inside the character

After returning to the capital of King’s Landing, King Robert Baratheon sits in his chambers, drinking and reminiscing about battles with Ser Barristan Selmy, Lord Commander of the Kingsguard. Barristan recalls his first kill was a Tyroshi soldier whose name he never knew. He killed him with a lance to the heart. King Robert recalls his first kill was a soldier serving House Tarly at the Battle of Summerhall. The soldier thought he could end the war with a single swing of his sword but Robert killed him instead. The king then recalls how the man begged for mercy before Robert dealt the death blow and gets melancholy, thinking that the boy could have stayed in the back ranks of the enemy army, survived the battle and would now be unhappily married with ingrates for children of his own. Robert demands wine from his squire, Lancel Lannister, a cousin of Queen Cersei’s. Lancel is only able to pour a little, as the jug has run out. Robert angrily sends him for more and orders the queen’s brother, Ser Jaime Lannister, to come in. Robert asks him about his first kill, as Jaime and Barristan both discuss their campaign against the Kingswood Brotherhood. Barristan slew Simon Toyne in single combat while Jaime scored his own first kill - an outlaw he decapitated - as a squire of sixteen. Robert then asks Jaime what the “Mad King,” Aerys Targaryen, said when he died, if he called Jaime a traitor or begged for mercy. Jaime replies that he only said what he’d been saying all day, "Burn them all." Having silenced the king, Jaime takes his leave from Robert and Ser Barristan.

Days later, Ser Barristan guards the royal family as they attends the first day of the tournament being held for the new Hand of the King, Lord Eddard Stark. A drunken Robert annoys Cersei to the point of her exiting the tourney before it’s even began. Sitting in the stands, Eddard’s eldest daughter Sansa Stark tries to catch Prince Joffrey Baratheon's eye, but he avoids looking at her. Noting the exchange, Lord Petyr Baelish, one of Robert’s advisors, asks if she is having a lover’s quarrel, as he then introduces himself as an old friend of her mother Catelyn Stark. The first tilt is then held and the first of the combatants is Ser Gregor Clegane, a gigantic man over seven feet in height. He is the elder brother of Sandor Clegane, Prince Joffrey's bodyguard. His opponent is Ser Hugh of the Vale. On their second pass, Gregor's lance takes Ser Hugh in the throat, killing him. Lord Baelish notes this was an unfortunate accident and then informs Sansa that when the Clegane brothers were children, Gregor found Sandor playing with one of Gregor’s toys. Gregor then took Sandor by the neck and held his face in the fire until his skin burned. That is how Sandor got his scarred appearance. Baelish suggests not repeating this story to “the Hound”. As the tourney continues, Ser Barristan stands vigil for Ser Hugh after his death in the tournament. Lord Eddard quizzes him over Hugh's death at the hands of Gregor Clegane, and how the lots are drawn to determine which knight will face another in the contests. Neither Barristan or Eddard ascertain if Ser Hugh was killed deliberately, as he was the former squire to the last Hand of the King, Jon Arryn, whose recent death is shrouded in mystery. Eddard states that, in his late father, Rickard Stark's opinion, Barristan was the finest knight in the Seven Kingdoms. Barristan acknowledges that King Aerys’ murder of Eddard's father and brother was a grave crime and he is glad they did not cross swords at the Battle of the Trident. As the next tilt is held, Ser Gregor returns to joust against Ser Loras Tyrell, the famed “Knight of Flowers,” who quickly unseats Clegane. Lord Baelish tells Sansa that it was clever of Loras to ride a mare in heat, as it threw Gregor’s stallion into confusion. A furious Gregor decapitates his horse in a fit of rage. He smashes Loras off his horse and attacks him with his sword. Gregor’s own brother, Sandor Clegane, jumps in the way and exchanges blows with him before King Robert orders them to stop. The siblings historically loathe one another. As Sandor immediately kneels before Robert, Ser Gregor storms off the field in anger. Ser Loras thanks Sandor and holds his arm aloft to be cheered by the commons over their shared victory.

