Recaps

After the Iron Bank refused Jaina Targaryen’s loan request, she defeated Braavos’s First Sword, Qyro Valentine, and was warned to leave before the Faceless Men pursued her. Elsewhere, she joined the Sealord’s fleet under the name Daelin Proudmoore, eager to return to the sea.

• The Iron Bank rejected Jaina’s request for a loan to buy ships and offered her only a personal, interest-free loan of 1,000 Gold Dragons.
• Qyro Valentine confronted Jaina and demanded that she leave Braavos, but she blocked his attack and broke his rapier.
• Valentine warned Jaina that the ruler would pursue her and might send the servants of the Many-Faced God after her.
• Syrio revealed that he had followed Valentine, declined Jaina’s offer to serve her, and advised her to leave Braavos.
• At the arsenal, Jaina presented herself as a young man named Daelin Proudmoore and joined the Sealord’s fleet.

Arthas persuaded Renly that executing the former High Septon and appointing the High Sparrow had been necessary to protect the people of King’s Landing. He then faced ten resistant Lannister knights in a mounted challenge, with Barristan watching as the contest began.

• Arthas told Renly that the former High Septon had abused two Sisters and stolen money from the poor, winning Renly’s support for the execution and the appointment of the High Sparrow.
• Renly promised to report to Robert and claimed responsibility for the City Watch operation as Master of Laws.
• Arthas told Renly that the Lannister knights refused to swear allegiance and announced he would fight all ten of them alone.
• Daven Lannister dismissed the Kingsguard’s abilities and questioned whether Arthas could really defeat ten knights.
• Barristan the Bold watched as Arthas rode into the grounds on Invincible, raised Frostmourne, and challenged the Lannister knights.

Arthas challenged Daven Lannister and nine Lannister knights to prove his strength and win their allegiance. After defeating the knights and leaving Daven gravely wounded but alive, Arthas ordered Lancel to bring Daven to him once he recovered.

• Barristan told Renly that Arthas became a fearsome warrior on the battlefield, then left, convinced the contest’s outcome was settled.
• Daven demanded that Arthas defeat the Lannister knights in a direct fight, and Arthas accepted the challenge.
• Arthas charged through the ten knights twice, unhorsing eight while using the flat of Frostmourne and avoiding Daven.
• Arthas warned Daven that their next clash would mean death, but Daven led the last two knights in another charge and was pierced through the chest.
• Arthas carried Daven to Lancel, ordered him to get a maester, and told him to bring Daven back once he awoke so Arthas could receive the Lannisters’ allegiance.

Arthas dined with Margaery Tyrell, who warned him that the new High Septon was hungry for power and dangerous. Arthas revealed a chilling glimpse of his supernatural nature, then ended the dinner when Lancel reported that Daven had awakened and wanted to see him.

• Margaery visited Arthas for their third dinner together and tried to discover his ambitions and intentions.
• Margaery told Arthas she distrusted the High Sparrow, describing him as a power-hungry madman who might turn against the person wielding him.
• Arthas said he welcomed the High Sparrow’s madness because it gave him fallen souls to harvest.
• Arthas briefly radiated a supernatural chill that frightened Margaery before returning to his usual warm manner.
• Lancel told Arthas that Daven had awakened and urgently wanted to see him, so Arthas excused himself and Margaery left, eager for another meeting.

Arthas offered Daven Lannister immense power in exchange for his soul, and Daven accepted, becoming the first Death Knight. Daven left for the North, beyond the Wall, while Lancel watched in shock.

• Arthas dismissed Lancel and asked Daven whether he wanted power like his own, revealing that the price was Daven's soul.
• Daven was frightened by Arthas's transformed appearance but chose to offer his soul and name Arthas his one true god.
• Arthas had Daven take hold of Frostmourne, sealed the pact, and raised him as a Death Knight bound to obey every command.
• Daven emerged with white hair and renewed strength, leaving Lancel stunned by his changed presence.
• Daven headed toward the North, beyond the Wall.

Pike returned to the Iron Islands aboard Old Shark’s merchant ship, but One-Eyed Jamie and his men seized the vessel and captured Windsor. Pike confronted Jamie and offered to trade for his harpoon, naming the price as their heads.

