[ Theon sighs, because he is willing to answer that question, but this is going to take some explaining. With a deep breath, he begins: ]
Westeros is divided into seven kingdoms. Nine, in truth, but Westeros is slow to change. We still call them the Seven Kingdoms. There was a time when all of them were their own independent realms with their own kings. Now, the king on the Iron Throne rules them all.
[ He smirks, because that’s not so true anymore. Kingdoms are beginning to declare their independence all over again, but that isn't important to this story, not yet. ]
When I was a child, my father attempted a rebellion against the throne. He wanted to see independence restored to the Iron Islands. He failed, bent the knee, and swore fealty to the Iron Throne once more. King Robert must have been feeling generous that day, because he let my father keep his head and his title as a Lord.
My older brothers both died in that rebellion. That left me as my father’s last living son, and his heir. They took me from home, shipped me off to the mainlands as a hostage to my father's good behavior. If he rebelled again, I would be the one to lose his head. That was my father's punishment, and he wasn't even the one to serve it.
i am so sorry for this infodump
Westeros is divided into seven kingdoms. Nine, in truth, but Westeros is slow to change. We still call them the Seven Kingdoms. There was a time when all of them were their own independent realms with their own kings. Now, the king on the Iron Throne rules them all.
[ He smirks, because that’s not so true anymore. Kingdoms are beginning to declare their independence all over again, but that isn't important to this story, not yet. ]
When I was a child, my father attempted a rebellion against the throne. He wanted to see independence restored to the Iron Islands. He failed, bent the knee, and swore fealty to the Iron Throne once more. King Robert must have been feeling generous that day, because he let my father keep his head and his title as a Lord.
My older brothers both died in that rebellion. That left me as my father’s last living son, and his heir. They took me from home, shipped me off to the mainlands as a hostage to my father's good behavior. If he rebelled again, I would be the one to lose his head. That was my father's punishment, and he wasn't even the one to serve it.