The Hound is judged by the gods; Jaime is judged; Jon proves himself; Robb is betrayed; Tyrion learns the cost of weddings.
The episode opens in the cavern of the brotherhood without banners. Thoros of Myr prays to the Lord of Light, and the brotherhood replies with some of the same words, showing their faith. As Sandor is given a sword, Thoros goes to Lord Beric and gives him his blade after cttting Beric’s hand with it. And then Beric runs that bleeding hand over the sword, and the steel is shrouded in flames.
The trial by combat begins, and it’s clear that the fiery blade frightens Sandor. But he fights with all his skill, and the two seem evenly matched. Clegane’s superior strength destroys Beric’ shield, but Dondarrion’s flames set Sandor’s own shield ablaze as the brotherhood shout, “Guilty! Guilty”. Clegane cries out, but fights on with the burning shield after failing to throw it off. And then Dondarrion blocks a downward cut…
... and his sword breaks, and Clegane’s sword cuts half way into his torso. Dondarrion falls dead. Thoros rushes to his body and begins to pray to the Lord of Light, asking that his flame be restored. The Hound’s shield arm is still burning, but he puts the flame out. Arya, seeing him, grabs a dagger from one of the brotherhood and rushes at the Hound, rushing at him, but Gendry grabs her and stops her. Arya screams, “Burn in hell!” at the Hound.
And then a voice replies, “He will, but not today.” It is Lord Beric, miraculously restored to life, his wounds healed.
Beyond the Wall, Orell confronts Jon Snow as he and Ygritte return with gathered firewood. Tormund tells them that Orell’s eagle has seen patrols on the Wall, and they want to know how many men patrol, and how regularly. Jon points out that if he knew exactly where they were going, he could give them more details. Orell is suspicious of this, and resumes questioning Jon Snow, asking him how many castles of the Watch are still manned, and which ones. Jon answers truthfully. Tormund asks how many men remain at Castle Black, and Jon says a thousand. Orell calls him a liar, and Jon throws down the firewood and threatens Orell, asking him what will happen to the eagle when he kills him.
Then Ygritte speaks up for Jon and says that he’s no crow. Orell insults her in turn, saying that just because she wants to sleep with him it doesn’t make him one of them. She pulls a knife and tells him she’s not afraid of him. Tormund intervenes, dragging Orell back and throwing him to the ground. He then tells Jon that he likes him… but he’ll pull his guts out through his throat if he’s lying to him. Jon Snow repeats that there are a thousand men at Castle Black.
After having walked away, Jon Snow complains to Ygritte that he doesn’t need her defending him. Ygritte says that of course he does. She reminds him that she vouched for him with Rattleshirt and with Mance, and that he owes her a debt. Then she suddenly pulls Longclaw out of its scabbard and runs off with it, saying that it’s hers now that she stole it. She grabs a torch from a campfire and tells him if he wants it, he’ll have to steal it back. She runs off as he shouts after her, and enters a cavern. And then she stops and turns, and asks if Orell is right, if he’s still a crow. She starts to remove her furs as she tells him that he wants him to break them with her.
Jon is speechless as she stands naked before him. He tells her they shouldn’t, after she steps nearer. “We should,” she says. They kiss, and Jon’s hesitant at first, but then he holds her and kisses his way down her body as she wonders why he’s still dressed. “You know nothing, Jon Snow,” she starts, when he does something surprising.
Later, both lying naked, Ygritte sits up and asks Jon if that thing he did with her mouth is what lords do to their ladies in the south. He denies that, and that he was never taught it, he’s never been with anyone else. She laughs and calls him a maid. He asks her if she’s ever had anyone else, and she tells him of a red-haired boy who came trading with his brothers. She says he was weak, however, not like Jon. That was the first, she says, and then she starts to tell him of a Thenn who spoke no Common Tongue, but he stops her there. He says they should get back, but she has other plans. They kiss again, and then she asks how long it’s been since he had a bath. They jump into the hot pool and kiss again. Ygritte says they should stay there awhile longer, that she doesn’t want to ever leave the cave.
In the cavern in the riverlands, Sandor shouts that he wants his gold. Thoros has given him a promissory note, saying that the Hound will be repaid when the war is over. Sandor throws down the note, and calls them thieves. Anguy notes they’re outlaws and outlaws steal, and the Hound is lucky that they didn’t kill him. The Hound threatens Anguy, as Arya shouts that Clegane is a murder and can’t be let go. Beric says that in the eyes of god, Sandor is innocent, and sends him away. He tells him to go in peace, but the Lord of Light isn’t done with him yet. A hood is put over Sandor’s head as he’s lead away.
At Harrenhal, Locke enters with Brienne and Jaime in tow. They’re taken from their horses and pushed down to their knees in front of Lord Bolton. Locke kicks Jaime down onto his face, presenting the Kingslayer to his lord, but Bolton tells him to pick him up. Roose looks at Jaime and notes he’s lost a hand, to which Locke replies that he hasn’t, showing that it’s hanging from around his neck. An angry Bolton pulls it off and pushes it at Locke, telling him to take it away. Locke suggests they can send it to Lord Tywin, but Roose tells him he’ll hold his tongue or he’ll lose it.
Roose tells them to cut Brienne free. Roose apologizes then to Brienne, and tells her he’s under her protection. She thanks him. Lord Bolton tells them to be taken to suitable chambers, and that he’ll speak with them later. He turns to go, but Jaime—silent up to now—finally speaks, asking of news from King’s Landing. Roose pauses… and then informs him that Stannis Baratheon stormed the gates with thousands of men, and his sister… He hesitates, and wonders aloud how he can put it. Jaime’s fear is evident in his face, when Bolton finally admits Cersei is alive and well, that Tywin’s forces prevailed. Jaime collapses to his knees. Roose Bolton sees he’s not well and tells his men to take him to Qyburn.
In Qyburn’s chamber, the man is trying to examine and clean Jaime’s wound. Jaime asks if he’ll die of the infection that has set in. Qyburn says no, but that he’ll have to take off the arm. Jaime says that he’ll kill him if he tries. He then asks why Qyburn does not have a chain. The former maester reveals it was taken from him because some of his experiments were “too bold”. He then suggests he can take just the forearm, but Jaime grabs him with his left hand and tells him he doesn’t need his right hand to kill him. Finally, Qyburn suggests he can simply try to cut away the rotting flesh and burn out the corruption with boiling wine and that with luck that will suffice. He offers Jaime milk of the poppy, but Jaime refuses. Qyburn says there’ll be pain, and Jaime says he’ll scream. Qyburn says there’ll be a great deal of pain, and Jaime replies that he’ll scream loudly. He does, in fact, scream as Qyburn begins to trim away the flesh.
Littlefinger is walking alone in King’s Landing when Queen Cersei interrupts him. She asks for a chance to speak with him, and asks for a favor. She believes the Tyrells are suspicious. He asks if she’s shared her concern with Tywin, but she replies that her father appreciates facts, to which Littlefinger replies that he often finds them a hindrance. She ignores that remark, pressing on with talk of her father’s generosity to those who help them… and his ruthlessness to this who don’t. She requests that Baelish look into what the Tyrells are up to before he departs for the Vale. He agrees, saying he’ll do his best, and she says that that will be better than when he tried and failed to find Arya. Littlefinger assures her that that will be the case.
