Theon Harlaw

Theon Harlaw is the natural son of Lady Alannys Harlaw and her lover, Triston Volmark. Originally recognized as a Pyke, he was legitimized in the wake of the Seastone Interregnum by Visaera I Targaryen, and has ruled as the Lord of Harlaw since 432 AC. He came to power amidst the bloody civil war remembered as the Black Prophet's Rebellion, during which he had defeated his cousin and contender, Ravos Harlaw, and captured the false king Loren Greyjoy aboard his own ship - thus ending the conflict. Like his mother and uncle had before, he wields the Valyrian Steel longsword, Nightfall.

With a keen mind for strategy and matters of statecraft, Theon played a crucial part in helping his younger brother solidify his power, and it was due to his efforts that House Greyjoy's naval strength was restored during the Four Year Winter that struck the Realm. He had served as Lord Captain of the Iron Fleet for the better part of the season until his resignation in 436 AC, when he was called upon to serve the Realm as King Aegon's Master of Ships. With the court of Pyke supporting his decision, he accepted the appointment and travelled to King's Landing in the same year.

For almost two years now, the Lord of Harlaw has been handling his responsibilities as a member of the Small Council with persistence, diligence, and infallible loyalty to the King. He had seen to a seamless transition after his predecessor's resignation, and building upon the latter's reforms, his own policies are simultaneously centered around the preservation of the Royal Fleet's strength and its expansion. His efforts thus far have paid off, for he has been proving not only his own worth, but that of his people as a whole - and it remains one of his goals to establish the Iron Islands as a most valuable asset to the Realm.

As the head of the most distinguished House Harlaw, Captain of the famed Argent Phantom, and a proud father of five, Theon's legacy remains yet unfinished. What's certain is that he enjoys a growing recognition in many circles, and his name is conjured with reverence and fear in equal measure.

Appearance & Character
By no means a towering giant, Theon Harlaw yet cuts an imposing figure by the merit of his presence alone. His slender form is strengthened with a warrior's musculature, and his stature is possessed of an imperious quality as he bears himself with the martial might and noble grace that befit a man of his history. Despite his bastard birth, he came to the world exhibiting the distinctive characteristics that defined his line for generations, and as he had matured into adulthood, so had his heritage become more pronounced.

Theon wears his crown of midnight locks in a neat bowl-cut above thick and prominent brows, and sports a sparse beard, always fashionably trimmed, to highlight the inherent sharpness of his visage. Whilst his large, round eyes are a reflection of his mother, Theon has inherited his father's angular and in certain lights rugged features. His pointed chin, protruding cheekbones, and hooked nose - along with his charcoal gaze and devilish smile - complete an image of menacing elegance that he effortlessly projects.

Beside his bearing, his natural gifts are only further accentuated by his choice of attire. Subverting classic stereotypes and expectations, Theon - unless necessity calls for it - consciously avoids the roughspun cloaks and simple leathers associated with the reavers of the Ironman's Bay, and instead aims to strike an impression that imparts his ideal of synergy between tradition and progression. His wardrobe is generally composed of the colours of his House, with the interplay of the predominant blacks and dark greys, and scant patterns of silver evoking a sense of modesty and refinement alike.

Abiding by those choices, Theon prefers wool tunics and doublets with the occasional mantles and overcoats for their practicality, but he can also be spotted in finer fabrics such as velvet and silk, especially when is in attendance at the Red Keep. And although he is not particularly fond of lavish designs, he doesn't shy away from accessories. Apart from the signet ring of House Harlaw on his right hand, Theon is rarely seen without a peculiar brooch attached below his shoulders; depicting two silver scythes crossed with the slitted eye of Nagga betwixt their heads, it was a one of the last gifts his father had given to his mother, and by and of itself, it is of great sentimental value to him.

