REEK — Chapter 33

Chained and terrified, Reek (Theon Greyjoy) greets Ramsay Bolton’s hunting party as it returns to Barrowton without the missing Frey boys. Ramsay’s failure is marked by casual brutality, including the murder of a traveler who called him “Lord Snow,” and a wasteful feast at Lord Harwood Stout’s hall.

Mid-feast, Roose Bolton arrives, dismisses the hall, and confronts Ramsay over the lost Freys and Lord Manderly’s conspicuous provisions but lack of hostages. Roose warns that fearsome tales about Ramsay undermine Bolton power and reveals that Stannis has taken Deepwood Motte with the mountain clans rallying to him.

Roose lays out his plan: Ramsay will wed “Arya Stark” not at Barrowton but at Winterfell to solidify their claim and force Stannis to march there, where the Boltons can meet him and ensnare Arnolf Karstark. Ramsay chafes, but Roose asserts control and orders Ramsay to unchain Reek, declaring he will take the man.

On the ride to Barrow Hall, Roose corrects Reek’s peasant speech and recounts Ramsay’s true conception, his bond with the first Reek, and his dangerous nature. Roose admits he believes Ramsay poisoned his trueborn son Domeric and warns that northern allies like the Manderlys, Umbers, Tallharts, and Cerwyns cannot be trusted. He pointedly says Ramsay should learn fear.

Roose offers Reek clean clothes and a bath, which Reek refuses in panic, and credits Theon’s seizure of Winterfell with breaking the Starks’ power. At Barrow Hall, Roose presents the shaking, mutilated Theon to Lady Barbrey Dustin as the rightful Lord of the Iron Islands, while Theon denies his identity in terror, clinging to the name Reek.