The Lion and the Rose

"The Lion and the Rose" is the second episode of the fourth season of Game of Thrones and the thirty-second episode of the series overall. It aired on April 13, 2014 and was written by George R.R. Martin, the writer of the A Song of Ice and Fire novels on which the series is based. It was directed by Alex Graves.

At Dragonstone
On the beach of Dragonstone, Melisandre presides over a public burning ceremony, setting three people chained to stakes ablaze as an offering to the Lord of Light. One of the condemned is Queen Selyse Baratheon's own brother Axell Florent, executed for his lack of faith in the Lord's power. Watching the proceedings, Ser Davos Seaworth holds his tongue, though his disgust both for the ritual and Melisandre are plain. Melisandre is surprisingly silent throughout the proceedings; it is Selyse who takes the greatest pleasure in the ritual.

Afterwards, Stannis and Selyse eat dinner, with Melisandre as a guest at their table. The royal couple argue over their daughter, Princess Shireen Baratheon; Selyse believes the girl's disfigurement is a punishment from the Lord of Light, but Stannis angrily forbids his wife from trying to physically chastise their daughter for her perceived faults. Selyse switches tactics and suggests that Melisandre speak to Shireen. Stannis doesn't protest, but Melisandre doesn't look particularly interested in the task. Nonetheless, Melisandre does speak with Shireen, who heard the death of her uncle from her bedroom window, explaining in gentle yet matter-of-fact terms that the Faith of the Seven and its holy books are lies: Melisandre insists there are only two gods, the Lord of Light and the Great Other, constantly at war. When Shireen asks if there is any truth to the Faith's belief in seven heavens and seven hells, Melisandre replies "There is only one hell... the one we live in now".

At the Dreadfort
In the forests surrounding the Dreadfort, the seat of House Bolton, Ramsay Snow hunts a peasant girl for sport, accompanied by Theon Greyjoy (whom Ramsay now addresses by his new name, Reek) and Myranda, along with a pack of savage dogs. The girl is eventually brought down and torn to pieces by the dogs, much to Reek's horror.

Soon after, Roose Bolton arrives at the Dreadfort accompanied by a detachment of his army, including Locke and Roose's new wife, Walda Bolton. Ramsay greets his father and his new step-mother (as well as privately congratulating Locke for his maiming of the Kingslayer). Roose wants to see Ramsay's captive Theon Greyjoy.

Theon is brought to Roose's chambers, where Roose is disgusted and angered to learn Ramsay has tortured and flayed Theon; as Balon Greyjoy's sole surviving male heir, Theon was a valuable hostage. Roose notes that while he has been named Warden of the North, Tywin Lannister will not help him reclaim the north from the ironborn, and he had intended on trading Theon for Moat Cailin, a strategically placed fortress on the border between the North and the Riverlands currently held by Greyjoy forces, preventing the main Bolton army from returning north. Ramsay retorts that he already sent terms and Balon refused him. Roose is furious that Ramsay did so without his consent, but Ramsay demonstrates that his actions have made Reek docile and unable to betray them.

After ordering Reek to shave him, Ramsay cajoles him into admitting that Bran and Rickon Stark are still alive. Ramsay reminds his father that the boys are now heirs to House Stark's rule of the North following Robb Stark's death, and nearly all the Northerners, who are furious at House Bolton and House Frey's treachery against the Starks, will rally behind Bran and Rickon rather than Roose if they learn the boys are alive. Ramsay, knowing how close Theon was to Robb, gleefully taunts him by revealing details of the Red Wedding, particularly relishing the fact that it was Roose who personally murdered Robb. Despite being clearly shaken to know the man he considered a brother is dead at the hands of his new masters, Theon does not openly react.

Roose dispatches Locke with orders to find and kill Bran and Rickon; Reek suggests that Jon Snow might either be sheltering the boys at Castle Black or at least may know where they have gone, while Ramsay advocates killing Jon as well, given that the fact he has Stark blood could lead to him becoming a threat, since the Northeners will rally behind him or he will simply seek revenge (although harming Jon would constitute a grave crime since he is part of the Night's Watch and thus legally untouchable by the Seven Kingdoms). Roose gives Ramsay orders as well; to take Theon and an army to Moat Cailin and reclaim the fortress from the Greyjoys. If he succeeds, Roose will give consideration to legitimizing Ramsay as a member of House Bolton.