The only arm he regularly carries on his person is the steel dagger that hangs in its sheath from his leather belt. That, however, changes as soon as he leaves the political arena for the real. When he heads into battle, Theon dons upon himself a set of black and silver plate armour much akin to that of his predecessor, and only then does he wield the Valyrian Steel of his ancestors - albeit the blade rarely tastes blood. Even though he is a capable fighter, as a high lord, Theon understands his fundamental role in warfare as much as in politics. He is a beacon thousands look up to for leadership and guidance, and he has distinguished himself as a luminary in both respects.

The Lord of Harlaw emanates strength and purpose in an almost nonchalant manner, and his demeanor gains its authenticity from one simple truth; where others hide behind carefully tailored layers of deception, he does not. Theon draws his power of presence from his conviction, and an honest, if somewhat cynical display of the man he is. Whilst he perceives the subtleties of courtly intrigue, he cares little for their potential as weapons when there are tools far sharper at his disposal. Wielding upon his lips the savage candor of his Ironborn kin, the Harlaw means every word he utters, and lives by the law of their making. There is boldness in defying a convention so deeply intertwined with the political nature of the world, yet he still manages to persist on the top - and perhaps that's where his innate charm sprouts from.

Make no mistake though; for daring the man may be, he lacks in folly. Once riddled with insecurity and fearful of the scrutiny of his peers, Theon came to consider the pursuit of external acceptance a flaw, and believes that his truest conception of self may only be achieved on his very own terms. He sees individual merit as the surest means of excellence, and in the pursuit of the latter, he upholds his mother as the ultimate role model. He is unyielding in his positions, meticulous in execution, and always seeks to align his personal interests with what he deems the greater good. Pairing that philosophy, however, is a moral compass equivocal in its nature; Theon deliberates his decisions upon a pragmatic compromise between his principles and selfish desires, and as he advances towards the future, no sacrifice may seem too great for the preservation of his legacy.

Bastard of the Tower
Conceived by the passion of lovers and brought to the world in captivity, the curious circumstances of Theon Harlaw's birth have largely been shrouded in mystery. His mother, Lady Alannys - then just a young scion of House Harlaw with no inheritance of her own - had already earned renown for her participation in a war, and was beloved by the smallfolk for her efforts to keep them from starvation during the Scarlet Winter. She was truly content with the freedom she had back then, and had it not been for the folly of youth, her name and legacy would have been lost to the tides of time.

It was rampant desire - and perhaps genuine love - that compelled her to consummate unwed with her long-time love interest and second-in-command, Triston Volmark, and their perpetuated indulgence of the flesh would bring about an unwanted conception neither of them was prepared for. Desperate as she was, Alannys sought guidance from her brother, whom she had seen as a man with political savvy, and thought would help her convince their uncle to allow a marriage between her and Triston before it would be too late. Alas, she fell for deception.

Goren Harlaw, who had been harboring an unvoiced jealousy for his sister's accomplishments, had her confined in the Tower of Glimmering for the duration of her pregnancy. She was removed from court and stripped of her influence, all on the premise of a lie - that the ailing Lord of Harlaw should not learn of her misdeed. She wasn't allowed any contact with her crews, let alone the father of her unborn child, and soon she would realize that she was sent to a place that was a prison in all but name. She had been played, and there was nothing left for her but the child growing under her heart, and upon delivering him, she'd vow to protect her newborn from all harm, at all costs.

Given the name of high lords and kings, Theon came into the world under the protective aegis of his mother, and his first breath was the spark to the fire that would consume those who had done her and her child wrong. What followed was a meticulous and swift reckoning, and at its end, Alannys was the sole eligible heir to claim the island of Harlaw. Theon, whose very birth had ignited her ambition, would learn it only after several years that the legacy he inherited was robbed at the expense of his uncle's life and those of many others.

