Rowan

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Rowan
Rowan by Amuelia.png
Rowan by Amuelia ©

Allegiance Mance Rayder
Culture Free folk
Died In 300 ACWinterfell
Book A Dance with Dragons (appears)

Rowan is a spearwife of the free folk.

Appearance

Rowan is tall and skinny, too lean and leathery to be called pretty. She has long legs and red-brown hair.[1]

Recent Events

A Dance with Dragons

Rowan © Fantasy Flight Games

Rowan accompanies Mance Rayder and five other spearwives to Winterfell on a mission to free "Arya Stark" (actually Jeyne Poole), who is to wed Ramsay Bolton. Mance disguises himself as "Abel", a singer,[2] and the six spearwives pretend to be his mother, wife, two daughters, and two sisters, who perform the instruments with him. Abel and the spearwives play at the wedding feast.[2] Rowan is the first of the washerwomen to contact Theon Greyjoy about how he took Winterfell.[1]

After several men-at-arms and squires are found dead at Winterfell, Theon disbelieves the spearwives' claims of innocence.[3][4] Rowan explains that Yellow Dick stank and was a pig of a man, but denies responsibility for the murder of Little Walder Frey.[4] The spearwives enlist the help of a reluctant and fearful Theon in freeing Jeyne.[3][4] The six spearwives, disguised as maids and accompanied by Theon, walk into Jeyne's room under the pretext of bringing hot water so Jeyne can have a bath. As they fight their way out of the castle, Rowan and the other spearwives are taken down one by one by the Bolton men.[4]

According to a letter received by Jon Snow at Castle Black, Ramsay has captured Mance and has him wearing a cloak made from the skins of the six women who accompanied him to Winterfell.[5]

Quotes

Did the Bastard hurt you? Chopped off your fingers, did he? Skinned your widdle toes? Knocked your teeth out? Poor lad. There will be no more o' that, I promise. You prayed, and the gods sent us. You want to die as Theon? We'll give you that. A nice quick death, 'twill hardly hurt at all.[3]

—Rowan to Theon Greyjoy

Theon: Winter is coming ...
Rowan: You have no right to mouth Lord Eddard's words. Not you. Not ever.[4]

Theon Greyjoy and Rowan

Theories

It has been speculated that Rowan is Mors Umber's daughter, who was abducted in 270 AC by wildlings.[6]

References