Rickon Stark

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House Stark.svgRickon StarkHouse Stark.svg
Rickon Stark and Shaggydog by Amok.jpg
Rickon and Shaggydog, Art by Amok©

Title Prince[1]
Allegiance House Stark
Culture Northmen
Born In 295 AC (age 4)[2]Winterfell[3]
Father Eddard Stark
Mother Catelyn Tully
Books

Played by Art Parkinson
TV series Game of Thrones: Season 1 | 2 | 3 | 6

Rickon Stark is Eddard and Catelyn's youngest child, only three years old when the series begins. Rickon is a naturally aggressive and strong-willed child, but his youth makes it difficult for him to cope with the terrible changes that come to his family and life. He is usually accompanied by his direwolf, Shaggydog. In the television adaptation Game of Thrones, Rickon is played by Art Parkinson.[4]

Appearance and Character

Rickon favors his mother Catelyn in appearance, having the bright blue eyes, auburn hair, and easy smile of a Tully.[5][6][7]

Young Rickon is playful, but temperamental and stubborn.[8][9] He has breathless laughter[10] and fiercely tries to be like his older brothers.[11] Rickon's family often thinks of him as a baby.[12][13][14]

Rickon wears an ermine mantle.[15] His bedchamber is half a turn below Bran's in a tower at Winterfell.[16]

History

Born at Winterfell in 295 AC, Rickon is the third son and youngest child of Catelyn and Eddard Stark, Lord of Winterfell. Maester Luwin helped deliver the child.[17] Rickon's brothers are Robb and Bran, while his sisters are Sansa and Arya. Rickon also has a bastard half-brother, Jon Snow, from whom Rickon begs for sweets.[7]

Recent Events

A Game of Thrones

Rickon and Shaggydog in the crypts of Winterfell, by Chris Casciano © Fantasy Flight Games

Lord Eddard Stark allows his children to adopt a litter of direwolves found by Jon Snow.[18] Rickon is initially afraid of his pup,[19] which he eventually names Shaggydog.[20] At the feast welcoming King Robert I Baratheon to Winterfell, Jon prods his half brother on when Rickon stops to visit him during the procession.[21]

When Eddard departs for King's Landing to serve Robert as Hand of the King, he leaves his youngest son at Winterfell with the boy's mother, Catelyn Stark, and eldest brother, Robb.[17] Bran Stark was supposed to join his sisters, Sansa and Arya, with Eddard in the capital, but Rickon's older brother becomes comatose after falling from the First Keep.[20]

A grief-stricken Catelyn lingers at Bran's bedside, so Rickon follows Robb around, crying. After Bran wakes from his coma, Catelyn departs Winterfell to inform Eddard of the catspaw assassin, leaving Robb to rule the castle.[6] Rickon enjoys running with Shaggydog, Grey Wind, and Summer—the direwolves of Robb and Bran—in the castle's yard.[8] Rickon becomes upset whenever Robb departs Winterfell to address matters in the north.[8] When the direwolves threaten Tyrion Lannister, Rickon calls Shaggy back to him.[8]

Having learned that Robb is marching south to rescue their father from imprisonment in King's Landing, an upset Rickon hides in the crypt of Winterfell. Rickon slashes at Robb's men with a rusty sword, and Shaggydog wounds Gage and Mikken. Rickon cries even more when Shaggy is chained in Farlen's kennel, and the boy refuses to bid farewell when Robb departs Winterfell.[22]

Bran has a dream of Eddard in the crypt, so Osha and Maester Luwin bring the boy to the vaults so he can see that his father's tomb is empty. Shaggydog jumps out of the shadows and wounds Luwin, however, and Summer begins fighting with Shaggy. Four-year-old Rickon, who had freed Shaggy from the kennel, explains that he had also dreamed that Eddard would be coming home. Rickon accompanies the group to Luwin's tower, and the maester shows obsidian arrowheads to the boys. Rickon cries when a raven then arrives at the tower bringing word that Eddard has been executed by order of King Joffrey I Baratheon in the capital.[23]

After the Battle of the Camps, Robb is proclaimed King in the North at Riverrun by northmen and rivermen,[24] and his brothers become princes.[25]

A Clash of Kings

Rickon and Shaggydog, by Nicholas Gregory © Fantasy Flight Games

Rickon is initially upset when Big Walder and Little Walder Frey arrive at Winterfell as wards, according to the alliance between Houses Stark and Frey.[26] When Little Walder knocks the Rickon into a pool while playing lord of the crossing, Shaggydog bites him. Ser Rodrik Cassel, the castellan of Winterfell, confines Shaggydog and Summer, both direwolves at Winterfell, to the godswood.[26]

Rickon then becomes friends with the Frey cousins, playing other games like monsters and maidens, rats and cats, and come-into-my-castle. Bran is angered when his brother shows the crypt of Winterfell to their guests.[26] Rickon sits near the Freys during the harvest feast.[15]

