Westeros
The 'A Song of Ice and Fire' Domain
GoT
EP404: Oathkeeper
Dany balances justice and mercy after taking control of Meereen. Jaime tasks Brienne with his honor. Jon secures volunteers while Bran, Jojen, Meera and Hodor stumble on shelter.
Index
Recap
In a tent, Grey Worm practices the Common Tongue of Westeros with the help of Missandei. He explains he cames from the Summer Isles. He asks in Valyrian where Missandei came from. She replies she came from Naath. She remembers when she was rowed away from the shore, taken by slavers. She remembers her burning village as well. As she speaks, Grey Worm’s hand creeps nearer to hers, fingers touching for an instant before she pulls her hand away. She asks if he remembers his home, and he says he does not, that he has always been an Unsullied in his memories. She insists that one day he might return to the Summer Isles, but he says he does not wish to. Instead, after questioning her in Valyrian, he states what drives him now: “Kill the masters.”
Daenerys enters then, escorted by Ser Barristan Selmy. She asks after the lessons and Grey Worm replies in the Common Tongue, “Missandei is teacher good, my queen.” Daenerys smiles at his effort, but then grows more serious, informing him that it is time. Grey Worm follows her out, though pauses to glance back to Missandei before leaving.
It is night, and we see the harpy atop the largest of the pyramids of Meereen as we see the bay beyond its walls… and the fact that men dressed as slaves, carrying bags, are running across its shallows for an opening in the walls, a portcullis-protected sewer. Grey Worm leads the men, and with them forces the portcullis open so that they can enter. Within slave quarters in Meereen, a group of male slaves argue among themselves about revolting in the wake of Daenerys’s arrival. One younger slave is outspoken on the topic, while older men refer to the fact that they have lived through past slave revolts, but that they always end the same way: the Masters in power and the slaves dead.
Then Grey Worm enters, with the other men. He states, “Valar morghulis.” He promises them that a day of freedom is worth more than a life in chains. They ask who he is, and he identifies himself, stating he is an Unsullied trained in Astapor who now fights for Daenerys, the Mother of Dragons and Breaker of Chains. They respond that he was trained to fight all his life, while they are not soldiers, and have neither weapons not training. At that, Grey Worm and the other Unsullied with him throw down their bags, and reveal them to contain knives and short swords. The Meereneese slaves look on them in wonder, as Grey Worm informs them that there are three slaves in Meereen for every Master. Daenerys will not give them their freedom—no one can—but if they wish it, they must take it.
A Master walks with two slave guards through the narrow streets of Meereen until they come across writing on the wall: “Kill the Masters,” seemingly written in blood. The Master is shocked and wonders at it, when the guards point something else out, gesturing to the great pyramid. The Master turns to look, and can see a banner draped over the harpy at the pinnacle of the pyramid, a banner bearing the three-headed dragon of House Targaryen. Just then, groups of slaves carrying knives appear from all directions. The guards flee, and being slaves as well are allowed to escape. The Master is not so fortunate, however, as the slaves close in on all sides, knives rising and falling.
The next morning, crowds of slaves shout, “Mhysa! Mhysa!” as they greet Daenerys to the city, its gates flung open, its Masters gathered up as prisoners by the sellswords of the Second Sons whom Daario brought to her. Daenerys climbs up a walk way with Barristan and Jorah, to look down on the Masters. She says, “Remind me, Ser Jorah. How many children did hte Great Masters nail to mileposts?” Jorah says it was 163. Daenerys agrees… and then looks to Grey Worm. At that, Grey Worm nods to another on the Unsullied, and he shouts commands. Barristan, troubled, asks for a word with Daenerys. They move apart and he informs her that the city is hers now, and that all of its people are now her subjects. “Sometimes it is better to answer injustice with mercy,” he suggests. Daenerys replies, firmly, “I will answer injustice with justice.”
The next we see are the screams of men in agony, as the Masters are nailed to crosses, spikes driven through a hand. The screams continue, seeming to reach even to the height of the great pyramid as Daenerys stands above it all, looking down on her conquered city, the Targaryen banner still flying from the harpy.
In King’s Landing, Jaime spars with Bronn, and seems to be regaining some of his confidence as he gives his sword a flourish before trying a thrust. The two lock blades for a moment, and Jaime grins, pleased—until Bronn grabs his metal hand, rips it from his arm, and strikes him across the face with it. Jaime falls to the ground with a groan. Pushing himself up he complains, “What the hell was that?” Bronn tells him that that was him knocking Jaime to the dirt with his own hand. Bronn tosses the hand back to him, and Jaime replies snidely that Bronn has a talent when fighting cripples, anyway. Bronn goes to fetch a skin of wine as Jaime laces his hand back his hand. Bronn replies that Jaime learned to fight like a “good little boy”, and he’s sure that thrust went through the Mad King’s Back “pretty as a picture”. But does Jaime want to fight prettily, or does he want to win? As Bronn rejoins Jaime, Jaime asks if Bronn speaks to Tyrion that way.
“All the time,” Bronn replies as he offers the skin to Jaime, and sits beside him. He claims Tyrion got used to it. Jaime asks if Bronn believes Tyrion is guilty of Joffrey’s murder, and Bronn immediately says no. He admits Tyrion hated Joffrey, but then again, who didn’t? He adds that neither poison nor murder are Tyrion’s style. He then suggests that Jaime should ask him himself. Jaime is silent at that, giving him an awkward glance. Bronn realizes it means Jaime has yet to see Tyrion.
In response, Jaime throws the skin back and tells him they’re done for today. As he walks away, Bronn asks if Tyrion ever told Jaime how he came into his service. Jaime is aware: Bronn stood for him in the trial by combat in the Eyrie. Bronn says that’s true, but that was only when Lady Arryn insisted the combat must take place that very day. He stands and informs Bronn that in fact, Jaime had been Tyrion’s first choice. That gives Jaime pause, and he turns back to Bronn. Bronn explains that Tyrion named Jaime his champion because he knew Jaime would have ridden night and day to save him. “You gonna fight for him now?” he finishes.
Inside a prison cell, Jaime is informing Tyrion that his conditions are not so bad, comparing it favorably to his own conditions when he was a prisoner of the Starks, chained to a wooden post. Tyrion doesn’t find that very reassuring. Jaime apologies for not having visited sooner. Tyrion acknowledges that the situation is complicated, and then after a moment asks how Cersei is. Jaime leaves it to his imagination how she must feel after her eldest son died in her arms. “Her son?” Tyrion asks, knowing. “Don’t,” Jaime replies. They go on to other matters, such as the fact that Tyrion will be on trial for regicide. He complains that the whole kingdom already believes him guilty, and he knows that one of the three judges has wished him dead many times beore… and that judge is his own father. He then adds that Cersei is likely trying to avoid a trial all together, by arranging Tyrion’s murder.
