An interesting debate I’ve been having is over what would happen if Balon had died a year before the books. Would Aeron still call for his kingsmoot, and would Robert tolerate it so long as the winner still swore allegiance to the Iron Throne, or would they militarily press Theon on the Iron Islands?

That’s a really interesting question. I don’t know if Aeron would call for the kingsmoot – in the books, he does so in a very confused political situation where Theon is MIA and presumed KIA, Asha is Balon’s preferred heir, but he prefers Victarion, and where Aeron is trying to ward off Euron who claimed the Seastone Chair by force. 

But regardless, I don’t think Robert would tolerate it, not with Theon still alive and a ward of his bestie Ned Stark. So if Aeron proceeded, there would probably be a ceremony for Theon on the mainland and then things would kick off.