King Robert reappoints Ned as Hand and leaves him to run affairs while he goes hunting. Learning that Ser Gregor Clegane, a Lannister retainer known as "the Mountain", has committed atrocities in Riverrun, Ned sentences him to death and summons Tywin Lannister to a trial. Fearing war with the Lannisters, he orders Arya and Sansa back to Winterfell for their safety, and discovers that Joffrey and his two siblings are not Robert's biological children but were fathered by Jaime Lannister. Bran, testing his new saddle, is attacked by rogue Wildlings and rescued by his brother Robb and Ned's ward Theon, who take the Wildling woman Osha captive.
In the Vale, Tyrion demands a trial by combat; the sellsword Bronn volunteers as his champion, defeats Lysa's champion, Ser Vardis Egen, and wins Tyrion's release. In Essos, Viserys, increasingly frustrated by the lack of progress towards gaining his crown, grows impatient waiting for Drogo to fulfill his promise and threatens to kill Daenerys's unborn child. Drogo kills him by pouring molten gold on his head.