Beyond the Wall
We follow the point of view of a panting figure traveling through a dark, snow-covered forest. It kills a deer. Just as the figure makes its kill, it is revealed that the figure is Summer and that Bran Stark had been warging into Summer. Bran's warging is interrupted by Meera Reed, who says that Bran had been gone for hours. Bran is not happy about having been snapped out of his warging, saying that he was eating. Jojen Reed clarifies that Summer was eating and that what Bran cannot gain sustenance from what Summer eats. Jojen and Meera also caution Bran that warging so long is dangerous for other reasons. Even though it allows Bran the mobility he lost when he was injured, Bran would become trapped, forgetting his friends, his family, his home, and even himself. And if Bran forgets himself, they all lose everything.

The group breaks camp and continues traveling through the forest. They eventually come upon a weirwood tree. Bran has Hodor take him to the tree. Bran touches the tree just under the face carved into it and sees a vision. Several images rush to Bran's mind, including swarms of crows, wights (both human and horses), and the fall that paralyzed him. He also sees the Three-eyed raven taking flight in a darkened corridor and later land on a tree. Bran sees his father sharpening Ice, in the Black Cells, and being led to his execution; the Red Keep abandoned and covered in snow; and the shadow of a dragon flying over King's Landing. Bran also sees several images of a different weirwood tree located on top of an otherwise barren mountain. During the vision, a gravely voice tells Bran to "look for me beneath the tree... NORTH." Bran snaps out of his vision out of breath, but then matter-of-factly states, "I know where we have to go."

At King's Landing
Over a meal, Jaime and Tyrion discuss Jaime's gilded steel hand, and he discloses to Tyrion that he can no longer fight, as all of his instincts are wrong using his left hand. Jaime is perturbed that people will find out that he cannot fight so Tyrion tells him that he needs to train with his left hand with someone trustworthy in order to better protect the king, as the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard. Later, Jaime waits in a courtyard by the sea for his training partner that Tyrion has arranged. Bronn emerges with two training swords. Jaime remarks that he hasn't wielded a sparring sword since he was nine. As they commence training, Bronn uses his usual dirty tactics and gets the better of Jaime, teaching him not only to use his offhand, but encouraging him to fight dirtier.

Tyrion finds Varys on his way to a breakfast celebration on the day of Joffrey's wedding. Varys divulges that Shae has been spotted and that his sister, Cersei, has been notified. Varys then says that there is nothing he can do to protect Shae any longer in fear of Tywin Lannister, the Hand of the King, or Cersei finding out that he has been lying to them. Tyrion then says that Shae will not leave King's Landing and is warned that Tywin has threatened to hang the next whore Tyrion is seen with. At the breakfast celebration, Mace Tyrell gifts Joffrey a magnificent golden chalice with seven facets, one for each of the major houses in the Seven Kingdoms and wishes he and his daughter, Margaery Tyrell, a long and happy marriage. Joffrey graciously accepts. Cersei spots Shae and tells Tywin that she is Tyrion's whore, and he commands for her to be sent to the Tower of the Hand before the wedding. Tyrion overhears this and looks vexed, but proceeds to approach Joffrey and Podrick Payne, Tyrion's squire, presents him with the Lives of Four Kings, a book detailing the reigns of four kings by Grand Maester Kaeth. Joffrey accepts the gift but his sincerity seems questionable. A member of the Kingsguard then presents a Valyrian steel sword and Tywin tells him that it is one of two swords of its kind in the capital, and Joffrey rushes to wield it. He promptly begins to slash at Tyrion's gift despite its rarity, and then asks for suggestions on its name from guests in attendance. He settles on the name Widow's Wail.

