Chapter Summaries

At the Tourney at Harrenhal, Rhaegar arrived on a unicorn while brooding over prophecy and the royal succession. The gathering erupted into panic when Daeren’s scarlet dragon Corax appeared overhead and breathed fire.

• Tywin arranged a farewell ceremony for Lord Grandison after Aerys rejected holding the funeral in the Dragonpit.
• Daeren discussed Rhaegar’s growing support and the Kingswood Brotherhood with Barristan, then told Lord Harren to cooperate with Rhaegar before leaving to feed the dragons.
• Rhaegar learned that Lord Hoster had skipped the tourney, examined a map of a pirate hideout in the Stepstones, and noticed a skilled young rider from House Stark.
• Rhaegar entered the tourney on a white unicorn accompanied by Rockseed guards, drawing the nobles’ attention.
• Corax swooped over Gods Eye Lake and unleashed dragonflame, startling the crowd and leaving Rhaegar staring up in shock.

Daeren arrived at Harrenhal atop Corax, shocking the tourney crowd and making the divide between his faction and Rhaegar’s unmistakable. During the joust, Barristan used the Neptune Greatsword to awaken Life Frequency, prompting Ser Arthur to draw on Dawn’s power as well.

• Daeren landed Corax in the tourney grounds, silenced the dragon, and greeted his stunned brother Rhaegar.
• Aerys applauded Daeren, and the nobles watched as Daeren and Rhaegar took seats with their separate factions.
• Count Harren announced the tourney events and prizes, and Daeren gave Barristan the Neptune Greatsword and advised him to use a breathing rhythm.
• Barristan and Ser Arthur began a sword duel, with Barristan using the fight to explore the Life Force within the Neptune Greatsword.
• Barristan awakened Life Frequency and struck with newfound power, and Ser Arthur made Dawn glow with the Life Force he had accumulated.

At Harrenhal, Barristan defeated Ser Arthur Dayne after using the life frequency, drawing the attention of knights eager to learn the new path of advancement. Daeron arranged for Howland Reed to be brought to him and sensed the Three-Eyed Crow’s influence around him, leaving Daeron uneasy about the trip.

• Daeron considered how Valyrian Steel weapons could serve as mediums for mastering the life frequency as knights watched Barristan and Ser Arthur fight.
• Barristan defeated Ser Arthur by using the life frequency, and Daeron praised him before discouraging Ser Jon from entering the next match.
• At Harrenhal’s gates, three young retainers beat Howland Reed until Jacaerys and the Dragon Guard intervened and took Howland to Daeron.
• Daeron sensed the Three-Eyed Crow’s scent in the aura surrounding Howland, then had Jacaerys take him to wash and change before the banquet.
• After Howland left, Daeron reflected on his uneasy feeling about the trip to Harrenhal and stroked Corax.

Daeren used the tourney to display his dragon and challenge the realm’s finest fighters, defeating Oswell and Prince Lewyn with his two-sword technique and unusual Life Force frequency. The chapter ended with Daeren kicking the defeated Lewyn into the mud as the nobles watched.

• Daeren arrived at the tourney riding Corax and ignored the lords who had sought him out to learn about Life Force frequency.
• Lyanna thanked Daeren on House Stark’s behalf, agreed to drink with him after the matches, and left with her brothers and Howland.
• Daeren entered the dueling arena and defeated Oswell in two moves, breaking his sword with the Obsidian Blade.
• Rhaegar and the Kingsguard discussed Daeren’s ability to retract Life Force frequency into his body, which Ser Arthur warned was dangerous.
• Prince Lewyn challenged Daeren, but Corax’s presence unnerved him before their duel began.
• Daeren broke Lewyn’s sword, disarmed him, and battered him into the mud after declaring him defeated.

Daeren defeated Prince Lewyn and challenged Rhaegar, but Robert Baratheon entered the field instead and fought him fiercely. Daeren won after piercing Robert’s shoulder, then left the exhausted tourney ground as Aerys called for him to stop.

