A Clash of Kings

Arya Stark, second daughter of the late Eddard Stark, travels to the Wall disguised as a boy named Arry. She is in a caravan led by the man who saved her, Yoren, a Night’s Watch recruiter.

Among Arya’s company are two boys, Lommy Greenhands and Hot Pie. They pester Arya for having a sword, which angers Arya because the sword, Needle, was gifted to her by her half-brother, Jon Snow. They get into a fight, which Yoren breaks up.

Yoren scolds Arya and takes her aside to administer corporal punishment. He privately commiserates with her grief over Eddard. He explains that Eddard was merely supposed to suffer public humiliation before being sent to the Wall. Instead, Joffrey decided to have him publicly executed. That night, Arya dreams of reuniting with Jon.

Sansa Stark, Eddard’s eldest daughter, watches the comet from the Red Keep, where the royal family and their court reside, in King’s Landing. A knight tells her that it is a sign that the gods bless Joffrey. He escorts her to a modest jousting tourney being held to celebrate Joffrey’s name day (birthday).

When Sansa arrives, Joffrey’s younger brother, Prince Tommen, proudly declares that he will ride in the tourney. Joffrey shares the news that Viserys Targaryen, the last son of King Aerys, has died in Essos. He mocks Viserys as the “Beggar King” and then mocks Sansa’s eldest brother, Robb.

During the tourney, a drunken knight named Ser Dontos Hollard fails to mount his horse. He resigns the match, provoking Joffrey to call for his death. Sansa loudly defies him, then says that it would be bad luck to kill someone on his name day. Joffrey’s personal guard, Sandor “The Hound” Clegane, supports her explanation. Joffrey orders Ser Dontos to be made a fool and calls off the tourney. This frustrates Tommen, who hasn’t ridden yet. Joffrey relents, and Tommen rides and falls off his horse, drawing his sister, Princess Myrcella, to his side. Sansa urges Joffrey to join them, but he refuses to pity his brother.

To their surprise, Tyrion Lannister, Joffrey’s uncle and Queen Cersei’s brother, thought to be dead, arrives in King’s Landing. To him, Sansa privately expresses her loyalty to Joffrey (despite his abuse and her fear of him); however, given the risks to her life, Tyrion sees through her statement. Sansa chooses to remain cautious around Tyrion.

The small council, consisting of only the King’s closest advisors, meets. Tyrion intimidates Kingsguard knight Ser Mandon Moore with his enforcers, Timett and Bronn, into letting him attend the meeting. He shares a letter from his father, Tywin Lannister, indicating that Tywin has nominated Tyrion to sit on the small council in his place as the Hand of the King, the King’s administrator (and closest advisor).

Tyrion’s sister, Queen Regent Cersei, refuses to believe the letter is real. In private, Tyrion shows that he is willing to help her by discussing the Starks’ capture of their brother and Cersei’s twin, Jaime. He then shifts the discussion to find out if anyone on the small council has been influencing Joffrey’s impulsive rule. Two small council members, Petyr “Littlefinger” Baelish and Lord Varys, were involved in the events that led to Eddard Stark’s execution, though Tyrion can’t conclude that their advice disadvantages Joffrey.

Tyrion assures Cersei that he can control Joffrey by threatening him. Cersei reminds him that she is regent, and he will be serving under her. She orders him to report his plans to her. Tyrion agrees, purposely lying to gain her trust. Under the further pretense of transparency, Tyrion asks Cersei to confirm that she is involved in an incestuous affair with Jaime and that she and her cousin Lancel conspired to assassinate King Robert. He urges Cersei not to let Sansa be harmed so that they can use her to bargain for Jaime’s life.

Tyrion rides into the city to assess its present state. At the market, he learns that the food supply is so low that people have resorted to selling rats. That night, Tyrion stays at a city inn to meet with his lover, a sex worker named Shae. To his surprise, Lord Varys has discovered Shae’s existence and is waiting for him. He obliquely threatens both Shae and Tyrion. Before leaving, Varys poses a riddle to Shae: who is a mercenary most likely to serve—a king, a priest, or a rich man? Shae answers the rich man.

Tyrion and Shae retire to their room, where Tyrion apologizes for staying away for so long. Shae responds by teasing him into sex. Tyrion later cautions himself against emotional attachment, remembering a woman named Tysha.

At Winterfell, Bran, the second son of Eddard and Catelyn Stark, does not remember what led to the fall that caused his paraplegia. Maester Luwin suggests that Bran should spend more time with the two wards at Winterfell, both named Walder Frey, to strengthen House Stark’s alliance with House Frey. Bran resents the Frey boys after an incident where Little Walder struck his younger brother Rickon in a game, provoking Rickon’s direwolf, Shaggydog, to attack him. Little Walder subsequently ordered the wolves’ removal from the castle.

In his dreams, Bran believes that he becomes a wolf. Luwin brings him a sleeping draught meant to dispel his next dream. It does not work as Bran dreams that he and Shaggydog go hunting outside Winterfell.

