The North secedes from the Seven Kingdoms and proclaims Robb its king. With Jaime a prisoner of the Starks, in an unfamiliar predicament, and Robert's brothers Stannis and Renly each challenging Joffrey's claim, Tywin appoints Tyrion acting Hand of the King while he fights to defend Joffrey's reign. Jon attempts to desert the Night's Watch to avenge Ned and join Robb, but the others convince him to honor his oath, and Mormont sends him on an expedition beyond the Wall to search for Benjen Stark. Yoren, a Night's Watch recruiter, smuggles Arya out of King's Landing disguised as a boy, while Joffrey intends to crown Sansa his queen despite having executed her father.
In Essos, Daenerys must realize her destiny: her baby is born deformed and dead, and Drogo is left in a vegetative state by Mirri's treacherous magic, prompting Daenerys to end his life. She places the three dragon eggs on Drogo's funeral pyre, has Mirri tied to it, sets it alight and walks into the flames, ignoring Jorah's pleas. When the embers die the following morning, Daenerys is found in the ashes, unharmed, flanked by three newly hatched baby dragons, and Jorah and the other witnesses kneel before her.