• Daeren defeated Prince Lewyn and pointed his Obsidian Blade at Rhaegar, demanding a duel, but Rhaegar chose not to fight.
• Brynden warned that Daeren’s speed and strength made him dangerous, while Robert Baratheon entered the field with his Warhammer and declared Daeren his opponent.
• Robert attacked relentlessly, but Daeren dodged and countered, nearly striking Robert’s throat with the Obsidian Blade.
• Daeren enhanced his body with Life Force and clashed with Robert’s strongest blow, which shattered one of Daeren’s swords and wounded his hand.
• Daeren pierced Robert’s shoulder with the Obsidian Blade, then stopped short of killing him; Robert conceded defeat and left for treatment.
• Daeren claimed victory and left the field exhausted, but Aerys stood and called out to his second son.

Daeren was knighted after winning the tourney and later helped Howland protect Lyanna, who had become the Knight of the Laughing Tree. As Rhaegar pursued her near Gods Eye Lake, Daeren intercepted him and gave him an Immunity Ring, leaving Rhaegar calmer and wondering how his brother had obtained such powerful enchanted items.

• Aerys knighted Daeren in public after praising his tourney victories, and Daeren escorted his father back to the platform.
• Daeren sent Robert Golden Star Cheese to heal his injuries, and Robert accepted the gift and praised Daeren as a true dragon.
• A mysterious Knight of the Laughing Tree defeated three knights, angered Aerys, and vanished before Rhaegar could catch him.
• Howland told Daeren that Lyanna was the Knight of the Laughing Tree and had fled toward Gods Eye Lake, so Daeren promised to stop Rhaegar from pursuing her.
• Daeren intercepted Rhaegar in the forest and gave him an Immunity Ring, which cleared Rhaegar's mind and made him suspect his brother had found a source of enchanted items.

At the Harrenhal feast, Daeren maneuvered Cersei into exposing Lyanna’s identity as the Knight of the Laughing Tree, recruited Howland Reed, and discussed developing Life Force with Barristan. He danced with Ashara Dayne, sought her help meeting Arthur, and gave her a Sweet Pea.

• Daeren weighed the Three-Eyed Crow’s influence and used Cersei’s suspicions about Lyanna to set Tywin on the trail of the Knight of the Laughing Tree.
• Daeren reassured Howland that Lyanna would not be harmed, recruited him into his service, and told him to learn from Davos.
• Daeren told Barristan an invented story about the Neptune Greatsword and discussed Life Force techniques, while Barristan suggested bringing Arthur Dayne into their research.
• Ashara captivated Barristan and Eddard with her dancing, then chose Daeren as her dance partner.
• Daeren asked Ashara to help him meet Arthur, and gave her a golden Sweet Pea as the dance ended.

At Harrenhal, Rhaegar crowned Lyanna instead of Elia, provoking outrage and threatening the alliances among the great houses. Daeren saw a chance to build his own support, but when he went to approach Brynden, he learned the Blackfish had already returned to Riverrun.

• Rhaegar won the Harrenhal tournament and gave the Crown of Love and Beauty to Lyanna, his betrothed Robert's fiancée, while the crowd watched in shock.
• Daeren decided Rhaegar had damaged his claim to the Iron Throne and planned to break apart and win over the families whose alliances were cracking.
• Aerys demanded Rhaegar's arrest, but Tywin warned that they lacked the forces to pursue him and urged Aerys to soothe Robert's anger; Aerys refused to remove Rhaegar as heir and summoned Daeren to protect him on the way to King's Landing.
• Daeren went to find Brynden and discovered from Jaime that the Blackfish had returned to Riverrun as soon as the tournament ended.

Daeren sounded out Harrold Arryn about House Arryn supporting him in exchange for a future marriage alliance, then met Clara Harren after she asked to see him. He promised to take Clara flying on Corax once she recovered, and learned she was eleven years old.

