The North, Winterfell.
"Child, turn back. I know this isn't what's in your heart; you've just been blinded by pride and wildness."
Maester Luwin continued to counsel Theon Greyjoy before him; in his eyes, Theon was just as much his good child as Robb, Bran, and Rickon.
These words made Theon waver, for he was in a state of utter confusion.
Theon couldn't understand why the residents of Winterfell hated him so much; even though he had treated them well, he hadn't received the same respect as his foster father, Eddard Stark.
He remembered a few days ago when he raided a small fishing village and encountered his former friend Benfred Taoha, the captain of the Wild Hare, and the words the man had spat at him before dying.
Benfred Taoha had cursed: "Theon Greyjoy, you heartless turncloak!"
While Theon Greyjoy was hesitating, the servant behind him, Reek, suddenly gave a cold laugh and shoved Theon aside. With a savage glint in his eyes, he plunged a dagger into Maester Luwin's abdomen before anyone could react.
"No! What are you doing!" Theon's eyes widened. He scrambled to Maester Luwin's side, cradling the man who had been like family for many years.
"Child, turn back..." Maester Luwin's faint, wispy voice echoed in Theon's ears, leaving him completely lost.
How did I end up like this?
In the beginning, when Robb Stark sent Theon Greyjoy back to House Greyjoy in the Iron Islands to request a fleet for a joint attack on the Westerlands, Catelyn Tully had adamantly disagreed, as Theon Greyjoy was the only hostage they held.
But the brotherhood between Robb Stark and Theon Greyjoy was too deep; he trusted his good brother too much. Ignoring all advice, he insisted on letting Theon go back.
Sure enough, while Robb Stark was leading his troops to attack the Westerlands, Theon's father, Balon Greyjoy of the Iron Islands, rebelled.
Moreover, Theon Greyjoy personally led the attack on Winterfell. He first tricked his way through the gates and then led the Ironborn inside, burning, killing, and looting along the way.
...
The reasons for Theon Greyjoy's betrayal of Robb Stark were both simple and complex.
On the way back to the Iron Islands, Theon Greyjoy had already begun to fantasize about the outcome of his brother Robb Stark's plan.
He imagined himself leading the Iron Islands' fleet by sea, launching a surprise attack south on Lannisport and then conquering the Westerlands. Finally, he would rule as a king there, enjoying endless wealth and glory.
But after Theon Greyjoy returned to the Iron Islands, the scenario of the prince returning home and conquering the Westerlands did not follow his ideal script.
First, Theon was taught a lesson by his uncle, Aeron "Damphair," who had come to meet him. Through the ritual of the drowned god and a cold attitude, Aeron extinguished the pride and complacency in Theon's heart.
Then, Theon's sister, Asha Greyjoy, shattered his remaining, fragile self-esteem and sense of shame, making him wish he could crawl into a hole.
Finally, when his father Balon Greyjoy sternly questioned if he had forgotten the hatred for his two older brothers, Theon Greyjoy was left utterly speechless.
Years ago, Balon Greyjoy had declared himself king and raised the banner of rebellion, with the flames of war spreading to the North and the Riverlands. However, under the combined strike of Robert Baratheon, Eddard Stark, and the Westerlands' forces, the rebellion was swiftly suppressed.
Balon Greyjoy surrendered and knelt in submission, declaring he would never rebel again. During Balon Greyjoy's rebellion, his two eldest sons were killed, leaving only a daughter, Asha Greyjoy, and the youngest son, Theon Greyjoy.
Under the orders of Robert Baratheon and Eddard Stark, Balon Greyjoy was forced to bow his head and send his only son, Theon Greyjoy, to House Stark as a ward—but in reality, a hostage.
...
It could be said that Theon Greyjoy's cruel nature, arrogance, inferiority, and conceit directly led to his betrayal; these traits weren't apparent when he was with Robb and the others at House Stark.
