How to Fix Game of Thrones, 3 Years Later - An Alternative Adaptation

by ArchmaesterEbrose

An episode-by-episode, scene-by-scene outline of the last four seasons with changes italicized. While new scenes are detailed, original scenes are lightly summarized. Probably best read season-by-season. Fans of the books will recognize some plotlines. Final version gives Tyrion a better arc for the show's latter half. Hopefully this is the last time that I tinker with this project

4. Season 8 Appendix

Recap of Season #7:

Bran has a vision of a Faceless Man who, years before in Bravos, was sent to kill Qyburn after he resurrected a man whom they'd offered up to the many-faced god. However, when the assassin discovered that the resurrected man was his own twin brother, a Lorathi nobleman named Jaqen H'ghar, he took violent revenge upon his own sect. Later, Bran probes Arya's recent past, discovering that his sister was programmed by the Faceless Men to kill someone, though Arya herself knows not whom.

Tyrion has found evidence that Cersei and Jaime are actually children of the Mad King, and negotiates a truce with the Lannisters, based on the understanding that Daenerys would legitimize their child, potentially becoming undisputed heir to the Iron Throne. During their conference, Rhaegal is intrigued with Jaime, and later, as Jaime rides north to Winterfell, the dragon confronts him.

Unaware Arianne conspired with Euron against Daenerys, Theon wins support from the Ironborn to rescue the Dornish princess upon recruiting Viserion to his aid. Inspired by Melisandre, Arianne purchases for Theon some abandoned armour of Ser Jorah's, unaware it is infected with greyscale.

Whereas Daenerys was foretold a conqueror would be born in her "house", Euron believes a destroyer will soon be born in the Red Keep.

Lady Melisandre gains possession of Stannis' skull, which contains the shadow spirit that she once conceived to kill Lord Renly.

After nearly drowning during his escape from Riverrun, the Blackfish was rescued on the river shore by Arya's wolf, Nymeria.

While Samwell returns north, Gilly, secretly pregnant, remains in Oldtown to protect her children.

Beric Dondarrion had visions of a noblewoman defending a Winterfell tower in a snowstorm.

Rescued from pirates by Daenerys, Jon sent Rickon to safety in Dorne.

Season Eight

Episode 8.1: Winterfell

Outside Winterfell, a boy races past Arya to see Daenerys, her entourage and her armies arrive with Jon. Inside the courtyard, Jon reunites with Bran, and Sansa welcomes Queen Daenerys. Bran reveals the Night King has re-animated Viserion. In the great hall, Lyanna Mormont leads Northern lords expressing displeasure towards Jon for swearing fealty to a Targaryen. The crowd is appalled when Tyrion declares that the Lannisters have pledged their support.

In the Godswood, Jon reunites with Arya. He expresses irritation with Sansa, but Arya espouses admiration for her.

In King's Landing, Qyburn notifies Cersei that the Wall is breached. In the throne room, Euron arrives with Captain Strickland of the Golden Company. He persuades Cersei to invite him into her bed. In a brothel, Qyburn supplies Bronn with the crossbow Tyrion used to murder his father, intending that he so assassinate Jaime and Tyrion. In Cersei's private chambers, Euron vows that he will impregnate Cersei, who is sullen as he departs.

Overlooking the Winterfell courtyard, Sansa privately implies to Tyrion that she does not believe Cersei will send her army.

In the Winterfell foundry, Gendry gives the Hound a dragonglass ax. Arya provides him with designs for a special weapon for herself. Arya sees the boy run past her again. He races through the castle, until he finds Varys' chambers. He reports to the spider that Lord Royce frequents a local brothel and the Hound stole some chickens. Varys quietly notes the trivia, but tenses when the boy mentions that Lady Brienne has been asking knights from the south if they know anything of a certain Jack Hagar. Astonished, Varys asks if the name of the man was Jaqen H'ghar.

Inspecting the Winterfell battlements, Ser Davos advocates to Tyrion and Varys the value of betrothing Jon and Daenerys. They watch Drogon fly in the distance.

An old wooden bridge over a wide, fast-moving river is blasted by dragonfire. Jon rides with Daenerys upon Drogon. She asks how he is faring, and he responds, "You've completely ruined horses for me." They land by an ancient watchtower atop a high hill, overlooking Winterfell in the distance. Referring to the narrow, forested valley below, Jon explains that, with the bridges out, the enemy can only advance through this wooded pass. Daenerys is concerned that Jon intends to position himself here, in order to track the enemy's movements with a small rear guard calvary. Walking to the other side of the tower, Daenerys is moved by a beautiful icy waterfall. She and Jon kiss passionately.

In the Starks' private chambers, Sansa accuses Jon of "bending the knee" not for the North, but through love of Daenerys.

In her private chambers within the Red Keep, Queen Cersei hosts Captain Strickland for dinner, along with his paramour from Volantis, Lady Taena Qhaedar. Cersei and Strickland discuss how a political vacuum in the Riverlands spawned a peasant rebellion that, led by the Brotherhood without Banners, has spread into Lannister territory, and now threatens the Reach. Taena likens the uprising to Daenerys' freeing the slaves, lamenting how those who can barely build mud huts presume to challenge those who build empires. Cersei toasts the sentiment, encouraging Taena in her assessment of Daenerys as a barbarian's whore who seeks her pleasures with the lowest scum of the fighting pits. Cersei delights in the tirade, but Strickland reminds her that he must soon depart for the Reach. He kisses Taena goodbye, and Cersei poignantly notices the silent despair which her new acquaintance shows in her eyes as her lover leaves.

In the godswood, Varys approaches Bran. Assuring that he means no disrespect, he confesses to the boy that he has a deep distrust of those that practice magic. Bran responds that, like all boys, he dreams of practicing magic, that he could change that which he sees, but to see is the only gift he possesses. Varys asks for his help in finding a man, most recently sighted in Bravos. Bran surprises Varys by confidently declaring that Jaqen H'ghar died two decades ago, and that the true subject of Varys' search is his twin, a Faceless Man from Bravos. Bran asks when Varys last saw him, and he responds that it was on the day the Mad King died. Concentrating on the past, Bran has a vision of King Aerys, on his throne in the Red Keep, shrieking "Burn them all!" and killed by Jaime. Bran stands next to Varys in the throne room, the spider repulsed by the pyromancer's corpse at their feet. Varys and young Jaime, bloody sword in hand, look at each other for a moment before Varys pulls himself together and orders the stunned guards to find the pyromancer's assistant. Bran finds himself in the Black Cells as guards, under Varys' direction, toss "Jaqen" into one. The jailer sits at a desk and takes down the prisoner's name. Bran blinks his eyes and the jailer ages six years. Blinking again, the jailer ages another six years. When Bran blinks again, a new jailer now guards the cells as Yoren arrives with a letter from Ned Stark granting him leave to recruit prisoners he sees as fit for the Wall. Bran subsequently watches Arya rescue Jaqen and two others from a burning wagon. Bran then stands next to Arya, at Harrenhal, when she blackmails Jaqen into helping her escape. Finally Bran observes her, outside Harrenhal, as she refuses Jaqen's offer to accompany him further, and he disappears behind another face.

Bran returns to the present, and Varys anxiously enquires as to where Jaqen H'ghar is now. Bran explains that Faceless Men seem to disappear from his sight when they change their faces. He cannot follow "Jaqen" as, since from that last day he appeared as his long-dead twin, with Arya outside Harrenhal, he has worn another man's face. Varys is astounded.

In the Winterfell library, Daenerys thanks Sam for curing Jorah. Petitioning for a pardon, Sam discovers that she executed his father and brother. In the courtyard, Bran instructs a heartbroken Sam to tell Jon of his Targaryen heritage. Sam reveals it to Jon in the Stark crypt, leaving him in disbelief.

Tormund and Beric find the Last Hearth sacked by the White Walkers. They encounter Edd, travelling south with Ghost. The direwolf alerts Tormund to prevent the reanimated corpse of Ned Umber, nailed to a wall, from stabbing him. Beric, with his flaming sword, ignites it and the cadaverous artwork of which the boy is now part.

Ser Jaime Lannister lands Rhaegal in the Winterfell courtyard. His confidence falters as he looks upon Bran, waiting for him.

Episode 8.2: A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

In Winterfell's great hall, Daenerys and Sansa deliberate on the fate of Jaime Lannister, who reveals Cersei lied about sending her army. Jon consents to accepting Jaime's service to them after Brienne vouches for him, revealing his role in Sansa's survival. Daenerys is confused by Jon's aloofness, and, exiting into a corridor, angry with Tyrion for trusting his sister Cersei, threatening his position. "Half-sister," Tyrion quibbles, "and yours as well." Daenerys reminds him that she already presided over one sibling's death.

In Bran's chambers, having confirmed Sam's claims, Jon asks Bran to forbid Arya from fighting. Bran insists that Rickon is Lord of Winterfell, while Arya is a pawn of far greater forces. Jon is frustrated with Bran's passivity, asking if warging has caused this cold indifference to his family. "I still know affection," Bran explains. "I still know sorrow, and fear, but love and hate? I'm spread too thin now." His anger subsiding, Jon recounts that he once slew a warg, which then slipped into an attacking eagle. He advises Bran, if the battle goes ill, to do the same. Bran smiles. "Perhaps something grander than an eagle," he suggests.

In the Winterfell foundry, Gendry reluctantly tries to describe the White Walkers to Arya, who demonstrates her martial skills to him.

On behalf of Jon Snow, Sam presents "Longclaw" to Lady Mormont, explaining that although he awarded Jon with "Heartsbane", his ancestral sword, Ser Jorah refuses to reclaim the Mormont one. She considers.

Ser Jaime apologizes to Bran in the godswood, who holds no grudge. Outside the walls, Jaime, complimenting Brienne,perceives her disappointment at being relegated to defending Lady Sansa in the crypts. Inspecting the battlements, Tyrion reminisces with Jaime, who, observing Brienne supervising Pod's training of recruits, suggests a field command.

In private, Jorah requests Daenerys forgive Tyrion, and counsels her to change her approach toward Sansa Stark. In the Stark library, Daenerys attempts to bond with the Lady of Winterfell over Jon, but falls silent when Sansa proves intransigent in her position that the North be free. They are called to the great hall to meet Theon. Innocent of her betrayal, he reports his rescue of Arianne, yet before Daenerys rebukes him, Sansa tearfully embraces him. He pledges to fight for the Starks. Theon won't remove his gloves, and Jorah notices with alarm that he is wearing both the dragon epaulets and bear breastplate he thought destroyed by the Citadel, recognizing the danger they represent.

In the courtyard, Grey Worm and Missandei contemplate their future. Ser Davos, feeding refugees, comforts an orphaned child. Beric, Edd, Tormund and Ghost arrive, and Jon learns that the Army of the Dead will be outside the walls of Winterfell by morning.