Some time later, Ser Barristan escorts King Robert out in the nearby forest as he hunts with a spear. They are accompanied by Robert’s younger brother, Renly Baratheon, as well as his squire Lancel, who is continuously supplying the king with wine. Robert becomes drunk and nostalgic and informs his hunting party that he is longing for the days of young knights trying to make a name for themselves. When the enemies were obvious, vicious warriors in the open, not hidden schemers. Robert then discusses an old tradition called "making the eight," which referred to having sex with a girl from each of the Seven Kingdoms and the Riverlands. When asked, a bemused Ser Barristan doesn't believe that he ever completed this ritual, to Robert's amusement. Robert then irritates Renly when he starts to question Renly's sexual history. Renly calls him a fool and remarks that the past had its share of violence that Robert himself was responsible for during Robert’s Rebellion, yet is conveniently ignoring. Renly supposes it was all even more heroic with enough wine and convenient prostitutes nearby so he could "make the eight". An angry Robert reminds Renly that he speaks to a king. Renly then storms off, leaving Ser Barristan to look on with concern, as Lancel continues to top up King Robert's wine supply.

Some time later, in the Red Keep, a panicked Renly Baratheon finds Lord Eddard and informs him that Robert has been badly mauled by a boar whilst on their hunt and is not expected to survive to accident. Eddard finds the fatally-wounded King Robert lying in bed. Once alone with the king, in order to spare Robert’s final hours from any emotional pain, Eddard chooses not to tell him about his recent discovery of his children’s true parentage, as the Hand has already confronted Queen Cersei with his knowledge that Robert’s children are actually a product of incest with her brother Ser Jaime. Robert instructs Eddard to write a letter naming him as the Lord Protector of the Realm, to rule until Prince Joffrey comes of age. Eddard, however, does not write Joffrey's name, instead saying "the rightful heir". Robert also asks him to cancel the attempt on Daenerys Targaryen's life in the eastern continent of Essos, a final act of mercy displayed by the dying king with regards to the last remaining heir of House Targaryen. Afterwards, Eddard speaks with Ser Barristan and an advisor named Lord Varys. Barristan bitterly claims to have failed the king as Robert lies on his deathbed, but Eddard counsels him that no one could protect Robert from himself. Asking Barristan a seemingly-innocent  question about the wine, Varys slyly points out that Robert’s squire Lancel ensured the king was kept "refreshed" with alcohol during the hunt, meaning his reactions were slowed and unreliable. Varys then regretfully informs that it is far too late to stop the attempt on Daenerys' life.

Later on, Eddard is summoned to the throne room by "King Joffrey," confirming Robert’s passing as well as further Lannister control. Outside, he arrives to find Varys and Lord Baelish waiting for him, along with Commander Janos Slynt and a detachment of the City Watch. Varys informs him that Renly Baratheon has now fled the city, along with Ser Loras Tyrell and a number of retainers. They were last seen heading south. The party then enters the throne room, where Joffrey smugly sits on the Iron Throne. He immediately demands oaths of fealty from his councilors and subjects. However instead, Eddard gives Ser Barristan the proclamation naming him as Lord Protector of the Realm. To Barristan's shock, Queen Cersei takes the "paper shield" and tears it up. Instead, she suggests that Eddard bend the knee and swear allegiance and in return he will be allowed to safely return to his home of Winterfell and stay out of their affairs. Eddard responds that Joffrey has no claim to the Iron Throne and commands Janos Slynt to take Cersei and her son into custody. Instead, the City Watch immediately kill Eddard's bodyguards, while Baelish himself sneaks up behind Eddard and holds a knife to his throat, saying, "I did warn you not to trust me."

Some time following Eddard’s arrest, King Joffrey holds court and Janos Slynt of the City Watch is to be made Lord of Harrenhal as a reward for his loyal service. Queen Regent Cersei then dismisses Ser  Barristan as head of the Kingsguard, noting that the time has come for an honorable retirement. Barristan is confused, pointing out that the Kingsguard serve for life, but Joffrey angrily asserts that he is too old and wasn't able to protect his “father” during the boar hunt, King Robert. Regardless of how it is framed, the reality is that Cersei is cleaning house by removing anyone from court who isn't a dedicated Lannister loyalist. Ser Barristan’s disgrace is only compounded when he learns his post as Lord Commander is to be given to Jaime Lannister, much to his disgust. Barristan openly denounces Jaime as "the man who profaned his blade with the blood of the King he had sworn to defend," causing Cersei to angrily rebuke him. Lord Varys then announces that Barristan is to be given a castle and land in recognition of his years of service. The old knight, insulted by what he sees as being offered: "a hall to die in and men to bury me,"  tears off his cloak and breastplate, insisting that he is a knight and will die a knight. Lord Baelish crassly jokes that he will apparently be a "naked knight," prompting the entire court to laugh at him. Barristan throws his sword at the new king’s feet and storms out, stating that he could still kill all five of the other Kingsguard present with ease.

