124 ACOK 51 Theon IV Turncloaks

1 Aerys Come Again: Why Rule By Fear Happens

We see Theon intend to treat the people of Winterfell gently but resort to rule by fear. Though the servants have mostly cowered and obeyed with minimal lip, Theon’s precarious hold on Winterfell makes him increasingly paranoid. His decision to cover up his failure to recapture the princes by appearing a monster is explained by and comments on a despot’s fear of being recognized as weak and overthrown. In this case. it helps build the surfacing theme of the power of the people. 2 Setup for Reek’s Reveal he’s Ramsay Bolton and has set Theon up to frame him for burning Winterfell. Introduction of Ramsay’s penchant for flaying and hunting people. 3 Setup for Asha’s crisis of conscience regarding her visit to Winterfell, which she’ll think back on when she rides the same road from Deepwood Motte, but as Stannis’s prisoner. Her rivalry with Theon led her to treat him more coldly than she might have. Instinct? Theon doesn’t know why he’s woken up. Did he hear a sound? The quiet of the night must be a good thing, a sign of success, but then he realizes he doesn’t hear the direwolves. He sends Urzen to report back on the wolves and Wex to report on Bran and Rickon in their beds. They’re all missing. Theon seems to have sensed it early, guided by intuition or...Bran from the future? Asha

• Theon has too few men to hold the castle if Asha doesn’t send more. Why doesn’t he call for Dagmar from Torrhen’s Square? Theon’s first thought on realizing the boys are gone is what Asha will think.

• When he learns Osha is missing, too, he thinks “I should have known better than to trust that one. She’s as unnatural as Asha. Even their names sound alike.” 725

• Theon expects Asha enroute from Deepwood Motte, calls it a “bitter irony” if Bran & Rickon “made for Deepwood Motte and delivered themselves right into Asha’s hands.” 728

• When it’s dusk and the trail is still lost, Theon despairs. “If he crept back to Winterfell empty-handed, he might as well dress in motley henceforth and wear a pointed hat; the whole north would know him for a fool. And when my father hears, and Asha...“ 734

King’s Paranoia. Aerys Come Again

• No Justice But Revenge. Theon wonders how many of the castle servants plotted together when the two rapers he’d had flogged turn up dead. (They only happened to be the ones guarding the Hunter’s Gate). Theon thinks the castle people aren’t grateful he had two of his men whipped for raping the kennel girl. “I’ll give them reason to sob. I’ve used them gently, and this is how they repay me.” 722 By sobbing when pulled from their beds in the night because Bran & Rickon are missing. Theon speculates a woman got Drennan to pull down his breeches, then stuck him with his own cheese knife and that there had to be two or more helping her, as they must have freed the wolves while she created distraction. He only has enough men to guard the inner walls against an uprising from within. Studying the faces of the castlefolk he’s had gathered in the night in their bedrobes, “They all looked guilty to him.” 725 He says “I’ll have the names of all those who aided them. All those who turned a blind eye.” 726

• He thinks he should have had the direwolves put down the day he took the castle, having known how dangerous they were.

• He’s locked away all the weapons, but is now sure some must have been hidden from him.

• Theon resents that the people do not see him as their protector. He had the rapers flogged and, when Reek suggested flaying for information, declared it outlawed in the north under his rule. “I am your only protection against the likes of him, he wanted to scream. He could not be that blatant, but perhaps some were clever enough to take the lesson.” 727 They won’t. Theon doesn’t understand he’s the source of all threat, since it’s his own men he protects them from. Theon misunderstands his role as protector and we see that the type of thug well suited to taking isn’t also well suited to gentle guard duty.

• Theon concludes he must rule by fear. When Theon commands Farlen to prepare hounds to hunt down Bran and Rickon, “The grizzled kennelmaster crossed his arms. ‘And why would I care to hunt down my own trueborn lords, and babes at that?’ Theon moved close. ‘I am your trueborn lord now, and the man who keeps Palla safe.’ He saw defiance die in Farlen’s eyes.” 727 Theon still means to be a protector, yet his reminder is perceived as a threat and Theon can’t even tell how misunderstood he is.

• When dusk comes and they trail has been long lost, “Theon could taste bile at the back of his throat, and his stomach was a nest of snakes twining and snapping at each other. If he crept back to Winterfell empty-handed, he might as well dress in motley henceforth and wear a pointed hat; the whole north would know him for a fool. And when my father hears, and Asha...” 734.