• Jaime asked Daeren how to learn Life Force, but Barristan warned him that Lord Tywin would never allow it.
• Daeren offered Harrold Arryn a marriage alliance between House Arryn and one of his younger brothers in return for House Arryn's support, and Harrold sent a raven to consult Lord Jon.
• Daeren rejected the idea of negotiating with the Tully Family and prepared to leave.
• Oswell asked Daeren to meet his niece Clara Harren, and Daeren learned that Rhaegar had left Oswell behind to protect Princess Elia, who was heartbroken over the crown given to Lyanna.
• Daeren gave Clara a Yellow Daffodil, listened to why she admired him, and promised to take her flying on a dragon after she recovered from her leg injury.
• Oswell told Daeren that Clara was eleven years old, nearly making Daeren stumble.

Brynden urged Hoster to align House Tully with Daeren, but the brothers quarreled and Brynden left Riverrun to pursue his own course. At Bountiful Hall, Daeren swore thirteen warriors to his service, then rejected Aerys’s order to return to King’s Landing and attacked Lord Stanton.

• Brynden told Hoster that Daeren had risen after Rhaegar’s failure and urged him to break House Tully’s ties with Rhaegar’s supporters and declare for Daeren.
• Hoster refused to break Catelyn’s engagement and ordered Brynden to obey him; Brynden cast down his trout belt and left Riverrun to find another path for the family.
• Daeren harvested cauliflower, bought parsnip seeds, and visited Bountiful Hall, where Davos showed him the growing settlement and reported that ten Dragon Guard elites had gathered.
• Daeren had Elisha, Jacaerys, Howland, and ten Dragon Guard warriors swear renewed loyalty while Corax threatened them; Davos then distributed their shares of Special Crop.
• Davos told Daeren that Lord Stanton had arrived with Riverland Knights and that Brynden was with him; Stanton delivered Aerys’s order for Daeren to return to King’s Landing with his dragons in exchange for possible recognition as heir.
• Daeren laughed at Stanton’s promise, punched and beat him, and warned him not to deceive Aerys or sow discord again.

Daeren accepted Brynden and eighteen Riverland Knights into his service, while the Small Council learned that the Three Daughters had returned to the Stepstones and were attacking Westerosi shipping. Barristan prepared to escort Princess Shayani, Princess Elia, and Cersei to Daeren’s Flower Dance Festival, while Jaime remained frustrated by his father’s marriage plans and his exclusion from advanced Life Force training.

• Brynden swore loyalty to Daeren and became his sworn shield, bringing eighteen Riverland Knights into Daeren’s service.
• Aerys raged over Daeren taking his dragon, while the Small Council discussed the Three Daughters’ return and their attacks on merchant ships near the Stepstones.
• Tywin concluded that the Free Cities’ occupation of the Stepstones was a strategy for war, but the Iron Throne lacked the strength to challenge them.
• Tywin asked Barristan to take Cersei with Princess Shayani and Princess Elia to Daeren’s Flower Dance Festival, and Barristan agreed.
• Jaime asked Ser Gerold about learning advanced Life Force, but Ser Gerold refused to teach him and Jaime brooded over his father’s marriage plans.

Daeron cleared the mines, found an Ancient Seed, and learned the Skull Key could lead to the dangerous Skull Mine, though he could not yet locate the Calico Desert. After Junimo Apple appeared in his dream and restored the greenhouse ahead of schedule, Daeron planted Ancient Fruit and an Orange Sapling there as fall began.

• Daeron reached mine level 120, found the Skull Key, and discovered an Ancient Seed among his rewards.
• Daeron returned to the farm, donated his finds to the museum, and decided to save the Ancient Seed until the greenhouse was unlocked.
• Daeron attended the Moonlight Jellyfish Festival, where Howland and the witch hinted that the beings he sought were somewhere in the Prince's territory.
• Junimo Apple visited Daeron in a dream, explained that Junimos had arrived with the Red Comet, and restored the greenhouse before its bundle was complete.
• On Fall 1, Daeron planted the Ancient Seed and an Orange Sapling in the greenhouse and tended to his expanding farm.

Daeren returned to King's Landing after hearing that Aerys was gravely ill, only to find his father eager to claim Toothless. Aerys's attempt to command the dragon ended with him injured and Daeren serving as regent, while Aerys turned his attention to Jaime and whispered a tempting question.