Several months later, across the Narrow Sea, the exiled dragon queen Daenerys Targaryen ponders what kind of person she will be to take ownership of eight thousand slave-soldiers from the city of Astapor in order to invade Westeros and take back the Iron Throne for her family. Her advisor Ser Jorah Mormont recommends that she purchase the Unsullied, arguing that under her command, these slave soldiers will have a far better quality of life serving her. Daenerys is then distracted by a young girl that is following them. However, neither of them noticed a hooded man, armed with a dagger, also trailing behind. The child offers Daenerys a gift, a wooden ball that she rolls to her and gestures for her to open it. Before Daenerys can open the ball, the cloaked stranger knocks it out of her hand. In response, Jorah grabs the stranger, and in their struggle knocks Daenerys to the ground. The cracked ball then releases a manticore that was hidden inside. Before the venomous, scorpion-like creature can harm Daenerys, the stranger kills it with his dagger. Meanwhile, the little girl hisses in a reptilian manner and uses magic to escape. The cloaked stranger is revealed to be Ser Barristan, who quickly identifies himself as a former Kingsguard to her late father Aerys. He begs her forgiveness for failing House Targaryen during Robert's Rebellion, declaring that she is the rightful Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. In return for his wrongs, Barristan offers to serve in her Queensguard, which Daenerys accepts.

Some days later, Ser Barristan accompanies Daenerys and Ser Jorah as they walk along a sea wall known as the "Walk of Punishment". As Daenerys prepares to negotiate for the purchase of the Unsullied army, Ser Barristan strongly argues against using slaves-soldiers, considering this dishonorable. Ser Jorah is in favor of using them, but Barristan retorts that when Daenerys's older brother, Prince Rhaegar Targaryen, led his army in the Battle of the Trident, men died for Rhaegar because they loved him - not because they were slave soldiers whose free-will had been stripped away. However, Jorah responds that Rhaegar indeed fought honorably and nobly, but that in the end Rhaegar died. As Daenerys was born months after Robert Baratheon killed Rhaegar during the rebellion, she asks Barristan if he knew Rhaegar. Barristan informs her that he knew Rhaegar well, as he fought and bled beside him at the Trident. Barristan adds that Rhaegar was the finest man he ever met, calling him “the last dragon”. Daenerys states that she wish she’d known her older brother Rhaegar, however, she adds that she herself is “the last dragon”. The trio then meet with Master Kraznys in order to negotiate, where Daenerys agrees to give the Good Masters her largest dragon, Drogon, in exchange for the entire Unsullied army. Barristan and Jorah object to this deal on the grounds that her dragons are key to winning the Iron Throne. However, Daenerys appears to brush away their concerns and accepts the transaction, and also takes Kraznys’ translator, Missandei, as a token of faith. As they depart, Daenerys tells Barristan and Jorah that while she values their advice, they will be advising someone else if they question her in public again.

On the day of the exchange, the slave masters and Kraznys, along with the eight-thousand Unsullied warriors, meet with Daenerys, Barristan and Jorah in order to complete the deal. Daenerys hands the chained dragon Drogon over to Master Kraznys, who is hostile towards his new owner. Kraznys then gives her a golden whip that stands as the symbol of ownership over the Unsullied army. After finalizing the transaction, Daenerys tests her new powers by ordering the Unsullied, in Valyrian, to march forward and then halt. This shocks everyone, including Ser Barristan, who was not aware that she spoke the language. An irritated Kraznys then complains that Drogon did not obey his command, to which Daenerys angrily retorts in Valyrian that a dragon does not obey him because a dragon is not a slave. Kraznys is both stunned to learn she speaks fluent Valyrian and horrified to realize Daenerys understood his derogatory comments and insults about her the entire time, merely feigning ignorance to lull the Astapori into a false sense of security. She then orders the Unsullied to kill all of the slave masters but to harm no innocent people. When a panicking Kraznys desperately shouts for someone to kill her, Daenerys orders Drogon to burn Kraznys alive. With the Unsullied under her command, Daenerys sacks the city with little resistance. In the aftermath of the Sack of Astapor, Barristan witnesses Daenerys address all of her newly-acquired Unsullied warriors, insisting them of their choice in freedom. She gives them the option of leaving unharmed, or fighting under her command as free men. At first, the Unsullied remain quiet, not knowing what to do with their newfound freedom. However, one Unsullied soldier begins to beat his spear against the ground, signifying his allegiance to her. The rest of the Unsullied then follow suit shortly thereafter. Barristan is overjoyed when the recently freed Unsullied agree to continue serving Daenerys. The dragon queen then rides triumphantly out of the smoking wreck of Astapor, alongside Barristan, Jorah and Missandei, as she drops the slave-master's whip on the ground. She rides out with her eight-thousand strong army of Unsullied marching in formation, as her three dragons soar high above them. For the first time in generations, a Targaryen has begun to conquer again, starting with her Liberation of Slaver's Bay.