In a chamber in the Red Keep, Tyrion is meeting with Lady Olenna while Podrick serves. She asks for figs, and then tells Tyrion she always take them mid-afternoon, as they help with bowel movement. She then asks why Tyrion has summoned her, and he says it’s financial matters: the royal wedding is being described as extravagant. Olenna replies that extravagant is no good as a word if it can’t be used to describe a royal wedding. Tyrion understands that, but continues that as master of coin he’s found the expense enormous and the war means they can’t afford it. Olenna runs through contributions the Tyrells have made to the war effort, with exact figures for men, horses, food, and animals. She tells him she needs no lectures on the war, as she’s well aware of the facts. Tyrion replies that they are grateful for what they’ve done, for the preservation of the realm, and she says that a royal wedding is a part of that preservation: “The people are hungry for more than just food. They crave distractions.”
She feels a royal wedding is much safer than riots. He is forced to agree. She then adds that traditionally the royal family pays for royal weddings. She pauses and tells Tyrion he’s been told she’s drunk, impertinent, and thoroughly debauched. She then tells him that she’s disappointed to find him only a brow-beaten bookkeeper. Just then Pod enters with the figs, and she testily asks if he went to Volantis to fetch them. She takes a bite and then finally offers to pay for half the expenses. She gets up and goes, and departs without any further pleasantries.
In the brotherhood’s hideout, Gendry is trying to mend Lord Beric’s armor as Arya asks what he’s doing. He explains that he means to stay with them and smith for them. Arya thinks he’s mad and says he’ll be killed when the Lannisters capture them. He replies that the Lannisters have wanted to kill him since long before he joined the brotherhood. He says that they need good men. Arya persists, saying Robb needs good men too, and once they get to Riverrun—but Gendry asks what will happen then. Will he serve Robb? He served Tobho Mott, and he sold him to the Night’s Watch. He served Tywin Lannister at Harrenhal, and every day he wondered if that was the day he’d be tortured or killed. He’s done serving, he says. Arya replies that he means to serve Lord Beric, but Gendry says that while he’s the leader of the men, they chose him, they’re brothers, a family… and he’s never had a family.
Arya turns back and tells him she could be his family, but Gendry replies that she wouldn’t be his family, she’d be “m’lady.” She leaves.
In Riverrun, there’s the sound of swords clashing and screaming outside the cell of Willem and Martyn Lannister… and then Rickard Karstark and his men burst in, and murder the two Lannister boys after having killed one or more of their guards.
In the lord’s chambers in Riverrun, the two boys are laid out as Robb and Talisa stare down at them, and Catelyn sits on a couch, seeming shocked. Robb commands the Blackfish to bring in Karstark and his four compatriots. Robb calls it murder, but Karstark denies it, saying it was vengeance. Robb says the squires did not kill Karstark’s sons. Lord Karstark replies that his son Torrhen was strangled by the Kingslayer. He goes on that they were kin to him, but Robb shouts that they were boys. He tells Karstark to look at their bodies, and Rickard retorts that he can tell his mother to look at them—Lady Catelyn killed them as sure as he did. Robb denies she had anything to do with it, that it was Karstark’s own treason. Karstark says it’s treason to free your enemies—you kill them in war, and he asks, “Did your father not teach you that, boy?”
For that, the Blackfish punches him in the face, knocking him down. Robb shouts for him to stop, to leave him, and Karstark says he expects he’ll leave him for Robb, who’ll scold him and set him freee. “That’s how he deals with treason,” he says, and asks if he should call him the King who lost the North. Robb has Lord Karstark sent to the dungeons, and orders the rest to be hanged. One protests, saying he didn’t kill anyone, he was only set to watch. Robb says he can be hanged last, so he can watch the other days. The man’s dragged away as he cries out that he was made to do it.
Robb sits after the men are gone. Edmure says that the Lannisters must never hear of this, and Robb wonders if Edmure means for him to be a liar. Edmure proposes they bury the boys quietly and keep silent until the war is done, but Robb says he can’t fight for justice if he does not bring justice to murderers in his own ranks. He must die, he determines. Catelyn immediately says that Karstarks are northmen, and will never forgive it; he’ll lose their support. Talisa concurs. Talisa goes on that they must have Karstark men to win the war, and Catelyn suggests holding Karstark as a hostage. Edmure agrees with this, suggesting that as long as the Karstarks remain loyal, Lord Karstark will not be harmed.
But then we see that Robb has made his decision. Lord Karstark is brought out into the rainy godswood of Riverrun, with Robb and his family awaiting. Rickard Karstark informs him that the blood of the First Men flows through his veins, much as it does in Robb’s. He fought the Mad King for Eddard, and Joffrey for Robb, and that they are kin, Karstark and Stark. Robb says that that didn’t stop him from betraying him, and this old kinship will not save him. Rickard retorts that he doesn’t want it to save him, he wants it to haunt Robb for the rest of his days. His final words are that Robb call kill him and be cursed: “You are no king of mine!” Robb cuts Karstark’s head off with a single sure blow of a sword. He throws the sword down, after, and walks away.
Arya is in the riverlands, repeating her prayer. “Joffrey, Cersei, Ilyn Payne, Ser Meryn, the Hound,” she says, staring into a fire. Thoros is on the other side, drinking. She asks him what will happen with her next. He informs her that they’ll take her to Riverrun where Robb will make a contribution to their cause, and they’ll turn her over. She says she’s a hostage and they’re selling her. He says she should not think of it that way, but she says it is that way. Thoros doesn’t argue further, and then says Lord Beric admired Eddard Stark greatly, and wanted to refuse the ransom entirely but it’s Thoros that has insisted because they need the gold. Just then, Beric arrives and sits himself down.
Beric asks her if he frightens her, and she says no. He goes on to say that he knows she’s angry, but he doesn’t blame her, and that letting him go was the right thing. He has more reason to most to want him hanged, he adds. She goes on to say that she thought he was killed—and he says he was, that the Lord of Light brought him back to life. Thoros reveals that Beric has been brought back five times—no, six with this latest. The first time was when the Mountain that Rides drove a lance through his chest. Beric opens his shirt to show the scar, and the other scars accompanying it as he lists his deaths: a blade in the belly, an arrow in the back, an ax in the side, a noose and a dagger in the eye. Beric remarks a Clegane has killed him twice, and Thoros quips that he thinks Beric would learn by now.
Then Beric reveals that each time he comes back, he’s a bit… less. Pieces of him, his humanity, are chipped away. Arya finally speaks again and asks if they can bring back a man without a head; not six times, just the once. Thoros sadly says that it doesn’t work that way. Beric then tells her that her father was a good man, and he’s at rest now, somewhere; he would not wish his life on him… but Arya says that she would.
In Dragonstone, Queen Selyse—wife of Stannis—prays at a fire to the Lord of Light. The flames are too hot and too close, but she persists despite the pain. As she finishes, her chamber door is opened, and Stannis enters. She reveals she’s prayed day and night for him to come to her. Stannis makes excuses, about the battles and the war, and she says she knows about these troubles thanks to Melisandre. Stannis goes deeper into her room, and she tells him not to despair, that he is the chosen champion of the one god and the finest man she’s ever known. Stannis tells her he’s broken a sacred vow, that he’s sinned and wronged and shamed her. She insists he’s doing god’s work, but he says she doesn’t understand. He tries to tell her that he’s slept with Melisandre…
... and Selyse reveals that she knows, that Melisandre told her. No service done in the name of the Lord of Light can be a sin, she insists. She reveals she wept with joy when she learned of it from Melisandre. She then moves past her husband to where three jars sit, insid of which are three infant bodies: my sweet boys, she calls them, naming them Petyr, Harmon, and Edric. She then turns back and tells him she thanks god every day for bringing Melisandre to them, that she gave Stannis a son while she says she’s given him nothing. He says that’s not true… and Selyse asks if that means he’s come to see his daughter as well. She tries to tell him there’s no need, that he needs to stay away from such distractions, but Stannis insists that she is his daughter and that he wants to see her. Selyse says that as a king, he does not need her permission.
