Chapter Summaries

Daenerys entered the House of the Undying, where illusions showed her visions of her past and a prophetic prince before Drogon saved her from the Undying. After escaping, she saw a mysterious man with a white dragon and emerged from the palace murmuring the name Caesar.

• Daenerys ignored the illusion of Ser Willem Darry and passed visions of a king seeking to rule over ashes and a prince named Aegon.
• Daenerys realized the last door on the left was the first door on the right and entered the hall of the Undying.
• The Undying tried to draw Daenerys into their feast, but Drogon struck her and burned away the illusion.
• Daenerys saw a black-haired man with mismatched eyes and a white dragon in the flames, then chased him through a radiant doorway.
• Daenerys escaped the House of the Undying as Ser Jorah Mormont subdued a warlock, and she murmured the name Caesar.

During a rain prayer on the Greenblood, Myrcella was told that Dornish law made her the rightful heir to the Iron Throne, which she rejected. After she was stabbed and poisoned in the celebrating crowd, Arianne carried her to a carriage where Prince Doran ordered a maester to begin draining her blood.

• Arianne introduced Myrcella to the Orphans of the Greenblood, and Garin and Sylva claimed that Myrcella was the rightful queen under Dornish law.
• Myrcella rejected their claim and watched the Rhoynar pray for rain, celebrating when a drizzle began.
• The crowd surged around Myrcella, her guards were separated from her, and someone stabbed her arm.
• Myrcella lost consciousness as Arianne carried her away to a carriage where Prince Doran was waiting.
• Prince Doran ordered a maester to open Myrcella's wound and let her blood drain into a vessel.

Tywin revealed that he intended to defeat his northern enemies through messages and ravens rather than by fighting the southern dragon. At Highgarden, a raven plague and Randyll Tarly’s assault on Cider Hall exposed a Horse Party plot against House Tyrell, while Olenna still hoped Caesar could be killed at his coronation.

• Roose Bolton reported that Frey had betrayed Tywin’s plot, while he and Anya Waynwood planned to help defeat Robb Stark; Tywin ordered them to march north and said ravens and letters would handle the southern threat.
• Olenna learned that a plague had killed Highgarden’s ravens, suspected someone was targeting House Tyrell, and ordered Mace to muster troops and scouts while sending riders to Old Oak and Cider Hall.
• Jon Fossoway told Mace that Randyll Tarly was attacking Cider Hall under the claim that Mace had ordered it; Mace realized the raven plague had prevented him from receiving Fossoway’s letters.
• Olenna explained that Randyll was forcing House Fossoway into conflict and that Garlan and Willas were likely in danger; she said Randyll could take Cider Hall with gunpowder like he had taken Bronzegate.
• Mace learned that Olenna had plotted to kill Caesar, and Olenna said killing Caesar at the coronation could still bring down the Horse Party.

Samwell arrived at Blood Reef Island for the Three Realms Conference, where Prince Doran arranged Myrcella’s coronation while secretly offering Samwell support in exchange for a Martell alliance and descendants. As Samwell removed the crown from Myrcella, she revealed a venomous snake in her hair and bit his hand.

• Selwyn Tarth reached Blood Reef Island and learned the Dornish and Reachmen planned to crown Myrcella Baratheon.
• Samwell arrived with Margaery, reassured the Stormlands lords that crowning Myrcella had not been his idea, and discussed the island and the crown with Prince Doran.
• Prince Doran offered Samwell Martell support, armies, and a path to the Iron Throne if Samwell secured descendants for House Martell.
• The high septon crowned Myrcella, and Samwell refused to swear fealty, questioning her claim because of her golden hair.
• Samwell removed the crown from Myrcella, who revealed a venomous snake in her hair and bit his right hand.

Samwell survived the assassination attempt at Blood Reef Island after confronting visions of the Night King and Azor Ahai, then declared himself Caesar and accepted the Stormlands’ fealty as Storm King. Margaery chose him over Highgarden, leaving the story with their alliance to House Tyrell broken and Samwell crowned with Aegon the Conqueror’s crown.

• A disguised Faceless Man poisoned Samwell during the ceremony, but Samwell killed the assassin before collapsing as Margaery and Loras watched.
• At Storm’s End, a shadow bearing Samwell’s face emerged from Melisandre and flew away after she urged it to remember who it was.
• Samwell rose from the dead at Blood Reef Island, burned Areo Hotah to ashes with Dawn, and faced visions naming him both the Night King and Azor Ahai.
• Margaery held Samwell’s hand, and he rejected both identities by declaring, “I am Caesar!”
• Samwell asked Margaery to choose between Caesar and Highgarden, and she chose him, accepting their estrangement from House Tyrell.
• Samwell placed Aegon the Conqueror’s crown on his head, and the Stormlands nobles swore fealty to him as Storm King.