• Pike asked Old Shark how soon they would reach Pyke as the ship entered Iron Islands waters.
• One-Eyed Jamie and his Ironborn seized the merchant ship, captured Windsor, and attacked Old Shark after he objected to Jamie taking her.
• Jamie threatened Windsor and demanded money from Old Shark, while the Ironborn laughed and watched.
• Pike came onto the deck despite Old Shark’s warnings and approached Jamie.
• Jamie demanded five thousand Gold Dragons, but Pike said he wanted the harpoon and would pay by cutting off their heads.

Pike killed the Ironborn who had attacked his ship and revealed that the Iron Islands were his homeland before looking back on how he had pledged his soul to Arthas after Jeyne’s death. In King's Landing, Arthas launched a citywide purge and ordered Janos to show him the Gold Dragons he had extorted.

• Pike passed through One-Eyed Jamie’s attack, killed him, and took his harpoon.
• Pike slaughtered the remaining Ironborn, then told Old Shark that he was from Pyke and that his name was Pike.
• Arthas remembered Pike begging to follow him after Jeyne killed herself, and Pike agreeing to give up his soul for strength.
• Lancel reported that six thousand Gold Cloaks were assembled, and Arthas deployed them in one hundred squads for Operation Hundred-Day Purge.
• Arthas kept twenty Lannister knights with him and ordered Janos to lead the way so he could inspect the Gold Dragons Janos had extorted.

Arthas began a sweeping purge of King's Landing, confronting corrupt former Commander Janos Slynt and sending Gold Cloaks to crack down on crime. Loryn Lannister imposed new rules on the beast-fighting arena and invited Gendry to join the City Watch.

• Arthas confronted Janos Slynt with reports from more than thirteen hundred Gold Cloaks and ordered him to lead them to his mansion and its wealth.
• Gold Cloaks spread across King's Landing, arresting people involved in robbery, theft, and human trafficking.
• Loryn Lannister rejected Eno Or's attempted bribe and demanded that the arena hand over seventy percent of its monthly earnings while banning illegal activities.
• Loryn found Gendry resting after he killed a direwolf in the arena and asked him to join the City Watch.

Gerold Lannister enforced Arthas’s rules on the Street of Silk, executing a brothel manager and demanding money toward Baelish’s debt. As Varys fretted over Arthas’s growing influence, Renly and Barristan backed the crackdown; meanwhile, Arthas brought the terrified Janos to his lavish mansion.

• Gerold told the Street of Silk’s managers to pay Tyrion seventy percent of their profits and keep their businesses legal.
• Gerold had a manager executed for keeping underage girls and demanded five hundred thousand Gold Dragons by morning.
• Varys warned Barristan that Arthas might take control of King’s Landing, but Barristan defended the reforms and Renly voiced his approval.
• Arthas escorted Janos to the former commander’s lavish mansion and told him he would understand why once they went inside.

Arthas uncovered Janos Slynt’s hoard and sentenced him in King Robert’s name, but spared his life in exchange for public service and exile to the Night’s Watch. In Flea Bottom, Janos was forced to clean the streets as the people celebrated Arthas.

• Arthas led the Gold Cloaks through Janos’s lavish mansion and discovered a room filled with Gold Dragons.
• Janos admitted the money was mostly King Robert’s, but Arthas rejected his claim and sentenced him to death for corruption and slandering the king.
• Janos yielded and accepted Arthas’s terms: he would clean Flea Bottom’s streets for a week, then travel north to join the Night’s Watch.
• Lancel announced Janos’s crimes to the people of Flea Bottom as Janos shoveled excrement from the streets.
• The commoners pelted Janos with refuse and cheered for Arthas, whose name drowned out their cries for Robert.

Brynden Tully brought a huge loan from the Vale to King's Landing, only to learn that Baelish had left and the Street of Silk now belonged to Tyrion Lannister. After defeating Gendry in a sparring match, Arthas learned that Brynden was asking for Baelish and began considering how to spend the money.

• Brynden Tully arrived in King's Landing with one and a half million Gold Dragons and learned that Baelish had left and Tyrion Lannister owned the Street of Silk businesses.
• Gendry beat Lorien in a sparring match, then challenged Arthas at the Gold Cloaks' training grounds.
• Arthas caught Gendry's hammer strike with one hand and sent the hammer flying with a two-handed blow, leaving Gendry stunned.
• Lancel told Arthas that Brynden Tully had arrived from the Vale asking for Baelish, and Arthas asked how they should spend their excess money.

