Game of Thrones

The episode begins the process of interweaving action happening in multiple separate locations within and around the fictional continent of Westeros.



Beyond the Wall

Three rangers of the Night's Watch scout beyond the Wall, a massive barrier of ice at the north end of the kingdom. After finding the mutilated corpses of some wildlings , the rangers are confronted by White Walkers and undead wildlings. Two of the rangers are killed by the White Walkers, while the third, Will, is left alive. Fearing for his life, Will deserts the Night's Watch, going South.



In King's Landing

Queen Cersei, and her twin brother, Jaime Lannister, are watching as the dead body of Jon Arryn, The Hand of The King, is tended to by the Silent Sisters. They discuss whether he revealed any dangerous information regarding the two of them to anyone before his death. Jaime assures his sister that if Arryn had spoken to anyone, they would already have been executed.



In the North

The Starks of Winterfell are introduced, including Lord Eddard "Ned" Stark, his wife, Lady Catelyn "Cat" Stark and his five children: heir Robb, elder daughter Sansa, younger daughter Arya, ten-year-old son Bran and youngest son, Rickon. Also introduced are Ned's illegitimate son Jon Snow and ward Theon Greyjoy.

Ned is informed that a deserter of the Night's Watch has been captured. He takes his sons to witness Will's execution. Will reports that he saw White Walkers, but nobody believes him and Ned beheads him. When Bran asks his father about the White Walkers, Ned dismisses it as a madman's ravings, insisting that the Walkers have been extinct for thousands of years. Upon their return, the Starks find a dead stag, sigil of House Baratheon. A bit farther they find a dead dire wolf and her surviving pups. Noting that the dire wolf is the sigil of the Stark family and there are as many pups as the Stark children, they take the pups in as companions.

Back at Winterfell, a letter arrives announcing the death of Lord Arryn, Eddard's old friend and Catelyn's brother-in-law. An additional message reports that the king himself is coming to Winterfell. Winterfell receives the royal court, including King Robert Baratheon; his wife Queen Cersei; their three children: the heir Prince Joffrey, Princess Myrcella and the youngest Prince Tommen; as well as Cersei's twin brother, Jaime Lannister, a member of the Kingsguard; and their younger brother, Tyrion Lannister, a dwarf known as "The Imp". As Robert pays his respects to Lyanna Stark, his late fiancée and Ned's sister, Robert confides to his old friend that he doesn't trust anyone around him. He decides to name Ned as the new Hand of the King, and to solidify the alliance between the two families, he suggests that Sansa be betrothed to Joffrey.

At night, Catelyn receives a troubling message from her sister, Lord Arryn's widow. She suspects her husband Jon was murdered by the king's in-laws, the powerful Lannisters. Ned, who at first was reluctant to accept the position of Hand of the King, does so in order to protect his old friend. Bran, who enjoys climbing the walls of Winterfell, climbs an abandoned tower where he stumbles on Queen Cersei and Jaime having sex. To keep the incestuous relationship a secret, Jaime shoves Bran out of the high window.



In Pentos

Exiled prince Viserys Targaryen plots to overthrow King Robert and reclaim his father's throne. To this end, he brokers a marriage between his sister Daenerys and a powerful warlord Khal Drogo, leader of a nomadic horde of Dothraki. During the wedding ceremony, Daenerys is given two wedding gifts. The first is a collection of books from the Seven Kingdoms, given by Ser Jorah Mormont, an exiled knight loyal to the Targaryens. The second gift is a chest containing three petrified dragon eggs, given by Magister Illyrio Mopatis, the man who helped arrange the marriage.

In the Dothraki Sea

On their way to Vaes Dothrak with Drogo's khalasar, Jorah Mormont reveals to Viserys that he was exiled for selling poachers to slavers. Viserys assures Jorah that he would not have been punished if Viserys had been the king and demonstrates impatience for Drogo to lend Viserys his army.

Daenerys has difficulty adjusting to her new marriage and the nomadic lifestyle of her adopted people. Her only comfort is the three petrified dragon eggs given to her by Illyrio. She is visibly distraught and in pain during intimate relations with the Khal. In order to feel more in control of her marital life, she asks one of her handmaidens, former courtesan Doreah, to teach her how to please her new husband.



In the North

Bran has been in a coma for more than a month since being thrown from the tower by Jaime Lannister. After slapping his nephew Prince Joffrey for refusing to give his condolences to the Starks, Tyrion Lannister informs his siblings that despite Bran's fall, the boy will survive, much to the dismay of the incestuous Lannister twins.

It is time for farewells, with the Stark family having to split apart. Ned's two daughters journey with their father to the capital. Jon Snow journeys to join his uncle Benjen as a man of the Night's Watch at the Wall. Tyrion, who wants to see the "edge of the world", accompanies them. Before leaving, Jon gives a sword to his sister Arya as a present. Lady Catelyn Stark is devastated by her husband's imminent departure and has stood vigil beside her son Bran since his fall. Having always deeply resented Jon, Catelyn asks him to leave when he comes to say goodbye to Bran and then chastises her husband Ned for leaving her and giving in to the demands of King Robert. Before they part, Jon asks Ned about his mother, and Ned promises to tell Jon about her the next time they meet. While stopping for a meal, Robert tells Ned that he has received word about Daenerys Targaryen's wedding to Khal Drogo and voices concern about the possibility of Viserys crossing the Narrow Sea with a Dothraki army to overthrow him with help from those in the Seven Kingdoms who still support the Targaryens' claim to the throne and think of Robert as a usurper.

Late one night after Ned's departure, a fire breaks out at Winterfell, and during the ensuing chaos, a hired assassin tries to kill Bran. Catelyn holds off the attacker long enough for Bran's direwolf to jump in and tear out the assassin's throat. The murder attempt arouses Catelyn's suspicions, and after finding a strand of long blonde hair in the abandoned tower where Bran fell, she concludes that the Lannisters are somehow involved. After confiding with her most trusted advisers - her son Robb, Maester Luwin, Master-at-Arms Ser Rodrik Cassel and the Starks' ward Theon Greyjoy - she decides to go to King's Landing in secret with Rodrik as her escort to warn her husband.



At the Wall

Jon and Tyrion see the Wall for the first time as they arrive with Benjen and the other recruits. En route to the Wall, Tyrion and Jon discuss the Night's Watch. Tyrion is quick to disabuse Jon of his romantic notions of the Watch as a noble calling battling the mythical horrors beyond the Wall , pointing out that now it is more a dumping ground for the unwanted of Westeros: criminals, prisoners, and bastards.



At the Inn at the Crossroads

On their way to King's Landing, the king's entourage has stopped to rest at an inn. While the recently promised Prince Joffrey and Sansa Stark are walking along the river, they run into Arya sparring with sticks with her friend, a butcher's boy named Mycah. Taunting the boy, Joffrey draws his sword and demands a duel, under pretext of punishing him for accidentally hitting Arya, a member of the nobility. Mycah and Arya desperately explain that she asked him to spar with her so she could practice. As Joffrey savors the butcher boy's pain and fear, Arya hits Joffrey while her friend flees. Enraged, Joffrey turns on Arya and is about to strike her with his sword when her direwolf Nymeria bites his wrist. Arya seizes his sword and throws it into the river before running into the forest, where she drives away Nymeria and hides until dark.

Afterward, Joffrey lies to the courtly entourage and accuses Arya and her direwolf of ganging up on him. Unwilling to lose favor with her betrothed by publicly exposing his lie, Sansa claims she remembers nothing. Sick of the petty bickering, King Robert chastises his son for allowing himself to be disarmed by the younger girl and declares that the fathers themselves will punish their respective children, dismissing the audience. However, Robert gives in to his wife Cersei's demands and orders the direwolf killed. Since Nymeria has fled, Sansa's wolf, Lady, is to be sacrificed. Unable to convince the king otherwise, Eddard takes responsibility for killing Sansa's pet himself. As he walks to the back of the inn, he encounters Joffrey's bodyguard, Sandor "The Hound" Clegane, who has ridden down the butcher's boy and brought in his bloody corpse for the prince.

Eddard approaches Lady and holds her down as he unsheathes a blade. Saddened, he kills the direwolf, who utters a sharp cry of pain. Meanwhile, up North, Bran suddenly awakens from his coma and opens his eyes.

In the Dothraki Sea

Daenerys is beginning to gain confidence in her new role as Drogo's wife and gains the respect of the exiled knight Ser Jorah Mormont, but her relationship with her brother Viserys becomes strained when he angrily assaults her under the assumption that she is giving him commands. As punishment, Viserys is choked and nearly killed by Daenerys's bloodrider Rakharo and is forced to walk back to camp after Daenerys intervenes to spare his life.

Irri notices that Daenerys is pregnant and shares the news with Jorah and Rakharo. Rather than being pleased, Jorah mysteriously departs for the Free City of Qohor for supplies. In their tent, Daenerys reveals to Drogo that their child is a boy.



In Winterfell

With Bran now awake, Old Nan tells him a tale of a long-ago endless winter, when the White Walkers first appeared riding their dead horses and raising Wights from the men they slaughtered. Her story is interrupted by Robb who sadly confirms to Bran that his injuries are permanent, and he'll never walk again. Bran, saying he is unable to remember anything about his fall, wishes he were dead.



At the Wall

Jon has joined the other recruits under the firm hand of Ser Alliser Thorne and easily beats every opponent sent against him. Ser Alliser berates them all for their poor performance, but has no kind words for Jon, dubbing him "Lord Snow" to mock his bastard heritage and telling him that he's "the least useless person here." Disheartened, Jon asks Benjen to take him in a several-month-long ranging north of the Wall, but his uncle blocks this, telling Jon that "here, a man gets what he earns when he earns it."

Tyrion tells Jon that he isn't "better" than any of his new "brothers", but only more fortunate, as he was trained by a master-at-arms, while the others are all orphan boys or criminals who have likely never held a sword before today. To make amends, Jon decides to give his fellow recruits proper sword training. Later, Tyrion is beseeched by Lord Commander Jeor Mormont and the elderly, blind Maester Aemon to ask his sister and brother-in-law for more men for the Night's Watch, as the wildlings are massing in numbers greater than the Watch is able to deal with, and rumours that the White Walkers have returned are becoming more widespread. Tyrion is skeptical, but agrees to do so. Before leaving the Wall, Tyrion fulfills his ambition to urinate off the top of the Wall and says goodbye to Jon, who finally accepts Tyrion as a friend.



In King's Landing

Eddard's party arrives at King's Landing. Eddard is immediately summoned to a meeting of the king's Small Council. On his way through the throne room, Eddard encounters Jaime Lannister, and the audience is told that Jaime killed the Mad King Aerys Targaryen, the father of Daenerys and Viserys Targaryen. Jaime reminds Eddard that Aerys had murdered Eddard's father and brother; however, Eddard does not consider this grounds for Jaime to break his oath as a knight of the Kingsguard.

Eddard joins the Small Council, consisting of the king's brother, Lord Renly, the eunuch Lord Varys, Grand Maester Pycelle and the Master of Coin Lord Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish. Littlefinger had once dueled Eddard's brother for Catelyn's hand in marriage and implies that he is still in love with her. Renly announces that Robert plans to hold a great tourney in honor of Eddard's appointment as the Hand of the King. Eddard learns that the crown is heavily indebted, primarily to the queen's father, Lord Tywin Lannister.

Catelyn arrives in King's Landing, supposedly in secret. However, she is taken by a pair of city watchmen to a brothel owned by Littlefinger. He meets her to tell her that he had her brought there to keep her safe and hidden. Varys, also present, reveals that he learned of Catelyn's arrival through his spies. The three of them and Ser Rodrik discuss the attempted murder of Bran. Littlefinger shocks them all by admitting that the assassin's dagger was once his own. He claims that he lost it to Tyrion Lannister, betting on Jaime Lannister to win a previous tourney. Littlefinger arranges a meeting between Eddard and Catelyn, and Eddard reluctantly takes on Littlefinger as an ally who will help them find Bran's assailant.

Eddard returns to his keep, only to find his daughters arguing. Arya is furious at Sansa for lying to protect Joffrey Baratheon. Ned reminds her that Joffrey is a prince and will be king one day with Sansa as his wife. Learning that his younger daughter aspires to be a swordsman and has a sword of her own, he hires the Braavosi "water dancer" Syrio Forel to teach her the art of swordsmanship.

In King's Landing

Lord Eddard Stark begins quietly inquiring into the death of Jon Arryn, the previous Hand of the King, who had long served as the Kingdom's chief administrative nobleman. Questioning Grand Maester Pycelle, who tended Jon Arryn in his final days, Stark learns that Arryn's last words were "the seed is strong" and that he was reading a book titled The Lineages and Histories of the Great Houses of the Seven Kingdoms.

Helped by Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish and his net of informers, Eddard follows up on two more clues regarding the last days of his predecessor. He questions a smith's apprentice whom Jon Arryn had visited in his last days and, due to his resemblance to King Robert, Stark deduces that the boy is the king's bastard. Eddard also plans to question Jon Arryn's former squire, but the recently knighted young man is killed while jousting at the tournament held in Eddard's honor. The knight responsible for his untimely end is Ser Gregor Clegane, also known as "The Mountain" due to his towering size. He is a Lannister bannerman and is the older brother of "The Hound" Sandor Clegane. Baelish tells Sansa the secret of the Clegane brothers: as children, Gregor brutally burned his brother's face, thus explaining the Hound's scars.



In Vaes Dothrak

Khal Drogo's khalasar arrives at the city of Vaes Dothrak. Viserys Targaryen impatiently waits for the army Drogo agreed to lend him, the bride price offered for his sister Daenerys, to reconquer the Seven Kingdoms. When Viserys misinterprets Daenerys's invitation to dinner as an order, he becomes angry and strikes her. For the first time, Daenerys fights back, hitting her astounded brother and promising that if he raises a hand against her again, his hands will be cut off. Later, the banished knight Jorah Mormont tells her that Viserys would not be a good leader for the invasion of Westeros and, despite what Viserys believes, the people of the Seven Kingdoms do not care who rules them as long as they are ruled well. Daenerys agrees that Viserys could not conquer the Seven Kingdoms even if Khal Drogo gave him an entire army.



At the Wall

The Night's Watch receives Samwell Tarly, a fat, fearful and clumsy recruit who rapidly becomes the focus of bullying by master-at-arms Ser Alliser Thorne. Sam later explains to Jon that his father forced him to "take the Black" and forsake his inheritance because he considered Sam unworthy, threatening to kill Sam and pass his death off as a hunting accident if he refused.[3] Jon Snow defends Sam and convinces the rest of the recruits not to harm him, much to Thorne's rage. Thorne defends his treatment as essential, since life north of the Wall is very harsh especially during winter, warning Jon and Sam to toughen up or they will have no chance of survival.



In the North

Tyrion stops at Winterfell as he is returning to King's Landing after his visit to the Wall. He gets a cold welcome from Robb Stark, acting Lord of Winterfell in his father Eddard's absence. Robb suspects the Lannisters are behind his younger brother Bran's fall and the subsequent assassination attempt. Despite the cold reception, Tyrion shows the now crippled Bran an act of kindness by giving him blueprints for a saddle that will allow him to ride again despite his paralysis. Before he leaves Winterfell, Tyrion has a talk with Theon Greyjoy, a ward of House Stark, and mocks him regarding how the Greyjoys and their land, the Iron Islands, attempted a failed rebellion against King Robert, calling Theon a "hostage" to the Stark family.



At the Inn at the Crossroads

Further south, Tyrion and his small retinue stop to spend the night at the Inn at the Crossroads. There he recognizes Lady Catelyn Stark in disguise. With her identity revealed, she requests help from her father's bannermen present at the inn to seize Tyrion to face trial for Bran's attempted murder.

In the Vale

Lady Catelyn Stark leads her entourage east through the Mountains of the Moon to get to the Vale, with Tyrion Lannister as her prisoner. However, they are soon attacked by barbarian tribesmen. During the fight, Tyrion saves Catelyn's life, attacking and killing a barbarian with a shield. The party arrives at the Eyrie, ruled by Lord Jon Arryn's widow, Lysa, who is also Catelyn's sister. However, when the two meet for the first time in five years, it becomes apparent that Lysa is mentally unstable and fears the Lannisters' power. Catelyn also meets her nephew, Robin Arryn, the heir to the Eyrie – an eight-year-old boy whom Lysa still breast-feeds. Tyrion is consigned to the Eyrie's version of a dungeon, the "sky cells", prison cells with an open wall and slanted floors that slope down to a precipice. Meanwhile, Lysa prepares to pass judgment on Tyrion as an accomplice in her husband's murder.



In the North

At Winterfell, Theon Greyjoy grows jealous of Tyrion after his favorite prostitute Ros taunts him with the judgment that Tyrion is a better lover and from a richer family. Meanwhile, Bran is depressed over his paralysis and the fact that his mother left him while he was in a coma. To cheer him up, Maester Luwin decides to teach Bran the Dothraki art of horseback archery.



In King's Landing

After Eddard Stark convinces King Robert not to join the tourney, the crowd watches a jousting match between the fearsome Ser Gregor "The Mountain" Clegane, brother of the Hound, and Ser Loras Tyrell, the "Knight of Flowers". The Mountain is a formidable opponent, but Loras cleverly defeats him in the joust by riding a mare in heat, distracting Clegane's stallion. Furious, Clegane beheads his horse and attempts to kill Loras. Sandor "The Hound" Clegane comes to Tyrell's rescue and defends him against his brother until Robert orders them to stop. Grateful for being rescued, Loras calls Sandor a hero when he is cheered by the crowd.

Later, Varys reveals to Ned that Jon Arryn was killed for asking questions, succumbing to a poison called the "Tears of Lys". He also suggests that Lord Arryn's former squire, the recently slain Ser Hugh of the Vale, was the poisoner.

Meanwhile, Arya, as part of her training, chases a cat through the Red Keep and stumbles upon a secret conversation between two men , who appear to be plotting against the throne. Arya tries to warn her father, but is unable to identify the two plotters and fumbles her words. They are interrupted by the arrival of Yoren, who informs Ned of his wife's arrest of Tyrion.

The news of Daenerys's pregnancy reaches the Small Council, delivered by one of Varys's spies. Fearing a possible invasion by the Targaryen/Dothraki alliance, Robert orders that she and her unborn child, along with Viserys, be assassinated. Ned refuses to obey such a dishonorable order since Robert's hatred for Targaryens is clouding his judgment and ordering such an assassination will make him no better than the Mad King. When Robert's mind is clearly made, Ned resigns the office of Hand of the King, much to Robert's anger. As Robert drinks in sorrow over his fight with Ned, Cersei visits Robert and he explains why he takes the Dothraki threat seriously. Meanwhile, Robert's youngest brother Renly is with his lover, Ser Loras. Loras convinces Renly that he should be king because Loras believes that Renly would be a better ruler than either his brothers or nephews.

Before he can leave the capital, Littlefinger offers to take Ned to the last person Jon Arryn spoke to before his death. It turns out to be a prostitute, Mhaegan, the mother of a baby daughter, who is another of Robert's illegitimate children. Littlefinger reveals Jon Arryn had been searching for Robert's bastards for an unknown reason. When Ned and his guards try to leave, they are ambushed by Jaime Lannister and his men, who want answers for Tyrion's arrest. Ned claims responsibility for Tyrion's arrest, which leads to a brutal fight between his and Jaime's men. In the end, Ned's guards are killed, including his captain Jory Cassel, whom Jaime stabs through the eye with a dagger. Ned duels with Jaime but is speared through the leg by one of Jaime's guards before Stark and Lannister can finish the fight on their own. Jaime knocks out the guard who interrupted the fight and decides to let Ned live but warns that he wants his brother back. Jaime storms away, leaving Ned bleeding in the dirt, where he quickly faints.

Like previous episodes, "A Golden Crown" interweaves action happening in multiple separate locations within and around the Kingdom of Westeros.



In the North

Bran Stark is awakened from one of his recurring dreams of a three-eyed raven with the pleasant surprise that the specially designed saddle that will allow him to ride has been finished. He goes to test it in the forest under the supervision of his brother Robb and Theon Greyjoy.

While Theon is trying to convince Robb to avenge his father for the Lannisters' attack, a small group of wildlings , who have ventured south, capture Bran. Robb and Theon manage to kill all the men and capture the woman Osha. Despite Theon's help, Robb chastises him for endangering Bran's life when Theon shot an arrow at the wildling who was holding Bran.



In the Eyrie

Tyrion Lannister is able to trick Lysa Arryn into summoning a court to listen to his confession, at which he confesses various misdemeanours committed during his life, but nothing about the attempt on Bran's life or Lysa's husband's death. After, Tyrion publicly demands a trial by combat, and the mercenary Bronn volunteers to fight for him. Lysa Arryn has no choice but to allow it. Bronn defeats Lysa's champion Ser Vardis Egen by tiring the heavily armored knight and kicking him out the Moon Door, and Tyrion is allowed to walk free with Bronn as his escort, much to the dismay of the Tully sisters.



In King's Landing

Eddard Stark awakens in his chambers with Robert Baratheon and Cersei Lannister watching him. Cersei accuses Eddard of kidnapping her brother, Tyrion, and claims Eddard was drunk and attacked Jaime first, but she is silenced by a slap from Robert. After she leaves, Robert tells Eddard that he cannot rule the kingdoms if the Lannisters and Starks are at war and insists that Eddard remain the Hand of the King, or else Robert will give the position to Jaime. Robert also informs Eddard that he will be regent while Robert is away on a hunting trip.

Meanwhile, Arya Stark deals with her father's injury and her loss of Jory during her sword-dance lessons; Syrio Forel tells her it's a perfect opportunity for her to learn to avoid distraction while fighting. In the Starks' common room, Sansa Stark and Septa Mordane are interrupted by Prince Joffrey Baratheon, who apologizes to Sansa for his earlier behavior and gives her a necklace, vowing that she will become his queen in an elaborate wedding ceremony. Sansa happily accepts the apology, unaware Joffrey has been forced into it by his mother.

While acting as regent, Eddard learns that Ser Gregor "The Mountain" Clegane was spotted leading brigands and attacking villages in the Riverlands. Realizing this is revenge for Tyrion's arrest, Eddard orders Lord Beric Dondarrion to secure Gregor's arrest, strips him of his lands and titles, and summons his Lord Tywin Lannister to answer for Gregor's actions. Fearing war with the Lannisters and for his daughters' lives, he orders Arya and Sansa to return to Winterfell for their safety. Sansa protests and mentions her desire to have the blond-haired Joffrey's children; Eddard realizes something and re-reads the book of lineages of the Baratheon family. Doing so, he puts the pieces together: Joffrey does not have black hair like his father, his father's ancestors, and Robert's bastards whom he and Jon Arryn had been researching. Eddard concludes Joffrey is not Robert's real son.



In Vaes Dothrak

Daenerys Targaryen takes one of the dragon eggs and places it on a glowing-hot brazier. She reaches in and picks up the blisteringly hot egg. Her handmaiden rushes in to take the hot egg from her hands, burning herself in the process, but Daenerys's hands are completely unscathed.

Daenerys begins the ritual with the Dosh Khaleen by eating the raw heart of a stallion. After some struggle, she completes the task and stands up to proclaim her unborn son as the Khal who will unite the entire world as one khalasar, and she names him Rhaego. Viserys Targaryen grows angry at his sister's increasing popularity among the Dothraki, but Jorah Mormont urges patience. Viserys ignores him and sneaks away to Daenerys' tent to steal the dragon eggs to fund a new army. However, Jorah confronts him, forcing Viserys to leave the eggs behind. Viserys storms off after a tense exchange of words between the two men.

Later, at a feast for Daenerys and Khal Drogo, a drunken Viserys draws his sword on his sister, threatening that if the Khal does not give him an army to take back the Seven Kingdoms, he will take back Daenerys and cut out her child. Khal Drogo agrees to give him the "golden crown" that he wants, and Viserys lets his guard down, allowing Drogo's bloodriders to restrain him. Drogo melts his belt in a stewpot, and Viserys realises to his horror that the "golden crown" is actually molten gold, which Drogo pours on his head. Daenerys watches her brother's painful death calmly, and coldly observes: "He was no dragon. Fire cannot kill a dragon."

Like previous episodes, "You Win or You Die" interweaves action happening in multiple separate locations within and around the Kingdom of Westeros. While the dramatic center of this episode is in the capital of King's Landing, where the title quote is issued, ongoing events at The Wall and Winterfell in the north and with the Dothraki across the Narrow Sea continue, and events at the Lannister army's camp are depicted as well.



At the Lannister camp

Lord Tywin Lannister talks with his son Jaime while the former is skinning a stag, symbolic animal of the house Baratheon. While Tywin chastises Jaime for causing the recent troubles with the Starks, he nevertheless believes this war is the perfect opportunity for the Lannisters to set up a dynasty as the new rulers of the Seven Kingdoms. Tywin gives half of his forces to Jaime to attack Riverrun, the seat of House Tully and Lady Catelyn's childhood home, in retaliation for Catelyn's seizure of Tyrion.



At Winterfell

The captured wildling Osha, now a servant of the Starks, is harassed by Theon Greyjoy, who warns her that if she had been arrested in his homeland the Iron Islands, she would have suffered a worse fate. As Maester Luwin tells Theon to leave her alone after witnessing Theon's sexual advance on her, he asks Osha why she and other wildlings are coming south from the Wall. She reveals they were fleeing from the White Walkers, who have apparently returned after millennia of slumber, and declares that every army in the Seven Kingdoms should be marching north to confront that threat.



At the Wall

Benjen Stark's horse returns from north of the Wall without him, much to the worry of his nephew, Jon Snow. Later, to Jon's disappointment and anger, he is told he has been assigned as a steward to the Lord Commander instead of a ranger, like his uncle. Jon suspects Ser Alliser Thorne's involvement, as revenge for Jon defying him; however, Sam believes that this assignment may mean he is being groomed for command. As Jon and Sam take their vows near a heart tree, Jon's direwolf brings him a dismembered hand.



In Vaes Dothrak

Daenerys Targaryen attempts to convince Khal Drogo to return to her homeland and reclaim the throne of the Seven Kingdoms, but he is not interested. While Daenerys and her entourage go sightseeing at a market, Ser Jorah Mormont receives a pardon for him to return to the Seven Kingdoms from an informant of Lord Varys. Jorah realizes this means the order to assassinate Daenerys has been officially issued and quickly saves her from a wine merchant who tries to poison her. Drogo, angered by the attempt on his wife's life, vows to his followers that he will lead his people to cross the Narrow Sea to invade the Seven Kingdoms as revenge and reclaim the Iron Throne for his unborn son.



In King's Landing

Ned confronts Queen Cersei, telling her that he knows Prince Joffrey and his siblings are not King Robert's children, but were incestuously fathered by her brother Jaime. Cersei defends her affair with Jaime, comparing it to the ancient Targaryen practice of wedding brothers to sisters and saying she tried to love Robert, but he refused to love her because he was still in love with Ned's deceased sister, Lyanna. Ned shows Cersei mercy and tells her to leave the capital with her children before he tells Robert the truth.

Unexpectedly, Lord Renly Baratheon returns and informs Ned that, while hunting, Robert was mortally wounded by a boar. On his deathbed, Robert dictates his will to Ned, in which Robert makes Ned the Lord Regent and Protector of the Realm until Joffrey comes of age. Ned writes down Robert's words, but instead of using "Joffrey," Ned writes "my rightful heir," making the succession ambiguous. Robert signs the will without reading this change in wording and begs Ned to make Joffrey a better man. Robert also tells Ned that he was wrong to have ordered Daenerys Targaryen's assassination and orders Ned to let her live.

Fearing Cersei and the Lannisters will use this time to their advantage, Renly tries to convince Ned they should raise an army and launch a coup d'état; however, Ned refuses him. Ned wants to ensure that the crown passes to the rightful heir: Stannis Baratheon, Robert and Renly's brother. Ned writes a letter to Stannis informing him of the situation, dispatching it to Dragonstone, Stannis' island fortress. Ned also reveals to Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish the truth of Joffrey's heritage, to which Littlefinger suggests they allow Joffrey and the Lannisters to take the throne, and if Joffrey proves to be an unfit ruler, they can use the truth to overthrow him and make Renly the king instead. Ned refuses such treason, asking Littlefinger to secure the support of the City Watch to overpower Cersei's men-at-arms if they attempt to seize the throne.

By the time Robert dies, Renly has fled the capital, and Joffrey has already ordered his own coronation within a fortnight. As Ned and his allies enter the throne room, he gives Ser Barristan Selmy Robert's will to read out aloud. Cersei refuses to follow Robert's will and tears it up, ordering Barristan to seize Ned. Ned orders his men to arrest Cersei and Joffrey. As both sides prepare to fight, the City Watch slaughters the Stark men while Littlefinger holds Ned with a knife at his throat, telling Ned "I did warn you not to trust me."

Like previous episodes, "The Pointy End" interweaves action in multiple separate locations in and around the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros.



In the Mountains of the Moon

As Tyrion and Bronn head towards Tywin Lannister's camp, they are surrounded by one of the barbarian hill tribes of the Vale, led by Shagga. Tyrion convinces them to serve as his escorts by promising them gold, weapons and an army to help them seize the Vale of Arryn. Tywin is displeased, but agrees to keep Tyrion's promises if the hill tribes join the fight against the Starks. The tribesmen agree, but want Tyrion to follow them as insurance, much to Tyrion's discomfort.



In the Eyrie

Catelyn confronts her sister Lysa about the letter Catelyn received regarding events at King's Landing. Lysa refuses to send troops to help the Starks against the Lannisters because she only cares for the safety of her son Robin. A disgusted Catelyn leaves the Eyrie.



In the North

After receiving a letter from Sansa , Maester Luwin concludes Sansa is being manipulated by Cersei. Robb calls his family's bannermen to war against the Lannisters, much to Theon Greyjoy's pleasure. After gaining the respect of Stark bannerman Lord "Greatjon" Umber and leaving Bran in charge of Winterfell, Robb and his army march south.



In the Riverlands

The Stark forces, having made camp in the Riverlands, are joined by Catelyn. During a council of war at which Robb ponders whether to attack Tywin's or Jaime's forces, his men present him with a captured Lannister scout. Robb decides to let him go with a message to Tywin that "winter is coming" for him, but tricks him into thinking Robb is sending his entire army of 20,000 men to attack Tywin.



At the Wall

Jon Snow, Sam and their party return to the Wall after finding two frozen corpses. Lord Commander Mormont recognizes them as Benjen Stark's fellow rangers and orders their bodies examined. Sam points out that there is no sign of decay on their corpses, even though they have apparently been dead for weeks. Later, Mormont informs Jon about events in the south and warns him to keep his commitment to the Night's Watch. Jon loses his temper after Ser Alliser Thorne mocks Eddard Stark's treason. Enraged, Jon charges at Thorne with a knife but is held back by his companions and confined to his quarters by Mormont.

Later that night, Jon's direwolf Ghost behaves strangely, prompting Jon to investigate Mormont's quarters. As Jon enters, he is attacked by one of the dead rangers, returned to life as a wight. The undead monster is immune to Jon's sword, continuing to attack even after being run through and losing an arm. As Mormont enters, Jon throws a lantern at the wight, setting the wight ablaze and finally destroying it. The next morning, Mormont and the Night's Watch burn the two bodies, and Sam tells them that he read that corpses touched by the White Walkers are reanimated and can only be killed by fire.



In Lhazar

Khal Drogo's khalasar sacks a Lhazareen village in order to gather funds for the ships they need to invade the Seven Kingdoms. Daenerys Targaryen is dismayed by their brutality, and after seeing Dothraki raiders gather several village women for use as sex slaves, she orders Ser Jorah Mormont and her bodyguards to claim the women as hers. Challenged in front of Drogo, she defends her actions as her right as khaleesi, and demands that the raiders marry rather than enslave the women they desire. Impressed, Drogo sides with his wife, but the leading raider, Mago, is unimpressed and challenges the Khal to a duel. Mago is swiftly killed by Drogo, but not before inflicting a deep wound. Daenerys worries about the wound, and the Khal reluctantly allows one of the spared villagers, a healer by the name of Mirri Maz Duur, to treat his wounds. This attracts further ire from the Dothraki, who derisively call the woman "maegi", a witch.



In King's Landing

After Ned Stark is imprisoned following his failed attempt to arrest Joffrey and Cersei Lannister, the Lannisters move against the rest of the Stark household. While Ned's eldest daughter Sansa is detained, Arya is able to escape after her fencing teacher Syrio Forel holds off the Lannister men. As Arya runs outside looking for her sword, a stable boy tries to detain her for the Queen, but she fatally stabs him before fleeing the castle.

Cersei convinces Sansa that to save her father's life, she must write a letter to her brother Robb imploring him to come to King's Landing and swear fealty to Joffrey. Later, Joffrey and Cersei hold court, where they reward Janos Slynt, the Captain of the City Watch, with a lordship, while Tywin Lannister is named the new Hand of the King. Joffrey also relieves Ser Barristan Selmy as Lord Commander of the Kingsguard and gives his post to Jaime Lannister. Selmy is offered a castle and land in recognition of his service, but a furious Selmy, regarding the offer as an insult, throws his sword at Joffrey's feet and storms out in disgust. Sansa takes the opportunity to publicly plead for her father's life, and Joffrey agrees to show mercy if Ned will confess to treason and accept him as the rightful king.

At the Lannister camp

At dinner, Lord Tywin tells his son Tyrion that Tyrion and his barbarian allies will fight in the vanguard of the army. Tyrion suspects his father is trying to get him killed. Tyrion returns to his camp and finds the prostitute Shae whom Bronn found for him at Tyrion's request. As the three of them swap stories, Tyrion reveals that, when he was 16, he married a woman named Tysha whom Jaime and he had rescued. When his father Tywin learned of this, he made Jaime confess that Tysha was actually a hired prostitute. Tywin then made Tyrion watch as Lannister guardsmen all had sex with her, each paying her one silver coin provided by Lord Tywin.

Later, Tyrion is awakened by Bronn as a Stark force approaches. Tyrion leaves his tent dressed in armor and orders the hill tribes to combat, but he is trampled as they rush to war. By the time he regains consciousness, the battle has been played out. Lord Tywin reveals that the Stark host was only 2,000 men, leaving them to wonder where the other 18,000 went.



At the Twins

The Stark army arrives at the Twins, a fortified bridge stronghold controlled by the cranky Lord Walder Frey, who is nominally sworn to Catelyn's father Hoster Tully. However, Lord Frey has sealed off the bridge and refuses to let the army cross, so Catelyn negotiates on her son Robb's behalf. After some hard bargaining, Frey agrees to allow the Stark army to cross through The Twins and to commit some of his troops to the conflict with the Lannisters, but, in return, he wants Robb and his sister Arya to marry two of his children, to which Robb reluctantly agrees.

After crossing the river, Robb divides his forces, sending the aforementioned 2,000 men to distract Lord Tywin's army. Due to the false information Robb gave to the captured Lannister scout, Lord Tywin's force believes it is the whole Stark army. The remainder of Robb's men sneak up on Jaime Lannister's army, defeating them and capturing Jaime. When captured, Jaime challenges Robb to a one-on-one duel to settle the matter, which Robb declines.



At the Wall

Lord Commander Mormont gives Jon Snow House Mormont's ancestral Valyrian steel sword Longclaw, which was originally meant for his son Ser Jorah before Jorah's exile, as a reward for saving his life from the undead ranger. Jon is upset, however, when Sam tells him about Robb's war against the Lannisters, feeling that he should be there to help Robb.

Maester Aemon summons Jon and explains to him the reason why members of the Night's Watch do not marry: it would force them to choose between their duty to the order or loyalty to their loved ones. Aemon knows this very well because he is actually Aemon Targaryen, the Mad King Aerys Targaryen's uncle and Daenerys's great-uncle, who dutifully and reluctantly stayed at the Wall while his family members were killed or exiled when the Targaryens were overthrown. Aemon advises Jon that he must choose either his duty to the Night's Watch or his family, but also warns that the consequences of his choice will haunt him for the rest of his life.