With his mother Catelyn away in the south, Rickon refuses to have his hair cut, and instead bites a girl who tries to cut his long, unruly hair.[15] Maester Luwin discounts the dreams which Bran and Rickon experienced before Winterfell was informed of Lord Eddard's death,[27] while Jojen Reed explains he has had green dreams of the Stark brothers in the crypt[9] and also of the boys being flayed by Reek.[9]

Theon Greyjoy and his ironborn raiders capture Winterfell. Rickon, Bran, and the Reed siblings become his hostages. Meera Reed protects Rickon when Stygg kills Mikken.[28] After Osha, Hodor, the direwolves, and the Reed and Stark siblings vanish from the castle, Theon and Reek hunt for them in the wolfswood to no avail.[16] The hunters instead kill two miller's sons at the Acorn Water; Reek flays the children's bodies, and Theon presents their tarred heads to Winterfell as those of the missing Starks.[29]

In King's Landing, Varys receives word of Bran and Rickon's murder, and informs acting Hand of the King Tyrion Lannister, who informs his sister, Queen Cersei. Both fear that Catelyn Stark will kill Robb's hostage, their brother Jaime, in revenge. Cersei notes that they still hold their own hostage, Sansa Stark, and Tyrion reminds her that they must take good care of her.[30]

At Riverrun, Catelyn receives word of Bran and Rickon's murder, and decides to free Jaime Lannister to exchange for her daughters.[11][31][32] During the Battle of the Blackwater, Sansa Stark sings a prayer for her siblings.[33] At Harrenhal, Arya Stark becomes teary-eyed after learning of her brothers' fate.[34]

In actuality, Rickon and his companions have secretly hidden from Theon in the crypts, and they survive the sack of Winterfell by Reek, who is actually Ramsay Snow.[35][1] The group emerges from the crypts to find Winterfell in ruins. In the godswood, they discover a mortally wounded Maester Luwin, who tells them that Bran and Rickon need to be separated and taken into hiding. Osha agrees to look after Rickon, taking the prince and Shaggydog to parts unknown.[1]

Rickon Stark and Osha, by Amuelia ©

A Storm of Swords

Traveling north toward the Wall, Bran Stark wonders if Osha took his brother to White Harbor or the Last Hearth.[36]

Robb Stark, the King in the North, sleeps with Jeyne Westerling at the Crag after having been informed of his brothers' supposed deaths. Robb then marries Jeyne, breaking his promise to marry a daughter of Lord Walder Frey.[37]

After Lord Hoster Tully dies at Riverrun, Catelyn thinks her father will be awaited in the afterlife by his grandsons, Bran and Rickon.[38]

When Jon Snow returns to Castle Black after the great ranging and spying on a group of free folk, Maester Aemon informs him of his brothers' murders and of the burning of Winterfell. Jon cannot quite believe Theon would do that.[39]

Sansa, expecting to marry Willas Tyrell, hopes to one day name sons after Rickon, Bran, and Eddard.[40] However, Lord Tywin Lannister forces her to marry Tyrion Lannister,[41][42] so that House Lannister can one day claim Winterfell.[38] To prevent that possibility, King Robb names his half brother Jon as his heir.[43][44] Robb and Catelyn are then murdered by Freys and Boltons in the Red Wedding.[45]

A Dance with Dragons

Most of Westeros believes Rickon dead, but Lord Wyman Manderly and Robett Glover learn from Wex Pyke, Theon's onetime squire and a survivor of the sack of Winterfell, that the boy is alive. Wex tells them—via writing and chalk drawings since he is mute—that Ramsay killed Rodrik Cassel, not Theon, in the battle at Winterfell, and that Wex followed a boy, a woman, and a direwolf after they left the castle.[46] Wex learned that Osha was taking Rickon to Skagos.[47]

When Lord Davos Seaworth attempts to convince Lord Manderly to take up Stannis Baratheon's cause, Wyman brings Wex into their meeting in the New Castle and explains to Davos what Wex witnessed. Wyman explains that in order for House Manderly to accept Stannis as king, Davos must use his smuggling skills to retrieve Wyman's liege lord from Skagos—Rickon, the heir of House Stark with Robb dead and Bran's fate unknown.[46]

Ramsay, who is now Lord of Winterfell,[48] tells his father, Roose Bolton, that he intends to kill Bran and Rickon with his hounds if the Stark boys reappear.[49]

Theon, who has been tortured by Ramsay, is hated and considered a kinslayer for his alleged murder of Bran and Rickon.[50][51] Theon has a difficult time remembering what really happened,[49] but eventually recalls more clearly.[50]

The Winds of Winter

Content.png
Warning
This information has thus far been released in a sample chapter for The Winds of Winter, and might therefore not be in finalized form. Keep in mind that the content as described below is still subject to change.

