A Ghost In Winterfell + HM = Hallis Mollen

[Team_Rob]

I've become quite convinced that Hallis Mollen is the HM Theon encounters. The title of the chapter 'A Ghost in Winterfell' is a POV of Theon. Theon often says, "There are ghosts in Winterfell, and I am one of them." Theon believes Hallis dead along with everyone else that went south, so seeing him again would make him think there are ghosts. There isn't a solid description that we can go on for the HM, so all we have for clues is his mannerism. Here is the exchange:

A Dance with Dragons - A Ghost in Winterfell/Theon Pages 611-612:

Farther on, he came upon a man striding in the opposite direction, a hooded cloak flapping behind him. When they found themselves face-to-face their eyes met briefly. The man put a hand on his dagger. "Theon Turncloack. Theon Kinslayer."

"I'm not. I never...I was ironborn."

"False is all you were. How is it you still breathe?"

"The gods are not done with me," Theon answered, wondering if this could be the killer, the night walker who had stuffed Yellow Dick's cock into his mouth and pushed Roger Ryswell's groom off the battlements. Oddly, he was not afraid. He pulled the glove from his left hand. "Lord Ramsay is not done with me."

The man looked, and laughed. "I leave you to him, then."

Catelyn describes Hallis as somone that always stated the obvious. In GOT Catelyn chapter about The Battle of the Whispering Woods, Hallis says of Jaime and his men, "they are coming m'lady", right after she had said it in her own head, and also as they dumped Jaime in front of her horse, "The Kingslayer" almost the same way the HM addressed Theon when they came upon each other. Also when they were at the meeting between Stannis and Renly he says,"We are the first" when they arrived before anyone else.

I was of the mind that it was Benjen at first, then Robett, but Robett already knows Theon's still alive, being flayed at the Dreadfort, so why would he ask him "how do you still live?" Then his closing line,"I leave you to him then." as he walks off is something Hallis would say.

He also killed Little Walder. Big Walder said some White harbor men playing dice owed him silver. Hallis liked to play dice as well. In ACOK when Catelyn was at the Sept just before Renly died she commented on how he liked to dice with his Winterfell men. Besides, he had a small escort with him when he left Riverun, so there is probably more than one killer.

The Crypts had been closed by someone. When Bran and co. exited the crypts at the end of ACOK, Hodor opens the huge door for them, but never closes it. The door had been closed for a while as well. It could not have been anyone from the host to come to Winterfell with Bolton and the Freys later on. It took Lady Dustin's men a half an hour to clear all the ice and rubble...RUBBLE. Someone went through great lengths to make sure that entrance was well sealed. Its possible that his bones were put in Lord Rickard or Brandon's tomb so nobody would know anyone had been there. Its never said that their remains were sent back to Winterfell during or after the war.

Roger Ryswell says the deadmen were all strongmen which would leave one to think that their killer would also have been strong. Hallis' description; 'He is muscular and has a square brown beard.' While the Harwin theory is pretty popular and plausible, I've come to think its Hallis.

[Mulled Wino]

Absolutely not. That non-Robett evidence couldnt have been flimsier.

There's plenty of dice players and big guys floating around and the whope dice thing really means nothing anyway

[Howling Mad]

I'm not sure there is enough evidence to support Hallis or anyone else as the HM. There were squatters at WF before the Boltons reclaimed the castle so it is possible anyone of them could have closed the crypt doors. With that said, my gut instinct says the HM is Hallis.

[BryndenStark]

How can it be Robett when he wasn't even present within the castle? Martin never stated whether Robett joined Lord Manderly on his trip to WF...if he did in fact accompany him, don't you think one of the characters would've noted his presence?

[sertravisredbeard]

What about the initials are the same? Hallis Mollen and Hooded Man. HM and HM. The evidence for him is as substantial as for any of the other candidates though. I'd guess it's Hallis or Harwin or maybe Robett. Could be anyone.

[Mulled Wino]

How can it be Robett when he wasn't even present within the castle? Martin never stated whether Robett joined Lord Manderly on his trip to WF...if he did in fact accompany him, don't you think one of the characters would've noted his presence?

wait. The HM has to be someone that was present in the castle.

why would Robett Glover stay in White Harbor. You really think he's going to sit around?

[Jslay427]

I think it's nobody of any particular note. Probably a Northman sworn to the Ryswells or the Dustin's who loved the Starks, like almost everyone in the north.

