2.8 The Prince of Winterfell

Theon holds down the fort; Arya calls in her debt with Jaqen; Robb is betrayed; Stannis and Davos approach their destination.

Plot Summary
As the city prepares itself for a siege, Cersei meets with Tyrion at the dining table. She accuses him of attempting to ensure Joffrey's death by putting him on the battlefield and informs him that she has imprisoned his lover until Joffrey is safe. She summons her prisoner and Tyrion is relieved to see that she did not find Shae. He pretends to be angry at Cersei and leaves the room. In Harrenhal, Tywin Lannister plans to move against Robb's army now that the Starks are distracted with the Greyjoys. Arya over hears his plans and asks Jaqen to kill Tywin. When Jagen denies her request due Tywin, she bargains for a way to escaping Jagen denies her again, but changes his mind when she names him as the next man to be killed. He agrees to find a way for her and her friends to escape. He instructs her to walk out the gate at midnight.

Later, Arya and her friends find the guards watching the gate dead as they walk out of the castle. Beyond the Wall, Jon is taken to Ygritte's companions. They decide to kill Jon, but Ygritte convinces them to spare him. Jon discovers that the rest of his group had been killed with the exception of Qhorin Halfhand. Qhorin tells Jon that he should act as a defecting member of the Night's Watch and he has a argument with Jon to make the idea more convincing. Robb finds out about Jaime Lannistter's escape and his mother's hand in it. He puts his mother under arrest and puts a guard on her. Then he orders his men to give Theon's men an offer of mercy to all who surrender with the exception of Theon. Talisa enters the tent and they begin to talk. After Talisa tells Robb why she became a nurse, they make love.

Beyond the Wall, Sam and Grenn find a ancient Night's Watch cloak and dragonglass weapons at the Fist of the First Man. Yara heads to Winterfell in order to tell her brother to leave it before the wrath of Robb Stark falls on him. However, Theon refuses to leave because doing so would make him look weak. In the square Ludwin notices Osha sneaking into the catacombs. He follows them and they discuss the murder of the orphan boys while Brann secretly listens to them.