Chapter Summaries

Jaime told Ned why he had killed the Mad King to stop him from burning King's Landing, and Ned admitted he had judged Jaime wrongly. As Ned and Jaime joined Lynn against Robert's order to kill him, Lynn vowed to make Lysa pay with the entire Vale.

• Ned asked Jaime why he had killed the Mad King, and Jaime recounted the order to burn King's Landing and kill his father, Tywin.
• Jaime accused Ned of condemning him without hearing his reasons, and revealed that he killed the Mad King and the alchemist to save the city.
• Ned acknowledged that he had been wrong to judge Jaime, and Jaime struggled to hide his emotion.
• Lynn reminded Ned and Jaime that madness still lingered on the Iron Throne, and Ned vowed not to let Robert take Lynn's head.
• Jaime said Tywin's army could reach the Twins within three days, and Lynn announced he would make Lysa pay with the entire Vale.

Lysa Arryn rallied the Vale’s nobles to support a war against Lynn, claiming conquest of the Gift was the Vale’s only path to survival and independence. The bannermen joined her cause, and she ordered Tobho Mott to build dragon-killing scorpions within a month before launching the war.

• Bronze Yohn Royce condemned Lysa Arryn for indulging Robert Arryn and risking the Vale in a war against Lynn and his dragon.
• Lysa dismissed the danger of dragons and argued that the Vale could kill Lynn’s dragon with ballistae and iron spears.
• Lysa claimed Robert Baratheon threatened House Arryn and urged the nobles to seize the Gift and establish an independent kingdom.
• Lysa rallied the Vale’s bannermen to war, and Bronze Yohn Royce drew his sword in support.
• Lysa ordered Tobho Mott to build a hundred Giant Scorpions at the Bloody Gate within one month while she stockpiled supplies.

Lysa Arryn tried to rally the Vale to war by claiming support from House Tully, Catelyn Stark, and the Iron Islands, but her father and sister rejected her plans. She lied to the Vale nobles about their support and began plotting against her family, leaving the chapter with her preparing to use her son to reach Hoster Tully.

• Lysa Arryn urged the Vale nobles to fight Lynn and claimed House Tully, Catelyn Stark, and Balon Greyjoy would support her, while Bronze Yohn Royce condemned her alliance with the Iron Islands.
• Duke Hoster Tully rejected Lysa’s request and ordered Edmure Tully to assure Robert that Riverrun would not join her war.
• Catelyn Tully refused to support Lysa and warned that Winterfell would stand with Lynn if Lysa attacked the North.
• After receiving both refusals, Lysa flew into a rage, then lied to the Vale nobles that her father and sister had agreed to her plan.
• Lysa ordered the Vale nobles to prepare supplies for an army and whispered to her son, Little Robert, that he could visit his grandfather.

Robert struck Cersei and revealed his plan to provoke war between the North, the Vale, and the Riverlands to weaken them and kill Lynn. Cersei and Myrcella warned Lynn and arranged covert Lannister supplies for his forces, while Myrcella privately vowed that Robert would pay for striking her mother.

• Robert struck Cersei, then revealed that he intended to send Lynn north and spark a devastating war among Ned Stark, Lysa Arryn, and Hoster Tully.
• After Robert passed out, Cersei went to Myrcella and told her his plan; they agreed the Lannister army could not march north without giving Robert an excuse for war.
• Cersei proposed that Tywin secretly send iron, steel, smiths, and other supplies to White Harbor, and Myrcella agreed to tell Lynn everything.
• Myrcella vowed Robert would not get away with striking Cersei, then told Lynn about Robert's scheme and the planned Lannister shipment.
• Lynn listened without interrupting, already aware of Robert's plans through his Greensight, and accepted Cersei and Myrcella's help.

Lynn comforted Myrcella after Robert struck Cersei and planned to undermine the Vale by impersonating Petyr, while dramatically upgrading his disguise, greensight, and ice magic. Jaime confessed he was Myrcella’s father, and after she forgave him, he promised to protect Lynn as he prepared to go north.

• Lynn embraced Myrcella, reassured her that Robert would not succeed, and used experience to raise disguise to Proficient, greensight to Expert, and ice magic to Grandmaster.
• Lynn discovered he could imitate faces without human skin, hear Robert Arryn’s dreams, and transform living adults into powerful White Walkers.
• Lynn told Myrcella that Robert might keep her as leverage and said he would find a way to take her out of King’s Landing before leaving to see Ned.
• Jaime visited Myrcella, confessed that he was her father rather than her uncle, and apologized for the secret and the pain he had caused.
• Myrcella told Jaime that she had once hated him but now forgave him, then asked him to protect Lynn as he would protect her.
• Jaime swore on his honor that he would protect Lynn, whom he called his son-in-law.

