After the White Walkers' attack on the Fist of the First Men, the surviving Night's Watchmen, Samwell Tarly and Jeor Mormont among them, retreat south, pledging to return to the Wall and warn the Seven Kingdoms. Jon is brought before Mance Rayder, the King Beyond the Wall, and pledges his loyalty to the Wildlings. Robb finds Harrenhal abandoned by the Lannisters and its inhabitants slaughtered; he orders his bannerman Roose Bolton to garrison the castle and lead the search for Jaime. In King's Landing, a scarred Tyrion asks for his reward, attempting to negotiate Casterly Rock from Tywin, who offers lesser promises and threatens to hang any whore he catches his son with. Cersei hosts a dinner for the royal family, and Margaery engages in charitable acts with the city's orphans.
Littlefinger offers Sansa a way out of King's Landing, while Ros warns Shae to distrust him. Davos is rescued by Salladhor Saan, who wants to break ties with Stannis; returning to Dragonstone, Davos unsuccessfully tries to kill Melisandre and is imprisoned, blamed for convincing Stannis not to let her join the battle. Daenerys sails into Slaver's Bay, arriving in Astapor to buy an army of brutally trained soldiers called the "Unsullied". The Qarth warlocks attempt to assassinate her, but Barristan Selmy, a former Kingsguard commander, saves her and pledges his loyalty.