Arthas tricked Brynden Tully into paying Baelish’s debts by pretending the Lannisters were bankrupt and burdened by the Crown’s finances. After Brynden left, Arthas used necromantic mind control to secure the Vale’s 1.5 million Gold Dragons for his plans in King’s Landing.

• Brynden arrived in King’s Landing seeking Petyr Baelish and learned that Baelish had resigned and disappeared.
• Arthas claimed Baelish had left the Lannisters with millions in debt, drained the Street of Silk’s profits, and saddled Tyrion with the losses.
• Arthas said he might resign and described his plans to help the poor as ruined by Baelish and Janos Slynt.
• Brynden offered 1.5 million Gold Dragons from the Vale to cover Baelish’s debts and urged Arthas not to abandon his ideals.
• After Brynden left, Arthas revealed that he had used necromantic mind control and ordered Lancel to unload the money quickly.
• Arthas resolved to use the Gold Dragons to fund his plans and maintain the Gold Cloaks under his command.

Daven, a Death Knight serving the Lich King, reached Last Hearth and questioned a Night's Watchman about White Walkers. After learning that Gared had reported seeing them beyond the Wall, Daven left, calling himself an enemy of the White Walkers.

• Daven arrived at a tavern in Last Hearth, paid Seth with a Gold Dragon, and ate several plates of meat.
• Smalljon Umber challenged Daven and was stunned when Daven effortlessly pinned his hand to the table.
• Daven confronted Raggy Stone East and forced him to recount how Gared, Will, and Ser Waymar had gone beyond the Wall, and how Gared had reported encountering White Walkers.
• Smalljon questioned Raggy and accepted his oath that the story was true.
• Daven headed out into the snow and told Smalljon he was an enemy of the White Walkers.

Catelyn searched for Bran before Robert’s party arrived at Winterfell, while Robert received alarming news about Arthas’s purge and growing influence in King’s Landing. Robert ordered Renly to restrain Arthas and turned to Ned for help as the royal procession approached Winterfell.

• Catelyn found Bran atop Winterfell’s wall, and he climbed down after spotting the king’s banners on the Kingsroad.
• Cersei called Jaime to her carriage and hinted that he should find a secluded place in Winterfell to serve her.
• Arys Oakheart gave Robert a note from Varys describing Arthas’s execution of the High Septon, appointment of a replacement, and Hundred Days Purge in King’s Landing.
• Robert crushed the note and ordered Arys to tell Renly and Barristan to keep Arthas in check, granting Renly authority to dismiss him as Commander of the City Watch.
• As the procession reached Winterfell, Robert feared the Lannisters had gained control of King’s Landing and resolved to enlist Ned’s help.

Syrio Forel arrived in King's Landing and found the Gold Cloaks enforcing Arthas’s new rules, while Arthas persuaded Renly to support his purge despite Robert’s order to stop it. The chapter ended with Lancel reporting that a Braavosi swordsman had beaten Gendry and was demanding to challenge Arthas.

• Syrio Forel offered a bribe to Gold Cloak Jero, who refused it and ordered Syrio to register his sword with the City Watch.
• Renly told Arthas that Robert had appointed him acting Hand, ordered the purge halted, and demanded Arthas rescind his judgment against Janos.
• Arthas defended his reforms by appealing to Renly’s concern for the people, and Renly agreed to work with him despite Robert’s orders.
• Arthas reflected that he intended to secure control of the Gold Cloaks and make himself difficult for Robert to dismiss.
• Lancel reported that a Braavosi swordsman was demanding a challenge and had already beaten Gendry.

Arthas dueled Syrio Forel outside the Gold Cloaks' headquarters, where their swordsmanship proved evenly matched until Syrio pierced Arthas's chest. Arthas revealed that the wound did not stop him, seized Syrio's sword hand, and ordered everyone to stand down before declaring he had more important matters to attend to.

