek will never return anyway, Theon lets him go and promises to give him Palla for sex if he returns.
He's tormented by nightmare, mysterious dreams about the people he killed (Stiv, Benfred, Mikken, Chayle, Farlen, the orfan boys...), the wrath of the old gods and the Starks. He also sees the ones he never met: Rickard, Brandon, and Lyanna. He wakes up screaming after he saw Robb and Grey Wind coming to his bed with an unnatural look and rage on his face. That same night her relieves his fear and pain by violently raping Kyra, who was previously willing to have sex with him before. He does her with an abusive fury he'd never known was in him. When he's done with her, Kyra has her neck and breasts covered with bruises and bite marks. Theon throws her off the bed and commands her to get out.
When the northern host arrives to retake Winterfell, Theon is deserted by most of his remaining men, and finds himself having only twenty men, the others being dead or dispatched to take other places for Theon (Aeron and Dagmer with their men). Lorren, Wex Pyke, and the other few remained with him to not be considered traitors and cowards, but most of them are still angry at Theon's crazy idea. Maester Luwin urges Theon to give up, saying that King Balon knows that Moat Cailin is what really matters to hold the North, so Theon should have gone to fight the crannogmen with Victarion. Rodrik arrives with Lord Cley Cerwyn and Leobald Tallhart to besiege Winterfell. He was ready to storm the castle and take Theon for Robb, but in a last desperate plan to survive, Theon uses Beth Cassel against Ser Rodrik. Rodrik goes conflicted, his honor and duty now challenged because he does not want his daughter dead. He does not attack and remains camped outside with his army.
Later, that evening, House Bolton joins the northern army, but the armored commander with the red helm cuts Rodrik's arm and kill him. The Battle at Winterfell occurs and the Boltons defeat the betrayed army, killing Cerwyn and Tallhart as well. Only a few survive and run back to the wolfswood. When the commander removes his red helmet, Theon recognizes him as Reek and allows the Boltons acces to Winterfell. There he is betrayed by Reek, who's actually Ramsay Snow the Bastard of Bolton, and the castle is sacked by the Boltons. They kill all the surviving ironmen and almost all of the people and animals who live there and at the winter town, taking women and children captives for the Dreadfort. Only the two Walders of House Frey are treated as guests and spared. Theon and Bran's horses are burned alive along with the others.
After being betrayed by Ramsay Snow and captured by the Boltons, Theon begins embracing the Starks as his real family, especially after realizing that Balon Greyjoy probably had no plans to rescue him. In the TV series Theon does not inspire loyalty from his men at all and he's betrayed by them to be handed over to the Boltons. He also confesses that he feels remorse for taking over Winterfell and killing two farm boys then pretending their corpses were Bran and Rickon.
Physically and mentally tortured for a year in the Dreadfort by the sadistic bastard of Bolton, Ramsay Snow seems to have all but destroyed Theon's personality. Ramsay goes as far to rename him as "Reek", as a replacement of his former companion and partner-in-crime Heke, and continuously rob him of any hope to escape by playing mind games. Ramsay punched him in the face often, as he always hated Theon's smug smile. He removed some of Theon's fingers from both hands and feet, causing him to limp when he walks.
Ramsay also proceeds to flay, castrate and force Theon into his servant who is now half-insane, broken and terrified of Ramsay. The now skinny white-haired Theon sleeps with the hounds, covered in dog shit; he eats and he's eaten by rats. In the TV series he is frightened so much that he rejected the opportunity to escape with Yara and several Ironborn soldiers. This because Ramsay likes to test his victims, generally women and girls, by letting them run and hunt them in the woods. Theon and Kyra once escaped from the Dreadfort, only to find out it was a trap set by Ramsay to have his fun and Kyra died a slow and painful death, while Theon got a violent punishment. Meanwhile Balon and Robb die and Theon's uncle, Euron Greyjoy, takes control of the Iron Islands as King of the Isles and the North.
After helping the northmen to liberate Moat Cailin from the surviving ironborn, Theon receives a "promotion" from Ramsay, and Roose Bolton leads the northern host towards Winterfell, as King Stannis Baratheon plans to march on the Dreadfort. While Stannis and his host avoid the Boltons' trap and march on Winterfell, Jeyne Poole is married to Ramsay as "Arya Stark", with only the Lannisters knowing the truth about her identity. Theon, knowing the girl as Jeyne, saves her by warning her about not doing any resistance against Ramsay at all. Ramsay forces Theon to join with him by getting Jeyne wet. Ramsay humiliates Theon and Jeyne and allows the hounds to rape the girl as well. While Winterfell is full of northern lords and Freys preparing for Stannis and the rebels, Theon has often deep conversation with Lady Barbrey Dustin (née Ryswell) about their aversion towards House Stark. Roose wants Theon to watch Ramsay's moves for him.
