Tristifer Botley

Tristifer Botley, called Tris, is a young ironborn nobleman, the heir to Lordsport on Pyke. He is defined by his unwavering, though unrequited, love for Asha Greyjoy, the kraken's daughter. After Asha's claim to the Seastone Chair is defeated at the kingsmoot by her uncle Euron Crow's Eye, Botley abandons his lands, his king, and his home to follow her into exile, a decision that marks him as a permanent outcast from the Iron Islands. His devotion is a constant thread through Asha's struggles, a quiet counterpoint to her own fierce independence and her more passionate, physical relationship with Qarl the Maid.

Devotion and Exile

Botley's loyalty is absolute. He not only shouts Asha's name at the kingsmoot but also, when Euron takes the Iron Fleet to sea, deliberately lags behind and changes course to join her at Deepwood Motte. This act of defiance means he can never return to the isles. Asha acknowledges the depth of his sacrifice, noting that he had “crossed the sea to join her afterward, abandoning his king and kin and home.” Yet she does not return his love. When he confesses, “I love you,” she bluntly replies, “I do not love you,” and dismisses his vision of a future together as a fantasy, telling him he loves “some innocent maiden who lives only in your head.” Despite this, Botley remains by her side, offering counsel and support as she struggles to hold Deepwood Motte against the encroaching northmen.

The Siege of Deepwood Motte and the Escape

As the situation at Deepwood Motte grows desperate, with Moat Cailin fallen and the Boltons closing in, Botley repeatedly urges Asha to abandon the castle and flee to the sea. He argues for a pragmatic retreat, suggesting they “make new lives upon the sea” as traders, voyaging east to the Jade Sea to return rich. Asha, however, is determined to fight or die with her men. When the mountain clans finally attack, Botley fights beside her. During the chaotic battle in the woods, he is one of the few to survive, and he is later captured alongside Asha by Stannis Baratheon's forces.

Captivity and Rescue

After the battle, Botley is imprisoned in the dungeons of Deepwood Motte. He is eventually ransomed by Tycho Nestoris, an emissary of the Iron Bank of Braavos, who needs a strong escort to find King Stannis. Botley, along with other surviving ironborn, is freed and joins the banker's party. They ride through the blizzard and eventually find Stannis's starving, snowbound army. Botley's first act upon seeing Asha is to kneel and report, “My lady. The Maid is here as well. Roggon, Grimtongue, Fingers, Rook… six of us, all those fit enough to ride. Cromm died of his wounds.” He also delivers a crucial gift: Theon Greyjoy, Asha's brother, who has been rescued from the Boltons. This act of bringing Theon to her is a final, practical demonstration of his loyalty, even as his personal hopes remain unfulfilled.