Jaime admits that Cersei asked him to kill Tyrion. Tyrion asks if he should turn around and close his eyes at that. Jaime says it depends on whether he did it nor not. Tyrion quips, “The Kingslayer brothers.” He says he likes the sound of it… but then asks if Jaime is truly asking if Tyrion killed Jaime’s son. Jaime replies, “Are you really asking if I’d kill my brother?” A pregnant pause, and then he asks how he can help Tyrion. Tyrion suggests Jaime could free him. Jaime says he can’t, and at that Tyrion gets up, frustrated, and says there’s nothing Jaime can do. Jaime asks what Tyrion expects him to do, kill the guards and ferret him out of the city? He’s the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard. Tyrion facetiously apologizes, saying that he’d hate for Jaime to do something inappropriate. Jaime testily replies that Tyrion is accused of murdering the king, that freeing him would be treason. But Tyrion replies that he did not in fact kill Joffrey. “Which is why we’re having a trial,” Jaime replies. Tyrion casts doubts on the trial, saying that if the true killer stepped forward and irrefutably confessed to the crime, it would not matter a whit to Cersei. “She won’t rest until my head’s on a spike,” he says.
Jaime adds that she wants more than just Tyrion’s head, she’s offered a knighthood to any man who finds Sansa Stark. Tyrion dismisses Sansa as a culprit. Jaime suggests otherwise, that she has more reason than anyone to kill Joffrey, and then asks if Tyrion believes it is coincidence that she disappeared the very same night? Tyrion says it’s not coincidence… but she’s not the killer. “Not yet, anyway.”
Littlefinger comes down from the main deck of the ship to join Sansa in her cabin. Sansa asks where she’s being taken, and Baelish replies that they’re going to her aunt Lysa, whom he’ll be marrying at the Eyrie. He tells her she’ll be safe there. Sansa nods, and considers that before asking if Littlefinger killed Joffrey. He questions that, pointingo ut he’s been in the Vale for weeks. Sansa refuses to be gainsayed, so Littlefinger asks instead who helped him in his alleged conspiracy. She considers and points out Dontos, as Littlefinger used him to get her out of the city.. but she knows he’d never trust him to kill Joffrey, because Littlefinger would not trust such a task to a drunk. Baelish suggests it was Tyrion instead, but Sansa immediately denies it, certain that it wasn’t Tyrion for reasons of her own.
Petyr Baelish admits she’s right, that Tyrion was not involved… but that she was. She looks surprised and shocked as he asks her if she remembers the necklace Dontos gave her, the one he revealed he had commissioned. He asks if she noticed that a stone was missing. Sansa’s thinks through that, and realizes that the stone contained the poison. She’s shocked as she asks why he did it, when the Lannisters gave him wealth and power, and Joffrey made him Lord of Harrenhal. “A man with no motive is a man no one suspects,” Littlefinger replies. He tells her to always keep your enemies confused, because if they don’t know who you are or what your goals are, they can’t know what you’ll do next. Sansa is doubtful, not seeing how he could risk so much—his own head on a spike, like her father’s, even—just to confuse the Lannisters.
Littlefinger comes nearer and explains that many men risk so little, avoiding danger, while he will risk everything for what he wants. He tocuhes her shoulder as he says it. She asks what he wants. His hand runs down her arm… and then he explains, simply, “Everything.” He turns away, walking to the other side of the cabin. He admits that his association with the Lannisters was useful, but Joffrey was vicious and too unreliable. Sansa asks who would trust Littlefinger to conspire with them, and he explains that his “new friends” are predictable and very reasonable. He explains that Joffrey’s death was something they wanted very badly… and there’s nothing like a thoughtful gift “to make a new friendship grow strong.”
Those last words are said as we cut to a garden in the Red Keep, where Margaery and Olenna walk arm in arm. Margaery can’t believe her grandmother is departing the city, but Olenna replies that she’ll find the trial too tedious. The gardens are tedious too, she says, and she’s soon ready to throw herself from the cliffs. Margaery laughs, as the two enter the pavilion. Olenna asks if her granddaughter has seen Tommen yet, and Margaery says no, and wonders if the Lannisters have even agreed to marry Tommen to her while lamenting that she’s never informed of anything. Olenna then expounds on the fact that Margaery’s grandfather, Lord Luthor Tyrell, was originally intended to wed her sister, while Olenna herself was to wed a Targaryen prince. “Marrying a Targaryen was all the rage back then,” she quips. She explains that the Targaryen prince, with his “twitcky little ferret’s face and ludicrous silver hair” wouldn’t do. So she contrived to seduce Luthor the night before his betrothal to her sister instead. Allegedly he could not walk after a night spent with her, and after that he wanted only Olenna.
Lady Olenna then says she was very, very good… but advises Margaery that she’s better, but she must act quickly if she wishes to marry Tommen. “Cersei may be vicious, but she’s not stupid,” she informs her granddaughter, assuring her Cersei will turn Tommen against Margaery as soon as she can to try and limit her influence if they do wed… but fortunately, she says, Cersei is distracted with mourning for her dead son. Olenna informs Margaery that Tyrion didn’t commit the murder, and Margaery disagrees, saying he could have. Lady Olenna reveals the truth: she knows who killed Joffrey, because Margaery surely didn’t think Olenna would allow her to “marry that beast”. Margaery is shocked, not able to believe what she’s heard. Olenna reassures her not to worry about it, as she reaches to adjust Margaery’s necklace, and tells her to do what must be done.
In the yard of Castle Black, Jon and Grenn are sparring before a group of recruits, demonstrating fighting techniques. Grenn’s a better sword than he was when he and Jon were new recruits. Among the recruits watching are Olly, the boy whose family and fellow villagers were slaughtered by the wildlings, and Locke. Jon turns to them and notes that some wildlings fight with a weapon in each hand, and hands Grenn a second sword. Jon explains that the first step is to disarm them to try and even the odds, and the two demonstrate, with Jonn swiftly disarming Grenn and then finishing the fight by catching his swordarm and holding his sword to his throat. The two grin at one another, and Jon turns to the recruits. Olly steps forward to volunteer, but Jon tells the boy to watch for now. The boy insists he can fight, that he was the best archer in his village. This leads the others to laugh, but Grenn believes him, and says he’ll take the boy hunting rabbits some day but that for now the boy should watch and learn.
Jon gestures and picks out two men, a big recruit and Locke. He gives the recruit two swords, and tells then to take it slowly and try to disarm one another. The fight is over almost before it begins, as Locke swiftly disarms him of one sword and then with a single punch knocks him unconscious. Jon joins him and remarks that Locke obviously knows how to fight, but that he could have gone easier. Locke replies that the recruit wouldn’t have learned anything if he had. Ser Alliser Thorne interrupts them, accusingly asking Jon what he’s up to. Jon explains he and Grenn were trying to help the recruits, but Thorne reminds him that while Grenn is a ranger, he’s a steward.
He crudely suggests he forgot that while he was with his “wildling bitch”, but he hasn’t. Jon retorts that someone needs to train them, and Thorne agrees… but that person isn’t Jon. He suggests he find some chamber pot to empty. Jon steps up to Thorne, glaring at him for a long moment. Thorne dares him to do something “you traitor’s bastard”. A long, tense moment… and then Jon walks away. Alliser tells the recruits to get back to work.
Janos Slynt joins Ser Alliser, and remarks that Jon is well-liked, while Thorne isn’t. Ser Alliser says he doesn’t care, not when they’re at war. But Slynt points that that may not always be the case… and he may can’t always be acting lord commander. There’ll have to be a choosing at some point, that Maester Aemon will insist on it. He suggests Thorne reconsider his refusal to send any men to deal with the mutineers at Craster’s keep, that the mutineers might manage to kill Jon and so get him out of Thorne’s way. The two exchange a look, and Thorne eventually walks away while Slynt watches.