Days later, the Targaryen forces head north to the next great slave city of Yunkai. Ser Jorah informs Ser Barristan how he was knighted, explaining that he was the second man through the breach during the Siege of Pyke. The late King Robert himself knighted Jorah for his bravery that day, the proudest of Jorah's life. Barristan admits that Robert was a good man and warrior, but laments that he turned out to be a terrible king. Barristan explains that a man of honor must keep his vows no matter what, whether he's serving a drunk or a lunatic. Their talk then turns to Daenerys, as Barristan respectfully warns that it might not be well for her to be seen with Jorah when they return to Westeros. Jorah admits that he may never be rid of the moral taint of selling slaves and then begins to ask about the advisors on the small council, if any of them spoke against Robert when he wanted Daenerys assassinated. Barristan admits that Robert never trusted him to do anything more than protect him, hence he was barred from small council meetings. The two knights then briefly bicker about the fact that Barristan only just came to them, while Jorah had been defending Daenerys from Robert Baratheon's assassins for months. Meanwhile, Daenerys addresses the chosen Unsullied leader named Grey Worm, who gives his respects for setting them free.

After arriving outside of Yunkai, Ser Jorah expresses his concerns to Daenerys and Barristan that the city's defenders will not fight them on the field but will rather strengthen their position behind the walls. Daenerys is, however, adamant on freeing the slaves of Yunkai and orders Grey Worm to send a messenger to the city, informing the slaver rulers that they must either surrender or suffer the same fate as Astapor. Daenerys then holds an audience with the Yunkish herald, Razdal mo Eraz, who is one of the ruling Wise Masters that attempts to discourage her from attacking by claiming that numerous armies throughout history had tried and failed to conquer it. However, Daenerys comments that a hard-fought battle will give her Unsullied much-needed practice. Razdal then attempts to bribe her by providing her with gold and ships in exchange to leave Yunkai in peace. In response, Daenerys makes a counter-offer: she will spare the lives of Razdal and the slave-masters if every slave in Yunkai are set free, and given food, clothing and property. She threatens to show no mercy if Yunkai rejects her offer. Razdal is offended by her demands and when he threatens to use Yunkai's "powerful friends,” Dany’s dragons intimidate Razdal, now unable to reclaim the chests of gold he brought. Following his departure, Daenerys orders Barristan and Jorah to find out more about Yunkai's "powerful friends" before she decides to attack the city.

Some time later, they eventually discover that these "powerful friends" are the Second Sons, a professional mercenary company. As typical of sellswords, they are a rough-and-tumble private army who fight for the highest bidder. While there are only two-thousand of them, the Second Sons are armored and mounted, enough to cause trouble for the Unsullied. Daenerys instructs Barristan to organize a meeting with the captains, saying that men who fight for gold "can't afford to lose to a girl.” Barristan later presents to Daenerys a Braavosi captain named Mero and a Ghiscari captain named Prendahl na Ghezn. Prendahl's underling Daario Naharis is also in attendance. During the proceedings, Mero insults Daenerys by likening her to a whore and touches her translator Missandei inappropriately. The captains refuse her offer, noting that they will not receive any rewards until she reclaims the throne. In response, Daenerys replies that she had no army a fortnight ago and that she had no dragons a year ago. Daenerys gives them two days to make up their mind and sends them away. After the sellswords leave, Daenerys instructs Ser Barristan to kill Captain Mero first if they have to fight with them. Barristan replies that he would be glad to do so, incensed at the captains' attitude during the meeting.

