Directed By: David Petrarca / Written By: Vanessa Taylor

Original Airdate: April 22, 2012

In King’s Landing, the vicious King Joffrey punishes Sansa Stark for her brother Robb's victories while Tyrion Lannister and Bronn scramble to temper the  king's cruelty. In Essos, Daenerys Targaryen and her exhausted khalasar arrive at the gates of Qarth, a prosperous city with strong walls and rulers who greet her outside them. In the Riverlands, Arya Stark and  Gendry are taken to  Harrenhal, where their lives rest in the hands of Gregor ‘The Mountain’ Clegane. In the Stormlands, Catelyn Stark entreats Stannis and Renly  Baratheon to forego their ambitions and unite against the Lannisters.  Meanwhile, Davos Seaworth must revert to his old ways and smuggle the Red Priestess Melisandre into a secret cove to give birth to a sinister plan.

main cast

OXCROSS

In the Westerlands, the Northern army under King Robb Stark leads a surprise night-time assault against an encamped Lannister army. The Battle of Oxcross is a smashing victory, following through on Robb's promise to give Cersei Lannister "another Whispering Wood."  The next day Robb sees a woman battlefield healer treating a wounded Lannister soldier. The prisoner protests when she tells him she has to amputate in order to save his life. Robb helps hold him down as she saws off the leg. The woman, who introduces herself as Talisa Maegyr  of  Volantis, criticizes Robb for the need for this war. Robb doesn't want the Iron Throne, just revenge on King Joffrey Baratheon for his father Eddard’s death. She is shocked to learn he doesn't care which king takes the throne after they defeat Joffrey, having declared for neither Baratheon brother. He just wants them to leave the North alone afterward. She points out that for all the bloodshed they have caused, he hasn't hurt the ones who killed his father, Joffrey and Tywin Lannister. The men they slaughtered were not Tywin's main army but unwilling soldiers from the Westerlands.

harrenhal

In the Riverlands, Arya Stark, Gendry, and Hot Pie are taken by Ser Amory Lorch's group of soldiers to Harrenhal, a vast but partially ruined castle which was badly damaged during the  Targaryen Conquest three hundred years ago by dragons' fire. Arya's group is herded in with many other prisoners the Lannister soldiers have taken, primarily peasant refugees from the Riverlands. The commander of the entire Lannister force is Ser Gregor Clegane, previously declared an outlaw by Eddard Stark for his raiding in the Riverlands. Now the positions are reversed, with Clegane having the support of the Iron Throne to brutalize the Rivermen. The stench of corpses is so strong that Arya notices it as soon as they are in sight of the castle. The Lannister soldiers under Ser Gregor - particularly one known as The Tickler–sadistically torture many of the prisoners they have taken. One method used is to tie a bucket containing a rat to a man's abdomen, and then to hold a flame to the back of the bucket so the rat will chew its way through the man's guts. The prisoners are for the most part simple peasant refugees with no knowledge of the war, and the Lannister soldiers are savagely torturing them just because they want to know where they may have hid the few valuables they have. However, some are also asked if they know anything about a group known as "The Brotherhood."

Just as Gendry is about to be tortured, Lord Tywin Lannister arrives with the main host of his army, who are settling in to use the castle of Harrenhal as their new main base for the ongoing campaign in the Riverlands against Arya’s brother Robb. Lord Tywin orders an immediate halt to the tortures, saving Gendry at the last minute. He then rationally points out how disproportionate the torturing is, relative to what little wealth the peasants might be hiding. Tywin asserts that it would be far more efficient to put them to work around the castle, which is in great need of repair. It is noted that, as a blacksmith's apprentice, Gendry's skills are of particular use to them, and he is set to work. Tywin then instantly notices that "Arry" is really a girl dressed up in boy's clothing, criticizing his soldiers for being too foolish to notice. When he asks her why she's dressed as a boy, Arya explains that it was safer to travel through the Riverlands under the guise. Tywin is impressed with her intelligence, and takes her on as his new cupbearer while his army is based at the castle.