The caravan heading for the Wall proceeds through war-struck lands, and at an inn, rumors circulate about monstrous wolves, some led by Robb into battle. Arya speaks up against the rumor that wolves eat babies, prompting Yoren to send her outside.

Arya passes by the caravan’s prison wagon. One of the prisoners asks for a drink and introduces himself as Jaqen H’ghar. His two companions, Rorge and Biter, harass Arya until she strikes them back with her wooden sword.

One of the older boys from Yoren’s caravan, known only as the Bull, pulls Arya away from the prisoners. He becomes worried when soldiers from the City Watch arrive with an arrest warrant for one of Yoren’s boys. Arya initially believes they have come for her, but to her surprise, they have come for the Bull. Yoren stands his ground, pointing out they have the City Watch greatly outnumbered. The City Watch withdraws from the inn. Curious to know why Cersei wants the Bull, Arya learns his true name: Gendry.

Jon Snow, Eddard’s son outside of marriage, visits the Night’s Watch library to look for his friend Samwell Tarly. Sam has been gathering maps that will aid the Watch in their search for Jon’s uncle, Benjen Stark, beyond the Wall. Sam is excited by his findings, though their Lord Commander, Jeor Mormont, finds them barely sufficient.

Jeor has sent a ranger, Ser Alliser Thorne, to King’s Landing to report the recent attack of an undead wight (a zombie-like corpse reanimated by the White Walkers beyond the Wall) on the Night’s Watch. Jon and Jeor speak about the brewing war between the kings, leading Jeor to observe the unequal treatment of Jon and Robb, both Eddard’s sons. Jon reaffirms his commitment to his vows.

At her ancestral home of Riverrun, Catelyn Stark observes how uncomfortable Robb is wearing his new crown as King of the North. Robb orders Cleos Frey, a prisoner who formerly fought for the Lannisters, to bring Robb’s peace demands to Cersei. In exchange for stopping the fighting, he demands the freedom of his sisters, as well as the return of Eddard’s remains and greatsword. He finishes with a demand to secede from Joffrey’s realm as an independent kingdom. Jaime will remain his prisoner.

After Cleos leaves, Robb’s uncle, Edmure, insists on challenging Tywin’s army at Harrenhal. Robb is reluctant, especially after several bannermen (smaller neighboring allied countries) departed to defend their lands from Lannister raids. Catelyn does not think Cersei will release Sansa and Arya without any conditions for Jaime’s release. Robb does not want to spare Jaime for them, knowing his value to Cersei.

Robb suggests sending Catelyn either to House Frey to pick his future bride or to the Iron Islands with Theon to convince the Greyjoys to join their side. Catelyn refuses both, adding that it may be unwise to return Theon, who has been the Starks’ hostage for much of his life. Robb insists, believing it is the only way to forge an alliance with the Greyjoys.

Instead, Catelyn visits her ailing father, Hoster Tully, and his brother, Brynden “The Blackfish.” They agree that drawing Robb to Harrenhal is part of Tywin’s strategy. Their only hope is that Tywin will leave Harrenhal to face the emerging threat of Renly Baratheon. This inspires Catelyn to seek an alliance with Renly.

Tyrion invites Janos Slynt, a small council member and the City Watch commander who betrayed Eddard Stark, for dinner. They discuss Janos’s replacement for Commander of the City Watch. Tyrion pushes forward his choice, Ser Jacelyn Bywater. Janos prefers his right-hand man, Allar Deem, who recently assisted him in killing a sex worker and her child in the city. Tyrion tries to get Janos to reveal the reason behind these murders, but Janos refuses to tell.

Tyrion goes on to point out that Janos betrayed Eddard because Joffrey bought his loyalty. When Janos strikes back by insulting Tyrion’s stature, Tyrion returns a threat to Janos’s newly elevated house. Janos relents, but by then, Tyrion reveals that he has already arranged for Janos to serve on the Night’s Watch. Jacelyn Bywater, newly installed Commander of the City Watch, escorts Janos to a ship bound for the Wall.

Varys applauds Tyrion on Slynt’s removal. They discuss the child Janos killed, and Tyrion realizes that the child was the daughter of Robert Baratheon, born outside of marriage. Cersei had ordered the child’s death to remove all threats to Joffrey’s claim.

Tyrion senses that Varys trusts him and wonders why. Varys suggests that power is arbitrary, and men give their loyalty to those who can project power. As Hand of the King, Tyrion is in a strong position to project power. Tyrion remains cautious of Varys, but the two agree to work together.

Arya grows anxious that the City Watch may try to stop their caravan again. Gendry doesn’t know why the Queen wants him, a mere armorer recruited to the Night’s Watch. The caravan members theorize that Gendry is the son of Eddard Stark outside of marriage, which Arya staunchly rejects.

The caravan takes a detour to avoid various threats along the way. They pass the ruins of a razed village, where they rescue a young girl.

Arya encounters a wolf one night while urinating in the woods, prompting her retreat to Yoren’s wagon. Yoren assures her of her protection. He encourages her to sleep and abandon all memories of her former life.