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 Smiler is burned, by Marc Fishman | ||||
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| Owners | ||||
| Species | Horse | |||
| Born | Westerlands | |||
| Died | In 299 AC, Winterfell | |||
| Books |
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Smiler is a warhorse purchased by Theon Greyjoy in Lordsport.
Appearance and Character
[edit]Smiler is a stallion, smaller than a destrier, but larger than a courser. He is black, and has a black temper to match. Smiler has "fire in his eyes", and has been described as a "hellhorse".[1]
Recent Events
[edit]A Clash of Kings
[edit]
A year before, Lord Sawane Botley had bought the black stallion in Lannisport, but he proved to be too much horse for him. Theon Greyjoy, who wishes to find a quality horse to ride in battle, is pleased to find Lord Botley's horse on the Iron Islands, where good horses are rare. Part of Lord Botley's price for the horse is that Theon must take his bastard nephew, Wex Pyke, as his squire. The horse's size suits Theon, as does his temper. When the stallion first meets his new owner, he tries to bite his face off. Theon names the horse "Smiler" because someone Theon once knew said he smiled at all the wrong things.[1]
In Lordsport, Theon meets a woman calling herself Esgred, who Theon can tell is impressed with Smiler. He rides double with her to Pyke, flirting while Esgred asks him questions about his life and family. Theon is shocked when Esgred is revealed as his sister, Asha Greyjoy.[1]
Theon brings Smiler to Winterfell with him when he captures it. He rides Smiler while hunting his escaped hostages, Bran and Rickon Stark.[2] Theon also rides Smiler when parleying with Rodrik Cassel outside the gates of Winterfell. When Maester Luwin advises Theon to take the black, Theon considers it, thinking that he has plenty of black clothing, and even his horse is black.[3]
During the sack of Winterfell, Theon briefly recovers consciousness after his cheekbone is shattered by Ramsay Snow, and the last thing he sees is Smiler, kicking free of the burning stables with his mane on fire, screaming and rearing.[3] After Bran and Rickon and their companions emerge from where they were hiding in the crypts of Winterfell, Osha points out to Bran the arrows in Theon's fallen warhorse.[4]
A Dance with Dragons
[edit]Theon, who has been tortured by Ramsay for months, is sent by him to Moat Cailin to end its siege. Before giving the gift of mercy to Ralf Kenning, Theon remembers he once had a horse. He remembers that Smiler's screams had sounded almost human; that with his mane afire, he had reared up on his hind legs, blind with pain, lashing out with his hooves. However, Theon rejects the memory, denying that Reek ever had a horse, and slits Ralf's throat.[5]
Much later, in Winterfell's yard, Theon remembers the day that Ramsay had set his horse afire, recalling again the manner of Smiler's death, and noting that the horse burning was the last sight he had seen on the day the castle fell.[6]
Quotes
[edit]
Where did you find that hellhorse?[1]
—"Esgred", to Theon Greyjoy
The last thing Theon Greyjoy saw was Smiler, kicking free of the burning stables with his mane ablaze, screaming, rearing...[3]
—thoughts of Theon Greyjoy
Theon: Kill him. His wits are gone. He's full of blood and worms.
Guard: The captain put him in command.
Theon (thinking): I did. The memory came back in a rush. Smiler's screams had sounded almost human. His mane afire, he had reared up on his hind legs, blind with pain, lashing out with his hooves. No, no. Not mine, he was not mine, Reek never had a horse.[5]
Theon: You'd put a dying horse down.
Guard: What horse? I never had no horse.
—Theon Greyjoy and an ironborn guard
References
[edit]- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 24, Theon II.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 50, Theon IV.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 66, Theon VI.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 69, Bran VII.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 20, Reek II.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 37, The Prince of Winterfell.