Chapter Summaries

Arthas refused Tywin’s order to travel to King’s Landing, then confronted the Mountain outside the council hall and nearly defeated him. After Tywin revealed Jon Arryn’s death and asked Arthas to win the coming tourney and marry into a great house, Arthas agreed but warned his father not to push him too far.

• Tyrion told Arthas that Tywin had ordered them to leave for King’s Landing, but Arthas refused to go.
• The Mountain attacked Arthas outside Tywin’s council hall, and Arthas knocked him down and stopped his sword just short of his neck when Tywin intervened.
• Arthas accused Tywin of ordering the Mountain to attack his own son, and Kevan defended Tywin’s actions.
• Tywin revealed that Jon Arryn was dead and said Robert planned to ask Eddard Stark to become Hand and would likely hold a tourney upon his return.
• Tywin asked Arthas to win the tourney, attract the great houses, and preferably marry into House Stark, offering an apology for their past grievances.
• Arthas accepted the plan, took Frostmourne, and warned Tywin that pushing him too far could end with Tywin dead by his son’s hand.

Arthas Lannister encountered a peasant named Pike on the road to King's Landing and learned that Gregor Clegane’s crushing taxes had driven people to banditry. After the Mountain admitted raising taxes to fund his forces, Arthas faced the truth of the suffering in Clegane lands.

• Arthas sent Gregor Clegane ahead to deal with a disturbance on the Clegane lands, and Gregor returned with a bloodied man named Pike.
• Pike told Arthas that bandits had stolen grain and assaulted his wife, Jeyne, but hesitated to explain more while Gregor was nearby.
• Tyrion identified Arthas as Tywin Lannister’s heir, and Arthas reassured Pike before inviting him to speak freely.
• Pike revealed that Gregor had raised taxes from fifty percent to ninety percent, driving desperate peasants to become robbers.
• Gregor admitted raising taxes to strengthen his forces and promised to kill the bandits, while Arthas silently condemned his exploitation.

Arthas confronted Gregor Clegane for exploiting the people of his lands, then spared him and ordered him to repay the grain and suspend taxes. As the party rode toward King's Landing, Tyrion praised Arthas, while Pike called him a true knight.

• Arthas rebuked Gregor Clegane for draining the pond and exploiting the common people, then rallied the Lannister knights with House Lannister's words.
• Gregor knelt before Arthas, offered him his greatsword, and accepted House Lannister's judgment.
• Arthas ordered Gregor to return the grain and exempt his people from taxes for three years, and assigned Tyrion to manage Clegane lands until Gregor learned to rule properly.
• Tyrion told Arthas he reminded him of Tywin, while Arthas reflected on his past mistakes with Frostmourne and Lordaeron.
• Arthas led the Lannister knights toward King's Landing, and Pike prayed for the true knight's protection.

At Jon Arryn’s funeral, Cersei and Jaime discussed their desire for Arthas, while Jaime grew jealous of his sister’s fascination with him. Arthas and Tyrion returned to King’s Landing, where Arthas humiliated Petyr Baelish before riding on to the Red Keep.

• Cersei comforted Jaime at Jon Arryn’s funeral and praised him as the only worthy Hand of the King.
• Cersei suggested inviting Arthas into their relationship, and Jaime swore he would not let Arthas take her from him.
• Tyrion and Arthas entered King’s Landing through the Lion Gate, and Arthas explained that his Unholy Aura helped him strengthen his body.
• Petyr Baelish welcomed the brothers, but Arthas rebuked him and ordered him to clear the way.
• Arthas and the passing knights splashed Baelish with street filth, and Tyrion added to the humiliation before riding to the Red Keep.

Arthas Lannister sought appointment as commander of the City Watch, but the Small Council demanded proof of his strength. He challenged all seven Kingsguard to face him in an open contest the next day, claiming he needed no one but himself.

• King Robert drunkenly denounced the Lannisters and left the council hall with Jaime, while Cersei apologized to Arthas.
• Baelish and Varys opposed Arthas's appointment because of his age and Janos Slynt's service, but Pycelle suggested Arthas prove himself in the upcoming tourney.
• Cersei asked Arthas whether he could win the tourney, and he said he had a faster way to prove his strength.
• Arthas asked Barristan Selmy to assemble all seven Kingsguard for an open contest the next day, with the nobles of King's Landing as witnesses.
• Barristan welcomed the challenge, and Arthas declared that he would face all seven Kingsguard alone.