• Daeren gave Shayani three petrified Dragon Eggs to care for and decided to return to King's Landing after receiving a letter about Aerys's illness and the Citadel's Grand Maester candidate.
• Daeren arrived in King's Landing with Corax and his followers, then entered the Red Keep as Jacaerys clashed with Ser Gerold over who should protect the prince.
• Aerys demanded his black dragon, and Daeren brought Toothless into the Throne Room so Aerys could try to tame him.
• Aerys shouted a command in High Valyrian, and Toothless blasted him with dragonfire before Ser Gerold tackled him clear and was burned in the process.
• Aerys suffered three broken ribs and a fractured lower leg, so Tywin arranged for Daeren to attend the Small Council as regent in the King's stead.
• Aerys blamed Daeren and Tywin for his failure, then spotted Jaime and whispered, "kid, do you want honor?"

Daeren traveled north to recruit Aemon and killed the Smiling Knight when he attacked a merchant ship near Seagard. Meanwhile, Rhaegar pursued Lyanna after reading a prophecy on a Valyrian Steel dagger, while Jon Arryn strengthened his alliance with the North; Daeren left Seagard with the support of a loyalist house.

• Daeren announced that he would bring Aemon back from the Night's Watch to serve House Targaryen, and Tywin agreed.
• Daeren departed King's Landing by ship with Corax, Tessarion, and Toothless, while Jon Arryn rejected Abert's proposed royal marriage alliance and sent a raven to Rickard Stark urging his children to marry.
• Rhaegar received Lyanna's letter and a Valyrian Steel dagger, read its prophecy, and set out for the Riverlands with Ser Arthur, Oswell, and the others.
• Daeren spotted the Smiling Knight's pirates attacking a merchant ship and used Corax and Tessarion to kill them all.
• Daeren rescued the surviving sailors and brought them to Seagard, where Count Gerold Graveson thanked him and gave him supplies and wealth for his journey north.

Daeren visited Scholar Aemon at Castle Black and persuaded him to return to King's Landing, while the news of Rhaegar and Lyanna's elopement sent Robert and Brynden into a fury. Jaime captured Brynden and Abert and brought them to King's Landing, where Tywin angrily confronted him.

• Daeren arrived at Castle Black and reunited with his great-uncle, Scholar Aemon.
• Daeren told Scholar Aemon about Rhaegar's dangerous obsession with prophecy and asked him to return to King's Landing as Grand Maester, and Aemon agreed.
• Robert learned that Lyanna had eloped with Rhaegar and swore to kill the Crown Prince.
• Brynden rode toward King's Landing to confront Rhaegar, but Jaime defeated him and had him and Abert arrested.
• Jaime told Tywin he had captured Brynden and Abert, and Tywin struck him with a wine cup and rebuked him.

Tywin planned to bargain with Daeren while keeping the captured Stark and Arryn heirs as leverage, but Daeren had gone beyond the Wall, where Leaf returned the Valyrian steel sword Dark Sister to him. Meanwhile, the alliance fractured over whether to risk war, and news of Rickard Stark heading to King's Landing and Rhaegar's elopement spread turmoil across the realm.

• Tywin kept Brandon and Abert imprisoned, then sent Daeren a raven proposing they join forces to seize the Riverlands.
• Beyond the Wall, Daeren met Leaf beneath an ancient Weirwood, and she gave him Dark Sister, the lost Targaryen Valyrian steel sword.
• At the Eyrie, Jon Arryn refused to let Robert leave and proposed changing the marriage pact so Eddard would marry Catelyn, while Robert demanded revenge for Rhaegar taking Lyanna.
• Eddard brought word that Rickard Stark had ridden south to King's Landing, prompting Jon Arryn to send a message asking Lord Howlett to intercept him.
• At the Small Council, Illyrio condemned Rhaegar's elopement with Lyanna, while Tywin concealed the captured heirs and mocked the prince.
• In Sunspear, Doran learned of Rhaegar and Lyanna's elopement and worried that House Martell would be forced to choose sides if the alliance rebelled.