After the breakfast, Tyrion is visited in his chambers by Shae and he informs her that there is a ship waiting for her bound for Pentos and that their "friendship" is at an end. Shae pleads to stay, but Tyrion says he is married and it is too dangerous for her to stay. When Bronn enters and tries to escort her out, she slaps him and runs away. When Tyrion later asks Bronn if she is gone, he says that she boarded the ship. When Tyrion asks if he saw it sail away, Bronn assures him that no one has been following him while escorting her, that she is gone and no one knows about it except the two of them and Varys. He then advises Tyrion to go and drink until it feels like he did the right thing.

Joffrey and Margaery's wedding ceremony takes place in the Great Sept of Baelor conducted by the High Septon and they are wed in front of gods and men. At his wedding feast, King Joffrey speaks to the crowd about contemplating history. Out of a large golden lion, five dwarves ride out, representing Joffrey, Renly Baratheon, Stannis Baratheon, Robb Stark, and Balon Greyjoy, each of the five kings in the War of the Five Kings. The dwarves put on a performance, jousting, fighting, and making crude sexual acts. Joffrey, his brother Tommen, and Cersei laugh at the performance. The Tyrells (Margaery, Olenna, Mace, and Loras), as well as Varys, Prince Oberyn, Tyrion and Sansa Stark, make little effort to hide their disgust. Loras leaves in anger after watching the crude depiction of his deceased lover Renly (riding a mount resembling Loras), and Sansa looks on in obvious grief when the dwarf playing her brother Robb is killed after having his wolf's head knocked off. Joffrey expresses his delight with the play and prepares to give the champion dwarf a purse but then mockingly suggests that Tyrion fight him as well. Tyrion cleverly counters this jape by suggesting that Joffrey should fight instead and show the same bravery he displayed at the Battle of the Blackwater, cautioning his nephew to be careful as the champion dwarf is "clearly mad with lust" and it would be a tragedy for the king to lose his virtue hours before his wedding night. This draws a few stifled chuckles from their guests. Enraged and humiliated that his uncle outwitted him in front of all his wedding guests, Joffrey petulantly pours wine over Tyrion's head and orders him to serve him wine as his cupbearer.

Tyrion approaches Joffrey, who then purposely drops the goblet and kicks it under the table. Sansa hands the goblet to Tyrion, and he fills it with wine and hands it back to Joffrey. The king demands that Tyrion kneel before him but Tyrion refuses. Margaery interrupts the tense moment and says it is time to cut the pigeon pie. Joffrey hands the goblet to Margaery, who then places it at the edge of the table near her grandmother Olenna. Joffrey draws his new sword, cuts the pie, and several white doves fly out. Sansa and Tyrion attempt to leave the feast, while Margaery serves Joffrey a piece of pie. Joffrey commands Tyrion to serve him wine to wash down the pie. Tyrion hands the goblet to Joffrey and he quickly drinks all of it. Joffrey tries to speak, but begins coughing. He grabs his throat, and Margaery and Olenna exclaim that he is choking and needs help. Joffrey collapses face down and begins vomiting and convulsing. Jaime and Cersei rush in and turn Joffrey over on his back. Dontos Hollard suddenly approaches Sansa from behind and says she must come with him quickly, and she does. Joffrey points an accusatory finger in Tyrion's direction, as he examines the wine goblet (though it is not made clear if Joffrey is accusing Tyrion or merely the wine). Joffrey's eyes turn red, blood runs from his nose, he stops convulsing, and dies. Cersei sobs with grief and orders the Kingsguard to seize Tyrion for the poisoning of her son.

Appearances

 * Main: The Lion and the Rose/Appearances

First

 * Tansy
 * Ser Axell Florent
 * Walda Bolton
 * Mace Tyrell
 * Dwarf 1
 * Dwarf 2
 * Dwarf 3
 * Dwarf 4
 * Dwarf 5

Deaths

 * Tansy, torn apart by Ramsay's hounds
 * Ser Axell Florent, burned alive by Melisandre
 * King Joffrey I Baratheon, choked to death by poison