Arthas refused Cersei’s offer to become Deputy Commander of the City Watch and formally challenged all seven members of the Kingsguard. Barristan accepted on their behalf, and Arthas left the hall to prepare for the coming fight before Joffrey confronted him.

• Cersei tried to stop Arthas from fighting the Kingsguard, while Baelish and Varys offered competing reasons for him to reconsider.
• Varys proposed that Arthas tour the defenses with Commander Janos and take command of the City Watch after the tourney, but Arthas refused Cersei’s appointment as Deputy Commander.
• Arthas formally challenged Barristan Selmy and the other six Kingsguard to a contest before the Seven, and Barristan agreed to lead them.
• Cersei approved the challenge and said she would discuss it with Robert, while warning Arthas that Jaime was among the Kingsguard.
• Arthas threatened Baelish over lawbreaking merchants, then left the hall to conserve his strength for the fight.
• Joffrey called Arthas a fool, and Arthas asked his nephew where his manners were.

Arthas terrified Joffrey and then revealed to Tyrion that he intended to face seven Kingsguard, despite Tyrion’s warnings about their strength. He left Tyrion wondering what Arthas meant by offering him the position of Master of Coin.

• Arthas silenced Joffrey with threats and chilling menace, leaving the prince so frightened that he wet himself.
• The Hound admitted that he could not protect Joffrey from Arthas and told the prince to change his trousers.
• Tyrion was brought back from the Street of Silk and urged Arthas to reconsider fighting seven Kingsguard, especially Barristan and Jaime.
• Tyrion offered to support any scheme Arthas had planned, but Arthas asked whether Tyrion thought he could win fairly.
• Arthas turned to Tyrion with silver spreading through his golden eyes and asked whether he wanted to become the kingdom’s Master of Coin.

Tyrion publicly wagered ten thousand Gold Dragons that Arthas would defeat the seven Kingsguard, while Baelish and Robert expected Arthas to lose. As the Kingsguard and Arthas entered the tourney grounds, Arthas stood ready to fight and challenged his opponents to surrender.

• Baelish assured Tyrion that Arthas would win, and Tyrion wagered ten thousand Gold Dragons at odds of one hundred and sixteen to one.
• Tyrion announced the bet before the assembled nobles, who agreed to witness Baelish's promised payout.
• Robert ordered the battle to begin, and Barristan led the seven Kingsguard onto the field.
• Arthas entered with Frostmourne, silencing the crowd with his presence.
• Jaime urged Arthas to surrender, but Arthas donned his helmet, raised Frostmourne, and told the seven Kingsguard that they should surrender.

Arthas Lannister charged the seven Kingsguard and used his own body to create an opening, killing two of them while wounding himself. With Barristan down and four Kingsguard surrounding him, Arthas embraced the fight and declared that he would refuse their pleas for forgiveness.

• Meryn Trant challenged Arthas, but Arthas's killing intent made him drop his sword until Barristan stepped between them.
• Robert ordered the fight to begin, and Arthas charged Barristan and the Kingsguard.
• Arthas let Barristan's sword pierce his chest, seized the weapon, and kicked Barristan away, making the other Kingsguard's attacks miss.
• Arthas killed Meryn Trant and slashed another Kingsguard while pulling Barristan's sword from his chest.
• The two slain Kingsguard's souls were drawn into Frostmourne as the remaining four surrounded Arthas.
• Arthas removed his helmet, laughed, and declared to the Kingsguard that he would refuse their pleas for forgiveness.

Tywin learned of Viserys’s plan to marry Daenerys to Khal Drogo and sent Kevan to King’s Landing, seeing an opportunity for the Lannisters. In Pentos, Jaina defended Daenerys from Viserys, but Daenerys chose to marry Drogo for the support they needed, while Jaina set out to find ships and build their strength.