Theon would be told early on of his mother's deeds throughout the Mummer's War and the Seastone Interregnum - that she had put an end to a foolish Lord Reaper's short-lived revolt after forming an alliance with the greatest navies of the Sunset Sea, married Dagon Greyjoy to restore the prestige of House Greyjoy and order in the Iron Islands, and that she had been rewarded with the most generous gift a monarch could bestow. In a decree of legitimization signed by the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms herself, it was declared that Theon was no longer to be recognized as a Pyke, but as the rightful heir of Alannys Harlaw. However, the war that had given House Harlaw the opportunity to rise also exacted its toll; Triston Volmark had perished in the fighting, and his son was to grow up without a father.

Heir to Harlaw
As the dust left in the wake of strife had settled, an era of peace had begun in the Iron Islands, bolstered by never-before-experienced prosperity. The iron order established in the early years of Lord Dagon and Lady Alannys' joint reign also offered Theon a childhood free of unrest and turmoil. But as he soon came to experience, it likewise stole much of the parental attention he had enjoyed as a toddler. Whilst he was under the tight watch of sworn swords and household guards on a near constant basis, he noticed that his mother became more and more absent from his little life.

During the first couple years after his birth, Alannys had never lost sight of her son, and often watched over him at the same time she had tended to her administrative and other courtly tasks. It was natural that as soon as such a routine had changed, Theon grew restless and developed several rambunctious tendencies. He would throw anxious fits and insult his carers, and would even put on an act of defiance during his lordly lessons. He was the only child of the Lady of Harlaw to bear the name of her dynasty, dozens of servants were looking after his every need, yet despite being more privileged than ever before, he felt the opposite was true.

It wasn't until a long conversation with his tutor, the aging Maester Gevin, that he was enlightened about his family's unique situation. He was told that his mother had a duty of upholding the authority and prestige of two dynasties as the Lady of Harlaw and the Iron Islands, and that everything she had done thus far - and would do in the future - was for him and his soon-to-be siblings. Knowing those things didn't make him feel better or much different, but he gained an understanding that helped him cope when his first sister, Victaria Greyjoy was born.

In trying to embrace his role, Theon developed a strong sense of family that would make of him a diligent student as it would a responsible brother. Without any urging, He delved into the various collections in the Reader's library to sharpen his mind, and he would practice his swordsmanship each day to become a fierce combatant. Most importantly though, he forged connections within the household, and became a part of the castle's daily life. He wished to prove that he was a worthy heir, and even though his efforts were not a requirement of parental love, they were nonetheless commended by his mother.

The Lady of Harlaw quickly discovered that her son's drive helped them connect on a deeper level, and she made a renewed effort to spend her time with him productively. She took Theon under her wing and began to teach him everything she knew from fighting with a longsword and navigating a ship, to the intricate arts of statecraft and strategy. She intended to mould him into his future role, and though she was demanding, the boy was more than receptive of her lessons. Before he was ten, Theon could tell between the various types of seafaring vessels, and he already knew how to sail an Ironborn longship.

He would shape up to be a capable young lad over the years, but as the long summer came to an end, so did his childhood - for winter invited the troubles of adolescence. Upon coming into the full realization of who he was and whom he was meant to become, he was beset by self-doubt. Unlike him, his siblings had the chance to grow up in a full family, and only a part of which he truly shared. Despite the Dagon's fatherly affections and Alannys' attempts to bring them closer, Theon could never see or treat the Lord Reaper as a father figure, and if anything, he developed a sense of unexpressed and restrained jealousy towards his younger siblings.

Although he carried the name of his forefathers and was an heir in his own right, the reality that he had no true father to look up to was a serving reminder of his bastard birth. He felt as though he did not belong, and the feeling got worse when six moons shy of his twelfth name day, the Lady of Harlaw arranged for him a betrothal. He was well aware that as the Lord of Harlaw it would be his foremost duty to prolong his line, and he did consider himself ready for the task. What filled him with angst and melancholy was not the prospect of marriage, but the person of his promised.

