Greta Bole/History

—Greta threatening her cousin, Eddard Thornton.

## History

Greta was the third child born to Warrick and Brigitte Bole. As the firstborn daughter, she was doted on by her mother. The two were nearly inseparable. Brigitte would often take trips with her daughter to Stillport to visit her relatives at Galehaven. It was here Greta became close with her older cousins, Ned and Gyles Thornton. The brothers treated her like a younger sister. When Gyles would tire of Greta, Ned would be there to play and humor her. At one point in her childhood, Ned carved his younger cousin a wooden boat that was able to be pulled along by a string. Their friendship remained strong until Ned's marriage to Isabel Ironsmith whom Greta disliked.

At age fifteen, Greta's sunny disposition faded after the death of her mother. She turned sullen and depressed, locking herself in her room, refusing to eat, and crying until her eyes were sore. Greta resented her sister, Winnie, who inadvertently caused their mother's passing. Though she never acted violently toward the baby, she ignored her and pretended she didn't exist, leaving her in the care of Orla, their wet nurse.

A few months later, she would meet Hugh, a soldier employed by her house. Though he was much older than her, the two began a romantic relationship, Hugh's charm managing to distract Greta from the hardships she was facing with her family. He would eventually persuade her to consummate their affair by bringing her to the Limping Lord Inn. A bit drunk and more than taken with Hugh's unwavering attention toward her, Greta agreed to be taken to bed by him. However, her mind quickly changed when she noticed how aggressive Hugh's advances were, and though she protested, he proceeded to sexual assault her, leaving her shaken and traumatized by the event. Hugh would then depart from the Inn, leaving her all alone.

Afterwards, Greta's personality became more subdued, though she still retained the same compassion and gentleness from her youth. She grew more attentive toward her little sister, realizing that it wasn't her fault their mother died, and someone needed to protect her from the world's cruelties. Also during this time, Greta would befriend Meghan Brownbarrow. They would continue their friendship through adulthood.

Several times over the years Greta's maternal grandmother, Meredyth Thornton, would attempt to match her with a "worthy husband", but one of these matches ever seemed to work out. After the incident with Hugh, Greta feared no man would ever truly love her or want to have children with her. Though no one knew her secret, she still felt that it affected her personal life immensely.

Prior to the War of Five Kings, Greta would encounter Lord Torrhen Whitehill in the Wolfswood outside her home. He intervened in a confrontation she was having with a Warrick soldier, chastising the man for threatening to harm her, and the smallfolk child she was defending. The pair would meet again following the Red Wedding when Torrhen was sent to ensure the Wolfswood house's loyalty to Lord Roose Bolton. Her father being bedridden by his degenerative illness, Greta instead bent the knee to Torrhen, perhaps causing him to gain some interest in her. An invitation to Highpoint was extended, and Greta reluctantly attended with House Bole's master-at-arms, Joss.

At Highpoint, Greta would dine with the Whitehills, and learn more about Torrhen as a man -- specifically that he had a bastard daughter who he'd decided to fully acknowledge and take in. For the first time since she was fifteen, Greta felt a romantic attraction toward another person despite Torrhen's reputation and lineage. Rather impulsively, they spent the night together, conceiving their first child, Karlon. The next day Torrhen had to leave Highpoint once again to return to Lord Bolton's side, but he promised to marry Greta the first chance he'd get. During a brief visit home, the two would indeed wed, cementing an alliance between their houses.

## Season Two AU

### Before the events of the AU

Greta experienced bouts of postpartum depression following the birth of her son. She often felt lonely at Highpoint, the castle having a much different atmosphere than her family's home, as well as guilt at having left her father and younger sister behind. Through looking after Roslin and Karl, tending to the gardens, and attempting to interact with the household, she began to feel more comfortable with her role as Lady Whitehill, a role she never expected to have.

Her idyllic life came to a halt when her rapist returned seeking employment at Highpoint. Consumed by her own fears, Greta could not bring herself to tell Torrhen about her past, even after Hugh cornered her, slapped her across the face, and threatened to make her life hell by pursuing Roslin. Luckily, a serving girl overheard this conversation and reported it back to Torrhen. Hugh would be tricked into following Torrhen into the woods outside Highpoint and violently killed by him, Arys Mount, Stanler Pike, and Alanna Snow. The body was taken back to Highpoint where Greta chose to look at the ruined corpse of her rapist. She ordered to have the remains burned.

### Sown in Sorrow

After Torrhen returns home from his attack on Rillwater Crossing, he and Greta conceive their twin children.

Greta is briefly shown at a council meeting held by her husband in regards to Rodrik Forrester. She is tending to Karl and not really paying attention to anything being said. When Osric, the master-at-arms, acknowledges her, Greta is surprised, and offers an awkward greeting before returning to the baby.

### Ashes and Snow

While walking through the gardens of Highpoint, Greta explains to Torrhen that her father's health has worsened. Torrhen urges her to return home to care for her dying father, and that she take some of his Elite guards for protection. Greta doesn't like the idea of him being without his men, and tells him he shouldn't worry about her, but Torrhen insists once again, assuring her that the children will be safe. Greta relents, saying that she trusts her husband. Hullen, Olyvar, Janos, and Arys are chosen to accompany Greta back to Thornbird Hall.

During this trip, Greta grows closer to Arys, seeing him as a paternal figure. Warrick passes away with Greta at his bedside, leaving her brother, Davyn, as the new lord of House Bole. Greta also finds out she is pregnant from her family's maester.

### Ever Higher

Ser Arys is assigned as Greta's personal guard, further strengthening their newly formed bond. She spends the majority of her time looking after the children as well as the newest addition to their house, Myles, who is her cousin Ned's son. Greta has also been assigned a handmaiden which she initially felt awkward about. However, she finds Lyla Wicke to be a sweet, agreeable girl, and decides they should act like sisters toward one another rather than have a formal relationship.

Torrhen and Greta have a conversation about Roslin after she's fallen asleep in their bed one night. Though she's pleased at Roslin thinking of her as a mother, she still doubts their relationship and the legitimacy of it. Roslin is not her biological daughter, so she worries she won't be good enough for her. Brusquely, Torrhen replies that blood doesn't matter, and Roslin has chosen who her mother is.

When the Forresters infiltrate Highpoint, Torrhen orders Greta to leave for Warrick Bastion with their children as she doesn't want her to see the violent, warrior side of him. Greta reluctantly agrees, giving him a look that warns him to stay alive no matter what. Her escape is interrupted by Ned who demands to have Karl handed over to him. Greta protests, holding out a knife and threatening to harm him if he comes any closer. Ned only dismisses her, calling her "Torrhen's whore". Furious, Greta drives the knife into his shoulder. Arys quickly comes to her aid, telling her to continue on to the Bastion. Greta doesn't want to leave him to fight alone, but he counters by saying her duty is to protect Karl.