Days later, outside the walls of Yunkai, Daenerys and her commanders plan the attack on the city. Joining them is the newest Second Sons captain, Daario Naharis, who murdered both Mero and Prendahl, as he disagreed with their rejection of supporting Daenerys. Daario suggests a plan using a lightly defended back gate so a small group can infiltrate the city and open the main gates for the rest of the army. Though Ser Jorah is skeptical of both the plan and Daario's loyalty, Daenerys is convinced to try it when Grey Worm informs that he trusts Daario. During the meeting, Daario touches her on her hand, flirting with her without any subtly, much to Jorah’s chagrin. As the captains depart, Barristan asks to go along, but Jorah reminds him that a Queensguard's place is at the queen's side, regardless of his pride. That evening, Ser Jorah, Daario and Grey Worm sneak into the city and fight their way through the slave soldiers guarding Yunkai. There are far more soldiers than Daario anticipated, but it seems that the three are evenly matched - just barely. Some hours later, an impatient Daenerys paces in her tent, when Jorah and Grey Worm finally return, covered in blood but grinning widely: Yunkai is defeated. Daenerys is elated, but asks after Daario, who is still absent. After a suspenseful moment, Daario then strides into the room and kneels before Daenerys. He presents Yunkai's torn flag and triumphantly informs that the city is now hers.

The morning following their victory, Barristan stands outside the walls of Yunkai with Daenerys and the rest of her advisors as they wait for the city's slaves to appear. Daenerys expresses her concern that the Yunkish slaves, who are better treated than those in Astapor, might have grown to like their chains and will not welcome freedom. However, the gates then open and the freed slaves pour out. Missandei then begins to tell them of how Daenerys “the Unburnt” set them free, however, Daenerys interrupts and says that it is the slaves' own choice for freedom. After a moment, one of the freedmen stretches his hand towards Daenerys and calls out “mhysa”. After a moment, another follows suit, then another and another until the entire crowd is chanting "mhysa". Bewildered, Daenerys turns to Missandei, who reveals that the word means "mother" in the Old Ghiscari language. When the slaves then advance on Daenerys, the Unsullied step into formation, but the queen tells them to stand down. Telling her dragons to fly, Daenerys steps out of the protection of the Unsullied and into the crowd, who carry on their chanting. To Barristan’s delight, Daenerys is embraced by the former slaves, offering a glimmer of hope in an increasingly darker and hopeless world.

Some time after liberating Yunkai, Daenerys resumes her march towards the greatest of the slave cities, Meereen. Alongside Barristan and Jorah, she notices Grey Worm and Daario are absent and sets out with Missandei to find them after being told they are "gambling”. They find the two men sitting face-to-face holding their weapons in front of them, contesting their endurance since midnight. Daario explains that they are deciding on which of them will ride up front with her in the vanguard. Frustrated, Daenerys states that the honor goes to Ser Jorah and Ser Barristan as they did not keep her waiting all morning, adding that the last man holding his sword shall find a new queen to fight for. Missandei is amused when Daenerys threatens to expel the winner of the contest from her army. Both Daario and Grey Worm instantly drop their swords. Later, on the road to Meereen, Daenerys speaks with Missandei, who tells her queen that Meereen would be wise to fear her approach. Daario meets them on the cliffside, and Daenerys expresses her annoyance when he shows her flowers he has picked. The marching army halts and Daenerys goes to the forefront, discovering a slave child nailed to a cross. The child is dead, her hand pointing the way to Meereen, and Jorah tells Daenerys there is one for each mile to the last of the great slave cities, one-hundred and sixty-three in total. Ser Barristan offers to have outriders go ahead and bury them, but Daenerys refuses, ordering that each of them is buried, and their collars removed, but not before she has looked upon each and every face.

Days later, the army eventually arrive outside of the gates of Meereen, as Daenerys begins her next siege. As they approach she is in full view of the Great Pyramid, a visible reminder of where the larger wealth and population lies within Slaver’s Bay. Upon their arrival, the city’s chosen champion barrels out of the gates on horseback and insults the new arrivals by literally pissing on his territory in plain sight. Daenerys is then faced with a “champions' duel,” where the riding knight of Meereen challenges her to choose a champion that will fight for her. Barristan volunteers to fight Meereen's champion and mentions that he's probably won more duels than anyone else alive; Daenerys rejects his offer, however, as she wants to preserve his skills for more worthy foes. Daario then volunteers and quickly dispatches the Meereen champion by throwing his dagger into the eye of the charging horse. Daenerys speaks aloud to the slaves who are all gathered along the walls of the gate along with their masters. She then commands the Unsullied to catapult barrels over the city walls that are filled with broken chains of those she has freed along her journey to Meereen, demonstrating her previous successes. As the slaves examine the broken chains with curiosity and excitement, the Great Masters look on in fear.

