Deception and trickeries are common themes in Game Of Thrones. The continent's vicious power struggles and underhand politics benefit those who can lie and cheat far better than they benefit honorable men like the ill-fated Eddard Stark.
As such, even Game Of Thrones' heroes have to be prepared to get their hands dirty and their consciences stained if they want to get ahead. While the heroes of Game Of Thrones are not heroes in the traditional sense, there have been times when these characters couldn't be trusted by other sympathetic characters or by those on their side.
10 Varys' Attempts To Betray Daenerys
Varys' loyalties are unclear for much of Game Of Thrones, with him not being a Lannister loyalist despite being essential to their regime. Eventually, it is revealed that he is on the side of the common people, and supports Daenerys Targaryen because he sees her as the monarch who will, most likely, treat them well.
Throughout season 8, however, Varys begins to turn against Daenerys in favor of Jon Snow. Particularly following the Battle of Winterfell, Varys undermines Daenerys by informing people of Jon's better claim and hints at attempts to poison her.
9 Ned Stark Lies To Seven Kingdoms About Jon Snow
Ned Stark is a character notorious for his honorable behavior and honesty, with those traits being considered his fatal flaws in the snake pit of King's Landing. Despite preferring to be honest, straightforward, and morally upright, Game Of Thrones reveals that Ned spent much of his life lying to his entire continent.
The existence of Jon Snow, allegedly Ned's bastard son, is considered the single stain on his honor. The truth is that Ned never broke his wedding vows, and Jon is his nephew. For years, Ned lied to everybody - including his wife, children, and best friend - about Jon's identity to keep him safe.
8 Theon's Defection To The Greyjoys
Theon Greyjoy begins Game Of Thrones as a loyal member of the Stark household and ends it as a hero battling the Army of the Dead. His morality takes a distinct wobble in GOT's middle seasons. After swearing his service to Robb Stark, Theon is sent back home to the Iron Islands to form an alliance with his father.
While he is there, Balon reveals that he is planning to invade the North in Robb's absence, and urges Theon to side with his family. Craving approval, Theon does so, betraying his friend and surrogate brother. This act leads to a great deal of suffering.
7 Jorah's Time Spying On Daenerys
For much of GOT, Jorah Mormont is one of the most loyal servants to Daenerys Targaryen. Jorah is Daenerys' sworn sword and is motivated by devotion and love. In the first two seasons, however, Jorah's loyalties are split and he has his own agenda.
Acting as a spy for Varys, Jorah reports on Daenerys and her brother Viserys, giving the Small Council information on their activities. Jorah's spying motivates at least one plot on Daenerys' life, but he proves his ultimate loyalty to her by refusing his pardon and doing everything he can to serve her.
6 Catelyn Setting Jaime Free
One of the first major victories Robb Stark wins in the War of the Five Kings is the Battle of the Whispering Wood, where he proves his strength and gains a valuable hostage in Jaime Lannister. The golden child of his family, Jaime's imprisonment gives Robb significant leverage.
At the end of GOT's second season, after believing herself to have lost two of her sons and her husband, a grief-wracked Catelyn Tully has Jaime released. He had promised to return her daughters to her if she released him. Although Catelyn is doing what she believes is right, it is violating the orders of her son and King, and something he has held against her for a time.
5 Samwell Tarly Operating On Jorah
GOT's seventh season sees Samwell Tarly study at the Citadel so that he can replace Maester Aemon at Castle Black. He struggles with his duties there. One of the things he is most annoyed at is the Maesters' refusal to operate on Jorah Mormont, who is suffering from greyscale. The condition is treatable, but the surgery carries a risk of infecting the Maester performing it.
Sam is forbidden from removing Jorah's greyscale but he goes against the orders of the Citadel, sneaking around at night to save Jorah's life. Although he is not outright punished for it, the Maesters make it clear that not being expelled is the only reward he will get.
4 Edmure's Overreach At Stone Mill
Sometimes, being able to trust somebody isn't a matter of their honesty, but their competence. Between GOT's second and third seasons, Edmure Tully is instructed to use the armies of the Riverlands to protect Riverrun and Robb Stark. Robb plans to draw Gregor Clegane into the Westerlands to force him to overextend, and rob the Lannisters of an army and a general.
Instead, Edmure stops Gregor Clegane from crossing by routing his forces from Stone Mill, where they are attempting to cross the Trident. In private, Robb and the Blackfish berate Edmure for overstepping his bounds and for disrupting their plans after they had trusted him to hold the Riverlands.
3 Bran Insisting That He Cannot Be A Lord
In GOT's last two seasons, Bran Stark adopts a strange, otherworldly demeanor as the Three-Eyed Raven. This gives the impression that he is above the petty fighting of the Lords and Ladies of Westeros, and more concerned with higher matters, like overcoming the White Walkers.
As part of this, Bran insists to numerous people that, despite being Eddard Stark's eldest trueborn son, he will not inherit Winterfell. He tells them that he has no interest in being a Lord and that he can't be. In the final episode, Bran is happy to accept the Iron Throne, calling his motives and his honesty into question.
2 Jon And Tyrion Agreeing To Kill Daenerys
Despite the threats presented by both the Night King and Cersei, the final villain of Game Of Thrones turns out to be Daenerys Targaryen. She massacres the people of King's Landing and prepares for a bloody conquest of the entire world.
Tyrion rejects these plans and is arrested for treason. While imprisoned, he meets with Jon Snow and insists on the need to kill Daenerys. Despite being one of the few people left who she trusts, Jon ultimately agrees with him and deceives Daenerys to get close to her before stabbing her.
1 Robb's Marriage Pact With The Freys
Marriage pacts are a big deal in Westeros, where they are often used to secure military alliances. Violating them is a major transgression that damages the honor of all involved. In GOT's early seasons, Robb Stark has a marriage pact with the Freys in return for use of the Twins and an alliance with them.
Despite the Freys being a major part of his army, and the Twins a major crossing, Robb breaks this pact when he falls in love with Lady Talisa Maegyr and marries her instead. This breach of trust is paid back when the Freys massacre the Starks at the Red Wedding.