While in the novels Theon never speaks about his regrets, in the TV series Theon admits to Sansa that his torture at the hands of Ramsay was nothing less than he deserved because of his previous actions and Ramsay has tormented him so much that he refers to his true personality in third person.
Although all aspects of Theon's persona did appear to be obliterated, in the TV series he still displays some love and loyalty towards the few remaining Starks. He was visibly upset and angered over learning of Robb Stark's death, so much that he was prepared to cut Ramsay's throat while he gloated over Robb's death. He also began showing concern over Sansa Stark's wellbeing after she wedded to Ramsay, encouraging her to not anger him so she wouldn't be hurt (although she didn't listen). Being forced to witness Ramsay violently rape Sansa caused a streak of sadness across his face and he abandoned his "Reek" persona, killing Myranda when she threatened to mutilate her and escape Winterfell together. In the novels Theon keeps mostly his feeling for himself, but he is scarred and much more humble, having lost his confidence and sadistic attitude. He's initially terrified by Mance Rayder's plan to help him and Jeyne escaping Winterfell, but eventually he agrees when the tension caused by the snow blizzard and murders in the castle, along with the fear for Stannis's arrival increase. He escapes Winterfell with Jeyne, but during their run to the wolfswood they are captured by Mors Umber, who's fighting for Stannis.
Theon and Jeyne are handed over to King Stannis and he immediately has him chained in a painful position. Theon becomes desperate, as he escaped from Ramsay only to end up with Stannis, who plans to burn him alive to gain more favor from the northeners. Theon's sister Asha suggests Stannis to behead him at the weirwood tree near his camp at crofter's village.
In the TV Show, Theon and Sansa are pursued by Bolton men but are rescued by Brienne of Tarth. Sansa suggests Theon come with her to Castle Black but Theon insists that Jon would never forgive him for his crimes and decides to return to the Iron Islands. King Balon is murdered by Euron Greyjoy, and shortly afterwards, Theon does successfully return to the Iron Islands. Theon supports Yara's claim to the throne during the kingsmoot, but Euron is chosen as the new king and takes the Seastone Chair by declaring that Yara is unfit to rule as she is a woman.
Before Euron can kill Theon and Yara, the siblings escape with most of the fastest ships of the Iron Fleet, accompanied by men loyal to Yara, and arrive at Meereen to negotiate an alliance with Daenerys Targaryen. Theon and Yara will provide their ships for Daenarys' invasion of Westeros to reclaim the Iron Throne, while she will help them overthrow Euron so Yara can become Queen of the Iron Islands. Daenarys agrees, but only if the Iron Islands abandons its practice of raiding and pillaging. Yara reluctantly agrees and she and Theon join Daenarys along with ships of the fleets of the Bay of Dragons, the Reach, and Dorne to invade Westeros.
Quotes[]
By Theon[]
| “ | A dead enemy is a thing of beauty. | „ |
| ~ Theon to Robb Stark |
| “ | He'd led men in war, hunted with a king, won honor in tourney melees, ridden with Brynden Blackfish and Greatjon Umber, fought in the Whispering Wood, bedded more girls than he could name, and yet this uncle was treating him as though he were still a child of ten. | „ |
| ~ Thoughts of Theon |
| “ | Theon: If my father makes plans for war, I must know of them. I am not "any man," I am heir to Pyke and the Iron Islands. Aeron: As to that, we shall see. Theon: We shall see? My brothers are both dead. I am my lord father's only living son. Aeron: Your sister lives. Theon: A woman may inherit only if there is no male heir in the direct line. I will not be cheated of my rights, I warn you. Aeron: You warn a servant of the Drowned God, boy? You have forgotten more than you know. And you are a great fool if you believe your lord father will ever hand these holy islands over to a Stark. Now be silent. The ride is long enough without your magpie chatterings. |
„ |
| ~ Theon and Aeron Damphair |
| “ | As if ten years in Winterfell could make a Stark. Lord Eddard had raised him among his own children, but Theon had never been one of them. The whole castle, from Lady Stark to the lowliest kitchen scullion, knew he was hostage to his father's good behavior, and treated him accordingly. Even the bastard Jon Snow had been accorded more honor than he had. Lord Eddard had tried to play the father from time to time, but to Theon he had always remained the man who'd brought blood and fire to Pyke and taken him from his home. As a boy, he had lived in fear of Stark's stern face and great dark sword. His wife was, if anything, even more distant and suspicious. | „ |