• “Mercy was for this morning,‘ said Theon. It is better to be feared than laughed at. ’Before they made me angry.‘” 735

Reflection Back to the Hunt When Theon Saved Bran From Osha

• Theon thinks “Once he had saved Bran’s life with an arrow. He hoped he would not need to take it with another, but if it came to that, he would.” 728

• Theon insists Luwin come. He was also along on the earlier trip.

• The trail leads into the heart of the wolfswood.

Oathbreaker

• When Luwin begs Theon to be merciful and spare the escapees, Theon says he intends to spare all but Osha. “She swore me an oath, and pissed on it. He seems to have forgotten he, presumably, swore the same oath to Robb. (We don't see Theon lay his sword at Robb's feet at Riverrun along with so many in attendance, nor does he ever think about having done so or refrained.)

• The group of wildlings with Osha when they held Bran hostage was a mix of wildlings and Night’s Watch deserters. The deserters are especially noted. It calls back to Gared’s execution as an oathbreaker. Ned says oathbreakers can’t be spared because they’re too dangerous because they know they’ll be executed if caught.
  

  • The concept of mercy is central to both. Theon thinks “Mercy. There’s a bloody trap. Too much and they call you weak, too little and you’re monstrous.” 729

  • At chapter’s end, when Theon sends the Winterfell men back, saying he knows where the boys are, Maester Luwin asks him to remember his promise of mercy. “Mercy was for this morning,‘ said Theon. It is better to be feared than laughed at. ’Before they made me angry.‘” 735

Suspicious Trail

• When Theon finds the carcass of a young elk killed by wolves, he sees no sign of knife work. Osha wouldn’t have left so much good meat when she could have carved off a few steaks at least. Theon asks Farlen if there’s any chance the dogs are on the trail of different wolves.

• The trail ends at a muddy brook swollen by recent rains. Theon feels how the water is and announces they wouldn’t have been able to walk far in the brook because of how cold it is. But Wex notes there are no footprints, only pawprints. Theon assumes Osha must have turned before the elk carcass and sent the wolves ahead on their own to create a false trail.

• Theon accuses the Winterfell men of playing him false, but they swear there’s only been one trail and say the direwolves would never have left the boys for long. Theon divides his party to backtrack and to try to find where the trail picks up again after the brook.

Value of the Reeds

• When he begs mercy for the children, Luwin points out that Howland Reed will be held back from full scale attack on Victarion, knowing Theon holds his heirs.

• When they lose the trail, Walder Frey says they won’t find it again because the Reeds are with Bran & Rickon.

Reek's Aid

Reek says he knows where the boys may be sheltering in order to make a long trip north to the Umbers. That mill. Theon asks “Why there? There are a dozen villages and holdfasts just as close. ‘Amusement shone in those pale eyes. ’ Why? Now that’s past knowing. But they’re there, I have a feeling.‘” 735 He shows Theon that the sack he brought is full of Bran & Rickon’s clothing. It’s clear Reek brought the clothes planning to kill the miller’s boys. Theon jumps on the idea when he understands without Reek saying it. He brings only his own men, sending the Winterfell party back.

The Song O’ The Winter Rose. Osha & Reek were freed at the same time and each devises a scheme related to Bran & Rickon and death. Osha helps them hide in the crypts to pretend to have escaped. Reek passes off the miller’s sons as the princes, pretending his motive is to help Theon retain his hold on the castle when, really, it’s to paint Theon a villain so he can frame him for burning Winterfell. The following chapter, 125 Jon 15 Winter Rose, tells the story of how Bael the Bard stole a Stark daughter. It involves hiding in the crypts and Bael’s Stark son being turned on by the gods for a kinslayer when he unknowingly kills his father for a wildling. Bael’s Stark son was flayed by one of his lords and worn for a cloak.

Which Walder? On page 727, one of the Walder Freys asks Theon to accompany in the hunt for Bran and Rickon, saying “‘I’ve hunted lots of times before. Red deer and elk, and even boar. ‘ His cousin laughed at him. ’ He rode on a boar hunt with his father, but they never let him near the boar.‘” 727 Theon doesn’t care who it is, and says he can come, to have the matter settled. First guess is that ambitious Big Walder puts himself forward and bullying Little Walder chides him. Later, the Walder who accompanies catches a rabbit.

Marriages Hold Kingdoms. Theon thinks it’s a pity Ned took the girls south with him “...elsewise Theon could have tightened his grip on Winterfell by marrying one of them. Sansa was a pretty little thing, too, and by now likely even ripe for bedding. But she was a thousand leagues away, in the clutches of the Lannisters. A shame.” 730

Loyalty means rooting for. Foreshadowing for Cersei’s attitude in Maegor’s during the Blackwater.