As Stannis walks the halls of the citadel, a child’s voice can be heard singing a curious, nonsense song about birds with scales and fish with wings. We see Shireen, his daughter, singing to herself alone. When Stannis enters, she runs to him and hugs him… and when she stops, we see that half her face is disfigured with greyscale. Stannis says that she’s grown since he last saw her. Shireen says that her mother informed her that he had fought in a battle, and she asks if he won. He says he did not. She considers that, and then asks if the onion knight—Ser Davos—came back with him. Stannis pauses and then admits that he did, that he fought bravely. Shireen wonders why he hasn’t visited her, since he promised he’d bring her a present from King’s Landing. He tells her he won’t be visiting. She asks why, and says Davos is her friend. She takes a toy boat from a chest and tells her father that Davos made it for her. Stannis examines it, as Shireen tells him not to tell her mother, as Selyse does not like the onion knight.
Stannis hands the boat back… and tells his daughter that Davos is a traitor, and he’s rotting in a dungeon cell for his crime. Shireen looks down, not knowing what to say. Stannis tells her that it’d be best to forget Davos, and then departs.
In Harrenhal, Brienne is scrubbing herself in a bath when Jaime enters and tells her not to scrub so hard, she’ll scrub the skin off. She asks what he’s doing there, and he says he needs a bath. An attendant helps him undress, as Brienne looks away. Jaime tells the man to leave him as he takes off the rest of his clothing and then walks haltingly to the tub where Brienne is washing. She protests, saying there’s another, but he says that one suits him fine. He gets in, as she squeezes herself into a corner. He tells her not to worry, that he’s not interested. He keeps the stump of his right arm above the water, and tells Brienne to pull him out of the water if he faints—he doesn’t intend to be the first Lannister to drown in a bath.
Brienne wonders why she could care how Jaime dies. Jaime reminds her that she swore a solemn vow to bring him to King’s Landing in one piece… but that hasn’t gone so well. He starts to say that it’s no wonder that Renly die with her there to protect him, but she stands up angrily, looming over him and glaring. Jaime apologizes, saying it was unworthy. He tells her that she protected him better than most. He wants to call a truce, and she says you need trust to call a truce. Jaime reveals he trusts her. She sits back down after a moment… and Jaime notices the look she has on her face.
He says he’s seen that look on many faces over the years, since he killed Aerys. Everyone despises him—kingslayer, oathbreaker, man without honor—and then he asks if she’s heard about wildfire. He tells her that the Mad King was obsessed with it, that he loved how it looked as he burned men alive. He burned lords, Hands, anyone who was against him. Before long, Jaime says, half the realm was against him. He reveals Aerys saw traitors everywhere… so he had the pyromancers place caches of widlfire throughout the city: beneath the Great Sept of Baelor, the slums of Flea Bottom, houses, stables, taverns, and even the Red Keep.
When Robert marched on King’s Landing, Lord Tywin had arrived with an army first and promised to defend the city against the rebels. Jaime says he knew his father better than that—Tywin is not one to pick the losing side—and he told Aerys as much, urging him to surrender peacefully. Aerys refused, however, even when Varys tried to warn him. Instead he listened to Grand Maester Pycelle, Jaime reveals. Pycelle told him that Aerys can trust the Lannisters. So the gates were opened… and the host sacked the city. Again Jaime begged that Aerys surrender, but Aerys instead told him to bring him Lord Tywin’s head before turning to a pyromancer and told him to, “Burn them all. Burn them in their homes, burn them in their beds.”
Jaime asks Brienne if she would have killed her own father and stood by while thousands burned alive if Renly had ordered her to do so. Jaime killed the pyromancer first, he says, and then he killed Aerys as the Mad King turned to flee. “Burn them all,” Aerys kept saying as he died. Jaime believes Aerys thought he’d rise again as a dragon, rather than die in the flames. Jaime then slit his throat, he says, to make sure that couldn’t happen. That’s where Eddard Stark found him, he tells her.
Brienne asks why Jaime never told anyone, especially Lord Stark. Jaime wonders if Eddard Stark would want to hear his side. He knew Eddard had judged him guilty the moment he laid eyes on him. “By what right does the wolf judge the lion?” he asks angrily, even as the stress and pain of his injury and the subsequent fever begins to overwhelm him. Brienne rushes to him as he starts to slip down in the water, keeping his head above water as she calls, “Help! The Kingslayer!” Jaime gasps, “Jaime. My name’s Jaime.”
In the dungeon of the citadel of Dragonstone, Davos is woken up by Shireen, calling to him. He asks what she’s doing there, and she says that Davos has to be quiet, that he’ll wake the guard. Davos tells her to leave immediately, she’s not supposed to be there, but she stops him and asks if it’s true that he’s a traitor. He admits it is true, that he disobeyed Stannis and he’s paying the price. Shireen insists she doesn’t care and that he’s her friend. She tries to give him a book about the Aegon and the Targaryens, but Davos refuses. When she insists, he tells her that doesn’t know how to read. She insists that she’ll teach him, that it’s easy. She adds that what’s the worst that they can do if they catch her, look them in cells? Davos laughs at that, and Shireen smiles. Davos then says he doesn’t know where to start, and she tells him to start at beginning as she starts to show him, telling him the book is called the History of Aegon the Conqueror and the Conquest of Westeros.
In Essos, the Unsullied are marching through a desert oasis. Ser Jorah and Ser Barristan are speaking of the siege of Pyke. Barristan remarks Jorah was the first through the breach, but Jorah corrects him and says he was the second: Thoros of Myr was the first through the breach in the walls, having that flaming sword of his. Barristan laughs and calls him a madman, before noting that Robert knighted Jorah after the battle. Jorah says it was the proudest moment of his life, but all he could think of as Robert charged him to be brave that he needed to empty his bladder. He had been in full armor for sixteen hours, and it was only after the fighting was done and he was one his knee that he realized how much he had to go. Barristan says that Robert would have laughed, and concludes that Robert was a good man, a great warrior… but a terrible king. Barristan says he wasted away his years fighting for terrible kings.
Jorah replies that Barristan swore vows, and Barristan says he did, and a man of honor keeps them even if he’s serving a drunk or a lunatic. Barristan hopes that once in his life, he hopes that he’ll be able to fight for someone he really believes in. He then asks Jorah if he believes in Daenerys. Jorah looks back to where she is dismounting her horse to meet the officers chosen by the Unsullied. She asks to meet their chief officer, and a young Unsullied presents himself. He reveals his name as Grey Worm, the slave name he had, names that remind them of what they are. Daenerys insists that the Unsullied can take what names they want, and urges them to take on new names, to throw aside the slave names and carry names that give them pride. Grey Worm says that the name his parents gave him is accursed—it is the name he had when he was made a slave—but that Grey Worm is a lucky name, because it is the name he had when he was freed.
Jorah and Barristan are seen continuing their conversation, and Jorah is remarking that Robert wanted Daenerys dead. Barristan says that of course he did, as she was a Targaryen, and the last Targaryen at that. Jorah wonders why someone on the small council didn’t speak sense to him, and Barristan—knowing that is a jibe at him—notes he didn’t sit on the small council. Despite tradition giving the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard a seat there, he reveals that Robert did not follow that tradition with him, probably because Barristan killed a dozen of his friends during the rebellion. He adds that Robert did not want political advice from a man who fought for the Mad King, but in truth, he didn’t mind so much; he does not like politics. Jorah agrees that hours jabbering about intrigue and betrayals would be a trial. Barristan agrees with a sound, and Jorah gives him a long glance before he goes on, saying Daenerys will have to deal with these things if she means to win the Iron Throne.