Jaime Lannister left the Kingsguard and chose to travel north to protect Myrcella and support Lynn. After breaking with Cersei as her lover, he met Lynn at the gates of King's Landing, ready to join the war.

• Jaime reflected on his past, visited the White Sword Tower, and left his entry in the White Book unfinished.
• Jaime told Cersei he was going north to protect their daughter and urged her to remain in King's Landing and secure House Lannister's position.
• Cersei reluctantly let Jaime go, warning him not to leave Myrcella a widow.
• Jaime formally resigned from the Kingsguard before Robert and declared he would help Lynn in the North.
• Jaime left King's Landing and met Lynn at the city gates, where he said he was ready to go.

Myrcella sought Sansa’s help to fund Lynn’s needs and confessed she wanted Robert dead. The two women joined forces and began planning to kill Robert and frame Stannis, leaving their dangerous plot underway.

• Myrcella went to Sansa’s office and demanded royal treasury funds to buy Lynn weapons, armor, and supplies.
• Sansa mocked Myrcella, then admitted she had been saving money for Lynn and resented Myrcella for marrying him.
• Myrcella apologized and declared that Robert must die, and Sansa agreed to join her.
• Sansa and Myrcella discussed Joffrey as Robert’s successor and identified Stannis and Renly as threats to Lynn’s interests.
• Myrcella proposed framing Stannis for Robert’s murder, and Sansa asked how they would carry out the plan.

Tywin welcomed Jaime’s resignation from the Kingsguard and supported his journey north, seeing it as a chance for House Lannister to gain power whatever happened to Lynn. In King’s Landing, a Faceless Man intent on destroying Euron Greyjoy’s dragon egg arranged to be sent to the Wall so he could approach the North unnoticed.

• Tywin learned that Jaime had left the Kingsguard and decided House Lannister would back him as he went north to meet Lynn and the dragon.
• Tywin wrote to Jaime that Casterly Rock would stand behind him.
• A Faceless Man arrived in King’s Landing and resolved to assassinate Balon Greyjoy and destroy the petrified dragon egg before pursuing Lynn and his dragon.
• The Faceless Man stole a merchant’s purse in front of the City Watch, then provoked a watchman into striking him unconscious so he would be imprisoned.
• After waking in the Black Cells, the Faceless Man waited to be sent to the Wall as cover for his journey north.

Garth recruited prisoners from the Black Cells for a plot to assassinate Robert Baratheon and announced that only one would survive a staged journey to meet the employer. Jaqen H'ghar accepted the challenge, while the prisoners prepared to turn on one another before morning.

• Garth, the Stark-appointed chief gaoler, told the Black Cells prisoners that they could earn gold, women, or freedom by taking a dangerous job.
• Garth revealed that the target was Robert Baratheon, prompting the prisoners to laugh in disbelief.
• Jaqen H'ghar agreed to consider the job but demanded to know who the employer was.
• Garth said every prisoner would be escorted out of the city the next morning and that only the sole survivor would meet the client.
• After Garth left, the prisoners eyed one another with growing murderous intent, while Jaqen returned to his corner and closed his eyes.

Jaqen H'ghar survived the prisoners' poisoning and met Sansa Stark and Myrcella Baratheon, who wanted him to assassinate Robert and frame Stannis. He revealed Robert was already dying from poison, proposed framing Stannis with fabricated evidence instead, and asked to travel north with the Starks and Lord Lynn.

• Jaqen H'ghar poisoned the prisoners in the wagon, took an antidote, and was the only one left standing.
• Garth brought Jaqen to the Tower of the Hand, where he discovered Sansa Stark and Myrcella Baratheon were his employers.
• Myrcella and Sansa asked Jaqen to kill Robert Baratheon and arrange for Stannis Baratheon to take the blame.
• Jaqen told them Robert had been slowly poisoned with Tears of Lys and advised them to wait for his death rather than use an obvious assassin.
• Jaqen proposed planting fabricated clues to implicate Stannis, and Sansa and Myrcella agreed to his plan.
• Jaqen refused payment in Gold Dragons and asked to travel north with the Starks and Lord Lynn; Sansa said he needed Lynn's consent.

