Chapter Summaries

Gary prepared to bargain for Wylis Manderly’s release and gathered the northern lords in Winterfell to display his power. Arya reunited with a farmer she had once helped, and the chapter ended with the lords seated at Gary’s icy feast.

• At Winterfell, Wyman Manderly told Gary that Tywin had demanded House Manderly support Roose Bolton in exchange for Wylis, and Gary gave him Bright-Roar and a letter to use in negotiations.
• Gary reassured Wyman that he had other plans to rescue Sansa and urged him to bargain for his son’s release.
• On the Kingsroad, Arya recognized the farmer and his daughter Sally, apologized, and invited them to travel north with her caravan.
• The farmer agreed to travel with Arya after explaining that his family had converted to the Supreme God and could no longer remain among followers of the Seven.
• More than ten days later, northern lords gathered in Winterfell; Daenerys welcomed them with Drogon’s dragonfire, and Gary hosted them at a feast with ice furniture and his Frozen Throne.

Gary demanded absolute obedience from the northern lords and revealed the power he had used to defeat the Boltons. He presented Valyrian steel daggers and Roose Bolton, then ordered the lords to flay him, leaving Barbrey Ryswell challenging the order.

• Gary warned the northern lords that disobedient houses would be exterminated, and Barbrey Ryswell challenged his authority.
• Gary claimed that he and his Dragon had defeated Roose Bolton's five thousand men alone, and Earl Wyman confirmed it.
• Earl Wyman displayed Bright-Roar, and Lyanna Mormont argued with him about House Manderly's treatment of House Mormont.
• Gary had servants distribute Valyrian steel daggers and ordered soldiers to bring the mutilated Roose Bolton into the hall.
• Gary ordered the lords to strip Roose Bolton's skin, and Barbrey Ryswell reminded him of northern tradition before he asked whether she was defying him.

Gary forced the northern lords to take turns cutting Roose Bolton, using his healing magic to keep him alive and revealing the power of the unfamiliar Supreme God. The lords were left questioning their beliefs as Gary invited them to continue.

• Barbrey Ryswell challenged Gary's order, so he restrained her with ice magic as Daenerys and Stark soldiers faced down the other lords and commanders.
• Gary dismissed the soldiers and ordered the lords to cut Roose Bolton, and Lyanna Mormont drew blood from him first.
• Earl Wyman Locke cut Roose Bolton and accused him of betraying the North, while Roose mocked Wyman for serving Luke Stark.
• Lysanne Flint cut off three of Roose Bolton's fingers, and Roose collapsed unconscious from his injuries.
• Gary used healing magic to revive Roose Bolton and told the lords that the Supreme God would keep him from dying.
• The northern lords stared in shock at the healing and wondered where the Supreme God came from and whether their understanding of gods was wrong.

Tywin learned that Lynesse Redwyne had been impersonating Margaery Tyrell and promised to make her queen in exchange for her revelations. He discovered that the real Margaery was being held at Highgarden, while Lynesse expected to proceed with the wedding to Joffrey.

• Tywin read reports of Luke Stark's northern victories, Edmure Tully's return, and Stannis's journey to Eastwatch-by-the-Sea, but focused on securing an alliance with House Tyrell.
• Tywin questioned the veiled Margaery, and Lynesse Redwyne revealed her scar and asked to become queen without relying on her Tyrell identity.
• Tywin promised Lynesse he would make her queen of the Seven Kingdoms if her secret justified the reward.
• Lynesse told Tywin that Olenna had placed her in Margaery's role, that the real Margaery was confined near Highgarden, and that Olenna had scarred her to disrupt the royal betrothal.
• Tywin assured Lynesse that the wedding would proceed and told her the queen's place would be hers.

Gary forced Barbrey Ryswell to torture Roose Bolton before killing him with ice magic, then used his divine powers to press the northern lords to abandon the Old Gods and worship the Supreme God. The chapter ended with Gary asking who would volunteer to test his power to bring the dead back to life.

• Gary released Barbrey Ryswell from her icy restraints, and she submitted before cutting Roose Bolton in a humiliating way that drove him mad.
• Gary killed Roose Bolton with a swarm of ice spikes, then ordered the servants to clean the banquet hall and told the lords to continue feasting.
• Gary declared that the Royal House would not recognize the Old Gods or the Seven and challenged the lords to prove the Old Gods existed.
• Gary claimed the Supreme God had granted Daenerys fire magic, him ice magic, and divine arts that could resurrect the dead.
• Earl Orrick Locke asked Gary to prove his claim, and Gary invited the lords to volunteer their lives as a test.