In Lhazar

Khal Drogo, delirious from an infection caused by the chest wound inflicted by Mago, falls from his saddle, a sign of weakness among the Dothraki. Daenerys takes Drogo into her tent and sends for Mirri Maz Duur to help him. However, Ser Jorah Mormont advises Daenerys that they should leave now because the Dothraki only respect the physically strong. He explains that, if Drogo dies, Qotho and the other bloodriders will fight amongst themselves to be his successor; whoever wins will kill her and her unborn child to prevent Drogo's son from growing up to be a rival. Daenerys refuses to abandon her husband, even when Mirri tells Daenerys that she cannot save him and instead advises giving Drogo a quick, clean death. In desperation, Daenerys encourages Mirri to use blood magic despite Mirri's warning about the consequences of such a spell, that only death can pay for life. Mirri brings Drogo's horse into the tent, slits its throat, orders everyone to leave, and warns that none must enter during the spell. Qotho, shocked at what Daenerys has done, tries to stop the spell, but Mormont kills him to prevent interference. Daenerys then goes into premature labor, but none of the Dothraki midwives help her, owing to their belief that she is cursed. In desperation, Mormont carries Daenerys into Drogo's tent to seek Mirri's help.



In King's Landing

Varys visits Ned in the dungeons and tells Ned that if he makes a false confession and swears loyalty to King Joffrey, Cersei will spare Ned and let him serve the Night's Watch as his exile. Ned initially refuses but relents after Varys tells him that his daughter Sansa's life is also at stake.

Arya, who has been living as a beggar in the streets of King's Landing since her escape from the Lannisters, learns a crowd is gathering at the Great Sept of Baelor, where her father will be judged before the gods, and in order to see over the crowd, climbs onto the statue of Baelor the Blessed. As he is dragged through the crowd, Ned notices Arya on the statue, and alerts the Night's Watch recruiter Yoren to her location. With Sansa, Cersei, Joffrey and the Small Council looking over him, Ned confesses to treason and swears fealty to Joffrey in front of the crowd. Satisfied, Sansa and Cersei ask Joffrey to spare Ned as Joffrey promised, but Joffrey breaks his promise and orders Ned to be executed. As Sansa watches in horror, Cersei, Varys and the Small Council attempt to intervene, and Arya tries to rescue Ned, only to be stopped by Yoren, who prevents her from seeing her father's execution. When he sees that Arya has been rescued, Ned accepts his fate and is beheaded by Ser Ilyn Payne.

Like previous episodes, "Fire and Blood" interweaves action in multiple separate locations in and around the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros.



In the North

Crippled Bran Stark has Osha carry him into the Stark family crypt beneath Winterfell. There, they encounter the youngest Stark brother, Rickon, and his direwolf Shaggydog. Both brothers felt drawn to the crypts after dreaming about the death of their father Ned. As they leave the crypt, Maester Luwin arrives to inform Bran of his father's execution.



In the Riverlands

At the Stark army camp, Catelyn consoles Robb, who grieves over his father's death. Robb vows revenge on the Lannisters, but Catelyn reminds him that they must first rescue Arya and Sansa. As the Starks consult their followers over whether to support Stannis or Renly Baratheon, both of whom have challenged Joffrey Baratheon's claim to the throne, Lord Greatjon Umber instead makes the case for Northern independence. Theon Greyjoy and the others agree, proclaiming Robb the "King in the North". Later, Catelyn interrogates the captive Jaime Lannister. He admits having pushed Bran out of the tower window, but refuses to tell why.

At the Lannister army camp, Lord Tywin Lannister and his followers discuss their recent setbacks: not only have they lost an important battle, and Jaime, to the Starks, along with his entire army, but both Baratheon brothers now also threaten them. Because his grandson's execution of Ned Stark destroyed any hope to sue for peace between the Starks and the Lannisters, Tywin orders his son Tyrion to go to King's Landing in his stead as Hand of the King in order to keep Joffrey under control. Against his father's orders, Tyrion brings the prostitute Shae with him to the capital.



In King's Landing

After a bard, Marillion, composes a bawdy song about King Robert's death, Joffrey offers him the choice between losing his fingers or his tongue, with Marillion choosing to have his tongue cut out. Joffrey then leads Sansa onto a small wooden bridge at the top of a battlement and forces her to look upon the heads of her father and other Stark household members mounted on spikes. When Joffrey tells her of his plans to add Robb's head to the collection, Sansa defies him by wishing to see his own head mounted there, for which Joffrey has Ser Meryn Trant slap her. As Sansa contemplates pushing Joffrey off the bridge, she is stopped by "The Hound", Sandor Clegane, who wipes the blood off her mouth and tells her to obey Joffrey for her own safety.

Meanwhile, Arya, after being rescued by Night's Watch recruiter Yoren, takes on the identity of the boy "Arry" to escape with Yoren and his new recruits. After being picked on by two boys who plan to steal her sword, Arya threatens to kill them until Gendry, King Robert's unknowing bastard son, scares them off. Arya and Gendry leave with Yoren's caravan, bound for the Wall.



At the Wall

Jon attempts to desert the Night's Watch to join Robb and avenge his father, despite Sam's pleading. Pursued by Sam, Pyp and Grenn, Jon tells them to leave, but they convince Jon to return to the Watch by reciting their oath. The next morning, Lord Commander Jeor Mormont tells Jon that he is aware of his attempt at desertion. Nevertheless, he orders Jon to join him in an expedition beyond the Wall, intended to counter the threat of the wildlings and the White Walkers, and to find the missing First Ranger, Benjen Stark.



In Lhazar

On waking up, Daenerys Targaryen learns from Ser Jorah Mormont that her unborn son died, his life used up in Mirri's spell that saved the life of Khal Drogo. Drogo has fallen into a catatonic state, which leads most of his followers to abandon him. Daenerys accuses Mirri of tricking her by not revealing the real price of her magic, and Mirri reveals that she sought to avenge the destruction of her village and her people. Unable to bear her husband's condition, Daenerys smothers Drogo with a pillow, killing him.

Daenerys and her remaining followers build a funeral pyre for Drogo. Daenerys places her dragon eggs atop the pyre, and she orders Ser Jorah to tie Mirri to it. Having set fire to the pyre, Daenerys declares herself queen of a new khalasar, freeing those who would remain with her. Despite Jorah's worries, Daenerys then steps into the pyre. By daybreak, Jorah and the khalasar are surprised to find her unharmed in the ashes, carrying three dragon hatchlings. Amazed, they bow to Daenerys as one of the hatchlings clambers onto her shoulder and a dragon's screech is heard for the first time in centuries.

On Dragonstone

The eldest living brother of the late King Robert, Stannis Baratheon, announces himself as rightful heir to the Iron Throne. From his court on the island of Dragonstone, he sends a letter to all the corners of the Seven Kingdoms announcing that Joffrey, Tommen, and Myrcella Baratheon are not Robert's true heirs, but rather the products of incest between Cersei Lannister and her twin brother Jaime. Stannis refuses to seek an alliance with Robb Stark or Renly Baratheon, despite the advice of his advisor Ser Davos Seaworth, because he sees them as usurpers; Stannis insists that all will bend the knee to him or be destroyed.

Stannis's maester, Cressen, is preoccupied with his lord's decisions and especially with the influence that the foreign priestess Melisandre has over him. Having come under the influence of the Red Priestess and her god, the Lord of Light R'hllor, Stannis has even converted to the new religion and has ordered the burning of the statues of the Westerosi Seven Gods. Willing to sacrifice himself for Stannis's sake, Cressen puts poison in a cup and asks Melisandre to drink from it after he has done so. While he dies almost immediately, the priestess swallows the entire cup unaffected.



In the Riverlands

King in the North Robb Stark visits his prisoner Jaime Lannister, informing Jaime that Robb has received Stannis' letter about Cersei's children being Jaime's, and surmises that his brother Bran was crippled and his father was killed because they had discovered this themselves. Robb also informs Jaime that he intends to send Jaime's cousin, Alton Lannister, who also has been captured by the Northern army, to King's Landing with terms for peace. His demands include the release of his sisters Sansa and Arya, the return of the remains of Eddard and his household for proper burial, and the acknowledgement of the Northern independence.

Although he has defeated the Lannisters three times on the battlefield, Robb knows that he cannot beat them alone. For this reason, he reluctantly agrees to send Theon Greyjoy to his father, Lord Balon Greyjoy, to convince Lord Greyjoy to join them with all the naval force of the Iron Islands. While his mother Catelyn wishes to return to Winterfell to be with her sons Bran and Rickon, Robb asks her to travel to Renly's court to negotiate an alliance. Catelyn tells Robb that his father would be proud of what Robb has accomplished, but warns him that Balon Greyjoy is not to be trusted.



At Winterfell

Bran Stark is learning how to be the Lord of Winterfell while his older brother is away at war. He has a strange dream, where he sees himself as Summer, his direwolf, running in the Godswood. The next morning, he goes to the Godswood with Osha, who tries to pry about his dreams, but Bran ignores her questions. The pair notice a red comet in the sky; Bran remarks that the men claim it is an omen of victory for one side or another in the war, but Osha insists it means one thing: dragons have returned.



Beyond the Wall

The ranging party that set out from Castle Black reaches Craster's Keep, a settlement some distance north of the Wall. Craster provides information on the wildlings and their leader, King-Beyond-the-Wall Mance Rayder, claiming that Rayder is amassing an army in the mountains, larger than any south of the Wall, and intends to move south. Lord Commander Jeor Mormont offers leadership advice to Jon Snow due to Jon's disgust that Craster has taken his daughters as his wives.



In the Red Waste

With the remnants of Khal Drogo's khalasar, Daenerys Targaryen crosses the Red Waste hoping to find shelter. The trip is hard, with her newborn dragons unwilling to eat the meat they are offered, and horses dying of exhaustion. Finally, Daenerys sends riders on their remaining horses to explore in three separate directions.



In King's Landing

During a series of combats held to celebrate King Joffrey Baratheon's name day, the captive Sansa Stark saves the drunkard Ser Dontos Hollard's life by convincing Joffrey to make him a fool instead of killing him. The festivities are interrupted by the arrival of Tyrion Lannister, who has been sent to the capital to act as Hand of the King in his father's stead. Cersei is furious, but accepts the new situation after her brother assures her that he will only act as an advisor. When Tyrion learns that Cersei has let Arya Stark escape after the execution of her father, he mocks her for throwing away two valuable hostages, as he'd planned to trade the girls for Jaime.

King Joffrey confronts his mother with Stannis' letter. Immediately after, the City Watch murders all of King Robert's illegitimate children that they can find, though it is not clear who gave the order. Gendry, one of King Robert's bastards, is already out of the city, but, under torture, his former master smith reveals that he is in a caravan traveling to the Wall. Unknown to the Lannisters, Arya Stark is also travelling in that caravan.

In King's Landing

Tyrion Lannister arrives at his quarters to find his lover Shae and Lord Varys conversing. Varys and Tyrion subtly threaten each other: Varys that he could reveal Shae's presence against Tyrion's father's instruction, and Tyrion that he would kill Varys in return. During a Small Council meeting, Queen Regent Cersei Lannister reads Robb Stark's peace terms, ripping up the letter after reading it, as well as a letter from the Night's Watch Lord Commander Jeor Mormont, asking for more men to man the Wall and warning of the Watch's encounters with the undead. With the exception of Tyrion, the Small Council doesn't take Mormont's letter seriously. Later, Tyrion has dinner with City Watch Commander Lord Janos Slynt, discussing the purge of King Robert Baratheon's bastard children. When Janos refuses to reveal who ordered the purge, Tyrion has Janos arrested and exiled to the Night's Watch, with Bronn taking over his position. Cersei later confronts Tyrion about exiling Janos, and Tyrion realizes that it was King Joffrey Baratheon, not Cersei, who ordered the purges. He warns his sister that "it will be difficult to rule over millions who want the Queen dead."



At Dragonstone

Davos Seaworth and his son, Matthos, manage to convince Davos' old friend, the pirate Salladhor Saan, to bring his ships and join them in the war. In exchange, Saan will get to ransack King's Landing, but Davos cannot promise his second request – to bed the Queen. Both Salladhor express displeasure at Matthos' devotion to the Lord of Light. Later, Davos tells Stannis Baratheon and Melisandre of Saan's willingness to aid their army with his 30 ships. Stannis orders Davos and Matthos from the room, at which point Melisandre seduces Stannis and promises him a son if he will give himself completely to the Lord of Light.



On the Iron Islands

Theon Greyjoy returns to his homeland, but is not happy with the greeting he receives. Shortly after, he is greeted by a young woman, Yara. They share a horse ride to Pyke, during which Theon attempts to physically seduce her. Later, he receives a cold welcome from his father, Balon, upon arrival at the castle. Theon presents Balon with the offer from Robb that will make Balon the King of the Iron Islands, but Balon refuses while insulting Theon for his adoption of Northern customs. Balon instead wants to take his crown with Yara, who turns out to be Theon's sister, at the helm of his fleet, but does not intend to fight the Lannisters, which causes Theon to realise that Balon's intention is to take the North for himself instead.



In the Red Waste

Rakharo's horse returns to Daenerys Targaryen's camp, carrying his head in one of its saddlebags. Ser Jorah Mormont tells her it is a message from one of the other khals, none of whom like the idea of a khalasar ruled by a woman. Daenerys vows revenge as she prepares a funeral pyre for Rakharo.



On the Kingsroad

Two City Watchmen arrive at the caravan with a royal warrant, searching for Gendry. However, they are turned away by Yoren, after he threatens their lives. Later, Gendry reveals to Arya that he knows she is a girl, after a conversation about why the City Watch would be hunting him. She in turn also reveals to him that she is actually Arya Stark after learning her father met Gendry several weeks before he was executed.



At Craster's Keep

Samwell Tarly helps Gilly, one of Craster's daughter-wives, when she is confronted by Jon's direwolf, Ghost. Sam asks Jon Snow about taking her with them, but Jon refuses since they aren't supposed to be involved in Craster's family affairs. Gilly, who is pregnant, refuses to reveal why she wants to leave, but the conversation again arouses Jon's suspicions about what happens to Craster's sons. Later that night, Jon witnesses Craster taking a newborn child into the woods. He follows Craster, only to see him returning empty-handed. Hearing the cracking of ice, he rushes to the aid of the child where he sees a White Walker retrieve the baby. Before Jon can pursue it, Craster hits him over the head, causing Jon to black out.

In King's Landing

Tyrion Lannister tries to hide Shae in the kitchens as a scullery maid, but she refuses. Queen Regent Cersei Lannister eats dinner with Sansa Stark, Princess Myrcella Baratheon, and Prince Tommen Baratheon, where they discuss the war, and Sansa's betrothal to King Joffrey Baratheon. Afterwards, Sansa is greeted by Shae, who is posing as her new handmaiden.

Later, Tyrion tells Grand Maester Pycelle of his plans to forge an alliance with House Martell by marrying Myrcella to Doran Martell's youngest son Trystane. Soon after, he has the same discussion with Lord Varys; however, in this version, he plans to marry Myrcella to Theon Greyjoy. Finally, he has the same discussion once more, with Lord Petyr Baelish, this time having Myrcella marry Robin Arryn. In all three cases, Tyrion makes them swear to keep the discussion a secret, especially from the Queen. Cersei later confronts Tyrion about sending Myrcella to the Martells, confirming that Pycelle is Cersei's spy; Tyrion has him arrested and sent to the dungeons, but not before Pycelle confesses that he told Cersei that Jon Arryn knew of her incest with Jaime. When Baelish realizes he has been fooled, he angrily confronts Tyrion, who is nevertheless able to convince him to meet Catelyn Stark in the Stormlands and convince her to release Jaime.



Beyond the Wall

Craster returns with Jon Snow and orders the Night's Watch off his lands. Lord Commander Jeor Mormont admits to Jon that he already knew of Craster's sacrificial offering of his sons, arguing that he is an indispensable part of the Night's Watch's campaign beyond the Wall.



At Winterfell

Bran Stark has another dream in which he is his direwolf, Summer. When he asks Maester Luwin about the dreams, Luwin replies that while he studied magic as a boy, he believes that magic is no longer real, the dragons are dead, and dreams do not always come true.



In the Stormlands

Self-crowned King Renly Baratheon and his newly-wedded wife Margaery Tyrell watch a tournament in which Margaery's brother Loras, the Knight of Flowers, battles with the imposing female warrior Brienne of Tarth. Catelyn arrives in time to see Brienne win. Brienne requests a place in Renly's Kingsguard, and Renly immediately agrees, to Loras' annoyance. Renly is confident his army of 100,000 can beat the Lannisters, but Catelyn reminds him his men are still inexperienced. Later, Loras refuses to have sex with Renly until he consummates his marriage with Margaery. When Renly is unable, Margaery reveals that she is fully aware of her husband's relationship with her brother, but insists that they keep trying in order to get her pregnant and secure the alliance between the Baratheons and the Tyrells.



On the Iron Islands

Balon Greyjoy plans his war on the North with his daughter Yara and son Theon. Theon protests in favor of an alliance with the Starks, but Balon refuses and reminds him that Greyjoys "do not sow". Yara tells Theon he must now choose where his loyalty lies: with his adopted family, the Starks, or his real family, the Greyjoys. A conflicted Theon writes a letter to Robb Stark warning him of Balon's plans to attack the North, but burns it, deciding to instead serve under his father. As a sign of his newfound loyalty, he undergoes a ritual baptism in the name of the Iron Islands' primary deity, the Drowned God.



In the Riverlands

Yoren tells Arya Stark the story of how he became a member of the Night's Watch. Soon, they are startled by a nearby war horn. Lannister bannerman Ser Amory Lorch demands Yoren hand over Gendry. When Yoren refuses, a battle ensues, and Yoren and his men are killed. During the skirmish, Arya helps the prisoner Jaqen H'ghar free himself and the other two captives in the cage before they can be burned alive, and loses her sword Needle to a Lannister soldier, Polliver. Lorch orders the survivors taken to Harrenhal, but when wounded Lommy Greenhands says he cannot walk, he is killed by Polliver. Lorch demands the survivors point out Gendry, but before he can give himself up, Arya tells him that Lommy was Gendry.

Outside Oxcross

Robb Stark launches a night-time attack over a Lannister reinforcement army encamped at Oxcross, easily defeating the Lannister forces. The next morning, while examining the battlefield, he discusses the captured Lannister personnel with his bannerman Lord Roose Bolton. Bolton favours flaying and eliminating the prisoners for interrogation and to preserve supplies, but Robb insists on their fair treatment and reminds him that his sisters are still prisoners at King's Landing. Robb later meets a neutral field nurse, Talisa, while aiding her in a foot amputation on a Lannister soldier. Despite Robb's protests, Talisa holds him accountable for the carnage at the battle; her spirit and forthrightness leave him impressed.



In King's Landing

King Joffrey Baratheon continues to grow more and more cruel; after hearing of Robb Stark's latest victory, he orders Ser Meryn Trant to deliver a public beating and shaming of Robb's sister, Sansa. Tyrion Lannister and Bronn arrive in time to defuse the situation; Bronn later suggests to Tyrion that sex may calm the boy king, and Tyrion arranges for the prostitutes Ros and Daisy to service Joffrey. However, Joffrey instead sadistically forces Ros to beat Daisy to send a message to Tyrion. Later, Ser Lancel Lannister visits Tyrion and informs him that Queen Cersei Lannister has ordered the release of Grand Maester Pycelle. Tyrion tells Lancel that he is aware of Lancel's affair with Cersei, but will keep the truth from Joffrey in exchange for Lancel spying on Cersei for him.



At Harrenhal

Having been previously captured, Arya Stark, Gendry, and Hot Pie are brought to the ruined castle of Harrenhal, currently under occupation of the Lannister army. The garrison there, under command of Gregor "The Mountain" Clegane, is brutally torturing and killing prisoners daily for information concerning a group called "The Brotherhood". Gendry is eventually selected to be tortured, but before he can be harmed, Lord Tywin Lannister arrives, ending the brutality and ordering the prisoners be put to work. When Polliver catches Arya staring at her sword, Needle, he threatens her. However, she is spared by Tywin, who recognizes that she is a girl and makes her his cupbearer.



Outside Qarth

Daenerys Targaryen receives word from Kovarro that the city of Qarth is nearby, and that they are willing to welcome the "Mother of Dragons". Ser Jorah Mormont cautions that Qarth is located in the "Garden of Bones", the brutal desert in which those turned away by Qarth have perished. When Daenerys' "horde" arrives in Qarth, they are met by the Thirteen, the leaders of the city. One of the Thirteen, a spice merchant, speaks for the group and asks to see Daenerys' dragons in exchange for food and rest inside Qarth. Daenerys asks that her people are attended to first before she reveals her dragons, and the Thirteen decide to turn Daenerys' group away and abandon them to the Garden of Bones. Daenerys swears vengeance on Qarth should they not comply, and one of the Thirteen, Xaro Xhoan Daxos, breaks with the group and vouches for the behavior of Daenerys' people through a blood oath, after which they are allowed to enter the city.



In the Stormlands

Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish arrives in the Stormlands and meets Renly Baratheon to discuss the siege of King's Landing. Later, he presses Margaery Tyrell about her marriage and Renly's relationship with her brother Loras, but the potential queen rebuffs his questions. He next meets with Catelyn Stark, who flies into a rage at the sight of him. Littlefinger tells her that the Lannisters have both Sansa and Arya and want to trade them for Ser Jaime Lannister. As a gesture of goodwill, he brings her Ned Stark's remains.

Later, Renly and Catelyn parley with Stannis Baratheon and Melisandre. Stannis offers Renly the chance to surrender in exchange for becoming his heir, but Renly denies Stannis, since he possesses the larger army and the support of many noble families and feels that he has the support of the smallfolk. Before departing, Stannis tells Renly he has until sunrise to reconsider or be destroyed.

At night, Stannis orders Davos Seaworth to take Melisandre to shore and to be sure they are not seen. Once ashore, Melisandre reveals she is, impossibly, in late-stage pregnancy and gives birth to a horrific, shadowy figure, which disappears in a cloud of smoke.

In the Stormlands

King Renly Baratheon and Catelyn Stark negotiate an alliance in his tent with Brienne of Tarth standing guard, when the shadow creature birthed by Melisandre suddenly enters and fatally stabs Renly before disappearing. Two of Renly's guards enter the tent and, taking Brienne for the murderer, attack her. She slays them and is convinced by Catelyn to escape with her so that Brienne may at least avenge Renly someday. During their journey, Brienne swears allegiance to Catelyn, who promises not to interfere with Brienne's vengeance on Stannis Baratheon, whom she believes played a role in Renly's murder.

Meanwhile, Renly's death causes confusion amongst his men. Ser Loras Tyrell also holds Stannis responsible for Renly's death and wants revenge, but Petyr Baelish and Renly's widow Margaery Tyrell convince him that they must escape before Stannis' fleet arrives. As Stannis reaches the camp, his dead brother's bannermen swear fealty to him, but Davos Seaworth warns him to stay away from Melisandre because his men whisper that she is controlling him. Stannis takes Davos's advice not to bring Melisandre with him during his forthcoming assault on King's Landing, and gives a reluctant Davos the command of the fleet in the coming siege of King's Landing.



In King's Landing

Tyrion blackmails more information out of his cousin Lancel, who reveals that Cersei has been stockpiling massive amounts of "wildfire," a dangerous flammable substance. While crossing the city with Bronn, Tyrion is unsurprised at hearing an agitator rail against the incest-born king, but surprised and hurt to hear himself blamed for Joffrey's misdeeds. He visits the royal pyromancer, Wisdom Hallyne, who reveals a secret cache of close to eight thousand pots of wildfire that Joffrey intends to catapult onto Stannis' forces when they attack the city. Bronn doubts the effectiveness of the plan, but Tyrion decides to use it and claims the cache for himself.



At Lordsport

Theon Greyjoy has been made the captain of a single ship, with orders to raid fishing villages on the northern coast. Before even setting sail, Theon's crew openly disrespect him and abandon him on shore. Theon's first mate Dagmer Cleftjaw comes to his assistance and suggests that Theon will need to win the respect of the men with a more impressive deed. When Dagmer proposes an assault on the Northern town of Torrhen's Square, Theon disagrees at first, saying that the raid will attract the attention of Winterfell's forces, but later realizes that Dagmer intends to besiege Torrhen's Square in order to leave Winterfell poorly defended for his takeover.



At Winterfell

Bran receives the news that Torrhen's Square is under assault, and urges Ser Rodrik Cassel to raise a force to defend it. Later he tells Osha of his recent dreams wherein the ocean floods, destroying Winterfell and its inhabitants. He also asks Osha about the "three-eyed raven" that appears in his dreams, but Osha deflects his inquiries.



At the Fist of the First Men

On their trek northwards, the Night's Watch meet up with the legendary ranger Qhorin Halfhand at the Fist of the First Men, an ancient fortification. Qhorin warns that the wildlings have become more organized and dangerous under the leadership of former ranger Mance Rayder . With a small party, Qhorin intends to approach and eliminate a wildling watchpost. Jon Snow volunteers to join Qhorin, which he is eventually allowed to do.



In Qarth

Daenerys Targaryen enjoys holding court at Qarth and watching her dragons grow. At a party given by her rich host Xaro Xhoan Daxos, the warlock Pyat Pree invites Daenerys to visit the "House of the Undying," while the masked Quaithe warns Ser Jorah Mormont of dangers that face Daenerys. Later, Xaro asks Daenerys for her hand in marriage in exchange for enough wealth and power to take King's Landing. Jorah vehemently opposes this, arguing that she needs to win the Iron Throne on her own rather than as a perceived foreign puppet. After questioning Jorah's motives, Daenerys eventually hears him out and agrees with him.



At Harrenhal

Arya Stark serves as cupbearer for Lord Tywin Lannister. During a meeting with his lieutenants regarding the war, Tywin deduces that she is a Northerner, but remains unaware of her identity. Later, Arya encounters Jaqen H'ghar, whom she had rescued along with Rorge and Biter, and who is now disguised as a Lannister guardsman. Jaqen offers to return her past favor by offering her "three lives" he will claim for the Red God, as a compensation for the three lives she saved. Arya designates "The Tickler," Harrenhal's cruel interrogator, as her first victim. Soon enough, he is found dead with a broken neck, and Jaqen signals to Arya that the first debt has been paid.

At Winterfell

Theon Greyjoy has taken Winterfell following his prior gambit at Torrhen's Square. Declaring himself prince and Lord of Winterfell, Theon convinces the current lord, Bran Stark, to yield after promising not to harm the castle's inhabitants. However, when Ser Rodrik Cassel is captured outside of Winterfell and brought to Theon, the knight contemptuously spits on him. Theon moves first to imprison Ser Rodrik, but Dagmer Cleftjaw insists that Theon need personally execute Ser Rodrik, making him to pay "the iron price." Theon hesitates, but ultimately does so, despite the urgings of Bran and others at Winterfell. Theon is unable to execute Ser Rodrik with one blow, and has to repeatedly hack at him to decapitate him. Later, the wildling servant Osha seduces Theon, offering herself in exchange for her freedom; unbeknownst to Theon, Osha's seduction is a ruse to allow her and Hodor to spirit Bran and Rickon safely out of Winterfell.



In the Westerlands

Robb Stark again encounters the field nurse Talisa. As they talk flirtatiously with one another, Catelyn Stark arrives at the camp. Discovering that the nurse is Lady Talisa Maegyr from the Free City of Volantis, and sensing Robb's attraction to her, Catelyn firmly reminds her son that he is not at liberty to pursue romance: in return for Lord Walder Frey allowing the Stark armies to cross the Twins, he has promised to marry one of Frey's daughters. The Starks then receive the news of Theon Greyjoy's betrayal and the execution of Ser Rodrik. Furious, Robb declares that he will recapture Winterfell, but Lord Roose Bolton advises Robb that if he marches back to the North now, he will lose what he has gained against the Lannisters. Bolton proposes sending his bastard son with the forces he has left at his stronghold, the Dreadfort, to end the Ironborn occupation of Winterfell. Robb reluctantly agrees, but demands that Theon be captured alive so that Robb may understand Theon's treachery before he personally executes him.



Beyond the Wall

The Night's Watch expedition, led by Qhorin Halfhand, reaches and captures a wildling watchpost. The wildlings are all killed, aside from Ygritte, a single female prisoner captured by Jon Snow. After Ygritte boasts of the growing wildling army, Jon offers to execute the prisoner before rejoining the rest of the group. However, Jon finds himself unable to kill Ygritte, and his resulting hesitation allows her to escape. Jon is able to recapture Ygritte, but now finds himself separated from the main party. With night fast approaching, Jon is forced to sleep in the open. He refuses to make any fires, but is convinced by Ygritte to huddle next to her in order to share body warmth.



In King's Landing

Myrcella Baratheon is sent to Dorne as part of her arranged marriage alliance with House Martell, with the royal entourage going to the harbour to bid her farewell. While the royal entourage is returning to the Red Keep, unrest in the royal city reaches a breaking point: King Joffrey Baratheon is struck in the face with manure hurled by the crowd, and he reacts by ordering his guards to kill everyone in the crowd. A riot ensues and the royal family is forced to flee for safety. Tyrion Lannister slaps Joffrey for his foolishness and tries to take control of the situation, but the Kingsguard refuse to obey him. Trapped outside, Sansa Stark is nearly gang-raped by several men before being rescued by Sandor "The Hound" Clegane.



At Harrenhal

Lord Tywin Lannister grows increasingly exasperated at the incompetence of his advisors and men-at-arms, who have let sensitive military information slip into the hands of Stark loyalists by confusing addressees. Tywin observes that his cupbearer Arya Stark can read better than many of his knights, something he finds unusual because Arya later tells him her father was a stonemason. Arya's effort to conceal her true identity is further endangered when Petyr Baelish unexpectedly arrives at Tywin's chambers for a meeting. Forced to wait at the table and serve wine, Arya tries to conceal her face from Baelish. Although he notices the cupbearer after she nervously spills his wine, it is unclear as to whether he recognises her as Arya. Later, one of Tywin's knights, Ser Amory Lorch, catches Arya with a stolen parchment detailing war orders concerning her brother Robb. She manages to escape him, then finds the assassin Jaqen H'ghar, who is still masquerading as a Lannister guardsman. She implores him to kill Ser Amory without delay to repay the second of the three "lives" he owes her. As Ser Amory enters Tywin's chambers to expose Arya, he drops dead with a poisoned dart lodged in his neck.



In Qarth

Daenerys Targaryen meets with the Spice King, one of Qarth's ruling Thirteen. Daenerys's entreaties to the Spice King for ships are rebuffed as he is not moved by her passion alone, but rather tangible promises. Later, returning with her host Xaro, Daenerys and her entourage suddenly discover the dead bodies of Qartheen guards and her own khalasar strewn around Xaro's mansion. The trail of bodies leads to her antechamber, where she sees that her handmaiden Irri has been killed and her dragons have been stolen. The dragons are then seen being ferried to a tower by a mysterious hooded figure.

In King's Landing

Sansa Stark thanks Sandor "The Hound" Clegane for saving her during the riots, but her thanks are met with a cold reception. Later, Sansa is awakened by a nightmare of the riots and discovers that she has had her first period, with the implication that she can now be wed to Joffrey Baratheon and bear his children. When Shae discovers Sansa trying to cut the blood from her sheets, she begins to aid her, but they are discovered by one of the Queen's handmaidens, who rushes to tell Queen Regent Cersei Lannister. Shae catches the maid in the hall and threatens her life should the maid tell anyone, but upon Shae's return, Shae discovers the Hound has seen the sheet as well. Cersei meets with Sansa to discuss her duty to Joffrey, but tells Sansa that it will be impossible to love Joffrey, so she should just focus on loving her children. Tyrion Lannister tells Cersei that Stannis Baratheon's fleet will be arriving in days and the king's plan to repel them might not work. Cersei tries to defend her relationship with Jaime Lannister by reiterating how incest was relatively common , but she ultimately tells Tyrion her belief that she is being punished with an uncontrollable Joffrey for committing incest.



Beyond the Wall

Jon Snow continues to search for his companions with his prisoner, Ygritte, in tow. When Ygritte deduces that Jon has never been with a woman, and upon learning of his vow of celibacy, she is dumbfounded and tries to convince him that life would be better with the wildlings, under Mance Rayder. She also teases him about his lack of sexual experience, offering to show him how. Jon remains true to his vows and repeatedly rebuffs her advances. While crossing a muddy passage, Ygritte is able to slip away from Jon and make an escape. Jon pursues her but is unable to find her until she draws his attention by whistling to him, revealing herself and several wildlings that have been hiding nearby. More wildlings then emerge from nearby hiding places, revealing that Jon is surrounded.



At Harrenhal

Lord Tywin Lannister orders Ser Gregor "The Mountain" Clegane to find Amory Lorch's killer, believing that the murder of Lorch was actually an attempt on his own life. When Clegane leaves, Tywin invites Arya Stark to eat with him. They discuss Tywin's desire to leave a legacy and the conquest of Westeros by Aegon the Conqueror, which led to the destruction of Harrenhal. Tywin is surprised to learn that Arya knows so much about Aegon and his sister-wives. Having deduced that she is highborn, he tells her that she says, "My lord," instead of, "M'lord," like a commoner would, and advises her that if she is trying to hide her highborn status, she should do it more carefully. She rebuffs this by stating her mother served a noblewoman for many years, and taught her to speak properly. He tells her she is too smart for her own good.



In the Westerlands

King Robb Stark hears Alton Lannister's unfavorable reply to the peace terms he brought to Queen Regent Cersei. Lord Roose Bolton informs Robb that his prisons are full, so Robb orders the construction of a new pen to keep Alton in, and orders him placed with Ser Jaime Lannister in the meantime. Robb also meets with Talisa Maegyr to discuss getting her more medical supplies. Robb asks her to come with him to the Crag to see the Maester for her supplies, which she agrees to do.

After a prolonged friendly conversation, Jaime brutally kills Alton to kick off an escape plan. When the jailer, Torrhen Karstark, enters the pen to investigate the disturbance, Jaime strangles him with his chains, takes the key from his body to free himself, and flees. In the morning, he is recaptured and brought back to the Stark camp. Lord Rickard Karstark demands the Kingslayer's head in retribution for murdering his son. Catelyn Stark, with the assistance of Brienne of Tarth, is able to delay the execution until Robb returns from the Crag. Catelyn confronts Jaime about Alton's death and calls him a man without honor for breaking his vows. Jaime bitterly explains that his vows as a knight included requirements to defend the innocent, obey his father, and serve the king... but that his father despised his king, and his king was slaughtering the innocent, rendering his vows conflicting. Jaime considers concepts like "honor" and "loyalty" naive at best and hypocritical at worst. Jaime also asserts that he has only been intimate with Cersei and thus has more honor than Eddard Stark, Catelyn's late husband, who fathered the bastard Jon Snow. He baits and insults Catelyn by telling her that she must hate Jon as a living reminder of Ned's infidelity. This brings Catelyn to a breaking point and she asks for Brienne's sword.



In Qarth

Having lost her dragons, Daenerys Targaryen has difficulty trusting Xaro Xhoan Daxos when he tells her he did not take them. Later, Ser Jorah Mormont returns from his search for a ship and vows to Daenerys to find her dragons. He seeks out the shadowbinder Quaithe, who knows much of the dragons and Jorah's feelings for Daenerys. Quaithe informs Jorah that although she does not have the dragons, Daenerys is currently with the one who does. At a meeting of the Thirteen, Pyat Pree tells Daenerys that he has her dragons in the "House of the Undying." Shortly after this revelation, Xaro, with the aid of Pree, proclaims himself King of Qarth. Pree, having multiplied himself around the room, assassinates the remaining eleven members of the Thirteen, and Daenerys flees with Mormont and Kovarro.



At Winterfell

Prince Theon Greyjoy wakes in the morning and finds the wildling Osha gone from his bed. Outside, he discovers one of his men has been killed, and Bran Stark, Rickon Stark, Hodor and Osha have fled Winterfell in the night. While berating his men for the escape of the children, he is challenged by Black Lorren for sleeping with Osha. Theon brutally beats Lorren and then begins a hunt for the two boys and their companions, against the wishes of Maester Luwin. After arriving at a farm, Theon is displeased to learn the dogs have lost the trail, but Dagmer Cleftjaw discovers walnut shells in the farm yard, indicating Bran and Rickon may have passed through. Theon then orders Luwin back to Winterfell so he may interrogate the farm owner.

After returning from the hunt, Theon calls the people to the square, and after Luwin's arrival, reveals to them the charred remains of two children as a warning to those who do not respect his rule. Luwin cries out in horror for Bran and Rickon, while Theon looks upon the corpses and appears visibly uncomfortable, barely able to hide his guilt.