Lynn uncovered Jaqen H'ghar's mission to study Winter and learn how to kill a dragon, then confronted him in Flea Bottom. He forced Jaqen to choose between carrying out their shared plan under Lynn's direction or facing death.

• Sansa and Myrcella told Lynn that Jaqen had offered to help poison Robert and frame Stannis in exchange for going north with Lynn.
• Lynn used greensight to discover that Jaqen served the House of Black and White and had come to study Winter's weaknesses and learn how to kill a dragon.
• Lynn confronted Jaqen in Flea Bottom, revealed his secret mission and the poisoned needle in his sleeve, and left Jaqen terrified by his knowledge.
• Lynn gave Jaqen a lifelike mask of Stannis and offered to help frame Stannis without killing him.
• Lynn ordered Jaqen to follow his plan and then assassinate Balon Greyjoy, warning that refusal would cost him his head.

Lynn challenged Jaqen’s mission to oppose dragon power, arguing that power could be used to end suffering and build a more just society. Jaqen left persuaded enough to consider giving Lynn access to the Temple of Black and White’s forbidden knowledge, while Lord Varys was revealed to be listening nearby.

• Jaqen explained that the Faceless Men opposed dragons because Old Valyria had used them to enslave people, and he argued that supernatural power inevitably created tyrants.
• Lynn agreed that the Valyrian dragonlords had been evil but said he wanted to use his dragon to reduce suffering and create a society where people could live in safety and abundance.
• Lynn described his vision of Great Unity, and Jaqen reconsidered the purpose of the Many-Faced God and the Temple of Black and White.
• Lynn gave Jaqen a human-skin mask of Stannis and ordered him to spread the story that Robert Baratheon had died through his younger brother’s plot.
• Jaqen tested the mask, offered to persuade the Temple of Black and White to hand Lynn its dragon eggs, necromancy, and blood magic, then disappeared into the shadows.
• Lynn called out Lord Varys, who had been eavesdropping.

Varys pledged his service to Lynn and promised that his Little Birds would help bring about Lynn’s great harmony world. As Jaqen posed as Stannis to plant a forged letter, Robert rode out to hunt in the Kingswood, leaving Varys to report that unrest was beginning in King’s Landing.

• After hearing Lynn’s vision, Varys knelt and pledged his loyalty, and Lynn told him to be patient while they watched events unfold.
• Jaqen questioned his faith, disguised himself as Stannis Baratheon, and wrote a forged letter to Davos urging him to ready the fleet.
• Jaqen arranged for a ragged boy to steal the letter and carry it through Flea Bottom toward Robert’s informant.
• Robert set out for the Kingswood to hunt the White Stag while Lynn and Ned watched from the Tower of the Hand.
• Varys told Lynn that the stag had entered the woods and King’s Landing had begun to grow restless.

Lysa Arryn went to Riverrun seeking Hoster Tully’s support against Robert, but their confrontation ended with Hoster dead. She pretended to grieve and told Edmure that Hoster had agreed to an alliance with the Vale before he died.

• Lysa Arryn rode to Riverrun with Robert Arryn, leaving the Vale under the control of her scheming vassals.
• Edmure Tully let Lysa into Riverrun but warned her that Hoster Tully was gravely ill and needed rest.
• Lysa demanded Hoster support her, and he condemned her for betraying House Tully and dishonoring its words.
• Lysa accused Hoster of sacrificing her for his own ambitions, then covered his mouth as he struggled and died.
• Lysa pretended to discover Hoster’s death in grief, then told Edmure that Hoster had approved an alliance with the Vale and urged him to protect Riverrun.

After Hoster Tully’s funeral, Edmure learned from his father’s final letter that Hoster had opposed Lysa’s plans for war. Lysa then lured Edmure away from Riverrun and revealed that she intended to seize power by force.

• Edmure failed twice to shoot a flaming arrow onto Hoster’s funeral boat, so Brynden Tully took the bow and set it alight with a single shot.
• Maester Vyman gave Edmure Hoster’s letter, which warned him that Lysa was blinded by obsession and urged him to protect the Riverlands from her plans.
• Edmure decided to confront Lysa, but she entered the study and persuaded him to ride with her, claiming that she regretted her actions.
• At a riverbank, Bronze Yohn and Arryn knights surrounded Edmure and Lysa, who admitted she had been pretending and ordered Ser Andar to seize the Duke of Riverrun.