Jon Snow takes up another sword from a rack when Locke joins him. Locke says he’s surprised that he’s a bastard, as he took him for a highborn nobleman. Jon says his father was noble, but his mother wasn’t. Locke introduces himself by name, and offers his hand. Jon takes it and replies with his own name. When Jon asks how he ended up on the Wall, Locke explains he was a game warden in the stormlands, but was caught feeding a partridge to his starving children and chose the Wall over losing a hand. He adds that he supposed he wouldn’t have to “suck up to highborn cunts” on the Wall, but they both look on Thorne shouting angry, impatient orders like the martinet that he is, and Locke supposes he was wrong.
In the Red Keep, Cersei sits alone, pouring wine into a cup. There’s knocking on the door, which Cersei ignores as she drinks. The door opens and Jaime asks, “You sent for me, Your Grace?” Cersei remarks on how formal he is. Then she asks how many Kingsguard are posted at Tommen’s door. Jaime replies that Ser Boros is on duty this night, and starts that tomorrow knight it will be a different Kingsguard as he shuts the door and enters teh chamber. Cersei interrupts him, asking if he means just one man is guarding the future king. Jaime assures her Tommen is safe, that he’s being protected, and she asks if he means that he’s protecting him as he protected Joffrey. Jaime has no answer to that, and Cersei instead asks why Catelyn Stark set him free. The question takes Jaime by surprise. She says she’s wondered “for months”, ever since “that great cow” brought Jaime to King’s Landing. She asks again what Catelyn hoped to gain. Jaime replies that she hoped Jaime would send her daughters back to her.
Cersei gets up from her seat and approaches Jaime, wondering if she just hoped or if he promised. He admits he swore by all the gods, and she sneers at his making a sacred vow to an enemy. Jaime replies that he wanted to get back to Cersei. “Should I have told her to fuck off?” he asks her. Cersei then asks if he meant it, and if he has any loyalty to Catelyn Stark. Jaime replies that Catelyn’s dead. At that, Cersei asks if he’d go and find Sansa and bring Cersei the head of “that murderous little bitch”, would he do it? Jaime doesn’t respond, staring at her. A long moment passes, and Cersei instead remarks that she knows he went to see Tyrion, and she emphasizes the fact that “that creature” murdered their son. Jaime replies that he had to see him, that he had to know for himself. Cersei asks what the result of that was… and Jaime approaches his sister as he earnestly tells her that Tyrion didn’t do it.
Cersei replies bitterly, that Jaime’s always pittied their brother. She walks away from him, continuing with how Tyrion’s been abused, despised by his father and Cersei as well. She finishes by saying that Tyrion woudl kill them all if he had the chance. She turns back to Jaime after another swallow of wine, commanding that there be four men at Tommen’s door, day and night. She turns away again, and Jaime starts to move toward her, but she adds, “That will be all, Lord Commander.” Jaime leaves unhappily.
In Tommen’s chambers, the youth sleeps when he’s woken by the sound of a door opening. He calls out, “Ser Pounce?” He’s nervous, and then he sees Margaery entering with a candle to lgiht the way. He asks how she got past the Kingsguard, and Margaery asks facetiously, “Kingsguard?” She approaches his bedside as he says that his mother allows him no visitors at night, but Margaery replies she’s not a visitor, that word is she’ll be his bride. She adds that nobles in arranged marriages often don’t meet before their wedding day. She sits on his bed as she suggests that before they spend their lives together, they ought to know one another. Tommen agrees, but then nervously starts that if his mother finds out—Margaery interrupts him, and says it can be their secret. She remarks, with a smile, that if they’re to be man and wife, they’ll likely have a few secrets from Cersei. She asks him to confide a secret to her, when a cat jumps on the bed. She’s surprised, and pets the cat. He informs her that that’s Ser Pounce.
Tommen adds that Joffrey didn’t like the cat, and once threatend to skin him alive and mix his remains in with his food so he wouldn’t know he was eating him. Margaery replies that that was cruel, but that she doesn’t think Tommen is cruel. She says that’s a relief, and asks if Tommen knows what happens when they marry. Tommen eagerly replies that they’ll say their vows, and there’ll be a feast, but she stops him and says that what will happen is that she will be his forever. Then, saying it’s late, Margaery says she must go but asks to visit again. Tommen nods, and Margaery leans forward quite close. She tells Tommen to remember… it’s their little secret. They stare, and she moves in closer. He closes his eyes… and she moves to kiss him on the forehead before departing. After watching her leave, Tommen lies back down to sleep, smiling.
In the chamber of the Kingsguard that next morning, Brienne reads Jaime’s entry in the White Book. It recounts his knighting at the age of 16, his murder of Aerys II, his pardon at Robert’s hand, and his now being known as the Kingslayer. That is the end of the entry, and Jaime remarks that it’s the duty of the Lord Commander to fill out the pages. Looking at his Valyrian steel sword on a rack, he adds, “And there’s still room left on mine.” Then he goes to the sword to take it up, and offers it to Brienne. She marvels at it, and is shocked when Jaime says it’s hers. She immediately replies she can’t accept it, and Jaime explains it was reforged from Ned Stark’s sword, Ice, and that means Brienne will be using it to defend Ned Stark’s daughter. He notes Brienne also swore an oath to see the Stark girls returned to Catelyn. With Lady Catelyn dead, and Arya too probably, he says that there’s a chance still to find Sansa and get her to safety.
Brienne is left speechless, so Jaime presents another gift, unveiling a suit of fine black plate armor. He quips that he hopes he had Brienne’s measurements down correctly, and Brienne promises that she’ll find Sansa. She adds that she’ll do it for Lady Catelyn… and for Jaime. There’s a silence as Jaime registers the words… and then he recalls he has one more gift.
Outside of the city, Jaime presents Podrick Payne to Brienne. Brienne complains she doesn’t need a squire, and Jaime dismisses it. Besides, he says, Tyrion owes Podrick a debt, and Podrick isn’t safe—Brienne will be keeping him out of harm’s way by taking him with her. Podrick pipes up, “I won’t slow you down, ser.” Then, after an awkward pause, changes it to, “My lady.” Bronn approaches him and gives Podrick a parting gift from Tyrion: his battle-axe from the Blackwater. Podrick looks proudly on it, but Bronn breaks the moment by asking if Podrick’s waiting for a kiss, and then tells him to ready Brienne’s horse.
As Podrick goes to do so, Jaime and Brienne hav a few last words. Jaime remarks that the best swords have names, and asks if Brienne has one. “Oathkeeper,” she says. Jaime nods silently at that. The two look at one another for a long moment, and then Jaime says goodbye to her. She nods, and goes to her horse. Jaime moves nearer to watch her and Podrick ride away from the city. Brienne looks back.
Beneath Castle Black, in a vault full of old scrolls, Samwell complains that he should have known that the wildlings would be approaching and that by taking Gilly to Mole’s Town, he’s in fact put her in more danger. Jon replies that Castle Black could be next, as he stares at a map. Jon insists that they have orders to stay at Castle Black, and when Samwell retorts that he remembers when Jon disobeyed orders and rode south to help Robb, Jon notes that he remembers who came after him and brought him back. He adds that he knows it’s hard, that when Samwell told him about Bran being beyond the Wall, all he could think of was going out to find him. Samwell tells Jon that he wished he could have convinced him to come back to Castle Black with him.