• Kevan brought Tywin news of Viserys’s plan, and Tywin sent him to King’s Landing with the family’s best knights.
• Viserys told Daenerys that she must win Khal Drogo’s favor so Drogo would give him an army of one hundred thousand Dothraki.
• Jaina confronted Viserys and struck him with magic, but he insisted that Daenerys’s marriage arrangement was settled.
• Daenerys told Jaina she was willing to marry Khal Drogo to gain powerful allies and return to Westeros.
• Jaina agreed to respect Daenerys’s choice and left to seek ships, promising to return with a thousand vessels.

Arthas faced the remaining Kingsguard while wounded, then defeated them after Jaime charged him alone. He left Jaime alive and declared that House Lannister could have only one lion king.

• Barristan warned Arthas to stop fighting, but Arthas mocked him and insisted he could continue.
• Tyrion and Baelish traded feigned words of concern while Robert and Cersei watched the arena; Cersei admired Arthas, provoking Jaime’s jealousy.
• Jaime charged Arthas alone, and Arthas struck him down before fighting Barristan and the other three Kingsguard.
• After the battle ended, Arthas praised Jaime for sparing his vital points and revealed the other Kingsguard lying defeated.
• Arthas walked away from Jaime and declared that there could be only one king of the lions.

Arthas defeated all seven Kingsguard and was appointed Commander of the City Watch by Robert. After the crowd turned on Baelish over their lost bets, the Mountain carried Tyrion to safety, and Jaime reconciled with Arthas after the match.

• Arthas broke the Kingsguard's swords and defeated all seven, including Barristan and Jaime, while the nobles accused Baelish of rigging the match.
• Tyrion defended Baelish and declared that a Lannister always paid his debts, but the angry crowd surged toward them until the Mountain carried Tyrion away with Baelish in tow.
• Robert appointed Arthas Commander of the City Watch after Arthas pledged his loyalty and asked for the position as his reward.
• Robert comforted the defeated Kingsguard, then left without speaking to Cersei, who hurried away from her brothers.
• Arthas helped Jaime up and told him their victory and defeat both belonged to House Lannister, and Jaime embraced him and said he could trust Arthas with the family.

Yahn Snow agreed to provide Baelish with a hundred thousand Gold Dragons, though he privately vowed to protect his money. At a Red Keep feast celebrating Arthas’s appointment, Tyrion teased him about women, and a young woman approached Arthas to share a drink.

• Baelish demanded a hundred thousand Gold Dragons from Yahn Snow by the next morning to cover his wager on Arthas.
• Yahn pretended to accept Baelish’s demand, then clutched his chest of money and vowed no one would take it from him.
• At the Red Keep banquet, Tyrion celebrated the winnings he and Arthas had made and teased Arthas about his lack of experience with women.
• A young woman approached Arthas and invited him to share a drink.

At Robert's banquet, Margaery Tyrell tried to seduce Arthas, but he politely rejected her and left. Outside, Tyrion met Yarn Snow, who introduced himself as the owner of Flea Bottom's Underground Fighting Pit and proposed a deal.

• Arthas danced with Margaery Tyrell, recognized her advances, and firmly ended the dance when she became too forward.
• Robert praised Arthas as Westeros's mightiest warrior and celebrated his appointment as Commander of the Gold Cloaks.
• Arthas left the banquet, disappointing Margaery, who vowed to make him submit to her.
• Tyrion went outside to meet Yarn Snow, who revealed that he owned the Underground Fighting Pit in Flea Bottom and wanted to make a deal.

Yahn Snow offered Tyrion a way to ruin Littlefinger and handed him a secret that shocked him, while Arthas arrived and learned Tyrion had uncovered something important. Unaware that Yahn had betrayed him, Baelish tried to raise money by asking Lysa Tully for 1.5 million Gold Dragons.

• Yahn Snow told Tyrion he could use his knowledge of Littlefinger's illegal dealings to bring him down and seize his property.
• Yahn gave Tyrion a note, then revealed its secret as “Tears of Lys” after Tyrion sent Ser Gregor away.
• Arthas arrived at the fighting pit and found Tyrion speaking privately with Yahn; Tyrion told him he had uncovered a huge secret.
• Baelish gathered nearly five hundred thousand Gold Dragons but remained unable to secure a loan from King's Landing's nobles.
• Baelish wrote to Lysa Tully, asking her to send 1.5 million Gold Dragons and reminding her indirectly of Jon's poisoning.