| ~ Thoughts of Theon about his life in Winterfell |
| “ | As for their children, the younger ones had been mewling babes for most of his years at Winterfell. Only Robb and his baseborn half-brother Jon Snow had been old enough to be worth his notice. The bastard was a sullen boy, quick to sense a slight, jealous of Theon's high birth and Robb's regard for him. For Robb himself, Theon did have a certain affection, as for a younger brother ... but it would be best not to mention that. In Pyke, it would seem, the old wars were still being fought. That ought not surprise him. The Iron Islands lived in the past; the present was too hard and bitter to be borne. Besides, his father and uncles were old, and the old lords were like that; they took their dusty feuds to the grave, forgetting nothing and forgiving less. | „ |
| ~ Thoughts of Theon |
| “ | Theon: I will lead the attack myself, if it please you. As my reward I would ask that you grant me Casterly Rock for my own seat, once we have taken it from the Lannisters. Balon: You reward yourself handsomely for a notion and a few lines of scribbling. |
„ |
| ~ Theon and Balon Greyjoy |
| “ | Theon: I knew a man once who told me that I smiled at the wrong things. Esgred: Do you? Theon: Only by the lights of those who smile at nothing. [thinks of his father and his uncle Aeron] |
„ |
| ~ Theon and "Esgred" |
| “ | Asha: If you had troubled to learn the first thing of Sigrin, I could never have fooled you. Ten years a wolf, and you land here and think to prince about the islands, but you know nothing and no one. Why should men fight and die for you? Theon: I am their lawful prince. Asha: By the laws of the green lands, you might be. But we make our own laws here, or have you forgotten? |
„ |
| ~ Theon and Asha Greyjoy |
| “ | He was being sent to do reaver's work, burning fishermen out of their hovels and raping their ugly daughters, and yet it seemed Lord Balon did not trust him sufficiently to do even that much. Bad enough to have to suffer the Damphair's scowls and chidings. With Dagmer Cleftjaw along as well, his command would be purely nominal. | „ |
| ~ Thoughts of Theon |
| “ | He gave me more smiles than my father and Eddard Stark together. Even Robb ... he ought to have won a smile the day he'd saved Bran from that wildling, but instead he'd gotten a scolding, as if he were some cook who'd burned the stew. | „ |
| ~ Thoughts of Theon |
| “ | Dagmer: Theon, the Boy Wolf is your friend, and these Starks had you for ten years. Theon: I am no Stark. Lord Eddard saw to that. I am a Greyjoy, and I mean to be my father's heir. How can I do that unless I prove myself with some great deed? Dagmer: You are young. Other wars will come, and you shall do your great deeds. For now, we are commanded to harry the Stony Shore. |
„ |
| ~ Theon trying to convince Dagmer, the de-facto commander of his force, to follow his new plans. |
| “ | I'm Prince Theon now. We're both princes, Bran. Who would have dreamed it? But I've taken your castle, my prince. | „ |
| ~ Theon to Bran Stark |
| “ | Reek: Stark's lords will fight you. That bloated pig at White Harbor for one, and them Umbers and Karstarks too. You'll need men. Free me and I'm yours. Theon: You're cleverer than you smell, but I could not suffer that stench. Reek: Well, I could wash some. If I was free. Theon: [smiles] A man of rare good sense. Bend the knee. |
„ |
| ~ Theon the day he met Ramsay Snow at Winterfell. |
| “ | I am the Prince of Winterfell! This is my seat, no man will drive me from it. No, nor woman either! | „ |
| ~ Theon to Black Lorren |
| “ | The miller's boys had been of an age with Bran and Rickon, alike in size and coloring, and once Reek had flayed the skin from their faces and dipped their heads in tar, it was easy to see familiar features in those misshapen lumps of rotting flesh. People were such fools. If we'd said they were rams' heads, they would have seen horns. | „ |
| ~ Thoughts of Theon as he contemplates the severed heads of two kids he had killed mounted atop Winterfell's gates. |