• Arthas arrived at the Gold Cloaks' headquarters and reprimanded Gendry, Lancel, and the guards for failing to confront Syrio Forel.
• Arthas borrowed Renly's sword and challenged Syrio to a duel outside the reception hall.
• Arthas and Syrio exchanged hundreds of rapid strikes, impressing the watching Gold Cloaks with their swordsmanship.
• Syrio pushed his speed beyond its usual limits and thrust his sword into Arthas's chest while Arthas appeared distracted.
• Arthas ordered the Gold Cloaks to stand down, pulled Syrio's sword from his chest, and said he had more important matters to attend to.

Jaime resisted the Lich King’s possession at Winterfell, driving an ancient entity from his body into a crow that knocked Bran down. Arthas located the entity and summoned Daven Lannister to hunt it, while Daven left Gilly and an infant in the care of Smalljon Umber before setting out.

• At Winterfell, Jaime struggled against an invisible force as it tried to make him attack Bran, while spectral energy from Arthas fought for control of his body.
• Arthas sensed an ancient presence inside Jaime and used Unholy Aura to recover from his wounds as he challenged the intruder.
• Jaime expelled the entity from his body; it fled into a crow, which flew into Bran and knocked him backward.
• Arthas located the entity’s approximate position and summoned Daven Lannister, ordering him to find it and tear out its heart and soul.
• Daven killed Craster, then received Arthas’s command and prepared to leave beyond the Wall.
• Daven gave Gilly his badge and the infant, directing her to cross the Wall and find Smalljon Umber, then set out to hunt the entity.

After Bran fell into a coma, Catelyn pleaded with Eddard to stay in Winterfell, but he left to help Robert in King's Landing. There, Syrio recovered from his duel with Arthas, who appointed him swordsmanship instructor for the City Watch and promised him a chance to challenge famous knights at the king's tournament.

• Catelyn begged Eddard to remain in Winterfell, but he said Robert needed him and left to serve as Hand of the King.
• Syrio woke after spending nearly a day unconscious from Arthas's throw, and Lancel told him the duel had made him famous in King's Landing.
• Syrio worried about Arthas and recalled a similar aura surrounding Kuiluo Valentine when Jaina Targaryen defeated him.
• Arthas visited Syrio, praised his swordsmanship, and declared that even geniuses only reached the threshold of challenging him.
• Arthas appointed Syrio to supervise the City Watch's training and said the king's tournament would bring the Seven Kingdoms' famous knights to King's Landing.

Eddard traveled toward King's Landing with Arya and Sansa, troubled by Joffrey and the Lannisters' growing influence over the court. In King's Landing, Arthas continued reorganizing the Gold Cloaks and learned that the Faith of the Seven was resisting his plans, prompting him to target the High Septon, Sparrow.

• Eddard worried about Joffrey, Sansa's lie, and the Lannisters' control of key positions in King's Landing as Robert warned him that his throne was in danger.
• Syrio trained the Gold Cloaks and gave Gendry private instruction, teaching him to control his strength with a heavy hammer.
• Arthas observed the improving Gold Cloaks as Lancel reported the costs of city works and proposed testing smithies before upgrading their equipment.
• Lancel told Arthas that Robert and Eddard would reach King's Landing within three days and that the Faith of the Seven was preparing to restore the Sons of the Warrior.
• Arthas welcomed Sparrow's resistance and imagined how satisfying it would be to bring him down, as blue magical energy flickered at his fingertips.

The High Sparrow ordered Archbishop Jaqen to recruit at least a hundred Sons of the Warrior by the next day so they could confront Arthas. Meanwhile, Arthas commissioned Tobho Mott to make two thousand sets of weapons and armor, then agreed to attend the High Sparrow’s evening service.

• The High Sparrow learned that the Gold Cloaks’ operations and relief work had made it difficult to recruit Sons of the Warrior, leaving the group with just over thirty men.
• The High Sparrow ordered Archbishop Jaqen to gather at least a hundred Sons of the Warrior before the next day, and Jaqen left to carry out the order.
• Arthas was mobbed by grateful residents of King’s Landing as he traveled to Tobho Mott’s smithy.
• Arthas inspected Tobho’s sample greatsword and offered him 150 Gold Dragons per set for an order of two thousand sets of weapons and refined iron armor within three months.
• Lancel told Arthas that the High Sparrow had invited him to evening prayers at the Great Sept of Baelor, and Arthas said he would attend on time.