In King's Landing

Tyrion Lannister and Bronn plan the defense of King's Landing, with the aid of several old texts. When Lord Varys asks how they plan to hold off Stannis Baratheon's ships, Tyrion replies with "pig shit", referencing an earlier meeting with Pyromancer Hallyne and his pots of wildfire.

While dining with his sister Cersei, Tyrion is accused of plotting to have King Joffrey Baratheon killed during the defense of King's Landing. Cersei tells Tyrion that she has kidnapped his prostitute lover and intends to hold her to ensure Joffrey's safety, but when Cersei orders her brought into the room Tyrion discovers that she has mistakenly kidnapped Ros instead of Shae. After promising Ros that he will free her, Tyrion angrily swears to Cersei that she will pay for what she has done.

Later, Tyrion tries to get Joffrey to understand the danger they face, but Joffrey's inexperience and arrogance leave Tyrion fearful for the coming battle. Varys informs Tyrion that Daenerys Targaryen is alive and that she now has three dragons. Tyrion, skeptical about the dragons, says that they will play that "game" later, since Stannis is their main concern now.



At sea

Davos Seaworth and King Stannis plan the siege of King's Landing, during which Stannis decries the disrespect his nobles show to Davos due to his low-born status, despite his excellent service. They recall memories of the siege of the Baratheon ancestral castle Storm's End, during which Stannis held the castle even in the face of starvation, until Davos heroically broke through the siege line with food supplies. Stannis comments on his bitterness over King Robert handing over Storm's End to Renly after the war and not him, and vows that he will aptly reward faithful service by making Davos his Hand once he takes the Iron Throne.



At Harrenhal

Lord Tywin Lannister decides to fight Robb Stark's army now that their attention is on the Greyjoys' capture of Winterfell and departs Harrenhal, leaving Ser Gregor Clegane at its command. Arya Stark tries to have Jaqen H'ghar kill Tywin before he leaves, using the last of three "lives" she was owed, but she is not able to find Jaqen in time. Instead, she decides to ask Jaqen to help them escape. Jaqen explains that an escape would cost more lives than their current bargain, and after some thought, Arya names Jaqen himself. After he asks her to take his name back, she does so on the condition that he help her escape with her friends Gendry and Hot Pie. He tells Arya that the three will be able to walk out safely if they do so at midnight that night. True to his word, Jaqen kills the entire evening's watch guarding the entrance to Harrenhal, allowing the three to escape.



In the Westerlands

King Robb returns from the Crag with Lady Talisa Maegyr and is informed of Jaime Lannister's escape and his mother's involvement. When Robb confronts Catelyn, she admits to having her knight Brienne of Tarth escort Jaime to King's Landing to trade for Sansa and Arya. Angered with his mother's betrayal, Robb has Catelyn placed under guard. Later, Lord Roose Bolton assures Robb that Bolton's bastard son is only a few days from Winterfell; Robb orders that mercy be shown to any surrendering Ironborn except Theon Greyjoy, hoping it will give Theon's men incentive to betray him. Bolton shows distaste with his king's merciful attitude but obeys. Lady Talisa then enters Robb's tent where he confides in her about his problems. After she tells him a story about why she chose to leave Volantis and become a healer, Robb confesses that he does not want to marry one of Lord Walder Frey's daughters. Talisa also wishes the same, and the two consummate their relationship.



Beyond the Wall

Jon Snow is presented to the Lord of Bones by Ygritte and her companions. The Lord of Bones wants Jon killed, but Ygritte convinces him otherwise by saying that Mance Rayder will want to meet Eddard Stark's bastard son. Qhorin Halfhand, who was also captured, tells Jon he should pretend to defect to Mance's army so the Night's Watch can learn about Mance's plans. To make Jon's defection look real, Qhorin starts a fight with Jon.

At the Fist of the First Men, Samwell Tarly and Grenn discover an ancient Night's Watch cloak, which contains a strange horn and a cache of dragonglass weapons.



In Qarth

Ser Jorah Mormont advises Daenerys Targaryen to leave the dragons behind and to flee Qarth for Astapor, but she refuses to leave without her dragons. Daenerys asks Jorah to take her to the House of the Undying, where the warlock Pyat Pree has said they are being kept, and Jorah reluctantly obeys.



At Winterfell

Theon Greyjoy orders the messenger ravens be killed, so word of the deaths of Bran and Rickon Stark will not leave Winterfell. Soon after, Yara Greyjoy arrives with a few riders, which angers Theon, who had ordered his sister to send 500 men to help him hold the castle. Yara reveals she has come to Winterfell to bring him back home because his decision to execute the Stark boys will only bring the wrath of all the North down on his head. Despite Yara's pleas, Theon refuses because he fears that he will be seen as a coward if he abandons Winterfell.

Maester Luwin sees the wildling Osha stealing bread and retreating to the crypts beneath Winterfell. He follows her and discovers that both Bran and Rickon are alive and well. Osha explains that after reaching the farm, they had doubled back to Winterfell itself to evade Theon's patrols. Luwin deduces that Theon's men murdered a farming family and burned their sons' bodies in the Stark boys' stead. He asks Osha to keep it from Bran since he would blame himself, but Bran overhears their conversation.

Ser Davos Seaworth leads King Stannis Baratheon's fleet into Blackwater Bay. Before their arrival, Tyrion and Shae discuss the possibility of the Lannister defeat. Queen Regent Cersei is given a powerful poison by Grand Maester Pycelle to be used should the city fall, since she believes a victorious Stannis will eliminate the Lannister nobility. Outside the Red Keep, Bronn drinks and sings with his men, but the mood is soured by the arrival of Sandor "the Hound" Clegane. Tensions rise between Bronn and the Hound, but before they can fight, the bells ring, indicating Stannis' fleet has been spotted. Lord Varys brings Tyrion a map of the tunnels beneath King's Landing, as requested. Varys is unnerved by Stannis' associations with the dark arts, having heard he has begun a relationship with a Red Priestess. King Joffrey jubilantly leads the defending forces from the Red Keep, and orders his betrothed, Sansa Stark, to kiss his sword, vowing that he will use it to slay her brother Robb one day. The noble ladies and children are interned at Maegor's Holdfast and kept under watch by Ser Ilyn Payne, the royal executioner, who Cersei claims is present for their protection. Becoming drunk, Cersei has several pointed conversations with Sansa, mocking her innocence and warning her to expect to be raped should the city fall.

As Stannis's fleet closes in, they are confronted by a single ship from King's Landing heading for them, seemingly abandoned and unmanned. Davos realizes too late that it is a trap; the unmanned ship is rigged with the explosive chemical "wildfire" and explodes as Bronn fires a flaming arrow at the bay. Several ships are instantly destroyed, killing scores of Stannis' men, seemingly including Davos and his son Matthos. Stannis nevertheless orders his surviving army to beach via rowboat and begin the assault on the city's vulnerable Mud Gate. Tyrion orders the Hound to lead a counterstrike. The defenders are routed in the melee. Lancel is injured and flees back to Maegor's Holdfast, while the Hound, succumbing to his childhood fear of fire, deserts altogether after watching a charging soldier burn alive. Stannis himself storms the city battlements and is first up the ladder into the city. Almost unopposed, Stannis's men attack the Mud Gate with a battering ram. At the holdfast, Cersei attempts to interrogate Shae and nearly learns of her true origins, while Sansa learns of Ser Ilyn's true purpose in the hold: kill the holdfast's residents should Stannis take the city.

Lancel arrives at the holdfast and informs Queen Cersei that Stannis's men are at the gates. Cersei responds by ordering Lancel to bring Joffrey back from the battlements and into the safety of the Red Keep. Frightened, Joffrey agrees to leave the battlefield and orders one of the Kingsguard, Ser Mandon Moore, to represent him in his stead, sending morale plummeting amongst the defenders. Tyrion takes charge of the remaining men, rousing them with a speech and leading them through one of the tunnels from Varys' map, allowing them to flank the Baratheons. Lancel returns to the holdfast and demands that the king return to battle, causing Cersei to assault him and depart from the hold with her son Prince Tommen, leaving the other noble ladies alone with Ser Ilyn. Sansa rallies the panicking ladies with prayer but is convinced by Shae to flee from the hold to her quarters. When Sansa arrives at her chambers, she is startled by the Hound, who is fleeing the city and offers to take her north with him. Sansa initially declines his offer, although her final decision remains unclear.

Tyrion, having led his men through the tunnel, attacks the surprised Baratheon men from behind, defeating them with ease. They stop to celebrate their victory, but soon return to fighting as a larger group of Stannis's men arrive from nearby. As Tyrion fights, he is unexpectedly attacked by Ser Mandon and slashed across his face. Before Tyrion can be killed, his squire, Podrick Payne, kills Ser Mandon. Simultaneously Cersei is in the great hall with Prince Tommen sitting on the Iron Throne and comforting him as the battle rages on at the city walls. She tells him a story about “The mother lion and her little cub” lion being the banner of House Lannister symbolizing her relationship with her children and all the other banners such as stags, wolves and bears as their enemies quoting “You are a lion my son, you mustn't be afraid”. As Tyrion slips into unconsciousness, he witnesses Stannis' army being suddenly struck by a surprise assault from a cavalry force led by Tywin Lannister. Stannis is seen ordering his men to stand their ground, even when he is being dragged away to safety. Cersei, having fled to the great hall with Prince Tommen, is about to give him the poison, when she is startled by the arrival of Ser Loras Tyrell , and her father, Lord Tywin Lannister, who declares that they have won the battle.

In King's Landing

After the decisive victory over Stannis Baratheon in the Battle of Blackwater, King Joffrey Baratheon gives Lord Tywin Lannister, his grandfather, the title of "Savior of King's Landing" for his help in the Battle of Blackwater Bay, and formally names him Hand of the King. For uniting the Houses of Tyrell and Lannister, the alliance which caused the victory, Lord Petyr Baelish is given the castle of Harrenhal. Ser Loras Tyrell asks for the king to wed Lady Margaery Tyrell, his sister, and though Joffrey insists he is bound by oath to Sansa Stark, Queen Regent Cersei Lannister and Grand Maester Pycelle argue that the gods will allow him to reject the oath on grounds of Eddard Stark's treason. Sansa is elated to be rid of Joffrey, but Baelish warns her that she is still in danger while she is in King's Landing, and offers to scheme to see her home safely. Lord Varys works to undermine Baelish's successes and plots to turn his associate, the prostitute Ros, against him.

Meanwhile, a scarred Tyrion Lannister wakes from the injuries that he received from the attempt on his life during the battle. With the arrival of Tywin, he has been removed from the position of Hand of the King and is left powerless and without allies, except for his squire, Podrick Payne. Lord Varys informs Tyrion that the Queen was behind the attempt on his life and says that he knows Tyrion to have been the true hero of the battle, even though he will receive no official credit. Tyrion is consoled by Shae, who remains loyal and tries to convince him to leave King's Landing for Pentos with her. Despite his fall from power, Tyrion refuses to leave King's Landing, saying that he has finally found a role at which he excels and that he enjoys.



At Dragonstone

In a rage over his unexpected defeat at the Battle of Blackwater, Lord Stannis Baratheon blames Melisandre for goading him into war with promises of victory and attempts to strangle her in a fit of rage. He relents only after Melisandre makes him truly comprehend his involvement in the death of his brother Renly. After informing Stannis that he will betray all that he has known in his quest to be king and assuring him it will be worth it in the end, Melisandre leads Stannis to a burning bowl of coal and has them together observe the dancing fire. As Stannis watches the flames, he seems struck by divine visions from the Lord of Light, restoring his faith in Melisandre.



In the Westerlands

Brienne of Tarth continues in her mission to escort the prisoner Jaime Lannister to King's Landing, in exchange for Sansa and Arya Stark. They happen upon the corpses of three women lynched by Stark soldiers, who soon arrive and discover that Brienne's prisoner is the wanted Kingslayer himself. Brienne kills the soldiers, avenging the three women, whom she then buries. When Jaime expresses his surprise that Brienne killed Stark soldiers, Brienne reminds him that she does not serve House Stark, but Lady Catelyn.

Meanwhile, King Robb Stark confides to his mother, Catelyn, that he is in love with Talisa Maegyr and will not proceed with the arranged marriage to one of Lord Walder Frey's daughters. Despite Catelyn's warning that breaking his oath with Lord Frey is reckless, Robb marries Talisa in private.



At Winterfell

With Winterfell under siege from Roose Bolton's bastard son, and his Ironborn garrison facing defeat, Theon Greyjoy rejects the advice of Maester Luwin to abandon the castle and join the Night's Watch, believing that Jon Snow will kill him for his betrayal. He decides to fight to the death with his men, but when he tries to rally them, Dagmer knocks Theon out. As the Ironborn drag him off to be handed to the Bolton forces in exchange for pardon, Luwin attempts to intervene and is stabbed by Dagmer.

Later, Bran Stark and his party emerge from hiding to find Winterfell sacked and Luwin dying in the Godswood, where he declares his loyalty and love for the Starks before having Osha perform a mercy killing, out of sight of Bran and Rickon. Bran and his group then escape the remains of Winterfell, bound for the Wall.



In the Riverlands

Arya, Gendry and Hot Pie flee from Harrenhal. They are surprised by the sudden appearance of the mysterious assassin Jaqen H'ghar, who helped them escape. Jaqen offers to take Arya with him to Braavos to train her in his abilities. Although tempted, Arya declines, intending to reunite with her family. Before departing, Jaqen hands Arya a special coin and the phrase "Valar morghulis," which Arya may use to seek him if she meets anyone from Braavos. Before departing, Jaqen turns to reveal he has changed his face, an ability of the "Faceless Men" he mentions to Arya.



In Qarth

Ser Jorah Mormont and Kovarro go with Daenerys Targaryen to the House of the Undying, the stronghold of the warlocks of Qarth, where Pyat Pree has her dragons held captive. Pyat Pree's magic quickly leaves Jorah and Kovarro stranded outside while trapping Daenerys in the stronghold. As she walks through the stronghold, Daenerys is struck with visions of places such as a ruined and snowbound Red Keep, and the Haunted Forest. She encounters her deceased husband, Khal Drogo, and their stillborn son Rhaego, both apparently alive and well. Although unsure whether she is dreaming, Daenerys leaves when she hears her dragons. She finds herself in an antechamber with her dragons chained to a pedestal. Pyat Pree appears and conjures chains to bind Daenerys, gloating that he will keep her chained for eternity. Daenerys orders her dragons to breathe fire, killing Pyat Pree and freeing her from the chains.

After escaping the House of the Undying, Daenerys — with her dragons, her remaining Dothraki contingent, and Ser Jorah — find Xaro Xhoan Daxos asleep in bed with Doreah, who, as Daenerys now realizes, had betrayed her, and takes them prisoner. Opening Xaro's vault, they find it empty, with Xaro's boasts of extreme wealth having been lies. Despite Xaro's and Doreah's pleas, Daenerys orders her followers to seal them both in the vault. Daenerys then proceeds to have her companions loot Xaro's house in order to buy a ship.



Beyond the Wall

Qhorin Halfhand, still prisoner of the wildlings, provokes a fight with his fellow prisoner Jon Snow, with the apparent goal of convincing the wildlings that Jon has defected. Qhorin goads Jon into killing him by insulting the memories of Ned Stark and of Jon's mother. After Qhorin is killed, the wildlings free a stunned Jon and introduce him to their massive wildling force, promising him a meeting with their King-Beyond-the-Wall, the former Night's Watch ranger Mance Rayder.

Meanwhile, while on duty, Sam, Grenn, and Edd overhear three horn blasts, signaling White Walkers' approach. The others flee, leaving Sam behind. He is quickly surrounded by an army of wights and a White Walker riding an undead horse. The White Walker sees Sam, but ignores him and orders the force to advance. Sam, now isolated from his allies, watches in horror as the army marches onward towards the Night's Watch encampment at the Fist of the First Men.

Beyond the Wall

The episode opens shortly after White Walkers have attacked the Night's Watch force and left only a small number of survivors. During a subsequent blizzard, Samwell Tarly is attacked by a wight, but is saved by the direwolf Ghost and Lord Commander Jeor Mormont. The Lord Commander reprimands Samwell for failing to send ravens south to warn of the incoming army and orders the survivors to head back to the Wall.

Jon Snow, still a prisoner of Ygritte and the wildlings, arrives at the wildling camp and is escorted to meet with Mance Rayder. When brought to his tent, Jon initially mistakes Tormund Giantsbane for the King-beyond-the-Wall, but Mance reveals himself to Jon and questions Jon's motives for deserting the Night's Watch. Jon earns Mance's approval by describing his disgust after discovering that Craster gave his baby sons to the White Walkers, and that the Lord Commander knew but did nothing, adding that he wants "to fight for the side that fights for the living".



In King's Landing

Newly knighted Ser Bronn has returned to Tyrion Lannister's service, for a much higher fee. Tyrion, who has been scarred since the Battle of Blackwater, has been a shut-in recluse ever since the arrival of his father Tywin, who has taken the glory for the victory over Stannis Baratheon's forces. Cersei visits Tyrion and questions what he will say to their father. When Tyrion meets with Tywin, who has assumed the role of Hand of the King, Tywin reluctantly agrees to Tyrion's request for recognition of his accomplishments during the Battle of Blackwater. However, when pressed by Tyrion to name him heir to Casterly Rock, the Lannister ancestral home, Tywin refuses, and viciously insults Tyrion, calling him an embarrassment and a penance that he must suffer “to teach him humility,” also heavily implying that he does not believe Tyrion to be legitimate and making a mockery of the family name. As Tyrion leaves, Tywin threatens to hang the next whore he finds in Tyrion's bed.

Petyr Baelish approaches Sansa Stark, who is still being accompanied by Shae. Petyr informs Sansa that he is in negotiations to take a role that would remove him from King's Landing. He offers to smuggle her out if Sansa can keep quiet about the plan. Ros is careful to tell Shae to watch out for Sansa's well-being, especially when dealing with Lord Baelish.

King Joffrey Baratheon and his betrothed Lady Margaery Tyrell travel through Flea Bottom in a caravan, when Margaery stops and exits her litter and goes to an orphanage to comfort the children. Joffrey, meanwhile, hides in his litter with the windows shut. At dinner with Cersei, Margaery, and Loras Tyrell, Joffrey trades insults with his mother while the Tyrells show perfect unity and harmony.



In Blackwater Bay

Davos Seaworth is left stranded on a rock in Blackwater Bay after the destruction of his ship in the Battle of the Blackwater. He is picked up by a ship belonging to his old friend, the pirate Salladhor Saan. Davos recounts seeing his son, Matthos, die. Salladhor reveals that he is leaving Stannis Baratheon's service due to Stannis' defeat and Salladhor's belief that Stannis is unable to deliver what Davos had promised in his name. He also tells Davos that Stannis is in seclusion at Dragonstone, and that Melisandre is burning people alive at his castle and she is the only one with whom Stannis will speak. Davos asks Salladhor to drop him off there, intending to stop Melisandre's influencing Stannis by assassinating her, and Salladhor agrees despite being afraid that this will mean Davos's death.



At Dragonstone

Davos is given an audience with Stannis, and is shocked to discover that Stannis is indifferent to his survival and refuses to send Melisandre away. Melisandre insinuates to Davos that it is his fault the battle was lost, since he convinced Stannis to leave her behind and thus prevented Melisandre from using her magic to influence the battle's outcome. When she mentions Matthos, Davos loses his temper and tries to attack her, though the guards restrain him and Stannis orders him thrown in the dungeons.



At Harrenhal

Robb Stark and his forces arrive at Harrenhal, where they discover that Gregor Clegane has abandoned it and slaughtered all the prisoners. Lord Roose Bolton gives sympathy to a still-grieving Lord Rickard Karstark who expresses his frustration that Catelyn Stark let Jaime Lannister go. Bolton assures Karstark that Jaime will be found soon, as his best hunter is after them. Robb stumbles across a survivor among the dead, a man named Qyburn.



Across the Narrow Sea

With her dragons growing fast, Daenerys Targaryen has arrived at Astapor in Slaver's Bay and is considering buying an army of the renowned eunuch slave soldiers, the "Unsullied". She and Ser Jorah Mormont witness a brutal demonstration of their fortitude, but Daenerys is horrified to hear of the gruesome training they endure. Upon walking throughout a nearby market, a warlock masked as a young girl attempts to assassinate Daenerys with a scorpion-like creature. He is thwarted by a cloaked Ser Barristan Selmy, previous Kingsguard to Daenerys' father, who swears his allegiance to her.

In King's Landing

Sansa Stark is invited to lunch by Lady Margaery Tyrell and her grandmother Lady Olenna. While there, Sansa is asked to tell them about King Joffrey Baratheon, and whether he will be a good husband to Margaery. Sansa is reluctant to speak the truth about him, but she is eventually persuaded to tell them of his cruelty.

While being fitted for his wedding clothes, King Joffrey discusses his bride-to-be with his mother, Queen Regent Cersei Lannister. Afterward, he invites Margaery to his chamber to discuss his upcoming hunt. He grows impatient with her answers to his questions regarding her last husband, Renly Baratheon, and whether they consummated their marriage. Margaery informs him that they did not, and under further questioning she explains that Renly did not appreciate the "company of women". The conversation turns to Joffrey's new crossbow; Margaery feigns interest, and Joffrey tells Margaery that he would enjoy watching her kill something with it.

Tyrion Lannister returns to his chamber to find Shae waiting for him. He warns her of his father's promise to him regarding his whoring, but she is undaunted. She warns him that Lord Baelish has taken an interest in Sansa Stark, to which he replies that, now that she is no longer Joffrey's future queen, many men will take interest in her. Shae becomes jealous of Sansa, and Tyrion calms her.



Beyond the Wall

Mance Rayder continues to be distrustful of Jon Snow, speaking to him while marching toward the wall. Along with Tormund Giantsbane and Ygritte, they stop briefly to speak with Orell. Orell is revealed to be a warg, one who is capable of seeing through the eyes of animals. He awakens from his trance to tell Mance that he has seen the Fist of the First Men and the aftermath of the battle which took place there.

While marching back to the Wall, Samwell Tarly falls from exhaustion. He is aided by Grenn and Edd, before Lord Commander Jeor Mormont orders Rast, who had been taunting Sam as fat and slow and urging he be left behind, to ensure Sam reaches the Wall alive.



In the North

While heading toward the Wall, Bran Stark has a dream where he is trying to shoot the three-eyed Raven, but is confronted by a boy who explains that it is impossible, as Bran is the Raven. When he awakens, Bran, Hodor, Osha and Rickon continue their northern march. Later, while Hodor and Rickon are away, Osha suspects someone is following them and leaves to investigate. Bran is then confronted by the boy from his dream, who reveals that he is Jojen Reed, and a seer like Bran. He is accompanied by his sister, Meera. Jojen says that he too had the dream, and that they have been searching for Bran, believing he will play a critical role in the future.



In an unknown location

Theon Greyjoy has been taken captive by a group of men and is being tortured for information. Despite Theon answering all questions truthfully, they continue the torture. After they leave, a boy, who claims to have been sent by Theon's sister Yara Greyjoy, promises to aid him once the soldiers are sleeping.



In the Riverlands

King-in-the-North Robb Stark receives two letters, one informing him of the death of his grandfather, Lord Hoster Tully, and the other bearing the news that his home, Winterfell, has been put to the torch by the Iron Islanders. Furthermore, Bran and Rickon were not found among the ruins of Winterfell. He informs his mother, Lady Catelyn, of this news, and they depart for Riverrun, her childhood home, for her father's funeral. While on the road, Lord Rickard Karstark voices his displeasure with the funeral distraction. Later, Catelyn discusses her children with Queen Talisa, recalling how she had prayed for Jon Snow to die when he was first brought to Winterfell. After Jon fell gravely ill, Catelyn promised to love him and prayed to the gods for his recovery, promising to persuade Ned Stark to legitimize the bastard boy, though in the end she couldn't bring herself to do so. She admits that she feels responsible for what is happening to all of them.

Traveling north, Arya Stark, Gendry, and Hot Pie are discovered by a small party led by Thoros of Myr, who suspects them of having escaped Harrenhal. He tells them that he and his men fight for the Brotherhood without Banners, and takes them to an inn to eat. Once finished, Arya, Gendry, and Hot Pie are leaving when another group of Brotherhood soldiers enter with a captive Sandor "The Hound" Clegane, who recognizes Arya and reveals her true identity to Thoros and his men.

Brienne of Tarth continues to transport Ser Jaime Lannister to King's Landing, hoping to trade him for Sansa and Arya. While traveling, they encounter a farmer who warns them of the danger in traveling the Kingsroad. Jaime warns Brienne that the farmer might give their presence away and must be killed, but Brienne refuses. Later when they are crossing a bridge, Jaime seizes an opportunity to take one of Brienne's swords, but in the ensuing fight she gains the upper hand. Before their fight can be concluded, they are taken captive by Locke, a bannerman of Lord Roose Bolton, aided by the farmer, who had recognized Jaime from a joust he had attended.

In King's Landing

Tywin Lannister calls a meeting of the Small Council. He demands knowledge of Jaime's location, which the spymaster, Lord Varys, is unable to provide. Tywin then announces plans to have Lord Petyr Baelish wed Lysa Arryn to deprive Robb Stark of more allies in the war. Tywin names his son Tyrion as Baelish's replacement as Master of Coin , despite Tyrion's pointing out his lack of expertise. Later, while retrieving the ledgers for his new appointment, Lord Baelish advises Tyrion on the job. Tyrion then rewards his virgin squire Podrick Payne with the services of three prostitutes for saving his life in the Battle of the Blackwater; Tyrion is later surprised to discover that they refused payment due to Podrick's skill in lovemaking. While going over the books, Tyrion discovers that as treasurer Baelish has borrowed millions in gold from Tywin, as well as tens of millions from the Iron Bank of Braavos. A debt to Tywin is a problem since, regardless of his familial relationship with the king, Tyrion fears he will not forgive the debt despite the crown's dire straits. However, he is more worried about the Iron Bank, since if they are not paid back in due time they may very well begin funding the Crown's enemies.



In the North

Theon Greyjoy is awakened by the cleaning boy, released from his bondage, given a horse, and told to ride east to his sister, Yara, at Deepwood Motte. After riding all night, Theon finds out that he is being pursued by his captors; he is soon caught and knocked off his horse. Moments before their leader attempts to rape him, Theon is saved by the cleaning boy, an expert bowman, who kills the soldiers and accompanies him onward.



At Dragonstone

Stannis Baratheon accuses Melisandre of trying to abandon him as she is heading to a ship bound for an unknown destination which she claims will be revealed to her by the Lord of Light. Stannis begs her to give him another son, but she says he does not have the strength. She informs him that her magic requires king's blood and that it will be necessary to acquire it from others who share Stannis' blood.



In Astapor

Ser Jorah Mormont and Ser Barristan Selmy offer Daenerys Targaryen their differing counsel over the choice of soldiers to use upon their return to Westeros. Ser Barristan would have them use free, loyal men, while Ser Jorah presses in favor of the Unsullied. Shortly afterwards, Daenerys declares to slaver Kraznys mo Nakloz that she wishes to purchase all 8,000 Unsullied and the boys still in training to become Unsullied. When Kraznys tells her she cannot afford them, insulting her in Old Valyrian all the while, Daenerys offers one of her dragons, despite the counsel of both Jorah and Barristan. Kraznys demands all three dragons, then two, then simply the largest one, to which Daenerys finally agrees. Before leaving, Daenerys demands Kraznys's slave translator Missandei as a gift "for a bargain well struck," and departs with her.



Beyond the Wall

The wildling army, led by Mance Rayder arrives at the Fist of the First Men to find a field of decapitated horses arranged in shape of a whirl by the White Walkers. Jon Snow notes that there are no dead Night's Watch brothers amongst the horses, which Orell claims he had seen. Rayder tells Jon that the dead have become wights, and orders Tormund Giantsbane to take 20 men, along with Jon, and climb the Wall. Rayder then says he will light the biggest fire the North has seen to signal them to attack the Night's Watch. He stipulates that if Snow doesn't prove useful, he can be thrown off the Wall.

Arriving at Craster's Keep, the remaining Night's Watch brothers seek refuge under his roof. Craster reluctantly allows them into his keep. After being ridiculed by Craster, Samwell Tarly leaves the keep and witnesses Gilly giving birth to a boy.



At Riverrun

Lord Hoster Tully is given a ship burial, attended by his family and bannermen. When his son, Edmure, is unable to set the boat ablaze despite three arrow shots, Hoster's brother, Brynden "the Blackfish" shoves Edmure out of the way and sets the boat on fire with one arrow, shaming Edmure in front of the group. Shortly after, while in conference with King Robb, Edmure is chastised for having disobeyed orders not to engage Ser Gregor Clegane. Later, Lady Catelyn Stark discusses her pain with Brynden. Queen Talisa pays a visit to Tywin's captured nephews, Martyn and Willem Lannister, and tends to their wounds.



In the Riverlands

Props from the episode: Jaime Lannister's severed hand, his shackles and Locke's cleaver.

Arya Stark confronts Sandor "the Hound" Clegane about killing Arya's friend Mycah while traveling from Winterfell, but before the Hound can reply, he is taken away in a cart. Arya and Gendry then say goodbye to Hot Pie, who tells them that the Brotherhood has left him at the inn as payment to the innkeeper after proving his skill as a cook.

Locke and his men transport Ser Jaime Lannister and Brienne of Tarth to Harrenhal. Along the way, Brienne and Jaime bicker about their capture, Brienne chides Jaime for his poor swordplay, and Jaime anticipates the men will try to rape Brienne, suggesting she submit to their advances or face being killed. However, he concedes that if he were in Brienne's position he would make the men kill him. At camp for the night, when Locke's men attempt to rape Brienne, Jaime convinces Locke that Brienne's father is rich and would pay ransom to have her back chaste and unharmed. Locke stops the men from raping Brienne. However, Jaime then tries to secure his own release, promising Locke that his father Tywin will reward him with gold and titles if he is returned to him. Locke feigns acceptance but is actually offended by Jaime's offer, sneers that Jaime is powerless without his father, and drives home the point by severing Jaime's right hand – his sword hand.

In King's Landing

Tyrion Lannister asks Lord Varys, laboring to open a large crate, for proof that Queen Regent Cersei Lannister tried to have him killed during the Battle of the Blackwater. Varys replies that he has none, but advises that revenge requires patience and tells the story of being made a eunuch decades earlier by a sorcerer in Myr. Once his story concludes, Varys opens the crate to reveal the whimpering sorcerer inside. Later, Varys gathers information from Ros, who reveals that Lord Petyr Baelish may take Sansa Stark with him when he leaves for the Eyrie to wed Lysa Arryn. Varys also meets with Lady Olenna Tyrell, asking about her interest in Sansa. He warns her that Baelish could become dangerous if he could obtain more power by controlling the heir to the North.

King Joffrey Baratheon takes Lady Margaery Tyrell on a tour of the Great Sept of Baelor, where Cersei and Lady Olenna are discussing the wedding. Margaery encourages Joffrey to give love to the people, urging him to open the doors to the balcony to wave to the crowd, which angers Cersei. Later, Cersei meets with her father, Tywin, to discuss the importance of getting Jaime back, as well as the Tyrell presence in King's Landing. Cersei distrusts Margaery for her ability to manipulate Joffrey. Margaery and Sansa get to know one another when Margaery finds Sansa at prayer in the godswood. Margaery expresses her hope that Sansa will come to see the Tyrell seat of Highgarden, but Sansa says Cersei will not allow her to leave King's Landing. Margaery replies that once she is queen, she would see Sansa wed to her brother, Ser Loras.



In the North

Bran dreams he is running through the woods with Jojen Reed, chasing the three-eyed raven. Bran climbs a tree in pursuit of the raven, but falls when his mother, Catelyn, appears, commanding him not to climb.

Theon Greyjoy and the boy who freed him ride for Deepwood Motte, where the boy claims Theon's sister Yara is waiting. While in the castle's underground entrance tunnel, Theon explains that he never found or killed the Stark boys, instead having Dagmer Cleftjaw kill and burn two orphans as substitutes. He also reveals his remorse for his actions and claims that Eddard Stark was his true father all along. When they enter the castle, the boy lights a torch to reveal that he has taken Theon back to the dungeon from which he'd helped him escape. Guards subdue Theon while the boy watches in delight.



In the Riverlands

Locke and his men taunt Ser Jaime Lannister for their removal of his sword hand. When Jaime falls from his horse, he steals a sword from one of Locke's men and attacks them, but, due to his weakened condition and having to use his left hand, he is quickly beaten. At camp, Brienne of Tarth talks with Jaime, who refuses to eat, saying he wants to die. She chastises him for quitting and tells him to live so that he can take revenge on Locke.

Arya Stark, Gendry, and Sandor "the Hound" Clegane are transported to the hideout of the Brotherhood Without Banners by Thoros of Myr and his men. They are introduced to the Brotherhood's leader, Lord Beric Dondarrion, who calls Clegane a murderer, which Clegane rejects on the grounds that all his killings were duty-bound protection of the king. Arya tells the Brotherhood about Mycah, the butcher's boy Clegane killed, but Clegane defends the execution as justified by Mycah having attacked the king, which Arya protests is untrue. Dondarrion sentences Clegane to fight him in a trial by combat.



Beyond the Wall

Grenn, Edd Tollett and Rast have been forced to work at Craster's Keep, caring for the pigs; Rast declares that they cannot trust Craster. Samwell Tarly and Gilly discuss her newborn son and his likely murder by Craster. The men of the Night's Watch hold a funeral for a fallen brother and soon return to Craster's Keep for dinner. Brother Karl Tanner challenges Craster, complaining about the poor food they have been given. Rast then enrages Craster by mentioning his bastard parentage. Craster grabs his hatchet and orders the Night's Watch out of his keep, threatening to mutilate the next one who calls him a bastard. After a moment of silence, Karl calls Craster a list of vulgar insults including the word "bastard"; Craster lunges at Karl, who stabs Craster in the throat. When Lord Commander Jeor Mormont attempts to fight Karl, Rast stabs him in the back, and, after the commander falls, stabs him repeatedly. As a fight breaks out amongst the Night's Watch brothers, Sam flees with Gilly and her infant son.



In Astapor

Daenerys Targaryen and her followers arrive to complete the trade of one of her dragons to the slaver Kraznys for the 8,000-strong Unsullied army. During the exchange, Kraznys repeatedly insults her in Valyrian yet again. After completing the exchange, Daenerys – in fluent Valyrian, claiming it as her mother tongue due to her Targaryen ancestry – orders her new army of Unsullied to sack Astapor, kill all the slavers and free every slave they find. When a horrified Kraznys tries to order the Unsullied to turn on their new mistress, Daenerys reclaims her dragon by ordering it to kill Kraznys. After the battle ends, she frees the Unsullied and tells them they may remain with her as free men or leave if they choose. None choose to leave her, showing their support by pounding their spears in unison. Daenerys and her army depart Astapor.

At Dragonstone

Queen Selyse is visited by her husband, King Stannis Baratheon, who admits his infidelity to her. He is surprised when she tells him that Melisandre has told her everything, and that she not only has no problem with it, but encourages it as service to the Lord of Light. Stannis then visits his daughter, Princess Shireen Baratheon. When she asks about the battle and Ser Davos Seaworth, Stannis tells her that Davos has been imprisoned for treason. Later, Shireen sneaks down to the dungeons to visit Davos and bring him a book, but Davos admits to her that he is illiterate. She begins teaching him to read, using a book on Aegon I's conquest of Westeros.



In the Riverlands

Thoros of Myr leads the Brotherhood in prayer before Lord Beric Dondarrion and Sandor "the Hound" Clegane begin their trial by combat. Dondarrion lights his sword on fire, frightening the Hound, due to his pyrophobia. Nonetheless, the Hound soon overpowers Dondarrion and kills him. When a furious Arya Stark moves to kill the Hound, she is stopped by Gendry. The three are then astounded to find that Dondarrion has been resurrected by Thoros, who frees the Hound, accepting that the judgment by battle has proved that the Lord of Light has more for him to do. Later, Arya finds Gendry repairing Dondarrion's armor, and he tells her that he intends to stay with the Brotherhood and work for them as a smith. After leaving Gendry, Arya talks with Thoros about taking her to Riverrun, before Dondarrion joins them. Thoros tells Arya that the Lord of Light has resurrected Dondarrion six times.