| “ | Theon: I am a Greyjoy of Pyke. The cloak my father swaddled me in bore a kraken, not a direwolf. Rodrik: For ten years you have been a ward of Stark. Theon: Hostage and prisoner, I call it. Rodrik: Then perhaps Lord Eddard should have kept you chained to a dungeon wall. Instead he raised you among his own sons, the sweet boys you have butchered, and to my undying shame I trained you in the arts of war. Would that I had thrust a sword through your belly instead of placing one in your hand. |
„ |
| ~ Theon and Ser Rodrik Cassel during their parley in the Winter Town during the brief siege of Winterfell. |
| “ | "My lord was only japing," he tried to tell himself. "He does not want to hurt me, he told me so, he only does it when I give him cause." His lord was merciful and kind. He might have flayed his face off for some of the things Reek had said, before he'd learned his true name and proper place. | „ |
| ~ Reek recalling his days of torture in the Dreadfort's dungeons, when he was still "Theon". |
| “ | Guard: Victarion commanded us to hold, he did. I heard him with my own ears. Hold here till I return, he told Kenning. Adrack Humble: Aye. That's what he said. The kingsmoot called, but he swore that he'd be back, with a driftwood crown upon his head and a thousand men behind him. Reek: My uncle is never coming back. The kingsmoot crowned his brother Euron, and the Crow's Eye has other wars to fight. You think my uncle values you? He doesn't. You are the ones he left behind to die. He scraped you off the same way he scrapes mud off his boots when he wades ashore. |
„ |
| ~ Theon as the northmen's envoy with his uncle's garrison at Moat Cailin. |
| “ | Adrack Humble: If we yield, we walk away? Is that what it says on this here writing? Reek: Read it for yourself. Lord Ramsay treats his captives honorably so long as they keep faith with him. [thinks to himself: He has only taken toes and fingers and that other thing, when he might have had my tongue, or peeled the skin off my legs from heel to thigh.] Yield up your swords to him, and you will live. Dagon Codd: Liar. [draws longsword] You're the one they call Turncloak. Why should we believe your promises? |
„ |
| ~ Theon trying to convince Moat Cailin's garrison to surrender. |
| “ | If I die, I die. Reek only prayed the archer knew his business, so death would be quick and clean. A man's death, not the end Ralf Kenning suffered. | „ |
| ~ Thoughts of Theon about the possibility of being killed by the crannogmen's poisoned arrows. |
| “ | Adrack: Three of the four had big bellies when we sailed, and Humbles run to twins. First thing I'll need to do when I get back is count up my new sons. Might be I'll even name one after you, m'lord. Reek: [thinking to himself: Aye, name him Reek, and when he's bad you can cut his toes off and give him rats to eat.] Reek: [turns his head and spits] and wondered if Ralf Kenning hadn't been the lucky one. |
„ |
| ~ Theon with Adrack Humble talking about his rock wife and salt wives, as the two ride with the garrison to the northmen's camp to accept the surrender. |
| “ | Roger or Rickard Ryswell: Is this all of them? Reek: All who weren't dead, my lord. Roger or Rickard Ryswell: I thought there would be more. We came at them three times, and three times they threw us back. Thoughts of Reek: "We are ironborn," he thought, with a sudden flash of pride, and for half a heartbeat he was a prince again, Lord Balon's son, the blood of Pyke. Even thinking was dangerous, though. He had to remember his name. "Reek, my name is Reek, it rhymes with weak." |
„ |
| ~ Theon and one of the Ryswell brothers with the surrendering ironborn garrison of Moat Cailin, who despite their inferior numbers defeated the northern army thrice. |
| “ | Reek: My lord, my place is here, with you. I'm your Reek. I only want to serve you. All I ask ... a skin of wine, that would be reward enough for me ... red wine, the strongest that you have, all the wine a man can drink … Ramsay: [laughs] You're not a man, Reek. You're just my creature. You'll have your wine, though. Walder, see to it. And fear not, I won't return you to the dungeons, you have my word as a Bolton. We'll make a dog of you instead. Meat every day, and I'll even leave you teeth enough to eat it. You can sleep beside my girls. Ben, do you have a collar for him? |
„ |
| ~ Reek is promoted to dog for delivering Moat Cailin's garrison to Ramsay Bolton. |
| “ | Once, a boy called Theon Greyjoy had enjoyed tweaking Bolton as they sat at council with Robb Stark, mocking his soft voice and making japes about leeches. He must have been mad. This is no man to jape with. You had only to look at Bolton to know that he had more cruelty in his pinky toe than all the Freys combined. | „ |