Later on, Grey Worm is then summoned to begin the Siege of Meereen and, as commanded, he and a few Unsullied visit a slave pen where a number of slaves are discussing whether or not to rise against the Great Masters. One of the young slaves named Mossador is already trying to convince them to fight, but the older slaves argue that their masters have squashed every previous slave rebellion. Grey Worm asserts that only they can free themselves, then presenting the slaves with weapons. The uprising is a resounding success. With the city hers, Daenerys enters through the gates as a liberator of Meereen, celebrated by freedmen throwing their old slaves' collars at her feet. Daenerys then orders the crucifixion of one-hundred and sixty-three of the masters in retaliation for the equal amount of slave children crucified on the road to Meereen. Ser Barristan advises her against it, saying that sometimes it is best to answer injustice with mercy. Daenerys shows her Targaryen blood by firmly declaring that she will "answer injustice with justice." The cries of the crucified Great Masters reach Dany's ears atop the Great Pyramid, where the city's emblem, the golden harpy of Ghis, has been draped in the banner of House Targaryen. Now, she has liberated all three cities of Slaver's Bay.

Some weeks later, after settling into her new headquarters atop the Great Pyramid, Daenerys learns of King Joffrey Baratheon's death in King’s Landing, as well as his brother Tommen's  coronation. She is irritated to learn that Daario Naharis has captured Meereen's navy without her explicit orders to do so, but mulls over the possibility of setting sail for Westeros and taking King's Landing with her 8,000  Unsullied and 2,000 Second Sons. Ser Barristan is optimistic about their chances, believing that old Westerosi families will flock to their cause once Daenerys crosses the Narrow Sea, swelling their numbers. Ser Jorah is less enthusiastic: while 10,000 troops should be enough to take the Westerosi capital from its exhausted defenders, there's still the rest of the continent to worry about. Her advisors then reveal more troubling news: the Wise Masters have re-enslaved every freed man in Yunkai, and although Astapor remains free, the council she installed has been deposed by a butcher named Cleon. Daenerys dismisses everyone but Jorah and muses that her plans are in shambles. He reminds her that she is the last  Targaryen and the “Mother of Dragons,” but Daenerys insists that she needs to be more than that. She laments that if she can’t keep order in three cities, she has no hope of controlling Seven Kingdoms. She is therefore resolved to remain in Meereen and "do what queens do" by ruling.

Some time after, on a sunny day outside of Meereen, a goat herder and his son are peacefully tending the goats on a hill while the son throws rocks to pass the time. Suddenly, Daenerys’ largest and fast-growing dragon, Drogon, appears and burns the field and kills a flock of goats while taking one with him. The goat herder travels to Meereen to visit the queen and lays the charred remains of his flock before Daenerys, hoping to not anger her. With Barristan by her her side in the throne room, Daenerys apologizes about Drogon's actions and promises to pay back three times the worth of his flock. After he departs, Hizdahr zo Loraq presents his petition: the right to bury his father's remains in the Temple of the Graces, as he was one of the Meereenese Great Masters crucified on Daenerys' orders. She counters that he was one of the masters that crucified the children. Loraq reveals that his father actually spoke out against their crucifixions and was overruled, but later was killed due to Daenerys' judgment anyway. Somewhat mollified, Daenerys allows him to bury his father and as he leaves, Missandei informs her that she still has two-hundred more supplicants waiting.

Some time later, as Ser Barristan watches the Unsullied take the bodies of the crucified masters down, a young boy approaches him, giving him a scroll bearing the seal of the Hand of the King. After reading the scroll, he then confronts Ser Jorah as the document is an old royal pardon signed by the late King Robert. Barristan surmises that Jorah spied on Daenerys in exchange for the pardon. Jorah begs to speak with her privately, but Barristan tells him that he will never be alone with her again. In an audience before her, a seething Daenerys demands for Jorah to explain as he then insists that it is a ploy by Lord Tywin Lannister to divide them. She then counters that the pardon was signed the year they met. Asking Jorah whether he claims the pardon was forged, Jorah admits that it was not, then confessing to share information on her activities in Essos. Daenerys angrily recounts the near-poisoning at the hands of a wine merchant, which she can now understand was as result of Jorah informing King Robert of her pregnancy. Jorah protests that his actions stopped her from being poisoned, however, Daenerys retorts this was only because he knew it might be coming. He then begs for her forgiveness, but Daenerys  rebuffs him, saying he betrayed her, selling her secrets to the man she holds responsible for the death of her family. However, Daenerys spares his life and gives him a day to leave the city. She warns that if he is seen in Meereen after that, his head will be thrown into Slaver's Bay. A distraught Jorah is last seen riding away from the city gates on horseback.