Jon looks at the map and wonders out loud how quickly they could travel. Samwell replies that Bran and his companions might have sought shelter at a wildling village, but Jon notes that the wildlings have all left to join Mance, with all the villages left deserted. Samwell moves to examine the map as well as Jon then thinks of one exception: Craster’s Keep. Unknown to them, Locke has arrived, overhearing them. Samwell wonders if Bran might have found Craster’s, when Locke speaks up and says that Alliser Thorne wants to see Jon. They leave. Jon is seen approaching Thorne as he dines in the barracks, and Ser Alliser abruptly informs him that he’s sanctioning Jon’s expedition beyond the Wall. He won’t order any men to go with Jon, however, that only volunteers can go. Jon turns to address the Watch, and calls for their attention, but at first they’re too busy eating and talking. Grenn pounds on the table loudly, and silence falls, and men look to Jonn then.
He explains his plan, to capture or kill the mutineers. He says thre’s 60 miles between Castle Black and Craster’s, that Mance has an army, but they must do this. He argues that their survival may depend on getting to the mutineers before Mance does, that they know the Wall and its defenses, and if Mance learns what they know, the atch is lost. Then he adds another argument: if they’re truly brothers, Mormont was their father, and they must avenge him. Jon asks who will join him. There’s a long hesitation, and then Grenn and Dolorous Edd stand up, and others follow. The last is Locke. Jon says he can’t take a recruit, but Locke replies that if there’s a fight coming, Jon will need men who know how to. Jon looks to Thorne, who brusquely nods, and Jon thanks them.
In Craster’s Keep, a woman whimpers, and what we see is horror: women being abused and raped, their pleas unheard as the mutineers have their way. A skull is lifted up, and raised by Karl to his lips as he drinks. He says to no one, “Karl Tanner from Gin Alley drinking wine from the skull of Jeor fucking Mormont.” He mocks the skull, pretending Mormont’s speaking, and then announces to the others that they’re to rape the women until they’re dead. One of the men grabs a half-naked woman and sets about raping her then and there, as Karl repeats his command.
He pushes the beaten, bruised woman sitting next to him down, then calls to Rast who’s kissing the back of a seemingly-catatonic, half-naked woman. Karl takes up a piece of meat and throws it at Rast, commanding him to feed “the beast.” Rast replies he should kill it, and Karl curses and insults him roundly, and threatens him as well. He notes he was paid seven silver stags to kill a man in KIng’s Landing, and he says he never failed; a name was given, and that man would never see daylight again. He goes over to Rast and notes he hasn’t lost a fight since he was nine, but perhaps it’s time.
The challenge frightens Rast, clearly, and he says that he wouldn’t stand a chance, that no one would. Karl emphasizes that, saying he was a legend in Gin Alley, that he could take any knight, any time, cowards in steel plate though they were. Then one of Craster’s older wives enters, carrying an infant in her arms. The women starts to chant, “A gift for the gods, a gift for the gods.” She explains to Karl that it’s Craster’s last child, a boy. Karl wonders if Craster killed them before they could grow up and kill him instead, and he says all right as he draws a dagger and tells her to hand the child over. The woman replies that they don’t kill them, but instead offered them to the gods. Karl understands that to mean the white walkers. He tells the women to grow silent as they start the chant again, and then decides that if it worked for Craster, there was no harm in trying. He hands the infant to Rast, and says that Rast is headed out anyways.
Rast carries the infant through the forest and leaves it on the ground nervously. Even he seems to be ashamed by what he’s doing, so he scurries away. After, he approaches a cage from which the sounds of an animal can be heard. A huge, white wolf is staring at Rast through the wooden bars: it’s Ghost. Rast curses at the wolf, and asks if he’s thirsty. He takes a drink from a cup, and then pours the rest of it out in front of the wolf as it snarls at him. It lunges at him, giving him a fright as he stumbled back and falls. As he gets up, crows caw, and the wind howls, and ice begins to crackle. Frightened, he runs away. The sound of the wolf’s barks and a baby crying can be heard…
... and Bran and Hodor, sitting by a fire, hear the noise. Bran asks if the others can hear it. Meera wonders if it’s a baby, and Jojen—looking ill—replies that something is coming. Bran informs them he’s going out there, and when Meera says they need to stay, Bran insists. He closes his eyes… and then they open, staring sightlessly, all white. He’s in Summer, and Summer runs off. We watch through the wolf’s eyes as it nears the sounds, hearing the baby, then hearing a howling wolf. It moves there, and Bran-as-Summer sees Ghost in his cage. He moves toward him—and then falls suddenly, caught in a trap. Bran is startled out of his vision, back to his own body, as Meera calls to him. She asks what’s happened, and Bran says Summer’s hurt and trapped. Bran doesn’t knwo who caught him… but they have Jon’s wolf as well.
In the morning, Bran and his companions lie hidden, looking at the camp. Bran’s surprised to see men of the Night’s Watch, pointing out their clothes and army, and wonders if Jon is there. Meera asks why Ghost would be in a cage, if Jon is there. Then they see one of the men abusing a woman… and Meera realizes that they’re mutineers. She insists it’s not safe and they have to leave. Bran refuses to leave without Summer, and after a look at Jojne—who nods—Meera asks if he remembers where the cage was. Bran says it was on the east side of the keep, and she starts to leave when suddenly she’s struck down. Hodor stands, frightened, as a group of mutineers surround them.
Outside the keep, Hodor is chained up as mutineers surround him with weapons, jeering at him and poking at him with the weapon. Terrified, the giant former stablehand cries out, “Hodor, hodor, hodor” until Rast stabs him in the leg with a spear. Hodor falls, crying out in pain, as Rast stands over him and tells him that if he were his size, he’d be “king of the fucking world.” Rast walks away, as men laugh over the fallen Hodor. Dragged inside a building, Meera, Jojen, and Bran are thrown to the ground. Bran doesn’t get up, so Karl orders a man to prop him against a pillar. Karl inspects Bran’s clothing, and recognizes him as highborn: the leather of his vest is too good. He asks who he is, and Bran stays silent.
Karl stands… then slaps him, breaking his lip. Karl informs him that where he comes from, if a commoner slaps a nobleman, he’d lose his right hand. But they’re far from home. Then he turns his attention to Meera and a pale, sweating Jojne. He recognizes them as highborn as well, and wonders at their creeping through the woods north of the Wall. As he comes over to Meera, he runs her hair through his fingers, and remarks that he likes the curls. He says his mother had beautiful brown curls as well. Then he asks why they dragged a cripple all the way to Craster’s.
None of them speak. Karl says they haven’t played the game before, and notes that a highborn hostage is valuable… but three of them is too many mouths to feed. He takes out a knife, and just as he does, Jojen falls to the ground, convulsing and foaming at the mouth. Rast is shocked and asked what’s wrong with him. Meera tries to get to her brother, and Karl grabs her and pulls her back, knife at her throat. She begs him to let her go so she can help Jojen, and seeing her beg and Jojen convulse, Bran finally shouts, “I’m Brandon Stark!” Rast points that he’s Jon Snow’s brother. Karl lets Meera go, and she goes to Jojen, cradling his head. Karl remarks that he thought it was going to be another boring day, as he puts away the knife.
