Willow Heddle

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Willow Heddle
Allegiances
Culture Rivermen
Born In 289 AC or 290 AC[1]Riverlands[2]
Book A Feast for Crows (appears)

Willow Heddle is a member of the Heddle family. She has an older sister, Jeyne.[3] According to the Elder Brother, the sisters are nieces of Masha Heddle, the innkeep of the inn at the crossroads. According to a semi-canon source, Masha is their great-aunt.[4]

Appearance and Character

Willow appears to be nine or ten years old. She has brown hair, brown eyes, and is skinny.[3]

Willow is wary of possibly dangerous strangers, and protective of younger children. She has a commanding personality, even at such a young age.[3]

Recent Events

A Game of Thrones

Masha Heddle is hanged by Lord Tywin Lannister at the inn at the crossroads.[5]

A Feast for Crows

Masha's nephew, the father of Jeyne and Willow per a semi-canon source,[4] re-opens the inn, bringing in whores to attract customers.[6][3] He is eventually slain, by Rorge[7] or by an unknown lord.[3] Jeyne and Willow reopen the inn for business, and as a refuge for orphan children. The sisters ally with the brotherhood without banners, and Gendry comes to work for the inn as a smith.[3]

When Brienne of Tarth and her companions, Podrick Payne, Ser Hyle Hunt, and Septon Meribald, pull up outside the crossroads inn, Willow meets them at the door, surrounded by the orphan children that have taken refuge at the inn. Willow has the charge of the inn and the other children while Jeyne is away, and she accepts Septon Meribald's food in exchange for providing the party rooms at the inn, over Gendry's objections. As Brienne watches Willow command the orphans to prepare the food and the common room for dinner, she wonders if she might be Arya Stark in disguise.[3]

When Rorge and the Brave Companions arrive at the inn, Willow confronts them, armed with a crossbow. Rorge threatens to rape and mutilate Willow, Brienne steps in to defend her, and a fight breaks out.[3] Jeyne arrives after the fight is over, and takes care of the injured Brienne, then brings her and her companions to a cave to meet with Lady Stoneheart. Gendry accompanies them as far as a river, then returns to the inn to protect its orphaned children.[8]

Quotes

Gendry was the closest thing to a man grown, but it was Willow shouting all the orders, as if she were a queen in her castle and the other children were no more than servants. If she were highborn, command would come naturally to her, and deference to them.[3]

—thoughts of Brienne Tarth

One day that little girl will make some man a frightful wife. That poor ’prentice boy, most like.[3]

Family

Unknown
Heddle
 
Unknown
wife
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Son
 
Unknown
wife
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Masha
 
Unknown
Heddle
 
Unknown
wife
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Son
 
Unknown
wife
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Jeyne
 
Willow
 


References