Euron Greyjoy sailed the Serenity into the Smoking Sea and sounded a mysterious horn on a desolate island. Though Dragonbinder burned him and appeared to kill him, Euron revived with changed eyes and claimed the horn as his own.

• Euron ordered the Serenity through the Smoking Sea, where it struck a reef, and he waded toward a strange island alone.
• Euron returned carrying a gigantic rune-covered horn and blew it, unleashing a cry that made the sea and sky rage.
• The horn's blast burned Euron and tormented the mute crew until it stopped, leaving Euron apparently dead.
• Euron suddenly rose, revealing a red-gold left eye and healing burns as the crew watched in fear.
• Euron named the horn Dragonbinder and declared, "What is dead may never die!"

As the Horse Party captured Old Oak, Lord Torgen Oakheart blamed House Tyrell and killed Willas Tyrell before taking his own life. At Cider Hall, Randyll Tarly accepted Chiman Tiger Tooth’s report that Garlan Tyrell and Lord Fossoway were dead, then ordered their remains sent to Highgarden as proof that he had followed Lady Olenna’s orders.

• Lord Torgen Oakheart and Willas Tyrell wondered why Highgarden had not answered their ravens as the Horse Party attacked Old Oak.
• A blast shook the castle, and Lord Torgen returned to report that the city had fallen.
• Lord Torgen cut off Willas’s leg and sent it to Matus Rowan, but Matus demanded that Willas be handed over and threatened House Oakheart.
• Lord Torgen stabbed Willas to death, ordered his head sent to Matus Rowan, and then killed himself as the Horse Party entered Old Oak.
• Randyll Tarly arrived at Cider Hall while the Horse Party’s victory over House Fossoway became inevitable.
• Chiman Tiger Tooth reported that Garlan Tyrell and Lord Fossoway were dead, and Randyll ordered their remains sent to Highgarden while emphasizing that he had acted on Lady Olenna’s orders.

Lord Paxter Redwyne waited offshore during a violent storm, trying to learn what had happened at Caesar’s coronation on Blood Reef Island. After realizing Caesar was ferrying nobles off the island, Paxter sent two sailors through the storm to investigate.

• A storm trapped Lord Paxter Redwyne and the Arbor Fleet offshore while he waited to see whether Caesar would fly from Blood Reef Island.
• Lord Paxter spotted Caesar’s White Dragon take off, return, and depart again, but could not determine what had happened at the coronation.
• After the White Dragon appeared for a third time, Lord Paxter concluded Caesar was transporting nobles off the island and knew the fleet was nearby.
• Lord Paxter promised Caliron and another sailor knighthoods and estates if they investigated Blood Reef Island and returned with a clear report.
• Caliron and the other sailor launched small boats into the storm, and Caliron sailed toward the island tied to his mast.

After surviving the storm, Caliron was captured by Samwell and brought to the cave where Stormlands, Dornish, and Reach nobles were held. As Samwell arranged an escape and a way to use Prince Doran to secure the Stormlands army, he reflected on how the Great Other had helped him resist R'hllor's control.

• The White Dragon carried Caliron to Blood Reef Island, where Samwell captured him and took him to the cave holding the nobles.
• During the storm, Samwell repeatedly flew nobles to safety, leaving the Dornish and Reach captives behind as the weather began to clear.
• Samwell said Prince Doran could be exchanged for the Stormlands army held at Sunspear, while the other Dornish nobles had to save themselves.
• Lord Anders Yronwood volunteered to negotiate with Lord Paxter, and Samwell freed him with the sword Dawn before sending him out with Caliron.
• Samwell examined Dawn and concluded that the Great Other had helped him escape R'hllor's attempt to control him, as red-gold and icy lights briefly appeared and vanished.

After Caesar’s coronation as Storm King, Samwell secured the Arbor fleet’s withdrawal from Blood Reef Island and took Prince Doran to Storm’s End. There, he reunited with Dickon, whose forgotten memories had not returned, and received a letter from his father.