Recap
In a tent, Grey Worm practices the Common Tongue of Westeros with the help of Missandei. He explains he cames from the Summer Isles. He asks in Valyrian where Missandei came from. She replies she came from Naath. She remembers when she was rowed away from the shore, taken by slavers. She remembers her burning village as well. As she speaks, Grey Worm’s hand creeps nearer to hers, fingers touching for an instant before she pulls her hand away. She asks if he remembers his home, and he says he does not, that he has always been an Unsullied in his memories. She insists that one day he might return to the Summer Isles, but he says he does not wish to. Instead, after questioning her in Valyrian, he states what drives him now: “Kill the masters.”
Daenerys enters then, escorted by Ser Barristan Selmy. She asks after the lessons and Grey Worm replies in the Common Tongue, “Missandei is teacher good, my queen.” Daenerys smiles at his effort, but then grows more serious, informing him that it is time. Grey Worm follows her out, though pauses to glance back to Missandei before leaving.
It is night, and we see the harpy atop the largest of the pyramids of Meereen as we see the bay beyond its walls… and the fact that men dressed as slaves, carrying bags, are running across its shallows for an opening in the walls, a portcullis-protected sewer. Grey Worm leads the men, and with them forces the portcullis open so that they can enter. Within slave quarters in Meereen, a group of male slaves argue among themselves about revolting in the wake of Daenerys’s arrival. One younger slave is outspoken on the topic, while older men refer to the fact that they have lived through past slave revolts, but that they always end the same way: the Masters in power and the slaves dead.
Then Grey Worm enters, with the other men. He states, “Valar morghulis.” He promises them that a day of freedom is worth more than a life in chains. They ask who he is, and he identifies himself, stating he is an Unsullied trained in Astapor who now fights for Daenerys, the Mother of Dragons and Breaker of Chains. They respond that he was trained to fight all his life, while they are not soldiers, and have neither weapons not training. At that, Grey Worm and the other Unsullied with him throw down their bags, and reveal them to contain knives and short swords. The Meereneese slaves look on them in wonder, as Grey Worm informs them that there are three slaves in Meereen for every Master. Daenerys will not give them their freedom—no one can—but if they wish it, they must take it.
A Master walks with two slave guards through the narrow streets of Meereen until they come across writing on the wall: “Kill the Masters,” seemingly written in blood. The Master is shocked and wonders at it, when the guards point something else out, gesturing to the great pyramid. The Master turns to look, and can see a banner draped over the harpy at the pinnacle of the pyramid, a banner bearing the three-headed dragon of House Targaryen. Just then, groups of slaves carrying knives appear from all directions. The guards flee, and being slaves as well are allowed to escape. The Master is not so fortunate, however, as the slaves close in on all sides, knives rising and falling.
The next morning, crowds of slaves shout, “Mhysa! Mhysa!” as they greet Daenerys to the city, its gates flung open, its Masters gathered up as prisoners by the sellswords of the Second Sons whom Daario brought to her. Daenerys climbs up a walk way with Barristan and Jorah, to look down on the Masters. She says, “Remind me, Ser Jorah. How many children did hte Great Masters nail to mileposts?” Jorah says it was 163. Daenerys agrees… and then looks to Grey Worm. At that, Grey Worm nods to another on the Unsullied, and he shouts commands. Barristan, troubled, asks for a word with Daenerys. They move apart and he informs her that the city is hers now, and that all of its people are now her subjects. “Sometimes it is better to answer injustice with mercy,” he suggests. Daenerys replies, firmly, “I will answer injustice with justice.”
The next we see are the screams of men in agony, as the Masters are nailed to crosses, spikes driven through a hand. The screams continue, seeming to reach even to the height of the great pyramid as Daenerys stands above it all, looking down on her conquered city, the Targaryen banner still flying from the harpy.
In King’s Landing, Jaime spars with Bronn, and seems to be regaining some of his confidence as he gives his sword a flourish before trying a thrust. The two lock blades for a moment, and Jaime grins, pleased—until Bronn grabs his metal hand, rips it from his arm, and strikes him across the face with it. Jaime falls to the ground with a groan. Pushing himself up he complains, “What the hell was that?” Bronn tells him that that was him knocking Jaime to the dirt with his own hand. Bronn tosses the hand back to him, and Jaime replies snidely that Bronn has a talent when fighting cripples, anyway. Bronn goes to fetch a skin of wine as Jaime laces his hand back his hand. Bronn replies that Jaime learned to fight like a “good little boy”, and he’s sure that thrust went through the Mad King’s Back “pretty as a picture”. But does Jaime want to fight prettily, or does he want to win? As Bronn rejoins Jaime, Jaime asks if Bronn speaks to Tyrion that way.
“All the time,” Bronn replies as he offers the skin to Jaime, and sits beside him. He claims Tyrion got used to it. Jaime asks if Bronn believes Tyrion is guilty of Joffrey’s murder, and Bronn immediately says no. He admits Tyrion hated Joffrey, but then again, who didn’t? He adds that neither poison nor murder are Tyrion’s style. He then suggests that Jaime should ask him himself. Jaime is silent at that, giving him an awkward glance. Bronn realizes it means Jaime has yet to see Tyrion.
In response, Jaime throws the skin back and tells him they’re done for today. As he walks away, Bronn asks if Tyrion ever told Jaime how he came into his service. Jaime is aware: Bronn stood for him in the trial by combat in the Eyrie. Bronn says that’s true, but that was only when Lady Arryn insisted the combat must take place that very day. He stands and informs Bronn that in fact, Jaime had been Tyrion’s first choice. That gives Jaime pause, and he turns back to Bronn. Bronn explains that Tyrion named Jaime his champion because he knew Jaime would have ridden night and day to save him. “You gonna fight for him now?” he finishes.
Inside a prison cell, Jaime is informing Tyrion that his conditions are not so bad, comparing it favorably to his own conditions when he was a prisoner of the Starks, chained to a wooden post. Tyrion doesn’t find that very reassuring. Jaime apologies for not having visited sooner. Tyrion acknowledges that the situation is complicated, and then after a moment asks how Cersei is. Jaime leaves it to his imagination how she must feel after her eldest son died in her arms. “Her son?” Tyrion asks, knowing. “Don’t,” Jaime replies. They go on to other matters, such as the fact that Tyrion will be on trial for regicide. He complains that the whole kingdom already believes him guilty, and he knows that one of the three judges has wished him dead many times beore… and that judge is his own father. He then adds that Cersei is likely trying to avoid a trial all together, by arranging Tyrion’s murder.
Jaime admits that Cersei asked him to kill Tyrion. Tyrion asks if he should turn around and close his eyes at that. Jaime says it depends on whether he did it nor not. Tyrion quips, “The Kingslayer brothers.” He says he likes the sound of it… but then asks if Jaime is truly asking if Tyrion killed Jaime’s son. Jaime replies, “Are you really asking if I’d kill my brother?” A pregnant pause, and then he asks how he can help Tyrion. Tyrion suggests Jaime could free him. Jaime says he can’t, and at that Tyrion gets up, frustrated, and says there’s nothing Jaime can do. Jaime asks what Tyrion expects him to do, kill the guards and ferret him out of the city? He’s the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard. Tyrion facetiously apologizes, saying that he’d hate for Jaime to do something inappropriate. Jaime testily replies that Tyrion is accused of murdering the king, that freeing him would be treason. But Tyrion replies that he did not in fact kill Joffrey. “Which is why we’re having a trial,” Jaime replies. Tyrion casts doubts on the trial, saying that if the true killer stepped forward and irrefutably confessed to the crime, it would not matter a whit to Cersei. “She won’t rest until my head’s on a spike,” he says.