The young lady he had been betrothed to was Genna Harlaw, and whilst he hadn't yet been acquainted with her, he knew that she was the daughter of Ser Galladon Harlaw, the man who had been the heir-presumptive of Lady Alannys prior to his legitimization. Not fully understanding the politics of the choice, Theon was utterly agitated by it. He saw himself as a cripple, who required a crutch to stand before his vassals and peers, and he gave in to his fears that no matter how hard he pushed, he would never live up to anyone's expectations of him.

Disappointed as he was then, Theon grabbed every petty excuse to protest against his lady mother's decision. Once it was Genna being two years his elder that posed a problem, then it was her Andal faith and heritage. He tried to prove that she wasn't suited for her, and when they travelled to Grey Garden to officiate the betrothal, he even went as far as to rudely point out that she wasn't pretty enough for him. Though he immediately regretted his very much deliberate slip of tongue, he received a well-deserved motherly scolding, which at last prompted him to reveal the fears that tormented his mind. Theon was afraid that he would be unable to carry on the Harlaw legacy, and the young boy he yet was, he was in desperate need of guidance. And Alannys was willing to offer him exactly that to set him on the path of finding his self-confidence.

In the weeks following that embarrassing incident, he accompanied his mother on a tour across the island, visiting every castle and settlement under the aegis of their House, and places he previously hadn't known have existed. One such of the latter, and doubtless the most memorable, was the hidden sanctuary where his parents used to escape to whenever the world outside had felt too dull, and where he learned that he wasn't alone with his fears. The very person he beheld as his role model had admitted to many she has had, yet she also told him that it fell upon each individual to conquer theirs - and whatever his flaws may be, the only thing that mattered about them was his ability to temper them into strengths. Her words took root in Theon's heart, and soon he would come to embrace their meaning.

As eventful as the year had been thus far, winter brought the young heir the opportunity to shine as well. In the tenth year of the Queen's prosperous reign, the entirety of the Realm was invited to the palace of Summerhall to join the royal dynasty in an extravagant celebration of their undisputed superiority. Eager to see more of the world, Theon readily joined the Ironborn delegation headed by Lord Dagon and Lady Alannys. To him, the long journey south was pleasant sightseeing, and he treasured every moment of it; he beheld Seagard ad the ruined castle of Oldstones, the fortress of Harrenhal and the God's Eye, and the city of King's Landing.

However, when he thought the journey had brought the tales of his childhood alive, he was wrong. Encouraged by Dagon, he signed his name up for the Squire's Melee, and entered the ring wielding his determination and a longsword in his hands. At last, he had the chance to prove that his training was worth it. Fighting his way through young warriors from the Vale and the North, including a son of the Lord of Winterfell, he made it to the finals, where he faced off against none other than Prince Viserys, the youngest scion of the Queen. Their blades crossed several times until Theon was brought to exhaustion by the bravo's expertise, and in the end, he accepted his defeat with utmost dignity.

The display of his martial prowess throughout his duels was applauded by dignitaries from the Iron Islands and the rest of the Kingdoms alike, but in truth, he did no longer need their validation. Even if he hadn't realized that right away. For the first time, he was proud of his own achievement, and he returned to the Iron Islands with a renewed and jovial spirit.

Family and Resolve
Having loosened himself of many self-imposed burdens, Theon started to feel more at home in the Ten Towers as well. He most certainly had changed, for instead of a brooding child, there stood a young man resolved to make up for his past mistakes. High on his agenda was to seek the forgiveness of Ser Galladon and Genna for insulting the latter, and he rode to Grey Garden in an earnest after his return. Carrying himself with grace and a respectable man's humility, he presented his apology to the both of them, and asked for the Knight's permission to court his daughter.