In conference, Tyrion outlines his plan. Half the Dothraki cavalry, led by Ser Jorah, makes an initial assault. The other half holds back with the Knights of the Vale. Lady Brienne proudly learns that she shall command Stark forces in the center, with Edd's Night's Watch on the left, and Tormund's Wildlings on the right. Grey Worm will hold his Unsullied behind a picketed trench, falling back halfway to the castle before setting the trench alight, splitting the Army of the Dead. Bran persuades them to use him as bait to lure the Night King, while Ser Jaime guards the godswood with Rhaegal. Daenerys atop Drogon and Jon on horseback lead Dothraki and Knights of the Vale to charge from the rear. Theon volunteers to defend Bran, inspiring Alys Karstark to hold the broken tower, which Ser Beric notes with interest. Daenerys and Jaime will ambush the Night King when he comes for Bran. As the session breaks up, Tyrion takes time by the fire to hear Bran's story.

On the battlements, Sam tells Jon and Edd that Gilly is pregnant. Edd insinuates she was unfaithful. Sam is outraged. Edd asks if he prefers being offended by rumours that he is not the father, or execution because he is. Sam blanches. Jon sees and giggles, unable to suppress it. Edd remarks that Sam procreatingand Jon laughing signify the certain end of the world. Arya joins the Hound, as Beric rigs a rope line to supply dragonglass arrowheads over the Godswood to the broken tower. Arya says the Hound fights only for himself, but he retorts that he fought for her.

In the library, Sansa observes Ser Jorah and Sam speaking sympathetically to Theon, who seems relieved. In the stables, Gendry presents Arya with her weapon, revealing he is King Robert's bastard. Arya seduces him.

Tyrion, Jaime, Brienne, Podrick, Davos and Tormund drink together in the great hall. Tormund tells a tall tale of how he obtained the nickname "Giantsbane." When the discussion turns to why women cannot be knights, Jaime anoints a deeply moved Brienne.

In the courtyard, Ser Jorah fails to dissuade Lyanna Mormont from joining the battle. Sam presents "Longclaw" to him, citing its import to the Night's Watch. Lyanna orders Jorah to wield it in battle. Jorah accepts. Ghost observes, and follows him.

Pod sings "Jenny of Oldstones."Sam writes for Gilly to, "find safety at Horn Hill." Arya and Gendry rest. Sansa and Theon share a silent meal. Grey Worm passionately kisses Missandei before leaving her behind. Ser Jorah marshals the Dothraki on the field before the castle.

Daenerys visits Jon in the crypts and he reveals his true parentage to her, although she is skeptical concerning the reliability of his sources. They are interrupted by horn blasts. On the battlements, they join Tyrion, looking out across the dark horizon.

Episode 8.3: The Long Night

Sam is issued dragonglass. Bran is escorted by Theon to the godswood. From the battlements, Beric observes Alys reach the broken tower. Ser Davos, Sansa and Arya also stand atop the castle battlements, looking across the battlefield. Brienne and Podrick are positioned in the front lines. The Hound, Gendry and Sam join Tormund and Edd in the infantry. Ghost accompanies Ser Jorah, leading the advanced Dothraki calvary. Jaime, with Rhaegal, greets Jon and Daenerys as they land atop Drogon beneath the watchtower to view the battlefield from atop the hill. Jon points to where Dothraki reserves and the Vale Knights are hidden in the forest.

Davos sees Melisandre emerge out of the dark battlefield. Jorah permits her to turn the Dothraki arracks alight with an invocation to the Lord of Light. Melisandre acknowledges Grey Worm, and confronts Davos as she enters Winterfell. She and Arya study each other.

The Dothraki charge into the unknown. After their flaming swords are snuffed out in the darkness, Ser Jorah is among the very few that return.

Frontline troops are quickly devastated by wights. Brienne commands Podrick, "Signal the calvary to –" She is decapitated. Pod horrified, becomes lost amidst the crushing melee. Daenerys and Jaime counterattack atop their dragons. Having made a powerful counterstrike, Jaime veers Rhaegal directly towards the White Walkers, but is effectively warded off by an incoming blizzard. Qhoro's Dothraki and the Knights of the Vale both quickly become lost. Arya emphatically tells Sansa to go to the crypts. Edd is killed and Jorah, wielding "Longclaw", inspires the Night's Watch's defense.

Sansa joins Tyrion, Varys and Missandei down in the crypts.

Jaime and Daenerys are lost in the snows. Lyanna Mormont orders the front gate open to allow a retreat of overwhelmed soldiers. As they cross the choke points through the pickets, Unsullied protect their withdrawal. They allow many wights through before they snap shut the choke points, trapping many dozens of wights between the trench and the Unsullied's spears. Bran sees Rhaegal perch atop the wall at the edge of the godswood. Arya devastatingly fires down arrows. Grey Worm orders the trench set alight, but heavy snows prevent Davos from alerting Daenerys. Desperate, Grey Worm spies Melisandre. As Jorah, Beric, Tormund and the Hound protect her path, the Unsullied guard Melisandre as she exits the front gate to recite an incantation that ignites the trench, decisively halting the wights' advance.

Sansa, Tyrion and Varys accept their helplessness. Missandei is offended by Sansa's distrust of Daenerys.

Grey Worm has Unsullied push the advanced wights, now trapped, back toward the fire. Winterfell is visible to Daenerys, the Dothraki and the Vale cavalry. They attack the White Walkers' rear guard, scattering wights ill-suited to equestrian tactics.

Bran tells Theon that his betrayal was necessary for his journey to this moment. He wargs into a raven which flies to Jon's watchtower, gaining his attention as it swirls around. Unlike Lord Royce, his companion in the hilltop lookout, Jon quickly recognizes the raven's true identity. More birds join before they break away east, where Jon's gaze follows. There, moonlight is breaking through the clouds, illuminating another vast wave of wights beyond the forest. Royce is alarmed, and asks what they can do. Jon responds that he is going "to light the biggest fire the North has ever seen." At the bottom of the tower, he leads a mounted team of forty riders down the hillside and into the woods. The forest is dense with wights as Jon and his men, armed with torches, light caches of pitch. The trees burst into flames, although the further they advance to cut off the invaders, the more Jon's cadre is decimated. When Jon's own horse is killed out from under him, he begins to fight through on foot. Escaping the burning forest, he can see that many wights are getting through.

Wights smother the fire trench. Creating a breach, they swarm through. The wight re-enforcements, escaping out of the burning forest, squeeze the Dothraki and the Knights of the Vale. Jamie sees the Night King, and has Rhaegal give chase. Ser Jorah, Gendry and Sam defend the battlements. Davos is amazed by Arya's prowess. One giant wight smashes the gate. Lyanna sacrifices herself to kill it. Beric arouses the Hound by showing him Arya is in peril. Gendry tries to follow, but is quickly sundered from them by attacking wights. Escaping into the great hall, he encounters Melisandre, waiting. She summons him to her. In the clouds, Daenerys and Jaime duel with the Night King.

Those inside the crypts can hear the fighting at its height, then a deafening quiet.

Beric and the Hound save Arya from a band of wights, but Beric suffers mortal wounds as they escape. Entering the great hall, the Hound blockades the door, and notices Melisandre speaking with Gendry. "Why tell me this?" the blacksmith asks mistrustfully. "My faith is divine, but my judgement is as base as flesh," she tells him. "If I truly know not good from evil, then the world shall need a path to slay fire with fire." As Beric dies, he whispers in Arya's ear, yet makes no sense to her. Melisandre tells Arya that Beric has served his purpose and asks what is said to the God of Death. She replies, "Not today," and is spurred on to action.

Theon primes his Ironborn for havoc. The Hound and Gendry guard Melisandre through the fierce melee of the Winterfell courtyard. At the shattered gate, the Red Woman produces Stannis' head, mad eyes darting wildly as she lifts it by the hair from its container. She chants in Valyrian. They witness a Stannis-like shadow emerge from the skull, taking position at the Winterfell gate. Both White Walkers and their wights prove helpless against it's defense.

The Night King has Viserion blast Winterfell's walls. Jaime attacks, and Rhaegal and Viserion grapple in the sky. Daenerys has Drogon knock the Night King from his mount. Rhaegal, injured, makes a hard landing. Descending from above the Night King, Drogon engulfs him in dragonfire, but to no effect. The Night King calmly advances toward Winterfell on foot, with Jon in pursuit. As Jon catches up to the Night King, he wields his blade down upon the Night King's neck. It barely chinks the ice. Jon steps back, dumbfounded. When the Night King turns to face him with satisfaction, he raises the dead, both inside and outside the castle, including Qhoro, Lyanna and Edd. Outside the castle gate, Jamie trips. An armored hand reaches down to him. He takes it before recognizing it belongs to Brienne's headless body. She grabs him by the throat. Tormund slays her, and Podrick pulls Jaime past Stannis' shadow. As Stannis' eyes turn to the blue of a wight, Tormund sees the shadow disintegrate. The Night King strolls through the shattered gate. In the crypts, the corpses rise from their tombs, hunting the living.

Alys Karstark learns their dragonglass arrows are exhausted. Below, Theon leads a spirited defense of Bran. Jon is saved by Daenerys and Drogon from being overwhelmed by newly raised wights. While Jon races to reach Bran, Daenerys fails to notice wights swarming Drogon. Desperate to be free, it throws off Daenerys as it flies away, leaving her vulnerable. As she is closed in upon, Jorah comes to her rescue. Inside the castle, Jon is obliged to ignore all his allies, including Sam. Theon runs out of arrows.

Cornered in an alcove, Sansa and Tyrion desperately hold hands. Viserion blocks Jon's path to the godswood. As hope fades, Bran thanks Theon, who suicidally charges the Night King and is swiftly impaled with his own weapon. Killing a wight, Jon wedges his sword, "Heartsbane" into a pile of rubble. While prying it loose, Viserion advances upon him. Ghost is incinerated tackling his master out of the way. Dragonfire warps the trapped sword. Jorah is fatally wounded, but fights on. As Theon dies at the Night King's feet, he removes a glove to reveal a hand wracked with greyscale. He reaches up and touches beneath his killer's pant leg. As the Night King advances across the godswood, he transforms, with his features becoming softened and translucent, almost swishing as he moves. His demonstrable sickening only drives him more determinedly forward. The Night King looks down upon Bran. Struggling hopelessly to free "Heartsbane", Jon cries in defiance to Viserion. Arya flies down upon the Night King from above, killing him, his body dissolving into water. His forces collapse, White Walkers shattering like ice. Daenerys weeps as Jorah dies. Davos sees Melisandre fall dead in the snow.

Episode 8.4(a): The Last of the Starks

Jon leads a mass funeral outside Winterfell. Daenerys, Sansa, Tormund and Grey Worm alight pyres.

Observing Jon become the object of adulation during a victory banquet in Winterfell's great hall, Daenerys takes some initiative by naming Gendry lord of Storm's End. After Sam helps confirm that Arya's dagger is the artifact which they sought on Skagos, Tyrion explains to Daenerys how, after he won the dagger from Little-finger in a bet, it became Joffrey's name day gift. He assumes that, after he struck Joffrey during King Robert's visit to Winterfell, the prince hired an assassin to kill Bran out of spite. Tormund drunkenly toasts Brienne with Jaime and Pod. Davos speculates to Tyrion about the Lord of Light. Daenerys is jealous of the Wildling's devotion to Jon. Varys passes a letter to Missandei, asking her to give it to the queen at the earliest opportunity. Bran advises Tyrion not to envy him. Sansa tells the Hound that even the most horrific of her ordeals indispensably shaped who she needed to become.