Daeren learned that Tywin had placed Aerys under house arrest and seized control of King's Landing, while he formed an alliance with three maritime houses before setting out to restore order. As Tywin confronted Prince Lewyn outside the King's bedchamber, Corax's return announced Daeren's presence above the city.

• Jaime urged Ser Gerold to rally Queen Rhaella and the Small Council against Tywin, but Ser Gerold refused to act beyond guarding Aerys.
• Tywin learned that the Gold Cloaks resisted his orders and that Dragon Guard blocked access to Princess Elia, then Cersei visited Queen Rhaella.
• At Seagard, Daeren received Lord Owen's raven reporting Tywin's takeover and agreed to help Lusris, Count Seti, and Count of Graveson defend the Throat after returning to King's Landing.
• Aerys had Prince Lewyn brought back to King's Landing to protect him, and Lewyn blocked Tywin from entering the King's bedchamber.
• Tywin's soldiers drew their swords against Prince Lewyn, but Corax flew over King's Landing and revealed the dragon's return.

Daeren returned to King's Landing and forced Tywin to withdraw the Lannister army, killing Amorey Loch when he threatened to let the soldiers forage for supplies. After the Lannisters left, Aemon reunited with Aerys and became provisional Grand Maester.

• Daeren arrived at the Red Keep on Corax and confronted Tywin in the Throne Room about the Lannister army occupying King's Landing.
• Daeren ordered Tywin to withdraw all his soldiers ten miles from the city without provisions, then killed Amorey Loch when he threatened that the army would find its own food.
• Tywin accepted the withdrawal, and Elisha stopped Tygett from leaving a squad of Lannister soldiers behind before the army departed King's Landing.
• Aerys recognized Dark Sister and questioned Daeren about it, but Daeren introduced Aemon instead.
• Aemon told Aerys he would serve as Grand Maester, and Aerys allowed him to take the post provisionally with Havel as his assistant.

Daeren presented the council with Special Gems and explained the Gemstone Sequence, then revealed his own Life Seed method and urged the Iron Throne to buy gems. After Cersei showed her affection for him, Daeren considered taking her as another wife and planned to use Rhaegar’s elopement with Lyanna to justify restoring polygamy.

• Daeren showed the council Special Gems, and Scholar Aemon explained how the Gemstone Sequence strengthened warriors while permanently fixing their Life Force.
• Tygett admitted that Gillian had told him about gemstone strengthening, and Daeren warned that the process prevented further growth or use of Life Frequency techniques.
• Daeren revealed that he had perfected the Life Seed, while Jaime said he was close to condensing one with Dawn and Special Crops.
• Tywin proposed that the Iron Throne buy Special Gems, and Davos and Tygett took emeralds and Yellow Gems from Daeren’s box.
• Cersei served wine to the council, and Daeren welcomed her attention while considering her as a future wife.
• Daeren learned that Rhaegar was still missing and resolved to use his elopement with Lyanna to restore House Targaryen’s tradition of taking multiple wives.

Daeren watched Rickard Stark plead for his son Brynden, but the hearing exposed Rickard’s secret political alliances and the influence of Marris Flower. Aerys ordered Rickard seized, and Rickard demanded a Trial by Combat as the chapter ended.

• Daeren asked Varys to help locate Blackfyre, then reflected on Rhaegar, Lyanna, and how his own presence might have changed the prophecy and prevented Aegon’s birth.
• Rickard Stark asked Aerys to release Brynden, but Aerys denied knowing where he was and ordered Rickard arrested.
• Tywin explained that Brynden and his companions had been intercepted and imprisoned in the Red Keep dungeons.
• Scholar Aemon questioned Rickard about his family’s marriage plans, and Rickard revealed that Marris Flower had advised him to build a southern alliance through marriages.
• Scholar Aemon identified Marris as a Hightower bastard and former maester of Winterfell, prompting Daeren to order Rickard taken away while the court considered the Hightowers’ role.
• Aerys insisted that Rickard was a rebel and demanded his execution, so Rickard claimed the judgment was unjust and demanded a Trial by Combat.