Barristan says she’ll have good, experienced men to advise her. Jorah wonders which men he has in mind. Barristan tells him—after apologizing—that Jorah’s reputation is not a good one, after he sold men into slavery. Barristan thinks Jorah at Dany’s side will not help “our cause.” Jorah wonders at how it’s now “our cause”, noting that he was defending Daenerys when Barristan was still bowing to Robert. Barristan asks if they both want her to rule, and Jorah says that as Barristan has only joined them a few days before and he can’t vouch for his intentions. Barristan insists that if they’re truly loyal to her, they must do what needs to be done, no matter the cost or their pride. Jorah, now combative, reminds Barristan he’s not Lord Commander here, that he’s just another exile, and Jorah takes his orders from the queen.
In Riverrun, Robb is staring at the map of the Seven Kingdoms. Talisa tries to get him to come to bed, and a tired, upset Robb tells her she was right: the Karstarks are gone, and with them almost half of his forces. Tywin now needs to do nothing to watch the Stark army unravel, only wait. Talisa tells him not to let Tywin wait. Robb can’t see how to do that—they’ll be crushed if they attack King’s Landing. Talisa suggests they could go north, to take the land back from the Greyjoys and wait out the winter. Robb replies that could take five years, and the northmen will never ride south again after years with their families. He goes on to say that they had had a purpose and mission when he first gathered them, but now they’re aimless. Talisa suggests he give them a new purpose, but she doesn’t know what that might be. She notes that she isn’t even sure where Winterfell is.
Robb stares at the map awhile longer, and then takes her hand and shows her where they are, where King’s Landing, and… He pauses, considering the map a bit longer. He moves to it again, and then says he realizes what he can do: he can’t force Tywin to meet him in the field, he can’t attack where they’re strongest… but he can attack where they’re not. He can attack Casterly Rock, and take their home away from them. She asks if he can really do it. Robb replies that he could, but he needs men to replace the Karstarks who marched home… and there’s only one person with that kind of army who hasn’t sided with the Lannisters, Walder Frey, the man whose daughter he was supposed to marry.
In King’s Landing, Sansa and Margaery watch Loras practicing at swords with another young knight. Sansa remarks that Loras is a splendid fighter, and then asks how soon before she can leave for Highgarden and marry Loras. Margaery assures her that she’ll plant the seeds of the idea soon, and it should happen quickly. Sansa replies that Joffrey will not let her leave, that he has too many reasons to keep her. Margaery replies that he does have one reason to let her go, however: because it will please Margaery. Loras then calls for a squire to give him refreshment. The handsome young man, whom Loras has never seen before, introduces him as Olyvar and compliments his skill as he then helps remove his armor….
... and then we see Olyvar and Loras in bed together. Loras asks how Olyvar knew that he wanted to sleep with him. Olyvar rolls out of the bed naked, and goes to drink some wine as Loras tells him that he’s to be wed soon, and that his intended doesn’t even know it. Olyvar replies that they rarely do, in his experience. Loras moves up behind him and asks if he has a good deal of experience.. and Olyvar turns and pushes him back into bed as he tells him that he has, with their husbands.
Then we see Olyvar ... with Lord Baelish, in Baelish’s chambers. Littlefinger remarks that that did not take long. Olyvar says it took long enough, and then says that the Knight of Flowers is engaged to be wed. Littlefinger wonders who it might be.
We then see Sansa seeing a ship coming into harbor, and Littlefinger tells her it’s not the grandest ship in the world, nor the fastest, but she’s hers. He invites Sansa to sit and tells her the always wanted a ship, and now he wants a dozen. He says it’s strange that it doesn’t matter what one wants, that once you have it, you want something else. Then he says that Sansa’s hair seems different. She questions that, and Littlefinger tells her that she’s wearing it as Margaery does. Sansa replies many women are wearing it that way. Littlefinger changes the subject and says he has good news, that he’s leaving soon. She asks if he still wants her to go with him, but he says the question is what she wants. He asks if she wants to go home. She insists she does… but then she suggests that it may be better to wait, that she’s been thinking about how dangerous it might be both for her and for Lord Baelish. He says he can’t tell her how touched he is by her concern, and hopes she knows he’s her true friend. He insists she call him Petyr. He tells her that if she wishes to stay, then of course she’ll stay. He promises to speak again with her when he returns.
Tyrion arrives at Lord Tywin’s chambers, only to find his sister there before him. He wonders what she’s doing there, and Tywin says that what they’re discussing concerns her as well. Tyrion proceeds to inform him that after his conversation with the Tyrells, he’s saved them hundreds of thousands of dragons on this wedding. Tywin tells him to never mind that, that they have something more important to discuss. Tyrion argues that as master of coin, saving money is important. Cersei, silent all this time, simply stares and smiles at him… something Tyrion notes, and asks her to stop doing it. Tywin reveals that Cersei has learned that the Tyrells are plotting to marry Sansa to Ser Loras. Tyrion doesn’t seem bothered, though notes she’s not really to Ser Loras’s tastes but they’ll make do.
Tywin is angry that the Tyrells are trying to steal the key the North from under him, after all he’s done for them. Tyrion notes she has an older brother, but Tywin informs him that the Karstarks have marched home, that the Young Wolf has lost half his army and his days are numbered, and his brothers were killed by Theon Greyjoy which makes Sansa heir to Winterfell. He doesn’t intend to hand her to the Tyrells. Tyrion replies that the Tyrells have helped them win the war, and he wonders if it’s wise to refuse them. Tywin notes that there’s nothing to refuse, as it’s a plot. If they act first, the Tyrells can’t say anything against it. Tyrion asks, doubtful, how they can do that… and Tywin says that they just need to find her another husband. Tyrion sighs at that notion, dismissing it with a sarcastic, “Wondeful”...
... only for Cersei to say it is, as she smiles at him and it dons on him that he’s to be Sansa’s husband. He looks to his father and says he can’t mean it. Tyrion insists that her life has been miserable since Joffrey took her father’s head, and giving her to him is cruel, even for his father. Tywin asks if Tyrion means to mistreat her, but then adds that her happiness does not concern him, nor should it be Tyrion’s. Tyrion protests she’s a child, and Cersei tells him that she’s flowered. With that, Tywin says he’ll wed her, bed her, and put a child in her. Tyrion asks what happens if he refuses, and Tywin points out that Tyrion wanted a reward for his valor in battle, and now he has a far finer one than he could have expected. And then, he notes, it’s about time Tyrion was wed.
“I was wed,” Tyrion replies, tense. Tywin stares at him… and then tells him he remembers that only too well. Cersei tells him that it’s more than he deserves. Tywin presses on, saying Tyrion will do as he’s told ... as will Cersei, as he reveals that she’ll marry Ser Loras in Sansa’s stead. She refuses, but Tywin tells her that as heir to Highgarden, the marriage will secure the Reach for them, as Tyrion’s will secure the North. She again insists she won’t, and her father tells her she will. She must marry again and breed. She argues she’s no brood mare, and he says that she’s his daughter and will do as she’s told. She’ll wed, she’ll breed, and put an end to the disgusting rumors about her once and for all. She begs Tywin not to make her wed again, and he stands up, telling her not to say another word. “My children,” he says. “You’ve disgraced the Lannister name for far too long.” He departs, leaving Tyrion and Cersei.