Gary proved the Supreme God’s power to the northern lords by resurrecting Lajos Furlong, then blessed Earl Orrick Locke by restoring his youth. The lords embraced worship of the Supreme God, and the chapter ended with news that a woman claiming to be the Queen in the North had arrived outside the city.

• Barbrey Ryswell suggested resurrecting Roose Bolton, but Gary rejected the idea and ordered two Ice Warriors to demonstrate resurrection instead.
• Dasheel Lugo beheaded Lajos Furlong, and Gary used divine power to restore his head and bring him back to life.
• The northern lords praised the Supreme God, while Earl Orrick Locke declared his devotion and vowed to destroy the Heart Tree in Oldtown.
• Gary blessed Orrick Locke by restoring his hair, teeth, and youthful appearance.
• The third squad’s captain told Gary that a woman outside the city claimed to be the Queen in the North.

Gary discussed the Ironborn occupation of Deepwood Motte and Torrhen's Square with the Northern lords and learned that their garrisons were weak. The unexpected visitor turned out to be Margaery Tyrell, who arrived with a timid little girl and asked whether she was welcome.

• Ernie McLenn told Gary that a beautiful noblewoman had arrived with two hundred elite cavalrymen, and Gary ordered her brought to the banquet hall.
• Gary questioned Barbrey Ryswell about the Ironborn, who held Deepwood Motte and Torrhen's Square and demanded Sea Dragon Point and the Stony Shore.
• Barbrey Ryswell reported that the Ironborn forces were small and that some of their warships had left the western coast, then offered to take Torrhen's Square.
• A black-haired girl entered the hall with a timid little girl and told Gary she had come to find him.
• Gary recognized the visitor as Margaery Tyrell.

Margaery Tyrell arrived at Winterfell with Eddara Tallhart, secured Eddara’s allegiance to Gary, and proposed marrying him to unite the North and the Reach. The chapter ended with Daenerys Targaryen declaring herself Gary’s queen and Margaery challenging her claim.

• Margaery presented Eddara Tallhart, the young countess of Torrhen’s Square, who swore allegiance to Gary.
• Margaery explained that Torrhen’s Square had been devastated by the Ironborn and would need troops to defend it.
• Margaery claimed that her cousin had married Renly and was to marry Joffrey in her place, then asked Gary to marry her and promised the Reach’s grain, gold, and armies.
• Gary agreed to marry Margaery if she could bring the promised support, and Margaery explained that House Tyrell had no right to claim kingship.
• Margaery asked who Daenerys was, and Daenerys revealed herself as a Targaryen princess and Gary’s queen.
• Margaery challenged Daenerys by asking which of them was the real queen.

After the banquet, Gary outlined the North’s plans and ordered the lords to prepare for a campaign against the Ironborn at Deepwood Motte before marching south. At dawn, he arranged for Eddara Tallhart’s family to join her in Winterfell, then found Margaery waiting in his chamber.

• Gary dismissed Daenerys and Margaery, then told the lords that Margaery could help secure grain from the Reach but could not promise an alliance.
• Gary announced that he would go to Deepwood Motte and ordered the lords to muster their forces before the North marched to aid House Tully.
• After the banquet ended at dawn, Gary found Eddara Tallhart still in the hall and promised to bring her family into Winterfell.
• Gary ordered Lajos Furlong and Dasheel Lugo to escort Eddara to the camp and bring her family back to the city.
• Gary sent Daenerys to rest, then went to his chamber and found Margaery waiting on his bed.

Margaery explored Winterfell and entered the Godswood to see Drogon, hoping to learn about Bingling. Drogon treated her as an intruder and threatened her with dragonfire, leaving Margaery and the two guards fleeing for safety.

• Gary sent Margaery back to her room after she teased and kissed him, then fell asleep beneath the fur blanket she had warmed.
• Margaery explored Winterfell and learned that Daenerys commanded the Ice Warrior Corps, that she and Gary slept separately, and that the servants were grateful to the king.
• Margaery entered the Godswood despite two guards warning her that a Dragon lived there and could attack strangers.
• Drogon smelled the unfamiliar visitor, flew from the Dragonpit, and landed before Margaery and the guards.
• Drogon roared and prepared to unleash dragonfire, so Margaery shouted for everyone to run.

Margaery encountered Drogon at Winterfell and learned that he was called Lord Drogon and kept company by the commander. At Castle Black, Jon Snow heard that the Starks had retaken Winterfell with a dragon and ice magic, though he doubted the report.