At Riverrun

The captives Martyn and Willem Lannister are slain by Lord Rickard Karstark and his men. King Robb Stark confronts Lord Karstark and orders he be locked in the dungeon, and his men who assisted him be hanged. When he orders Karstark be killed for his treason, Queen Talisa, Lady Catelyn Stark, and Lord Edmure Tully entreat him to hold Karstark as a prisoner, to keep the Karstark men loyal to their cause. However, Robb denies them, and personally executes Karstark.

Outraged with the death of their leader, the Karstark forces abandon the Northern army. Robb tries to plan a strategy for continuing the war against the Lannisters. He then tells Talisa that his new plan is to attack Casterly Rock, the home of the Lannisters. To replace the lost Karstark forces, he intends to forge an alliance with Lord Walder Frey; the man who controls the Twins, and whose daughter he was to marry in exchange for letting his army cross on their way to rescue Robb's father, Eddard.



At Harrenhal

Locke delivers Jaime Lannister and Brienne of Tarth to Lord Roose Bolton. Bolton, furious that his men have maimed a valuable hostage, frees Brienne and orders his men to take Jaime to see Qyburn, a maester who was stripped of his chain. Qyburn treats Jaime's right forearm; Jaime requests that he do so without analgesics. Later, Jaime is taken to the baths, where Brienne is already bathing. Jaime then tells her of Robert's Rebellion, the "Mad King" Aerys Targaryen, and the Mad King's plot to burn all of King's Landing using caches of wildfire hidden by a pyromancer through the city during the Sack of King's Landing. Jaime reveals that he slew the Mad King to save the city, its people and his own father's life.



Beyond the Wall

Orell pries information about the Wall patrols from Jon. Jon lies that there are a thousand men left guarding the Wall; Tormund accepts his claim, but threatens to kill him if he lies. Shortly afterward, Ygritte steals Jon's sword Longclaw and has him chase her into a cave, where she disrobes and convinces him to break his Night's Watch vows and make love with her.



In Slaver's Bay

While on the march, Ser Jorah Mormont and Ser Barristan Selmy discuss the siege of Pyke during Balon Greyjoy's first rebellion against the throne. Jorah pries into Barristan's motives for joining Daenerys Targaryen's cause, and tries to ascertain if Barristan is aware that Jorah was working as a spy for Varys, under King Robert Baratheon and his Small Council, when he first joined Daenerys. Barristan replies that he did not serve on Robert's Small Council, and appears to be unaware of Jorah's secret.

Daenerys assembles the officers for her Unsullied army. She tells them to select their own leader from among them, and they select a man called Grey Worm. Upon learning that their names were given to them as slaves to remind them of their standing, she tells them that they are free to choose their own names. Grey Worm tells her that he will keep his current name, as it is the one he had when she liberated the Unsullied and thus he considers it lucky.



In King's Landing

Queen Regent Cersei Lannister asks Lord Petyr Baelish for assistance in ridding King's Landing of the Tyrells, who, she claims, do not hold the Crown's best interests at heart. Later, Lady Sansa Stark and Lady Margaery Tyrell watch Ser Loras Tyrell practicing his swordplay. After the practice, Loras and his squire, Olyvar, have sex. Unbeknownst to Loras, Olyvar is a spy for Petyr Baelish and reports to him the Tyrells' plan to marry off Sansa. Baelish then meets with Sansa to discuss their journey to the Vale, but she tells him that she wants to stay in King's Landing.

Tyrion Lannister has a meeting with Lady Olenna regarding the rising cost of the upcoming royal wedding. She agrees to pay for half of the wedding, the news of which Tyrion takes to his father, Lord Tywin. Tywin tells Tyrion that he has learned of the Tyrells' plot to marry Sansa to Loras, and that he intends to act first by having Tyrion wed Sansa. Tyrion objects, but to no avail. Cersei is pleased by her brother's discomfort at the notion, until Tywin tells her that she will soon be wed to Ser Loras. Having spent years unhappily married in an arranged marriage she tries to convince him to spare her, but he refuses.

In King's Landing

Lord Tywin Lannister meets Lady Olenna Tyrell to discuss having Ser Loras Tyrell marry Tywin's daughter Cersei. They trade barbs about Cersei's age and accusations of incest with Jaime, as well as Loras' well-known homosexuality, before Tywin threatens to make Loras a knight of the Kingsguard, an order which renounces their right to inheritance and marriage. Olenna relents, and consents to the marriage of Loras and Cersei.

Sansa Stark tries to get acquainted with Loras. Closely watching the situation, Cersei and Tyrion Lannister compare their impending marriages before Tyrion accuses his sister of trying to have him killed during the Battle of the Blackwater. Tyrion deduces that it was in fact Joffrey Baratheon who ordered Ser Mandon Moore to kill him, but Cersei tells him his life is not in danger from Joffrey now that Tywin is the Hand. Tyrion then goes to Sansa's chamber, where he reveals to her and Shae that she will be wed to him, not Loras. Elsewhere, Lord Varys finds Lord Petyr Baelish in the throne room. Baelish tells Varys that he is aware of Varys' arrangement with Ros, and that he has given her to Joffrey to kill for his pleasure. Later, Sansa watches tearfully as she sees Baelish leaving on a ship, realizing that her chances of leaving the capital have gone.



In the Riverlands

While Anguy helps Arya Stark improve her archery, Arya spots Melisandre and a small group of Baratheon soldiers. Melisandre speaks to Thoros of Myr before he takes her inside the Brotherhood's hideout. Melisandre is shocked when she learns of the six deaths of Beric Dondarrion, who asks her why she has come to them. She replies that the Brotherhood has someone the Lord of Light needs, and soon after has her men take Gendry into her custody. Arya is disgusted on discovering the Brotherhood turned over Gendry partly because of Melisandre's money. Arya confronts Melisandre and accuses her of being a witch, to which she replies that Arya will take lives, and that they will meet again one day.

King in the North Robb Stark and his advisors meet with Lame Lothar Frey and Black Walder Rivers to discuss an alliance with House Frey for his planned attack on Casterly Rock. The Freys carry Lord Walder Frey's demands for an alliance, which includes a formal apology from Robb, the castle of Harrenhal and all of its lands and incomes, and for Edmure Tully to marry Roslin Frey, one of Lord Frey's daughters. Edmure is reluctant to marry a woman he has never met, but eventually agrees to go through with the arrangement.



At Harrenhal

Lord Roose Bolton has dinner with Jaime Lannister and Brienne of Tarth. Bolton tells Jaime he will send him to King's Landing on the condition that Jaime swears to tell his father that Bolton had nothing to do with his maiming. Jaime assumes that Brienne will accompany him, but Bolton informs them that he intends to keep her with him, under arrest for abetting treason.



In the North

Tension rises at camp between Osha and Meera Reed before Bran defuses the situation. Jojen Reed has a seizure while sleeping, and Meera explains they are caused by his visions. When he wakes, Jojen tells Bran that in his vision he saw Jon Snow surrounded by enemies.

Elsewhere, Theon's captor awakens Theon to continue torturing him. The boy threatens to remove Theon's little finger if he cannot guess his true identity and their current location. After several attempts, during which the boy flays part of Theon's finger upon each wrong guess, Theon guesses that the boy is a Karstark and that he is being tortured at the Karhold as punishment for his betrayal of Robb Stark. The boy acts for a moment as if the guess was right, but he continues flaying Theon's finger, telling him that he was lying and that Theon's torture is happening solely for the boy's amusement. Theon eventually gives in and begs his torturer to remove his finger.



Beyond the Wall

Samwell Tarly and Gilly stop to camp during their journey to the Wall, after having fled Craster's Keep. Sam shows Gilly the dragonglass dagger he found at the Fist of the First Men and tells her about Castle Black.

At camp at the base of the Wall, the wildling party led by Tormund Giantsbane prepares to climb. Jon and Ygritte talk about their impending climb and their relationship. Ygritte reveals she is aware that Jon is still loyal to the Night's Watch, but tells him their loyalty to each other is of greater significance, implying she joined Mance's cause from self-interest rather than trust in him. While climbing, Ygritte strikes the Wall and causes a massive crack, which inadvertently causes an avalanche that kills a few members of the wildling party and leaves her and Jon hanging by their safety rope. Before Orell cuts the rope, Jon manages to secure himself to the Wall, saving Ygritte, and they later reach the top of the Wall together. Gazing out across the landscape of the lands beyond the Wall, they embrace and kiss.

In King's Landing

Sansa Stark is comforted by Lady Margaery Tyrell, who has heard of Sansa's betrothal to Tyrion Lannister. Elsewhere, Tyrion and Bronn are also discussing the match and how it will affect Shae. Tywin Lannister meets his grandson, King Joffrey Baratheon, and teaches him a lesson in ruling; Joffrey asks what they should do about the rumors of Daenerys Targaryen and her dragons, but Tywin claims there is no threat. When they meet later, Shae tells Tyrion that she will not continue their relationship once he marries Sansa.

On Blackwater Bay, Melisandre reveals to Gendry that his blood is noble and that his father was the late King Robert Baratheon.



In the North

Jon Snow and the wildling party led by Tormund Giantsbane continue their journey south. Ygritte stops with Jon to discuss their next move. Soon after, Orell offers some harsh wisdom to Jon, and later speaks to Ygritte, confessing his love for her and trying to convince her that Jon is still loyal to the Night's Watch. Later, Jon tells Ygritte that the wildling cause is hopeless, but she remains undaunted.

Theon Greyjoy is freed from his constraints by two young women, who give him water and clean his wounds. Theon is apprehensive about their aid, until they disrobe and begin pleasuring him. The three are soon interrupted by his tormenter, who had ordered the women to seduce Theon in order to torment him further. The boy draws a knife and mocks Theon's sexual prowess, before ordering his men to restrain Theon as he removes Theon's genitals.

Heading for the Wall, Bran speaks to Jojen Reed while Osha and Hodor set up camp. Osha continues to grow suspicious of the Reeds, calling Jojen's visions "black magic". When she says they have to continue to the Wall, Jojen reveals that the three-eyed raven is north of the Wall, and that is their destination. Osha refuses to allow them to go north of the Wall, relating to them the story of her husband's death and resurrection as a wight.



In the Riverlands

King Robb Stark, his advisors, and his army are delayed by rain in their march toward the Twins for Edmure Tully's wedding to Roslin Frey. Catelyn Stark and Brynden Tully discuss their distaste for Walder Frey, who will see their delay and Robb's oath-breaking as slights against his family. When the Tullys depart, Queen Talisa Stark reveals to Robb that she is pregnant.

At the Brotherhood's hideout, Arya Stark berates Beric Dondarrion and Thoros of Myr for selling Gendry to Melisandre. When Anguy tells Beric of a Lannister raiding party near them, Beric orders the men to move out in pursuit. Arya calls Beric a liar, as he promised to take her to Riverrun but is instead holding her hostage. She runs away, and is pursued by several of the Brotherhood soldiers, but before they can locate her, she is taken captive by Sandor "The Hound" Clegane.



Outside Yunkai

Daenerys, her knights Ser Jorah Mormont and Ser Barristan Selmy, and her army of Unsullied reach the yellow city of Yunkai. Though she is advised that Yunkai holds no strategic value, Daenerys tells Jorah she will take the city to free its 200,000 slaves. She orders Grey Worm to send a messenger to the city demanding their surrender, or she will sack the city. Razdal mo Eraz is sent by Yunkai to offer terms of peace, which include chests filled with gold bars and as many ships as Daenerys wants. Daenerys refuses his offer, demanding the slaves of the city be freed and paid for their service. Razdal angrily refuses, and departs the tent.



At Harrenhal

Jaime Lannister visits Brienne of Tarth in her cell. He tells her that he will be leaving for King's Landing the next day, and that she will be left at Harrenhal under the care of Locke, as Roose Bolton is also leaving for Edmure Tully's wedding at the Twins. Before Jaime leaves, Brienne makes him swear to uphold his oath to Catelyn Stark and return the Stark girls to their mother. As he leaves, Jaime tells Roose to tell Robb Stark that he is sorry that he can't attend the wedding, but that "the Lannisters send their regards."

While on the road, Qyburn checks on the condition of Jaime's right arm, and reveals that he lost his maester's chain for experimenting on living humans. When Qyburn informs Jaime that Brienne will not be ransomed by Locke, Jaime manipulates the party leader, Steelshanks, to order their return to Harrenhal. Upon their arrival, Jaime finds that Brienne has been thrown into a pit by Locke and his men, and, armed only with a wooden sword, has been forced to defend herself from a bear. Jaime tries to ransom Brienne, but is unsuccessful, and instead leaps into the pit to protect her. Steelshanks shoots the bear with a crossbow, but it continues to attack. However, Jaime boosts Brienne out of the pit, and is then lifted to safety. Confronted by Steelshanks and his men, who are ordered to ensure Jaime's safety, Locke relents and lets Jaime and Brienne leave for King's Landing.

In King's Landing

With their wedding hours away, Tyrion Lannister visits Sansa Stark to ease her apprehension at the prospect of being his wife. In the Sept of Baelor, Queen Regent Cersei Lannister threatens Margaery Tyrell with the story of House Reyne, former Lannister vassals whom her father Tywin exterminated when they rebelled against their liege lord. After arriving at the Sept, Sansa is walked down the aisle by King Joffrey Baratheon. In an effort to embarrass Tyrion, Joffrey removes the stepstool Tyrion was to use to cloak Sansa with the Lannister colors. After some snickering from the crowd, Tyrion gets Sansa to kneel, and they are married.

At their wedding feast, Tyrion gets very drunk, irritating both Sansa and Tywin, who counsels his son to stop drinking and begin trying to conceive a child with his new wife. Joffrey, after threatening to rape Sansa, calls for the traditional bedding ceremony to begin, but his plan is thwarted when Tyrion threatens to castrate an outraged Joffrey. Tywin defuses the situation, and Tyrion is able to avoid punishment, using his intoxication as an excuse. Tyrion leaves the feast with Sansa, and though Tywin has ordered Tyrion to consummate his marriage, he tells Sansa he will not share her bed until she wants him to. Sansa asks what Tyrion will do if that never happens, and Tyrion jokes by saying a phrase from the Night's Watch vow, "And so my watch begins", meaning that he is resigned to never having sex within their marriage.



At Dragonstone

Melisandre returns to Dragonstone with Gendry. She then takes him to see King Stannis Baratheon, who recognizes Gendry as one of Robert's bastards. When Gendry is taken to his chamber, Stannis and Melisandre discuss what they intend to do with him.

In the dungeons, Davos Seaworth continues to learn to read. Stannis visits him to discuss Melisandre's plan to sacrifice Gendry. Davos objects to the plan, seeing Gendry as a nephew to Stannis, but Stannis remains resolved. He then makes Davos swear to never raise his hand to Melisandre again, and frees him.

Later, Melisandre visits Gendry and seduces him, tying him to a bed in the process. Having earlier stated that there is "power" in Gendry's kingly blood, she lays three leeches on him to draw his blood. Stannis enters and ritually burns the leeches, speaking the names of the usurpers to his throne: Robb Stark, Balon Greyjoy, and Joffrey Baratheon.



In the Riverlands

Arya tries to kill Sandor "the Hound" Clegane while he is sleeping, but he is revealed to be awake, and thwarts her attempt on his life. They depart their camp and head for the Twins, where Clegane intends to ransom Arya to her brother Robb.



At Yunkai

Ser Jorah Mormont tells Daenerys Targaryen that Yunkai has employed a mercenary group called the Second Sons, which is led by an extremely vulgar man named Mero. Daenerys soon meets with Mero, his co-captain Prendahl na Ghezn and his lieutenant Daario Naharis. She attempts to bribe Mero to renege on his deal with Yunkai and fight for her, and gives him two days to make a decision. In the Second Sons' camp, the three leaders plot to kill Daenerys that night, with one of them sneaking into her camp. By random draw, Daario is selected to carry out their plot.

After nightfall, Daario enters Daenerys's camp, disguised as an Unsullied soldier. He enters her tent and shows her and Missandei the severed heads of Mero and Prendahl, admitting that he is smitten by Daenerys and killed his superiors after disagreeing with the plot to kill her. Daario then kneels and pledges himself and the Second Sons to her cause.



Beyond the Wall

Samwell Tarly and Gilly continue their journey to the Wall. They stop at an abandoned hut for the night and discuss a name for her son. When they hear a murder of crows cawing nearby, Sam leaves the hut to investigate. Soon after, he is attacked by a White Walker, which shatters Sam's sword with a single touch and tosses him aside. The Walker moves towards Gilly, intent on taking her son, but Sam stabs it with his dragonglass dagger, causing the Walker to disintegrate. Sam and Gilly then flee into the night.

Beyond the Wall

North of the Wall, Sam and Gilly continue their march south. Sam tells Gilly he plans for them to cross the Wall using the entrance at the Nightfort, an abandoned castle along the Wall.



In the North

South of the Wall, Bran and his group take shelter in an abandoned mill. Nearby, Jon and the wildling party raid an elderly horse breeder's home, taking his horses and gold while the old man flees. While in the mill, Bran and Jojen Reed discuss how they plan to cross the Wall, before Meera spots the old horse breeder riding nearby. After the old man is captured by the wildlings, Hodor—scared by the thunder—begins yelling, which threatens to give away their location to the wildlings. Bran uses his warg abilities to enter Hodor's mind and knocks him out.

Outside, Tormund moves to kill the old man, but Orell tells him to have Jon do it instead to prove his loyalty. Jon is ultimately unable to kill the innocent man, and instead Ygritte kills the man with an arrow. Realizing where Jon's loyalties lie, Tormund orders his men to kill him, but Jon manages to defeat them. As Ygritte moves to defend him, Jon deliberately knocks her to the ground, allowing Tormund to hold her down and prevent her from getting killed, while he battles with Orell. Bran enters the mind of Summer, his direwolf, and aids Jon. While the wolves hold off the other wildlings, Jon kills Orell, who wargs into an eagle, which briefly attacks Jon, scarring the latter's face. After Jon fights off the eagle, he is able to steal a horse and escape, leaving Ygritte and heading back to the Wall. At night, Bran asks Osha to take Rickon to Last Hearth, the home of the Umber family, and they depart shortly after.



In Yunkai

Planning their invasion of Yunkai, Daario tells Daenerys and her knights about a rear gate to the city, through which they can sneak in and open the main gate for her army. Ser Jorah is suspicious of Daario and his plan, but comes around when Daenerys seeks Grey Worm's opinion. When night falls, Daario, Jorah, and Grey Worm arrive at the gate. Daario enters ahead of them, posing as a still loyal Second Son commander. Shortly after being let inside the city, he signals Jorah and Grey Worm to follow him. Soon, they are ambushed by a group of Yunkai's slave soldiers, and though largely outnumbered, manage to kill them and accomplish the mission. The group returns to Daenerys, and tells her that she is now in control of the city.



At the Twins

The dagger with which Roose Bolton kills Robb Stark, and the knife with which Catelyn Stark kills Walder Frey's wife.

At camp, Catelyn counsels her son Robb, the King in the North, about his planned alliance with Lord Walder Frey and his planned assault on Casterly Rock, the homeland of the Lannisters. The Stark host soon arrives at the Twins, castle homeland of the Freys, where they are given bread and salt, a symbol of the "guest right": a guarantee of safety when under another lord's roof. Robb makes an apology to both the sarcastic Walder Frey and his daughters. Walder accepts the apology but insists on inspecting Talisa, the woman for whom Robb broke his vow. Nearby, Arya, though still a captive of Sandor "The Hound" Clegane, journeys to the Twins to reunite with her mother and brother. When they come upon a trader and his cart, Clegane knocks him out and moves to kill him, but Arya manages to dissuade him, and he instead steals the cart of food.

At night, Walder walks his daughter Roslin down the aisle to her future husband Edmure Tully, who is pleasantly surprised by her beauty. They are married shortly after, and the celebration begins. At the feast, Walder calls for the bedding ceremony, and the couple are taken to their chamber. After they leave, Lothar Frey closes the banquet hall doors, and the Frey bards begin playing "The Rains of Castamere", a Lannister cautionary song, both of which arouse Catelyn's suspicions. Using the food cart as their reason for being at the Twins, The Hound and Arya arrive at the wedding. They are turned away at the gates, but Arya sneaks in.

Catelyn notices Roose Bolton wearing chainmail under his robes, which confirms Catelyn's suspicions that they have been betrayed. Just as Walder signals his men to attack the Starks' men, Catelyn tries to warn Robb, but before he can react, Lothar repeatedly stabs the pregnant Talisa in the abdomen, killing her and her unborn child. Robb is then shot by crossbows, and the massacre of his bannermen begins. Arya, having snuck past the gate, witnesses Frey men kill Stark soldiers and Robb's direwolf, Grey Wind. She is saved by The Hound, who knocks her unconscious and carries her out of the castle. Catelyn, although wounded by a crossbow bolt, holds Walder's young wife, Joyeuse, hostage with a knife and demands that Robb be allowed to leave. Walder refuses, and Roose Bolton stabs Robb in the heart, delivering Jaime's message from Harrenhal: "The Lannisters send their regards." Catelyn screams and kills Joyeuse in retaliation, before Frey's son Black Walder cuts Catelyn's throat.

In King's Landing

The icy relationship between newly married Tyrion and Sansa is thawing slightly, as they banter about their shared status as outcasts. At a Small Council meeting, Tyrion learns of the deaths of Robb and Catelyn Stark during the Red Wedding. King Joffrey orders Robb's head brought to King's Landing, planning to gift it to Sansa, the prospect of which makes Tyrion threaten Joffrey. Joffrey angrily threatens Tyrion in return, and insults Tywin when he reprimands him. Tywin, showing Joffrey he does not fear him, orders he be taken to his room and sedated. Tywin and Tyrion later discuss the murder at the Twins, and the appointment of Roose Bolton as the Warden of the North, until the son of Tyrion and Sansa is of age. Tywin dismisses Tyrion's warning that the northerners will neither forget nor forgive the role the Lannisters played in the Red Wedding. Tywin then chastises Tyrion for not having impregnated Sansa. Tyrion finds Sansa in his bedroom, staring forlornly out the window with a tear-stained face, revealing she has already received the grim news.

Elsewhere, Lord Varys and Shae discuss their shared eastern heritage, Tyrion's marriage to Sansa, and its effect on Shae. Varys gives Shae a bag of diamonds in the hopes that she will sail for Essos and make a new life for herself, freeing Tyrion from danger and allowing him to focus on making the capital a better place, but Shae refuses the offer and believes Varys was sent by Tyrion. At night, Queen Cersei visits Tyrion and tells him to give Sansa a child, as it will make Sansa happy as it did for Cersei when Joffrey was born.

Jaime, Brienne, and Qyburn arrive in King's Landing, and Jaime immediately goes to see Cersei.



At the Twins

Shortly after the murder of their king, the loyal Stark bannermen fight a losing battle with the Freys outside the walls of the Twins. "The Hound" Sandor Clegane and Arya are horrified to witness several Frey soldiers parade Robb's decapitated corpse around the entrance to the keep with the head of Robb's wolf, Grey Wind, attached to it. Later, Arya and the Hound come upon four Frey men discussing the murder of the Starks. Arya slips off the horse and fatally stabs one of the soldiers who claimed to have desecrated Robb's body. Before his allies can aid him, the Hound steps in and easily kills them.

The morning after the wedding, Walder Frey and Roose Bolton discuss the previous night's events, the escape of the "Blackfish" Brynden Tully, and their new positions as Lord of Riverrun and Warden of the North, respectively. When Walder asks Bolton what happened during the fall of Winterfell, Bolton explains that he sent his bastard son, Ramsay Snow to take the castle back from the Greyjoys. Bolton's plan to offer the Ironborn safe passage in exchange for surrendering Theon worked, but Ramsay flayed and killed the surrendering Ironborn despite his father intending the offer be made in good faith.



In the North

Bran, Hodor, Meera Reed, and Jojen arrive at the abandoned Nightfort. Later, Bran is awakened by a sound, and wakes his companions. They meet Samwell Tarly and Gilly; Sam deduces Bran's identity, seeing his direwolf. Bran asks Sam to take them north of the Wall, and though Sam protests the idea, he eventually takes them through the passage. Before they separate, Sam gives the group the rest of his dragonglass supply, and tells them that it has the power to kill White Walkers. Sam and Gilly later arrive at Castle Black, where they present themselves to Maester Aemon, who allows Gilly and her baby to stay. Aemon, on hearing the recount of events, orders all the ravens be sent with messages warning the return of the White Walkers.

Riding back to the Wall, Jon stops to wash his wounds when he hears Ygritte draw her bow. He tries to talk her out of shooting him, but when he turns to leave, she fires three arrows into him. Jon manages to escape, later arriving at Castle Black and passing out from his wounds. The Night's Watch brothers take him in, where Sam and Pyp identify him so that he is cared for.

At the Dreadfort, Ramsay Snow, the true identity of the mysterious boy, taunts Theon about his castration. When Theon begs Ramsay to kill him and end his suffering, Ramsay simply replies that he is more valuable alive, before giving him the nickname "Reek", and beating him until he acknowledges his new name.



On the Iron Islands

Lord Balon Greyjoy reads a letter sent from Ramsay Snow, crudely detailing his demands to have the Ironborn soldiers withdraw from the region of the North under his control, threatening to flay the soldiers if they do not comply. It is also revealed in the letter that Ramsay broke his promise and flayed the 20 ironborn that betrayed Theon in Winterfell. Ramsay also sends a box containing Theon's severed penis, adding that he could further dismember Balon's son. To the protests of his daughter Yara, Balon plans to refuse the offer and allow Theon's torture to continue. Yara disobeys her father's decision and takes 50 of the Ironborn's best men and the fastest ship available to march on the Dreadfort.



At Dragonstone

In the dungeons, Davos visits Gendry and tries to relate to him by telling the story of how he became a lord. Later, Davos practises his reading with Princess Shireen, when he reads the letter sent by the Night's Watch. When they hear the bells ringing, Davos leaves Shireen to meet with Stannis and Melisandre. Stannis informs Davos of Robb Stark's death, which he attributes to Melisandre's ritualistic burning of the leeches. Melisandre plans to burn Gendry as a sacrifice to the Lord of Light, and although Davos tries to get Stannis to spare Gendry, Stannis orders him to be sacrificed. At night, Davos frees Gendry from the dungeons and gives him a boat to escape Dragonstone.

Afterward, Stannis and Melisandre ask Davos if he freed Gendry, which he does not deny. Stannis orders Davos to be executed, but Davos tells Stannis that he will need his assistance. When Stannis asks why he would need Davos' help, Davos shows him the letter sent from the Wall. Melisandre burns the letter, and in the fire sees the war coming in the North. She tells Stannis that only he can save the North, and he will need Davos's help to do so, thus preventing his execution.



Across the Narrow Sea

Outside Yunkai, Daenerys, her advisors, and her Unsullied army stand ready to greet the slaves of the city and free them. When they arrive, Missandei tells them that Daenerys has freed them, but Daenerys tells the slaves that only they can take their freedom back. The crowd begins to chant "mhysa", which Missandei tells Daenerys is Ghiscari for "mother". Daenerys passes her army to walk amongst the freed slaves, who lift her to their shoulders. Daenerys smiles and looks up into the sky as her dragons fly freely.

In King's Landing

Tywin Lannister has the Stark family's ancestral greatsword, Ice, melted down and reforged into two new swords. One is given to his son Jaime, who, as the new Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, hopes to learn to use the sword with his left hand. Tywin informs Jaime that he is to be dismissed from the Kingsguard and sent to Casterly Rock to rule in his place, but Jaime refuses and leaves. He attempts to return the sword, but Tywin tells him to keep it, as he will need every advantage he can find now that he has been disowned.

Outside the city walls, Tyrion, his squire Podrick, and his bodyguard Bronn await the arrival of Prince Doran Martell and his entourage, but are informed that his younger brother, Prince Oberyn, will be attending in his stead. Oberyn, having already arrived, maims a Lannister soldier at one of Lord Baelish's whorehouses before Tyrion arrives. Oberyn reveals to Tyrion that he is in King's Landing to seek vengeance for the death of his sister, Elia, and her two children. Elia had been married to Prince Rhaegar Targaryen, who was next in line to the throne before Robert Baratheon killed him, and King's Landing fell to Tywin's army. Oberyn wants to kill Ser Gregor "The Mountain" Clegane, who is rumored to have raped and murdered Elia during the siege, and suggests that Ser Gregor was acting upon orders from Tywin himself.

At lunch, Shae tries in vain to get Sansa to eat. Sansa reveals to Tyrion that she cannot eat or sleep since hearing of how Robb and Catelyn Stark's bodies were desecrated after their murders . Sansa leaves for the godswood, where she is approached by Dontos Hollard, the former knight turned king's fool. Dontos thanks Sansa for saving his life on Joffrey's name-day celebration , and gives her his mother's necklace as a token of his gratitude.

Tyrion returns to his chamber where he rebuffs Shae's attempts to rekindle their romance, and their argument is overheard by another of Sansa's handmaidens. Meanwhile, Jaime is fitted with a gilded steel hand by Qyburn. When he departs, Jaime and his twin sister, Cersei, discuss the state of their relationship before being interrupted by Sansa's handmaiden, with information for the Queen. Later, King Joffrey chastises Jaime for his absence during the Battle of the Blackwater and also makes fun of his age, the loss of his sword hand, and his lack of accomplishment as a member of the Kingsguard. Afterwards, Brienne tries to convince Jaime to follow through on his vow to return the Stark girls to safety, though Jaime argues the matter is now complicated by Catelyn Stark's death, Sansa's marriage to Tyrion and that Arya Stark has been missing ever since Ned Stark was executed .

In the gardens, Lady Olenna Tyrell and her granddaughter, Margaery, plan the royal wedding before Brienne of Tarth asks for a word with Margaery to discuss how Lord Renly was killed . Brienne explains how she was not responsible for Renly's death, and vows to have revenge on his true killer, Stannis Baratheon.



In the North

Awaiting orders from Mance Rayder, Ygritte argues with Tormund Giantsbane about their next move before they are interrupted by the arrival of Styr and his group of cannibal Thenns.



At Castle Black

Having learned of Robb's death, Jon Snow recalls to Samwell Tarly how he envied Robb in their youth, before being summoned to testify to his sworn brothers, including Ser Alliser Thorne, Janos Slynt, and Maester Aemon Targaryen. Jon admits to killing Qhorin Halfhand and sleeping with Ygritte, but also reveals what he has learned of the wildlings' plans. Slynt calls for Jon to be executed as a traitor, and Thorne, who is acting Lord Commander of the Night's Watch following the death of Commander Jeor Mormont, is inclined to agree with him. However, Maester Aemon is convinced of Jon's ultimate loyalty to the Night's Watch and has him released.



In Slaver's Bay

Daenerys Targaryen leads her army on the march to Meereen, the third slaving city of Slaver's Bay. Daenerys becomes disturbed at how her dragons are growing less tame as they grow larger. As they march, Daario Naharis attempts to romance Daenerys, and warns her that if she plans to rule the land, she must learn more about the lifestyle and the culture of the slaves she is freeing. The march is halted by the discovery of a dead slave girl nailed to a mile-post pointing the route to Meereen. Ser Jorah explains that there is one dead child slave nailed to every mile marker on the road to Meereen. Ser Barristan offers to send men ahead to bury them, but Daenerys coldly informs him that she will look upon every dead child's face during the march.



In the Riverlands

Sandor "The Hound" Clegane tells the captive Arya Stark that he intends to ransom her to her Aunt Lysa Arryn in the Vale, before they come across an inn hosting several of the Mountain's men, Lannister soldiers. Among them, Arya recognises Polliver, the man who stole her sword, Needle, and killed Lommy Greenhands. She makes for the entrance before being stopped by the Hound, but they are discovered by one of the soldiers and enter the inn. Though several of the soldiers are fearful of the Hound, Polliver makes conversation with him and offers him a place in their band. After Sandor refuses and the two men trade insults, they engage in a fight. The Hound kills many of the soldiers, while Arya reclaims Needle from Polliver and uses it to kill him the same way he murdered Lommy . The two then depart from the tavern, Arya now in possession of a stolen pony. The camera pans out to reveal the Riverlands, now left black and desolate by the Mountain and his men.

At the Dreadfort

Ramsay Snow sadistically hunts a young girl in the woods, with the assistance of his servant, Reek , and his bedwarmer Myranda. When Ramsay's father, Roose, arrives at the Dreadfort with his new wife, Walda , he asks to see Theon and chastises Ramsay for having castrated and tortured him. Roose intended to trade Theon to the Ironborn in exchange for Moat Cailin, a fortification that is preventing the Bolton army from returning to the north, which forced Roose and his party to have to be smuggled back to their own keep. Ramsay, in an effort to prove how well he has broken him, has Theon/Reek shave his face. While doing so, Ramsay coaxes Reek into admitting to Roose that both Bran and Rickon Stark are alive, as he could not find them, and burned two farm boys in their place while holding Winterfell. Ramsay also spitefully tells Reek that Roose betrayed and murdered Robb Stark who had once been like a brother to Theon. Despite this, a visibly emotional Reek completes his shave without harming Ramsay, thus proving his trustworthiness. Roose dispatches Locke to find and kill Bran and Rickon, who pose a threat to his new position as Warden of the North. Ramsay suggests that they also find and eliminate Jon Snow, who has Stark blood in him and will also likely oppose the Boltons. Roose also orders Ramsay, along with Reek, to capture Moat Cailin, implying that he will reward Ramsay by legitimizing him as a true Bolton.



Beyond the Wall

Bran, while using his abilities as a warg, sees through the eyes of his direwolf, Summer, and kills a doe. Awoken by the voice of Hodor, he is then reminded to use the warg abilities sparingly by Jojen and Meera, as spending too much time as Summer will cut him off from his human body. After stopping at a weirwood, Bran has a vision of the three-eyed raven, his father, dragons flying over King's Landing, and his paralyzing fall at Winterfell. In the vision he hears, "Look for me, beneath the tree...north." Bran reveals that he knows where the group must go.[4]



At Dragonstone

At night, Melisandre orders several of Stannis Baratheon's subjects burned at the stake, including Lady Selyse's brother Ser Axell Florent, as a tribute to the Lord of Light. At a private dinner with Stannis, his wife Selyse, and Melisandre, Selyse expresses her disgust towards her daughter, causing Stannis to angrily defend the girl. After dinner, Melisandre speaks to Shireen Baratheon, Stannis and Selyse's daughter, about the Lord of Light and how the Seven Gods are a lie. Despite her young age and sheltered life, Shireen appears somewhat suspicious of Melisandre and cautiously talks with her.



In King's Landing

Jaime reveals to Tyrion his embarrassment at the loss of his sword hand. Tyrion encourages him to train his left hand and arranges for clandestine lessons with Bronn, provided he is paid. On the way to the wedding breakfast, Lord Varys informs Tyrion that Cersei knows about Shae and will soon tell their father, Tywin. Lord Mace Tyrell presents King Joffrey with a large gold goblet, and Tyrion gives him a rare book, before he is presented with the second Valyrian steel sword that Tywin had forged. Joffrey uses the sword to slice through the large book. In his chambers, Tyrion tries in vain to get Shae to leave, but succeeds only when he lies that he could never love a whore. Bronn escorts the forlorn Shae to the boat and later assures Tyrion that she has indeed left for Essos and is out of harm's way.

Before the wedding, Tywin and Lady Olenna trade barbs at one another. Olenna reminds Tywin of the debt the Crown now owes to the Iron Bank of Braavos. Jaime threatens Ser Loras Tyrell by telling him that should he wed Cersei, she would likely kill him in his sleep, and Loras retorts with an implication that he knows of Jaime and Cersei's incestuous affair. Brienne of Tarth is confronted by Cersei, who accuses her of being in love with Jaime. Margaery announces that the leftovers from the feast will be given to the city's poorest residents, earning much acclaim. Cersei, bitter at her loss of power and disapproving of Joffrey's new queen, confronts Grand Maester Pycelle and threatens to execute him if he does not leave the wedding and command the feast chefs to give the leftovers to the royal hounds instead. Tywin and Cersei are later confronted by Prince Oberyn and his paramour, Ellaria Sand. The four share a tense conversation filled with veiled insults, as well as Oberyn's note that Cersei's daughter, Myrcella, is currently being held in Dorne.