The episode opens in the cavern of the brotherhood without banners. Thoros of Myr prays to the Lord of Light, and the brotherhood replies with some of the same words, showing their faith. As Sandor is given a sword, Thoros goes to Lord Beric and gives him his blade after cttting Beric’s hand with it. And then Beric runs that bleeding hand over the sword, and the steel is shrouded in flames.
The trial by combat begins, and it’s clear that the fiery blade frightens Sandor. But he fights with all his skill, and the two seem evenly matched. Clegane’s superior strength destroys Beric’ shield, but Dondarrion’s flames set Sandor’s own shield ablaze as the brotherhood shout, “Guilty! Guilty”. Clegane cries out, but fights on with the burning shield after failing to throw it off. And then Dondarrion blocks a downward cut…
... and his sword breaks, and Clegane’s sword cuts half way into his torso. Dondarrion falls dead. Thoros rushes to his body and begins to pray to the Lord of Light, asking that his flame be restored. The Hound’s shield arm is still burning, but he puts the flame out. Arya, seeing him, grabs a dagger from one of the brotherhood and rushes at the Hound, rushing at him, but Gendry grabs her and stops her. Arya screams, “Burn in hell!” at the Hound.
And then a voice replies, “He will, but not today.” It is Lord Beric, miraculously restored to life, his wounds healed.
Beyond the Wall, Orell confronts Jon Snow as he and Ygritte return with gathered firewood. Tormund tells them that Orell’s eagle has seen patrols on the Wall, and they want to know how many men patrol, and how regularly. Jon points out that if he knew exactly where they were going, he could give them more details. Orell is suspicious of this, and resumes questioning Jon Snow, asking him how many castles of the Watch are still manned, and which ones. Jon answers truthfully. Tormund asks how many men remain at Castle Black, and Jon says a thousand. Orell calls him a liar, and Jon throws down the firewood and threatens Orell, asking him what will happen to the eagle when he kills him.
Then Ygritte speaks up for Jon and says that he’s no crow. Orell insults her in turn, saying that just because she wants to sleep with him it doesn’t make him one of them. She pulls a knife and tells him she’s not afraid of him. Tormund intervenes, dragging Orell back and throwing him to the ground. He then tells Jon that he likes him… but he’ll pull his guts out through his throat if he’s lying to him. Jon Snow repeats that there are a thousand men at Castle Black.
After having walked away, Jon Snow complains to Ygritte that he doesn’t need her defending him. Ygritte says that of course he does. She reminds him that she vouched for him with Rattleshirt and with Mance, and that he owes her a debt. Then she suddenly pulls Longclaw out of its scabbard and runs off with it, saying that it’s hers now that she stole it. She grabs a torch from a campfire and tells him if he wants it, he’ll have to steal it back. She runs off as he shouts after her, and enters a cavern. And then she stops and turns, and asks if Orell is right, if he’s still a crow. She starts to remove her furs as she tells him that he wants him to break them with her.
Jon is speechless as she stands naked before him. He tells her they shouldn’t, after she steps nearer. “We should,” she says. They kiss, and Jon’s hesitant at first, but then he holds her and kisses his way down her body as she wonders why he’s still dressed. “You know nothing, Jon Snow,” she starts, when he does something surprising.
Later, both lying naked, Ygritte sits up and asks Jon if that thing he did with her mouth is what lords do to their ladies in the south. He denies that, and that he was never taught it, he’s never been with anyone else. She laughs and calls him a maid. He asks her if she’s ever had anyone else, and she tells him of a red-haired boy who came trading with his brothers. She says he was weak, however, not like Jon. That was the first, she says, and then she starts to tell him of a Thenn who spoke no Common Tongue, but he stops her there. He says they should get back, but she has other plans. They kiss again, and then she asks how long it’s been since he had a bath. They jump into the hot pool and kiss again. Ygritte says they should stay there awhile longer, that she doesn’t want to ever leave the cave.
In the cavern in the riverlands, Sandor shouts that he wants his gold. Thoros has given him a promissory note, saying that the Hound will be repaid when the war is over. Sandor throws down the note, and calls them thieves. Anguy notes they’re outlaws and outlaws steal, and the Hound is lucky that they didn’t kill him. The Hound threatens Anguy, as Arya shouts that Clegane is a murder and can’t be let go. Beric says that in the eyes of god, Sandor is innocent, and sends him away. He tells him to go in peace, but the Lord of Light isn’t done with him yet. A hood is put over Sandor’s head as he’s lead away.
At Harrenhal, Locke enters with Brienne and Jaime in tow. They’re taken from their horses and pushed down to their knees in front of Lord Bolton. Locke kicks Jaime down onto his face, presenting the Kingslayer to his lord, but Bolton tells him to pick him up. Roose looks at Jaime and notes he’s lost a hand, to which Locke replies that he hasn’t, showing that it’s hanging from around his neck. An angry Bolton pulls it off and pushes it at Locke, telling him to take it away. Locke suggests they can send it to Lord Tywin, but Roose tells him he’ll hold his tongue or he’ll lose it.
Roose tells them to cut Brienne free. Roose apologizes then to Brienne, and tells her he’s under her protection. She thanks him. Lord Bolton tells them to be taken to suitable chambers, and that he’ll speak with them later. He turns to go, but Jaime—silent up to now—finally speaks, asking of news from King’s Landing. Roose pauses… and then informs him that Stannis Baratheon stormed the gates with thousands of men, and his sister… He hesitates, and wonders aloud how he can put it. Jaime’s fear is evident in his face, when Bolton finally admits Cersei is alive and well, that Tywin’s forces prevailed. Jaime collapses to his knees. Roose Bolton sees he’s not well and tells his men to take him to Qyburn.
In Qyburn’s chamber, the man is trying to examine and clean Jaime’s wound. Jaime asks if he’ll die of the infection that has set in. Qyburn says no, but that he’ll have to take off the arm. Jaime says that he’ll kill him if he tries. He then asks why Qyburn does not have a chain. The former maester reveals it was taken from him because some of his experiments were “too bold”. He then suggests he can take just the forearm, but Jaime grabs him with his left hand and tells him he doesn’t need his right hand to kill him. Finally, Qyburn suggests he can simply try to cut away the rotting flesh and burn out the corruption with boiling wine and that with luck that will suffice. He offers Jaime milk of the poppy, but Jaime refuses. Qyburn says there’ll be pain, and Jaime says he’ll scream. Qyburn says there’ll be a great deal of pain, and Jaime replies that he’ll scream loudly. He does, in fact, scream as Qyburn begins to trim away the flesh.
Littlefinger is walking alone in King’s Landing when Queen Cersei interrupts him. She asks for a chance to speak with him, and asks for a favor. She believes the Tyrells are suspicious. He asks if she’s shared her concern with Tywin, but she replies that her father appreciates facts, to which Littlefinger replies that he often finds them a hindrance. She ignores that remark, pressing on with talk of her father’s generosity to those who help them… and his ruthlessness to this who don’t. She requests that Baelish look into what the Tyrells are up to before he departs for the Vale. He agrees, saying he’ll do his best, and she says that that will be better than when he tried and failed to find Arya. Littlefinger assures her that that will be the case.