• Count Anders told Count Paxter that Caesar had become Storm King and persuaded him to withdraw the Arbor fleet in exchange for a marriage alliance between Gwyneth Yronwood and Horas Redwyne.
• Samwell waited until the Arbor Fleet departed, then asked Anders to negotiate a prisoner exchange with House Martell and discussed using House Yronwood’s ambitions to weaken House Martell.
• After the Dornishmen boarded Tarth’s ships, Samwell carried Prince Doran to Storm’s End on the White Dragon and briefly dropped him before catching him in its claws.
• Samwell ignored Doran’s warning about his enemies and allies, then told him that misplaced trust could be dangerous.
• Samwell met Dickon Tarly, confirmed that his injuries had healed but his lost memories had not returned, and accepted a letter from his father.

Samwell learned that R'hllor had failed to control him and Melisandre, then greatly increased his spirit attribute after becoming Storm King. His heightened soul power let him detect traces of blood magic, but it also exposed him to strange whispers that Melisandre identified as a warning in Valyrian.

• Melisandre told Samwell that Dickon had returned to normal, though his memories remained damaged and R'hllor's power was gone from him.
• Samwell and Melisandre discussed R'hllor's failed control, the prophecy's unknown origins, and the limits of the gods' power.
• Melisandre explained that [True Eye] could reveal disguises made with blood magic, but learning it would normally take Samwell at least ten years.
• Samwell assigned the thirty free attribute points he gained as Storm King to spirit, causing his soul power to surge and letting him see the blood magic surrounding Melisandre.
• Samwell began hearing whispers and suffering pain, so Melisandre took his hand to calm him and translated “Hantam” as “Don't come in.”

Samwell learned from Melisandre that sorcery drew power from the dangerous Elemental Sea, and she began teaching him fire magic. In Sunspear, Arianne faced public anger over Doran’s capture and met Count Anders Yronwood, who had gathered supporters against House Martell.

• Melisandre placed a silvery-white seal on Samwell’s palm to shield him from the Elemental Sea’s interference.
• Melisandre explained that sorcery drew power from the Elemental Sea and that R'hllor had not been its true master.
• Samwell agreed to learn fire magic from Melisandre, who opened an ancient scroll and began teaching him an incantation.
• Arianne learned that Doran had become Caesar’s prisoner and prepared to take responsibility for ruling Dorne.
• An angry crowd protested House Martell as Arianne traveled to Sunspear, and someone threw a stone at her carriage.
• Arianne entered the Sun Tower, confronted Count Anders Yronwood, and asked whether he had come as Caesar’s envoy.

Count Anders pressured Princess Arianne into accepting Caesar’s exchange of forty-eight Dornish nobles for the twenty thousand Stormlands soldiers held in Dorne, leaving Prince Doran to be negotiated for separately. Back at Storm’s End, Samwell ordered the Dornish prisoners brought to the council chamber so they could bid Doran farewell and leave him a memento.

• Count Anders told Princess Arianne that Caesar demanded the Stormlands army in exchange for the forty-eight Dornish nobles, excluding Prince Doran.
• Princess Arianne refused to exchange the prisoners without her father, but Dornish nobles blamed House Martell for the failed assassination plot and demanded she ransom their lords.
• Count Anders threatened to return to Storm’s End, and Princess Arianne finally agreed to Caesar’s terms under pressure from the assembled nobles.
• Count Anders returned to Storm’s End and told Gavin Mander that Arianne had agreed to the exchange.
• Samwell told Count Anders to bring all the Dornish nobles, including Doran, to the council chamber so they could say goodbye and leave Doran a memento.
• Samwell watched a small flame withstand the gale and wondered about R'hllor’s truth.

Samwell agreed to exchange the Dornish nobles for Stormlands soldiers but demanded that each noble stab Prince Doran before being freed. The nobles wounded Doran together, and Samwell ordered Maester Qyburn to keep him alive until he returned to Sunspear, where he would die.

• Samwell announced that Sunspear had agreed to exchange twenty thousand Stormlands soldiers for forty-eight Dornish nobles, excluding Prince Doran.
• Samwell told the nobles they could return to Dorne only after each stabbed Doran once, and Count Anders Yronwood led them in accepting the demand.
• Count Anders, Lady Delonne Allyrion, and the other nobles stabbed Doran in turn, leaving him gravely wounded and unconscious.
• Samwell released the nobles to meet the prisoner exchange at the Boneway, then told Maester Qyburn to keep Doran alive until he reached Sunspear and died.

Samwell planned a vast irrigation canal network to expand farming in the Stormlands and strengthen his rule. He ordered Gavin Mander to find waterworks experts, then left to oversee the exchange of the Stormlands army at the Boneway.