Joffrey then presents a crude play with dwarves depicting the War of the Five Kings, to the amusement of some guests but to the disgust of many others. Loras leaves in anger when his relationship with Renly Baratheon is mocked by the play. Tyrion is infuriated at the distasteful spectacle. Sansa is nearly brought to tears by the depiction of her recently deceased brother, Robb. Joffrey tries to get Tyrion involved in the play due to his size, but Tyrion refuses, instead requesting Joffrey display his own talent with a sword. Humiliated, Joffrey orders Tyrion to be his cupbearer, toying with him by intentionally dropping and kicking the goblet.

Eventually, Tyrion fills the goblet and hands it to Joffrey, who repeatedly orders his uncle to kneel, but Tyrion is defiant. Margaery defuses the situation by drawing attention to the wedding pie. As Joffrey eats the cake that Margaery gives him and drinks wine from the goblet Tyrion gave him, he begins choking. While the emergency draws the crowd's attention, court fool Dontos implores Sansa to flee with him. As Lady Olenna yells for everyone to assist the king, he falls to the ground, the clear victim of assassination by poison. Before dying, Joffrey points accusingly at Tyrion, who is examining the dropped goblet. Furious with grief, Cersei orders Tyrion arrested on charges of poisoning the king.

In King's Landing

Immediately following Joffrey's murder, Dontos and Sansa flee the feast while Cersei and Tywin order the city gates barred and all ships seized while they search the capital for Sansa. Dontos and Sansa arrive at a ship hiding in fog, where they are greeted by Lord Petyr Baelish. Baelish, who believes that Dontos will eventually reveal the conspiracy, orders his men to kill Dontos. Baelish also reveals that the necklace Dontos gave to Sansa was a fake and part of the ruse.

In the city gardens, Olenna and Margaery discuss Joffrey's murder, and how, as their marriage was unconsummated, she is not the Queen. In the Sept, Tywin speaks to Tommen about becoming the king and the qualities that a king must possess, then leaves Cersei to grieve for Joffrey alone. Jaime arrives soon after and consoles Cersei. She asks him to kill Tyrion before a trial can take place, adamant that he is responsible. Jaime refuses and rapes Cersei next to Joffrey's corpse.

While engaging in an intercourse, Prince Oberyn and Ellaria Sand are interrupted by Tywin, who requests to speak with Oberyn privately. Tywin believes that Oberyn may have had a hand in Joffrey's murder. Oberyn refutes his claims and directly accuses Tywin of ordering Gregor "The Mountain" Clegane to rape and murder his sister, Elia years earlier. Tywin denies the accusations, but offers to have the Mountain speak with Oberyn about her murder, in exchange for Oberyn serving as one of the three judges in Tyrion's trial and also as a member of the small council. In his cell, Tyrion is visited by his squire, Podrick. Podrick tells Tyrion he is to be tried in a fortnight and that Sansa has not been seen since the wedding. Before leaving, Podrick tells Tyrion that he was asked to testify against Tyrion in exchange for a knighthood. Tyrion orders him to bring Jaime and then flee the city, as he fears for Podrick's life.



In the North

Samwell is teased by Ser Alliser and Janos Slynt, who do not believe he was able to kill a White Walker. Samwell speaks with Gilly about moving her to Mole's Town to keep her safe, as many of the Night's Watch brothers were arrested for rape. Gilly wants to stay at Castle Black, but is taken to Mole's Town where Samwell finds her temporary lodging.

The wildling party led by Tormund Giantsbane raids a small village, and Styr forces a small boy, Olly, to run to Castle Black to tell the Night's Watch what they have done. At a gathering, Ser Alliser tells the men that their duty is to protect the Wall first, which is echoed by Maester Aemon. When Alliser asks Jon, he reluctantly agrees that they must prioritize the Wall, before he is interrupted by a horn blast indicating returning rangers. Edd Tollett and Grenn arrive and inform them that Karl and his band of mutineers are living in Craster's Keep. Jon remembers his lie to Mance Rayder about having 1,000 men guarding the Wall, ten times their actual number, and says they must ride north and kill the mutineers before Mance finds out the truth about the Night's Watch forces and realizes how badly he has them outnumbered.



At Dragonstone

Stannis has Davos read a letter sent to Dragonstone, informing them that Joffrey is dead. Stannis claims it is the result of leeching Gendry's blood and burning the leeches. He chastises Davos for releasing Gendry, and for not having managed to raise an army for their cause. Davos suggests hiring mercenaries from Essos, but Stannis points out that they have no gold. Davos then visits Shireen, who continues to teach him to read. During the lesson, he suddenly comes up with an idea and has her write a message to the Iron Bank of Braavos in Stannis' name.



In the Riverlands

The Hound and Arya continue their journey east toward the Vale of Arryn, before accepting an offer of shelter from a farmer. At dinner, the Hound agrees to work for the farmer in exchange for some silver, but in the morning, he steals the farmer's silver despite Arya's protests.



Outside Meereen

Daenerys and her army arrive outside Meereen, where they are received by the Champion of Meereen. Ser Jorah informs her that she must send her own champion to battle the one from Meereen. Her advisors argue over the chance to fight for her, but Daario Naharis is selected. Daario easily kills the champion. Daenerys then speaks to the city's slaves, telling them of her victories in Astapor and Yunkai, including freeing those cities' slaves. She then orders her catapults to fire, and they launch barrels filled with broken slave collars into the city as a sign of the freedom she intends to bring them.

In King's Landing

Jaime Lannister continues his sword training with Bronn and visits his imprisoned brother Tyrion. Tyrion denies responsibility for Joffrey Baratheon's murder but says that Cersei Lannister will not rest until he is dead. Jaime tells Tyrion that Cersei also wants to recapture Sansa Stark, in whose innocence Tyrion is confident.

As Lady Olenna Tyrell prepares to depart for Highgarden, she encourages Margaery Tyrell to bond with Joffrey's brother and successor, Tommen, before Cersei can turn him against her. Olenna also implies that she had a hand in Joffrey's death to protect Margaery from his cruelty. In the evening, an angry Cersei questions Jaime's loyalties and is unwilling to hear of Tyrion's innocence. At night, Margaery sneaks into Tommen's room to talk with him about their marriage, and he appears smitten by her charms.

Later, Jaime tasks Brienne of Tarth with finding and protecting Sansa. He gives her new armor, his Valyrian steel sword, which she names "Oathkeeper", and the service of Podrick Payne as a squire.



At sea

On the way to the Eyrie, Lord Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish tells Sansa that he plans to marry her aunt Lysa Arryn there. He refers to his new but unspecified powerful allies, stating that Joffrey's death was a gift to them that will help their friendship "grow strong". He adds that, because he has no visible motive to kill Joffrey, he will not be suspected. Littlefinger informs Sansa that a missing stone in her necklace contained the poison used for the murder.



At the Wall

At Castle Black, Ser Alliser Thorne orders Jon Snow to stop training other men, reminding Jon that he is officially a steward. Janos Slynt advises Thorne to send the now-popular Jon on an expedition to kill the mutineers at Craster's Keep in the hope that he will be killed before he can be elected the new Lord Commander. Jon volunteers for the mission, as do his friends Grenn, Edd, the new recruit Locke and a few others.



In Meereen

As Daenerys Targaryen's army camps near Meereen, her aide Missandei teaches Grey Worm the Common Tongue, the language of Westeros. At night, Grey Worm and other Unsullied infiltrate Meereen, arm the slaves, and incite a slave uprising that leaves Daenerys in control of the city the following morning. Although Ser Barristan Selmy advises Daenerys to show mercy, she orders 163 of the remaining masters crucified, as justice for the same number of slave children crucified along the road to Meereen.



Beyond the Wall

At Craster's Keep, the mutineers led by Karl Tanner are raping, eating and drinking their fill, with Karl drinking from the skull of Lord Commander Jeor Mormont. Karl orders his henchman Rast to dispose of Craster's last child, a son, after Craster's wives ask that he be "given to the gods". Karl realizes that the child will be taken by the White Walkers, and that this is how Craster protected himself from them. He reasons that if they continue to uphold the bargain they too will be safe; Rast complies and abandons the infant in the woods. Nearby, Bran Stark and his companions hear the infant's cries. They are captured by the mutineers, and Bran is forced to admit his identity.

Later, a White Walker retrieves Craster's son. The Walker travels to the White Walkers' fortress in the Lands of Always Winter and lays the child on an altar made of ice. The leader of the White Walkers, the Night King, approaches and places his hand on the boy, transforming him into a White Walker.

In King's Landing

Tommen Baratheon is crowned as king. Afterward, Cersei Lannister and Margaery Tyrell talk about Joffrey's nature, and how Tommen may be the first truly deserving king Westeros has had in decades. In council with her father Tywin, Cersei decides that Tommen and Margaery will marry in a fortnight. They also make plans for Cersei's wedding to Loras Tyrell, and discuss how the gold mines in the Westerlands have run dry. Tywin tells Cersei that the crown is deeply indebted to the Iron Bank of Braavos, and that the union of the houses of Lannister and Tyrell will help rectify this problem. Cersei also tries to influence Tywin into declaring Tyrion guilty in his upcoming trial. In the gardens, Cersei speaks to Oberyn Martell about her daughter, Myrcella Baratheon. She asks him to take a ship back to Sunspear as a gift for Myrcella, which he agrees to do.



In the Vale

Lord Petyr Baelish and Sansa Stark arrive in the Vale of Arryn. At the Bloody Gate, he tells Ser Donnel Waynwood that Sansa's name is Alayne, hiding her true identity as she is still wanted in King's Landing for Joffrey's murder. Upon their arrival they are received by Lady Lysa Arryn and her son, Robin. Lysa is aware of Sansa's true identity, and has Robin show her to her chamber. When they have gone, Lysa expresses her desire to marry Petyr that day, and speaks of what she has done for him, including poisoning her previous husband, Lord Jon Arryn, and accusing the Lannisters in her letter to Catelyn. In order to quiet her, Petyr agrees to marry her as soon as possible. At night, Lysa and Sansa talk about Catelyn, and how Petyr loved her. Their conversation grows tense, with Lysa accusing Sansa of having seduced Petyr, but is eventually convinced by Sansa that she is a virgin and that Baelish feels little but contempt for Sansa. Lysa tells Sansa that once Tyrion Lannister has been executed, she will be married to Robin.



In Meereen

News of Joffrey's death reaches Daenerys Targaryen. At a meeting with her council, Daario Naharis announces that his forces have taken the Meereenese navy, and Daenerys expresses her desire to use the ships to invade Westeros. While her advisers are optimistic about her chances of seizing King's Landing, Ser Jorah Mormont warns her that may not be enough to conquer the Seven Kingdoms. He also informs Daenerys that both Astapor and Yunkai have fallen back into old habits, with Yunkai again being ruled by slavers and Astapor now being ruled by a self-declared "imperial majesty". After seeking advice from Jorah, she tells him that instead of sailing to Westeros, she intends to stay for now and rule Slaver's Bay as a queen.



On the Kingsroad

Brienne of Tarth and her squire, Podrick Payne, ride toward the Wall, believing they may find Sansa there with Jon Snow. At camp, Brienne scolds Podrick for not knowing how to cook or do a squire's proper duties. When asked what he did for Tyrion, Podrick tells her that he once killed a knight of the Kingsguard to protect Tyrion during the Battle of the Blackwater. Impressed, Brienne finally relents by letting Podrick assist her with her armor.



In the Riverlands

Arya and Sandor "The Hound" Clegane discuss her ritualistic reciting of the names of people she intends to kill and Gregor "The Mountain" Clegane's appearance on the list. Arya reveals that the Hound's name is on her list as well. In the morning, the Hound finds Arya training with her sword. He insults her swordplay and the man who taught it to her, Syrio Forel, expressing incredulity that Forel was killed by a fighter as weak as Ser Meryn Trant. The Hound challenges Arya to demonstrate her abilities by attacking him, but his armor easily repels her jab and he knocks her to the ground, telling her that her fighting style is useless against armored opponents.



Beyond the Wall

Locke scouts Craster's Keep, and witnesses Rast beating one of Craster's former wives. When he sneaks inside the encampment, he sees Bran Stark and his group held captive in a small hut. When Locke returns to the group led by Jon Snow, he counsels that they should strike soon, as the mutineers are drunk. However, he lies that the hut where Bran is imprisoned contains dogs which will give the alarm if the group ventures too close. Jon informs his group that they will attack the Keep at sundown.

Later, Karl Tanner enters the hut and attempts to rape Meera Reed, but Jojen Reed stalls him by revealing his greenseeing abilities and taunting Karl that he has foreseen Karl's body burning. Shouting outside draws Karl away as Jon's group arrives to attack the mutineers. A battle ensues in which several mutineers are killed. Locke slips away from the fight unnoticed to see to Bran and his friends. He cuts Bran's ties and his leg, appearing threatening as he picks him up to take him away; Bran uses his warg abilities to enter Hodor's mind and have Hodor pull free of his chains as Locke carries him outside. Bran, now using Hodor's body, chases down Locke and kills him by snapping his neck. He then returns to his own body and instructs Hodor to free Jojen and Meera, as well as the captive direwolves. Though Bran wishes to reunite with Jon, Jojen tells him that Jon will try to stop his journey north, and the group departs the encampment unseen.

Jon enters the Keep and fights Karl. Though Karl nearly kills Jon due to his dirty fighting style, he is distracted by one of Craster's widows stabbing him in the back. Turning to kill her, Karl is suddenly killed himself as Jon shoves his sword through the back of Karl's head and out his mouth. While counting the dead, Edd notices that Rast is missing. Rast has fled through the woods, but is killed by Jon's direwolf Ghost before the latter returns to his master. Jon asks Craster's wives to come to the Wall, but they decline his offer, due to their mistrust of the Night's Watch. Jon and the Night's Watch then burn Craster's Keep and the bodies of the dead, ensuring that they can't be resurrected as wights.

In Braavos

Stannis and Davos arrive in Braavos, where they are received by Tycho Nestoris at the Iron Bank. Tycho declines Stannis's request for financial aid, naming his lack of a large army or the food necessary to sustain them as his reasons. Before leaving, Davos makes an impassioned speech about Stannis's merits, pointing out his being a man of action, his prime age, and his ability on battlefield, while also pointing out Tywin Lannister's age and his weak potential successors. Davos is successful in winning over Tycho, and is granted the funds he needs. He later informs the pirate Salladhor Saan that Stannis finally has the money Salladhor was promised in exchange for Salladhor's service, and that they will set sail together the next day.



In Meereen

Near Meereen, one of Daenerys's dragons, Drogon, attacks a group of goats led by a farmer and his son. While she receives supplicants, the farmer presents a bag of charred goat bones to Daenerys and her advisors, and she promises to pay him three times their worth. After he departs, Hizdahr zo Loraq requests the right to bury the remains of his father, who was one of the Meereenese masters crucified on Daenerys's orders. Loraq also points out that his father was one of the masters who was against the crucifixion of the slave children, but was killed due to Daenerys's "justice". Daenerys reluctantly grants his request.



At the Dreadfort

Yara Greyjoy leads her Ironborn soldiers in a raid on the Dreadfort to rescue Theon. Yara finds Theon locked in the kennels with the dogs but he is reluctant to accept her help, believing she has been sent by Ramsay Snow to trick him. He also refuses to acknowledge his true name, instead telling Yara that he is Reek. Before they can flee, Ramsay and his men corner the Ironborn and afterwards release his hounds on the invaders. Upon returning to their rowboats, Yara tells her men that Theon is dead. In the morning, Ramsay rewards Reek with a bath. Ramsay tells Reek that he requires his assistance in taking Moat Cailin, and that, in order to comply with his father's command, he will need Reek to play the role of "someone [he is] not": Theon Greyjoy.



In King's Landing

At a meeting of the Small Council, Tywin announces that Tyrion's trial will begin that afternoon. Lord Varys informs Tywin that Sandor "The Hound" Clegane has been spotted in the Riverlands, and Tywin orders a bounty on his head. Varys also informs the council of Daenerys' conquest of Meereen, and Tywin decides to take measures to prevent her from launching an invasion.

In the dungeon, Jaime reluctantly has Tyrion shackled and brought into the throne room by order of Tywin, to begin his trial for regicide. King Tommen recuses himself from the trial, appointing his grandfather Tywin, Prince Oberyn Martell, and Lord Mace Tyrell as judges. Several witnesses are called for the prosecution, including Ser Meryn Trant, Grand Maester Pycelle, Queen Regent Cersei, and Varys, all of whom give testimony backing the accusations against Tyrion, with wildly varying degrees of truthfulness, but all conveniently omitting Joffrey's actions. At recess, Jaime asks Tywin to spare Tyrion, offering to leave the Kingsguard and return to Casterly Rock, to be Tywin's heir. Tywin accepts immediately, telling Jaime that Tyrion will be allowed to join the Night's Watch after being found guilty of Joffrey's murder, provided he pleads for mercy.

Returning to the trial, Tywin orders the next witness to testify: Shae. She falsely testifies that Tyrion and Sansa planned Joffrey's murder together, claiming that Sansa wanted vengeance for the murder of her father, mother, and brother. She tells the judges of Tyrion's sexual desires, embarrassing him in front of the court. Before she can continue, Tyrion's anger finally boils over, and he announces that he wishes to "confess". He first lashes out at the people of King's Landing in attendance for their ingratitude after he had saved them from Stannis Baratheon's attack on Blackwater Bay, declaring he should have simply allowed Stannis to kill them all. Facing Tywin and Cersei, Tyrion denies having killed Joffrey, but admits that he wishes he had, and accuses his father of putting him on trial because of his dwarfism. He finishes by saying that he refuses to be sentenced for a crime he did not commit and that the gods will decide his fate, demanding a trial by combat.

In King's Landing

In the dungeons, Jaime Lannister berates Tyrion Lannister for his outburst against the people of King's Landing and ruining the deal Jaime had made with Tywin Lannister. Tyrion angrily counters they both know that deal was Tywin's plan all along, and it felt good to take that from him. Tyrion asks Jaime to be his champion, but Jaime declines due to his poor performance with his left hand. Tyrion then asks Jaime to locate Bronn, and asks whom their sister Cersei has named as champion. Her champion turns out to be Ser Gregor "The Mountain" Clegane, whom Cersei greets while he executes several prisoners. Days later, Bronn visits Tyrion and informs him that Cersei offered to wed him to Lollys Stokeworth, a highborn lady with good prospects of a rich inheritance, and admits his own fear of the Mountain's fighting prowess. He states that he will not face the Mountain on Tyrion's behalf. Though Tyrion believes himself dead already, they part as friends.

At night, Oberyn Martell visits Tyrion and recounts that he visited Tyrion in his infancy and has long been aware of his sister's antagonism towards him. A broken Tyrion admits that Cersei "always gets what she wants", to which Oberyn counters that she cannot give him what he wants; vengeance for the murder of his sister, Elia, and her children. He then announces he intends to commence his revenge by championing Tyrion's cause in the ring, thus giving him the perfect chance to confront and kill Ser Gregor.



At Castle Black

Jon Snow and his remaining men return to Castle Black. At a meeting, he implores Ser Alliser Thorne to block the passage through the Wall to prevent Mance Rayder's army from coming through, but his request is denied.



At Dragonstone

Queen Selyse Baratheon visits Melisandre in her chambers, and discusses their plans to depart Dragonstone. Selyse tells Melisandre that she does not want her daughter, Shireen, to come with them, but Melisandre convinces her that the Lord of Light needs Shireen to go with them.



On the Kingsroad

Brienne of Tarth and Podrick Payne eat at an inn and are served by Hot Pie. When Brienne inquires about Sansa Stark, Hot Pie nervously ends their conversation. The following morning, Hot Pie approaches them in private and tells them about his journey with Arya Stark, who was believed to be dead, having not been seen since her father's execution. Hot Pie tells them that the Brotherhood Without Banners took her and planned to ransom her. Podrick informs Brienne that Lysa Arryn is Sansa and Arya's last living relative with money, and since Riverrun is now ruled by Walder Frey, who betrayed and murdered the Starks at the Red Wedding massacre, they decide to head for the Vale.



In the Riverlands

Arya and Sandor "The Hound" Clegane continue their journey east. Along the way, they come upon a badly wounded man, whom the Hound kills out of mercy. Immediately after, they are attacked by Biter and Rorge. Biter bites the Hound's neck, and the Hound kills him. The Hound believes that the outlaws are trying to kill him because he insulted King Joffrey Baratheon, but Rorge explains that Joffrey was poisoned at his wedding and that the bounty on the Hound's head is for killing Lannister soldiers. Arya recalls that Rorge had previously threatened to rape her, and, after learning his name, stabs him in the heart. Later, while the Hound tries to stitch his neck wound, Arya offers to cauterize the wound, but the Hound refuses due to his pyrophobia. He recounts how his brother Gregor caused his facial burns by pressing him into a fire, and she assists him in stitching the bite.



In Meereen

Daenerys Targaryen finds Daario Naharis in her quarters. He requests that she make use of his talents in either war or women, to which she responds by ordering him to take off his clothes. In the morning, Ser Jorah Mormont encounters Daario as he leaves Daenerys's chambers, and counsels her on whether it is wise to trust Daario, who betrayed and killed the other captains of the Second Sons. Daenerys tells Jorah that she has ordered Daario and his army to retake Yunkai, and kill all remaining masters there. Jorah notes that, had Ned Stark taken the same approach toward him when he sold slaves, he would not be there to advise her. She relents, and orders Jorah to tell Daario to take Hizdahr zo Loraq with him, to advise the masters of Yunkai in conforming to her rule.



At the Eyrie

When snow begins to fall in the Eyrie, Sansa builds a snow replica of Winterfell. Robin Arryn arrives and tells Sansa that when they get married, they will be able to kill anyone who bothers them with the Moon Door. He tries to make a Moon Door in the replica of Winterfell but accidentally destroys one of the towers, and when Sansa criticises him he responds by throwing a tantrum and destroying the replica, prompting her to slap him. Shortly afterward, Petyr Baelish arrives and discusses his true motives with Sansa, telling her that he greatly loved her mother, Catelyn, and the reason he had Joffrey killed was to avenge her. Petyr then kisses Sansa, but before she pulls away from him, Lysa Arryn sees them. She later summons Sansa and confronts her near the Moon Door. Lysa grabs Sansa, and pushes her down to her knees near the opening of the door, telling her that all her enemies have gone through it. Petyr arrives and tells Lysa to release her, promising to send Sansa away. Lysa releases Sansa, and Petyr goes to her, but he admits that he only ever truly loved Catelyn, and pushes Lysa through the Moon Door to her death.

At the Wall

Gilly has a tense conversation with one of the prostitutes at Mole's Town, before the village is attacked by Styr, Tormund Giantsbane, and the other wildlings. Gilly is discovered by Ygritte, but Ygritte notices Gilly's baby and spares them. News of the attack reaches the Wall, where Samwell laments his decision to move Gilly to Mole's Town, and ponders whether she is still alive. With Mance Rayder's attack on the Wall imminent, the men of the Night's Watch contemplate their chances against the wildling horde.



At Moat Cailin

Ramsay Snow rehearses his plan with Reek, who will be masquerading as his former self, Theon Greyjoy. Riding a horse with a white flag, Theon enters Moat Cailin and is received by Ralf Kenning. Theon gives him the terms for their surrender, which Kenning intends to decline, before he is killed by one of his own men, who assumes command and accepts the terms. However, after the Ironborn open the Moat's gates, Ramsay and his army flay and slaughter them. As a reward for retaking the Moat, Lord Roose Bolton legitimizes Ramsay as a true Bolton. The Boltons, their army, and Reek then depart for their new seat at Winterfell.



In Meereen

Missandei catches Grey Worm watching her bathe. Although she protects her modesty after seeing him, she later seeks advice from Daenerys and expresses a desire to have a relationship with him. However, as all Unsullied are made eunuchs at an early age a relationship is practically impossible. Speaking with Missandei later, Grey Worm admits that he is not sorry that he was castrated, as had he not become Unsullied he would have never met her.

Later, Ser Barristan receives a letter sealed with the Hand of the King's seal. He shows it to Ser Jorah, explaining that it is a royal pardon signed by Robert Baratheon, in exchange for spying on Daenerys. After Jorah admits his spying to Daenerys, she exiles him.



In the Vale

Having murdered Lysa Arryn, Petyr Baelish is interrogated by Lord Yohn Royce and a few of the nobility of the Vale. Petyr claims that Lysa committed suicide by jumping through the Moon Door, but they do not trust him, citing his brothels in King's Landing and his foreign blood. Royce demands to speak with Sansa, who is acting as Petyr's niece, Alayne. Sansa appears to crumble under the pressure of the situation, admitting her true identity to the group, but eventually corroborates Petyr's story, and convinces them of his innocence. As Petyr walks the group out of the Eyrie, he makes plans to have Robin tour the Vale. When Petyr confronts Sansa about her lie to the Lords of the Vale, she tells him that she doesn't know what they would do with her if they executed him for Lysa's death. She also tells Petyr that she knows what he wants. Later, Petyr, Sansa and Robin leave the Eyrie to tour the Vale, with Sansa having dyed her hair black and adopted a new, darker wardrobe to hide her identity.

Meanwhile, Sandor "The Hound" Clegane and Arya walk the narrow path toward the Eyrie. Coming to the Bloody Gate, they are informed of Lady Arryn's death by Donnel Waynwood. Arya, rather than mourn the loss of her aunt, breaks into hysterical laughter at the irony of their situation.



In King's Landing

Shortly before his trial by combat is to begin, Tyrion discusses his chances with his brother, Jaime. When Tyrion is taken outside, he has a brief conversation with his champion, Oberyn, who is confident. Ser Gregor "The Mountain" Clegane arrives shortly thereafter, and the trial commences. During the fight, Oberyn demands the Mountain admit to raping and murdering his sister, Elia, and her two children. Oberyn lands several skillful attacks on the Mountain, seemingly toying with the much larger man. He knocks the Mountain to the ground and lands a near-fatal blow. Oberyn then screams at the Mountain to confess, hoping the Mountain will admit that it was Tywin who gave the order. As Oberyn circles him, he lets his guard down and the Mountain knocks him to the ground, knocks his teeth out and then gouges out his eyes while confessing to the murder of Elia and her children, and subsequently crushes Oberyn's skull with his hands, killing him. The Mountain then collapses to the ground from his wounds. Tywin rises and sentences Tyrion to death for regicide.

As they keep watch for the coming invasion, Jon and Samwell walk on the top of the Wall, and talk about Jon's relationship with Ygritte during his time with the wildlings. At a nearby camp, the Thenn Warg scouts the wall using an owl, while Ygritte tells the group that Jon is hers alone to kill. In the library of Castle Black, Sam and Maester Aemon discuss Gilly, who soon after arrives at Castle Black, having been spared by Ygritte during the raid of Mole's Town. Their reunion is cut short by horn blasts signaling that Mance Rayder's army has arrived. Jon, looking out over the north side of the Wall, sees a massive fire burning, and he and his brothers complete the preparations for battle. Sam finds Gilly and her baby shelter in the kitchen, and then leaves to aid in the defense after kissing her good-bye.

Ygritte, having scouted the entrance of Castle Black, reports that it is undermanned, and Styr orders the group to attack. As Ser Alliser orders the archers to nock, another horn blast informs him that the castle is being attacked from both sides. Alliser leaves charge of the Wall to Janos Slynt, and heads for the castle to battle with the Thenns. On top of the Wall, Janos Slynt proves to be inept as a commander, so Grenn tricks him to go down to the castle, leaving Jon in charge. Several giants and a woolly mammoth attempt to pull up the large gate at the base of the Wall, and Jon sends Grenn with five men to defend the passage. At the castle, Ser Alliser is wounded by Tormund Giantsbane and is taken to be treated. Sam and Pyp use crossbows to shoot at the wildlings, but Pyp is shot through the neck by Ygritte. Sam then ascends the Wall, killing the Thenn Warg while he runs through the courtyard. Upon arriving at the top, Sam informs Jon that the courtyard is overrun, and Jon leaves charge of the Wall to Edd.

Returning to the south side of Castle Black, Jon leads the remaining Night's Watch brothers, along with his direwolf, Ghost. Jon battles with Styr, and after taking a severe beating, is able to kill the Thenn. Ygritte confronts him but hesitates with her arrow, as they both smile at each other. Her pause allows Olly to shoot her in the back, and as they reminisce on how they should have stayed in the cave together, she dies in Jon's arms. Atop the Wall, Edd leads a successful defense, with the wildling army appearing to withdraw for the time. Tormund, having been hit by several arrows, is captured on Jon's orders.

In the morning, Jon tells Sam that he will go north of the Wall, and attempt to kill Mance. As they walk through the passage, they find that Grenn and his men died killing a giant, and Jon tells Sam to have their bodies burned. Jon gives his sword, Longclaw, to Sam before departing the passage.

In Meereen

Daenerys Targaryen receives a citizen who wants to be sold back into slavery because he feels his life as a high-ranking slave was better than as a freedman. An astonished Daenerys reluctantly grants his request, allowing him to form a contract with his former master that can last no longer than a year. The next citizen in line brings her the charred remains of his daughter, who was killed by Drogon, one of her dragons. While Drogon has not returned, she tearfully chains her two other dragons, Rhaegal and Viserion, away in the catacombs as a precaution.



Beyond the Wall

Jon Snow meets with the King-beyond-the-Wall Mance Rayder, ostensibly to discuss an end to their conflict, although Jon actually plans to assassinate him. Though Mance eventually sees through Jon's ruse and nearly kills him, their negotiations are cut short when they hear a horn blast, and a massive cavalry charge led by King Stannis Baratheon and Ser Davos Seaworth overruns the wildling encampment. Mance surrenders to Stannis, and though Stannis thinks to kill him, Jon suggests taking him captive instead, as Mance once showed him similar mercy. After holding a funeral for the deceased brothers, Jon burns Ygritte's remains north of the Wall, following Tormund Giantsbane's request.

Further north, Bran Stark and his companions reach their destination: the large Heart Tree seen in Jojen Reed's vision. Upon approaching the tree, they are set upon by a group of undead. Though Jojen is killed in the attack, Bran, Hodor, and Meera Reed are saved by a Child of the Forest. The child takes the group into the cave under the Heart Tree to meet an old man sitting amongst tree roots, who tells Bran that while he will never be able to walk again, he will be able to fly.



In King's Landing

Gregor "The Mountain" Clegane lies dying from Prince Oberyn Martell's poisoned spear. Qyburn believes that he can save Clegane, while Grand Maester Pycelle disagrees. Despite Pycelle's protests, Cersei Lannister ousts him from his laboratory and gives Clegane's care over to Qyburn who cautions Cersei that, while he may be able to save Clegane, the procedure may "change" him. He assures her, however, that his procedure will not weaken Gregor.

Afterwards, Cersei tells her father, Tywin, that if forced to marry Loras Tyrell, she will admit her incestuous relationship with Jaime, and that her children are the issue of such. She leaves an outraged Tywin to meet Jaime in the Kingsguard's quarters, where she professes her love for him, and the two rekindle their relationship.

In the dungeons, Tyrion Lannister awaits his execution, but Jaime appears and helps him escape. They say their farewells in an underground tunnel, but Tyrion instead uses a small hidden passage to sneak into the Tower of the Hand. He finds Shae in his father Tywin's bed. Shae, who had falsely testified against Tyrion at his trial, initially thinks this is Tywin and addresses him as 'my lion', as she had previously done for Tyrion. She then attacks him with a knife, but Tyrion manages to strangle her to death.

Tyrion then readies Joffrey's crossbow and confronts Tywin on the privy and confesses that he had loved Shae. Tywin does not believe that Tyrion would actually shoot him. He tries to negotiate, but twice dismisses Shae as a whore, despite Tyrion's warning the first time. After the second time, Tyrion kills him with Joffrey's crossbow.

Tyrion then escapes on a ship bound for Essos with help from Varys. After hearing the bells in the castle raising the alarm, Varys decides to board the ship as well.



In the Vale

Brienne of Tarth and her squire, Podrick Payne, lose their horses as they make their way toward the Eyrie. They happen across Arya Stark and the Hound, Sandor Clegane. After Podrick recognises the Hound, Brienne deduces Arya's identity and tells her of her oath to her mother, Catelyn Stark. The Hound is unconvinced of her loyalties, pointing out her Lannister sword, and the matter quickly comes to blows. After a brutal brawl, Brienne knocks the Hound off a cliff, and unsuccessfully searches for Arya. After they leave, Arya emerges from hiding and finds the Hound grievously injured. Though he begs her for death, she instead takes his money and leaves him, presumably to die. Traveling by horse to a harbor, she attempts to buy passage north, only to be told the ship is bound for Essos. Upon hearing that the captain is travelling home to Braavos, she chooses to travel there, paying with the coin Jaqen H'ghar gave her .

Prologue, in the Westerlands

In a flashback, a young Cersei Lannister and her friend meet Maggy the Frog, whom they know to be a witch and fortune teller. Cersei demands to know her future, and whether or not she will marry the prince, Rhaegar Targaryen, and have his children. Maggy informs her that she will instead be wed to "the king" and while she will have three children, the king will have twenty. She also says that all of Cersei's children will wear golden crowns, but also golden shrouds , and that another queen, younger and more beautiful than Cersei, will cast her down.



In King's Landing

In the present, Cersei arrives at the Sept of Baelor to pay respects to her deceased father Tywin. Once inside the Sept, she chastises her brother Jaime for freeing their brother Tyrion and thus indirectly causing their father's death. At Tywin's wake, Cersei is approached by her uncle Kevan Lannister and her cousin Lancel Lannister, who has become a devout member of the Sparrows, a religious group devoted to the Faith of the Seven. Lancel asks Cersei's forgiveness for their adulterous relationship and for his role in giving King Robert Baratheon wine before the hunt in which Robert was mortally wounded. Cersei denies any knowledge of her husband's murder, and leaves.

Margaery Tyrell walks in on her brother, Loras, and his lover, Olyvar, naked in bed. After dismissing Olyvar, she tells Loras that he should be more discreet but he dismisses this idea by saying that they already know about him and that he is unlikely to be married to Cersei as Tywin's death means no one can force her to do anything. He calls this bad news for Margaery as it means that Cersei will remain in King's Landing instead of going to Highgarden with him. Margaery hints that she may have a solution.



In Pentos

Tyrion, weary and drunk, is broken out of the crate in which he was smuggled out of Westeros by Varys. Arriving in Pentos, Varys tells Tyrion that he and Illyrio Mopatis had worked together in secret to install Daenerys Targaryen as the new ruler of Westeros, and convinces Tyrion to travel with him to Meereen to meet her.



In Meereen

Several Unsullied remove the large gold harpy from the top of the Great Pyramid in Meereen. Later, one of the Unsullied is murdered in a brothel by a member of the Sons of the Harpy, a resistance group operating in Meereen. Daenerys orders Grey Worm to find those responsible, and for the murdered soldier to be buried in the Temple of the Graces as a statement of defiance to the Sons.

Daario Naharis and Hizdahr zo Loraq return to Meereen and Hizdhar declares that the mission to Yunkai has been successful, and that the Wise Masters will turn over power to a council of former slaves and former slave owners. In exchange, the Wise Masters have asked that Daenerys consent to the reopening of the fighting pits, an arena where slaves used to fight to the death. Daenerys denies the request. Later, Daario urges her to reconsider, as his youth spent fighting in the pits gave him the combat skills necessary for him to join the Second Sons, where he met Daenerys.

After a comment made by Daario, Daenerys visits her two captive dragons, Viserion and Rhaegal, which she locked underground to prevent them from killing people. When she approaches them, they show aggression toward her, forcing her to flee the room.



In the Vale

Lord Petyr Baelish and Sansa Stark watch Lord Robin Arryn struggle while sparring with a young boy. Sansa witnesses Baelish receiving a message, which he quickly hides. Lord Yohn Royce has agreed to take Robin as his ward and train him to fight, but is not optimistic of his abilities. Though Baelish told Lord Royce that they would be travelling to the Fingers, Baelish and Sansa instead head west, with Baelish explaining that he is taking her to a place where the Lannisters can never find her.

Podrick Payne attempts to plan the next move for Brienne of Tarth and himself, but Brienne tells him that she doesn't want anyone following her. He reminds her of the oath she swore to Jaime to find the Stark girls, but she states that Arya did not want her protection. As the two talk, a caravan passes nearby, carrying, unbeknownst to them, Baelish and Sansa.