If Theon had stayed by Robb Stark's side, he might have even died for him; during the Battle of the Whispering Wood, Theon was nearly killed by the "kingslayer" Jaime Lannister while protecting Robb Stark.
But once he was removed from the warm embrace of House Stark and returned to the Iron Islands—a place filled with a cold and wild atmosphere that championed taking by force over toiling in the fields—the wildness hidden within him for years immediately awakened.
After witnessing the barbarity of his homeland and being humiliated by his uncle, sister, and father, Theon only wanted to prove himself to them.
Thus, Theon Greyjoy betrayed his good brother Robb Stark and led his fleet and men to attack the poorly defended Winterfell.
In truth, Theon had considered whether to send word to Robb Stark, but when his heart only wanted to prove itself, he could no longer consider so much.
He tried his best to act cruel and bellicose to find a sense of belonging among the Ironborn.
When Theon set out, his father also sent an experienced veteran, Dagmer "Cleftjaw," to guide him.
...
Dagmer "Cleftjaw" was the captain of the longship Foamdrinker; he had snow-white hair, a terrifying scar, and a thick, bushy beard.
It was said that during a raid in his youth, an enemy's longaxe split his jaw in two and smashed his front teeth, turning his two lips into four.
Dagmer held great prestige in the Iron Islands; it was said that even Balon Greyjoy had followed him on raids when he was young.
Before Theon Greyjoy's return, Balon Greyjoy had sent Dagmer to Old Wyk to summon House Stonehouse and House Drumm in preparation for the upcoming uprising.
Dagmer was indeed skilled in warfare; he first attacked Torrhens Square, the seat of House Taoha by the Great Lake southwest of Winterfell, to lure away the Winterfell garrison led by Rodrik Cassel, allowing Theon to seize Winterfell while it was vulnerable.
Although he didn't capture Torrhens Square at first, once Dagmer heard that Ser Rodrik was returning to reinforce Winterfell, he immediately launched a surprise attack, capturing and occupying Torrhens Square while the enemy was unprepared.
...
Back to the present.
Reek smiled at Theon: "Why are you looking at me? At least now you don't have to struggle with it."
"Our Lord Bolton says a flayed man has no secrets. Why don't we give it a try?" Reek gave a cruel smile, egging Theon on.
The next moment, a commotion came from outside the city; Theon knew the Winterfell garrison had returned.
Damn that Dagmer! Didn't he say he would hold them off for me!
"Close the gates! Prepare for battle!"
Theon couldn't worry about Maester Luwin on the ground because he knew the temper of his master-at-arms, Ser Rodrik Cassel, all too well. He believed the man would surely kill him upon his return, so he could only follow this dark path to the end.
The sounds of battering rams, arrows, and horses' neighing filled Theon's mind. He didn't know how long he could hold out; he only knew that if The Walls fell, he was finished.
Maester Luwin kept saying to Theon, "Turn back, I will plead with Ser Rodrik to allow you to take the black and go to The Wall to become a member of the Nights Watch."
Just then, the noise outside grew even louder. Theon was even more confused; this didn't sound like the small garrison Winterfell had left.
"What's happening outside?" Theon shouted toward the battlements.
"Another large group of people has arrived, and they're fighting the Winterfell men," an Ironborn with a bow answered from The Wall.
"What? Could it be Dagmer fighting his way back?"
Theon was puzzled, thinking that perhaps Dagmer was reliable after all.
But as the noise outside ceased and he ordered the gates of Winterfell opened, Theon Greyjoy discovered that the newcomers were not Dagmer's men.
Instead, it was an army flying the banner of a red flayed man. Having lived with House Stark for years, Theon recognized it immediately: it was the banner of House Bolton.
But why would House Bolton come to attack Winterfell?
While Theon was wondering, Ser Rodrik was brought in, bound by a group of men. The captors walked over to Reek, bowed to him, and called him Lord Ramsay.
Reek? Ramsay? Who exactly was this man?