| ~ Thoughts of Reek as he meets Roose Bolton again since he last saw him in the Riverlands, recalling how he openly used to disrespect him. |
| “ | Ramsay: Tell him nothing and remember every word he says. I'll have you back, no matter what that Dustin bitch may tell you. Who are you? Reek: Reek, my lord. Your man. I'm Reek, it rhymes with sneak. Ramsay: It does. When my father brings you back, I'm going to take another finger. I'll let you choose which one. |
„ |
| ~ Ramsay handing Reek over to Roose Bolton and Barbrey Dustin, and taking his anger toward their constant disrespect on Reek. |
| “ | I'm not him, I'm not the turncloak, he died at Winterfell. My name is Reek. It rhymes with freak. | „ |
| ~ Theon to Barbrey Dustin |
| “ | Jeyne: They say that he hurt you. Your hands, and... Theon: I... I deserved it. I made him angry. You must not make him angry. Lord Ramsay is a ... a sweet man, and kindly. Please him, and he will be good to you. Be a good wife. Jeyne: Help me. Please. I used to watch you in the yard, playing with your swords. You were so handsome. If we ran away, I could be your wife, or your ... your whore ... whatever you wanted. You could be my man. Theon: [wrenches free from her grasp] I'm no ... I'm no one's man. Just ... just be Arya, be his wife. Please him, or ... just please him, and stop this talk about being someone else. [in his mind: Jeyne, her name is Jeyne, it rhymes with pain.] |
„ |
| ~ Theon rejects Jeyne Poole's plea attempt to help her escape from Winterfell, and instructs her to be Arya Stark and be submissive to Ramsay. |
| “ | Ramsay: Reek, get over here. Get her ready for me. Reek: I ... do you mean ... m'lord, I have no ... I ... Ramsay: With your mouth. And be quick about it. If she's not wet by the time I'm done disrobing, I will cut off that tongue of yours and nail it to the wall. |
„ |
| ~ Ramsay commands his Reek to assist him in raping his new wife "Arya Stark", or rather Jeyne Poole. |
| “ | Jeyne, Jeyne, it rhymes with pain. | „ |
| ~ Thoughts of Theon about Jeyne Poole |
| “ | Theon: My lady, why do you hate the Starks? Barbrey: For the same reason you love them. Theon: Love them? I never … I took this castle from them, my lady. I had … had Bran and Rickon put to death, mounted their heads on spikes, I— Barbrey: —rode south with Robb Stark, fought beside him at the Whispering Wood and Riverrun, returned to the Iron Islands as his envoy to treat with your own father. Barrowton sent men with the Young Wolf as well. I gave him as few men as I dared, but I knew that I must needs give him some or risk the wroth of Winterfell. So I had my own eyes and ears in that host. They kept me well informed. I know who you are. I know what you are. Now answer my question. Why do you love the Starks? Theon: I... I wanted to be one of them … Barbrey: And never could. We have more in common than you know, my lord. But come. |
„ |
| ~ Theon and Barbrey Dustin, who in her youth wished to marry her lover, Brandon Stark. |
| “ | Hooded man: Theon Turncloak. Theon Kinslayer. Theon: I'm not. I never ... I was ironborn. Man: False is all you were. How is it you still breathe? Theon: The gods are not done with me. Lord Ramsay is not done with me. [shows his mutilated left hand] Man: [laughs] I leave you to him, then. |
„ |
| ~ Theon meeting a hooded man in Winterfell. |
| “ | Theon: This will not work. We will be caught before we leave the castle. Even if we do escape, Lord Ramsay will hunt us down, him and Ben Bones and the girls. Abel: Lord Stannis is outside the walls, and not far by the sound of it. All we need do is reach him. If the Bastard does come after us, he might live long enough to rue it. |
„ |
| ~ Theon and "Abel" (Mance Rayder), secret agent of Melisandre |
| “ | Rowan: [grabs Theon's arm] The bath. It must be now. Theon: [wrenches free] By day? We will be seen. Rowan: The snow will hide us. Are you deaf? Bolton is sending forth his swords. We have to reach King Stannis before they do. Theon: But … Abel … Squirrel: Abel can fend for himself. Thoughts of Theon: [This is madness. Hopeless, foolish, doomed.] |
„ |
| ~ Theon being pressed by Mance's wildling spearwives to take "Arya" and prepare to flee from Winterfell. |
| “ | Stannis. Stannis is our only hope, if we can reach him. If they take us alive, they will deliver us to Ramsay. | „ |
| ~ Theon frantically and desperately preparing to jump off Winterfell's battlements with Jeyne, after the guards kill all of Mance's spearwives. |