Gendry proposes to Arya, independently training in the stables, but she declines. Gendry says he knows nothing about being a lord, begging her for help, and she agrees to accompany him south to Storm's End.

In her private chambers, Daenerys expresses her frustrations with Jon to Missandei, who defends him, recalling that even in the Summer Isles, where there were few sexual prohibitions, incest remained taboo. She warns that Sansa is the greater threat, not only to her, but to Jon as well. Missandei argues that even if Jon proves incapable of loving her, he is an honorable man to whom Daenerys has born out his faith in her.

Daenerys visits Jon in his chambers, presenting "Longclaw". When she professes her love, he resists her embrace. She begs Jon to keep his secret, insisting Sansa will use it against her. She produces a letter intercepted by Varys, summarizing it by saying that Northern nobles, aware that Rickon lives, support Sansa as regent, although Jon maintains provisional command of the army. Sansa won their support by insisting that "the Gift", promised by Jon to the wildlings, be awarded to Northern houses to whom the wildlings must "bend the knee" if they should settle there. Anticipating Jon's outrage, she consuls him to maintain his trust in her, and that, together, they will see justice done.

As Daenerys' allies confer to discuss their losses and future strategy, Varys declares that Sarella's Dornish fleet is aiding Victaria Greyjoy's growing rebellion in the Iron Islands. Daenerys wishes to storm King's Landing immediately, but Sansa counsels delay. Jon pointedly asks her if he still commands the Army of the North, or not. Arya finds herself torn. Daenerys nods approvingly to Missandei as Sansa withdraws. Jon orders the Northern army to march south. At meetings end, Arya demands Jon privately confer.

In the godswood, when Arya and Sansa unreservedly claim Jon as their brother, he confesses to being Lyanna's child. Sansa guesses him Robert's son, noting his thick dark hair. Bran considers this, but remains silent. Arya suddenly recalls Beric's last words were, "Prince Rhaegar's son..." Bran tells Jon, "Its your choice."

Bronn surprises Tyrion and Jaime at a tavern, explaining, although paid to assassinate them, he chooses to throw in with Daenerys, expecting Highgarden in exchange. Tyrion and Jaime laugh at his presumption, but Bronn bids they go outside to examine his wagon, hauling twenty barrels of stolen wildfyre. He explains that Qyburn is amassing a huge supply.

While looking over the Winterfell courtyard, Daenerys confers with Tyrion, Jaime, Bronn, Varys, Davos, Sam and the Hound concerning wildfyre. Seeking reward, Bronn reminds her that the Lordship of Highgarden is vacant. Tyrion and Jaime wince. Daenerys, amused, promises that his reward shall be appropriate. Bronn represses his humiliation. Davos says that raw materials to make wildfyre are within the stores of Dragonstone, yet the formula in Stannis' library is encrypted. She commands Bronn to take the barrels to Dragonstone, Sam to decipher the recipe, and the Hound to take charge of security. Sam and the Hound each decline, but Daenerys recalls that Sam, a brother of the Night's Watch, got a woman pregnant, while the Hound has stolen chickens from Winterfell's stores. Though both offences are punishable by death, she may consider pardons. The Hound glares at Varys. Daenerys dismisses all but Ser Jaime and Varys, who she questions about the Mad King's death.

In the courtyard, Sam gifts Jon a dagger forged from "Heartsbane", also showing off a lightweight sword, "Daybreak", forged from the same source. Jon recognizes both remain Valyrian steel. Sam questions where Gendry learned this rare skill. Anticipating a pardon from Daenerys, he hopes to join Gilly at Horn Hill. Discussing Daenerys' successor, Tyrion speculates on a child of Ser Jaime and Arianne Martel, while Davos advocates a Baratheon restoration under Gendry. When Sansa suggests Arya aid in influencing Rickon to support an independent North, her disillusioned sister declines to conspire from the shadows.

Jaime finishes recounting why he slew Daenerys' father. She estimates the Mad King as little different from Cersei, but Jaime insists his sister is rational, quoting that in "the game of thrones, you win, or you die." Observing Jon speaking with Sam, Daenerys asks if Rhaegar would have ruled through fear. Jaime says that her brother's conviction, that honor inspires devotion, led to the deaths of he and those he loved. As she scrutinizes Tyrion and Davos conferring, Jaime opines that Rhaegar too trusted the idealism of learned men, spinning him fantasies about the righteousness of the common man. While she looks upon Sansa talking with her sister, Jaime insists everyone, good or evil, is their rival, and fear alone restrains them. Varys studies her as she listens. Upon seeing Tormund walk through the courtyard, Daenerys turns to face Ser Jaime. She advises he renounce his knighthood but, provided he remains at Winterfell for the duration of her conflict with Cersei, Jaime may thereafter remain lord of Casterly Rock. Unlike knighthood, she says, "Lordship requires no honor."

Daenerys approaches Tormund in the Godswood. He warns her that he does not kneel, but she takes no offence. Daenerys remarks that the Targaryens never claimed land north of the Wall, and those who return may remain "Free Folk". Yet she is aware of how Tormund massacred villages before his assault on the Wall. She assures him of the vengeance her dragons can take, but pledges the gates of the Wall to remain open, as shall her hand in friendship. As she goes, Tormund insists that he took no pride in his destroying those villages. Sympathetically, Daenerys contends that by sacrificing dozens of innocents, he saved thousands more, and this is a burden all leaders must be prepared to bare.

Daenerys watches Rhaegal take flight from Winterfell, and follows upon Drogon. As Sansa watches her go, Tyrion insists that Daenerys is their best hope, leading Sansa to reveal Jon's secret.

Tormund, having invited Jamie and Davos ice-fishing, passes out drunk. Jamie ridicules what is considered amusement in the North, but Davos claims this happily reminds him of his youth. Jamie congratulates him on his rising up in the world, but Davos responds that although nobility provided prosperity to his family, it cost his son's life, and Matthas would have been better off as a poor man, fishing with him in the bitter cold. Jamie argues that every man aspires to a brighter future for their family, but Davos counters that he should have aspired to keep his son alive, insisting that a man's sacred duty is to protect his children. His true obligation was to defy Stannis, committing treason, by abducting Shireen upon even guessing she was in danger. Silently tormented, Jamie departs. Davos studies him, knowingly.

In Winterfell, Jon bids Tormund farewell, and leads Stark forces south with Ser Davos and Lord Royce.

At the port of Saltspear, Alys Karstark leads the delegation welcoming the lord of Winterfell, Rickon Stark, arriving aboard the "Feathered Kiss." Arya and Gendry await its next voyage. Alys greets Sarella, who introduces Gendry, the new lord of Storm's End. The captain explains that, with the Iron Fleet guarding King's Landing, she reports raiding the Iron Islands unchecked. The southwest coast of Westeros is in chaos. A rebellion, led by the Brotherhood without Banners, arose in the Westerlands, and Lannisport has fallen. The Reach is ablaze with revolt and the Lords of Dorne and the Storm Lands may soon have their heads on spikes. Gendry is thrilled, so Arya wryly reminds him that he is Lord of the Storm Lands. Rickon descends the gangplanks, and Northern soldiers are shocked to see him in elaborate Dornish robes. Arya supresses a laugh and embraces him. She explains that she sails with Gendry to Storm's End, so Rickon congratulates them on their marriage. When Arya explains they are not marrying, Rickon is perplexed, wondering why else she would leave home. She chuckles, gives him one last kiss, and drolly remarks that she can only imagine how thrilled Sansa is going to be to have him home.

Sailing toward Dragonstone, Grey Worm and Missandei hold hands. Tyrion tells Jon's secret to Varys, who commends Jon's suitability to the throne. As Daenerys approaches home, Rhaegal is shot through the wing by a scorpion bolt, and spirals downward. Daenerys flees as Drogon is fired on by the Iron Fleet. Grey Worm tells Missandei to abandon ship. Euron devastates Daenerys' fleet. Tyrion jumps overboard. Green fire explodes above the Iron Fleet. Bronn is launching barrels of wildfyre from the castle walls. As the Hound loads barrels, Sam refines his timing of the fuses. Caught off-guard, Euron retreats. As Tyrion and Varys wash ashore, Grey Worm searches for Missandei.

In Winterfell, when word arrivesthat Missandei drowned, Sansa tells Jaime that Cersei is doomed.

In her chambers in the Red Keep, Euron reports to Cersei, who claims to be pregnant with his child. She orders the Red Keep's gates remain open, making her subjects human shields. Missandei, in chains, has been presented as tribute from Euron.

Docked in Lannisport, Arya tells Gendry that she is disembarking there. Gendry anticipated this, presenting her a gift. It is a spring-loaded dart that can be hidden when worn around the wrist. Gendry tells her that the darts have been tipped with a Dornish poison. They kiss.

On a crag off Dragonstone, Rhaegal sleeps. Sam advises Daenerys that the potion with which he laced its food should keep him under long enough to begin healing his wing. When she asks for assurance that Rhaegal will heal, Sam says that he hopes his knowledge of raven anatomy is sufficient to treat a dragon. She nods, and orders Grey Worm to chain Rhaegal to the rock. Sam is shocked.

Leaving Winterfell under cover of night, Jamie encounters Bran. Jaime states that, for once in his life, he shall protect his child. Bran insists that he cannot. Jamie growls, "We'll see."

By night, Anguy walks through a camp of the Brotherhood without Banners, carrying his bow past a bonfire where liberated peasants are drinking, dancing and playing music. He reaches the quiet edge of the tree line and hears something in the brush. He spins around with an arrow in his bow, but cannot fire. Arya lowers her wrist, having shot a dart through his bow string. Anguy recognizes her, and she requests to join the Brotherhood.

Episode 8.4(b): A Dream of Spring

In Winterfell's great hall, flanked by Sansa and Bran, Rickon accepts oaths of fealty from Northern Lords. Sansa quietly advises which have been disloyal. He ignores her critique of the Karstarks when Alys pledges her house to him. Sansa notices a flirtation as they smile at one another.

At Riverrun, Lord Royce introduces Jon to Edmure, who does not recognise Daenerys as his sovereign, for his oath was to Robb Stark. Edmure awaits word that Rickon accepts Daenerys as sovereign. Jon tells Davos to send a raven to the Lord of Winterfell. Edmure explains that House Tully lacks an army, and so Jon must keep the peace. Jon pledges to lend his army while they wait for Rickon's response. Edmure warns that his uncle, the Blackfish, fell in with the peasant rebellion led by the Brotherhood without Banners.

Around a communal firepit, Arya and Anguy listen to a ballad of the Hero of Winterfell. The people ask if she will lead the fight against the Golden Company, crushing rebellion in the Reach. She answers that she only ever fought alone. When the subject of Daenerys arises, there is rancorous debate. Anguy asks Arya's opinion. She is reticent to endorse Daenerys, but insists the dragon queen put the people's welfare above her ambition. Arya is asked to intercede with the queen on behalf of the Brotherhood. She consents.