Lysa Arryn had Andar Royce killed after he refused to seize Edmure, then used his death to cow the Vale knights and order House Royce arrested. With Edmure captured, she demanded that he support her or die.

• Andar Royce refused Lysa's order to seize Edmure, declaring his loyalty to House Arryn and the Vale rather than to Lysa's madness.
• Lysa ordered Ser Vardis and Ser Lyn to kill Andar, and the two knights fought him while Edmure watched helplessly.
• A hidden crossbowman shot Andar in the neck, and Lysa claimed he had attempted to attack her and was suspected of colluding with the enemy.
• Lysa ordered the Vale knights to arrest House Royce members without alerting the house, and Ser Vardis and Ser Lyn seized Edmure.
• Lysa threatened Edmure and demanded that he support her or die.

Edmure defied Lysa after she murdered Ser Andar Royce, but Lysa revealed her alliance with Walder Frey and threatened to force Edmure to rule Riverrun under their control. Edmure lunged at Lysa and was knocked unconscious, leaving Walder to begin imposing obedience on him.

• Edmure rejected Lysa’s demands and vowed that Brynden Tully would avenge him and defend Riverrun.
• Lysa summoned Walder Frey and revealed that she had secured his support through a marriage alliance between Robert Arryn and one of Walder’s granddaughters.
• Walder and Lysa revealed their plan to control Riverrun and unite the Riverlands and Vale through their alliance.
• Lysa threatened to have Frey soldiers slaughter House Tully unless Edmure announced their alliance, summoned his vassals, and married into House Frey.
• Edmure lunged at Lysa, but Ser Vardis struck him unconscious as Walder promised to teach him obedience.

Edmure was tortured into accepting Lysa and Walder Frey's demands, while Catelyn received a suspicious letter announcing Hoster's death and Edmure's marriage. Robb tried to stop Catelyn from returning to Riverrun, then discovered Theon had fled as news arrived that King Robert was near death.

• Walder Frey had Black Walder whip Edmure and desecrate House Tully's banner until Edmure broke.
• Lysa agreed to Walder Frey's demands, and Edmure signed a pact accepting an alliance and marriage to Roslin Frey under threat to House Tully.
• At Winterfell, Catelyn read Edmure's letter announcing Hoster's death and her brother's wedding, but Robb suspected a trap and urged her not to return to Riverrun.
• Catelyn found a hidden note revealing that Edmure was under their control and insisted on going to Riverrun, while Robb considered restraining her until his father returned.
• Robb learned Theon Greyjoy had ridden away alone and ordered the guards to pursue him.
• News arrived that King Robert had broken his leg and been gored by a wild boar, leaving him near death.

Robert discovered that he had been poisoned with Tears of Lys and blamed Stannis, stripping him of his titles and ordering Dragonstone blockaded. On Dragonstone, Melisandre reassured Stannis that his enemies were spreading lies and began using the flames to reveal the truth.

• Varys read Robert a letter claiming Stannis planned to reclaim the throne after Robert died.
• Pycelle tested Robert’s blood and revealed that someone had been slowly poisoning him with Tears of Lys.
• Robert accused Stannis of attempted murder, stripped him of his titles, ordered the fleet to blockade Dragonstone, and summoned Ned.
• Stannis received word of Robert’s accusations and wondered whether Cersei, Varys, or Lynn had framed him.
• Melisandre told Stannis that the accusations were a trick of the darkness and urged him to trust the Lord of Light.
• Melisandre prayed over the fire, and its flames began forming indistinct images for Stannis.

Melisandre’s vision convinced Stannis that Renly had poisoned Robert and framed him, while Liana manipulated Joffrey into suspecting both uncles and trusting Lynn. Stannis and Joffrey each vowed to destroy their supposed enemies, leaving the Baratheon family poised for conflict.

• Melisandre interpreted the flames as showing Renly crowned king, and Stannis declared him an enemy for regicide and treason.
• Joffrey brooded over Robert’s impending death and his fear of Stannis and Renly.
• Liana told Joffrey that Lynn suspected his uncles and argued that Renly would benefit from a fight between Joffrey and Stannis.
• Joffrey concluded that Renly had poisoned Robert and framed Stannis, and he praised Lynn as his loyal ally.
• Joffrey vowed to punish anyone who challenged his claim, while Liana privately took amusement in how easily she had deceived him.