In a chamber in the Red Keep, Tyrion is meeting with Lady Olenna while Podrick serves. She asks for figs, and then tells Tyrion she always take them mid-afternoon, as they help with bowel movement. She then asks why Tyrion has summoned her, and he says it’s financial matters: the royal wedding is being described as extravagant. Olenna replies that extravagant is no good as a word if it can’t be used to describe a royal wedding. Tyrion understands that, but continues that as master of coin he’s found the expense enormous and the war means they can’t afford it. Olenna runs through contributions the Tyrells have made to the war effort, with exact figures for men, horses, food, and animals. She tells him she needs no lectures on the war, as she’s well aware of the facts. Tyrion replies that they are grateful for what they’ve done, for the preservation of the realm, and she says that a royal wedding is a part of that preservation: “The people are hungry for more than just food. They crave distractions.”
She feels a royal wedding is much safer than riots. He is forced to agree. She then adds that traditionally the royal family pays for royal weddings. She pauses and tells Tyrion he’s been told she’s drunk, impertinent, and thoroughly debauched. She then tells him that she’s disappointed to find him only a brow-beaten bookkeeper. Just then Pod enters with the figs, and she testily asks if he went to Volantis to fetch them. She takes a bite and then finally offers to pay for half the expenses. She gets up and goes, and departs without any further pleasantries.
In the brotherhood’s hideout, Gendry is trying to mend Lord Beric’s armor as Arya asks what he’s doing. He explains that he means to stay with them and smith for them. Arya thinks he’s mad and says he’ll be killed when the Lannisters capture them. He replies that the Lannisters have wanted to kill him since long before he joined the brotherhood. He says that they need good men. Arya persists, saying Robb needs good men too, and once they get to Riverrun—but Gendry asks what will happen then. Will he serve Robb? He served Tobho Mott, and he sold him to the Night’s Watch. He served Tywin Lannister at Harrenhal, and every day he wondered if that was the day he’d be tortured or killed. He’s done serving, he says. Arya replies that he means to serve Lord Beric, but Gendry says that while he’s the leader of the men, they chose him, they’re brothers, a family… and he’s never had a family.
Arya turns back and tells him she could be his family, but Gendry replies that she wouldn’t be his family, she’d be “m’lady.” She leaves.
In Riverrun, there’s the sound of swords clashing and screaming outside the cell of Willem and Martyn Lannister… and then Rickard Karstark and his men burst in, and murder the two Lannister boys after having killed one or more of their guards.
In the lord’s chambers in Riverrun, the two boys are laid out as Robb and Talisa stare down at them, and Catelyn sits on a couch, seeming shocked. Robb commands the Blackfish to bring in Karstark and his four compatriots. Robb calls it murder, but Karstark denies it, saying it was vengeance. Robb says the squires did not kill Karstark’s sons. Lord Karstark replies that his son Torrhen was strangled by the Kingslayer. He goes on that they were kin to him, but Robb shouts that they were boys. He tells Karstark to look at their bodies, and Rickard retorts that he can tell his mother to look at them—Lady Catelyn killed them as sure as he did. Robb denies she had anything to do with it, that it was Karstark’s own treason. Karstark says it’s treason to free your enemies—you kill them in war, and he asks, “Did your father not teach you that, boy?”
For that, the Blackfish punches him in the face, knocking him down. Robb shouts for him to stop, to leave him, and Karstark says he expects he’ll leave him for Robb, who’ll scold him and set him freee. “That’s how he deals with treason,” he says, and asks if he should call him the King who lost the North. Robb has Lord Karstark sent to the dungeons, and orders the rest to be hanged. One protests, saying he didn’t kill anyone, he was only set to watch. Robb says he can be hanged last, so he can watch the other days. The man’s dragged away as he cries out that he was made to do it.
Robb sits after the men are gone. Edmure says that the Lannisters must never hear of this, and Robb wonders if Edmure means for him to be a liar. Edmure proposes they bury the boys quietly and keep silent until the war is done, but Robb says he can’t fight for justice if he does not bring justice to murderers in his own ranks. He must die, he determines. Catelyn immediately says that Karstarks are northmen, and will never forgive it; he’ll lose their support. Talisa concurs. Talisa goes on that they must have Karstark men to win the war, and Catelyn suggests holding Karstark as a hostage. Edmure agrees with this, suggesting that as long as the Karstarks remain loyal, Lord Karstark will not be harmed.
But then we see that Robb has made his decision. Lord Karstark is brought out into the rainy godswood of Riverrun, with Robb and his family awaiting. Rickard Karstark informs him that the blood of the First Men flows through his veins, much as it does in Robb’s. He fought the Mad King for Eddard, and Joffrey for Robb, and that they are kin, Karstark and Stark. Robb says that that didn’t stop him from betraying him, and this old kinship will not save him. Rickard retorts that he doesn’t want it to save him, he wants it to haunt Robb for the rest of his days. His final words are that Robb call kill him and be cursed: “You are no king of mine!” Robb cuts Karstark’s head off with a single sure blow of a sword. He throws the sword down, after, and walks away.
Arya is in the riverlands, repeating her prayer. “Joffrey, Cersei, Ilyn Payne, Ser Meryn, the Hound,” she says, staring into a fire. Thoros is on the other side, drinking. She asks him what will happen with her next. He informs her that they’ll take her to Riverrun where Robb will make a contribution to their cause, and they’ll turn her over. She says she’s a hostage and they’re selling her. He says she should not think of it that way, but she says it is that way. Thoros doesn’t argue further, and then says Lord Beric admired Eddard Stark greatly, and wanted to refuse the ransom entirely but it’s Thoros that has insisted because they need the gold. Just then, Beric arrives and sits himself down.
Beric asks her if he frightens her, and she says no. He goes on to say that he knows she’s angry, but he doesn’t blame her, and that letting him go was the right thing. He has more reason to most to want him hanged, he adds. She goes on to say that she thought he was killed—and he says he was, that the Lord of Light brought him back to life. Thoros reveals that Beric has been brought back five times—no, six with this latest. The first time was when the Mountain that Rides drove a lance through his chest. Beric opens his shirt to show the scar, and the other scars accompanying it as he lists his deaths: a blade in the belly, an arrow in the back, an ax in the side, a noose and a dagger in the eye. Beric remarks a Clegane has killed him twice, and Thoros quips that he thinks Beric would learn by now.
Then Beric reveals that each time he comes back, he’s a bit… less. Pieces of him, his humanity, are chipped away. Arya finally speaks again and asks if they can bring back a man without a head; not six times, just the once. Thoros sadly says that it doesn’t work that way. Beric then tells her that her father was a good man, and he’s at rest now, somewhere; he would not wish his life on him… but Arya says that she would.
In Dragonstone, Queen Selyse—wife of Stannis—prays at a fire to the Lord of Light. The flames are too hot and too close, but she persists despite the pain. As she finishes, her chamber door is opened, and Stannis enters. She reveals she’s prayed day and night for him to come to her. Stannis makes excuses, about the battles and the war, and she says she knows about these troubles thanks to Melisandre. Stannis goes deeper into her room, and she tells him not to despair, that he is the chosen champion of the one god and the finest man she’s ever known. Stannis tells her he’s broken a sacred vow, that he’s sinned and wronged and shamed her. She insists he’s doing god’s work, but he says she doesn’t understand. He tries to tell her that he’s slept with Melisandre…
... and Selyse reveals that she knows, that Melisandre told her. No service done in the name of the Lord of Light can be a sin, she insists. She reveals she wept with joy when she learned of it from Melisandre. She then moves past her husband to where three jars sit, insid of which are three infant bodies: my sweet boys, she calls them, naming them Petyr, Harmon, and Edric. She then turns back and tells him she thanks god every day for bringing Melisandre to them, that she gave Stannis a son while she says she’s given him nothing. He says that’s not true… and Selyse asks if that means he’s come to see his daughter as well. She tries to tell him there’s no need, that he needs to stay away from such distractions, but Stannis insists that she is his daughter and that he wants to see her. Selyse says that as a king, he does not need her permission.