As the heir of their liege, he had to demonstrate his faith in their traditions, and that he was capable of owning responsibility for his actions. Even though he would have been united in matrimony with his betrothed either way, the gesture was the least that was expected of him. It meant the symbolic restoration of trust between the two branches, and thus the preservation of Grey Garden's dignity. And Theon's words weren't empty of meaning, for he had a sincere interest in committing to the woman he would one day have to marry, and he made it clear to them that he would do anything within his power to prove himself worthy of her.

So it was, that over the quiet winter moons, Theon would become a regular visitor at Grey Garden. He and Genna started off with a little animosity at first, where she would oft tease him with witty remarks and he would endure with a flushed face for the most part, but they quickly found common ground to build upon in the form of their impending marriage, and the rest would follow. Theon came to admire her for her intelligence, and she began to respect him for his maturity, which apparently was beyond his years. Their time spent together would eventually prove them natural soul mates, and when their grand day came, their love blossomed.

The ceremony was held at the Ten Towers in the 420 AC just as the season began to pass, and every lord and lady had been invited from the region to celebrate the wedding of Alannys Harlaw's firstborn. House Harlaw had spared no coin to make it a spectacular event, but to Theon, it paled in comparison to the night that followed it. In those blissful hours, he was certain that Genna was the only woman he could ever want, and he could think of nothing that made him happier than knowing she was his wife.

Their early marriage was indubitably a political device to secure Lady Alannys' lineage by producing more heirs, yet despite barely scratching at real adulthood, his role as a husband suited Theon well. Having someone to care about and to connect with on such an intimate level empowered him, and by his account, he became more the man he aspired to be. He and Genna were an inseparable couple with a powerful foundation of friendship and mutual respect, and they grew to be partners intellectually as much as they were romantically.

There were differences between them, of course, for while Theon focused on his studies and martial pursuits, his older spouse had already been entrusted a few administrative tasks around the castle. And perhaps that did make him a little jealous, but in the end, he could only be proud of her. They complemented each other in every way partners could, and his feelings for her only proliferated when their matrimony was blessed with the greatest of blessings; children. Within the first year of their marriage, Genna gave birth to a pair of beautiful and healthy twins - a boy and a girl bearing their father's eyes and the golden blonde hair of their mother.

Alysanne and Triston, so named by their parents, were the most praised additions to the Harlaw household, and they would be brought up alongside Theon's younger siblings. At the behest of Lady Alannys, the children she had with her lord husband were to be raised at the Ten Towers as well, including the young heir to the Iron Islands, Alyn Greyjoy. They were two families only in name, and the enormous halls of Theomore's Gift were once again filled with the mirthful laughter of young children. Theon saw their well-being as nothing but deserved, and he steeled his conviction in his will to preserve the legacy his predecessors would leave behind.

Braving the Storm
Theon's life could never be described in the natural order of things. He was a warrior as a boy, and he was a husband and father before he became a man. At the age of nineteen, he had been trusted with overseeing all of Harlaw's naval affairs, and by the time another long summer had passed, he had effectively been the island's ruler. With Alyn having reached an age where he was ready to be introduced to the Lord Reaper's court at Pyke as a more permanent resident, Lady Alannys moved to her husband's castle herself to guide her youngest, and left her Theon and his spouse in charge of her island. His mother was confident in their leadership, which would inadvertently be tested in the cruellest of times.

The death of the tyrant Queen during the last winter sent a silent tremor across the Realm, which would be felt only years after, and would crash against the Iron Islands like a tidal wave. The Blue Winter, as it came to be known, was the harshest of its kind in decades. Unlike its scarlet predecessor, however, it did not follow in the wake of a war but ultimately set the scene for one. The people of the archipelago suffered, and the economic reforms implemented throughout the past twenty years meant little in the face of shortage and famine brought upon them by a deadly cold.

Theon tried to assist in managing Harlaw's resources and the organizing of cold weather maintenance for roads and settlements, but those tasks would ultimately be handled by Genna, and to a decidedly greater efficiency. He had to put his skills to use somewhere else, and he had no difficulty in finding his call. For the better part of the season, the Sunset Sea was terrorized by violent storms and crippling blizzards, sometimes for several moons in a row. They ravaged and consumed supply-carrying vessels in the dozens along the entire western coast of the mainland, and numerous port had to close because of them.