At the Wall

Jon Snow helps train new recruits to the Night's Watch, while Samwell Tarly talks to Gilly about the frontrunners to be the next Lord Commander. Sam fears that Ser Alliser Thorne will be selected, as he hates the wildlings. Jon is summoned by Melisandre to speak with King Stannis Baratheon. Stannis wants Jon to persuade Mance Rayder to bend the knee and have the wildlings fight for Stannis, so that he can take back the North from Roose Bolton. Stannis tells Jon that he has until sundown to convince Mance, or he will have him burnt at the stake. Jon tries to get Mance to agree, but he will not bend the knee as he fears that the wildlings will not follow him if he does. At night, Mance is brought before Stannis and told that if he agrees, he will be allowed to live. Mance declines the offer and is placed on the pyre. Jon, unwilling to watch Mance die in agony, shoots him with an arrow to give him a quick death.

In King's Landing

Cersei and Jaime receive a message from Dorne: a small viper statue with a necklace in its fangs. Cersei tells Jaime that the necklace belongs to their daughter, Myrcella, who was sent to Dorne by Tyrion. Jaime tells Cersei that he will travel to Dorne and bring Myrcella back. He travels to meet with Bronn, who has gone to Castle Stokeworth with Lollys, his fiancée. Jaime gives Bronn a letter telling him that he will not be wed to Lollys. When Bronn reminds him of the deal he had with Cersei, Jaime tells him that, should he agree to help rescue Myrcella, he will instead be wed to a woman of higher standing, with a larger castle.

Cersei meets with two hunters who have brought her a severed head, though she is disappointed to find that it is not Tyrion's head. Qyburn lays claim to the head for his research and the two walk to a small council meeting. With the office of Hand of the King vacant, Cersei tells the council that she will stand in temporarily until Tommen chooses a new Hand. She appoints Mace Tyrell as the new Master of Coin and Qyburn as the new Master of Whisperers. When Cersei tries to appoint her uncle Kevan as the Master of War, he declines, telling her that as the queen mother she holds no power, and he has no interest in serving in a council filled with her sycophants. In defiance of Cersei's "orders", Kevan states that he will return to Casterly Rock until he hears direct word from Tommen that he is required.



At the Wall

In the library, Gilly is tutored in reading by Shireen Baratheon before her mother Selyse orders her to stop. Jon is chastised by Stannis for giving Mance Rayder a merciful death. Stannis shows Jon a letter he received from Bear Island, stating that former Lord Commander Jeor Mormont's relatives will only recognize a Stark as their King. Ser Davos tells Jon that the Night's Watch will elect a new Lord Commander that night, and that it is almost assured that Ser Alliser will win. Stannis asks Jon to kneel before him and pledge his life to him, and in exchange he will legitimize Jon, making him Jon Stark and giving him Winterfell.

In the great hall, Jon tells Sam that he will refuse Stannis's offer, as he swore an oath to the Night's Watch. After Maester Aemon asks for discussion about possible candidates, Janos Slynt advises his brothers to vote for Ser Alliser, saying he is the only true choice. Another man tells the brothers to vote for Denys Mallister. Before the voting can begin, Sam gives a speech imploring his brothers to vote for Jon, reminding them all how he led the mission to Craster's Keep to avenge Commander Mormont's death and how he led the defense of Castle Black. After the voting is complete, the ballots are tallied and show a tie between Jon and Ser Alliser. Maester Aemon casts the deciding vote in favor of Jon, making him the new Lord Commander of the Night's Watch.



In the Vale

Brienne and Podrick stop at an inn. They discover that Sansa and Petyr Baelish are eating lunch there. Brienne decides to approach them. She pledges her life to Sansa and asks Sansa to exit with her, but is refused. Petyr tries to capture Brienne, but she flees with Podrick and kills the guards sent after her. Meanwhile, Petyr and Sansa also flee the scene. Podrick suggests that Brienne is now released from her vows, but Brienne knows that Petyr is a malicious person, and insists that Sansa must be saved.



In Braavos

Arya arrives in Braavos, and the ship's captain, Ternesio Terys, takes her to the House of Black and White, the headquarters of the Faceless Men. She is turned away by the door-keeper, even though she displays Jaqen H'ghar's iron coin. She spends several nights sitting in front of the House. Later, while she is defending herself from a group of thieves, the door-keeper appears, causing the thieves to flee. The door-keeper transforms into the man she knows as Jaqen, but he says that he is no one. And that Arya must "become no one" to join the Faceless Men.



In Dorne

The Alcázar of Seville stands in for the Water Gardens of Dorne.

Ellaria Sand watches the loving couple Trystan Martell and Myrcella Baratheon from afar, before meeting with Prince Doran Martell, the ruler of Dorne, and the captain of his guard, Areo Hotah. She demands that he take action for the murder of Oberyn, though he reminds her that Oberyn was killed in a trial-by-combat, which by law is not considered murder. When she asks to take revenge on Myrcella, Doran rebuffs her, and she leaves, subtly warning Doran that he will not be in power forever.



In the Flatlands

Tyrion and Varys travel through the Flatlands outside Pentos on their way to Volantis. Tyrion is dissatisfied at being forced to travel in a wheelhouse, but Varys warns him that he is not safe, as Cersei has offered a lordship to any man who brings her his head.



In Meereen

Daario Naharis assists Grey Worm in capturing a member of the Sons of the Harpy. Mossador asks Daenerys to execute the captive, but Ser Barristan suggests that every captive needs a fair trial. Daenerys at first wants an execution, but after Barristan confirms to her that her father was a vicious king whose actions led to the deaths of House Targaryen, she relents to the fair trial. Mossador disobeys and personally kills the captive. Daenerys responds by having Mossador publicly executed, which leads to a riot between the former masters and former slaves, from which Daenerys is forced to flee. Drogon flies to Daenerys at night but quickly flies away.

In King's Landing

Tommen and Margaery are wed, and that night, they consummate their marriage. Margaery then manipulates Tommen into trying to persuade his mother, Cersei, to return to Casterly Rock for her wellbeing, but she declines. Cersei, with the façade of a caring mother-in-law, confronts Margaery and is powerless when she mockingly gossips about Tommen's enthusiasm in the bedroom and Cersei's age.

In a whorehouse, the High Septon is attacked by Lancel and several other Sparrows, and forced to walk naked through the streets while they call him a sinner. He requests that the Small Council take action against the Sparrows by executing their leader, the High Sparrow. Cersei meets with the High Sparrow personally to tell him that he will not be executed, and that she has imprisoned the High Septon, whom the High Sparrow will replace as head of the Faith. Returning to the castle, Cersei has Qyburn send a message to Lord Baelish. As Qyburn writes, the body of Gregor "The Mountain" Clegane shakes on Qyburn's operating table.



In the North

Reek passes through the courtyard at Winterfell, while several workers repair the castle. He is horrified to witness several flayed corpses being hung up in the courtyard. While serving dinner to Roose and Ramsay Bolton, Reek overhears that the Boltons do not have enough men to hold the North, should the former bannermen of House Stark rise against them. Roose tells Ramsay that the best way for them to forge alliances is with a marriage.

At Moat Cailin, Petyr Baelish tells Sansa that he has agreed to have her wed to Ramsay. She is disgusted by the idea, since Roose was responsible for the death of her brother and mother, but changes her mind when Petyr points out that this will be an opportunity to take revenge. They arrive at Winterfell and are received by Roose, his wife Walda, and Ramsay. Ramsay promises Petyr that he will never hurt Sansa, before Roose arrives to discuss the possible ramifications of their plan. Petyr tells him that, with Tywin Lannister dead and Margaery Tyrell as queen, they have no reason to fear the Lannisters. Roose is unconvinced, and shows him the letter sent for Baelish from Cersei. Petyr reassures him of their alliance, but Roose requests to read Baelish's reply nonetheless.

Petyr and Sansa are being secretly followed by Brienne and Podrick. Podrick tells Brienne the story of how he came to serve Tyrion Lannister, and Brienne tells him of how she came to be devoted to Renly Baratheon, when he showed her kindness when they were young. She then explains that she believes Stannis Baratheon was responsible for Renly's death, and that she has sworn to kill Stannis in revenge.



At the Wall

Jon, now the Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, refuses Stannis's offer to legitimize him in return for helping Stannis take back the North. Stannis tells Jon that his army will leave the Wall within a fortnight to march on Winterfell. In the dining hall, Jon appoints Ser Alliser as First Ranger. He also appoints Janos Slynt as the commander of Greyguard, a ruined castle which Slynt must restore. Slynt refuses and insults Jon, who responds by having Slynt seized and taken outside. Despite his pleas for mercy, Jon personally beheads Slynt. Stannis, who was watching, nods in approval.



In Braavos

Arya watches as the man with Jaqen H'ghar's face helps a man drink from a pool of water. He leaves to pray, and Arya approaches Jaqen, demanding that he begin teaching her to be a Faceless Man. Jaqen reminds her of the phrase "valar dohaeris", which means "all men must serve", and accuses Arya of only wanting to serve herself. She turns and sees that the praying man has died, revealing that the pool of water is poison for those who seek a quick death. Two servants then come to take his body away, but ignore Arya when she asks what they are doing with the body.

Later, Arya is approached by the Waif, who asks her who she is. Arya replies that she is no one, but the Waif is dissatisfied with her answer and begins to beat her. Jaqen arrives and stops the fight, but, noticing that Arya was about to attack the Waif with Needle, asks Arya how she came to be surrounded by things owned by Arya Stark if she is indeed no one. Arya then takes her possessions to a dock, where she throws them into the water. She cannot bring herself to discard Needle, so she hides it amongst some nearby rocks, and returns to sweeping at the House of Black and White. Jaqen then takes her to a room where she and the Waif wash a dead man's body.



In Volantis

Arriving in Volantis, Tyrion persuades Varys to let him depart their carriage and walk the streets. In the city, they witness a red priestess preach to a congregation of slaves about "the savior", Daenerys Targaryen. After the priestess notices Tyrion, the two hide in a brothel. Tyrion talks to a prostitute, but finds himself unable to bring himself to have sex with her, and leaves to urinate. While doing so, he is kidnapped by Jorah Mormont, who tells Tyrion that he intends to take him to the queen.

In King's Landing

Mace Tyrell informs the other members of the small council that the Iron Bank of Braavos has called in 10% of their debt, and that they can afford to pay only half the amount. Cersei tells Mace that he will be sent to Braavos, along with Ser Meryn Trant, to negotiate a deal. She then leaves to meet with the High Sparrow, authorizing the revival of the Faith Militant, an armed force in service to the faith of the seven, causing an attack on one of Petyr Baelish's brothels, and the arrest of Ser Loras Tyrell because of his homosexuality. News of his arrest reaches Margaery, who asks Tommen to order his release. Tommen first appeals to his mother for Loras's release, but she tells him that he must speak with the High Sparrow. He tries to speak with the High Sparrow, but the Faith Militant prevent him from disturbing his prayers, prompting one of the Kingsguard to inform Tommen that they will kill the Faith Militant if he orders them to do so. Tommen is visibly unnerved at the prospect of shedding blood on the steps of the Sept of Baelor despite his desire to please Margaery. When some street urchins start yelling insults at him about his incestuous parentage, Tommen quickly realizes they are outnumbered and tactfully orders his Kingsguard not to attack the Faith Militant, saying they will find another way to free Loras. Frustrated with Tommen's inaction, Margaery leaves to inform her grandmother Olenna of the situation.



At the Wall

After assisting in training his men, Jon signs several letters to be sent to northern lords, including Roose Bolton, pleading that they send men and supplies to help defend the Wall, which is extremely undermanned with only 50 Night's Watch men remaining at Castle Black. Jon is reluctant to plead to the Boltons for aid, but must respect the Night's Watch's neutrality. Melisandre arrives to ask Jon to join Stannis in taking Winterfell from the Boltons, but he again declines. She attempts to seduce him, but he is able to resist her advances, telling Melisandre that he still loves Ygritte. Before leaving, she says "You know nothing, Jon Snow", mimicking Ygritte. Elsewhere in Castle Black, Stannis tells his daughter, Shireen, the story of how she became afflicted with greyscale, and how he did everything in his power to cure her.



At Winterfell

In the crypts, Sansa lights candles for her deceased family members. Petyr arrives, and tells her about her aunt, Lyanna, and how Robert's Rebellion started when Rhaegar Targaryen allegedly kidnapped her. He informs Sansa that he is leaving Winterfell to return to King's Landing, at Cersei's request. Petyr also tells Sansa that Stannis and his army are at Castle Black, and suggests that they will soon take Winterfell from the Boltons, whom they outnumber. As they believe that all of her siblings are dead, Petyr believes that Stannis will appoint Sansa as Wardeness of the North. Sansa asks him what if Stannis does not overthrow the Boltons, and Littlefinger states that in that case she will learn to control Ramsay Bolton.



In Dorne

Jaime and Bronn arrive in Dorne, with the intention of rescuing Myrcella Baratheon. Bronn wonders why Jaime is so adamant about personally participating in the rescue, and Jaime implies that he seeks redemption for indirectly causing his father Tywin's death and claims that he will personally kill his brother Tyrion if he ever sees him again. Shortly after landing they are discovered by four Dornish guards, who recognise the duo as being from King's Landing. Jaime and Bronn are forced to kill the guards after being ordered to disarm. In doing so, Jaime learns how to use his metal hand to his advantage.

Elsewhere, Ellaria Sand meets with Oberyn's three bastard daughters: Obara, Nymeria, and Ellaria's daughter Tyene, collectively known as the Sand Snakes. Through a captured ship captain, they have learned that Jaime has come to Dorne, and Ellaria deduces that he intends to take Myrcella back to King's Landing. She asks them to join her in starting a war with the Lannisters, and they agree.



On the Summer Sea

At night, Jorah Mormont attacks a fisherman and steals his boat. He takes the captive Tyrion and sets sail. In the morning, Tyrion deduces Jorah's identity, and learns that he is being taken to Daenerys, not his sister Cersei. When Tyrion presses Jorah about his motives for bringing him to Daenerys, Jorah knocks him out.



In Meereen

Ser Barristan tells stories about Rhaegar Targaryen to Daenerys. Daenerys leaves to attend to Hizdahr zo Loraq, who repeats his request to reopen the fighting pits. In the streets, several members of the Sons of the Harpy attack civilians. A patrol of Unsullied, led by Grey Worm, respond to the panic, but are ambushed by more Sons of the Harpy. In the ensuing battle, a majority of the Unsullied are slaughtered and Grey Worm is injured before Ser Barristan arrives to assist him. Though Barristan slays many of the Sons of the Harpy, they start to overwhelm him and he is stabbed multiple times. Barely defeating his attackers, Grey Worm manages to save Barristan from having his throat slit and the two collapse next to each other, surrounded by dead Unsullied and Sons of the Harpy.

In the North

Brienne and Podrick arrive at an inn not far from Winterfell. When their conversation is interrupted by a servant, Brienne speaks to him and determines he is still loyal to the Starks. She arranges for a message to be delivered to Sansa that if she is ever in trouble, she should light a candle in Winterfell's highest tower, and help will arrive.

In Winterfell, Ramsay has a tense conversation with Myranda regarding her jealousy of Sansa and their impending marriage. Later, Myranda speaks with Sansa, and shows her to the kennels where Reek, formerly Theon Greyjoy, lives. At dinner, Ramsay forces Reek to apologize to Sansa for murdering Bran and Rickon, despite being aware that Reek did not kill them. Annoyed by Ramsay's petty cruelty, Roose announces that he and Walda are expecting a child. Ramsay feels his claim as Roose's heir is threatened, but Roose later reassures him and asks for his support resisting King Stannis Baratheon's impending attack on Winterfell.



At the Wall

News of the events in Meereen reach Sam and Maester Aemon. Aemon laments that he is Daenerys's only remaining relative, and that he is too old and sickly to help her. Jon arrives and speaks privately to Aemon, asking his advice with regards to gaining the wildlings as allies. Aemon tells Jon that he must "kill the boy and let the man be born," indicating that as Lord Commander, Jon must do what he feels is right.

Afterward, Jon meets with Tormund Giantsbane and frees him. He offers to allow the wildlings to settle south of the wall, in return for an alliance with the Night's Watch. Tormund tells Jon that most of the wildlings have made their way to a settlement called Hardhome, and that in order to unite them and forge an alliance, Jon must accompany him to speak with them himself. When Jon presents his plan to his men, they reject it, citing the numerous brothers and innocents killed by the wildlings, including Jon's friends Grenn and Pyp, and Olly's entire village. Regardless, Jon decides to go forward with the plan.

In the library, Sam tells Gilly about how he had always wanted to become a Maester before joining the Night's Watch. Stannis then enters and asks Sam about dragonglass, which is capable of killing White Walkers. He mentions that Dragonstone has large supplies of dragonglass, and that Sam should continue researching the White Walkers' weaknesses. Later, Stannis tells Ser Davos that they will march toward Winterfell in the morning. Davos suggests waiting for Jon to come back with the wildlings, but Stannis wishes to march before winter arrives. He also decides to have Selyse and Shireen march with them, since he does not feel they will be safe at the Wall.



In Meereen

Though badly wounded in the battle with the Sons of the Harpy, Grey Worm has survived, and rests under the watchful eye of Missandei. However, Ser Barristan Selmy has succumbed to his wounds. Daenerys and Daario mourn Barristan in the Great Pyramid, and Daenerys orders the leaders of the great families of Meereen to be brought before her, including Hizdahr zo Loraq. She has her dragons Viserion and Rhaegal burn and eat one of the leaders, and imprisons the others. Three days later, Grey Worm awakens and tells Missandei how he felt fear that he would never see her again; the two share a passionate kiss. Later, Daenerys consults Missandei on how to deal with the Sons of the Harpy, and Missandei points out that Daenerys has always had the ability to find solutions that nobody else could see. Inspired by Missandei's words, Daenerys meets with Hizdahr in his cell, and informs him that she will reopen the fighting pits, and that in order to make peace with the people of Meereen, she will marry him.



In Valyria

Tyrion deduces that Jorah is taking a shortcut through the ruins of Valyria. They see Drogon fly overhead before they are attacked by a group of stone men, victims of the leprosy-like disease greyscale, who have been turned feral by the disease. Tyrion is forced overboard but is saved from drowning by Jorah, and the two set camp on a small sandbar. Jorah leaves to gather firewood, and checking his wrist, finds the beginnings of a greyscale lesion.

In Braavos

Arya Stark continues her training with the Faceless Men, washing the bodies of those that die in the temple. She asks the Waif what they do with the bodies after they're clean, but the Waif tells her that she is not yet ready to know. Arya then asks how to pass the Game of Faces. The Waif hints that in order to pass, she must be able to convincingly lie. When Jaqen H'ghar comes to test Arya again, she tells him how she came to join the Faceless Men, but lies about several key facts. Jaqen is able to tell when Arya is lying, including when Arya claims that she hated Sandor Clegane. Jaqen tells Arya that she is lying not only to him, but to herself.

Some time later, a man brings his sick daughter to the temple so that she can die in peace. Arya talks to the sickly girl and lies about how she was ill like her in the past. Arya then gives the girl the temple's poisoned water to end her suffering. After she cleans the body, Arya is taken by Jaqen to a chamber underneath the temple, where the Faceless Men store the faces of all the people that have died in the temple. Jaqen tells Arya that she is not yet ready to become "no one", but she is ready to become "someone else".



In Dorne

Trystane Martell and Myrcella Baratheon walk through the Water Gardens, and make plans to marry one another, much to the concern of Trystane's father, Prince Doran. Meanwhile, Jaime Lannister and Bronn disguise themselves as Dornish guards and infiltrate the gardens. Bronn knocks out Trystane and Jaime moves to take Myrcella but they are ambushed by the Sand Snakes: Obara, Nymeria, and Tyene. Jaime and Bronn battle with them briefly before more Dornish guards, led by Areo Hotah, arrive and arrest both groups. Ellaria Sand is also arrested for orchestrating the planned kidnapping.



On the Valyrian peninsula

Jorah Mormont and Tyrion Lannister continue to make their way to Meereen on foot. Tyrion tells Jorah how he is on the run from Westeros after killing his father Tywin, and also tells Jorah how his father, Jeor Mormont, was killed by Night's Watch mutineers during an expedition north of the Wall. Shortly afterwards, they are captured by slavers, who plan to take the pair to Volantis for sale. After the leader of the slavers, Malko, mentions that Daenerys Targaryen has reopened the fighting pits in Meereen, Tyrion convinces the slavers to take them to Meereen instead, saying that Jorah is an accomplished warrior and can earn the slavers more money in the pits.



In King's Landing

Petyr Baelish returns to King's Landing at Cersei Lannister's request, where he is confronted by Brother Lancel and a group of Sparrows. Lancel warns Petyr that the Sparrows have purged King's Landing of all vices, and they will not tolerate his prostitution business, though Petyr is unperturbed. Petyr then meets with Cersei, who has started to question where his loyalties lie. He assures her that he is loyal to the throne, and informs her that Sansa is alive in Winterfell and is set to marry Ramsay Bolton. Cersei is infuriated at the Boltons' apparent treachery, but Petyr convinces her that he has already set up a plan to deal with the situation. He informs her of Stannis Baratheon's impending attack on the Boltons and asks to lead the knights of the Vale to Winterfell to destroy whatever is left of the victor. In return, he asks to be named Warden of the North, a condition Cersei agrees to.

Olenna Tyrell arrives in King's Landing in an effort to free Loras Tyrell from the Sparrows' custody. She warns Cersei that her actions have put the Lannister-Tyrell alliance in peril, though Cersei insists that she had nothing to do with Loras' confinement and expresses confidence that there will not be enough evidence to convict him. At Loras' holy inquest, the High Sparrow interrogates both Loras and Margaery Tyrell, and they both deny that Loras is homosexual. Olyvar is then brought in and testifies against Loras, citing a unique birthmark that Loras has, and also noting that Margaery had seen them in bed together. After Loras, enraged, attempts to attack Olyvar, the High Sparrow is convinced that there is enough evidence to proceed with Loras' trial. He also orders Margaery arrested for lying during the holy inquest. As Margaery is taken away by the Faith Militant, she calls for Tommen Baratheon to do something about it, but he is too intimidated by the presence of the Faith Militant to respond.



In Winterfell

While Myranda bathes Sansa Stark, she attempts to intimidate her by telling her about Ramsay's former mistresses, whom Ramsay later hunted and killed with his dogs. Sansa boldly replies that she is not frightened. Later, Reek arrives to take Sansa to the Godswood, where she is then married to Ramsay. Afterward, Ramsay takes her to his chambers and orders her to undress. When Reek tries to leave, Ramsay orders him to stay and watch, and proceeds to rape Sansa, to Reek's horror.

At the Wall

Jon leaves for Hardhome with Tormund and some rangers, in spite of Ser Alliser's complaints. Before they leave, Sam gives Jon a bag of dragonglass weapons, reminding him of their use against the White Walkers. Afterward, Sam and Gilly visit Maester Aemon, who has fallen ill. After sitting with him until nightfall, Aemon dies, and in the morning Sam eulogizes him before lighting his funeral pyre. Afterward, Gilly is attacked in the dining hall by two brothers, but Jon's wolf, Ghost, comes to her rescue. Sam is badly beaten, and Gilly takes care of him before the two have sex.



At Winterfell

Reek brings food to Sansa, who has been imprisoned in her bedchamber by Ramsay. She begs for him to help, asking him to light a candle at the top of the broken tower, the aim of which is to send a signal to Stark sympathizers to rescue her. Instead, Reek tells Ramsay, who reacts by flaying and killing the old lady from whom Sansa learned the signal. As Ramsay is talking to Sansa, however, she discreetly steals a corkscrew from the top of a barrel. Meanwhile, Brienne and Podrick wait out in the snow for the signal to no avail.



In the North

Stannis's troops have made a camp and are trapped by the snow-storm. Davos Seaworth meets with Stannis and tells him that supplies, as well as horses, have been lost to the winter. The Stormcrows, a group of 500 sellswords, have abandoned the camp during the night. Davos suggests returning to Castle Black, but Stannis replies that doing so could delay them for years, since winters in Westeros can last for years at a time. After Davos leaves, Stannis asks Melisandre if she is sure of his victory. Melisandre assures him that she saw a vision of Stannis winning, but she asks for permission to sacrifice his daughter Shireen to the Red God. Stannis is disgusted and refuses, and dismisses Melisandre.



In Meereen

Jorah is sold by the slave traders to a Meereenese man, Yezzan zo Qaggaz, who is looking for fighters for the upcoming games at Meereen. Before Yezzan leaves, Tyrion convinces Yezzan to purchase him as well, by showing fighting prowess by attacking with a chain a slave herder who had been whipping Tyrion during their march to the slave auction site.

Daenerys and Daario discuss her pending marriage to Hizdahr zo Loraq. Daario advises her to kill all of Meereen's nobles when the fighting pits get re-opened, but she declines.

Yezzan takes his fighters to Meereen, where they fight in front of Daenerys. When Jorah realizes that Daenerys is present, he enters the pits and easily defeats the other fighters before revealing his identity to Daenerys, who orders he be taken out of her sight. Jorah tells her he brought her a gift, and Tyrion enters the arena, where he reveals his identity to a stunned Daenerys.



In Dorne

Myrcella is brought to speak with Jaime, and asks why he came to take her back to King's Landing, when what she wants is to stay and marry Trystane. In the cells, Bronn is taunted by Tyene Sand exposing her breasts to him, before learning that her daggers, with which he'd been cut in the previous episode, had been coated with a slow-acting poison that would activate when his heart rate increased. He slowly succumbs to the poison, but Tyene gives him the antidote after he gives in to her request that he call her the most beautiful woman in the world.



In King's Landing

In the Sept of Baelor, Olenna meets with the High Sparrow to discuss the imprisonment of her grandchildren, Loras and Margaery. She demands that he release them, but he declines, stating they will be punished for their crimes. The High Sparrow tells her that the laws of the Faith must be applied to everyone equally. Olenna first tries to bribe him but upon seeing that he cannot be bought, threatens to end the Tyrell support for the capital by stopping shipments of food. The High Sparrow, however, remains unfazed. He counters that she and the rest of the nobility are outnumbered by the smallfolk, and tells her to consider what will come when the smallfolk stop fearing the nobility. On her way out, Olenna receives a letter from Petyr Baelish. In the Red Keep, Tommen anguishes over his inability to help Margaery. Cersei offers to speak with the High Sparrow for him, and advocate for Margaery and Loras's release.

Petyr meets with Olenna in his ransacked brothel, where they share a tense conversation. Olenna reminds Petyr of the role they both played in Joffrey's murder, and warns that, should her house fall, she won't keep his involvement a secret. In the Sept, Cersei meets with Margaery and brings her food, but Margaery refuses and angrily orders her mother-in-law to leave, knowing full well that she was responsible for imprisoning both her and Loras. Cersei then meets with the High Sparrow, and after a brief discussion on Margaery and Loras, he reveals that her cousin Lancel has informed against her of their illicit relationship as well as the part they played in the death of her husband Robert Baratheon. Cersei tries to leave but is stopped by a tall septa, who proceeds to take the protesting Queen Mother to another cell. Before she is locked up, Cersei tells the septa to look at her face and warns it will be the last thing she sees before she dies. The septa silently ignores Cersei and locks her in the cell.

In King's Landing

Cersei is visited by Septa Unella, who offers her water in exchange for a confession of her sins. Cersei asks to speak with Tommen and is struck by the Septa. Later, Qyburn visits Cersei and tells her about the crimes she is charged with, including incest and the murder of Robert Baratheon, which she insists are lies. Qyburn also tells her that Grand Maester Pycelle has taken control of the Small Council and has sent for her uncle, Kevan, to return from Casterly Rock and serve as Tommen's Hand. Before leaving, Qyburn tells Cersei that "the work continues".



In Braavos

Arya assumes the identity of Lanna, an oyster seller. While practicing acting with Jaqen, she describes her typical day to Jaqen, who tells her to change her daily route, and to instead head to the harbour. There she sells oysters to a life insurance salesman. Jaqen explains that the family of one of the salesman's clients hired the Faceless Men to kill him after he refused to pay out when said client drowned at sea. He tells Arya to return to the harbour and learn everything she can about the insurer before poisoning him.



At the Wall

Gilly treats Sam's wounds, before Olly asks for a word with Sam in private. Olly asks Sam why Jon trusts the wildlings, noting that the wildlings, including Tormund, attacked his village and killed his family. Sam explains that Jon had to make a difficult decision, and that they have no chance of defeating the White Walkers without help from the wildlings.



In Winterfell

Theon Greyjoy/Reek brings food to Sansa, who remains locked in her chamber. She asks Reek why he told Ramsay about her escape plans, and Reek replies that there is no escape from Ramsay. When he tries to leave, Sansa confronts him about murdering Bran and Rickon, but Reek confesses that he was unable to find them, and killed two farm boys instead before burning their bodies and passing off the remains as those of the Stark children. Hearing this revelation, Sansa finds hope once again.

In the great hall, Roose Bolton and his advisors plan for battle with Stannis's army. Roose plans to wait out the invaders, noting that with Winterfell fully repaired and supplied, they are better prepared for a siege than Stannis. Ramsay insists that the Boltons should take the fight to Stannis as a statement to the rest of the North, and asks his father for twenty good men.



In Meereen

Jorah and Tyrion are brought before Daenerys, who asks Tyrion why he should be allowed to live and serve her. Tyrion explains that he understands how politics work in King's Landing, and would be of great service to her due to his experience as former Hand of the King. Tyrion also convinces Daenerys to spare Jorah's life, though he tells her that Jorah should not be allowed to serve her, and she orders Jorah exiled from Meereen again. Later, Daenerys tells Tyrion that she will not have him killed or exiled, and intends to allow him to advise her. She also tells him about reclaiming the Iron Throne, her birthright. When she claims that the common people of Westeros will support her claim, Tyrion points out that her rule of Meereen has not gone smoothly with only the support of the common people, and tells her that she will not succeed without the backing of a powerful Westerosi house. She compares the powerful houses of Westeros to spokes on a wheel and says that she intends to "break the wheel".

Meanwhile, Jorah returns to Yezzan zo Qaggaz and asks that he be allowed to fight in front of Daenerys in the fighting pits.



At Hardhome

Arriving at Hardhome, Jon, Tormund, and a group of Night's Watch brothers meet with the Lord of Bones, who has become the de facto leader of the wildlings. After a tense standoff, Tormund kills the Lord of Bones and orders his advisors to gather the elders, including Wildling leader Karsi. At the meeting, Jon shares the dragonglass with the wildlings, telling them how Sam killed a White Walker with a dragonglass dagger. Jon offers to allow the wildlings to farm the lands south of the Wall if they will aid the Night's Watch in the coming war against the White Walkers. When asked what became of Mance Rayder, Jon admits that he killed him. Outraged, the assembled wildlings move to kill Jon, but Tormund is able to calm them by explaining that Jon killed Mance out of mercy. After more discussion, Jon and Tormund are able to convince roughly 5,000 wildlings to come with them, though the Thenns, led by Loboda, refuse to join them.

While loading the ships with wildlings, Hardhome is attacked by an army of wights. Jon and the Night's Watch brothers assist in the defense of Hardhome, helping defend the walls from wight attacks. Jon and Tormund see several White Walkers observing the battle, and Jon moves to recover the bag of dragonglass weapons. Entering a large hut, Jon and Loboda are attacked by a White Walker, who easily kills Loboda before moving on to Jon. Jon is attacked before he can recover the dragonglass, and manages to escape the hut. The White Walker pursues him and they fight, but the Walker is momentarily stunned when he is unable to break Jon's Valyrian steel sword Longclaw, and Jon manages to kill him. His victory is short-lived, as the walls surrounding Hardhome fall to the wights and Jon and his remaining allies are forced to flee. As Jon returns to the boats, he witnesses the Night King reviving the dead, including Karsi and many of the wildlings and the Night's Watch, as wights.

In Braavos

Arya, still in the disguise of an oyster vendor, continues the mission given to her by Jaqen to poison and kill the Thin Man. However, as she is on the way to her target, she sees Mace Tyrell and Meryn Trant arrive in the harbor to negotiate payment terms with the Iron Bank. Arya, recognising Trant, ignores her mission and follows Mace and Trant into the city. She eventually tracks Trant to a brothel, where she learns that he is sexually attracted to pubescent girls. Upon returning to Jaqen, Arya lies to him by telling him the Thin Man was not hungry and did not buy her oysters, and asks to try again the next day. Jaqen allows this, though it is unclear whether he believes Arya or not.



At the Wall

Jon and Tormund return to Castle Black, accompanied by the surviving Night's Watch and wildlings from Hardhome. Alliser, despite his disagreements with Jon, orders the gate to be opened to let them pass. Jon believes that his mission was a failure, though Samwell points out that he still saved thousands of wildlings that would have been killed by the White Walkers. Jon is also aware that many of his Night's Watch brothers are unhappy with wildlings being let past the Wall, and Alliser warns him that his compassion will get them all killed.



In Dorne

Jaime is brought before Doran Martell to explain his actions. Jaime reveals that he was sent to rescue Myrcella due to a threatening message sent to them from Dorne. Doran quickly realizes that Ellaria was behind the threat, and apologizes. In order to avoid an escalation of hostilities, Doran negotiates a deal with Jaime. In return for Jaime's freedom and Myrcella's return to King's Landing, the Lannisters must allow Trystane to accompany them as Oberyn's replacement on the Small Council. Trystane also allows Bronn to go free under the condition that he allow Areo Hotah to strike him in the face in revenge for being struck by Bronn earlier.

After the meeting, Doran privately confronts Ellaria and presents her with an ultimatum: pledge loyalty to him or be executed. Ellaria tearfully pledges her loyalty in front of the Sand Snakes, and Doran warns her that this is the last chance he will ever give her. Ellaria then meets with Jaime and makes amends with him, conceding that it is neither his nor Myrcella's fault that Oberyn was killed.



In the North

Ramsay and his group of 20 men infiltrate Stannis' camp and sabotage the supplies by burning them. With his supplies gone, Stannis realizes that his army will not survive the winter. Davos recommends they retreat back to Castle Black, but Stannis refuses to retreat, and points out that they lack the supplies to make it back regardless. He orders Davos to return to Castle Black to request more supplies and reinforcements in return for Stannis fully manning the Wall with troops when he takes the Iron Throne. When Davos leaves, Stannis reluctantly allows Melisandre to burn Shireen at the stake as a sacrifice, believing that the "king's blood" in her veins will please the Lord of Light, who will then change their fortunes. As Shireen screams for her parents, Selyse, initially supportive of Stannis's decision, has a change of heart and attempts to stop the ceremony, but is restrained while her child is burned alive in front of Stannis's horrified troops.



In Meereen

Daenerys, accompanied by Tyrion, Missandei, Daario and Hizdahr, oversees the beginning of the fighting season in Daznak's Pit. During the beginning of the second battle, one of the fighters reveals himself to be Jorah. After successfully defeating the other combatants, Jorah suddenly picks up a spear and throws it towards the royal stage, killing an assassin sneaking up on Daenerys. Immediately, the Sons of the Harpy emerge from the crowd and begin killing many guards and spectators, including Hizdahr. Daenerys and her retinue attempt to escape, but the Sons of the Harpy seal the exits, leaving the survivors surrounded and trapped in the center of the fighting ring. Daenerys seemingly accepts her fate, when she hears Drogon roaring nearby. Drogon suddenly appears, setting ablaze and killing many Sons of the Harpy, causing some to flee. While a group of the Sons attack Drogon by throwing spears at it, Daenerys climbs on to Drogon's back, ordering the dragon to fly. The Unsullied drive the Sons of the Harpy away, while Drogon takes to the sky with Daenerys, with her allies left awe-struck as they watch her fly away.

In the North

The weather conditions at Stannis Baratheon's camp drastically improve, clearing the route towards Winterfell. Melisandre takes credit, claiming that as a result of Shireen's sacrifice, the Lord of Light has made good on his promise. However, Stannis's officers inform him that Shireen's sacrifice has also prompted half of his army, including all of his mercenaries, to desert him, and driven Selyse to hang herself. Melisandre immediately flees to Castle Black. Despite all of these setbacks, Stannis orders his remaining troops to march forward towards Winterfell. As Stannis's army marches through the Wolfswood, Podrick sees them and warns Brienne, who leaves to take revenge on Stannis.