As Stannis walks the halls of the citadel, a child’s voice can be heard singing a curious, nonsense song about birds with scales and fish with wings. We see Shireen, his daughter, singing to herself alone. When Stannis enters, she runs to him and hugs him… and when she stops, we see that half her face is disfigured with greyscale. Stannis says that she’s grown since he last saw her. Shireen says that her mother informed her that he had fought in a battle, and she asks if he won. He says he did not. She considers that, and then asks if the onion knight—Ser Davos—came back with him. Stannis pauses and then admits that he did, that he fought bravely. Shireen wonders why he hasn’t visited her, since he promised he’d bring her a present from King’s Landing. He tells her he won’t be visiting. She asks why, and says Davos is her friend. She takes a toy boat from a chest and tells her father that Davos made it for her. Stannis examines it, as Shireen tells him not to tell her mother, as Selyse does not like the onion knight.
Stannis hands the boat back… and tells his daughter that Davos is a traitor, and he’s rotting in a dungeon cell for his crime. Shireen looks down, not knowing what to say. Stannis tells her that it’d be best to forget Davos, and then departs.
In Harrenhal, Brienne is scrubbing herself in a bath when Jaime enters and tells her not to scrub so hard, she’ll scrub the skin off. She asks what he’s doing there, and he says he needs a bath. An attendant helps him undress, as Brienne looks away. Jaime tells the man to leave him as he takes off the rest of his clothing and then walks haltingly to the tub where Brienne is washing. She protests, saying there’s another, but he says that one suits him fine. He gets in, as she squeezes herself into a corner. He tells her not to worry, that he’s not interested. He keeps the stump of his right arm above the water, and tells Brienne to pull him out of the water if he faints—he doesn’t intend to be the first Lannister to drown in a bath.
Brienne wonders why she could care how Jaime dies. Jaime reminds her that she swore a solemn vow to bring him to King’s Landing in one piece… but that hasn’t gone so well. He starts to say that it’s no wonder that Renly die with her there to protect him, but she stands up angrily, looming over him and glaring. Jaime apologizes, saying it was unworthy. He tells her that she protected him better than most. He wants to call a truce, and she says you need trust to call a truce. Jaime reveals he trusts her. She sits back down after a moment… and Jaime notices the look she has on her face.
He says he’s seen that look on many faces over the years, since he killed Aerys. Everyone despises him—kingslayer, oathbreaker, man without honor—and then he asks if she’s heard about wildfire. He tells her that the Mad King was obsessed with it, that he loved how it looked as he burned men alive. He burned lords, Hands, anyone who was against him. Before long, Jaime says, half the realm was against him. He reveals Aerys saw traitors everywhere… so he had the pyromancers place caches of widlfire throughout the city: beneath the Great Sept of Baelor, the slums of Flea Bottom, houses, stables, taverns, and even the Red Keep.
When Robert marched on King’s Landing, Lord Tywin had arrived with an army first and promised to defend the city against the rebels. Jaime says he knew his father better than that—Tywin is not one to pick the losing side—and he told Aerys as much, urging him to surrender peacefully. Aerys refused, however, even when Varys tried to warn him. Instead he listened to Grand Maester Pycelle, Jaime reveals. Pycelle told him that Aerys can trust the Lannisters. So the gates were opened… and the host sacked the city. Again Jaime begged that Aerys surrender, but Aerys instead told him to bring him Lord Tywin’s head before turning to a pyromancer and told him to, “Burn them all. Burn them in their homes, burn them in their beds.”
Jaime asks Brienne if she would have killed her own father and stood by while thousands burned alive if Renly had ordered her to do so. Jaime killed the pyromancer first, he says, and then he killed Aerys as the Mad King turned to flee. “Burn them all,” Aerys kept saying as he died. Jaime believes Aerys thought he’d rise again as a dragon, rather than die in the flames. Jaime then slit his throat, he says, to make sure that couldn’t happen. That’s where Eddard Stark found him, he tells her.
Brienne asks why Jaime never told anyone, especially Lord Stark. Jaime wonders if Eddard Stark would want to hear his side. He knew Eddard had judged him guilty the moment he laid eyes on him. “By what right does the wolf judge the lion?” he asks angrily, even as the stress and pain of his injury and the subsequent fever begins to overwhelm him. Brienne rushes to him as he starts to slip down in the water, keeping his head above water as she calls, “Help! The Kingslayer!” Jaime gasps, “Jaime. My name’s Jaime.”
In the dungeon of the citadel of Dragonstone, Davos is woken up by Shireen, calling to him. He asks what she’s doing there, and she says that Davos has to be quiet, that he’ll wake the guard. Davos tells her to leave immediately, she’s not supposed to be there, but she stops him and asks if it’s true that he’s a traitor. He admits it is true, that he disobeyed Stannis and he’s paying the price. Shireen insists she doesn’t care and that he’s her friend. She tries to give him a book about the Aegon and the Targaryens, but Davos refuses. When she insists, he tells her that doesn’t know how to read. She insists that she’ll teach him, that it’s easy. She adds that what’s the worst that they can do if they catch her, look them in cells? Davos laughs at that, and Shireen smiles. Davos then says he doesn’t know where to start, and she tells him to start at beginning as she starts to show him, telling him the book is called the History of Aegon the Conqueror and the Conquest of Westeros.
In Essos, the Unsullied are marching through a desert oasis. Ser Jorah and Ser Barristan are speaking of the siege of Pyke. Barristan remarks Jorah was the first through the breach, but Jorah corrects him and says he was the second: Thoros of Myr was the first through the breach in the walls, having that flaming sword of his. Barristan laughs and calls him a madman, before noting that Robert knighted Jorah after the battle. Jorah says it was the proudest moment of his life, but all he could think of as Robert charged him to be brave that he needed to empty his bladder. He had been in full armor for sixteen hours, and it was only after the fighting was done and he was one his knee that he realized how much he had to go. Barristan says that Robert would have laughed, and concludes that Robert was a good man, a great warrior… but a terrible king. Barristan says he wasted away his years fighting for terrible kings.
Jorah replies that Barristan swore vows, and Barristan says he did, and a man of honor keeps them even if he’s serving a drunk or a lunatic. Barristan hopes that once in his life, he hopes that he’ll be able to fight for someone he really believes in. He then asks Jorah if he believes in Daenerys. Jorah looks back to where she is dismounting her horse to meet the officers chosen by the Unsullied. She asks to meet their chief officer, and a young Unsullied presents himself. He reveals his name as Grey Worm, the slave name he had, names that remind them of what they are. Daenerys insists that the Unsullied can take what names they want, and urges them to take on new names, to throw aside the slave names and carry names that give them pride. Grey Worm says that the name his parents gave him is accursed—it is the name he had when he was made a slave—but that Grey Worm is a lucky name, because it is the name he had when he was freed.
Jorah and Barristan are seen continuing their conversation, and Jorah is remarking that Robert wanted Daenerys dead. Barristan says that of course he did, as she was a Targaryen, and the last Targaryen at that. Jorah wonders why someone on the small council didn’t speak sense to him, and Barristan—knowing that is a jibe at him—notes he didn’t sit on the small council. Despite tradition giving the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard a seat there, he reveals that Robert did not follow that tradition with him, probably because Barristan killed a dozen of his friends during the rebellion. He adds that Robert did not want political advice from a man who fought for the Mad King, but in truth, he didn’t mind so much; he does not like politics. Jorah agrees that hours jabbering about intrigue and betrayals would be a trial. Barristan agrees with a sound, and Jorah gives him a long glance before he goes on, saying Daenerys will have to deal with these things if she means to win the Iron Throne.