Jaime adds that she wants more than just Tyrion’s head, she’s offered a knighthood to any man who finds Sansa Stark. Tyrion dismisses Sansa as a culprit. Jaime suggests otherwise, that she has more reason than anyone to kill Joffrey, and then asks if Tyrion believes it is coincidence that she disappeared the very same night? Tyrion says it’s not coincidence… but she’s not the killer. “Not yet, anyway.”
Littlefinger comes down from the main deck of the ship to join Sansa in her cabin. Sansa asks where she’s being taken, and Baelish replies that they’re going to her aunt Lysa, whom he’ll be marrying at the Eyrie. He tells her she’ll be safe there. Sansa nods, and considers that before asking if Littlefinger killed Joffrey. He questions that, pointingo ut he’s been in the Vale for weeks. Sansa refuses to be gainsayed, so Littlefinger asks instead who helped him in his alleged conspiracy. She considers and points out Dontos, as Littlefinger used him to get her out of the city.. but she knows he’d never trust him to kill Joffrey, because Littlefinger would not trust such a task to a drunk. Baelish suggests it was Tyrion instead, but Sansa immediately denies it, certain that it wasn’t Tyrion for reasons of her own.
Petyr Baelish admits she’s right, that Tyrion was not involved… but that she was. She looks surprised and shocked as he asks her if she remembers the necklace Dontos gave her, the one he revealed he had commissioned. He asks if she noticed that a stone was missing. Sansa’s thinks through that, and realizes that the stone contained the poison. She’s shocked as she asks why he did it, when the Lannisters gave him wealth and power, and Joffrey made him Lord of Harrenhal. “A man with no motive is a man no one suspects,” Littlefinger replies. He tells her to always keep your enemies confused, because if they don’t know who you are or what your goals are, they can’t know what you’ll do next. Sansa is doubtful, not seeing how he could risk so much—his own head on a spike, like her father’s, even—just to confuse the Lannisters.
Littlefinger comes nearer and explains that many men risk so little, avoiding danger, while he will risk everything for what he wants. He tocuhes her shoulder as he says it. She asks what he wants. His hand runs down her arm… and then he explains, simply, “Everything.” He turns away, walking to the other side of the cabin. He admits that his association with the Lannisters was useful, but Joffrey was vicious and too unreliable. Sansa asks who would trust Littlefinger to conspire with them, and he explains that his “new friends” are predictable and very reasonable. He explains that Joffrey’s death was something they wanted very badly… and there’s nothing like a thoughtful gift “to make a new friendship grow strong.”
Those last words are said as we cut to a garden in the Red Keep, where Margaery and Olenna walk arm in arm. Margaery can’t believe her grandmother is departing the city, but Olenna replies that she’ll find the trial too tedious. The gardens are tedious too, she says, and she’s soon ready to throw herself from the cliffs. Margaery laughs, as the two enter the pavilion. Olenna asks if her granddaughter has seen Tommen yet, and Margaery says no, and wonders if the Lannisters have even agreed to marry Tommen to her while lamenting that she’s never informed of anything. Olenna then expounds on the fact that Margaery’s grandfather, Lord Luthor Tyrell, was originally intended to wed her sister, while Olenna herself was to wed a Targaryen prince. “Marrying a Targaryen was all the rage back then,” she quips. She explains that the Targaryen prince, with his “twitcky little ferret’s face and ludicrous silver hair” wouldn’t do. So she contrived to seduce Luthor the night before his betrothal to her sister instead. Allegedly he could not walk after a night spent with her, and after that he wanted only Olenna.
Lady Olenna then says she was very, very good… but advises Margaery that she’s better, but she must act quickly if she wishes to marry Tommen. “Cersei may be vicious, but she’s not stupid,” she informs her granddaughter, assuring her Cersei will turn Tommen against Margaery as soon as she can to try and limit her influence if they do wed… but fortunately, she says, Cersei is distracted with mourning for her dead son. Olenna informs Margaery that Tyrion didn’t commit the murder, and Margaery disagrees, saying he could have. Lady Olenna reveals the truth: she knows who killed Joffrey, because Margaery surely didn’t think Olenna would allow her to “marry that beast”. Margaery is shocked, not able to believe what she’s heard. Olenna reassures her not to worry about it, as she reaches to adjust Margaery’s necklace, and tells her to do what must be done.
In the yard of Castle Black, Jon and Grenn are sparring before a group of recruits, demonstrating fighting techniques. Grenn’s a better sword than he was when he and Jon were new recruits. Among the recruits watching are Olly, the boy whose family and fellow villagers were slaughtered by the wildlings, and Locke. Jon turns to them and notes that some wildlings fight with a weapon in each hand, and hands Grenn a second sword. Jon explains that the first step is to disarm them to try and even the odds, and the two demonstrate, with Jonn swiftly disarming Grenn and then finishing the fight by catching his swordarm and holding his sword to his throat. The two grin at one another, and Jon turns to the recruits. Olly steps forward to volunteer, but Jon tells the boy to watch for now. The boy insists he can fight, that he was the best archer in his village. This leads the others to laugh, but Grenn believes him, and says he’ll take the boy hunting rabbits some day but that for now the boy should watch and learn.
Jon gestures and picks out two men, a big recruit and Locke. He gives the recruit two swords, and tells then to take it slowly and try to disarm one another. The fight is over almost before it begins, as Locke swiftly disarms him of one sword and then with a single punch knocks him unconscious. Jon joins him and remarks that Locke obviously knows how to fight, but that he could have gone easier. Locke replies that the recruit wouldn’t have learned anything if he had. Ser Alliser Thorne interrupts them, accusingly asking Jon what he’s up to. Jon explains he and Grenn were trying to help the recruits, but Thorne reminds him that while Grenn is a ranger, he’s a steward.
He crudely suggests he forgot that while he was with his “wildling bitch”, but he hasn’t. Jon retorts that someone needs to train them, and Thorne agrees… but that person isn’t Jon. He suggests he find some chamber pot to empty. Jon steps up to Thorne, glaring at him for a long moment. Thorne dares him to do something “you traitor’s bastard”. A long, tense moment… and then Jon walks away. Alliser tells the recruits to get back to work.
Janos Slynt joins Ser Alliser, and remarks that Jon is well-liked, while Thorne isn’t. Ser Alliser says he doesn’t care, not when they’re at war. But Slynt points that that may not always be the case… and he may can’t always be acting lord commander. There’ll have to be a choosing at some point, that Maester Aemon will insist on it. He suggests Thorne reconsider his refusal to send any men to deal with the mutineers at Craster’s keep, that the mutineers might manage to kill Jon and so get him out of Thorne’s way. The two exchange a look, and Thorne eventually walks away while Slynt watches.