Jon goes over a map in his tent, a downpour of rain heard outside. Davos enters with the Blackfish, hands tied and in peasant clothes. He tells Jon that he was always struck by Lord Robin's resemblance to his aunt Catelyn and sees how much Jon looks like his aunt Lyanna. Jon doesn't respond but accuses the Blackfish of insurrection. The prisoner counters that since Edmure surrendered, there is no Riverlands army to rebel against. The Blackfish denies joining the Brotherhood, yet makes clear the people themselves, led by the Brotherhood, drove the Lannisters from the Riverlands. He says people are too busy preventing the Green Fork from overflowing to make oaths of fealty to Edmure. Davos confirms the sudden arrival of spring has resulted in river levels threatening towns and fields in the area. Jon wants to see for himself.

In sight of the Twins, the Blackfish shows Jon and Davos the desperate attempt to build dikes along the river's edge in the driving rain. Davos notices a direwolf walking along the dyke, the people unafraid of it. The Blackfish says that many of the men were Tully soldiers who threw down their swords at their lord's orders, yet now Edmure demands they abandon holding back the river in order to reform his army. Peasants, both adults and children, gather about Jon. When Northern soldiers become defensive, Jon orders they stand down. The Blackfish proclaims Jon as the brother of King Robb, who comes to see their plight. Davos reminds Jon that Lord Edmure and Lord Royce expect him to marshal the Riverlands' men. Jon orders the Dothraki to proceed ahead, but the Army of the North will remain to assist in saving the Riverlands from flooding. Davos asks the Blackfish if the direwolf has a name, but it is Jon who answers that her name as Nymeria.

In Daenerys' conference room on Dragonstone, Grey Worm plans their attack on King's Landing. Varys argues this will result in mass casualties of innocents, betraying Daenerys' best intentions. She insists that her destiny to free the world may be won at any cost. Tyrion advises, to ensure the people's backing while waiting for Jon to arrive with the Dothraki, Daenerys consider an invitation by Arya Stark to lend support to the Brotherhood without Banners. She agrees to consider this option.

In her Winterfell chambers, upon reading a raven scroll from Storm's End, Sansa sends Podrick to find and protect Arya. In the courtyard, Sansa meets Rickon and Alys, returning from a horse ride, asking why he instructed Winterfell's winter stores to be distributed among nobles and peasants returning home. Alys asserts that winter is obviously over, and Rickon concurs. Sansa is exasperated, asking if the Lord of Winterfell consults with anyone other than Lady Karstark. Maester Wolkan arrives with a scroll and Sansa is shocked that he hands it to Rickon instead of her. Rickon reads it, and hands it to Alys instead of her, telling Wolkan to respond that Jon speaks for House Stark. As Sansa angrily departs, Bran watches dispassionately.

Cersei wanders through her children's chambers. A maid finds her fondling Myrcella's dresses, and Cersei angrily orders her out. Alone, she is drawn to the window, hearing Lady Taena singing in Valyrian. She is an elegant, middle-aged, olive-skinned beauty.

While Taena waits, Qyburn discreetly briefs his queen on her balcony, reporting that the Dothraki have crossed the Riverlands. Alarmed, she instructs Qyburn to order Captain Strickland to return with all haste. Qyburn warns that the Golden Company has spread across the Reach, so this may take weeks. Feigning confidence, Cersei rejoins Taena, complimenting her lover for smashing the rebellion outside Horn Hill. Taena jests that the Reach's peasantry is as effeminate as its nobility, and Cersei genuinely laughs, yet notices that Taena's humor hides concern for Strickland. Cersei asks if they shall marry, but Taena explains that she is Volantene aristocracy and her son may soon be elected triarch, but not if she were to re-marry a common soldier. Her son opposed the dragon queen, making enemies of the red priests and she fears they would expose her. Cersei recalls that the Red God is popular among the Brotherhood and inquires of Qyburn if they have followers in King's Landing. She is alarmed to learn that they are fierce supporters of not only Daenerys, but Jon Snow. Taena bitterly speaks of how fanatics forced her separation from her only son. After another sip of wine, she tearfully admits that it was her own son that asked her to leave Volantis. She apologises to Cersei for her behavior, but Cersei is moved to take her hand and shows sympathy as her new friend weeps.

Riding in the pouring rain, Jaime is joined by a congenial septon named Meribald, who has received an appointment in King's Landing. He is eager for company as the road is dangerous with highwaymen. Jaime is surprised that Meribald shows such pity for these bandits, but he explains that many are "broken men", soldiers recruited with the promise of adventure, shattered by years of war, and driven by hardship to become more beast than man. Jaime grows suspicious of two riders approaching and warns the septon to ride a pace behind him, but as Jaime draws his sword, he is clubbed by his companion.

Wet and exhausted, Jon and Davos return to Riverrun to find Edmure conversing with Lord Royce, who has agreed to break the power of the peasants in exchange for Edmure granting him possession of the Twins. Jon is outraged and demands they take more time to help their people and less plotting against them, but Royce counters that Daenerys promised to reward her nobles with territory. Jon storms out. Privately, Davos counsels him not to alienate nobles they need to win, but Jon requests he send a raven.

Arya is conducted to a dockside tavern in Duskendale, now an impromptu headquarters for invasion. She notices the Hound, with Sam, loading barrels on a wagon. Inside the haphazard royal chambers, Arya tells Daenerys that the Brotherhood fought the Lannisters for years and now seeks common cause with her. Daenerys, taking notice of Arya's dagger, asks if they support her claim. Arya admits to little consensus but states that she has expressed how the dragon queen seeks the liberation of all people from oppression. Tyrion points out that allying with the Brotherhood risks alienating the nobles, but Daenerys agrees to meet their leadership. As Arya leaves, the queen eyes her dagger jealously.

Outside, Varys discreetly approaches Arya. He understands that Arya knows war from the people's point of view and asks her to help prevent a catastrophe at King's Landing by, once again, being an emissary.

Tyrion brings Daenerys a raven scroll from Jon. She reads it, and Tyrion warns that her response must be careful, for she can hardly afford to lose the support of nobles in the Vale and the Riverlands. Boldly, she writes "Break the wheel" to Jon. Tyrion concedes.

At a Winterfell banquet, Sansa watches Rickon enjoying Alys Karstark's company. Lord Manderley greets Sansa and, after complimenting her leadership during the Long Night, states that he has a delicate matter he wishes to discuss. She is flattered and asks if this might concern Rickon's decision to pledge the North to House Targaryen. She insists that if the Northern nobles desire to convince him otherwise, they must do so soon. Lord Manderley states diplomatically that they may discuss it later, but for now he would be honored to introduce her to his sons, whom he waves forward. She recoils, humiliated that she might now be only valued for her marriageability. She expresses to Bran how thoroughly betrayed she feels, but he responds that the North is not meant for her. She is deeply crushed by his words.

Sam accompanies the Hound, driving a wagon filled with barrels of wildfyre, surrounded by hoards of Dothraki horsemen. Sam speculates about the unexpectedly pleasant weather and discusses its scientific possibilities. The Hound is unimpressed with Sam's opinion on anything, as he proved unable to create wildfyre. He threatens Sam if he keeps speaking, but is soon annoyed by Sam's silence. Sam asks the Hound if he is excited about returning to the land of his youth, but the response is that he is excited about blowing it up. Arriving at the castle of Deep Den, Sam asks if civilians might be inside, leading the Hound to ask if Sam really believes the Dothraki are here to liberate the poor people of Westeros.

Jaime awakens in a farmhouse, his golden hand resting on a table by the bed. He enters a front room where a man, fifty with a crippled leg, tells tales of Ser Jaime. Seeing him, a woman withdraws to the kitchen, as her husband offers Jaime his seat. Their children range from teens to infancy. Jaime looks at the pretty thirtysomething wife, avoiding his gaze. The father is a retired Lannister officer, a veteran of Pyke. He found Jaime along the roadside, sword and purse gone, yet recognized him. The younger children stare in awe. Jaime asks the father how he gets by and is told that his wife has an inheritance. The father speaks of the treachery of the Starks, making Jaime uneasy as he proclaims nothing made him prouder than his eldest son dying for House Lannister. When Jaime's eyes finally meet the wife's, she sees he recognizes her.

Crossing the Twins' giant drawbridge, Podrick meets the Blackfish, heading north with Nymeria. He explains to Pod that there is no place for him in the south, and so he's crossing the Green Fork before Edmure reinstates the toll. Podrick tells him that he is searching for Arya, and invites the Blackfish to join the quest. The old man insists that he is too tired, merely hoping to be taken in by the Night's Watch. Podrick suggests he may find himself welcome at Winterfell. As the Blackfish rides on, he turns to notice that Nymeria is now following Pod and decides to join them after all.

At the entrance to a tunnel, Sam is troubled by the Dothraki's treatment of prisoners digging beneath the castle to blow it up with wildfyre. At camp, he reports the abuse to the Hound, who is more upset that the Dothraki brought only ale and no wine. They hear girls crying and go to investigate. A dozen frightened young women are being kept in a paddock and Sam asks the guards about them in broken Dothraki. He translates to the Hound that they are being kept as sex slaves, but the Hound mocks him for stating the obvious. The Hound tries to walk away but sees the Dothraki add one noticeably young girl to the paddock. He scowls and grabs Sam by his shirt, telling him they need to talk.

At a riverside dock, the old soldier and his wife help Jaime onto a barge travelling down river to arrive at King's Landing. It is filled with vegetables and farm animals. The husband gives Jaime what he says is his proudest possession, Catelyn Stark's own dagger, which he bought from one of Walder Frey's bastards after the Red Wedding. Jaime awkwardly accepts it. As the husband pays the captain, his wife shyly approaches Jaime. Neither know what to say. Finally, she puts a silver coin in his hand and tells him simply that this is the last of it. He nods. She says "Farewell, Ser Jaime," and he responds, "Goodbye, Tysha."

Inside his tent, Sam ties a small bag of coins to his belt, and unwraps his reforged sword, "Daybreak". Outside, the Hound impatiently tells him to hurry. It is nighttime, and most of the Dothraki gather drunkenly around a bonfire. Sam and the Hound quietly proceed to the edge of camp, where four Dothraki are guarding the women's paddock. Sam and the Hound each carry two large beer steins. With a broad smile, the Hound passes the guards two tankards, but as he turns around to take the other two from Sam, he instead unsheathes his sword and begins cutting the guards down. After swiftly killing all four, he turns to observe Sam still struggling to wrench his sword from its scabbard. The Hound tells him that he trusts Sam has greater talent at running from a fight and tosses him the key to the cage.

The Hound leads a wagon, filled with barrels, to where the Dothraki gather. One barrel is tapped, and he begins pouring ale from it, simply yelling "ale" over and over. Already drunk, the Dothraki jostle to get to the tap. As the mob grows more unruly, the Hound backs away from the tap while holding one last cup, and they rudely serve themselves. He bumps into a Dothraki rider even bigger than he is, who holds a large wooden torch. He looks at the torch with trepidation yet trades his ale for the flame. The Hound goes to the back of the wagon, where the torch reveals that all the other barrels are filled with wildfyre. Taking a breath, he places the burning wood amongst the barrels in the wagon and walks away, moving ever faster until he is racing, his eyes wide with fear. Atop a nearby ridge, Sam leads the female prisoners away through the dark when the valley below is engulfed in an explosion of green flame. Sam encourages all to keep moving.