| “ | Theon: Sister. See. This time I knew you. Asha: [shocked] Theon? Theon: Theon. My name is Theon. You have to know your name. |
„ |
| ~ Theon reuniting with Asha in Stannis Baratheon's war camp in a crofter's village. |
| “ | Theon: Unchain me, and I will serve you. Stannis: As you served Roose Bolton and Robb Stark? I think not. We have a warmer end in mind for you, turncloak. But not until we're done with you. Theon: Be done with me, then. Take off my head off and stick it on a spear. I slew Lord Eddard's sons, I ought to die. But do it quick. He is coming. |
„ |
| ~ Theon and Stannis Baratheon |
| “ | Justin: A proxy marriage, never consummated. Easily set aside. The groom is old besides. Like to die soon. Thoughts of Theon: [From a sword through his belly if you have your way, ser worm.] |
„ |
| ~ Theon contemptuously thinking Ser Justin Massey plans to murder Erik Ironmaker so he can marry his wife Asha. |
| “ | Stannis: Lord Too-Fat-to-Sit-a-Horse. Too fat to come to me, yet he comes to Winterfell. Too fat to bend the knee and swear me his sword, yet now he wields that sword for Bolton. I sent my Onion Lord to treat with him, and Lord Too-Fat butchered him and mounted his head and hands on the walls of White Harbor for the Freys to gloat over. And the Freys... has the Red Wedding been forgotten? Theon: The north remembers. The Red Wedding, Lady Hornwood's fingers, the sack of Winterfell, Deepwood Motte and Torrhen's Square, they remember all of it. [thinks to himself in addition: Bran and Rickon. They were only miller's boys.] |
„ |
| ~ Theon and Stannis Baratheon |
| “ | Theon: Lord Ramsay will not be far behind them. He wants his bride back. He wants his Reek. [laughs in a mix of titter and whimper] Lord Ramsay is the one Your Grace should fear. Stannis: I defeated your uncle Victarion and his Iron Fleet off Fair Isle, the first time your father crowned himself. I held Storm's End against the power of the Reach for a year, and took Dragonstone from the Targaryens. I smashed Mance Rayder at the Wall, though he had twenty times my numbers. Tell me, turncloak, what battles has the Bastard of Bolton ever won that I should fear him? |
„ |
| ~ Theon and Stannis Baratheon |
About Theon[]
| “ | He smiled a lot, as if the world were a secret joke that only he was clever enough to understand. | „ |
| ~ Thoughts of Bran Stark |
| “ | Alannys: Did you bring my baby boy? Asha: Theon could not come. Father sent him reaving along the Stony Shore. |
„ |
| ~ Alannys Harlaw and Asha Greyjoy, before the latter's departure to the North for conquest. |
| “ | Cruel places breed cruel peoples, Bran, remember that as you deal with these ironmen. Your lord father did what he could to gentle Theon, but I fear it was too little and too late. | „ |
| ~ Maester Luwin to Bran Stark |
| “ | Tyrion had only the vaguest memory of Theon Greyjoy from his time with the Starks. A callow youth, always smiling, skilled with a bow; it was hard to imagine him as Lord of Winterfell. | „ |
| ~ Thoughts of Tyrion Lannister |
| “ | Theon had to take the axe himself or look a weakling. His hands were sweating, so the shaft twisted in his grip as he swung and the first blow landed between Farlen's shoulders. It took three more cuts to hack through all that bone and muscle and sever the head from the body, and afterward he was sick, remembering all the times they'd sat over a cup of mead talking of hounds and hunting. I had no choice, he wanted to scream at the corpse. The ironborn can't keep secrets, they had to die, and someone had to take the blame for it. He only wished he had killed him cleaner. Ned Stark had never needed more than a single blow to take a man's head. | „ |
| ~ Theon having executed the kennelmaster Farlen as a scapegoat for the murder of three of his men, actually arranged by Theon himself and carried on by Reek (the same death but under different reasons is given to Rodrik Cassel in the TV show). |
| “ | Ramsay: There you are. You wound me, wandering off like this. Have you grown tired of my hospitality so soon? | „ |
| ~ Ramsay Snow, after catching Theon and Kyra in the Hornwood, having deliberately let them escape from the Dreadfort as a test. |
| “ | Reek had tried to bite his own ring finger off once, to stop it hurting after they had stripped the skin from it. Lord Ramsay would never simply cut off a man's finger. He preferred to flay it and let the exposed flesh dry and crack and fester. Reek had been whipped and racked and cut, but there was no pain half so excruciating as the pain that followed flaying. It was the sort of pain that drove men mad, and it could not be endured for long. | „ |
