2.1 The North Remembers

Plot Summary
On his name day, King Joffrey Baratheon celebrates his birthday by watching knights do battle. The bouts are interrupted when Tyrion Lannister arrives to serve to announce that he has been appointed by Tywin Lannister to advise as the hand of the king in his place. When Tyrion criticizes how Joffrey had lost Arya and for executing Ned Stark. Under a red comet, Daenerys Targaryen travels with her small khalasar across the Red Waste. When white mare that Khal Drogo had given her dies, she is forced to stop the march. In the meantime, she gets three of her men to search for a city in three different directions On the island of Dragonstone, Melisandre, the adviser to King Stannis, burns statues of the seven gods and proclaims Stannis as the warrior of light. Maester Cressen voices his doubts about war, but he is silences by the red priestess. Afterward, Stannis sends to a letter throughout the realm detailing how his claim to the throne and incestuous relationship of Cersei Lannister and Jaime Lannister. While creating the letter, Cressen tries to murder Melisandre by slipping poison in her wine. Cressen then fakes an apology in an attempt to get her to drink her wine, he gets poisoned instead and dies.

When Joffrey hears news about his birth, he confronts his mother about it to find out that it is true. Soon after, the city watch kill all of Robert's basterds. Gendry is spared since he is not in the city, but with Arya on a caravaan. Beyond the wall, a party of of the Night's Watch head to Craster's Keep. Lord Commander Jeor Mormont and his men meet the man named Caster. He informs Jeor that the King Beyond the Wall Mance Rayder is preparing an army and may head south. Jon and Craster then have an argument that ends with Jon being scolded by Jeor after they leave the tent.

At the Stark's camp, Robb tasks Theon to persuade his father to send vital aid to the campaign against the Lannisters. Robb's mother advises against trusting the Greyjoys, and begs him to consider trading Jaime Lannister for her two daughters. Robbs tells her that he cannot do that and instead gives her the task of persuading Renly to form an alliance with them.