Episode 8.4(c): A Feast for Crows

Arya waits in the courtyard of the Red Keep. She quietly tallies the men standing guard at the gate as a wagon enters the courtyard, then counts how many inspect the wagon before kitchen staff unload it. A cat rubs Arya's boot. She recognizes it. She watches as it jumps onto a barrel, then onto an awning, then up into another window with a distinct blue flower vase. She grins at the efficiency of its path. A steward arrives and he tells her to leave her sword and her dagger in the courtyard. She complies.

As they walk down a Red Keep corridor, Arya notices the blue vase in the window, and counts two guards in the hallway. She enters Cersei's salon, where she is having wine with Lady Taena. Missandei stands in the room, a collar around her neck, with a chain held by the Mountain. Arya tries to ignore the provocation. Lady Taena asks if the Hero of Winterfell defeated the White Walkers by warding them off with a candle and waited for them to melt in the new spring. Cersei chuckles, and suggests that Arya is there as her lack of marriageability makes her expendable. Maintaining composure, Arya offers to suspend hostilities for one last opportunity to negotiate. Cersei looks to Qyburn, who nods.

The Queen states that she may accept Daenerys' plea. Arya proposes releasing Missandei as an act of good faith. Cersei offers to show where her faith lies, signaling the Mountain to punch the prisoner in the face, breaking her teeth. Arya internalizes her outrage. Encouraged by Taena, Cersei becomes bolder in her insults, calling the Starks cowards, and saying that Jon, by selling himself to Daenerys, is more of a whore than Sansa ever was. Arya stares ever more intently at Cersei's jugular. The queen's voice seems ever more distant while Arya fingers the mechanism around her wrist. She fails to notice the Mountain observing her more intently. Arya is readying herself to fire when the Mountain swiftly moves between Cersei and her. Cersei does not understand, yet Arya, suspecting the Mountain perceives her intent, quickly asks for Cersei's answer.

Arya tries to stay cool as she realizes that the Mountain is following her to the courtyard. She attempts to retrieve her weapons, but the Mountain breaks "Needle" over his knee and then places her Valyrian steel dagger in his own belt. She calmly bows and leaves.

Deep in the forest, men and women gather before a hastily build stage, upon which Tyrion and Anguy discuss protocol. The Unsullied march forth with Daenerys, who mounts the dais with Grey Worm. Tyrion discreetly suggests she smile. Thanking Anguy, she declares that her family was as guilty as other noble houses of putting selfish ambition above the needs of the people. She confirms what red priests have said, that from Slavers' Bay to Winterfell, she has freed and protected the common man. A woman speaks up, saying her father and husband died fighting the Lannisters, accusing Daenerys of seeking to give land they won to the nobles who support her. Daenerys denies it is true, and a heckler asks why a Lannister stands beside her. Anguy begs the crowd show respect, calmly requesting land won by the Brotherhood be henceforth governed by it. Daenerys promises so if the Brotherhood support her claim. A man demands that she put a stop to the Dothraki, who he says are worse than the Golden Company in ravaging the land. Daenerys insists the Dothraki are here to liberate them, and the crowd begins to turn on her. As she defends her allies, an arrow flies from the trees toward her, and is blocked by Grey Worm's shield. He hustles her away as the Unsullied advance upon the people, killing some down front. Tyrion and Anguy try to keep order as the crowd flees in terror.

In Daenerys' tent, Tyrion and Varys watch as Anguy begs for the queen's forgiveness, accepting responsibility for not vetting the representatives. He requests an opportunity for a smaller committee to negotiate with her. Daenerys tells him that people need to be governed, and if they cannot do it for themselves, then she will appoint others that will.

Entering the Dragon Pit, Taena, in ridiculing a first husband from Westeros, mocks the uncultured lifestyle in the Kingdom of the North, making Cersei laugh. Qyburn is waiting on a dais while a dozen people are held in a wooden cage guarded by the Mountain. Several children are held off to the side by Lannister guards. Qyburn addresses the captives as worshipers of the Lord of Light, citing that if they believe death by fire is the purest death, they may take this opportunity to prove their faith in the Red God, or rejoin their children and survive by renouncing their lord. Guards drench the kindling beneath the prisoners in wildfyre. One young woman rejoins her children, but though others quake with fear, no one else does so. Some continue to reassure their children even as the Mountain lights the wildfyre. Children scream as their parents are set ablaze. As screams of the burning cease, Cersei, sipping wine, quips that she does now feel purified. She is eager to see Taena's response and is stunned to see her friend's face an expression of horror, hand over her mouth and eyes full of tears. Cersei looks back at the burning cage and the wailing children. For a moment, her face reveals a sense of shame before hardening again into resolve.

Arya stands before Daenerys in her Duskendale headquarters, having recounted her negotiations. Daenerys and Grey Worm display shock and anguish. Tyrion thanks her and escorts her outside where the Blackfish and the Hound wait for audiences. Referred to as Ser Brynden when invited inside, the Blackfish glances at Arya as she passes. She examines the Hound, his clothes blackened, advising that unless he has good news, he may want to return later. The Hound rolls his eyes. She suggests that they need each others' help.

Inside, Tyrion asks the Blackfish to produce the letter of introduction that Jon Snow gave him. While Tyrion reads, the Blackfish inquires after the girl who exited. Identified as the Hero of Winterfell, the Blackfish remarks on her resemblance to her brother, Jon. Tyrion declines to comment, but asks if he truly travels with a direwolf. Outside, Nymeria sniffs the ground where Arya and the Hound were moments before, and begins to track them. Podrick, curious, watches her depart.

Daenerys asks the Blackfish of his renunciation of the kingsguard, and when Tyrion reminds her of Varys' pardon, she curtly recalls that Varys never betrayed her father, whereas this inconstant knight would later fight against him. The Blackfish recounts Jon Arryn receiving an order to arrest Ned Stark, his pupil at the Eyrie, for being heir to a father and brother executed for protesting the abduction of his sister. He asks if he did wrong, and the queen falls silent. She inquires if he witnessed the Mad King rape Tyrion's mother. The Blackfish denies that Tyrion's mother was raped, for Joanna Lannister was the Mad King's wife.

The Blackfish explains that Joanna was the love of Aerys' life. After the victory over the Ninepenny Kings, Ser Brynden escorted her to Dragonstone to greet the returning heroes. Once there, he and Joanna found a septon waiting. Aerys married her. When his father forbade the union, witnesses were sworn to secrecy and Aerys wed his sister, the Princess Rhaella, but as Aerys was already married in the eyes of the Seven, they were now obliged to wed in the ancient Valyrian rite. Daenerys grows angry, asking how many charlatans Tyrion shall yet produce to challenge her rights. The Blackfish defensively maintains that the marriage should be recorded in the annals of Dragonstone, and she only need look there. Furious, Daenerys orders the Blackfish expelled from her sight, insisting that he is lucky to leave with his head.

On the road to King's Landing, Varys fears for Daenerys' mental stability and tells Tyrion that Jon would be a superior choice as king. The spider expresses to Tyrion that Jaime is an option, if indeed he is proved to be legitimate in the light of the Seven. Tyrion realizes Varys intends to betray her.

Sam, dressed as a nobleman, rides by carriage with "Daybreak". He fondles his mother's thimble. The carriage stops. He sees that Horn Hill is a smoldering ruin. Devastated, he walks through its empty, blackened halls. Hearing a baby's whimper, he finds Talla, his sister, holding an infant. She explains that after the baby was born, Horn Hill was attacked by the peasant rebellion. Little Sam, resentfully believed to be heir to Randyll Tarly, was taken by the mob and Horn Hill set ablaze. Although Talla escaped with the baby, Gilly and their mother died. Shortly after, the Golden Company wiped out the peasants and Little Sam was found among the dead. Talla tells Sam that Gilly, before she died, named their daughter Snow. Holding his child, Sam tells his sister the name is beautiful.

Arriving at the walls of King's Landing, Cersei asks Qyburn if Lady Taena will be joining them. Qyburn reveals that her friend boarded a ship bound for Volantis that morning.

Daenerys and her army arrive outside the massive city walls. Tyrion meets with Qyburn, as Cersei and Daenerys demand each other's surrender, with Cersei threatening to kill Missandei. Tyrion attempts to appeal to Cersei's humanity. Missandei uses her last words to yell "Dracarys." The Mountain beheads her, devastating Daenerys and Grey Worm.

In his Dragonstone quarters, Varys opens a scroll with a Dornish seal that states in part, "found Ashara in Qarth." A servant girl informs the spider that Daenerys is not eating. He says, "Try again at supper."

Along the Dragonstone shore, Varys implores Jon to take the Iron Throne, but he refuses. In the conference room, Tyrion informs Daenerys of Varys' disloyalty.

In his chambers, Varys burns a letter to Arianne, urging "return to Westeros," when Grey Worm comes to arrest him. On the beach, Daenerys, Jon and Tyrion wait with Drogon. Tyrion admits his betrayal. Varys nods, and tells him that he hopes he is in the wrong. He reminds Tyrion that he promised to one day tell him what, as a child, he heard the disembodied voice speak from the flames. Varys explains that it foretold a destroyer, conceived in the Red Keep, would bring an end to all living things. Daenerys commands "Dracarys," and Varys is blasted into ash. Distraught, Tyrion turns to leave. "Not yet, Lord Tyrion!" the queen commands. Jaime is brought forth in chains. Horrified, Tyrion attempts to negotiate his pardon, as she of all people should see no sin in devotion to one's sister. He expounds that the Targaryen's dynastic strife, from the Dance of the Dragons through the Blackfyre rebellions, were part of the same wheel she seeks to break. Daenerys reminds him that she knows, too well, how ruthlessly family treats family when power is in the balance. Jaime clenches. She orders "Dracarys!" Tyrion screams. When the flames subside. Jaime stands before them, naked yet unburnt.

Episode 8.5: The Bells

In the Dragonstone conference room, Grey Worm is given Missandei's slave collar by Daenerys. She confesses to Jon that she is without love in Westeros. Though professing devotion, he resists her kiss. Daenerys, feeling hurt and alone, declares fear to be her only ally.

Varys' child spy enters her tiny quarters to find Tyrion waiting for her. He asks if she knows what befell Varys. Terrified, she does. He offers her escape if she produces what Varys asked her to hide.

In the throne room, Tyrion hands Grey Worm the maester of Dragonstone's record of Joanna Lannister's marriage to the Mad King. He tells Daenerys that he believes that the letters between his mother and her grandmother, Queen Shaera, burned in the Great Sept. She announces that Tyrion is relieved as Hand, with Ser Davos appointed his replacement. As thanks for his service, he is awarded Casterly Rock. Tyrion implores Daenerys spare the common folk of King's Landing should the city bells ring surrender, and she nods to Grey Worm. Tyrion begs for Jaime's pardon one last time, but she re-affirms her judgement, slating his execution for morning.

Peasants pass through the gates of King's Landing, including Arya and the Hound.

As Jon and Tyrion descend to the boats bound for King's Landing, Davos and Bronn await them. Jon tells Davos of his appointment, and that the attack will come upon their arrival next morning.Tyrion pulls Bronn off to the side, asking a favor. Bronn scoffs, but Tyrion entices him with the Lordship of Casterly Rock itself.

