Howland Reed is an unseen character in Game of Thrones. He is the Lord of Greywater Watch and the father of Meera and Jojen Reed. The head of House Reed, he is a loyal vassal of House Stark, ruling over the bog-filled lands of the Neck.
Howland is mentioned in a press release accompanying the news of the casting of Meera and Jojen Reed.[1]
In the books
In the Song of Ice and Fire novels, Howland Reed is a crannogman, one of the inhabitants of the Neck. Like most of his fellows he is short of stature, though still strong and skilled in battle. Unlike most of his fellows, he was curious about the lands beyond the Neck. At a young age he departed the Neck and explored the other lands of Westeros, eventually hearing of a great tourney being held by House Whent of Harrenhal. He attended the tourney, but before arriving was accosted by the squires of several skilled knights.
At the tourney he met Brandon, Eddard, Lyanna and Benjen Stark, who were representing the North at the tournament. Lyanna and Eddard admired his bravery in his desire to become a knight and to challenge the masters of the three squires. During the tourney that followed a mystery challenger nicknamed the Knight of the Laughing Tree defeated the three knights in combat, telling each of them to discipline their unruly squires. Despite an attempt by Prince Rhaegar Targaryen to learn the knight's true identity, it was never discovered. Whether it was indeed Howland Reed in disguise is unknown.
After this event, Howland became one of Eddard Stark's staunchest allies. During Robert's Rebellion, Howland fought at Eddard's side and was with him at the climactic battle at the Tower of Joy. In this engagement Eddard and six companions faced three knights of the Kingsguard (including Ser Arthur Dayne, allegedly the greatest knight in the history of the Seven Kingdoms, whose skills awed even Jaime Lannister), with the freedom of Lyanna Stark at stake. Only Eddard and Howland survived the engagement, with Eddard crediting Howland for his survival. Unfortunately, the victory was for naught as Lyanna died shortly afterwards.
Howland Reed returned home, became Lord of Greywater Watch, and had two children, Meera (who would have been born while her father was away at war) and Jojen. He remains a staunch ally and supporter of the Stark cause, but has so far not played a role in the War of the Five Kings.
See also
- Howland Reed at A Wiki of Ice and Fire (major spoilers from the books).
References
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