Northmen in Stannis's army at the crofters' village want the king to execute Theon for having killed Bran and Rickon. Theon incoherently tries to explain his true actions to his sister, Asha Greyjoy.[52]

Quotes by Rickon

Rickon: You let my father be. You let him be.

Bran: Rickon. Father's not here.

Rickon: Yes he is. I saw him. I saw him last night.[23]

—Rickon to Luwin and Bran Stark

Are we going home? I want my horse. And I want applecakes and butter and honey, and Shaggy. Are we going where Shaggydog is?[1]

—Rickon to Bran Stark

Quotes about Rickon

Rickon needs you. He's only three, he doesn't understand what's happening. He thinks everyone has deserted him, so he follows me around all day, clutching my leg and crying. I don't know what to do with him.[6]

His baby brother had been wild as a winter storm since he learned Robb was riding off to war, weeping and angry by turns.[22]

—thoughts of Bran Stark

Though he knew Lord Eddard was dead, sometimes Rickon forgot ... willfully, Bran suspected. His little brother was stubborn as only a boy of four can be.[9]

—thoughts of Bran Stark

Brienne: I ... there are no words, my lady. My good lady. Your sons, they ... they're with the gods now.
Catelyn: Are they? What god would let this happen? Rickon was only a baby. How could he deserve such a death?[11]

Roose Bolton has Lord Eddard's daughter. To thwart him White Harbor must have Ned's son ... and the direwolf. The wolf will prove the boy is who we say he is, should the Dreadfort attempt to deny him. That is my price, Lord Davos. Smuggle me back my liege lord, and I will take Stannis Baratheon as my king.[46]

Family

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Beron
 
Lorra
Royce
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Donnor
 
Lyanne
Glover
 
 
Willam
 
Melantha
Blackwood
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Artos
 
Lysara
Karstark
 
Berena
 
Alysanne
 
Errold
 
Rodrik
 
Arya
Flint
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Brandon
 
Edwyle
 
Marna
Locke
 
Jocelyn
 
Benedict
Royce
 
Brandon
 
Benjen
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Harrold
Rogers
 
Branda
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Issue
 
 
 
Issue
 
Issue
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Rickard
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Lyarra
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Brandon
 
Catelyn
Tully
 
Eddard
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unknown
woman
 
Lyanna
 
Benjen
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Jeyne
Westerling
 
Robb
 
Sansa
 
Tyrion
Lannister
 
Arya
 
Brandon
 
Rickon
 
Jon
Snow
 
 
 


References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 69, Bran VII.
  2. See the Rickon Stark calculation.
  3. George R. R. Martin's A World of Ice and Fire, Rickon Stark.
  4. HBO:Game of Thrones: Cast and Crew
  5. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 7, Arya I.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 14, Catelyn III.
  7. 7.0 7.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 19, Jon III.
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 24, Bran IV.
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 35, Bran V.
  10. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 69, Jon XIII.
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 55, Catelyn VII.
  12. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 22, Arya II.
  13. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 18, Sansa II.
  14. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 40, Bran III.
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 21, Bran III.
  16. 16.0 16.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 50, Theon IV.
  17. 17.0 17.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 6, Catelyn II.
  18. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 1, Bran I.
  19. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 2, Catelyn I.
  20. 20.0 20.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 8, Bran II.
  21. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 5, Jon I.
  22. 22.0 22.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 53, Bran VI.
  23. 23.0 23.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 66, Bran VII.
  24. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 71, Catelyn XI.
  25. A Clash of Kings, Appendix.
  26. 26.0 26.1 26.2 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 4, Bran I.
  27. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 28, Bran IV.
  28. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 46, Bran VI.
  29. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 56, Theon V.
  30. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 54, Tyrion XII.
  31. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 1, Jaime I.
  32. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 2, Catelyn I.
  33. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 57, Sansa V.
  34. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 64, Arya X.
  35. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 66, Theon VI.
  36. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 24, Bran II.
  37. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 14, Catelyn II.
  38. 38.0 38.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 35, Catelyn IV.
  39. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 48, Jon VI.
  40. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 16, Sansa II.
  41. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 19, Tyrion III.
  42. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 28, Sansa III.
  43. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 45, Catelyn V.
  44. George R. R. Martin's A World of Ice and Fire, Robb Stark.
  45. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 51, Catelyn VII.
  46. 46.0 46.1 46.2 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 29, Davos IV.
  47. George R. R. Martin's A World of Ice and Fire, Wex Pyke.
  48. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 37, The Prince of Winterfell.
  49. 49.0 49.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 32, Reek III.
  50. 50.0 50.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 46, A Ghost in Winterfell.
  51. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 51, Theon I.
  52. The Winds of Winter, Theon I