| ~ Description of some of Theon's torture in the Dreadfort. |
| “ | [in despair] The wolves have made a weakling of him, as I feared. I pray God that they killed him, so he cannot stand in Asha's way. | „ |
| ~ Balon IX Greyjoy to Aeron Damphair, after learning about Theon's defeat at Winterfell. |
| “ | Lothar: Winterfell is burned. Robb: [incredulous] Burned? Lothar: Your northern lords tried to retake it from the ironmen. When Theon Greyjoy saw that his prize was lost, he put the castle to the torch. Blackfish: We have heard naught of any battle. Lothar: My nephews are young, I grant you, but they were there. Big Walder wrote the letter, though his cousin signed as well. It was a bloody bit of business, by their account. Your castellan was slain. Ser Rodrik, was that his name? |
„ |
| ~ Robb Stark and the Tullys learn Ramsay's altered account about the battle outside the gates of Winterfell, replacing his own army betraying his own allies with Theon's ironborn garrison. |
| “ | If Theon had died in place of Lord Karstark's sons, how much ill would have been undone? | „ |
| ~ Thoughts of Catelyn Stark, on her way to the Twins with her son's army as they march through the Whispering Wood, where Jaime Lannister was captured after he killed two sons of Rickard Karstark in battle. |
| “ | He had Sawane Botley drowned for saying that the Seastone Chair by rights belonged to Theon. | „ |
| ~ Gorold Goodbrother to Aeron Greyjoy |
| “ | And Theon, if he lived, was just as hopeless, a boy of sulks and smiles. At Winterfell he proved his worth, such that it was, but the Crow's Eye was no crippled boy. | „ |
| ~ Thoughts of Aeron, as he dismisses Theon as a challenge to Euron. |
| “ | They can't be dead. Theon would never do that. | „ |
| ~ Jon Snow after returning to Castle Black and learning from Maester Aemon about Theon allegedly killing Bran and Rickon in Winterfell. |
| “ | The skin from the little finger of Theon Greyjoy's left hand. My son is cruel, I confess it. And yet ... what is a little skin, against the lives of two young princes? You were their mother, my lady. May I offer you this ... small token of revenge? | „ |
| ~ Roose Bolton offers a piece of Theon's flayed skin to Catelyn Stark upon his arrival at the Twins. |
| “ | Part of Catelyn wanted to clutch the grisly trophy to her heart, but she made herself resist. | „ |
| ~ Catelyn repressing her side secretly approving of Theon's fate in the Dreadfort. |
| “ | Robb: Flaying Theon will not bring my brothers back. I want his head, not his skin. Roose: He is Balon Greyjoy's only living son, and now rightful King of the Iron Islands. A captive king has great value as a hostage. Catelyn: Hostage? Lord Bolton, I hope you are not suggesting that we free the man who killed my sons. Roose: Whoever wins the Seastone Chair will want Theon Greyjoy dead. Even in chains, he has a better claim than any of his uncles. Hold him, I say, and demand concessions from the ironborn as the price of his execution. Robb: [after a pause] Yes. Very well. Keep him alive, then. For the present. Hold him secure at the Dreadfort till we've retaken the north. |
„ |
| ~ Roose, Robb, and Catelyn discussing Theon's future sentence at the Twins. |
| “ | Arnolf: I had heard your serving man was dead. Slain by the Starks, they said. Ramsay: The ironmen will tell you that what is dead may never die, but rises again, harder and stronger. Like Reek. He smells of the grave, though, I grant you that. |
„ |
| ~ Ramsay Bolton introducing Reek II to his father's bannermen in the Dreadfort. |
| “ | Arnolf: Him? Can it be? Stark's ward. Smiling, always smiling. Ramsay: He smiles less often now. I may have broken some of his pretty white teeth. Hother: You would have done better to slit his throat. A dog who turns against his master is fit for naught but skinning. |
„ |
| ~ Ramsay and his father's bannermen about Theon. |
| “ | You're Reek. You'll always be Reek, no matter how sweet you smell. Your nose may lie to you. Remember your name. Remember who you are. | „ |
| ~ Ramsay to Theon, after having bathed to send him to negotiate with Victarion's abandoned garrison. |
| “ | Where is Theon? Where is my baby boy? | „ |
| ~ Alannys Harlaw, unaware about her son's fate. |
| “ | I send you each a piece of prince. Linger in my lands, and share his fate. | „ |