As Stannis prepares to lay siege on the castle, the Bolton cavalry, led by Ramsay, suddenly emerges. It becomes clear they greatly outnumber Stannis's army; nonetheless, Stannis draws his sword and leads his men into battle. After a quick yet fierce battle, the Boltons emerge as the victors. Stannis survives the destruction of his army, but is severely wounded after fighting several Bolton soldiers. Brienne then arrives and announces her intentions to execute Stannis for the murder of Renly . Stannis accepts his fate, and Brienne executes him.[1][2]

Meanwhile, in Winterfell, Sansa escapes her room using the corkscrew she stole and lights a candle in the ruined tower to signal for help, but Brienne has already left. After witnessing the defeat of the Baratheon army, she tries to return to her room but is confronted by Myranda, who threatens to mutilate Sansa. Theon finally finds his inner strength, and throws Myranda from the castle ramparts to her death, just as the victorious Bolton army returns to Winterfell. Theon and Sansa realize they have to escape at once, and jump from the castle walls into the deep snow below.



In Dorne

Jaime, Myrcella, Bronn and Trystane leave for King's Landing. On the ship, Myrcella reveals that she knows Jaime is her real father and that she is glad that he is her father. However, Myrcella suddenly starts bleeding from the nose and collapses, and it is revealed that Ellaria had secretly poisoned Myrcella by kissing her with poisoned lipstick.



In Braavos

Arya infiltrates the brothel patronized by Ser Meryn Trant by taking one of the faces from the House of Black and White. She stabs Trant multiple times, revealing her true identity and confronting him for the murder of Syrio Forel before cutting his throat. When she returns to the House of Black and White, she is confronted by Jaqen and the Waif. Jaqen berates Arya for taking a life not meant for her to take, and that another life must be taken in order to appease the Many Faced God. Jaqen then proceeds to drink from a vial and collapses, much to Arya's shock. However, the Waif changes her face to that of Jaqen and points out to Arya that "Jaqen" never existed, and that she had been talking to "No One" the entire time. The Waif also warns Arya that putting on a new face if one is not "No One" is like poison, and Arya is struck blind.



In Meereen

With Daenerys missing after having flown away on Drogon, her followers are left unsure of what to do in her absence. Daario and Jorah decide to leave Meereen to search for Daenerys. Tyrion wishes to join them, but Daario points out that he is better suited to govern Meereen in Daenerys's absence, assisted by Missandei and the still-recovering Grey Worm. As Tyrion watches Jorah and Daario leave, he ponders his next move when Varys suddenly appears. Varys compares Meereen's current state to that of King's Landing when it was threatened by Stannis Baratheon, and offers use of his spy network to aid Tyrion. Tyrion wryly remarks that he had missed Varys.



In the Dothraki Sea

Drogon brings Daenerys back to his lair. Daenerys orders Drogon to take her back to Meereen, but Drogon, still exhausted and wounded, ignores her and goes to sleep. Daenerys wanders off on her own to try to find some food, eventually spotting a Dothraki horde advancing in the distance. As the horde comes closer, Daenerys drops a ring to the ground before being surrounded.



In King's Landing

Cersei confesses to committing adultery with her cousin Lancel to the High Sparrow, but denies having slept with Jaime or conspiring to have Robert Baratheon killed. The High Sparrow decides to grant the "Mother's Mercy" and let Cersei return to the Red Keep, but says she must return to face trial for the other sins she has not confessed to, and must undergo an "atonement". Cersei is stripped, her hair cut short, and forced to walk naked the entire way from the Great Sept of Baelor to the Red Keep. As she walks, she is relentlessly harassed, jeered and pelted with garbage by the angry populace, ultimately breaking down in tears when she finally returns to the Red Keep. She is covered up by Qyburn, who reveals to her the newest member of the Kingsguard, a re-animated Gregor "The Mountain" Clegane.



At the Wall

Jon sends Samwell to Oldtown to become a maester along with Gilly and her baby, acknowledging the romantic relationship blossoming between Samwell and Gilly. Davos arrives shortly after to ask for supplies and Wildling reinforcements, but Jon refuses, reminding Davos that the Wildlings will never fight for Stannis. Melisandre arrives soon after; her demeanour leads Jon and Davos to realize that Stannis has been defeated and that Shireen and Selyse are dead.

At night, Olly tells Jon that a wildling had recently seen his uncle Benjen Stark, and takes him to speak to him. Led outside to the courtyard, he only finds Ser Alliser, Bowen Marsh, Othell Yarwyck and a handful of men along with a post that reads "Traitor". As Jon realizes that he has been betrayed, Alliser, Bowen, Othell, Olly, and the others take turns stabbing Jon, each uttering "For the Watch". The men leave Jon as he dies alone in the snow.

In the North

At Winterfell, Ramsay Bolton mourns the death of Myranda, but commands that her corpse be fed to the hounds. Roose Bolton warns him that, despite their victory, they could be facing the wrath of the Lannisters in the future, and as such, they must secure the loyalty of the North's other nobles. Roose blames Ramsay for losing Sansa Stark, who, as a child of Eddard Stark, could have been used as a figure-head for the North. As such, Roose implies that he will disinherit Ramsay if he cannot retrieve her and his unborn child is a son.

Meanwhile, Sansa and Theon Greyjoy flee through the nearby forests. Upon being cornered by a squad of Bolton soldiers, they are rescued by Brienne of Tarth and Podrick Payne, who attack and kill the soldiers. Brienne again offers to pledge her loyalty to Sansa, who accepts.



In Dorne

Doran Martell receives news of Myrcella's death and is aghast, but he and Areo Hotah are immediately murdered by Ellaria Sand and Tyene Sand, while the palace guards look on without intervening. Ellaria states that his people have become dissatisfied with Doran's inaction against the Lannisters. As Doran dies, he pleads for his son's life, but Ellaria vows that weak men will never rule Dorne again.



In King's Landing

Jaime Lannister arrives in King's Landing bearing Myrcella's body, and returns to his sister Cersei Lannister. Cersei recounts the prophecy which Maggy the Frog told her as a child, when she was told all her children would die before her and she would be left with nothing. Jaime promises that they will have revenge against all who have wronged the Lannisters, heightening the importance of his and Cersei's staying close.

Across the city, Margaery Tyrell, who is still held captive by the Faith Militant, converses with the High Sparrow, but he refuses to give her information about her brother Loras.

In his ship still docked in the harbor, Doran's son Trystane is painting stones for Myrcella's funeral. Obara and Nymeria Sand board his ship and enter his cabin, stating their intent to kill him. Despite proclaiming that he does not want to fight his family, he attempts to defend himself from Nymeria but is stabbed through the back of the head by Obara, killing him instantly.



In Meereen

Tyrion Lannister and Varys walk through the streets, which are largely empty because of Daenerys's absence and fear of the Sons of the Harpy. Tyrion observes that Daenerys' enemies are growing, including former slaves and former masters. Varys promises that his spies will find the leader of the Sons of the Harpy. The two discover that someone has set fire to all of the ships in Meereen's harbor, and Tyrion realizes that Daenerys's forces will be unable to sail to Westeros.



In the Dothraki Sea

Daario Naharis and Jorah Mormont continue to trace Daenerys Targaryen's location. Jorah takes a moment to observe his worsening greyscale. They discover her ring in the middle of thousands of hoof-prints, deducing that she has been taken by the Dothraki.

Daenerys is presented to Khal Moro, who has taken her prisoner. Moro initially wishes to rape her, but treats her with respect after Daenerys explains that she was Khal Drogo's wife. Daenerys asks Moro to escort her back to Meereen, but he refuses to let her leave, as widows of Khals must live out their lives in Vaes Dothrak, the Dothraki's sacred city.



In Braavos

Arya Stark, now blinded, is sent to beg on the streets. The Waif suddenly appears and forces Arya to duel her using a wooden staff. Arya fails because of her blindness, and the Waif promises that she will return the following day.



At the Wall

Following the murder of Jon Snow, his dire-wolf Ghost begins to howl as the sun rises above Castle Black, attracting the attention of Davos Seaworth, Eddison Tollett, and a few other loyalists. They release Ghost from his nearby pen and take Jon's body into a store-room, whereupon Melisandre briefly visits and is troubled, as she had experienced a vision in the flames where Jon was fighting at Winterfell. The loyalists become fearful and also lock themselves in from the mutineers, with the exception of Edd, who sneaks out of Castle Black to get assistance from the Wildlings against the mutineers.

Ser Alliser Thorne convenes the other black brothers and takes responsibility for Jon's murder. Several black brothers accuse Thorne and the other officers of treason, but Thorne wins them over by citing Jon's actions and stating that Jon would have destroyed the Night's Watch by letting in the Wildlings. Alliser and the other mutineers then surround the store-room and promise Davos and Jon's friends amnesty if they surrender, but threaten to attack if they don't open the door by nightfall.

Elsewhere, Melisandre, who has been sullen following Stannis's defeat and Jon's death, goes to sleep in her bedroom. As she undresses, she removes her ruby necklace to reveal a physical body many years older than she appears to be.

In the North

Lord Harald Karstark arrives at Winterfell, bearing news of the death of the hunters sent after Sansa Stark and Theon Greyjoy. Ramsay Bolton deduces that Sansa would have gone to Castle Black where, as the Lord Commander of the Night's Watch and her brother, Jon would offer both her and Theon his protection. Ramsay proposes to Roose Bolton that they storm the castle from the unprotected southern side. Roose warns Ramsay that these actions would turn the entire North against them. Maester Wolkan then enters and announces that Roose's wife Walda Frey has given birth to a son, prompting Ramsay to stab Roose, killing him. He then lures Walda and his baby half-brother into the kennels, where he has them mauled to death by his hounds.

Sansa learns from Brienne of Tarth that Arya is alive, but that she hasn't been seen since her disappearance in the Riverlands. Theon then tells Sansa that he cannot accompany her to Castle Black, as he still fears retribution from Jon and does not deserve her or Jon's forgiveness. Confident that Brienne and Podrick can better protect Sansa, Theon states that he plans to return "home."



In King's Landing

In Flea Bottom, a drunkard boasts about having exposed himself to Cersei during her walk of shame. After he leaves to urinate, he is confronted by Gregor Clegane, who smashes his head in against a wall.

As the body of Myrcella Baratheon lies in the Great Sept of Baelor, Jaime Lannister is approached by the High Sparrow. Jaime threatens the High Sparrow in response to Cersei's treatment at their hands, and the High Sparrow responds that the Faith Militant is large and its soldiers have nothing to lose, and with their strength, the High Sparrow has the power to "overthrow an empire," which unnerves Jaime.

Meanwhile, Cersei Lannister is forbidden to leave the Red Keep for Myrcella's funeral by her son King Tommen Baratheon in an effort to protect her from the Sparrows. Tommen later apologizes to her and asks her to teach him how to be strong so he can protect the people he loves.



In Meereen

Tyrion Lannister converses with Varys, Missandei, and Grey Worm, and learns that Astapor and Yunkai have been retaken by the Masters, leaving Meereen the only free city in Slaver's Bay. Knowing that they need the power of the dragons, Tyrion heads to the dungeons to free them. While wary at first, the dragons do not attack Tyrion and allow him to undo their shackles before retreating deeper into the dungeon.



In Braavos

Arya Stark continues to train blind with The Waif, but still performs poorly in her duels. After one particular defeat, Arya is surprised when Jaqen H'ghar, whom she has not encountered for a while, appears and attempts to tempt her with food, bedding, and the return of her vision. Arya refuses all of Jaqen's offers, and Jaqen tells Arya to follow him, telling her she no longer needs to live as a beggar on the streets.



Beyond the Wall

Bran Stark continues his training with the Three-eyed Raven. He witnesses a vision of a young Eddard Stark, Benjen, and Lyanna Stark training together in Winterfell, and also learns Hodor's real name, Wylis. However, the Three-eyed Raven pulls Bran out of the memory, warning him that he risks "drowning" in old memories. Outside the cave, Meera Reed stands watch aimlessly, though Leaf, the Child of the Forest assisting them, remarks that Bran will soon need Meera's help when he is able to better use his visions.



On the Iron Islands

Balon Greyjoy speaks to Yara about their war against the North. Yara points out that the armies of the North have retaken all of the Ironborn strongholds on the mainland, and pleads with him to end the war. However, Balon refuses and vows to send more troops to stage another invasion of the North. As Balon heads outside, he encounters his brother, Euron Greyjoy, who has come to overthrow him. Balon attempts to stab Euron, who throws him off a bridge to his death. At Balon's funeral, Yara swears revenge against Balon's killer, but is reminded by her uncle Aeron, a Drowned Priest, that her position as successor depends on the results of the Kingsmoot, a ceremony where the Ironborn elect their new leader.



At the Wall

Davos Seaworth and the Night's Watch loyalists, who are guarding Jon Snow's body within a chamber in the castle, prepare themselves for battle when Alliser Thorne and his allies begin to break down the door. As they are about to break through, the outer gates of the Castle are breached by the giant Wun Wun, followed by Tormund Giantsbane and an army of Wildlings, who have returned with Dolorous Edd. Outnumbered, the Night's Watchmen lay down their arms, and Alliser and the mutineers are dragged off to the cells under Edd's orders.

Inside, Davos pleads with Melisandre to attempt to resurrect Jon, reminding her of her previous miracles. Though Melisandre's faith has been shattered by Stannis Baratheon's defeat, she is reminded of her encounter with Thoros of Myr, and attempts a ritual, but seemingly to no avail. Defeated, Melisandre, Davos, Edd and Tormund leave the room. Within moments, Jon suddenly awakens on the table.

In the Narrow Sea

Samwell Tarly begins to feel seasick as he travels by boat to Oldtown with Gilly and her baby, Little Sam. Sam explains to Gilly that women are not welcomed at the Citadel and that he intends to leave her with his family at Horn Hill while he trains to be a maester. He tells Gilly that she and Little Sam are all that matter to him.



Beyond the Wall

Bran Stark and the Three-eyed Raven observe a vision of a young Eddard Stark, Lord Howland Reed and several other northern soldiers arriving at the Tower of Joy in Dorne's Red Mountains at the climax of Robert's Rebellion. Ser Arthur Dayne and Ser Gerold Hightower greet Eddard as he arrives. Bran remarks that Ser Arthur Dayne was the best swordsman his father ever saw.

Eddard says Prince Rhaegar Targaryen and the Mad King have been killed and asks why Ser Arthur was not present at the Battle of the Trident. Ser Arthur replies that he has been ordered to stay at the tower. After Eddard demands to know where his sister is, a battle ensues. Eddard is able to defeat Ser Gerold, but Ser Arthur - wielding dual swords - easily defeats most of Eddard's men by himself. As Eddard and Ser Arthur duel one-on-one, Bran is puzzled by this vision, as his father had repeatedly boasted of his defeat of Ser Arthur. It is quite apparent that his father is no match for the superior swordsman. Just as Ser Arthur is about to defeat and kill Eddard, a wounded Howland rises and plunges his dagger through the back of Ser Arthur's neck, before Eddard delivers the fatal blow, leaving Bran shocked.

When a woman's scream emerges from the tower, Ned and Howland begin to run inside. The Three-Eyed Raven begins to end the vision, explaining the rest is intended for another time, but Bran demands to stay and calls out to Ned. Ned turns for a second, seemingly having heard Bran's voice, but eventually continues inside, before the Three-Eyed Raven pulls Bran out of the vision. Back in the cave, Bran demands to know what was in the tower. The Three-Eyed Raven does not attend Bran's demands, saying he will eventually have to leave the cave but first must learn "everything."



In Vaes Dothrak

Daenerys Targaryen arrives with Khal Moro's khalasar at Vaes Dothrak, and is escorted to meet with the Dosh Khaleen by Moro's bloodriders. The elder of the Dosh Khaleen tries to sympathize with Daenerys, saying she was once married to a great khal with whom she thought she would rule the world but met the same fate. After giving Daenerys a change of clothes, she explains that the various khalasar have gathered at Vaes Dothrak to discuss which cities and towns to conquer. They have also met to discuss what to do with Daenerys, noting that she hopes for her safety should they decide to let her remain with the Dosh Khaleen.



In Meereen

Varys summons Vala, a woman allied with the Sons of the Harpy, to the throne room in the Great Pyramid. He accuses her of conspiring to kill the Unsullied and Second Sons, but she replies by calling them foreign invaders. Varys tries to explain his perspective and mentions her son, Dom. Vala explains that if she gives him information on the Sons of the Harpy they will likely kill her. Varys offers her safe passage to Pentos with a bag of silver for information.

Meanwhile, Tyrion Lannister awkwardly tries to entertain Grey Worm and Missandei while waiting for Varys. Varys arrives and explains that he has discovered that the slave masters of Yunkai, Astapor, and Volantis have been financing the Sons of the Harpy. Grey Worm notes that the Unsullied have taken Astapor and Yunkai once before, but Tyrion warns him that marching on the cities will leave Meereen defenseless. They come to the conclusion that the only way to defeat the Sons of the Harpy is to hunt them down. Tyrion asks Varys to send his "little birds" to deliver a message to the leaders of Astapor, Yunkai, and Volantis.



In King's Landing

Qyburn gives orders to the "little birds" that he has inherited from Varys as Cersei, Jaime Lannister, and the re-animated Ser Gregor Clegane arrive. Cersei orders Qyburn to put spies in the North, the Reach, and Dorne. Later, Cersei and Jaime interrupt a Small Council meeting at which Lord Kevan Lannister, Lady Olenna Tyrell, Lord Mace Tyrell, and Grand Maester Pycelle are present. Cersei and Jaime mention that Ellaria and the Sand Snakes have taken Dorne for their own, and demand to sit in on the Small Council; when they refuse to leave, Kevan instead orders the council to leave the room.

Tommen Baratheon marches into the Sept of the Faith Militant with his Kingsguard, demanding to let Cersei see Myrcella's tomb. The High Sparrow explains she will be able to once her sins have been atoned for and she has faced trial. After telling their respective soldiers to stand down, the High Sparrow explains the importance of the Mother in the Faith of the Seven, showing Tommen his resemblance to his mother.



In Braavos

Arya Stark trains using sticks with the Waif in the House of Black and White. In between sessions, the Waif questions Arya about who she used to be. Arya reveals all of her family members and reveals that she had taken the Hound off her kill list before she left him to die. The Waif questions who the other names were on the list, which Arya reveals as Cersei Lannister, Gregor Clegane, and Walder Frey.

After she is finally able to parry the Waif's hits, Jaqen H'ghar takes Arya into the main chamber and offers Arya her sight back if she says her name. When she replies, "a girl has no name," Jaqen offers her a drink from the poisonous well in the temple's entrance chamber. Arya drinks and closes her eyes, reopening them to reveal that her sight has been restored.



At Winterfell

Smalljon Umber meets with Ramsay Bolton and Harald Karstark. He explains to Ramsay that Jon Snow has been letting Wildlings through the Wall and fears that they will make their way south. When Ramsay asks why the Umbers have not already sworn fealty, Smalljon expresses his dislike for Roose Bolton and declares that was why Ramsay killed him, despite Ramsay's false insistence that Roose was poisoned. Ramsay offers assistance if Smalljon will swear to him as Warden of the North but he refuses, citing Roose's betrayal of his oath to Robb Stark. Instead, Smalljon demonstrates his loyalty by presenting Ramsay with "a gift", two hooded figures who are revealed to be Rickon Stark and Osha. When Ramsay asks him how he can be sure that the boy is Rickon Stark, Smalljon presents him with the severed head of Rickon's direwolf Shaggydog.



At the Wall

After awakening, Jon Snow is greeted by Davos Seaworth and Melisandre. When asked by Davos what he can remember, Jon says he remembers only his assassination but nothing from being dead. Melisandre tells Jon that her religion prophesies the return of a heroic prince and suggests that this prince may not be Stannis, as she first thought, but Jon. Jon enters the courtyard to meet with the wildlings. He meets with and embraces Tormund Giantsbane and Dolorous Edd, Tormund saying the Wildlings think he is a god.

Jon presides over the hanging of Ser Alliser Thorne, Olly, Othell Yarwyck, and Bowen Marsh. He takes last words from all those who are about to be executed except from Olly who remains silent. Ser Alliser is unrepentant, declaring only that he did what was right for the Night's Watch, and while he will now be able to rest, Jon will still be fighting the wildlings' battles forever. Jon cuts the rope and the mutineers' necks break. Jon then gives his cloak to Edd, telling him that Castle Black is now his and saying, "My watch is ended".

At the Wall

Jon Snow, having just resigned from the Night's Watch, is disillusioned by the betrayal of his fellow Night's Watchmen and tired of all of the endless fighting. Jon states his intent to head south, but Edd is unhappy with Jon's decision after seeing what had happened at Hardhome. They are interrupted by the lookout's horn as Sansa Stark, Brienne of Tarth, and Podrick Payne arrive at Castle Black and Sansa is reunited with Jon. After telling each other their stories, Sansa tries to convince Jon to help her retake Winterfell. However, Jon is still reluctant to fight. Frustrated, Sansa declares to Jon that she will take back Winterfell whether he helps her or not.

Meanwhile, Brienne confronts Davos Seaworth and Melisandre, and informs them that she killed Stannis after he admitted to using dark magic to assassinate Renly. She warns Davos and Melisandre that even though that was in the past, she does not forget or forgive.

Some time later, a letter from Ramsay to Jon arrives. Ramsay boasts that he has Rickon in his custody. He demands Sansa's return, threatening to have the Bolton army exterminate the wildlings, kill Rickon and gang-rape Sansa while forcing Jon to watch before they kill him. Angered, Sansa decides to fight to take back Winterfell from the Boltons, and Jon agrees. When Tormund warns him that the wildlings don't have the numbers to battle Ramsay's army, Sansa points out that Jon can use his status as the son of the "last true Warden of the North" to unite the various Northern houses and take Ramsay down.



At Runestone

Littlefinger arrives at Runestone in the Vale, with a pet falcon for his stepson, Lord of the Eyrie, Robin Arryn. When Lord of Runestone Yohn Royce asks how Sansa became married to Ramsay Bolton instead of at the Fingers, Littlefinger claims Bolton's men attacked them and kidnapped her on the way. When Royce is dubious, Littlefinger adds that he was the only person who knew of their destination, implying his guilt. He manipulates Arryn into considering executing Royce, then into giving him a second chance after he pledges his absolute loyalty. Littlefinger then tells Arryn that Sansa, his cousin, has escaped the Boltons and is taking refuge at Castle Black, but that she is still not safe. Arryn agrees to command Royce to lead the knights of the Vale to protect her.



In Meereen

Despite Grey Worm and Missandei's objections, Tyrion Lannister arranges a diplomatic meeting with the masters of Astapor, Yunkai and Volantis. He proposes a deal allowing the cities seven years to transition away from slavery, while compensating the masters for any losses. In return, the masters will cease their support of the Sons of the Harpy. As the masters deliberate, Tyrion is confronted by the former slaves of Meereen, who oppose any kind of negotiation with the masters. Grey Worm and Missandei reluctantly support Tyrion, but in private they warn him that the masters, with whom they are both familiar, will use him if he tries to use them.



In King's Landing

Margaery Tyrell is brought to meet the High Sparrow, who warns her to stay away from her life of riches and sin, and recounts his past of how, as a proud cobbler, he learned his wealth-guided pursuits were lies and that the shoeless poor were closer to the truth than anyone. He then takes Margaery to see Loras, who is breaking under the Sparrows' torture, and is willing to do anything to make it stop. Margaery realises that the High Sparrow is trying to use Loras to break her, and tells him to remain strong.

Cersei Lannister meets with Tommen Baratheon, who brings up the High Sparrow. Tommen is reluctant to provoke him, but Cersei says he is dangerous because he has no respect for the Crown. Tommen tells Cersei that Margaery's walk of atonement will happen soon. Cersei relays the information to Kevan Lannister and Olenna Tyrell in the Small Council chamber. Tyrell is horrified and pledges her army to defeat the Sparrows. Kevan has been ordered not to attack by Tommen, but agrees to stand down his army after Cersei says that by destroying the Sparrows he can have back his son Lancel, who is part of the order, and that Tommen will forgive him when he has Margaery back.



At Pyke

Theon Greyjoy returns to the Iron Islands and reunites with his sister, Yara. Yara has not forgiven Theon for not coming with her after her costly assault on the Dreadfort, and accuses Theon of returning to the Iron Islands to take advantage of their father Balon's death to seize the throne. Theon insists he only heard the news after landing and promises that he will instead support Yara's claim at the Kingsmoot.



In Winterfell

Osha is brought before Ramsay Bolton, who asks her why she was helping Rickon. Osha claims that she intended to betray Rickon and attempts to seduce Ramsay while reaching for a nearby knife. However, Ramsay tells her that he is aware Osha used a similar ruse to escape Theon. Realizing this, she tries to stab him, but he quickly stabs her in the neck with another knife, killing her.



In Vaes Dothrak

Jorah Mormont and Daario Naharis arrive at Vaes Dothrak and hide their weapons, as they are forbidden in the city. In the process, Jorah accidentally reveals his greyscale infection to Daario. They infiltrate the city and are forced to kill two of Khal Moro's bloodriders when discovered.

At the Temple of the Dosh Khaleen, Daenerys Targaryen befriends one of the younger Dosh Khaleen, and when they go outside, they encounter Jorah and Daario. The two men want to try to sneak Daenerys out of Vaes Dothrak, but Daenerys knows that is impossible due to the estimated 100,000 Dothraki present in the city. Instead, she tells them she has a different plan.

Later that night, Daenerys stands before the gathered khals in the temple to hear her fate. There, she recalls her pregnancy ritual in this temple and her husband's vow to conquer Westeros. She accuses the khals of being unsuited to leading the Dothraki due to their lack of ambition, and says she will lead them. When Khal Moro and the other khals threaten to gang-rape her instead of serving her, she tells them they will die instead. She tips two braziers onto the straw floor, quickly setting the entire temple on fire by seemingly commanding the flames to move at what appears to be supernatural efficiency[a] and killing the khals, who have been barred inside by the younger Dosh Khaleen. A Dothraki crowd of thousands witnesses Daenerys emerge from the burning temple, naked but unburned. Amazed, they, along with Jorah and Daario, bow down to her.

At the Wall

Sansa Stark confronts Petyr Baelish about his decision to marry her to Ramsay Bolton. He explains that he was ignorant of Ramsay's cruelty and begs for forgiveness. In exchange, he offers her the support of the Vale in her attempt to retake Winterfell from the Boltons, but Sansa declines. As he leaves, Littlefinger reveals that her great-uncle, the Blackfish, has retaken Riverrun with the Tully army; Sansa orders Brienne of Tarth to go and recruit the Blackfish for their cause.



In Vaes Dothrak

Jorah Mormont reveals his greyscale to Daenerys Targaryen. He admits his love for her, and Daenerys orders him to find a cure and return to her so he can be by her side when she conquers Westeros.



On the Iron Islands

At the Kingsmoot, Yara makes her claim to the Salt Throne, with Theon Greyjoy supporting her claim. Their uncle Euron Greyjoy arrives to stake his own claim, and when Yara accuses him of killing their father, Euron freely admits to it. He promises to conquer Westeros by marrying Daenerys, and offering her the Iron Fleet. He is subsequently chosen as King. Theon and Yara flee with the best ships of the Iron Fleet; Euron orders the Ironborn to begin construction of a new fleet.



In Braavos

Jaqen H'ghar offers Arya Stark the assignment of killing an actress named Lady Crane, who is playing Cersei Lannister in a play recounting the deaths of Robert Baratheon and Ned Stark. Arya is noticeably distressed by the play's portrayal of Ned.



In Meereen

Tyrion and Varys note that peace has fallen over Meereen since they forged their pact with the Masters. In order to preserve this, Tyrion summons the red priestess Kinvara, who agrees to preach to the people that Daenerys is the chosen one of the Lord of Light. She also claims to know what originally happened to Varys and why.



Beyond the Wall

Bran Stark and the Three-eyed Raven observe a vision of the Children of the Forest creating the Night King by impaling a man with a dragonglass dagger. Bran subsequently confronts Leaf, one of the Children, about creating the White Walkers. She explains that they were at war with the First Men, and had no choice. Bran decides to observe a vision without the Three-Eyed Raven. He witnesses a massive army of wights led by the Night King, who touches him whilst in the vision. Bran awakens to find a mark where he was touched, and the Three-Eyed Raven warns that he must leave, as the Night King is now able to find them.

The Three-Eyed Raven begins transferring knowledge to Bran as the army of wights arrives. While in a vision of Winterfell, Bran hears the cries of Meera Reed who is trying to save Bran's body while the Children hold back the wights. The Three-Eyed Raven advises Bran to listen to her, and Bran splits his consciousness by both remaining in the vision of the past and simultaneously warging into Hodor in the present. The Night King enters the cave and kills the Three-Eyed Raven. As Bran, Meera and Hodor make their escape, Leaf, and Bran's direwolf, Summer, sacrifice themselves to hold back the wights. Hodor closes the hideout's door behind them, keeping the wights inside while Meera escapes with Bran. Meera repeatedly orders Hodor to "hold the door" shut while they flee, which results in the Wights tearing him apart. In the vision, Bran becomes overwhelmed by the split consciousness and unintentionally wargs into a younger version of Hodor in the vision, then known as Wylis, forging a connection between the past and present. With Bran's consciousness inside his head, Wylis suffers a seizure while hearing the echoes of Meera's orders and he begins to yell the words "hold the door" over and over, until they slur together and "Hodor" is all that's left that he can say.

Beyond the Wall

Bran and Meera Reed are fleeing the wights, who continue to follow them from the cave. Bran, still in his visions, witnesses several events: Jaime Lannister killing King Aerys Targaryen, a dragon flying over the Red Keep, his fall from Winterfell which left him paralyzed, the Night King transforming Craster's last son into a White Walker, the Massacre at Hardhome, Ned Stark's beheading, the murder of his mother Catelyn and brother Robb in the Red Wedding, and wildfire exploding beneath King's Landing. As the wights close in, a black-clad rider appears and destroys some while pulling Meera and Bran onto his horse, allowing them to escape.

Bran awakens to find the rider is his uncle, Benjen Stark, who had gone missing beyond the Wall. Benjen explains that he was stabbed by a White Walker during a ranging and was left to die and become another wight. He was saved by the Children of the Forest by being impaled with dragonglass. He tells Bran that he needs to become the Three-Eyed Raven and control his warging before the Night King comes south.



At Horn Hill

Sam, Gilly and Little Sam arrive at Horn Hill, the seat of House Tarly. Sam warns Gilly not to mention that she is a Wildling, due to his father Randyll's hatred of Wildlings. They are warmly greeted by Sam's mother Melessa and sister Talla.

At dinner, Randyll insults Sam's bookishness, weight, and lack of fighting prowess. Gilly defends Sam, mentioning that Sam killed a Thenn and a White Walker. When Sam's brother Dickon insists that White Walkers don't exist, Gilly declares that she saw the act herself, but in doing so reveals her Wildling heritage. Disgusted, Randyll further insults Sam and Gilly, prompting Melessa and Talla to leave the room with Gilly in anger. Randyll tells Sam that Gilly and Little Sam can remain at Horn Hill, but that he must never set foot in Horn Hill again. Sam bids farewell to Gilly, but then changes his mind and decides to bring her and Little Sam with him to the Citadel. As they leave, Sam takes House Tarly's ancestral Valyrian steel sword, Heartsbane, as well.



In Braavos

Arya once again returns to watch the play featuring Lady Crane. She sneaks backstage during the last act and poisons Lady Crane's rum. As she attempts to leave, Lady Crane stops her, and they discuss acting and Lady Crane's early life. Back in the dressing room, Arya stops Lady Crane from drinking her rum, and warns her that her rival Bianca wants her dead. The scene is witnessed by the Waif, who returns to tell Jaqen H'ghar of Arya's failure. Jaqen gives the Waif permission to kill Arya, on the condition that Arya doesn't suffer. Meanwhile, Arya retrieves her sword, Needle, from the rocks where she had hidden it and takes it to a hiding place.



In King's Landing

The High Sparrow, along with King Tommen, prepares for the walk of atonement of Queen Margaery. The High Sparrow allows Tommen to visit his wife, where he discovers that Margaery has become a devout follower of the Faith of the Seven and repented for her sins.

Jaime and Mace Tyrell lead a company of Tyrell soldiers through the streets of King's Landing to the Great Sept of Baelor, where the High Sparrow is presenting Margaery to the people of King's Landing. Jaime orders the High Sparrow to release Margaery and her brother Loras, threatening force against the Faith Militant. The High Sparrow declares that Margaery will not have to perform a walk of atonement, and instead presents King Tommen, who has agreed to unite the Faith and the Crown. When Mace Tyrell asks his mother, Lady Olenna what this means, she bitterly replies it means the High Sparrow has won.

In the throne room, King Tommen relieves Jaime of his duties on the Kingsguard as punishment for taking up arms against the Faith, to Jaime's dismay. While speaking with Cersei, Jaime reveals that he has been given orders to oust the Blackfish from Riverrun, but that he would rather massacre the Faith Militant to release Tommen from the High Sparrow's influence. Cersei warns him that, if he does so, he will be killed, thus defeating the purpose of liberating Tommen. She counsels him to instead lead the Lannister army on Riverrun, as a show of force to their enemies. About her upcoming trial, Cersei expresses no concern, saying it will be a trial by combat and with "the Mountain" as her champion, she has no fear of a guilty verdict. Cersei and Jaime then passionately kiss and presumably begin making love.



At the Twins

Lord Walder Frey receives word that Riverrun has been retaken by Brynden Tully, commonly known as the Blackfish, Catelyn Stark's uncle and a staunchly loyal officer in Robb Stark's army. Walder chastises his sons Lothar Frey and Black Walder Rivers, who had been ordered to hold the castle. They defend their loss, as several Riverlords, including House Mallister and House Blackwood, have risen in rebellion against the Freys, and the Brotherhood Without Banners are raiding their supply lines and camps. Walder demands that the Tully stronghold be taken back, refusing to be humiliated by not being able to hold a single castle. He orders his men to bring in Edmure Tully, held as a prisoner of the Freys since the Red Wedding, and declares that they will use him to retake Riverrun.



In the Dothraki Sea

Daenerys discusses with Daario how many ships she will need to cross the Narrow Sea with the Dothraki, the Unsullied and the Second Sons; Daario estimates that at least 1,000 ships will be needed for all of Daenerys's army. Seeing a suspicious gust of wind, Daenerys rides out alone. As Daario prepares to follow her, Drogon flies over the khalasar, with Daenerys riding on his back. Daenerys proceeds to rally the Dothraki by stating that she chooses them all to be her bloodriders, rather than the traditional three chosen by Khals. She then asks if they will cross the sea with her and help her retake the Seven Kingdoms, which they unanimously agree to do.

In the North

Jon Snow, Sansa Stark, and Davos Seaworth begin searching for allies to retake Winterfell from the Boltons. First, they secure the allegiance of the Wildlings, who are still indebted to Jon for saving them at Hardhome, and are aware the Boltons will wipe them out if they do nothing. They also manage to secure the allegiance of House Mormont when Davos warns the young Lady Lyanna Mormont of the dangers the White Walkers pose. However, they are unable to secure the allegiance of House Glover, with Lord Robett Glover pointing out how Robb Stark failed to protect his home from the Ironborn.

In the end, Jon and Sansa are only able to recruit a small number of minor houses, only adding a few hundred extra soldiers to their army. Despite being heavily outnumbered, Jon is adamant that they attack Winterfell as soon as possible before the Boltons rally more forces and before the weather turns on them. Sansa disagrees, insisting that they try and recruit more houses. When Jon refuses to change his mind, Sansa begins writing a letter to be sent by raven.



In King's Landing

The High Sparrow chides Queen Margaery Tyrell that she needs to provide King Tommen Baratheon with an heir, and that she should try to convert her grandmother Olenna to the Faith, subtly remarking that Olenna's safety cannot be guaranteed otherwise. Margaery meets with Olenna, who attempts to convince her to leave King's Landing and return to Highgarden. Margaery refuses, stating that as Queen, her place is supposed to be at King Tommen's side. Margaery discreetly slips her a piece of paper with the sigil of House Tyrell drawn on it, indicating that she is still loyal to her family, upon which Olenna agrees to leave. Cersei Lannister then confronts Olenna, and tries to convince her to stay and fight the Sparrows. Olenna points out that they have already lost and blames the Sparrows' rise to power on Cersei's lack of foresight. Despite having no allies in King's Landing, Cersei decides to stay and fight.



