In King's Landing, Tyrion becomes acting Hand of the King, much to Cersei's dismay. At Dragonstone, Stannis proclaims allegiance to the priestess Melisandre's God of Light and claims the Iron Throne, having revealed Joffrey's bastardy. Joffrey orders all of King Robert's bastards slaughtered. One of King Robert's bastards Gendry, along with the disguised Arya, have escaped the city and are being taken to Castle Black. Having won three victories, Robb Stark, who is now proclaimed as the King of t
Returning to Pyke Island after nine years as the Starks' ward, Theon is reunited with his sister, Yara, and his father, Balon, who despises Theon's acquired Northern ways. Balon rejects Robb's proposed alliance and plans to reclaim Iron Island independence by force. In King's Landing, Cersei rejects Robb's peace terms, while Tyrion exiles the untrustworthy Janos Slynt, head of the Gold Cloaks, to the Night's Watch, and promotes Bronn in his place. En route to Castle Black, Arya, impersonating a
Catelyn arrives at Renly's camp to negotiate an alliance. The female warrior, Brienne of Tarth, wins the right to join Renly's kingsguard by defeating Loras in a practice duel. Renly has recently wed Margaery Tyrell, Loras's sister. Renly avoids consummating his and Margaery's marriage due to his homosexuality and sexual relationship with Loras. In the Iron Islands, Balon plans an attack on the North, led by Yara. Conflicted, Theon burns his letter to Robb warning of Balon's impending attack and
Robb's army attacks a Lannister Army at Oxcross and claims another victory, meeting a healer girl named Talisa Maegyr in the aftermath. In response, Joffrey publicly abuses Sansa as revenge for Robb's victories until Tyrion intervenes. The dwarf sends two prostitutes to the young King to calm his tempers, but Joffrey makes one of them beat the other brutally, thus threatening Tyrion not to interfere with his business. Catelyn attempts to unite the Baratheon brothers against the Lannisters, but S
At Harrenhal, Jaqen H'ghar, a Faceless Assassin and one of three caged prisoners Arya previously saved from a fire, pledges to kill any three people she chooses to repay his debt to her. Her first choice is the Tickler, the man who mortally tortures the captives. Renly is killed by Melisandre's shadowy assassin. Brienne is accused of the murder and Catelyn forces her to flee the camp. Excluding the Tyrells, Renly's forces join Stannis. Brienne swears life-long fealty to Catelyn for having saved
Against Cersei's wishes, Tyrion sends her and Jaime's daughter, Myrcella, to Dorne to secure a marriage alliance with House Martell. Theon captures Winterfell and executes Ser Rodrik Cassel. Osha, the captive Wildling, along with Hodor, helps Bran and Rickon escape. In the aftermath of another battle, Robb reunites with Talisa. Jon captures a Wildling named Ygritte, but is separated from Qhorin's group while pursuing her after she escapes. Joffrey's mistreatment of the starving common folk incit
Theon and his men pursue Bran and Rickon. Tywin launches an investigation into Amory's assassination. Jon recaptures Ygritte, but she escapes again, leading him into a trap. Still shaken from the riot, Sansa is horrified that she has begun menstruating and is now old enough to marry and bear Joffrey's children. Cersei advises her to love no one but her children, not even Joffrey. In Robb's camp, Jaime's failed escape leaves a guard dead and some soldiers seeking retribution. In Qarth, the warloc
Robb learns that Catelyn secretly freed Jaime Lannister, who Brienne is escorting to King's Landing to exchange for Sansa and Arya; Robb places his mother under house arrest and sends men to recapture Jaime. Yara arrives at Winterfell and criticizes Theon's seizing it, as he will not receive reinforcements to hold it. He refuses to return to Pyke with her. When Tywin leaves Harrenhal to attack Robb, Arya coerces Jaqen into helping her, Gendry, and their friend, Hot Pie to escape. In King's Landi
Stannis' fleet assaults King's Landing. Sansa plays the game, trying to manipulate Joffrey into leading the attack personally, (in hopes of getting him killed), but Joffrey turns out to be too afraid to fight personally. Leading the defense, Tyrion destroys the majority of Stannis's fleet with wildfire, including Davos's ship, however a significant force still manages to attack the castle. The Hound, overcome by his fear of fire, denounces Joffrey and deserts the battlefield. Joffrey retreats in
Joffrey sets Sansa aside to marry Margaery Tyrell and ally with the Tyrell family. Tyrion recovers from his wounds and fears that Cersei tried to have him killed. Melisandre comforts a defeated Stannis by showing his future glory in the flames. Brienne kills Stark soldiers after they recognize Jaime. Against Catelyn's advice, Robb marries Talisa, breaking his promise to wed Walder Frey's daughter. In Qarth, inside the House of the Undying, Daenerys enters a simulacrum of a destroyed Iron Throne