Some weeks later, Barristan stands next to Daenerys, who is receiving the day’s many supplicants. An old man named Fennesz approaches the throne, explaining that he was not one of the slaves who toiled away at manual labor, but an educated teacher and servant to Master Mighdal who was well-treated and loved by Mighdal’s children. He adds that he’s visited these refugee centers and they are not very safe as the young prey on the old, harassing and robbing them. Fennesz has come to ask permission to sell himself back to Mighdal. Daenerys is crestfallen and asserts that she didn’t liberate them only to preside over the very injustice she sought to destroy. She relents, however, and admits that freedom means making one's own choices. Daenerys allows Fennesz to enter into a labor contract with Mighdal but lasting no more than one year. The next supplicant then enters, a distraught shepherd carrying a bundle in his arms states that the "winged shadow" came, placing the bundle on the ground and opening it to reveal charred bones of a human child. Drogon, “the black one,” has roasted the man's three-year-old daughter until this is all that was left of her. Afterwards, once it is reported that Drogon is nowhere to be seen in Meereen, a horrified Daenerys locks away her other two dragons, Viserion and Rhaegal, in the catacombs beneath the Great Pyramid.

Some time later, the Unsullied topple the large golden harpy from the top of the Great Pyramid in Meereen to show the Meereenese people they are under Targaryen rule now and their old traditions are no longer in practice. After the removal, an Unsullied soldiers named White Rat is seen walking into a brothel and pays a prostitute named Vala that he visits regularly to lie with him and provide comfort, in lieu of sexual conduct due to his castration. While White Rat lies in bed with Vala, eyes closed, he listens to her hum as she strokes his head. Suddenly his throat is then slashed by a member of the Sons of the Harpy, an insurgency group operating in Meereen who oppose Daenerys’ new reign. The prostitute Vala rises from the bed and stands beside the Harpy, indicating her involvement, as they watch the soldier bleed out. Afterwards, in Daenerys’ quarters, Ser Barristan presents her the murderer's mask left at the scene. Barristan assures her that conquerors are always met with resistance, as former Meereeneese slave Mossador reminds her that the Harpies do not see the freed slaves as people. Barristan warns that the Sons will see that as another reason to oppose Daenerys, but she hopes it will make them easier to find and eliminate. Daenerys then orders Grey Worm to find those responsible and also commands that White Rat is to be buried in the Temple of the Graces as a statement.

Days later, Daario and Grey Worm find a house belonging to a Son of the Harpy who is allegedly responsible for the Unsullied soldier’s death. Back at the Great Pyramid, Daenerys and her council debate executing the Harpy, but the debate devolves into a shouting match between Mossador and Hizdahr zo Loraq. After counseling that the man should be given a fair trial, Ser Barristan asks her for a word in private about her father, "the Mad King". Daenerys initially scoffs at Barristan for reminding her of what she considers her enemies' lies. However, Barristan also reminds Daenerys of his past service in her father's Kingsguard and insists that her enemies did not lie. He tells Daenerys about how King Aerys set entire towns and castles ablaze,  murdered sons in front of their fathers, and burned men alive with wildfire, laughing as they screamed. These brutal actions lead to Robert’s Rebellion, which toppled the Targaryen dynasty. Daenerys is visibly shocked but assures Barristan that she is not like her father. Barristan agrees, but he still warns her that King Aerys gave his enemies the justice he thought they deserved, and each time it made him feel powerful and right until the very end. Daenerys promises not to have the Son of the Harpy executed without a fair trial.