Arthas attended the High Sparrow’s feast alone and unarmed, only to be accused of crimes and confronted by the Sons of the Warrior. He unleashed Frostmourne and slaughtered the gathered faithful, ending with the High Sparrow’s death.

• The High Sparrow welcomed Arthas to the Great Sept and led him inside, where nearly a hundred Sons of the Warrior waited.
• The High Sparrow accused Arthas of sin and ordered him to kneel, prompting Arthas to reveal Frostmourne.
• Arthas killed the Sons of the Warrior who attacked him and raised the dead as an undead army.
• The trapped faithful begged for mercy and sang “The Rains of Castamere” while Arthas killed them one by one.
• Arthas pierced the High Sparrow with Frostmourne, and the High Sparrow died singing the song’s final line.

Robert returned to King's Landing and found the city transformed, with clean streets and an orderly watch, while Arthas toured the newly completed sewage system with Renly and Barristan. Arthas revealed that he had deliberately concealed Robert's return from them and intended to turn Barristan into a Death Knight.

• Robert arrived at the Gate of the Gods and angrily asked why Arthas, Renly, and Barristan had not come to welcome him.
• Jero told Robert and Eddard that Arthas was inspecting Flea Bottom's newly opened sewage system, so Robert led his procession there with Cersei and Jaime.
• Robert's party entered King's Landing and marveled at its clean streets, orderly stalls, and Gold Cloaks on patrol.
• Crawford showed Arthas, Renly, and Barristan the city's new network of sewers, and both lords praised the work.
• Lancel reported that Robert was waiting at the passage entrance, and Arthas admitted he had deliberately kept the king's return from Renly and Barristan.
• Arthas led Renly and Barristan out to meet Robert, while privately planning to make Barristan the commander of his Death Knight Army.

Arthas defended his actions against Robert’s attempt to dismiss him, while the crowd of King’s Landing rose up in his support. Arthas left Robert with three days to come speak with him before he would no longer guarantee what happened.

• Arthas blamed Renly for authorizing the executions of the former High Septon and Janos, and Renly confirmed that he had approved them.
• Eddard said Arthas had not followed the required jury-of-seven procedure, so Robert dismissed Arthas as Commander of the City Watch and ordered him back to the Westerlands.
• The crowd protested Robert’s decision, and the Gold Cloaks ignored the king’s order to disperse them until Lancel formed a line to push them back.
• The crowd pelted Robert’s party with eggs and stones, while Barristan shielded Robert and Eddard deflected the projectiles with a sword.
• Robert reaffirmed Arthas’s dismissal, and Arthas said he would remain in King’s Landing for three days, warning that he could not guarantee what would happen if Robert did not meet him.

Eddard told Robert that dismissing Arthas had plunged King's Landing into riots, while the Gold Cloaks refused to intervene. Robert ordered Janos released to restore order, and Arthas remained confident as Margaery questioned him about the unrest.

• Eddard reported over a hundred violent incidents and numerous demonstrations in King's Landing after Robert dismissed Arthas.
• Eddard said Lancel Lannister had sent out the Gold Cloaks, but they watched the riots without intervening.
• Robert ordered Eddard to release Janos from the dungeons and give him command of the City Watch; Eddard reluctantly agreed to retry him after the unrest ended.
• Margaery visited Arthas at breakfast and teased him about the chaos in the city.
• Arthas assured Margaery that he had acted with confidence and made her eat a piece of steak he offered her.

Newly released Janos tried to retake control of the Gold Cloaks, unaware that Lancel and Gendry were following Arthas’s plan. The Gold Cloaks rejected Janos’s promises, and the chapter ended with the crowd overwhelming him.

• Janos returned to Gold Cloaks headquarters, appointed Gendry as his deputy, and dismissed Lancel.
• Lancel revealed that he had secretly seasoned Janos’s tea, leaving Janos sick and furious.
• Gendry summoned the Gold Cloaks to Gold Cloaks Square on Janos’s orders.
• Janos promised the Gold Cloaks he would restore their old privileges, but they booed him because Arthas had improved their pay and treatment.
• Gendry staged an attack on a disobedient Gold Cloak, prompting a Lannister squad leader and the gathered Gold Cloaks to rush Janos.
• The crowd swallowed Janos, who glimpsed Gendry smiling before he lost consciousness.