| ~ Words from Ramsay Bolton's two letters, each with a piece of Theon's skin, sent to Asha Greyjoy at Deepwood Motte, who returned after losing the kingsmoot, and Dagmer Cleftjaw at Torrhen's Square. |
| “ | Roose: I mean you no harm, you know. I owe you much and more. Reek: You do? What … what do you owe me, m'lord? Roose: The north. The Starks were done and doomed the night that you took Winterfell. All this is only squabbling over spoils. |
„ |
| ~ Roose to Theon |
| “ | Davos: Winterfell was captured by Theon Greyjoy, who had once been Lord Stark's ward. He had Stark's two young sons put to death and mounted their heads above the castle walls. When the northmen came to oust him, he put the entire castle to sword, down to the last child, before he himself was slain by Lord Bolton's bastard. Robett Glover: Not slain. Captured, and carried back to the Dreadfort. The Bastard has been flaying him. Wyman: The tale you tell is one we all have heard, as full of lies as a pudding's full of raisins. It was the Bastard of Bolton who put Winterfell to the sword ... Ramsay Snow, he was called then, before the boy king made him a Bolton. Snow did not kill them all. He spared the women, roped them together, and marched them to the Dreadfort for his sport. |
„ |
| ~ Wyman Manderly and Robett Glover tell Davos Seaworth what really happened with Theon at Winterfell, with the help of Wex Pyke, Theon's former squire and sole ironborn survivor of the sack of Winterfell. |
| “ | Tycho Nestoris: You are the Lady Asha of House Greyjoy, unless I am mistaken. Asha: I am Asha of House Greyjoy, aye. Opinions differ on whether I'm a lady. Tycho Nestoris: [smiles] We've brought a gift for you. We had expected to find the king at Winterfell. This same blizzard has engulfed the castle, alas. Beneath its walls we found Mors Umber with a troop of raw green boys, waiting for the king's coming. He gave us this. |
„ |
| ~ Braavosi banker Tycho Nestoris shows Asha the escapees Theon and Jeyne Poole. |
| “ | Stannis: I am sorry for your mother, but I do not spare the lives of turncloaks. This one, especially. He slew two sons of Eddard Stark. Every northman in my service would abandon me if I showed him any clemency. Your brother must die. Asha: Then do the deed yourself, Your Grace. Take him out across the lake to the islet where the weirwood grows, and strike his head off with that sorcerous sword you bear. That is how Eddard Stark would have done it. Theon slew Lord Eddard's sons. Give him to Lord Eddard's gods. The old gods of the north. Give him to the tree. |
„ |
| ~ Asha pleading with Stannis Baratheon to execute Theon by beheading instead of burning. |
Notable Victims[]
- Stiv - Shot in the back with an arrow through his chest to save Bran Stark.
Books only:[]
- All the Wild Hares - Killed in battle by Theon and his Ironmen.
- Benfred Tallhart - Granted upon request; drowned by Aeron Greyjoy as a sacrifice to the Drowned God.
- Todric - Accidentally mortally injured with an arrow in his belly by Theon, who was aiming for his hand to punish him for failing to obey to the rules of "no drinking and no fighting over the plunder", then finished by Maron Botley and his sons on Theon's order.
- Septon Chayle - Ordered; thrown into a well to honor the Drowned God.
- Miller's wife from Acorn Water - Ordered; cut down by Gelmarr with one blow of his axe, while she begged her former lover Theon for mercy.
- Miller's Sons - Ordered; killed by Ramsay Snow, who then flayed their bodies so they could be passed as Bran and Rickon Stark.
- Gelmarr - Ordered; pushed from stairs at night by Ramsay Snow and broke his neck, in order to keep the secret of Bran and Rickon's survival.
- Aggar - Ordered; throat slit by Ramsay Snow, in order to keep the secret of Bran and Rickon's survival.
- Gynir Rednose - Ordered; drowned by Ramsay Snow, in order to keep the secret of Bran and Rickon's survival.
- Farlen - Beheaded by Theon as a scapegoat culprit for the murders of Aggar, Gelmarr and Rednose.
- Ralf Kenning - Granted the gift of mercy by Theon, who slit his throat to end his misery, as he was mortally wounded by a Crannogman's poisoned arrow and slowly dying for days.
TV Series only:[]
- Ser Rodrik Cassel - Beheaded for defiance.
- Jack and Billy - Ordered; killed by Dagmer Cleftjaw so their burned bodies could be passed as Bran and Rickon Stark.
- Myranda - Thrown off a wall to save Sansa Stark.
External Links[]
- Theon Greyjoy on the Heroes Wiki
- Theon Greyjoy on the A Wiki of Ice and Fire
- Theon Greyjoy on the Game of Thrones Wiki
- Theon Greyjoy on the A Song of Ice and Fire Wiki