Feeling pressure from the other former slaves, Mossador goes against Daenerys' order and executes the Harpy, angering the dragon queen. She decides to sentence Mossador to death, stating that killing the Son of the Harpy broke the law. A crowd gathers to witness Mossador's execution and Daenerys tells the crowd that when she conquered Meereen she promised freedom and justice, but one cannot exist without the other. Daenerys then has Mossador brought out in chains before the crowd, and warns all Meereenese citizens that freed slave or Great Master, not to pervert the course of justice. Barristan witnesses Mossador plead for forgiveness, as Daenerys stares out to the scores of citizens begging for his release. On her command, Daario beheads Mossador. Daenerys is then quickly escorted away by the Unsullied when a riot breaks out between the freedmen and the masters. Later that evening, Daenerys retreats to her chambers where she wants to spend time alone. As stands on her balcony looking out into the night sky, her missing dragon Drogon suddenly lands on top of the pyramid above her, now the size of a small house. Daenerys is elated to see him and tenderly tries reaching out for him, which she hasn't done for some time now. Drogon sniffs her outstretched hand, and while he doesn't attack her, he instead flies away, leaving his mother once again. Daenerys is left heartbroken as she gazes at Drogon soaring into the distance.

Some time later, Daenerys looks down at the streets from her balcony as Ser Barristan arrives and shares a story of how he and her brother Rhaegar used to leave the Red Keep to mingle with the common people on the streets of King’s Landing, often singing to them with his harp. Barristan guarded Rhaegar and collected the money, which they would donate to another minstrel, an orphanage, and once they used their earnings to get very drunk. Daario then arrives to inform her that Hizdahr is in the throne room awaiting her. Daenerys asks Barristan if he’ll be joining them, but Daario assures her that he has her well protected. She then gives Barristan the day off, cheerfully telling him to make some music in the city below. In the throne room, Daenerys hears Hizdahr plead again to reopen the fighting pits, but she refuses. Hizdahr rationally argues that the fighting pits provide a great spectacle that has always been enjoyed by both the masters and slaves, and is one of the few things that can bring the city together. During their meeting, the Sons of the Harpy mount a series of large-scale attacks in the streets which results in the deaths of several Unsullied and Second Sons. During the attack, Grey Worm is seriously injured and almost killed but is saved by Ser Barristan’s intervention of the fight, who had been walking around the streets when the Harpies began their attack. Barristan skillfully outmaneuvers several Harpies, but is eventually overwhelmed and stabbed several times.

Following the attack, Daenerys is devastated upon learning of Ser Barristan's untimely death at the hands of the Harpies, having lost another one of her most trusted advisors as well as a “loyal friend”. She grieves over Barristan’s corpse in the throne room. Upon the suggestion of Daario, Daenerys decides to round up each of the leaders of Meereen's noble families, including Hizdahr zo Loraq. Bringing the eight of them down to the catacombs where Viserion and Rhaegal are imprisoned, Daenerys, with the enforcement of the Unsullied, forces one of the leaders towards the dragons until he is close enough to be burned alive and brutally torn apart. Drawn into Daenerys' debate between mercy and revenge, Missandei advises her queen to trust the decision that she alone sees. Taking this advice, Daenerys approaches Hizdahr in his cell, admitting her mistake of refusing to open the fighting pits. She also informs that she will marry the head of an ancient family to forge a bond with the people of the city, adding that she luckily has one of them on his knees already. Daenerys leaves a confused Hizdahr to ponder his survival and new marriage arrangement.

*In the aftermath of Barristan’s death, follow Daenerys’ journey throughout the rest of the series.

“[Robert] was reeling from the wine. He commanded us to step aside, but… I failed him.”

— ‘You Win Or You Die’

“The Kingsguard is a sworn brotherhood. Our vows are taken for life. Only death relieves us of our sacred trust… I am a knight! I shall die a knight! Even now, I could cut through the five of you like carving a cake! Here boy, melt it down and add it to the others!”

— ‘The Pointy End’

“I have been searching for you, Daenerys Stormborn, to ask your forgiveness. I was sworn to protect your family. I failed them. I am Barristan Selmy, Kingsguard to your father. Allow me to join your Queensguard and I will not fail you again.”

— ‘Valar Dohaeris’

“A man of honor keeps his vows, even if he's serving a drunk or a lunatic. Just once in my life before it's over, I want to know what it's like to serve with pride, to fight for someone I believe in.”

— ‘Kissed By Fire’

“The city is yours. All these people, they're your subjects now. Sometimes it is better to answer injustice with mercy.”

— ‘Oathkeeper’

“When the people rose in revolt against him, your father set their towns and castles aflame. He murdered sons in front of their fathers. He burned men alive with wildfire and laughed as they screamed. And his efforts to stamp out dissent led to a rebellion that killed every Targaryen, except two. The Mad King gave his enemies the justice he thought they deserved, and each time, it made him feel powerful and right, until the very end.”

— ‘The House of Black and White’