qarth

In the vast desert of the Red Waste, as delirium sets into the starved Daenerys Targaryen and her khalasar, the return of her bloodrider Kovarro delivers the news of a nearby city named Qarth that has offered her an invitation. However, Ser Jorah Mormont cautions that the desert surrounding Qarth is known as the "Garden of Bones," as those who are turned away perish outside the city walls due to exposure and thirst. Some days later, when Dany’s khalasar finally reach the city, The Thirteen, a collective group of leaders that rule Qarth, emerge to greet her. One of the Thirteen, the Spice King, requests that the "Mother of Dragons" present her children, but Daenerys insists that her people be fed and sheltered before she reveals her dragons. The Thirteen decide to turn Daenerys' group away and abandon them, as Daenerys then swears vengeance on Qarth, with "fire and blood”. When hope seems lost on their entry, one of the members of the Thirteen,  Xaro Xhoan Daxos, chooses to vouch for Daenerys and she and her khalasar are let inside the city gates.

king’s landing

In King’s Landing, King Joffrey Baratheon is furious when he hears of Robb Stark's victory and has Sansa Stark brought to the throne room. Joffrey sadistically menaces Sansa by brandishing a crossbow and threatening to killer her to send a message to Robb. Sansa refuses to give Joffrey the satisfaction of scaring her and continues to firmly pledge her loyalty. Annoyed, he commands  Ser Meryn Trant of the Kingsguard to beat and strip her as punishment. Then a furious Tyrion Lannister marches in and puts a stop to the spectacle. He orders someone to cover Sansa up and The Hound immediately steps forward and wraps his cloak around her. Denouncing his nephew as a "halfwit," Tyrion points out the absurdity of punishing Sansa for her brother's actions miles away in a war that Joffrey himself started. Tyrion comforts the shaken Sansa and personally escorts her out of the hall. Bronn suggests to Tyrion that as an angry young man, maybe what Joffrey needs is to have sex with a woman so Tyrion arranges for two prostitutes, Ros and Daisy, to entertain Joffrey.

Afterwards, Ros and Daisy have arrived in King Joffrey’s chambers as Tyrion has arranged for. Unfortunately, however, the attempt to subdue Joffrey through seduction fails horrifically. Instead engaging in sex with the prostitutes, Joffrey brings a loaded crossbow into the bedchamber. After Ros is commanded to spank Daisy with Joffrey’s belt, at crossbow-point he then forces Ros to beat Daisy until she is unconscious. He also orders Ros to then to dump her body in Tyrion's chambers, in order to send his uncle a message warning him not to interfere with his handling of Sansa Stark again. Later that evening, as Tyrion works in his chambers, his cousin Lancel Lannister knocks on his door and delivers orders from his sister Cersei to release  Grand Maester Pycelle from the dungeons immediately. Tyrion then simply points out how odd it is that Lancel would be coming from Cersei's bedchambers in the middle of the night and then wonders aloud what Joffrey would do if he found out that Lancel had not only killed Joffrey's father but was also incestuously sleeping with his mother. Tyrion gently instructs his cousin that he won't tell anyone, but from now on, Lancel must report everything his sister does back to Tyrion. As Lancel leaves, he also agrees to free Pycelle but doesn't want him back on the small council.

the stormlands

Lord Petyr Baelish arrives at King Renly Baratheon’s camp in the Stormlands. Renly greets Littlefinger as his “favorite whoremonger” and then riticizes his lack of loyalty, provided that Baelish is an advisor to King Joffrey. Baelish asserts that he is a practical man, and Renly curtly informs that he dislikes him, demanding to know why he is here. Baelish informs that Renly still has friends at court who think Eddard Stark was mistaken in not supporting Renly’s claim. However, Renly declares that Baelish is trying to protect himself in the face of his inevitable victory. Littlefinger, nonetheless, offers to open the gates of King’s Landing to Renly. Afterwards, Ser Loras Tyrell walks his sister, Queen Margaery Tyrell, through the camp as night falls. They see Littlefinger waiting for Margaery and Loras leaves her to enter Renly’s tent. Baelish notes Margaery’s reference to having her own tent, questioning the status of her marriage. He then questions Ser Loras entering Renly’s tent, as Margaery retorts that the place of a Kingsguard is by his king’s side. Littlefinger then rhetorically asks who was at the king’s side on their wedding night, as Margaery then questions his interest in their marriage. Baelish informs that it is quite interesting to both him and the realm, stating that the marriage of a wealthy girl always breeds interest, if nothing else. Margaery notes his bachelor status as he informs that he has been unlucky in his affections. She says that it might be for the best, as he seems confused by the notion of marriage and asserts her devotion to Renly as her husband and king.