As he was thinking, Reek walked straight toward him and handed him a dagger with a smile.
"Go on, kill this fellow."
"Are you ordering me?"
Theon was about to lose his temper when one of Reek's men slapped him hard across the face, leaving him dazed and unable to stand for a moment.
"No, I'm threatening you. If you don't kill him, I'll kill you."
Seeing the man's wicked smile and the several gleaming swords of his subordinates, Theon had no choice but to slowly approach Ser Rodrik with the dagger.
Rodrik Cassel showed no fear; instead, he looked at the approaching Theon Greyjoy with the eyes of an elder watching his own child.
As Theon's trembling hands drove the sharp blade into his chest, he looked into Theon Greyjoy's eyes and said one last thing:
"Theon, you are lost..."
Theon sat on the ground in a daze. So much had happened today that his brain felt like it was about to explode.
He stiffly turned his head and asked the man who called himself Reek:
"Reek, who are you really?"
Hearing Theon's question, Reek's smile became even more wicked and perverted. He grinned and said:
"I am Ramsay Snow, of House Bolton. From today on, you are my servant, and your name is Reek."
...
As the fire gradually burned out, the thick smoke in the sky slowly dissipated, replaced by a breath of fresh air.
The once-roaring flames lost their heat and energy, dwindling to faint embers before finally turning into black ash.
The various surviving creatures huddled in their territories, quietly waiting for the fire to completely subside.
Just then, a head popped out from a thicket somewhere in Winterfell.
"They're all gone, come out quickly."
Osha, the wildling woman who had come out first to scout, gestured behind her, and several more people emerged from the underground crypts.
"I'm going to kill him and eat his flesh! Avenge everyone!" Rickon's eyes were red as he looked at the scene of devastation. Though Rickon Stark was not yet five years old, he was full of wildness.
Then Hodor emerged carrying Bran on his back, and the others followed.
When Theon Greyjoy had stormed the castle, Osha had taken advantage of his lax guard to hide Bran and Rickon in the secret crypts of Winterfell.
Bran had even willed his Direwolf, Summer, to leave tracks by the river to make Theon and his men think they had fled.
"Maester Luwin!"
As they neared the castle gate, Bran suddenly cried out. He saw their Maester Luwin slumped against a wall, covered in blood.
Osha helped the kind old man up, pressing her hands against his bleeding wound. But the blood wouldn't stop, and everyone knew Maester Luwin was fading fast.
"Bran, Rickon, you are good boys. The situation is dire; you must leave quickly. Leave Winterfell, and remember: you must split into two groups. That way, you increase the chances of at least two of you surviving."
"Maester Luwin, *sob sob*..."
Both Bran and Rickon wept in sorrow. Maester Luwin had raised and taught them since birth; it wasn't just a teacher-student relationship—Maester Luwin had long since become their family.
"Dry your tears. Remember: you are the hope of House Stark, and there are no tears in the eyes of a Direwolf."
Finally, Maester Luwin looked with a smile at Osha, Jojen Reed, and Meera Reed.
Osha had once tried to assassinate Bran with some wildling companions, but after being captured, Maester Luwin had seen her loyalty.
The siblings Jojen Reed and Meera Reed were the children of Lord Eddard Stark's friend Howland Reed, and they were also trustworthy.
"I entrust these two children to you..."
After saying these final words, this loyal and kind old man who had served Winterfell for many years finally passed away.
"Maester Luwin!"
The group buried the remains of Winterfell and gradually moved away.
They followed Maester Luwin's advice and split into two groups. Bran took the Direwolf Summer and went with Jojen Reed and Meera Reed toward The Wall to find his bastard brother, Jon Snow.
Meanwhile, Rickon went with Osha and the Direwolf Shaggydog toward Skagos in the Shivering Sea, east of the North.
This journey was long and fraught with obstacles; there was no telling when they would meet again.
Nor did they know if they would all survive safely by the time they reunited.