Cast
Starring
 * Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister
 * Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Ser Jaime Lannister
 * Lena Headey as Queen Cersei Lannister
 * Charles Dance as Lord Tywin Lannister
 * Natalie Dormer as Lady Margaery Tyrell
 * Liam Cunningham as Ser Davos Seaworth
 * Stephen Dillane as King Stannis Baratheon
 * Carice van Houten as Lady Melisandre
 * Alfie Allen as Prince Theon Greyjoy
 * Jack Gleeson as King Joffrey Baratheon
 * Isaac Hempstead-Wright as Bran Stark
 * Sophie Turner as Lady Sansa Stark
 * Gwendoline Christie as Brienne of Tarth
 * Sibel Kekilli as Shae
 * Iwan Rheon as Ramsay Snow
 * Conleth Hill as Lord Varys
 * Jerome Flynn as Ser Bronn

Guest starring
 * Diana Rigg as Lady Olenna Tyrell
 * Pedro Pascal as Prince Oberyn Martell
 * Indira Varma as Ellaria Sand
 * Michael McElhatton as Lord Roose Bolton
 * Noah Taylor as Locke
 * Tara Fitzgerald as Queen Selyse Baratheon
 * Julian Glover as Grand Maester Pycelle
 * Roger Ashton-Griffiths as Lord Mace Tyrell
 * Finn Jones as Ser Loras Tyrell
 * Thomas Brodie-Sangster as Jojen Reed
 * Ellie Kendrick as Meera Reed
 * Kristian Nairn as Hodor
 * Dean-Charles Chapman as Prince Tommen Baratheon
 * Daniel Portman as Podrick Payne
 * Ian Beattie as Ser Meryn Trant
 * Tony Way as Dontos Hollard
 * Kerry Ingram as Princess Shireen Baratheon
 * Charlotte Hope as Myranda
 * Jazzy de Lisser as Tansy
 * Paul Bentley as the High Septon
 * Elizabeth Webster as Lady Walda Bolton
 * James McHale as Ser Axell Florent
 * Pixie Le Knot as Kayla
 * Jón Þór Birgisson as a Musician
 * Georg Hólm as a Musician
 * Orri Páll Dýrason as a Musician
 * Raymond Griffiths as a Dwarf
 * Max Laird as a Dwarf
 * Dean Whatton as Dwarf
 * George Appleby as a Dwarf
 * Krysten Coombs as a Dwarf

Uncredited
 * Struan Rodger as the Three-eyed raven
 * Neil Baltus as a Noble Man
 * Richard Buick as a Tyrell Wedding Guest
 * Paul Herbert as a Wedding Guest
 * Stella Lutz as a Noble Lady
 * C.C. Smiff as a Wedding Guest
 * Sean Bean as Lord Eddard Stark (archive footage, no lines)

Cast notes

 * 17 of 27 cast members for the fourth season appear in this episode.
 * Starring cast members John Bradley (Samwell Tarly), Emilia Clarke (Daenerys Targaryen), Aidan Gillen (Petyr Baelish), Iain Glen (Jorah Mormont), Kit Harington (Jon Snow), Kristofer Hivju (Tormund), Rose Leslie (Ygritte), Rory McCann (Sandor Clegane), Maisie Williams (Arya Stark) and Hannah Murray (Gilly) are not credited and do not appear in this episode.
 * Iwan Rheon is added to the main cast and his name appears in the opening credits starting with this episode. He previously recurred in the third season.