In Volantis

Theon and Yara Greyjoy take the Iron Fleet to Volantis to take on supplies. Yara, who is enjoying a female Volantene prostitute, tries to encourage Theon to regain his former identity and confidence, as she will need his assistance in retaking the Iron Islands. Yara then reveals to Theon that she plans to take the Iron Fleet to Meereen and forge an alliance with Daenerys Targaryen before Euron Greyjoy reaches her.



In Braavos

Arya Stark successfully secures passage back to Westeros by bribing a Westerosi trader. However, she is subsequently attacked on a nearby bridge and repeatedly stabbed in the abdomen by the Waif, in the guise of an elderly woman. Arya pushes the Waif away, and barely escapes by jumping off the bridge and swimming away underwater. After surfacing, she is then left stumbling through the streets, critically wounded.



In the Riverlands

Jaime Lannister and Bronn lead the Lannister army to Riverrun, where Lothar Frey and Walder Rivers attempt to coerce the Blackfish into surrendering the castle by threatening to execute Edmure Tully. The Blackfish calls their bluff and refuses to surrender. Disgusted with the Freys' incompetence, Jaime takes charge of the siege, orders Edmure to be bathed and fed, and attempts to parley with the Blackfish, warning him that the Lannisters will show no mercy to the Tullys if they do not surrender the castle. The Blackfish is not intimidated by Jaime's threats and dares him to try and seize the castle, declaring that the Tullys have enough provisions stockpiled to outlast a Lannister siege.

Sandor Clegane, otherwise known as the Hound, is revealed to have survived his wounds, and is now living among a small band of villagers. Their leader, a warrior turned septon named Ray, talks with Sandor, and recounts how he found Sandor on the verge of death and nursed him back to health. However, Sandor still feels guilt over his past sins, feeling he has not been punished for them. At a gathering, a trio of men from the Brotherhood Without Banners arrives and attempts to extort the villagers, but upon finding out that they have no worthwhile possessions, they leave. Sandor warns Ray that the Brotherhood will return, but Ray refuses to prepare for a confrontation with them. After Sandor goes out to the forest to gather some wood, he returns to find the villagers slaughtered and Ray hanged. Enraged, Sandor picks up an axe and marches off.

In the Riverlands

Sandor Clegane tracks down some of the Brotherhood Without Banners men and brutally kills them, searching for their leader. He then comes across Beric Dondarrion and Thoros of Myr, who are preparing to hang the men responsible for the attack on the village. Sandor bargains with Beric, who allows him to personally hang two of the men. Beric and Thoros try to recruit Sandor into the Brotherhood, explaining that they intend to head north to fight the White Walkers and need his strength.

Brienne of Tarth and Podrick Payne arrive at Riverrun, where they reunite with Jaime Lannister and Bronn. Brienne explains that she has come to recruit the Blackfish and the Tully army for Sansa, but Jaime points out that he is currently besieged in Riverrun and refuses to surrender the castle. Brienne proposes that if she can convince the Blackfish to surrender the castle, then Jaime will allow him and the Tully army safe passage to the North. Jaime agrees to the plan, but gives Brienne until nightfall. She then returns Oathkeeper to Jaime, stating that she has completed her mission. Jaime, however, tells Brienne that she can keep it, as Oathkeeper is hers and hers alone. Brienne then attempts to negotiate with the Blackfish, but he refuses to abandon Riverrun, despite being sympathetic to Sansa's plight.

Meanwhile, Jaime talks with Edmure Tully, trying to win his cooperation by tempting him with seeing his newborn son, whom he has never seen, and offering to send him and his family to Casterly Rock, away from the Freys. Edmure ridicules Jaime and all of his past misdeeds, and asks him how he can live with himself. Jaime responds how he wants to take Riverrun to be back with Cersei, and he is willing to do anything to achieve it, even if it means killing every Tully he finds, including Edmure and his son. Jaime then sends Edmure to parley with the Blackfish. Despite the Blackfish's protests, the Tully soldiers allow Edmure entry into the castle. Edmure then orders his men to surrender Riverrun, and also orders the Blackfish's capture. The Blackfish helps Brienne and Podrick escape, but remains to fight to the end.

Jaime is informed about the death of the Blackfish, and sees Brienne and Pod escaping on the river. Both Jaime and Brienne mournfully wave each other farewell.



In Meereen

With the Red Priests on their side and spreading pro-Daenerys propaganda, Tyrion Lannister and Varys see Meereen returning to life. After warning Tyrion not to trust the Red Priests, Varys leaves for Westeros on a secret mission to find more allies and ships. Tyrion then has a drink with Grey Worm and Missandei. He then tries to introduce them to humor by trading jokes. As they start having a good time, they are interrupted when a fleet which was sent by the masters arrives to attack the city, with Missandei explaining that they have come to recover their "property". As the masters' fleet bombards Meereen into the night, Tyrion and Grey Worm discuss their strategy when Daenerys Targaryen returns to the city, arriving at the top of the Great Pyramid with Drogon.



In King's Landing

The Faith Militant, led by Lancel Lannister with King Tommen Baratheon's blessing, arrive to take Cersei Lannister to see the High Sparrow . Cersei refuses to go with them and when one of the Faith Militant attacks, he is brutally killed by Gregor Clegane. Seeing the rest of the Faith Militant soldiers intimidated, Cersei remarks that the High Sparrow is free to come to the Red Keep to see her. She then attends a royal announcement by Tommen in the throne room, but is denied standing by his side by Kevan Lannister, her uncle and Hand of the King. Tommen then announces the date that Cersei and Loras' trials will be held, and that, in consultation with the High Sparrow, he has decided to end the practice of trial by combat as a means of resolving conflicts. The prospect of a trial by seven septons clearly worries Cersei. Qyburn then reports to Cersei about the "rumor" that she ordered him to investigate, and he remarks that it is "more, much more".



In Braavos

Lady Crane returns to her chambers to find a wounded Arya Stark hiding inside, and helps stitch her wounds. She tells Arya that thanks to her warning, she mutilated her would-be killer Bianca's face before kicking her out of the acting company. She then offers to have Arya join them, but she refuses, saying that she intends to travel west of Westeros to see the edge of the world. As Arya recovers, The Waif arrives and kills Lady Crane, intending to kill Arya as well. Arya flees through the streets of Braavos, but during the chase, Arya's wounds reopen and she limps back to her hideout with the Waif in close pursuit. As the Waif closes in, Arya uses Needle to cut a candle, plunging the room into total darkness, where, having been trained while blinded for several weeks, Arya gains the upper hand.

At the House of Black and White, Jaqen H'ghar finds a bloodtrail and follows it to the Hall of Faces, where he finds the Waif's face. Arya then holds Jaqen at sword point. Jaqen congratulates Arya by telling her that she is finally No One. However, she rejects the title, asserting her identity as Arya Stark before turning and leaving, announcing that she is "going home." Jaqen proudly watches on as she leaves.

In Meereen

Daenerys Targaryen and Tyrion Lannister discuss dealing with the slaver fleet. Daenerys, Tyrion, Missandei and Grey Worm meet with the Masters, who offer to let Daenerys return to Westeros in return for keeping Missandei and the Unsullied and killing the dragons. She counters that the meeting was called to discuss the Masters' surrender and rides Drogon into the bay with Rhaegal and Viserion and burns the fleet. Missandei tells the Masters that Daenerys has ordered one of them to die as punishment for their crimes. Although they offer the lowborn Yezzan, Grey Worm kills the other two masters instead and Tyrion tells Yezzan to warn the other masters of Daenerys's power. Daario Naharis leads the Dothraki to slaughter the Sons of the Harpy, who are massacring freedmen outside the city.

Daenerys and Tyrion meet with Theon and Yara Greyjoy, who offer Daenerys their fleet of ships in exchange for help in overthrowing Euron and recognizing Yara's claim to the Iron Islands. Daenerys agrees to assist them if the Ironborn will stop reaving the mainland; Yara reluctantly agrees.



At Winterfell

Jon Snow, Sansa Stark, Tormund Giantsbane and Davos Seaworth meet with Ramsay Bolton and his advisers before the battle. Ramsay offers to pardon Jon for breaking his Night's Watch vows if he hands Sansa over. Jon offers to settle their dispute with single combat; Ramsay refuses, saying that he may be unable to defeat Jon but the Bolton army can beat the Stark loyalists. When Smalljon Umber proves that Rickon Stark is captured by presenting Shaggydog's head, Sansa tells Ramsay that he will die the next day and rides off. Ramsay gloats that he has been starving his hounds in anticipation of feeding them Jon and his advisers.

After Jon discusses the battle plan with Tormund and Davos, Sansa criticizes him for attacking without gathering more men and predicts that Ramsay will defeat them. Jon insists that the army is the largest one possible. When Jon asks Melisandre not to resurrect him if he dies in battle, she says that it is up to the Lord of Light. Davos and Tormund discuss their time serving Stannis and Mance and acknowledge that they may have served the wrong king all along. Davos discovers the pyre where Shireen and the wooden stag he carved for her were burned.

The armies gather outside Winterfell the next morning. Ramsay brings Rickon out and has him run to Jon while firing arrows at him. Jon rushes to intercept Rickon but just before escaping, Rickon is killed by an arrow. Jon charges at Ramsay, who orders the Bolton archers to fire and his cavalry to charge; Davos orders the Stark force to shield Jon. The battle leaves hundreds of Bolton and Stark soldiers dead from hand-to-hand combat and from Bolton arrows, creating a wall of corpses. The Bolton infantry forms a circle around the Stark forces. Although the giant Wun Wun kills some Bolton soldiers, Tormund panics and sends the Wildlings towards the wall of bodies and Smalljon's forces, who easily cut them down. Jon is trampled by the Wildlings but struggles to his feet. The Stark forces appear doomed when a horn sounds in the distance as Petyr Baelish and Sansa arrive with the Knights of the Vale, whose cavalry sideswipe and easily smash the remainder of the Bolton army; Tormund kills Smalljon in the chaos.

Ramsay retreats to Winterfell, followed by Jon, Wun Wun and Tormund. Wun Wun breaks down Winterfell's gates and the Stark loyalists overwhelm the remnants of the Bolton garrison. A mortally wounded Wun Wun is finished off by Ramsay, who tells Jon that he has reconsidered the offer of single combat. Jon blocks Ramsay's arrows with a shield, overpowers and begins to beat Ramsay to death, stopping when he sees Sansa and ordering him imprisoned, leaving Winterfell once more in the hands of House Stark. Bolton banners are torn down off the walls and battlements of Winterfell to be replaced by the Stark direwolf. Sansa visits Ramsay after he is placed in the kennels with his hounds and despite Ramsay's insistence that his hounds will not turn on him, Sansa calmly reminds him that they have been purposefully starved and, correctly predicting they would turn on him, they devour him face-first as Sansa walks away, smiling.

In King's Landing

On the day of Cersei Lannister's and Loras Tyrell's trials, the High Sparrow and the Faith gather in the Great Sept. Loras confesses to his crimes and atones by giving up his name and title, and joins the Faith Militant. In the Red Keep, Cersei remains in her chambers, while Qyburn summons Grand Maester Pycelle to his laboratory, where his child spies stab Pycelle to death.

After Cersei fails to appear, Lancel Lannister is sent to retrieve her. Lancel follows one of Cersei's spies beneath the Sept, and finds a wildfire cache about to explode. He is stabbed in the spine before he can disarm the cache. Inside the Sept, Margaery Tyrell, realizing that Cersei has set a trap, warns the crowd to leave, but the High Sparrow prevents anyone from leaving. The wildfire ignites and destroys the Great Sept, killing everyone inside. King Tommen Baratheon witnesses the explosion from the Red Keep and commits suicide by jumping out of a window.

As Jaime Lannister and Bronn return from the Riverlands, they view the burning ruins of the Great Sept. Jaime subsequently arrives at the Red Keep to witness Cersei being crowned Queen of the Seven Kingdoms.



At Oldtown

As Samwell Tarly and Gilly arrive at Oldtown, they witness the Citadel releasing countless white ravens to announce the arrival of winter. They report to the Citadel, and Sam is scheduled to meet the Archmaester. In the meantime, Sam is granted access to the library.



At Winterfell

Davos Seaworth confronts Melisandre about Shireen's death. Melisandre admits to burning Shireen alive, but points out that she did it for the Lord of Light. Davos rebuts by saying that Stannis was defeated anyway and that Melisandre's actions were all for naught, forcing her to admit that she was wrong. Davos requests permission from Jon Snow to execute Melisandre, but she counters that she will be useful in the coming war against the White Walkers. Jon exiles Melisandre from the North and threatens to execute her if she ever returns. Later, Jon and Sansa Stark discuss who will lead the united Stark forces, with each deferring to the other.

Petyr Baelish, Lord Protector of The Vale, privately meets with Sansa in the godswood. He reveals that his ultimate goal is to sit on the Iron Throne with Sansa at his side. Sansa rejects his offer and leaves.

Later, Jon gathers the various Northern lords, the Knights of the Vale, and the Free Folk to plan for the fight against the White Walkers. Lady Lyanna Mormont, leader of Bear Island, shames the handful of Northern lords that did not come to Jon's aid. All present declare a reluctant Jon the new King in the North.



In Dorne

A grieving Olenna Tyrell meets with Ellaria Sand and the Sand Snakes concerning the possibility of an alliance against Cersei. To Olenna's surprise, Ellaria presents Varys, who offers Olenna vengeance by allying with Daenerys Targaryen.



At the Twins

Walder Frey celebrates the recapture of Riverrun with the Lannisters. Later, Walder eats dinner alone, wondering why his sons have yet to arrive. His servant reveals that she baked them into the meat pie he has been eating, and then removes her face to reveal that she is actually Arya Stark who then slits Walder's throat.



Beyond the Wall

Bran Stark, Meera Reed, and Benjen Stark arrive near the Wall. Benjen takes his leave, stating that the Wall's magical protection prevents the dead from being able to pass. Meera assists Bran to a weirwood tree and he re-enters the vision of Ned Stark at the Tower of Joy. Ned finds his sister Lyanna Stark covered in blood from childbirth. With her dying breath, Lyanna pleads with Ned to take care of her son, who is revealed to be Jon Snow.



In Meereen

Daenerys Targaryen informs Daario Naharis that he will not accompany her to Westeros. Daenerys proclaims Tyrion Lannister the Hand of the Queen, and the two of them, along with their extensive forces from Essos and their new alliances of the Ironborn, Dorne, and Highgarden, depart for Westeros in a massive armada, with her dragons flying above.

In the Riverlands

Disguised as Walder Frey, Arya Stark kills all the House Frey men with poisoned wine, denouncing them for their actions and leaving Walder's wife Kitty alive to bear witness that "the North remembers." While traveling south, Arya makes camp with friendly Lannister soldiers. Her claimed intention to kill the Queen is taken as a joke.

The Brotherhood Without Banners and Sandor Clegane take shelter in the farm Sandor once robbed; the farmer and his daughter are long dead inside. Beric Dondarrion admits he does not know why he was repeatedly resurrected. Thoros of Myr shows Sandor a flame vision of White Walkers at a point where the Wall meets the sea. At night, a deeply troubled Sandor privately buries the bodies. Discovering him, Thoros helps.



Beyond the Wall

The White Walkers and wights march south. Bran Stark and Meera Reed arrive at the Wall. Eddison Tollett, persuaded by Bran's knowledge of the White Walkers and of Edd's experiences with them, lets them in.



At Winterfell

Despite Sansa Stark's objections, Jon Snow forgives children Alys Karstark and Ned Umber for their fathers' betrayals; the two heirs swear loyalty. Jon orders Tormund Giantsbane and the wildlings to fortify the Wall at Eastwatch-by-the-Sea, and all Northerners, including women and girls, to train for battle. In private, Jon is frustrated that Sansa undermined his authority; Sansa doesn't want Jon to repeat the mistakes for which their father Ned and brother Robb died. A message from Cersei Lannister orders Jon to bend the knee; Jon believes the Lannister army poses no threat to the North in winter, but Sansa knows Cersei is dangerous.

Littlefinger attempts to ingratiate himself with Sansa, who remains aloof. She tells Brienne of Tarth that she can't dismiss him because they still need the Vale's military support.



In King's Landing

Rumors of Daenerys Targaryen's imminent return to Westeros have reached Cersei, who begins to realize she and Jaime Lannister are surrounded by enemies with very few allies. Euron Greyjoy arrives in King's Landing with the Iron Fleet, offering Cersei an alliance and marriage. Cersei rejects Euron because he is untrustworthy. Euron leaves, promising to win her over with a priceless gift.



In Oldtown

Samwell Tarly finds his maester training includes less research than he expected and instead an excessive amount of menial labor. Archmaester Ebrose denies Sam's request for access to the library's restricted area; Ebrose believes Sam's warnings of White Walkers, but trusts the Wall. Subsequently, Sam steals a key to the restricted area and snatches a few books from it late at night. He learns of a dragonglass deposit under Dragonstone, and informs Jon via raven.

Jorah Mormont, his greyscale progressing, is a patient in isolation. When Sam collects his food dish, Jorah asks if Daenerys has arrived in Westeros. Sam doesn't know.



On Dragonstone

Daenerys Targaryen and her fleet arrive at Dragonstone. She and her advisors enter the castle. Alone with Tyrion Lannister in the war council room, she asks him, "Shall we begin?".

On Dragonstone

Daenerys Targaryen confronts Varys over his previously shifting allegiances. Varys declares his loyalty is to the people; Daenerys secures his oath to tell her directly if she fails the people, and promises his death if he betrays her. Daenerys grants an audience to Melisandre, who urges her to meet Jon Snow as they both "have roles to play." Tyrion Lannister vouches for Snow and recommends the Starks as allies. Daenerys instructs Tyrion to summon Jon to bend the knee. Yara Greyjoy and Ellaria Sand support an overwhelming offensive on King's Landing, but Daenerys doesn't wish to destroy the territory she plans to rule; she adopts Tyrion's plan: her Westerosi armies will besiege King's Landing, while the Unsullied will take Casterly Rock. Olenna Tyrell advises Daenerys to ignore advice from "clever men."

Before departing to lead his army, Grey Worm reveals to Missandei that she is his weakness, because he never feared before loving her. Missandei is moved by his words and they have sex.



In Oldtown

Archmaester Ebrose tells Samwell Tarly that Jorah Mormont's greyscale is untreatably advanced; Jorah has about six months of sanity left, and suicide is his only alternative to exile among the Stone Men of Valyria. Samwell discovers a treatment; Ebrose tells him it is forbidden because it risks transmission, but Samwell performs the agonizing procedure in secret.



At Winterfell

Jon Snow receives Daenerys' message, which Tyrion has worded diplomatically as an invitation. Sansa Stark and Davos Seaworth advocate refusal, but the latter notes the efficacy of dragonfire against the undead. After receiving Samwell's information about dragonglass on Dragonstone, Jon decides to go, despite uniform opposition from his loyalists; he will not dishonor his equal Daenerys by sending an emissary. Jon names Sansa as regent, surprising her, and threatens Littlefinger to stop pursuing Sansa.



In the Riverlands

Hot Pie tells Arya Stark that Jon Snow has retaken Winterfell; she turns north. Beset by a wolfpack, she recognizes the alpha as her direwolf Nymeria, having driven her off years earlier, and invites her north; Nymeria instead leaves her in peace.



In King's Landing

Cersei Lannister appeals to lords, including House Tyrell's bannermen, for support against Daenerys, portraying her as a dangerous foreign invader. Jaime Lannister offers Randyll Tarly Lordship of the South if he becomes Jaime's second-in-command. Qyburn demonstrates a scorpion, a projectile weapon, for Cersei; its bolt pierces the skull of Balerion, Aegon the Conqueror's largest dragon.



In the Narrow Sea

Euron Greyjoy's Iron Fleet attacks Yara's navy. Euron kills Obara and Nymeria Sand; his men abduct Ellaria and Tyene Sand, while he takes Yara prisoner. Theon Greyjoy, triggered by the violence, jumps overboard, abandoning Yara and surviving the battle.

On Dragonstone

Jon Snow and Davos Seaworth arrive at Dragonstone with their soldiers. Tyrion Lannister and Missandei meet them and take their weapons and boat. Daenerys Targaryen offers to make Jon Warden of the North if he bends the knee, but he refuses. They agree Daenerys is not responsible for her father's crimes, but Daenerys denies Jon's assertion he should not be held by his ancestor's oath to hers. Jon explains the threat of White Walkers and wights, but Daenerys wants to claim the Iron Throne before considering other threats. Jon barely stops Davos from revealing Jon's resurrection while endorsing him. Daenerys cuts the meeting short to receive news from Varys that Euron has defeated Yara. Jon is forced to remain at Dragonstone, a prisoner in all but name. Tyrion discourages Daenerys's desire to burn Euron's ships with her dragons, which would require her to accompany them.

Varys asks Melisandre why she hides from Jon; she admits they parted on bad terms due to her mistakes. She plans to return to Volantis, and Varys urges her to stay overseas forever, but she predicts that both of them will die in Westeros.

Speaking with Jon in private, Tyrion concedes that Jon's willingness to meet with Daenerys has convinced him that the White Walkers are real. Tyrion explains that Daenerys' followers are loyal because Daenerys dedicates herself to protecting others from threats she understands, and asks if Jon has any request for assistance that Daenerys would find reasonable. Tyrion relays Jon's request to mine obsidian on Dragonstone; Daenerys accepts Tyrion's recommendation to agree as a gesture of goodwill, although she also wonders aloud what Davos almost divulged. Daenerys later meets with Jon privately and informs him of her decision.



In the Narrow Sea

One of the few remaining ships of Yara Greyjoy's fleet fish Theon Greyjoy aboard. The Ironborn disbelieve his claim that he tried to rescue Yara from Euron.



In King's Landing

Euron Greyjoy parades his captives Ellaria Sand, Tyene Sand, and Yara Greyjoy through abusive crowds in the streets of King's Landing. He presents the Sands as his gift to Cersei Lannister, who accepts his military alliance and promises marriage when the war is won. In a dungeon, Cersei kisses Tyene with the same poison Ellaria used to kill Myrcella, and tells Ellaria she will be kept alive to watch her daughter die and decompose. Cersei has sex with Jaime and, reveling in her authority, flaunts their intimacy in view of the servants. Tycho Nestoris of the Iron Bank comes to collect repayment of the Lannisters' loans. Cersei denigrates Daenerys as a possible investment, and secures a fortnight to pay the debt.



At Winterfell

Sansa Stark competently manages Winterfell, preparing it as an emergency refuge for all Northerners. Littlefinger counsels Sansa to "fight every battle" mentally, and thus never be unprepared. Bran Stark and Meera Reed arrive, and Sansa is reunited with her brother. In the Godswood, Sansa is confused by Bran's revelation that he is the Three-Eyed Raven, and troubled by his specific knowledge of her suffering .



In Oldtown

Archmaester Ebrose proclaims that Jorah Mormont is healed of greyscale and releases him. Jorah plans to return to Daenerys. Samwell Tarly admits that he administered the forbidden treatment; Ebrose praises his skill, but punishes his disobedience with an assignment to copy a large number of old documents.



At Casterly Rock

The Unsullied infiltrate Casterly Rock via its sewers, which Tyrion designed. They capture the castle, finding far fewer defenders than expected. The Iron Fleet arrives and destroys Daenerys' ships, stranding Grey Worm and his army.



At Highgarden

Jaime Lannister, Randyll Tarly, and their armies take Highgarden, having abandoned Casterly Rock to trick Daenerys into committing her Unsullied forces to a strategically useless position. Jaime grants Olenna Tyrell the mercy of a quick and painless death by poison, over Cersei's original plans to execute her. After drinking poisoned wine, Olenna confesses to murdering Joffrey and asks Jaime to tell Cersei. Incensed, Jaime leaves Olenna to die alone.

In King's Landing

Cersei assures Tycho that the Crown's debts to the Iron Bank will be fully repaid. They discuss the possibility of a new loan that would enable Qyburn to engage the mercenary Golden Company of Essos.



At Winterfell

Littlefinger gives Bran the Valyrian steel dagger that was used in the attempt on Bran's life. Littlefinger tries to get Bran to tell him of his experiences after fleeing Winterfell, and is disconcerted when Bran repeats to him Littlefinger's earlier remark to Varys that "chaos is a ladder." Meera visits Bran to say farewell, as she wants to be with her family when the White Walkers attack. Bran is indifferent to her departure, and a dismayed Meera remarks figuratively that Bran died in the Three-Eyed Raven's cave.

Arya arrives at Winterfell, and evades the guards to visit Ned's tomb in the crypts, where Sansa finds her. Sansa takes Arya to see Bran in the godswood. Arya is taken aback to find that Bran knows of her kill list, and Bran gives her the Valyrian steel dagger. Podrick reassures Brienne that she has fulfilled her oath to Catelyn; Brienne insists she did almost nothing. Later, Brienne and Podrick spar and Arya asks to train with Brienne. They fight to a draw as Sansa and Littlefinger watch.



At Dragonstone

Jon shows Daenerys the vast dragonglass mine, in which Children of the Forest cave drawings depict the Children and the First Men fighting together against the White Walkers. Seemingly convinced that Jon is telling the truth, Daenerys vows to fight for the North, but only if Jon bends the knee. Jon remains resistant.

Tyrion and Varys report the pyrrhic victory at Casterly Rock and the loss of Highgarden; Daenerys questions Tyrion's loyalties. Considering striking King's Landing with her dragons, she asks Jon for advice. He notes that her followers believe she can change the world; but if she destroys a city, she will be just another tyrant.

Later, the Ironborn survivors return to Dragonstone. Jon confronts Theon, citing his role in saving Sansa from Ramsay as the only reason he will not kill him for betraying Robb. Theon reveals that he has come for Daenerys's help in rescuing Yara, but Jon and Davos inform him that she has gone.



On the Roseroad

The bulk of the Lannister caravan approaches King's Landing after the Tyrell gold has been brought inside the city. Jaime gives Bronn a large satchel of gold, but Bronn still wants the castle he was promised. Riding Drogon, Daenerys leads a Dothraki attack that quickly overruns the caravan. Abandoning the gold where he drops it, Bronn wounds Drogon with Qyburn's scorpion. Drogon destroys the scorpion, then lands; Daenerys dismounts to tend Drogon's wound. Jaime charges her but Drogon breathes fire at him; Bronn tackles him off his horse, out of the flame's path and into the Blackwater Rush, where Jaime begins to sink under the weight of his armour.

On the Roseroad

Bronn pulls Jaime ashore, across the Blackwater Rush from the battle. They recognize that the Lannisters could never overcome Daenerys's three dragons in battle.

Daenerys gives the surviving Lannister and Tarly soldiers a choice between fealty to her, or death. Randyll Tarly resists; his son Dickon stands with him, even though Randyll wants him to save himself. Tyrion urges Daenerys to spare them and send them to the Wall, but the Tarlys refuse to go to the Wall. So, Daenerys keeps her word and puts them to death with Drogon's fire. The remaining prisoners bend the knee.



At Winterfell

Through ravens' eyes, Bran locates the Night King's army beyond the Wall. He requests that ravens be sent throughout the Seven Kingdoms to warn of the threat.

Arya witnesses Sansa diplomatically decline Lord Glover and Lord Royce's suggestion that Sansa should rule the North. Arya privately accuses Sansa of wanting to displace Jon. Littlefinger allows Arya to watch him hide the raven scroll Cersei forced Sansa to write after King Robert died, asking Robb to swear fealty to King Joffrey; Arya obtains and reads it.



In Oldtown

Archmaester Ebrose receives Bran's raven and discusses the message with other Archmaesters. Samwell, unaware of the recent deaths of his father and brother, interrupts to vouch for Bran, and asks the Archmaesters to use the Citadel's authority to prepare Westeros for war against the undead. Archmaester Ebrose decides the matter needs further study.

Sam transcribes a High Septon's minutiae-laden journal as Gilly reads from it. Sam rages that he is tired of reading about "better men's" achievements, so he steals documents from the library and leaves Oldtown with Gilly and Little Sam.



On Dragonstone

Daenerys returns and Drogon allows Jon to pet him. Jorah has returned and Daenerys welcomes him. Varys and Tyrion privately discuss the brutality of Daenerys's executions, and the morality of serving a ruler who puts others to death . Varys implores Tyrion to make Daenerys listen, in hopes his pragmatism will temper her growing ruthlessness.

Jon and Davos attend Daenerys's meeting with her advisors. Jon receives Bran's warning, and decides to head beyond the Wall to fight the dead. Daenerys notes how few fighters he has, and Jon again requests her help. She refuses, because leaving her war against Cersei would mean conceding the Iron Throne to her. Tyrion proposes capturing a wight north of the Wall and bringing it to King's Landing, to show Cersei the danger and gain her support. Jon and Jorah volunteer for the mission.

Tyrion and Davos return from King's Landing with Gendry. Davos advises him to conceal his identity and become a smith at Winterfell; Gendry instead introduces himself openly to Jon and joins his excursion.



In King's Landing

Jaime returns to Cersei and declares the war unwinnable for the Lannisters. He reveals that Olenna Tyrell poisoned Joffrey, exonerating Tyrion. Cersei regrets Olenna's painless death.

Tyrion and Davos sneak into King's Landing via a smugglers' cove. Bronn leads Jaime to Tyrion, who requests an audience with Cersei once Jon can prove that the army of the dead exists. Jaime conveys Tyrion's message; Cersei doubts Tyrion's warning, but believes she and Jaime will defeat any enemy. Cersei acknowledges that a temporary ceasefire could be a strategic necessity for her. She also tells Jaime that she is pregnant and will publicly acknowledge him as the father.

Davos locates Gendry, who eagerly leaves King's Landing with him. Two gold cloaks discover Davos's boat; he bribes them, but Tyrion returns and they recognize him, so Gendry kills them. The three depart.



At Eastwatch-by-the-Sea

Jon, Davos, Gendry and Jorah meet with Tormund at the Night Watch fortress Eastwatch-by-the-Sea, where the Brotherhood Without Banners and the Hound are imprisoned. The disparate men discuss their enmities, but acknowledge that they are now fighting against a common enemy; Davos remains at Eastwatch and all the others head north.

At Winterfell

Arya confronts Sansa about the letter Sansa wrote in favor of Joffrey and the Lannisters. Sansa explains she was a child and threatened by Cersei, but Arya rejects her reasoning. They argue over how neither of them saved Ned, and Arya accuses Sansa of mainly being concerned that she will lose face with the Northern lords if the letter is made public. Sansa confides in Littlefinger, who suggests that Brienne, sworn to serve both sisters, would intervene if Arya acted against Sansa. However, when Cersei invites Sansa to King's Landing, Sansa sends Brienne as her representative, despite Brienne's protests and desire to protect Sansa from Littlefinger. Sansa searches Arya's room and finds Arya's faces. Arya discovers Sansa and explains her training with the Faceless Men. Arya says she could take Sansa's face, seemingly threatening her with the Valyrian steel dagger before instead leaving her with it.



At Dragonstone

Tyrion suspects Cersei will lay a trap when they meet. He questions how Daenerys, who believes herself infertile, can establish a legacy that will outlive her. She refuses to discuss the succession before ascending to the Iron Throne. Tyrion asserts that Jon is the latest "heroic" man to fall in love with Daenerys.



Beyond the Wall

Jon, the Hound, Jorah, Beric, Thoros, and Gendry journey beyond the wall with Tormund and five other Wildlings. They have various personal and philosophical conversations. Jeor had given Jon his family sword, Longclaw; Jon offers it to Jorah, but Jorah insists Jon keep it. An undead polar bear attacks, killing a Wildling; Thoros is savaged saving the Hound. The men kill the bear; Thoros's wounds are cauterized and he continues. Jon and the others ambush and destroy a White Walker accompanied by wights, and all but one of the wights instantly collapse, inanimate. They capture the last wight, still animate. A horde of wights approaches; Gendry is sent alone to Eastwatch to send a raven to Daenerys while the others are trapped on a small island, separated from the wights by broken ice. The Night King and other White Walkers watch from high ground. Thoros succumbs to his wounds and the others cremate him.

Gendry collapses from exhaustion at Eastwatch; Davos saves him and has the raven sent to Daenerys. Daenerys flies Drogon north with Rhaegal and Viserion, having received the raven and having rejected Tyrion's advice to "do nothing."

The wights attack Jon's group when the water refreezes, killing another Wildling and nearly overrunning the party. Daenerys arrives and the dragons burn many wights. The men try to evacuate on Drogon but the wights continue their attack; using an ice javelin, the Night King kills Viserion.[3] Jon stays on the ground to cover the others' departure, but Daenerys only leaves after Jon is pulled into the water. Jon emerges from the water and is saved by Benjen Stark, who gives Jon his horse. Benjen falls against the wights while Jon escapes to Eastwatch.

Jon recovers aboard a ship. He apologizes to Daenerys for Viserion's death; she tearfully accepts the loss as the cost of her learning the truth, and she vows to fight the Night King with Jon. He calls her 'my Queen' and believes the Northern lords will come to accept her leadership. Daenerys hopes to be worthy of that trust.

Beyond the wall, the Night King reanimates Viserion.

In King's Landing

Cersei, Daenerys, and their entourages meet. The Hound and Jon successfully use the captured wight, an animated corpse, to prove the existence and nature of the threat posed by the White Walkers and their undead legions. Cersei agrees to help in the "Great War" against the dead on the condition that Jon remain neutral between the queens; Jon affirms he has already sworn himself to Daenerys, and Cersei retracts her support. Tyrion goes alone to confront Cersei, who has rejected Jaime's urgings to reconsider; Tyrion and Cersei discuss their family, and Tyrion lies in claiming that Daenerys wanted to destroy King's Landing until Tyrion persuaded her not to. During their conversation, he realizes Cersei is pregnant. Cersei returns to the parley and agrees to send her entire army north to fight the White Walkers.

Jaime prepares to mobilize the army: however Cersei reveals she lied and will not join Daenerys and Jon's cause. Euron left for Essos to transport the Golden Company, the finest mercenary army for hire, with which she will fight the presumably weakened faction that wins the Great War. Jaime is disgusted at her callousness and refuses to break his word; despite Cersei's threat to have the Mountain kill him, he abandons her and rides north alone as snow begins to fall on King's Landing.



On Dragonstone

Daenerys's party returns and plans to travel to Winterfell to unify her and Jon's forces against the White Walkers. Jorah advises Daenerys to fly a dragon there to avoid any potential assassination attempts, but she decides to travel by sea and land with Jon, in hopes of garnering popular support. Theon seeks guidance from Jon, who calls him both a Greyjoy and a Stark, and declares they both preserve Ned's legacy. Theon decides to save Yara but a leader of the remaining Ironborn objects. Theon defeats the man in a brutal fight and the others join Theon.



At Winterfell

Sansa and Littlefinger discuss Arya's actions. Littlefinger advises Sansa to always assume others have the worst possible motive; Sansa suggests Arya will murder her to become Lady of Winterfell. Sansa summons Arya before the lords of the North and Vale, then stuns Littlefinger by accusing him of murder and treason, which Brandon corroborates. Finding no allies in the crowd, Littlefinger begs for mercy; Sansa thanks him for his lessons, and Arya executes him, slitting his throat with the Valyrian steel dagger. Later, Sansa and Arya compliment each other's strength but affirm they are strongest together.

Sam arrives at Winterfell with his family. Bran tells him that Jon's real parents were Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark. Sam reveals information from the High Septon's journal: in secret, Rhaegar's marriage to Elia Martell was annulled and he married Lyanna. Bran views the wedding and Jon's birth, learning the name Lyanna gave him: Aegon Targaryen. Bran determines that, as Rhaegar's legitimate son, Jon is the rightful heir to the Iron Throne.



In the Narrow Sea

Tyrion witnesses Jon Snow entering Daenerys's cabin. Jon and Daenerys give in to their feelings for each other and the two have sex.



At Eastwatch

The undead army arrives at Eastwatch; when the Night King appears, riding Viserion, Tormund orders the defenders to evacuate. Breathing blue fire,[3] Viserion destroys Eastwatch and a section of the Wall, allowing the White Walkers to finally invade the Seven Kingdoms.