The Stark army arrives at the Twins, where Catelyn must negotiate with the irascible Lord Walder Frey: he allows them to pass through his land and assist them in exchange for Robb and Arya marrying two of his offspring in the future. Robb sacrifices 2,000 soldiers to fight the Lannister army as a diversion so he can move his forces and capture Jaime. At the Wall, Jeor Mormont gives Jon his family's Valyrian steel sword in gratitude. In Essos, Drogo's wound becomes septic and his death imminent; Daenerys asks the mystic slave woman Mirri Maz Duur to save him with blood magic, and goes into labor as the spell is cast, with Jorah carrying her into the tent to seek aid.
In King's Landing, Ned publicly confesses to treason and affirms Joffrey as the rightful heir, but rather than sparing his life as negotiated, the vengeful and increasingly unhinged Joffrey has him beheaded while Sansa, Cersei and the counselors object in vain.