Theon Greyjoy, a POV character, is the son and heir apparent of Balon Greyjoy. He was taken hostage and raised as a ward by Eddard Stark at Winterfell for ten years. He is caught between the Stark and Greyjoy worlds, belonging to neither in full.
Theon was raised with the Stark children and tutored along with them in all disciplines. He became close friends with Robb Stark, and supported him in several battles after Eddard's death. Robb sent him to the Ironborn's islands to seek a Stark/Greyjoy alliance. His Greyjoy family criticized Theon's mainland ways and rejected Robb's proposal. Balon sent him to raid the northern shores, but he ignored those orders and captured Winterfell in an attempt to win his family's esteem. Bran and Rickon Stark escaped. After a fruitless search, Theon killed two peasant boys, deceiving both Winterfell and the rest of Westeros into believing the corpses belonged to Bran and Rickon, consolidating his victory. Theon held Winterfell for a short time, but was ultimately captured and taken to Roose Bolton's Dreadfort. He remains there as prisoner. Some of the Ironborn, including his sister Asha, believe him dead.