Jon Snow takes up another sword from a rack when Locke joins him. Locke says he’s surprised that he’s a bastard, as he took him for a highborn nobleman. Jon says his father was noble, but his mother wasn’t. Locke introduces himself by name, and offers his hand. Jon takes it and replies with his own name. When Jon asks how he ended up on the Wall, Locke explains he was a game warden in the stormlands, but was caught feeding a partridge to his starving children and chose the Wall over losing a hand. He adds that he supposed he wouldn’t have to “suck up to highborn cunts” on the Wall, but they both look on Thorne shouting angry, impatient orders like the martinet that he is, and Locke supposes he was wrong.
In the Red Keep, Cersei sits alone, pouring wine into a cup. There’s knocking on the door, which Cersei ignores as she drinks. The door opens and Jaime asks, “You sent for me, Your Grace?” Cersei remarks on how formal he is. Then she asks how many Kingsguard are posted at Tommen’s door. Jaime replies that Ser Boros is on duty this night, and starts that tomorrow knight it will be a different Kingsguard as he shuts the door and enters teh chamber. Cersei interrupts him, asking if he means just one man is guarding the future king. Jaime assures her Tommen is safe, that he’s being protected, and she asks if he means that he’s protecting him as he protected Joffrey. Jaime has no answer to that, and Cersei instead asks why Catelyn Stark set him free. The question takes Jaime by surprise. She says she’s wondered “for months”, ever since “that great cow” brought Jaime to King’s Landing. She asks again what Catelyn hoped to gain. Jaime replies that she hoped Jaime would send her daughters back to her.
Cersei gets up from her seat and approaches Jaime, wondering if she just hoped or if he promised. He admits he swore by all the gods, and she sneers at his making a sacred vow to an enemy. Jaime replies that he wanted to get back to Cersei. “Should I have told her to fuck off?” he asks her. Cersei then asks if he meant it, and if he has any loyalty to Catelyn Stark. Jaime replies that Catelyn’s dead. At that, Cersei asks if he’d go and find Sansa and bring Cersei the head of “that murderous little bitch”, would he do it? Jaime doesn’t respond, staring at her. A long moment passes, and Cersei instead remarks that she knows he went to see Tyrion, and she emphasizes the fact that “that creature” murdered their son. Jaime replies that he had to see him, that he had to know for himself. Cersei asks what the result of that was… and Jaime approaches his sister as he earnestly tells her that Tyrion didn’t do it.
Cersei replies bitterly, that Jaime’s always pittied their brother. She walks away from him, continuing with how Tyrion’s been abused, despised by his father and Cersei as well. She finishes by saying that Tyrion woudl kill them all if he had the chance. She turns back to Jaime after another swallow of wine, commanding that there be four men at Tommen’s door, day and night. She turns away again, and Jaime starts to move toward her, but she adds, “That will be all, Lord Commander.” Jaime leaves unhappily.
In Tommen’s chambers, the youth sleeps when he’s woken by the sound of a door opening. He calls out, “Ser Pounce?” He’s nervous, and then he sees Margaery entering with a candle to lgiht the way. He asks how she got past the Kingsguard, and Margaery asks facetiously, “Kingsguard?” She approaches his bedside as he says that his mother allows him no visitors at night, but Margaery replies she’s not a visitor, that word is she’ll be his bride. She adds that nobles in arranged marriages often don’t meet before their wedding day. She sits on his bed as she suggests that before they spend their lives together, they ought to know one another. Tommen agrees, but then nervously starts that if his mother finds out—Margaery interrupts him, and says it can be their secret. She remarks, with a smile, that if they’re to be man and wife, they’ll likely have a few secrets from Cersei. She asks him to confide a secret to her, when a cat jumps on the bed. She’s surprised, and pets the cat. He informs her that that’s Ser Pounce.
Tommen adds that Joffrey didn’t like the cat, and once threatend to skin him alive and mix his remains in with his food so he wouldn’t know he was eating him. Margaery replies that that was cruel, but that she doesn’t think Tommen is cruel. She says that’s a relief, and asks if Tommen knows what happens when they marry. Tommen eagerly replies that they’ll say their vows, and there’ll be a feast, but she stops him and says that what will happen is that she will be his forever. Then, saying it’s late, Margaery says she must go but asks to visit again. Tommen nods, and Margaery leans forward quite close. She tells Tommen to remember… it’s their little secret. They stare, and she moves in closer. He closes his eyes… and she moves to kiss him on the forehead before departing. After watching her leave, Tommen lies back down to sleep, smiling.
In the chamber of the Kingsguard that next morning, Brienne reads Jaime’s entry in the White Book. It recounts his knighting at the age of 16, his murder of Aerys II, his pardon at Robert’s hand, and his now being known as the Kingslayer. That is the end of the entry, and Jaime remarks that it’s the duty of the Lord Commander to fill out the pages. Looking at his Valyrian steel sword on a rack, he adds, “And there’s still room left on mine.” Then he goes to the sword to take it up, and offers it to Brienne. She marvels at it, and is shocked when Jaime says it’s hers. She immediately replies she can’t accept it, and Jaime explains it was reforged from Ned Stark’s sword, Ice, and that means Brienne will be using it to defend Ned Stark’s daughter. He notes Brienne also swore an oath to see the Stark girls returned to Catelyn. With Lady Catelyn dead, and Arya too probably, he says that there’s a chance still to find Sansa and get her to safety.
Brienne is left speechless, so Jaime presents another gift, unveiling a suit of fine black plate armor. He quips that he hopes he had Brienne’s measurements down correctly, and Brienne promises that she’ll find Sansa. She adds that she’ll do it for Lady Catelyn… and for Jaime. There’s a silence as Jaime registers the words… and then he recalls he has one more gift.
Outside of the city, Jaime presents Podrick Payne to Brienne. Brienne complains she doesn’t need a squire, and Jaime dismisses it. Besides, he says, Tyrion owes Podrick a debt, and Podrick isn’t safe—Brienne will be keeping him out of harm’s way by taking him with her. Podrick pipes up, “I won’t slow you down, ser.” Then, after an awkward pause, changes it to, “My lady.” Bronn approaches him and gives Podrick a parting gift from Tyrion: his battle-axe from the Blackwater. Podrick looks proudly on it, but Bronn breaks the moment by asking if Podrick’s waiting for a kiss, and then tells him to ready Brienne’s horse.
As Podrick goes to do so, Jaime and Brienne hav a few last words. Jaime remarks that the best swords have names, and asks if Brienne has one. “Oathkeeper,” she says. Jaime nods silently at that. The two look at one another for a long moment, and then Jaime says goodbye to her. She nods, and goes to her horse. Jaime moves nearer to watch her and Podrick ride away from the city. Brienne looks back.
Beneath Castle Black, in a vault full of old scrolls, Samwell complains that he should have known that the wildlings would be approaching and that by taking Gilly to Mole’s Town, he’s in fact put her in more danger. Jon replies that Castle Black could be next, as he stares at a map. Jon insists that they have orders to stay at Castle Black, and when Samwell retorts that he remembers when Jon disobeyed orders and rode south to help Robb, Jon notes that he remembers who came after him and brought him back. He adds that he knows it’s hard, that when Samwell told him about Bran being beyond the Wall, all he could think of was going out to find him. Samwell tells Jon that he wished he could have convinced him to come back to Castle Black with him.
