House Reed

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House Reed of Greywater Watch
House Reed.svg
Coat of arms A black lizard-lion on grey-green
(Vert-cendrée, a lizard-lion sable)
Seat Greywater Watch
Head Lord Howland Reed
Region North
Title Lord of Greywater Watch[1]
Heir Meera and Jojen Reed[2]
Overlords

House Reed of Greywater Watch is a noble house from Greywater Watch, and one of the principal families in the north. They rule the crannogmen, small men who live in the swamps and marshes of the Neck.

According to semi-canon sources their arms are a black lizard-lion on grey-green.[3] Their motto does not appear in the books.

History

According to a semi-canon source, the Reeds descend from the First Men.[4] The Reeds first swore their oaths of fealty to House Stark when the Starks were Kings in the North, thousands of years ago.[5] House Reed has led the crannogmen of the Neck since the defeat of the Marsh Kings by the Starks.[6]

Howland Reed was one of the six companions of Lord Eddard Stark who went with him to the Red Mountains of Dorne, and the only one who survived the ensuing combat at the tower of joy.[7] Eddard said that he would not have survived the battle if it were not for Howland.[5] Howland is said to have remained in the Neck since the end of Robert's Rebellion.[8]

Recent Events

A Game of Thrones

Although the crannogmen do not join Robb Stark's army, they are instructed to protect the Neck if the Lannisters try to invade the north via the causeway.[9]

A Clash of Kings

Lord Howland Reed sends his children Meera and Jojen to Winterfell to represent the family in the harvest feast and renew the oath to the Starks.[5] Meera and Jojen escape the sacked Winterfell with Bran and Rickon Stark.[10]

The ironborn sail up the Fever River and capture Moat Cailin.[11][10]

A Storm of Swords

Robb, now the King in the North, commands Lady Maege Mormont and Galbart Glover to take men by longship and sail through the marshes of the Neck to seek out Lord Howland. Robb plans to march on Moat Cailin with twelve thousand men once he joins with Lord Roose Bolton. The crannogmen will guide a small force under Robb's command across the swamps in order to reach Moat Cailin from the north.[12] However, Robb is killed in the Red Wedding at the Twins before his plan can be put into action.[13]

A Dance with Dragons

Meera and Jojen accompany Bran in his travel to find the three-eyed crow somewhere beyond the Wall.[14]

Though House Reed has not openly aligned itself with either Roose, the new Warden of the North, or King Stannis Baratheon in the northern conflicts after the War of the Five Kings, Roose does not seem to trust the crannogmen. He travels in a wagon and with a decoy while in the Neck as a precaution.[15]

House Reed at the end of the third century

The known Reeds during the timespan of the events described in A Song of Ice and Fire are:

Howland
 
Jyana
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Meera
 
Jojen
 


Quotes

Meera and Jojen: To Winterfell we pledge the faith of Greywater. Hearth and heart and harvest we yield up to you, my lord. Our swords and spears and arrows are yours to command. Grant mercy to our weak, help to our helpless, and justice to all, and we shall never fail you.

Jojen: I swear it by earth and water.
Meera: I swear it by bronze and iron.

Meera and Jojen: We swear it by ice and fire.[5]

Sworn Houses

References