In the books

 * See: Differences between books and TV series - Season 4 


 * The episode is adapted from the following chapters of A Clash of Kings:
 * Chapter 69, Bran VII: Bran wargs into Summer continuously, yet Jojen warns that his real self will starve if he stays inside the direwolf for too long.
 * The episode is adapted from the following chapters of A Storm of Swords:
 * Chapter 10, Davos II: On Dragonstone, people who lack of faith in the Lord's power are sacrificed.
 * Chapter 58, Tyrion VII: Tyrion contemplates sending Shae away from King's Landing.
 * Chapter 59, Sansa IV: At Joffrey and Margaery's wedding breakfast, Tyrion presents his nephew with a copy of the Lives of Four Kings, which is "a book every king should read." Tywin presents the King with a Valyrian steel sword, which is given the name Widow's Wail, and Joffrey hacks Tyrion's book in half with it.
 * Chapter 60, Tyrion VIII: Joffrey and Margaery wed at the Great Sept of Baelor. At the wedding feast, Olenna Tyrell offers her condolences to Sansa. Joffrey commands Tyrion to fight in the troupe of dwarfs that are performing a mock battle; Tyrion responds by making fun of Joffrey. Joffrey humiliates Tyrion by dumping wine over his head and commanding him to be his cupbearer. When the pigeon pie is brought out and Joffrey tries it, he tells Tyrion to refill his cup again and he does so. Joffrey starts coughing. He is soon unable to breath and dies, not before pointing with his finger at his uncle. Sansa slips off during the confusion. Cersei commands the Kingsguard to arrest Tyrion for the poisoning and murder of their King.
 * Chapter 61, Sansa V: Sansa escapes the wedding feast with the help of Dontos Hollard.
 * Chapter 72, Jaime IX: Jaime discovers he cannot fight properly without his right hand, which is his swordhand. Tommen Baratheon signs a royal decree that appoints Roose as the Warden of the North.
 * The episode is adapted from the following chapters of A Feast for Crows:
 * Chapter 17, Cersei IV: A plot is made to have men infiltrate the Night's Watch and assassinate Jon Snow.
 * Chapter 27, Jaime III: Jaime begins training with a discrete sword partner, hoping to improve his left-handed swordsmanship without people finding out.
 * The episode is adapted from the following chapters of A Dance with Dragons:
 * Chapter 4, Bran I: Bran, Jojen, Meera, and Hodor continue North, beyond the Wall, to find the three-eyed raven.
 * Chapter 12, Reek I: Theon has become Ramsay's obedient servant. Ramsay hunts a woman down with his dogs for his own amusement.
 * Chapter 20, Reek II: Roose Bolton introduces his new wife, Walda, to his son, Ramsay.
 * Chapter 32, Reek III: Roose chastises his son for being reckless.

Memorable quotes
Tyrion Lannister: "A toast to the proud Lannister children: The dwarf, the cripple, and the Mother of Madness."

Bronn: "Problem is, if you fight with an edged blade, I'll have to. And if I fight with an edged blade, I'll have no one left to pay me."

Melisandre: "There is only one hell... the one we live in now."

Ramsay Snow: "I hear you took a hand from the Kingslayer!" Locke: Word travels. How he screamed! You would have loved it.

Ramsay: "Reek, tell father, where are Bran and Rickon Stark? Reek "I don't know, my lord."

Roose Bolton: "You murdered them and displayed their corpses at Winterfell."

Ramsay: "Reek, did you murder the Stark boys?"

Reek: "No, my lord. Just two farm boys."

Ramsay: "And crisped them so no one would know."

Reek: "Yes, my lord."

Ramsay: "The Starks have always ruled the North. If Bran and Rickon are alive, the country will rally to their side now that Robb Stark is gone." [Reek stops shaving Ramsay.] "Oh, that's right, Reek. Robb Stark is dead. Sorry. I know he was like a brother to you, but my father put a knife through his heart. How do you feel about that?"

[Reek pauses a moment, his razor resting on Ramsay's jugular vein, but then he resumes shaving his master.]

Roose: "You ready for a hunt?"

Locke: "Always."

Roose: "Find those boys and I'll give a thousand acres and a holdfast."

Locke: "Your pet rat have any thoughts on which way they went after Winterfell?"

Reek: "Jon Snow is at Castle Black."

Locke: "Who the fuck's Jon Snow?"

Roose: "Their bastard brother. He could be sheltering them. He may know where they are."

Ramsay: "Even if he doesn't, he's half Stark himself. He could be a threat."

Roose: "You want to prove yourself a Bolton? Gather whatever men you can and ride for Moat Cailin. Bring this creature of yours. Maybe he'll be of some use. Take the Moat for the family, for our family, and I'll reconsider your position."

Joffrey Baratheon: "Such a great sword should have a name. What shall I call her?"

Man 1: Stormbringer!

Man 2: Terminus!

Man 3: Widow's Wail!