By night, stealthily rowing off of Dragonstone, Tyrion askes Bronn if the vaults beneath the Great Sept could have survived. He explains that Varys hid a correspondence which Daenerys wishes destroyed. Bronn assures him nothing could have survived the wildfyre, yet chuckles, telling of how Varys' alter ego, Rugen, managed to portray a mercenary and an itinerant septon while wearing the same disguise. He recounts how he saw through Varys' ruse while visiting a tavern where the spider kept secret lodgings. Tyrion asks where that tavern was. The rowboat reaches the small crag where Rhaegal is imprisoned. Nervously assuring the dragon of his friendly intentions, he releases the beast, who flies unsteadily away.

At night, Arya and the Hound approach a door on a side street. Arya knocks. Ser Ilyn Payne answers, an old man walking with a cane. The Hound punches him in the face. As he falls, Arya pulls out her knife and kills him. The Hound approves of her technique.

In the Dragonstone cells, Tyrion bluffs the Unsullied into releasing Jaime. Alone, Tyrion begs he persuade Cersei to surrender, explaining that Bronn will sail him to a secret cave beneath the Red Keep. Tyrion returns Jaime's dagger, unconvincingly claiming that he may still secure a pardon.In final farewell, he tearfully thanks Jaime for being the only person to have loved him.

The Iron Fleet prepare scorpions, as archers mount the city walls. "Ilyn Payne" and the Hound walk a main street. Tyrion discreetly enters the city while the Golden Company exits. As the armies assemble, Jon Snow reminds Grey Worm to cease fighting if he hears the bells.

Cersei overlooks the city with confidence. Guards open a door to the Red Keep for "Ilyn Payne." The Hound steps through and kills them. "Payne" takes off his face to reveal Arya, who removes heals off her shoes. The Hound, disgusted by Payne's face, asks how she can stand wearing those. Arya confirms she does indeed hate wearing high heals. Doors to the main gate of the Red Keep shut.

Daenerys surprises Euron by camouflaging her attack out of the sun. Drogon burns the Iron Fleet, including Euron's ship. King's Landing's scorpions are rapidly destroyed. As the Golden Company faces Dothraki, Unsullied and Northern armies, they hear explosions. Drogon blasts the main gate, sending the Golden Company into disarray. Captain Strickland is killed by Grey Worm. Dothraki enter the city, cutting down the Lannister army as Unsullied and Northern troops follow. Drogon finishes off scorpions on the walls and the Golden Company outside. Cersei is shocked.

Tyrion enters an empty, ramshackle tavern, proceeding to a room at the back. Screams of the terrified populace abound. Every drawer of every cabinet is empty. Tyrion notices a putrid bedpan by the bed. Shifting it delicately with his foot, he detects a compartment hidden beneath. A box of letters is inside.

In a small sailboat, Jaime reaches the cave with Bronn. As Jaime assures him that he will return promptly, Bronn observes men approaching by sea on a makeshift raft. Through a spyglass, he sees Euron is amongst them and starts to wave them in. Jaime instructs him to stop, but Bronn reminds him that Pentos is a long way, and he is not a sailor. Jaime reluctantly relents.

On her balcony, Qyburn informs Cersei of their massive losses. He inquires if he should implement their final option. Cersei consents. Arya and the Hound disagree on if Cersei would watch the battle from one tower or hide in another. Hearing footsteps, they hide. Qyburn crosses the floor map of Westeros to descend a torchlit stairwell. Arya insists that Qyburn will surely lead them to Cersei.

Euron and three other survivors join Bronn and Jaime, who orders the Ironborn to help them sail Cersei to Pentos. Euron states that, having "f*cked the queen," he would not mind keeping her as his new concubine. Jaime reaches for his knife. Euron is faster, but Jaime blocks him with his golden hand, ensnaring the blade in its fingers. He stabs Euron in the throat. Euron smiles, flashing his purple teeth, and disappears. Jaime and Bronn are shocked as Euron re-appears behind Jaime's back, stabbing him in the side. Jaime collapses to his knees. Bronn draws his sword. Ordering his men to kill Bronn, Euron proceeds into the cave, stating that he must pay a debt to the Warlocks. Hopelessly outnumbered, Bronn fights, and is on the verge of defeat when Rhaegal appears, torching his Ironborn opponents. Soberly, the dragon examines Jaime, who looks determinedly up at his mount and says, "Alright. One last joust."

Arya and the Hound enter a small, circular, stone chamber, lit by torchlight. Wildfyre is in a pot in the room's center, six iron balls stacked on the floor. Across the chamber are six shafts, large enough for the balls to roll down. To their right, a stairway leads up, while another on their left descends. There is no sign of Qyburn. The Hound blames her for leading him nowhere, but Arya tells him that she will take the staircase up, and he must search below.

Jon, Grey Worm and Davos face frightened Lannister men. Tyrion watches a bell tower. Cersei grows despondent. The people run in panic as Drogon perches upon the wall, roaring down at them. Lannister soldiers drop their swords. Voices implore, "Ring the bells!" Tyrion watches anxiously. Daenerys glares at the Red Keep. Cersei looks back. The bells ring. Jon exhales.

Daenerys is stunned to hear a dragon's shriek as Rhaegal rises above the Red Keep. Astonished, Cersei watches Jaime charge towards Drogon. Without prompt, Daenerys' dragon takes flight to meet the challenge. As Rhaegal is about to collide with his larger sibling, Jamie deftly steers him beneath Drogon, eliciting a cheer from the common people below. To Daenerys' humiliation and rage, Rhaegal proves repeatedly swifter than her mount, and Tyrion, amongst a crowd watching in thrilled delight, finds himself swelling with pride. Jaime fixes Rhaegal's track on Drogon's tail, and Daenerys is unable to shake him. Jaime steels himself. He dives Rhaegal down. Jumping onto Drogon's back, Jaime's hand grabs hold of a scale. He winces in pain. Unaware, Daenerys sees Rhaegal bank right and pursues. Favoring his bloodied side, Jaime inches toward Daenerys from behind. Finally, she realizes Rhaegal is riderless. Jaime releases his grip to reach for his blade. Seeing him, Daenerys banks left. His golden hand useless, Jaime falls. Cersei screams. Jaime is snatched by Rhaegal's talon. The smaller dragon glides to a Red Keep battlement, releasing him safely. Thankfully patting the beast, Jaime too late sees danger. Drogon seizes Rhaegal by the throat and, as Jaime watches, his dragon is swiftly ravaged by the larger sibling. Despite the mortal wounds Drogon inflicts, their mother only watches with a passive, yet expressive, horror. Finally, she pulls Drogon back, and Rhaegal tumbles, lifeless. Daenerys hears the city wail. Sick with grief, she vomits.

One scorpion is still intact, hidden in a turret at the Red Keep. Euron spies Drogon circling in the sky. Drinking from a flask, a purple liquid dribbling down, the pirate takes aim with triumphant pride. As Euron pulls the lever, he is stabbed in the back by Qyburn. The bolt fires across the city. Euron's shock lasts only a second before he again evaporates. Daenerys barely gets Drogon to respond as the bolt sails towards her. It rips a bloody gash through the flesh of the dragon's back, mere feet from its rider. As Qyburn stands mystified, a knife crosses his throat. Behind him, Euron whispers in his ear, "Traitor." Yet another knife plunges into Euron's back. The Ironborn captain releases Qyburn, attempting to reach around behind himself before toppling backward. Qyburn turns to see that it is Arya who saved his life. As Daenerys' terror subsides, her rage escalates. Euron dies, eyes wide in shock. Arya, now unarmed, studies Qyburn warily, as he wields a dragonglass dagger in his hand. "Valar Morghulis," he says to her. Intrigued, she responds, "Valar Dohaeris." Qyburn nods, and bids her to follow him.

Daenerys scans furiously for who fired the bolt. Looking to the Red Keep, her anger swells.

Arya re-enters the circular chamber with Qyburn. She asks why he saved Daenerys. He tells her that he has long served the Targaryens, stating that this room was built years ago by King Aerys, connecting six massive wildfyre caches at locations across the city.

As lone voices decrying Daenerys become a detectable chorus, Tyrion realizes the growing danger. Daenerys' anger ignites. Men, women and children begin to flee.

Qyburn dunks an iron ball in the pot. Lighting it up, he walks to one of the shafts. Arya asks why he believes that Daenerys wishes the city be destroyed. He explains that he serves her father. He says that once the Many-Faced God is promised names, "be it twenty days, twenty weeks or twenty years, death is certain." Arya has a flash of recognition, asking "Who are you?" Qyburn smiles, removing his face to reveal Jaqen H'ghar. Arya's expression goes blank. Without conscious intent, she raises her wrist, firing a dart into her mentor's chest. Shocked, he falls over. Arya regains her senses, realizing what she has done.

Daenerys swoops down on Drogon, blasting fleeing soldiers and civilians alike. Tyrion watches in horror. Grey Worm leads a merciless attack on disarmed Lannister men. Disdainfully, he sees Jon hold back his men. Cersei and Tyrion witness Drogon destroying the city. Soldiers rape and kill civilians. Jon sees Lannister men helping them flee. He rescues a young woman from being raped by his men. Daenerys turns to the Red Keep, indifferent to civilians.

Drogon blasts the tower steps, killing all the Kingsguards save the Mountain, who shields Cersei. She wriggles out from the debris, but the Mountain remains pinned. As she goes, the debris subtly moves.

Cersei reaches the map floor, despairing, debris falling about her. Jaime finds her and they embrace. Bleeding from the side, he leads her out.

Arya tends to Jaqen, now paralysed. Explosions are heard all around. Jaqen asks her to complete his mission. She explains that she is not "No One", but Arya Stark. Distantly, the Hound calls out for her from the downward stairwell. Jaqen, voice failing, warns that the Mountain will come for her, and poisoned darts are not enough. He offers her his dragonglass dagger. "Death is certain," he says, and dies. Arya sheds a tear and goes.

Arya enters the Red Keep's cellar, discovering that the Hound is blocking Cersei and Jaime's escape. Jaime, his side drenched in blood, can only stand with Cersei's help. Cersei is seeking to bribe the Hound, but Arya insists that he is no longer her whore. Explosions grow ever closer. She offers to show Cersei what a whore looks like, tossing down Ser Ilyn's face. Arya proudly tells Cersei that while the children of Lord Tywin may hire whores to do their killing, she is the daughter of Ned Stark, who taught that the one "who passes the sentence should swing the sword." She draws her dragonglass dagger. Deteriorating, Jaime whispers for Cersei to flee for the cellar exit, promising Bronn is waiting there to protect her. She runs as Jaime stumbles toward the Hound, his knife drawn yet barely able to walk. The Hound assures Arya that Cersei has no where to run, and swats away Jaime's blade. Backhanded across the face, Jaime tumbles like a rag doll, unable to get up.