The consequences of maritime trade closing in the middle of winter would have been too severe for the Iron Islands to bear, and so Theon took it upon himself to reduce those casualties. Enlisting the most seasoned captains and fastest ships from his mother's fleet, he set sail to personally handle the safe distribution of supplies from port to port. It was a risky endeavor, yet someone had to do it - and he had learned to navigate from the best.

Often absent for several weeks, he guided his ships through the Storm God's unleashed wrath from Oldtown to the Lonely Light, docking at every harbour on the way to insure that the grain traded from the south reached everyone in need of it. Over the course of the season, he established safer routes for trading vessels to follow, and he taught the techniques he had mastered to his sailors. Maritime casualties were drastically reduced due to his efforts, yet braving even the most unforgiving storms did little to ease the tensions that brewed at home.

On the island of Great Wyk, the drowned priest Torwyn's fanatical movement saw a grand resurgence, and thousands of smallfolk embraced his preachings. Having listened to one of his speeches, Theon considered the priest's ideas of "defying the highborn that bent to the dragon" outrageous and was convinced that his adherence to the Old Way was but a mere farce to gain power. He wanted him charged for treason and executed, but much to his chagrin, the Council of Pyke decided to employ a softer approach in fear of an armed uprising. Lord Dagon sent his pious brother, Loren Greyjoy, to come to terms with the priest and see the mob dismissed.

Although Loren's negotiations proved successful and the immediate threat passed, Theon wasn't at all satisfied with the results. The false priest was allowed to continue his preachings at Nagga's Bones in exchange for telling his followers to go home, and in his utter disappointment, Theon called out his step-father for letting this happen. He was furious with a temper unchecked, and quite expectedly, his tone and opinion weren't received well. The heated argument that ensued ended only when neither of them had more insults to fling at each other, and in its aftermath, Alannys was barely able to force any form of reconciliation.

Theon wouldn't have a word with the Lord Reaper for years to come in the wake of their fight, and the relationship between him and his mother had turned colder as well. For the remainder of the season he continued to assume his regency over Harlaw, eventually losing his anger, but remaining cautious of the consequences of an ill-made decision. As ever, he would find solace and reason in Genna's embrace - and he needed both, for what came next was a series of events far worse than he had ever anticipated.

Immediate Family

 * Alannys Harlaw, Lady of Harlaw b. 388 d. 433 AC
 * w. Triston Volmark b. 386 d. 409 AC
 * Theon Harlaw, Lord of Harlaw b. 406 AC
 * m. Genna Harlaw, Lady of Harlaw b. 404 AC
 * Alysanne Harlaw b. 421 AC
 * Triston Harlaw, Heir to Harlaw b. 421 AC
 * Edmund Harlaw b. 429 AC
 * Meredyth Harlaw b. 432 AC
 * Harwyn Harlaw b. 434 AC
 * m. Dagon Greyjoy, Lord of the Iron Islands b. 385 d. 432 AC
 * Victaria Greyjoy b. 412 AC
 * Arwyn Greyjoy b. 415 AC
 * Maege Greyjoy b. 417 AC
 * Alyn Greyjoy, Lord of the Iron Islands b. 419 AC
 * m. Alerie Redwyne, Lady of Pyke b. 420 AC

Extended Family
See the page of House Harlaw and the extended family tree.

Household

 * Sylas Myre - Castellan of the Ten Towers
 * Maester Lomas - Counselor and Tutor
 * Yrsa Steelwave - Master-at-Arms
 * Donel Pyke - Steward
 * Othgar Blackgull - Drowned Priest of Harlaw
 * Tattered Tarle Kenning - Shipwright and Engineer