• Gavin Mander reported on the Stormlands’ population, soldiers, income, grain stores, and lack of irrigation water.
• Samwell concluded that large-scale waterworks could increase grain production and build his prestige among the Stormlanders.
• Samwell ordered Gavin to gather maesters and craftsmen to plan reservoirs and canals connecting the Red Mountains to the Wendwater.
• Samwell chose to fund the project with work points and planned to bring laborers from Eagle's Beak, while Gavin warned that the work would require the cooperation of local lords.
• A cavalryman delivered news that House Martell had brought the Stormlands army to the Boneway, and Samwell set out to oversee the prisoner exchange.

In the Small Council, the Lannisters learned that Caesar had survived, become Storm King, and taken Dornish nobles hostage. Kevan set plans to contain him through marriage alliances, sending Tyrion to meet Arianne and ordering Cersei to marry Edmure, while he prepared to visit Highgarden.

• Varys revealed that Caesar had killed Littlefinger, leaving him indebted to the House of Black and White, and that Varys had used that debt to send a Faceless Man after Caesar.
• Kevan told Tyrion to go to Sunspear and marry Arianne Martell to gain influence in Dorne, and Tyrion agreed to go.
• Kevan ordered Cersei to marry Edmure Tully to restore relations with House Tully and stabilize the Riverlands, but Cersei stormed out in protest.
• Kevan announced that he would travel to Highgarden to try to stabilize House Tyrell's precarious situation.

Cersei used Tommen’s presence to fill vacant Small Council positions with Kevan Lannister, Jaime Lannister, and Aurane Waters. She then refused to repay the Iron Throne’s one-million-Gold-Dragon loan to the Iron Bank, leaving its envoy threatening retaliation as Cersei dismissed the danger.

• Cersei convened a Small Council meeting and overruled Grand Maester Gormon by using Tommen’s assent to fill vacant council offices.
• Cersei appointed Kevan Lannister as Master of Laws, Jaime Lannister as Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, and Aurane Waters as Master of Ships.
• An Iron Bank envoy named Naho Dimittis asked how the Iron Throne would repay its one-million-Gold-Dragon loan, which was nearing its due date.
• Cersei refused to repay the loan before the deadline and dismissed Naho after he warned that the Iron Bank would make the crown pay.
• Cersei dismissed the threat of the Iron Bank supporting the crown’s enemies and looked forward to taking a bath.

Ser Michael Mertyns returned from captivity in Dorne to a transformed Stormlands, where Caesar’s dragon and growing support impressed the returning soldiers. Princess Arianne learned that Caesar would release Prince Doran without conditions, then arrested the Dornish nobles after suspecting they had harmed her father.

• Ser Michael and Ser Elyn discussed whether to swear fealty to Caesar, while Ser Roland Connington refused unless Caesar restored his house’s former lands.
• Samwell met Arianne outside the city and told her she could send someone to Storm’s End to collect Prince Doran.
• Arianne questioned Lord Anders Yronwood and the other Dornish nobles after they evaded her questions about her father.
• Lord Uller urged Arianne to retrieve Prince Doran, and she ordered her guards to detain the Dornish nobles.
• Arianne watched Caesar’s White Dragon circle above the Stormlands army as soldiers cheered for the Storm King.

Samwell prepared to leave Storm's End for The Reach, while arranging Queen Margaery's protection and exploiting House Martell's distrust. He took Loras Tyrell with him on White Dragon, leaving Margaery behind to tend her roses.

• Samwell told Margaery he was leaving for The Reach and ordered Brienne to guard the queen.
• Samwell brought Nymeria Sand to Prince Doran, who lay gravely wounded, and she refused Qyburn's offered medicine before carrying Doran away.
• Samwell told Qyburn that Doran's condition could deepen suspicion between House Martell and the Dornish nobles.
• Samwell freed Loras Tyrell and said he would take him to Highgarden, but refused his request to see Margaery.
• White Dragon seized Loras and carried him into the sky as Margaery watched from the greenhouse, then returned to tending her roses.

Kevan Lannister arrived at Highgarden to help House Tyrell resist the Horse Party, but Lady Olenna seized him as a bargaining chip to exchange for Loras. She left the Tyrells choosing between handing over Kevan or Olenna to Caesar.

• Kevan met Lady Olenna and learned that House Lannister could not send troops while Tywin pursued Eddard Stark in the North.
• Lady Olenna said House Tyrell was considering handing her over to Caesar in exchange for Loras, and Kevan offered to speak with Lord Mace.
• Lady Olenna had guards seize Kevan and brought him before Lord Mace and the Tyrell vassals.
• Lady Olenna presented the Tyrells with a choice between surrendering Kevan or herself, and they chose Kevan.
• Kevan protested that he was their guest, while Lady Olenna cursed King Tommen.