Arthas confronted Petyr Baelish over Jon Arryn’s murder and forced him to sign away his post as Master of Coin and leave King’s Landing. Baelish sailed into the night, while Arthas ordered Pike to follow him after promising only that he would survive until morning.

• Pike abducted Baelish from his bed and brought him to Arthas by the sea.
• Arthas showed Baelish the dead Yarn and revealed that Yarn had tried to expose Baelish’s corruption.
• Arthas confronted Baelish with the Tears of Lys and forced him to confess to causing Jon Arryn’s death.
• Arthas threatened Baelish and made him sign a letter declaring himself bankrupt and resigning as Master of Coin.
• Baelish boarded a boat and left King’s Landing, and Arthas ordered Pike to follow and kill him after the night ended.

Lysa persuaded the Eyrie’s officers to swear allegiance to Robin, then used his authority to send Baelish one and a half million Gold Dragons. Meanwhile, smugglers found Baelish dead and mutilated aboard their ship as they neared the Vale.

• Nester Royce and Vardis Egen warned Lysa that Baelish could not be trusted with the Vale’s reserves, but she insisted on helping him.
• Lysa had Maester Colemon, Nester, and Vardis swear allegiance to Robin as the lawful Lord of the Eyrie, then invoked Robin’s authority to justify spending his wealth.
• After Lysa left, Maester Colemon warned Nester and Vardis that the Vale might face a harsh winter with its reserves emptied.
• Old Jace and Morgan sailed their passenger toward the Vale after accepting three hundred Gold Dragons to smuggle him from King’s Landing.
• When Old Jace entered the cabin to wake Baelish, he found his throat cut and the skin removed from his face.

Robert appointed Tyrion acting Master of Coin after Baelish vanished, while Varys warned Arthas that the crown owed nearly seven million Gold Dragons. Arthas revealed that Pike had killed Baelish and began showing him a spectral image of an island, hinting at a return home.

• Robert dismissed Varys's objections and appointed Tyrion acting Master of Coin until he returned from Winterfell.
• Varys told Arthas the crown owed three million Gold Dragons to House Lannister, three million to the Iron Bank, and nine hundred thousand to the Faith of the Seven.
• Arthas warned Varys not to interfere in Lannister affairs and said the Lannisters did not care about money.
• Pike reported that he had killed Baelish and presented Baelish's bloodied face as a trophy.
• Arthas asked whether Pike wanted to go home, then formed a spectral blue image of a small island in his palm.

Arthas declined Margaery Tyrell’s invitation and advised Tyrion how to use royal commercial privileges and the Iron Bank debt to protect Lannister interests. He left to meet Cersei, while intelligence about the High Sparrow revealed he had no intention of repaying the Faith of the Seven.

• Arthas accepted Cersei’s invitation to meet in her bedchamber and politely declined Margaery Tyrell’s invitation, offering to host her the next day.
• Tyrion worried that Robert’s six-million-Gold-Dragon debt would leave House Lannister responsible for three million, and Arthas told him to grant the Lannisters commercial privileges in the king’s name.
• Arthas advised Tyrion to shift responsibility for the Iron Bank debt onto Robert and use the large loan to give the Lannisters leverage over repayment.
• Tyrion praised Arthas as the sibling most like their father, then left to consider how to handle the Faith of the Seven’s nine-hundred-thousand-Gold-Dragon debt.
• Arthas saw intelligence files bearing the words “High Sparrow” and declared that he would not repay the Faith of the Seven.

Arthas rejected Cersei’s attempt to seduce him and revealed that he knew Joffrey, Myrcella, and Tommen were Jaime’s children. He left after warning Cersei to stop involving him in her affair, and she vowed to make him pay.

• Cersei prepared to seduce Arthas, who arrived at her chambers and sat beside her.
• When Cersei tried to kiss him, Arthas stood up and brought up Jaime’s bad mood, then challenged her claim that she treated Jaime and Arthas equally.
• Arthas confronted Cersei about her children’s parentage, pointing to their golden hair as proof that Jaime was their father.
• Cersei demanded to know what Arthas wanted, and he said he would not tell Robert but ordered her to stop inviting him into her sibling games.
• Arthas advised Cersei to stay with Jaime and left her chambers; Cersei smashed a wineglass and vowed to make him pay.