Explosions knock Cersei down. She looks back, as Arya and the Hound loom menacingly above Jaime. In terror, she screams for them to stop, running to her brother. Shielding him, she begs they spare his life. Stunned, Arya is unexpectedly moved. The Hound picks up Jaime's knife, giving it to Arya, tucking the dragonglass into his belt. She recognizes the blade, a carved fish on the handle. "She was fierce," Ser Jaime murmurs. Arya gazes at Cersei, cradling Jaime. She can't kill her, and lowers the knife. Arya awaits the Hound's censure, yet he says, "Good girl. Now go. Hurry if you want to live." She thanks him and runs. He grabs Cersei by the hair, demanding, "Where is he?!" Tearfully, she points up.

The Hound finds the Mountain alone on the ruined steps, now freed of the rubble that pinned him. "Hello, big brother," he says. Drogon swirls around the keep as they fight.

As chunks of debris start to fall from the ceiling, Jaime pleads with Cersei to save their baby, but Cersei tearfully tells him to just look into her eyes. She kisses him as he dies.

The Hound runs a sword through the Mountain's stomach, but it does not kill him. While Arya runs through chaos in the streets, the Hound is brutally beaten by the Mountain.

The Mountain tries to choke his brother. The Hound pulls the dragonglass dagger from his belt. He stabs him repeatedly about the abdomen and neck to no avail. The Mountain pushes his thumbs into the Hound's eyes. Desperate, the Hound shoves the obsidian dagger into his brother's heart. The Mountain releases him and steps back in a daze, somehow entranced. Blind in one eye, the Hound looks up at him, as his brother's eyes turn from blood red to fiery yellow, his blemished complexion becoming smooth and unnaturally plastic. Experiencing a hallucinatory vision of the Mountain as a flaming demon, the Hound tackles him. They tumble through the burning ruins below.

Surveying the devastation with Davos, Jon orders his men to evacuate the city.

Arya is nearly killed by a collapsing tower. Although Tyrion coaxes her to take shelter, she attempts to save a mother and young daughter from dragonfire. Tyrion is blown into a cellar.

Cersei is cradling Jaime's corpse as debris falls about her. Bronn finds Cersei and tells her that they must go. She doesn't respond. He says that she cannot save Jaime, but she can save his child. She confesses to not carrying Jaime's child. Bronn scoffs, proclaiming that the whole city knows she's pregnant. "I am," she says sorrowfully, "with Euron's." Bronn shakes his head. He considers leaving before declaring that he refuses to give Tyrion an excuse to get out of their deal. He removes Jaime's golden hand. Cersei angrily protests, but Bronn tells her she is going to need it.

Arya awakens in the quiet ruin of the city, white ash falling all around. She sees the charred corpses of the mother and her child. Nearby a direwolf is watching her, and she realizes it is Nymeria. It is nervous, but she comforts it. They leave the city together.

Episode 8.6: The Iron Throne

Hiding in a basement for shelter, Tyrion opens a letter from his mother expressing profound joy in her new baby, finally providing Lord Tywin his own child, and encourages Queen Shaera to have faith that a new generation of Targaryens shall make Westeros a more just kingdom. Tyrion emerges into a devastated city. A black raven watches Jon and Ser Davos encounter him. Determined to visit the Red Keep, Tyrion refuses Jon's offer of an armed escort. Jon and Davos discover Grey Worm summarily executing Lannister officers. When Jon protests, the Unsullied turn on him. Davos counsels him to walk away. The raven follows.

Exploring the castle's ruin, Tyrion descends into the cellar and finds Jaime, minus his golden hand. He sobs.

Jon Snow walks through the Dothraki and Unsullied columns. From across the plaza, Podrick sees him ascend a grand staircase while Grey Worm watches him scornfully. Drogon lands, and Daenerys thanks the Dothraki for fulfilling Drogo's vow. As Tyrion arrives, she pledges to the Unsullied that they shall "break the wheel" around the world. Tyrion reproaches her, tossing down the secret correspondence at her feet. "Is this what you burned a city to destroy?" She glares at him, appalled, and has him arrested. Led away, he stares at Jon, who Daenerys looks upon suspiciously. Tyrion is marched passed Pod, who places a hand on the hilt of his sword. Tyrion shakes his head. Troubled, Pod looks to Jon instead. As Daenerys departs, Jon sees Podrick, asking why he came. He explains that Sansa sent him to find Arya. Jon says that he does not know where Arya is. Podrick tells him that he does know, and Jon must follow him.

Podrick leads Jon outside the city's walls, accompanied by ten Northern soldiers. The raven follows. They pass Nymeria, impaled with a spear, being tended to by the Blackfish, who rises and joins them. As they pass stacks of Lannister swords, the Blackfish signals Pod to stay behind. They next find the paddocks where Lannister soldiers are being held. Unconscious, Arya is in one. Lannister soldiers watch over her, including some of those who once shared a meal with her on the road.

Jon orders the Unsullied to grant he and the Blackfish entry. He questions the soldiers, who recount attempting to help women escape the city, protecting them from rape, and were set upon by Dothraki. Their situation seemed hopeless when Arya and her wolf arrived. One says that he never saw a girl fight like that, and another confesses that he never saw anyone fight like that. After she saved them, a squad of Unsullied, who Arya trusted would help, struck her unconscious and impaled her wolf. The Blackfish asks a guard about the women, and is told that they were given to the Dothraki.

Grey Worm arrives with a dozen Unsullied, and Jon asks why the men are being held. Grey Worm insists that he answers only to Daenerys, and these soldiers must face justice for their murder of the Dothraki. He will allow Jon to take Arya. Jon kneels next to her, examining a large blow to the head. Lovingly, he brushes her hair. Grey Worm adds that she may yet face the queen's judgement. Jon stiffens. He demands the soldiers be released. Grey Worm refuses. Jon unsheathes his sword. Northern soldiers, Lannister prisoners and the Unsullied are alarmed. Grey Worm raises his weapon, yet no one, for a long moment, makes a move. Arya begins to stir, and one Unsullied turns his spear toward her neck. The Blackfish, without another thought, brings his sword down, nearly bisecting him.

The Blackfish is now drenched in Unsullied blood. All stare in shock and horror, violence inevitable. Grey Worm nods, and attacks Jon as the Unsullied strike against the Stark soldiers. Lannister men, standing back, discover Podrick passing them swords. As Lannister supports Stark, each register momentary awareness of the irony. Grey Worm and Jon fight one on one, while the Blackfish marshals Stark and Lannister men against the Unsullied. Separate from the fray, Grey Worm engages in a contest of his dexterity with a spear against Jon's speed with a sword. Grey Worm's anger is matched by Jon's resolve. Finally, Jon brings his sword down upon Grey Worm's spear, cleaving it, and taking the end off his fingers. Turning the blade of his spear into a dagger, Grey Worm comes at Jon, who bashes his skull with "Longclaw's" hilt, knocking him unconscious. As Jon stands over him, another squad of Unsullied arrive, pointing their spears at Jon.

From one side, the Blackfish arrives with Podrick, the few surviving Northern soldiers and some two dozen freed Lannister soldiers. He orders they stand back, lest Jon be killed while they attempt to save him. Davos arrives with another twenty Northern soldiers, realizing quick thinking must be used to prevent great carnage. He announces that Jon is Daenerys' betrothed, an assertion that takes Jon aback. Davos proclaims that only the queen can determine if Jon is in the wrong, and the Unsullied must stand down. Leaderless, they lower their spears and tend to Grey Worm. Davos hustles Jon away, as the Blackfish follows with Arya in his arms. Davos advises Jon to immediately take his army north. Instead, Jon instructs Podrick to direct the freed Lannister soldiers to commandeer a ship and take Arya to Storm's End. He orders Davos to assemble the army outside the city gates. Davos asks where he is going. Jon tells him that he needs advice.

Jon visits Tyrion, held in a storeroom, who reckons that Daenerys killed more that day than truly evil men did their entire lives, and she is far from done. Tyrion demands Jon trust his moral compass over her moral certainty. Jon quotes, "Love is the death of duty." Tyrion says Jon "is the shield that guards the realms of men." Tyrion pleads Jon think first of protecting Sansa. Jon, followed by a black raven, is confronted by Drogon, hidden beneath rubble and ash, laying upon Rhaegal's corpse.

Daenerys finds the Iron Throne has survived. Jon confronts Daenerys with her atrocities, beseeching forgiveness for Tyrion. Asserting that they "cannot hide behind small mercies" for ruthlessness is necessary to create a better world, she assures him that they alone may decide how that world shall be. Through tears, Jon affirms his fealty, stabbing her as they kiss. In shock, she whispers, "I'm pregnant." He lays her upon a floor of white ash. A single watching raven is joined by others. Drogon finds Daenerys dead and Jon accepts his fate. More ravens arrive, loudly cawing. Drogon rears up, but his eyes flash. The dragon calms, looking at Jon with unexpected restraint. Again, Drogon's eyes flash. It violently shakes its head, like a beast desperately attempting to free itself. Jon becomes aware of the dozens of ravens screaming in protest. Drogon glares at Jon with confusion and outrage, again preparing to incinerate him. Upon its eyes flashing again, it instantly desists, appearing almost sympathetic. This disposition almost immediately reverses as it strives to shake free from some psychic invader. In fury and frustration, it melts the Iron Throne and carries Daenerys' body away.

Lady Taena, sailing into Volantis, observes a dragon overhead. It settles atop the Red Temple. High Priestess Kinvara arrives with some acolytes, discovering Daenerys. Kinvara holds no fear of Drogon. "And you, beautiful one," she remarks to the corpse. "Might you give yourself to the will of the Lord of Light?" She caresses Daenerys' face. "I think not. That which does not burn can never be re-lit." Broken-hearted, Drogon flies away. As the priestess sadly watches, her hand brushes against Jon's dagger. Astonished, Kinvara examines it, resting her hand on Daenerys' abdomen. Smiling, she orders the cadaver brought below.

Bronn ties off a small boat to a busy dock in Pentos. He and Cersei show themselves heavily exposed to the elements. She still carries Jaime's hand as she climbs onto the dock. The former queen orders Bronn as to her requirements for accommodation and food, and realizes he is gone. Alone on the busy dock, she is ignored by throngs of people going about their day. Afraid, she clutches Jaime's hand to her chest, its fingers by her neck.

Grey Worm leads Tyrion to the Dragon Pit as the Lords of Westeros assemble. They are both shocked to see Drogon reposing in a corner of the ruin. Present are Sansa, Arya, Bran and Lord Rickon Stark, Lords Arryn and Royce of the Vale, Edmure Tully of the Riverlands, Samwell Tarly of Horn Hill and Lord Gendry Baratheon of the Storm Lands. Sarella Sand represents Princess Arianne Martell from Dorne. Victaria Greyjoy gazes at Bran with melancholy. Sansa challenges Grey Worm concerning Jon's absence. Victaria'scharacterization of Jon's criminality elicits threats from Arya. Ser Davos attempts to bribe Grey Worm, outraging him. Sansa contends that many Dothraki recognize Jon as Daenerys' successor, for it was he who slew her. They await his claiming of her dragon. Grey Worm scoffs in contempt.Tyrion asserts Jon's fate should be decided by a new king, entreating them to determine who that shall be. Edmure's bid is ignored. Sam's appeal for democracy is laughed down. Tyrion nominates Bran, keeper of their historical memory, as uniquely qualified, proposing future kings, rather than inherit their throne, be chosen. Grey Worm vetoes any pardon for Jon, demanding they anoint a ruler who shall dispense justice for his queen. Menacingly, Drogon rises from slumber. The assembled lords recoil as the dragon advances. In astonishment, Grey Worm realizes that it is he who provokes the dragon.

