Jump to content

Quick question about Theon


RSMITTY7640

Recommended Posts

Your ward doesn't necessarily go with you everywhere.  And he probably thought Theon would get into all kinds of trouble in the capital.  Given that the wardship came about through the rebellion of Theon's father, it's also possible that there could still be hard feelings against anyone named Greyjoy in KL.

 

I find it interesting that Theon had been legally an adult for three years and was still living with the Starks.  We've never heard that Robert decreed he couldn't go home once he reached legal adulthood.  Then again we haven't heard that Robert didn't decree that either.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ned brought Theon to Winterfell as a ward and a hostage.  As the age of majority is 16 in Westeros, and at the beginning of A Game of Thrones Theon is said to be 19.  That indicates one of two things, that Theon was a hostage for three additional years, or that he willingly stayed in Winterfell for some length of time even though it was not required.  If he was not a hostage, then it is the friendship he has with Robb Stark that keeps him there.  As the two boys were heirs to the Iron Islands and Winterfell, Ned likely hoped that by fostering Theon, he was also fostering an alliance between the Greyjoys and Starks.

 

This is perfectly within reason of Ned's character because as we know, despite being very different from Robert Baratheon, the two houses Stark and Baratheon had great strength together because of their friendship.  Leaving Theon in Winterfell (had he been a hostage after age 16) Ned would have hoped that would further nurture a Greyjoy-Stark alliance. 

 

Taking a look at Theon's character, if he is staying at Winterfell by choice, there are also two main reasons that make sense.  He holds a strong sense of brotherly love for Robb Stark, being the first.  But Theon is by no means bound to honour the way the Starks are, and it's very well possible that he stayed in Winterfell to gain a position of power and influence in the North through Robb Stark.  Of course there was no way knowing at the time that Ned would die so soon, but even as a long term plan, it makes sense in a multifaceted way for Theon to keep his alliance with Robb for reasons both genuine and selfish. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

the greyjoys arent very popular with the lannisters. balons last rebellion started by burning tywins fleet. past that im sure theon would also be ridiculed by the baratheons. after they took down tywins ships, stannis came in and destroyed the greyjoy fleet. after that, iirc, stannis, barristan and robert each led an attack on separate islands. so his family started a war by attacking the lannisters and were defeated by baratheon led armies (even though they had help from basically every house). i assumed ned kept theon at winterfell for his own good.

 

it is a good question though. iirc, theon is 19 at the start of agot so he shouldnt have still been considered a ward/hostage. never really thought about why he didnt try to go back to the iron islands earlier.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The couldn't let Theon go home until Balon Greyjoy died. Then Theon would sit the Seastone Chair and, hopefully, cause no more trouble for the realm.

 

Likely this Theon is hostage first and a ward second. Its not like Balon wanted his only remaining son warded to the Starks.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

Likely this Theon is hostage first and a ward second. Its not like Balon wanted his only remaining son warded to the Starks.

 

There is no way in a kingssmoot they would pick a guy who has lived with the starks for majority of his life

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

There is no way in a kingssmoot they would pick a guy who has lived with the starks for majority of his life

 

That had nothing to do with the Kingsmoot. Theon was disowned by Balon, then Balon died without an official heir. Technically it would have been Euron but Damphair was having none of that. Thus we had a Kingsmoot.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hostages are kept as long as needed. When Jaime made Edmure hostage, it was obviously for the duration of the war.

 

"Yield the castle and no one dies. Your smallfolk may go in peace or stay to serve Lord Emmon. Ser Brynden will be allowed to take the black, along with as many of the garrison as choose to join him. You as well, if the Wall appeals to you. Or you may go to Casterly Rock as my captive and enjoy all the comforts and courtesy that befits a hostage of your rank. I'll send your wife to join you, if you like. If her child is a boy, he will serve House Lannister as a page and a squire, and when he earns his knighthood we'll bestow some lands upon him. Should Roslin give you a daughter, I'll see her well dowered when she's old enough to wed. You yourself may even be granted parole, once the war is done. All you need do is yield the castle."

 

 

So Theon didn't automatically get to leave when he turned a certain age. He got to leave when Balon was no longer a threat--or perhaps the Greyjoys.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Winterfell is inland, a few hundred miles from the sea and the nearest port. Kings Landing is on the Coast with a busy port, plenty of opportunity for Theon to escape.

 

Much like the Redwynne twins tried to. Would have been very hard to escape the North.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

since Threon is a grown man, how long can they go on calling him a ward.  Like would they have held him until Balon died and not let him marry. I think that's why people are always correcting him when he says he was neds ward or he was being fostered.

 

When Ned was beheaded did Theon become Rob's "ward" or was he then free to go?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

since Threon is a grown man, how long can they go on calling him a ward.  Like would they have held him until Balon died and not let him marry. I think that's why people are always correcting him when he says he was neds ward or he was being fostered.

 

When Ned was beheaded did Theon become Rob's "ward" or was he then free to go?

 

Ward is a polite word for a prisoner in this case.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Winterfell is inland, a few hundred miles from the sea and the nearest port. Kings Landing is on the Coast with a busy port, plenty of opportunity for Theon to escape.

THIS! Ned tells Cat to keep a closer eye on Theon when he leaves because they might have need of his father's ships if there is war, he really wouldn't want to risk Theon escaping on him.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ned brought Theon to Winterfell as a ward and a hostage.  As the age of majority is 16 in Westeros, and at the beginning of A Game of Thrones Theon is said to be 19.  That indicates one of two things, that Theon was a hostage for three additional years, or that he willingly stayed in Winterfell for some length of time even though it was not required.  If he was not a hostage, then it is the friendship he has with Robb Stark that keeps him there.  As the two boys were heirs to the Iron Islands and Winterfell, Ned likely hoped that by fostering Theon, he was also fostering an alliance between the Greyjoys and Starks.

 

This is perfectly within reason of Ned's character because as we know, despite being very different from Robert Baratheon, the two houses Stark and Baratheon had great strength together because of their friendship.  Leaving Theon in Winterfell (had he been a hostage after age 16) Ned would have hoped that would further nurture a Greyjoy-Stark alliance. 

 

Taking a look at Theon's character, if he is staying at Winterfell by choice, there are also two main reasons that make sense.  He holds a strong sense of brotherly love for Robb Stark, being the first.  But Theon is by no means bound to honour the way the Starks are, and it's very well possible that he stayed in Winterfell to gain a position of power and influence in the North through Robb Stark.  Of course there was no way knowing at the time that Ned would die so soon, but even as a long term plan, it makes sense in a multifaceted way for Theon to keep his alliance with Robb for reasons both genuine and selfish. 

Theon was a hostage, he wasn't free to go at any age. And he certainly didn't chose to stay. He probably would have remained a hostage until his father died.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

There is no way in a kingssmoot they would pick a guy who has lived with the starks for majority of his life

There would have been no kingsmoot if they believed Theon was alive. There hadn't been a kingsmoot in a thousend years or so, Theon was the heir. Victarion reflects on how he would follow him, Aeron would follow him, probably begrudgingly because he hates the mainland so much but he was the heir nothing he could do about it. The ironborn aren't all like Balon...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...