Barristan says she’ll have good, experienced men to advise her. Jorah wonders which men he has in mind. Barristan tells him—after apologizing—that Jorah’s reputation is not a good one, after he sold men into slavery. Barristan thinks Jorah at Dany’s side will not help “our cause.” Jorah wonders at how it’s now “our cause”, noting that he was defending Daenerys when Barristan was still bowing to Robert. Barristan asks if they both want her to rule, and Jorah says that as Barristan has only joined them a few days before and he can’t vouch for his intentions. Barristan insists that if they’re truly loyal to her, they must do what needs to be done, no matter the cost or their pride. Jorah, now combative, reminds Barristan he’s not Lord Commander here, that he’s just another exile, and Jorah takes his orders from the queen.
In Riverrun, Robb is staring at the map of the Seven Kingdoms. Talisa tries to get him to come to bed, and a tired, upset Robb tells her she was right: the Karstarks are gone, and with them almost half of his forces. Tywin now needs to do nothing to watch the Stark army unravel, only wait. Talisa tells him not to let Tywin wait. Robb can’t see how to do that—they’ll be crushed if they attack King’s Landing. Talisa suggests they could go north, to take the land back from the Greyjoys and wait out the winter. Robb replies that could take five years, and the northmen will never ride south again after years with their families. He goes on to say that they had had a purpose and mission when he first gathered them, but now they’re aimless. Talisa suggests he give them a new purpose, but she doesn’t know what that might be. She notes that she isn’t even sure where Winterfell is.
Robb stares at the map awhile longer, and then takes her hand and shows her where they are, where King’s Landing, and… He pauses, considering the map a bit longer. He moves to it again, and then says he realizes what he can do: he can’t force Tywin to meet him in the field, he can’t attack where they’re strongest… but he can attack where they’re not. He can attack Casterly Rock, and take their home away from them. She asks if he can really do it. Robb replies that he could, but he needs men to replace the Karstarks who marched home… and there’s only one person with that kind of army who hasn’t sided with the Lannisters, Walder Frey, the man whose daughter he was supposed to marry.
In King’s Landing, Sansa and Margaery watch Loras practicing at swords with another young knight. Sansa remarks that Loras is a splendid fighter, and then asks how soon before she can leave for Highgarden and marry Loras. Margaery assures her that she’ll plant the seeds of the idea soon, and it should happen quickly. Sansa replies that Joffrey will not let her leave, that he has too many reasons to keep her. Margaery replies that he does have one reason to let her go, however: because it will please Margaery. Loras then calls for a squire to give him refreshment. The handsome young man, whom Loras has never seen before, introduces him as Olyvar and compliments his skill as he then helps remove his armor….
... and then we see Olyvar and Loras in bed together. Loras asks how Olyvar knew that he wanted to sleep with him. Olyvar rolls out of the bed naked, and goes to drink some wine as Loras tells him that he’s to be wed soon, and that his intended doesn’t even know it. Olyvar replies that they rarely do, in his experience. Loras moves up behind him and asks if he has a good deal of experience.. and Olyvar turns and pushes him back into bed as he tells him that he has, with their husbands.
Then we see Olyvar ... with Lord Baelish, in Baelish’s chambers. Littlefinger remarks that that did not take long. Olyvar says it took long enough, and then says that the Knight of Flowers is engaged to be wed. Littlefinger wonders who it might be.
We then see Sansa seeing a ship coming into harbor, and Littlefinger tells her it’s not the grandest ship in the world, nor the fastest, but she’s hers. He invites Sansa to sit and tells her the always wanted a ship, and now he wants a dozen. He says it’s strange that it doesn’t matter what one wants, that once you have it, you want something else. Then he says that Sansa’s hair seems different. She questions that, and Littlefinger tells her that she’s wearing it as Margaery does. Sansa replies many women are wearing it that way. Littlefinger changes the subject and says he has good news, that he’s leaving soon. She asks if he still wants her to go with him, but he says the question is what she wants. He asks if she wants to go home. She insists she does… but then she suggests that it may be better to wait, that she’s been thinking about how dangerous it might be both for her and for Lord Baelish. He says he can’t tell her how touched he is by her concern, and hopes she knows he’s her true friend. He insists she call him Petyr. He tells her that if she wishes to stay, then of course she’ll stay. He promises to speak again with her when he returns.
Tyrion arrives at Lord Tywin’s chambers, only to find his sister there before him. He wonders what she’s doing there, and Tywin says that what they’re discussing concerns her as well. Tyrion proceeds to inform him that after his conversation with the Tyrells, he’s saved them hundreds of thousands of dragons on this wedding. Tywin tells him to never mind that, that they have something more important to discuss. Tyrion argues that as master of coin, saving money is important. Cersei, silent all this time, simply stares and smiles at him… something Tyrion notes, and asks her to stop doing it. Tywin reveals that Cersei has learned that the Tyrells are plotting to marry Sansa to Ser Loras. Tyrion doesn’t seem bothered, though notes she’s not really to Ser Loras’s tastes but they’ll make do.
Tywin is angry that the Tyrells are trying to steal the key the North from under him, after all he’s done for them. Tyrion notes she has an older brother, but Tywin informs him that the Karstarks have marched home, that the Young Wolf has lost half his army and his days are numbered, and his brothers were killed by Theon Greyjoy which makes Sansa heir to Winterfell. He doesn’t intend to hand her to the Tyrells. Tyrion replies that the Tyrells have helped them win the war, and he wonders if it’s wise to refuse them. Tywin notes that there’s nothing to refuse, as it’s a plot. If they act first, the Tyrells can’t say anything against it. Tyrion asks, doubtful, how they can do that… and Tywin says that they just need to find her another husband. Tyrion sighs at that notion, dismissing it with a sarcastic, “Wondeful”...
... only for Cersei to say it is, as she smiles at him and it dons on him that he’s to be Sansa’s husband. He looks to his father and says he can’t mean it. Tyrion insists that her life has been miserable since Joffrey took her father’s head, and giving her to him is cruel, even for his father. Tywin asks if Tyrion means to mistreat her, but then adds that her happiness does not concern him, nor should it be Tyrion’s. Tyrion protests she’s a child, and Cersei tells him that she’s flowered. With that, Tywin says he’ll wed her, bed her, and put a child in her. Tyrion asks what happens if he refuses, and Tywin points out that Tyrion wanted a reward for his valor in battle, and now he has a far finer one than he could have expected. And then, he notes, it’s about time Tyrion was wed.
“I was wed,” Tyrion replies, tense. Tywin stares at him… and then tells him he remembers that only too well. Cersei tells him that it’s more than he deserves. Tywin presses on, saying Tyrion will do as he’s told ... as will Cersei, as he reveals that she’ll marry Ser Loras in Sansa’s stead. She refuses, but Tywin tells her that as heir to Highgarden, the marriage will secure the Reach for them, as Tyrion’s will secure the North. She again insists she won’t, and her father tells her she will. She must marry again and breed. She argues she’s no brood mare, and he says that she’s his daughter and will do as she’s told. She’ll wed, she’ll breed, and put an end to the disgusting rumors about her once and for all. She begs Tywin not to make her wed again, and he stands up, telling her not to say another word. “My children,” he says. “You’ve disgraced the Lannister name for far too long.” He departs, leaving Tyrion and Cersei.