Bran informs them that Drogon shall never forgive Jon, but neither shall it countenance the demise of the Targaryen dynasty, a statement eliciting a skeptical look from Sansa. Grey Worm accuses Bran of stealing the dragon's will, but Bran replies, in Valyrian, "a dragon is not a slave," explaining that he knows Drogon's mind, and Drogon knows his. Together, they are "the Song of Ice and Fire." Rickon Stark, Victaria Greyjoy, Robin Arryn, Edmure Tully and Gendry Baratheon assent to Bran's election, though Sarella defers Dorne's decision. Sansa lobbies Rickon to declare the North independent, but Rickon desires only to support his brother. Bran recognizes her disappointment, telling her that he shall need her help. Sadly, she nods. When Bran is proclaimed as the Lord of the Six Kingdoms, he names Tyrion his Hand, over Grey Worm's objection.

In a cell, Tyrion tells Jon that he is sentenced to join the Night's Watch. Tyrion assures that, though they may no longer require a wall, a "shield to guard the realms of men" is ever required. Jon asks if he did the right thing. Tyrion says, "Ask me in twenty years."

Jon is escorted to the docks, passing Grey Worm. Sansa, Arya and Bran await him. They observe the Dothraki sailing home, following Drogon in the sky. Bran silently acknowledges his influence.Sansa apologizes for allowing Jon's banishment. Arya reveals her plan to explore the Western Sea, showing Jon the elegant sword Gendry gifted her. Jon kneels before Bran, asking if he is Aegon Targaryen or Jon Snow. Bran names him Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, instructing that he shall determine the ancient order's future, be it in the north or, as Daenerys might have envisioned, across the Narrow Sea. Bran grants Jon discretion to determine what the oath of the Night's Watch henceforth becomes.

The Blackfish, Commander of the Kingsguard, completes the record of Jaime's deeds.

Tyrion prepares to preside over the Small Council. Ser Davos, Ser Bronn and Maester Samwell join him, with Sam presenting a history of the War of Five Kings that lacks mention of Tyrion. Sam explains that Archmaester Ebrose believes that history is the product of complex social forces rather than individual personalities. King Brandon enters, escorted by the Blackfish, Podrick and Sansa. The Blackfish takes his seat. Bran wishes to know who shall become Lord of the Reach, insisting the recommendation of the Small Council be unanimous. As Tyrion begins evaluating various claims, Sansa discreetly nods to Davos, who asserts that the Reach should pass to whom House Tyrell would have chosen. Tyrion is perplexed as to how this may be ascertained, but the Blackfish reminds Tyrion of Lady Olenna's intention for Sansa to marry Loras, arguing that had the marriage taken place, Sansa would rule the Reach. Though Tyrion judges the claim preposterous, Bronn seconds it with enthusiasm that Tyrion finds suspect. Diplomatically, Tyrion asks Sam to confirm that women are forbidden to inherit titles in the Reach. Unexpectedly, Sam is prepared with historical exceptions from centuries ago.

Glancing at Sansa, standing demurely by Bran's side, Tyrion has a realization. He reminds Sam that establishing this precedent might aid his daughter's claim to Horn Hill. Sam feigns this not having occurred to him. Tyrion congratulates Davos on securing a lucrative shipping concession, bringing goods from the Reach through Lannisport to the North, and asks if he negotiated directly with Lord Rickon. Davos shifts uncomfortably, admitting that the deal was struck through his regent. Slowly comprehending, Podrick looks at Sansa. Tyrion asks Bronn to remind him who will collect the enormous port duties now promised to Lannisport. Bronn replies, matter-of-factly, that he does. With admiration and resignation, Tyrion mutters "Little-finger would be proud." He announces unanimous agreement toward Lady Sansa Stark being appointed Lord of the Reach. The king nods his ascent, reminding Sansa that he said that the North was not for her. As Pod wheels Bran out, Sansa assertively seats herself opposite Tyrion, while Bronn asks if the king knows where Drogon is now. Bran merely answers "yes." Mention is made of declining sea levels in recent months. Debate moves toward the priority of rebuilding ships over brothels.

Jon returns to the Wall. Arianne awaits him, her silver hair styled not unlike Daenerys. Jon has trepidation. "Hello, little brother," she says, smiling at him through purple teeth.

Sansa is coronatedin the Great Hall at Highgarden, examining her suitors with skepticism. As Arya sails upon the Western Sea, Nymeria awaits her on deck. Jon goes beyond the Wall with Arianne and Tormund.

Post Credit sequence:

Bran is on a balcony of the Red Keep. Sam reads to him about the prophecy of "the Prince Who Was Promised" and the blade of Azor Ahai. A maid is humming "It's Always Summer Under the Sea." Bran stares out over the water. Beneath the waves, a dolphin's eyes flash. It breaks from its school and winds through shipwrecks, before arriving just below the shoreline under the Red Keep. It looks upon the motionless body of the Mountain. The corpse has not decomposed in the least, its yellow eyes open. Arya's dagger remains in his belt. Bran's consciousness returns to his body. He stares out to sea, expressionless.

RDJ

Appendix

A Streamlined Alternative: Too much? If you want a simpler fix, and one that only involves changes to season eight, and without creating two extra episodes, then I suggest the following.

Keep the essentials of Arya's twist. Include the episode #1 scene of Varys meeting with Bran, and Bran looking into the back story of Jaqen H'ghar, now combined with Bran's vision of the faceless men from episode #8 of season #5. Later, while dropping Arya killing Euron, keep the scene that follows, in episode #5, of Arya killing Qyburn/Jaqen. You may add an explanation by having Arya realize that she was programmed to do it, perhaps by having Bran's season #7 vision of her past now appear as flashbacks, but I might prefer leaving her motivations up to the audience to interpret.

Keep the episode #4 scene of Jaime speaking privately to Daenerys about Rhaegar's failure, while she looks out at her allies across the Winterfell courtyard. Also keep the subsequent scene of her sympathizing with the ruthlessness of Tormund's raids through the North. These two scenes would help cast her actions in King's Landing not as emotional, but rather as a cold-bloodedly rational act.

Definitely keep the episode #5 scene of Arya and the Hound facing off against Cersei and Jaime(therefore also dropping the scene of the Hound effortlessly killing all of Cersei's bodyguards).

Keep Jon's episode #6 fight with Grey Worm. Not only would it increase the stakes for him, as the last supporter to turn on Daenerys, but Jon needs to accomplish more in the final episode than stab an unarmed woman. Also, assuming Brienne is no longer killed at the beginning of episode #3(something I struggled over), she will take most of Podrick's and the Blackfish's role in the sequence, rather than being hundreds of miles north, weeping over Jaime during the climax.

Keep Jon's conversation with Bran in episode #2(one of the last scenes I wrote), and then keep Bran's difficult warg into Drogon, saving Jon's life after he kills Daenerys. Make certain that his ability to do so in the future is a major factor in the episode #6 conference where he is named king.

The Faceless Men: The true Jaqen H'ghar was a Lorathi nobleman killed by Faceless Men. After Qyburn saved his life, using methods for which he'd been banished, the Faceless Men ordered his death. They assigned the mission to Jaqen's twin brother, a novice amongst them. He murdered Qyburn, and ended his brother's zombie-like resurrection. However, upon returning to the House of Black and White, he killed those Faceless Men responsible for his brother's murder. Having betrayed his order, this twin cut off his own face, thereafter adopting his brother's as his own. He also claimed Qyburn's face.

In King's Landing, he joined the Pyromancers. Varys arrested him before he carried out the Mad King's last command. "Jaqen H'ghar" spent eighteen years in the Black Cells.

As a Faceless Man, he had extra faces on his person when he was captured, and kept them hidden in his cell. During confusion after Robert's death, Yoren took whom he saw as fit for the Wall. Travelling north, "Jaqen" remained intent on burning King's Landing.

Upon saying farewell to Arya, he did not leave Harrenhal. Following a massacre inside, "Jaqen" posed as a survivor, adopting Qyburn's face, and giving himself plausible, but survivable injuries. He served Robb Stark, then Roose Bolton and Ser Jaime, before acquiring a position of trust under Queen Cersei. Obliged to maintain vows, he connived to have Cersei order him to destroy King's Landing exactly as the Mad King had done.

From Qyburn's notes, he learned how to save the Mountain's life. Keeping Jon Snow's dragonglass dagger, he gained any information he could of the White Walkers' origins.

Eventually, he gained Cersei's permission to detonate caches of wildfyre he had placed decades before, thereby fulfilling his vow to both rulers. When Arya prevented him from being able to "Burn them all!" he had one option. He gave Arya his dragonglass dagger…

R'hllor, the Red God: The Lord of Light sought to remove his rival, the Night King. He kept Beric Dondarrion alive for that purpose, inspiring visions of a young Stark woman in a broken tower, that he should build a rope line across the godswood to aid Alys Karstark, the future Lady of Winterfell. His purpose was not to protect her, but create the means for Arya to stealthily approach the Night King from above.

Jaqen H'ghar's brother, after betraying the Faceless Men, changed his religion. By the time he met Arya at Harrenhal, he no longer spoke of the Many-Faced God, but claimed to serve the Red God. His dying instructions were for her to stab the Mountain, a life owed to unnatural methods discovered by Qyburn, with a dragonglass blade through the heart, as the Children of the Forest once created the Night King. So… does the Mountain become the Sun King, earthly champion of the Lord of Light?

Prophecies: Khal Drogo, Euron and Varys received the same prophecy of a conqueror conceived in the Red Keep, although Drogo mistook Daenerys' dynastic seat for her dynasty. Rhaegar's outline was correct, although he misidentified which personalities performed which place in the prophecy, mistaking his own role for Ned Stark's. Melisandre falsely believed that "the Prince Who Was Promised" and "the Song of Ice and Fire" were the same person. "The Song of Ice and Fire," a younger brother of a usurper without legitimate children, destined to bring forth a new era, was neither Stannis nor Jon, but Bran. Unlike Jon, Bran was not a child of the North and Valyria, yet possessed the North's power to warg into a dragon. However, his sister Arya was "the Prince Who Was Promised".

Easter Egg: When sailing off the edge of the world to the east, one moves forward a decade in time, as Euron did, aging only five years during fifteen years away from Westeros. When Arya sails across the western sea, she conversely reverses a decade in time. Like Euron, she will study under the Warlocks beyond Ashhai, but will then return to Bravos before the original arrival of her younger self. Though still outmatched by the Faceless Men, Arya will convince them that her younger self is capable of killing their great apostate, the twin brother of Jaqen H'ghar. She subsequently avails herself of some of the faces this traitor left behind decades before, not only the Old Doorkeeper's, but the turncoat's own discarded face. When a youthful Arya is condemned for killing Meryn Trant without permission, her elder version, disguised as "Jaqen", consumes the poison herself. Indeed, Arya discovered her own face beneath "Jaqen's" mask.