Jon looks at the map and wonders out loud how quickly they could travel. Samwell replies that Bran and his companions might have sought shelter at a wildling village, but Jon notes that the wildlings have all left to join Mance, with all the villages left deserted. Samwell moves to examine the map as well as Jon then thinks of one exception: Craster’s Keep. Unknown to them, Locke has arrived, overhearing them. Samwell wonders if Bran might have found Craster’s, when Locke speaks up and says that Alliser Thorne wants to see Jon. They leave. Jon is seen approaching Thorne as he dines in the barracks, and Ser Alliser abruptly informs him that he’s sanctioning Jon’s expedition beyond the Wall. He won’t order any men to go with Jon, however, that only volunteers can go. Jon turns to address the Watch, and calls for their attention, but at first they’re too busy eating and talking. Grenn pounds on the table loudly, and silence falls, and men look to Jonn then.
He explains his plan, to capture or kill the mutineers. He says thre’s 60 miles between Castle Black and Craster’s, that Mance has an army, but they must do this. He argues that their survival may depend on getting to the mutineers before Mance does, that they know the Wall and its defenses, and if Mance learns what they know, the atch is lost. Then he adds another argument: if they’re truly brothers, Mormont was their father, and they must avenge him. Jon asks who will join him. There’s a long hesitation, and then Grenn and Dolorous Edd stand up, and others follow. The last is Locke. Jon says he can’t take a recruit, but Locke replies that if there’s a fight coming, Jon will need men who know how to. Jon looks to Thorne, who brusquely nods, and Jon thanks them.
In Craster’s Keep, a woman whimpers, and what we see is horror: women being abused and raped, their pleas unheard as the mutineers have their way. A skull is lifted up, and raised by Karl to his lips as he drinks. He says to no one, “Karl Tanner from Gin Alley drinking wine from the skull of Jeor fucking Mormont.” He mocks the skull, pretending Mormont’s speaking, and then announces to the others that they’re to rape the women until they’re dead. One of the men grabs a half-naked woman and sets about raping her then and there, as Karl repeats his command.
He pushes the beaten, bruised woman sitting next to him down, then calls to Rast who’s kissing the back of a seemingly-catatonic, half-naked woman. Karl takes up a piece of meat and throws it at Rast, commanding him to feed “the beast.” Rast replies he should kill it, and Karl curses and insults him roundly, and threatens him as well. He notes he was paid seven silver stags to kill a man in KIng’s Landing, and he says he never failed; a name was given, and that man would never see daylight again. He goes over to Rast and notes he hasn’t lost a fight since he was nine, but perhaps it’s time.
The challenge frightens Rast, clearly, and he says that he wouldn’t stand a chance, that no one would. Karl emphasizes that, saying he was a legend in Gin Alley, that he could take any knight, any time, cowards in steel plate though they were. Then one of Craster’s older wives enters, carrying an infant in her arms. The women starts to chant, “A gift for the gods, a gift for the gods.” She explains to Karl that it’s Craster’s last child, a boy. Karl wonders if Craster killed them before they could grow up and kill him instead, and he says all right as he draws a dagger and tells her to hand the child over. The woman replies that they don’t kill them, but instead offered them to the gods. Karl understands that to mean the white walkers. He tells the women to grow silent as they start the chant again, and then decides that if it worked for Craster, there was no harm in trying. He hands the infant to Rast, and says that Rast is headed out anyways.
Rast carries the infant through the forest and leaves it on the ground nervously. Even he seems to be ashamed by what he’s doing, so he scurries away. After, he approaches a cage from which the sounds of an animal can be heard. A huge, white wolf is staring at Rast through the wooden bars: it’s Ghost. Rast curses at the wolf, and asks if he’s thirsty. He takes a drink from a cup, and then pours the rest of it out in front of the wolf as it snarls at him. It lunges at him, giving him a fright as he stumbled back and falls. As he gets up, crows caw, and the wind howls, and ice begins to crackle. Frightened, he runs away. The sound of the wolf’s barks and a baby crying can be heard…
... and Bran and Hodor, sitting by a fire, hear the noise. Bran asks if the others can hear it. Meera wonders if it’s a baby, and Jojen—looking ill—replies that something is coming. Bran informs them he’s going out there, and when Meera says they need to stay, Bran insists. He closes his eyes… and then they open, staring sightlessly, all white. He’s in Summer, and Summer runs off. We watch through the wolf’s eyes as it nears the sounds, hearing the baby, then hearing a howling wolf. It moves there, and Bran-as-Summer sees Ghost in his cage. He moves toward him—and then falls suddenly, caught in a trap. Bran is startled out of his vision, back to his own body, as Meera calls to him. She asks what’s happened, and Bran says Summer’s hurt and trapped. Bran doesn’t knwo who caught him… but they have Jon’s wolf as well.
In the morning, Bran and his companions lie hidden, looking at the camp. Bran’s surprised to see men of the Night’s Watch, pointing out their clothes and army, and wonders if Jon is there. Meera asks why Ghost would be in a cage, if Jon is there. Then they see one of the men abusing a woman… and Meera realizes that they’re mutineers. She insists it’s not safe and they have to leave. Bran refuses to leave without Summer, and after a look at Jojne—who nods—Meera asks if he remembers where the cage was. Bran says it was on the east side of the keep, and she starts to leave when suddenly she’s struck down. Hodor stands, frightened, as a group of mutineers surround them.
Outside the keep, Hodor is chained up as mutineers surround him with weapons, jeering at him and poking at him with the weapon. Terrified, the giant former stablehand cries out, “Hodor, hodor, hodor” until Rast stabs him in the leg with a spear. Hodor falls, crying out in pain, as Rast stands over him and tells him that if he were his size, he’d be “king of the fucking world.” Rast walks away, as men laugh over the fallen Hodor. Dragged inside a building, Meera, Jojen, and Bran are thrown to the ground. Bran doesn’t get up, so Karl orders a man to prop him against a pillar. Karl inspects Bran’s clothing, and recognizes him as highborn: the leather of his vest is too good. He asks who he is, and Bran stays silent.
Karl stands… then slaps him, breaking his lip. Karl informs him that where he comes from, if a commoner slaps a nobleman, he’d lose his right hand. But they’re far from home. Then he turns his attention to Meera and a pale, sweating Jojne. He recognizes them as highborn as well, and wonders at their creeping through the woods north of the Wall. As he comes over to Meera, he runs her hair through his fingers, and remarks that he likes the curls. He says his mother had beautiful brown curls as well. Then he asks why they dragged a cripple all the way to Craster’s.
None of them speak. Karl says they haven’t played the game before, and notes that a highborn hostage is valuable… but three of them is too many mouths to feed. He takes out a knife, and just as he does, Jojen falls to the ground, convulsing and foaming at the mouth. Rast is shocked and asked what’s wrong with him. Meera tries to get to her brother, and Karl grabs her and pulls her back, knife at her throat. She begs him to let her go so she can help Jojen, and seeing her beg and Jojen convulse, Bran finally shouts, “I’m Brandon Stark!” Rast points that he’s Jon Snow’s brother. Karl lets Meera go, and she goes to Jojen, cradling his head. Karl remarks that he thought it was going to be another boring day, as he puts away the knife.
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