Theon gets a new chapter title now as he is called the Prince of Winterfell a few times throughout. I can't tell if it's supposed to a mocking title or if it's a throwback to the old Theon who used to dream of being one of Ned's sons. Maybe it's supposed to be both. Regardless, Theon is not even close to being a prince of anything except for maybe the prince of the dogs.
I had wondered if Roose Bolton had something big planned for Theon because of his claim to the Seastone Chair the way that I think Asha realized that she could use him. However, it sounds like this was Theon's role and no more. They are using him to "prove" that Fakarya is the real Arya. It's a clever move by a clever man as anyone who might suspect that Jeyne isn't Arya will keep their mouth shut if someone like Theon vouches for her. It's a pretty basic trick, but it's very effective.
As Theon leads the bride to her groom, he stares into her brown eyes. These are eyes which prove that this girl is not Arya. Perhaps Theon knew that Sansa was always out of his league, but Arya...she may have one day been his bride. He wishes someone would realize that her eyes are wrong and would end this farce and perhaps even end his misery swiftly. When Jeyne begged him to save her, it was almost heartbreaking because she's trapped and I don't think she deserves it at all. Her names, as Theon recites, rhymes with pain and I think she's about to feel a lot of it. As they walk, Theon looks around the godswood and the memories rush in. He had so many good memories here. I think his main issue is that he struggled with the desire to be one of the Starks, but he knew that he was really nothing more than a hostage. In the end, he wanted to be remembered and he got everyone killed and himself captured.
Quickly, the wedding takes place and Theon wanders back to the castle. He hears someone whisper his name in the mist. Was it real or was it his imagination? Could it have been Bran? It really sucks to see Winterfell in the state it is in. I remember when Ned was alive and the castle was whole. I hope that Winterfell goes back into the hands of the Starks one day.
At the end of the wedding feast, Roose Bolton gives a speech and he announces that Stannis is on the way. Theon thinks that Arnolf Karstark is going to turn on Stannis when Bolton commands. Is that the truth? If it is, then Stannis could find himself capture or dead before this coming battle is through. Afterwards, Theon is summoned to take Fakarya to Ramsey's chambers. Once he is there he is forced to strip her and more. Ramsey is such a brutal, sadistic animal. Every Theon chapter makes me wish he would meet his end soon, but I'm afraid it won't happen for a while. He might survive for quite a bit a la Joffrey.
What is the most distressing about this chapter is that Theon has a few opportunities to kill Ramsey and he even contemplates doing so. But, in the end, he submits just like a dog, just like Reek and he does his duty. I think Theon is stronger now than he ever was before, but something needs to bring it out of him.
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