Littlefinger then visits Lady Catelyn Stark, and she receives him in anger over his previous betrayal of Eddard, which played a part in his eventual execution. He says that he wanted Ned to serve as protector of the realm and begged him to seize the moment but Catelyn bluntly asserts that he repaid their faith in him with treachery. He declares his love for Catelyn and tries to take her arm but she grabs a knife and forces him to back off. When Baelish asks if she wants to see her daughters, Catelyn asks if the Lannisters truly have Arya. He repeats the lie and claims that he is concerned for the girls if they remain captives. Catelyn demands to know what he wants as he informs her that the Lannisters would trade her daughters for the imprisoned Ser Jaime Lannister. Catelyn informs that her son Robb will not agree to those terms, as Baelish then suggests she consider the terms on her own. He adds that he has a gift for her to show Tyrion Lannister’s goodwill as Silent Sisters enter the tent with a chest. Catelyn quickly deduces that it is the remains of her husband as she kneels and opens the chest. Petyr says that Eddard was an honorable man and deserves burial with his family in the crypts of Winterfell. Catelyn again orders him to leave and when in private, she allows herself a moment of mourning.

The next day, Stannis Baratheon arrives and meets with Renly and Catelyn on the coast of the Stormlands to parley and is accompanied by Melisandre, Davos Seaworth and several guards. Renly looks at his brother’s banners and wonders why Stannis’ version of the stag is aflame. Melisandre explains that Stannis has taken the fiery heart of the Lord of Light for his sigil. After looking upon the beautiful priestess, Renly jokes that he now knows why Stannis has found religion late in life. Melisandre admonishes Renly to kneel before the Lord’s chosen and says that Stannis was born amidst salt and smoke. When Renly jokes that she makes Stannis sound like a ham. Stannis warns his brother of his tongue as Catelyn admonishes them to stop bickering and remember that they are brothers. Stannis counters that he would expect her to support his claim as Eddard did, remarking that her husband's integrity cost him his life. Catelyn informs that they share a common enemy and Stannis retorts that all who deny him the throne are his enemies. Renly says that no-one wants Stannis for their king and that a man without friends is a man without power. Stannis insists that he will give Renly the night to reconsider and offers to restore Renly to his seat on the council and to name him as his heir, adding that otherwise he will destroy him. Renly reminds Stannis of his numerous supporters and says that they will make him king. Stannis wheels his horse and rides away as Melisandre warns Renly to look to his sins because "The night is dark and full of terrors."

That evening, Stannis asks Davos to smuggle Melisandre ashore and says that it must be done in secret. At his request, Davos rows the Red Priestess into a cove below the cliffs of the coast and they enter a cave. Davos tells her that it is strange that her Lord asks her to work in the shadows as she counters that shadows cannot live in the dark and are servants of the light. Melisandre then opens her robe to Davos’ astonishment, suddenly appearing heavily pregnant. Davos calls on the Seven gods for protection. Melisandre tells him that there is only one god and that he only protects those who serve him. Davos’ lanterns glows with increasing intensity startling him as he backs along the wall of the cave. Melisandre lies down on her robe and begins to moan as something shifts under the skin of her belly. Her choker then glows red as she throws her head back, her moans and gasps intensifying, as Davos looks on in horror. Shadowy hands then grip her legs and a dark figure pulls itself free of her womb. A shadowy figure stands before them for an instant before exiting the cave.

*Episode descriptions from GOT Wiki