[Team_Rob]

Absolutely not. That non-Robett evidence couldnt have been flimsier.

There's plenty of dice players and big guys floating around and the whope dice thing really means nothing anyway

Yes, there are plenty of dice players and plenty of big men, but there is no text stating anyone else being both. Not to mention the way they both talk. Then there's the crypts. No one else had a purpose to be there but him. If you look at all the other subplot mysteries that are now revealed in the story, (Jaqen being Pate, or Bloodraven being the 3 eyed crow) the clues were subtle, but they were there.

[Team_Rob]

Personally, I think it's Theon's split personality. If it isn't him, it's probably Robbett. Hallis Mollen had a group of guards with him, where did they go?

Even before the sack, there were parts of the castle that were not in use. The area where Bran fell in particular. They could be hidden away anywhere. Being Captian of the guard he would have knowledge of Winterfell that majority of people would not.

[sansa's sworn sword]

I hope this theory is true.

[shearstone]

Crackpot: It's Robb he see's as he's hallucinating and he shows Robb his hand to tell his best friend he's suffered for his sins.

[Melisandre's Shadow]

Crackpot: It's Robb he see's as he's hallucinating and he shows Robb his hand to tell his best friend he's suffered for his sins.

That sounds exponentially more crackpot than the OP, unless theres some shred of foreshadowing/evidence?

[three-eyed monkey]

I always thought the conversation between Theon and the HM hinted at it being someone that knew Theon from his years as Ned's ward. Mainly it's the line "False is all you were," that gave me that impression. That's why I've always leaned towards Hallis or Harwin. But if Harwin is the northman who presents Lady Stoneheart with oathkeeper after Brienne is captured by the BwB, then the timeline would rule him out.

I think Lady Dustin is part of the GNC and, despite what she tells Theon, is planning on laying Ned's bones to rest in the crypt. Hallis disappeared into the Neck, where the Crannogmen would certainly help him get Ned's bones home, so maybe he re-emerged into the hands of Lady Dustin? This is why I lean towards Hallis now.

Robett Glover is the only other possible candidate imo. I don't buy the Theon Durden theory, much as I love Chuck Palahniuk. If it was repetitive, like Dany and Quaithe, I'd be more inclined but not as a once off, not that I think Quaithe is Tyler Daenerys.

[Guardian of the Lhazareen]

I am sure it is Theon he is just going all fight club on us right?

[Slavers Bay City Rollers]

Twice I've read the books and twice I've missed all these little connections. I'm such a dunce :dunce:

[shearstone]

That sounds exponentially more crackpot than the OP, unless theres some shred of foreshadowing/evidence?

Not really I just don't like the Theon Durden theory don't think it fits that he sees himself but I do think he is sufficiently deranged to see someone who is not there he obviously shows guilt for not dying with Robb when he see's Roose's men march up the causeway and he'd definitely be comfortable enough with Robb to show him what Ramsay had done to him and maybe he was trying to convince himself through ghost Robb that he had paid his penance for betraying his best friend. I'll admit I haven't read the books in a while but I couldn't remember anything to disprove my theory and it has some (not much I'll admit) logical aspect to it. It will probably turn out to be Jaime who is the HM which I would like way more than it being Theon Durden.

[Usrnmhsnomning]

Spearwives did the killings, Big Walder killed Little Walder, the Hooded Man is just a random Northerner, Theon Durden doesn't exist and has no real place in the story to be honest.

[Frey-A-La-Mode]

I haven't read the Robett = HM theory but I have to say if it was of the two of them, my money's on Hallis Mollen. I don't think it would work if the HM is someone who is not familiar with Winterfell.

[Guardian of the Lhazareen]

Spearwives did the killings, Big Walder killed Little Walder, the Hooded Man is just a random Northerner, Theon Durden doesn't exist and has no real place in the story to be honest.

Is there proof that BW killed LW?

[three-eyed monkey]

Spearwives did the killings, Big Walder killed Little Walder, the Hooded Man is just a random Northerner, Theon Durden doesn't exist and has no real place in the story to be honest.

I agree that the spearwives did the other killings and I know Big Walder is a suspect for killing Little Walder in many readers eyes, but is there something to support that it was him? The dice connection is something at least. Personally, I don't think the HM is just a random northerner.