• Drogon let Margaery and the soldiers escape, then flew to the Wolfswood to hunt.
• Margaery asked the gate guards about the white dragon and learned that only the king and the commander could approach Drogon.
• Mack Clegane arrived with Ice Warrior Corps soldiers and escorted Margaery away, then questioned the gate guards about Drogon’s anger.
• Mance Rayder feinted at the Shadow Tower and Eastwatch-by-the-Sea while preparing to attack Castle Black with his main force.
• Samwell Tarly brought Durr to see Jon Snow, and Durr reported that the Starks had defeated the Boltons and reclaimed Winterfell.
• Jon Snow doubted Durr’s claim that a dragon and ice magic had helped the Starks win.

Snow learned that Luke Stark had retaken Winterfell and asked Samwell Tarly to carry him a letter requesting aid for Castle Black. In Winterfell, Gary prepared for a funeral and discussed food shortages before receiving a damaged raven letter whose remaining word was “black.”

• Snow told Samwell Tarly that Luke Stark had retaken Winterfell and explained that Bolton had likely received Castle Black’s request for aid.
• Snow asked Samwell Tarly to travel to Winterfell with a letter explaining Castle Black’s danger, and Samwell agreed to leave that day.
• Gary ended the feast early and announced that he would hold a funeral for the dead Starks the next day.
• Gary and Margaery discussed Daenerys, marriage, and Gary’s vow that he would never father a bastard.
• Septa Hanna warned Gary that Winterfell was running short of food, and he reassured her that soldiers would soon leave and new supplies would arrive.
• Septa Hanna gave Gary a water-damaged raven letter with only the word “black” still legible, and Gary wondered whether it referred to Castle Black or Blackwater Bay.

After Eddard and Robb’s funeral, Gary sent letters through Earl Wyman while Margaery worried that Daenerys and Drogon could become a threat to the North. Margaery tried to learn more about Daenerys, but their conversation was interrupted by Margaery’s shadowcat, and she grew more uneasy after seeing Daenerys’s fire magic.

• Gary held a funeral for Eddard and Robb, then asked Earl Wyman to deliver letters to Magister Tysha and Willas Tyrell.
• Margaery watched Daenerys ride Drogon and decided that Daenerys must either remain in the North or die there.
• Margaery invited Daenerys to visit the Highgarden cavalry, then asked whether she had met Luke in Essos and whether she worshipped the Supreme God.
• A shadowcat named Little Shadow knocked Margaery down and licked her, prompting Daenerys to extinguish the flames she had summoned around Dark Sister.
• Margaery learned that Daenerys could wield fire magic without being burned and became more anxious about her rival’s growing importance.

Margaery befriended Daenerys and learned that Gary had four dragons but only two riders, prompting her to consider becoming a queen alongside Daenerys. Meanwhile, Gary waited for replies from Pentos and Highgarden while improving armor for himself, Daenerys, and Margaery.

• Margaery asked Daenerys about Bingling, and Daenerys revealed that Gary had four dragons but only she and Gary could ride them.
• Margaery suggested that Daenerys could become one of two queens who helped Gary, and Daenerys returned to Winterfell deep in thought.
• Gary sent the northern lords away and told Eddara Tallhart to wait at Winterfell until he could provide troops for her castle.
• While awaiting replies from Pentos and Highgarden, Gary practiced smithing and worked with Daenerys to reshape their plate armor.
• After seven days, Gary finished his and Daenerys's armor and forged chain mail for Margaery.

Gary finished forging Valyrian steel armor and weapons, then stored them safely in his study. As Margaery began to discuss something with him, Septa Hanna arrived with a letter from Castle Black.

• Gary showed Margaery and Daenerys the six Valyrian steel weapons he had forged for the Stark children and Margaery.
• Gary helped finish Margaery’s mail, and she praised the fortune his ability to forge Valyrian steel could bring.
• Gary explained that he would not make Valyrian steel for profit unless he had no other choice, then moved the armor and weapons to his guarded study.
• Gary sent Daenerys to fetch the carpenters to make custom scabbards for the weapons.
• Margaery approached Gary to discuss something, but Septa Hanna arrived with a letter from Castle Black.

After receiving Jon Snow’s warning that Mance Rayder’s Wildlings were marching on the Wall, Gary promised to reinforce Castle Black and prepared a Valyrian steel sword for Jon. Samwell Tarly delivered news of Jon’s injury, then collapsed from exhaustion, leaving Gary to send him to a guest room.

