Sandor 'the Hound' Clegane and his hostage, Arya Stark.
- "Spare his life. Keep him as a hostage."
- ―Catelyn Stark to Robb Stark
A Hostage or Captive is a member of a noble house that is held against their will by another noble house or organization. Some hostages are imprisoned if considered dangerous or if there is risk that they may escape (with or without outside help). Others are awarded the courtesy and privileges of nobility and given relatively free run of the castles or keeps they are captive in. In the case of children, these hostages often become no different from wards to their captors.
In times of war, hostages are taken and kept alive to use later in political negotiations or in exchange for ransom. Such prisoners are usually only held until the war is over. As a high-profile hostage can be an important bargaining chip, it is considered impolitic for their captors to harm them.
In peace time, specially after the end of a war or rebellion, long-term political hostages are taken to ensure the good behavior of a captive's relative or retainers, under penalty of torment or death for the hostage.
Known hostages
- Theon Greyjoy: taken hostage after the failure of the Greyjoy Rebellion and raised as a ward of House Stark. He later became a hostage of Ramsay Snow of House Bolton until he and Sansa attempt a desperate escape.
- Tyrion Lannister, the Imp: briefly made hostage by Lady Catelyn Stark and taken to the Eyrie to face judgment. Released after being declared innocent in trial by combat. Years later he's taken hostage by Ser Jorah Mormont who seeks to deliver him to Daenerys Targaryen hoping to regain his queen's favor.
- Sansa Stark: made a hostage of Queen Cersei Lannister following the arrest and execution of her father, Ned Stark. She finally escapes King's Landing with the aid of Dontos Hollard, but becomes an effective hostage of House Bolton following her marriage to Ramsay Bolton until she and Theon attempt a desperate escape.
- Ser Jaime Lannister, the Kingslayer: taken prisoner by House Stark after the Battle of the Whispering Wood. Kept hostage by Robb Stark, the King in the North, until his release by Lady Catelyn Stark.
- Ser {Alton Lannister}: made hostage presumably after the Battle of the Whispering Wood and employed as envoy by King Robb. Killed by Ser Jaime while imprisoned as part of the latter's escape attempt.
- Bran and Rickon Stark: briefly made hostages by Theon Greyjoy after he and his fellow Ironborn captured Winterfell. They were later freed by Osha who with the help of Hodor kept them hidden in the crypt at Winterfell.
- Arya Stark: fled King's Landing before she could become a hostage of the Lannisters along with her sister. She is then taken hostage by the Brotherhood Without Banners, to be ransomed to her family, and subsequently by Sandor Clegane, who also intends to ransom her to a relative. She later escapes from Clegane.
- Ser {Jaremy Mallister}: hostage of House Lannister at Harrenhal, put to the sword along with the rest of Northern/Riverlands prisoners at the orders of Ser Gregor Clegane.
- {Willem} and {Martyn Lannister}: captured at the Battle of Stone Mill and made hostages of House Tully. Killed by Lord Rickard Karstark.
- Brienne of Tarth: taken hostage by Locke while escorting Ser Jaime Lannister to King's Landing. A ransom from her father is rejected and she is placed in the bear pit of Harrenhal. Saved from death and liberated by Ser Jaime.
- Lord Edmure Tully: made a hostage of House Frey during the events of the Red Wedding after his marriage and bedding with Roslin Frey.
- {Jon Snow}: taken hostage after he attempts to recapture his Wildling prisoner, who leads him straight into a Wildling camp. He escapes after killing most of the raiding band he is with after they climb the Wall back into the North.
- {Qhorin Halfhand}: captured by Wildlings during a ranging as part of the mission to find Benjen Stark and investigate reports of White Walkers. Killed by Jon Snow as part of his plan to install Jon as a spy among the Wildlings.
- {Mance Rayder}: taken hostage by Stannis Baratheon after Stannis's army charges on the Wildling camp laying siege to Castle Black. Killed by Jon Snow in a show of mercy as he is put to the torch by Melisandre.
- Tormund: taken hostage by the Night's Watch as the Wildling force attacking Castle Black from the south approach is defeated. He rides with Jon Snow to Hardhome to gather the Wildling clans to prepare for the coming White Walker invasion.
- Ryon Forrester: taken hostage by Lord Ludd Whitehill and House Whitehill on the orders of Ramsay Snow to ensure the loyalty of House Forrester. Currently still a hostage at Highpoint.
In the books
In the A Song of Ice and Fire novels, Greatjon Umber is taken hostage by House Frey after the Red Wedding, as a political hostage as to usher House Umber to swear fealty. Contrary to the books, in the TV series Greatjon Umber is not present during the wedding and the writers have confirmed that he is therefore free somewhere in the Riverlands.
The naming of Ser Jaime Lannister to the Kingsguard is also held as hostage-taking on behalf of Aerys II Targaryen. By naming him as his sworn bodyguard, the Mad King was not only robbing Tywin Lannister of his prized heir, but also keeping Jaime close as he feared Tywin to be plotting against him.
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