Man 4: Wolfsbane!

Joffrey: Widow's Wail, I like that! Every time I use it, it'll be like cutting off Ned Stark's head all over again.

Oberyn Martell: "I expect it is a relief, Lady Cersei, giving up your regal responsibilities. Wearing the crown for so many years must have left your neck a bit crooked."

Olenna Tyrell: "Killing a man at a wedding? Horrid. What sort of monster would do such a thing? As if men need more reasons to fear marriage."

Jaime Lannister: "If you were to marry Cersei, she'd murder you in your sleep. If you somehow managed to put a child in her first, she'd murder him, too, long before he drew his first breath. Luckily for you, none of this will happen because you'll never marry her."

Loras Tyrell: "And neither will you."

Joffrey: "Well fought, well fought! Here you are--champion's purse. Though... you're not really the champion, yet, are you? A true champion defeats all the challengers. Surely there are others who still dare to challenge my reign? Uncle? How about you? I'm sure they have a spare costume."

Tyrion: "One taste of combat was enough for me, Your Grace. I would like to keep what remains of my face. I think you should fight him. This was but a poor imitation of your own bravery on the field of battle. I speak as a firsthand witness. Climb down from the high table with your new Valyrian sword and show everyone how a true king wins his throne. Be careful, though. This one is clearly mad with lust. It would be a tragedy for the king to lose his virtue hours before his wedding night."

[Enraged and humiliated, Joffrey walks over to Tyrion and empties his goblet over his uncle's head.]

Tyrion: "Fine vintage. A shame that it spilled."

Joffrey: "It did not spill."

Margaery Tyrell: "My love, come back to me. It's time for my father's toast."

Joffrey: "Well, how does he expect me to toast without wine? Uncle, you can be my cupbearer, seeing as you're too cowardly to fight."

Tyrion: "Your Grace does me a great honor."

Joffrey: "It's not meant as an honor."

Joffrey: "Kneel. Kneel before your king. Kneel." [Tyrion glares at his nephew in defiance.] "I said...KNEEL!"

Margaery: "Look, the pie!"

Joffrey: "Uncle! Where are you going? You're my cupbearer, remember?" Tyrion: "I thought I might change out of these wet clothes, Your Grace."

Joffrey: "No, no, no. You're perfect the way you are. Serve me my wine. Well, hurry up! This pie is dry!"

[Tyrion gets the goblet and gives it to Joffrey, who gulps down its contents.]

Joffrey: "Mm. Good. Needs washing down."

Tyrion: "If it please, Your Grace, Lady Sansa is very tired..."

Joffrey: "No!" [Joffrey starts to cough but tries to finish his command.] "No, you'll wait here...un..." Tyrion: "Your Grace?"

Joffrey: "It's nothing!"

[Cersei and Tywin both shift in their chairs, realising something is wrong; Joffrey, gasping for breath, turns towards Margaery, who sees the alarm on his face.]

Margaery: "He's choking!"

Olenna: "Help the poor boy!"

[Joffrey staggers away from the table, choking frantically.]

Olenna: "Idiots, help your king!"

Jaime: "Move away!" [He pushes his way through the crowd and runs towards Joffrey as he collapses, choking and vomiting.] "Joffrey! Joffrey!"

Cersei Lannister: "Help him!" [She shoves past Margaery and runs toward her son.] "Someone help him!"

Jaime: "Joffrey!"

Cersei: "Joffrey!"

Dontos Hollard: [To Sansa] "Come with me now."

Cersei: "Joffrey! Joffrey!"

Dontos: "If you want to live, we have to leave."

Cersei: "Don't touch him! Joffrey! Please! My God, what is it? Help him!"

''[With his last ounce of strength, Joffrey points to Tyrion as he is picking up the cup that Joffrey just drank from. Cersei glares at her brother with pure rage then turns back to her son as he bleeds from his nose and eyes, and wheezes out his final breath before he finally stops convulsing and dies.]''

Cersei: "My son!" [To Tyrion] "You did this! You poisoned my son! Your king! Take him! Take him! Take him! TAKE HIM!"