• Septa Hanna brought Gary Jon Snow’s letter warning that Mance Rayder was leading the Wildlings south to attack the Wall.
• Gary realized Stannis would not come to aid the Night’s Watch and resolved to send troops to Castle Black himself.
• Gary ordered a scabbard made for Jon’s Valyrian steel sword, with House Stark’s sigil and the name “Jon Stark” carved on it.
• Samwell Tarly arrived and Gary promised to reinforce Castle Black the next morning.
• Samwell told Gary that Jon had been shot by a Wildling woman, then collapsed and fell asleep from exhaustion.
• Gary ordered the Ice Warriors to carry Samwell to a guest room.

Gary prepared to lead reinforcements to Castle Black, while Margaery and Daenerys joined the expedition. Margaery encouraged Gary to treat Daenerys as an equal, and the chapter ended with the two women bathing together in Winterfell’s hot spring.

• Gary decided to take the cavalry and Ice Warrior Corps to Castle Black, leaving two thousand infantry to defend Winterfell, and Margaery insisted on joining him.
• Gary assigned Daenerys to lead twenty Ice Warriors and five hundred White Harbor cavalry, while Margaery would lead two hundred Highgarden cavalry; he planned to ride Drogon ahead.
• Margaery told Gary that Daenerys deserved better than being treated as a subordinate, and Daenerys said she would stay by his side willingly.
• Gary told Daenerys to address him as Your Majesty in public and Luke in private, and she shyly called him Luke.
• Margaery took Daenerys to bathe in the Godswood hot spring, where Daenerys admired Margaery’s figure.

Daenerys and Margaery agreed on how they would share queenship and succession if they married Luke. As Gary and a cavalry force departed Winterfell, Arya arrived there as Sandor’s captive, and Septa Hanna recognized her and ordered the caravan surrounded.

• Margaery persuaded Daenerys to accept her as First Queen, while Daenerys asked that her eldest son rank second in the succession; they swore not to break their agreement.
• Daenerys led five hundred White Harbor cavalrymen and Margaery led two hundred Highgarden cavalrymen out of Winterfell, with Gary flying ahead on Drogon and Samwell following with the supplies.
• Ruslan Cook brought a merchant caravan from King’s Landing to Winterfell, where the guards agreed to notify Steward Hanna after he offered grain and other goods.
• Arya recognized Winterfell and wanted to rush inside, but Sandor held her back and warned that the Northern houses might have reduced her brother to a figurehead.
• Septa Hanna recognized Arya and ordered the guards to surround the caravan, while Northern commanders demanded that Sandor release the princess.

Arya returned safely to Winterfell after a farmer knocked Sandor unconscious, and she reunited with Septa Hanna. She learned Luke had gone with Jon and Gary to defend Castle Black, then discovered that Margaery Tyrell and Daenerys were staying in the castle as Luke’s betrothed and a Targaryen princess.

• Ruslan Cook’s sellswords surrendered, and Sandor demanded a hundred thousand Gold Dragons to release Arya.
• A farmer struck Sandor unconscious, freeing Arya, who thanked him before Septa Hanna welcomed her back to Winterfell.
• Arya explained Ruslan Cook’s lack of involvement, and Sandor was imprisoned while the farmer and his daughter became guests.
• At dinner, Septa Hanna told Arya that Luke had taken troops and the dragon to Castle Black to reinforce Jon against the wildlings.
• Arya asked to go to Castle Black, but Septa Hanna refused and escorted her to her old room.
• Septa Hanna revealed that Margaery Tyrell and Princess Daenerys were staying at Winterfell, and Arya reacted with surprise and excitement.

Arya discovered that Luke had given her a disassemblable Valyrian steel spear she could adapt to her current strength, then went to Winterfell’s dungeons and persuaded Sandor to leave with her. Sandor accepted her as his new master without swearing fealty, and they prepared to go somewhere together.

• Arya found Luke’s gift, a Valyrian steel spear named Soulhunter, and discovered it could be taken apart and fitted with a lighter wooden shaft.
• Arya strapped Soulhunter to her back and went to the dungeons, where she found Sandor insulting House Stark.
• Arya offered Sandor a choice between rotting in his cell and serving her as House Stark’s hound.
• Sandor agreed to follow Arya, joking that he was expensive and demanding the hundred thousand Gold Dragons he believed she owed him.
• Sandor freed himself, knocked unconscious the guard who came to investigate, took the guard’s longsword, and asked Arya where they were going.