Two Swords

"Two Swords" is the first episode of the fourth season of Game of Thrones. It is the thirty-first episode of the series overall. It premiered on April 6, 2014. It was written and directed by executive producers David Benioff and D.B. Weiss.

In King's Landing
Tywin Lannister has the ancestral Stark Valyrian steel greatsword Ice (held in Lannister hands since Eddard Stark's execution) melted down into two smaller swords. He then presents one of the swords to his son Jaime Lannister as a gift. Jaime is very impressed by the sword and asks how he forged a Valyrian steel sword. Tywin says a blacksmith from Volantis, one of only three men in the world who can forge Valyrian steel, did so at Tywin's invitation. Tywin then orders Jaime to return home to Casterly Rock, but Jaime refuses and insists on serving in the Kingsguard with only one hand. Furious at Jaime's refusal and lack of ambition, Tywin disinherits him.

Tyrion Lannister, Bronn, and Podrick Payne wait on a road outside the city for the arrival of Doran Martell, who is traveling from Dorne for the royal wedding. Tyrion quizzes Bronn on the sigils of the Dornish houses, none of which he knows, however Podrick answers perfectly. Lord Blackmont approaches them on horseback and says Prince Doran is in poor health and remained at Sunspear. Doran's brother, Oberyn Martell, will be attending the wedding in his stead, and arrived before dawn.

Prince Oberyn and his bastard paramour Ellaria Sand are examining prostitutes in a brothel owned by Petyr Baelish, but currently managed by Olyver, as Lord Baelish has left the capital for The Vale. They choose the contortionist Kayla, and Oberyn orders Olyver to get undressed also. Oberyn suddenly becomes enraged when he hears men singing The Rains of Castamere. He confronts two Lannister soldiers in another room. One of them reaches for his sword, and Oberyn stabs him through the wrist with a dagger. Tyrion and Bronn then enter, and Oberyn and Tyrion step outside to speak privately. Oberyn says he seeks revenge for the murder of his niece Rhaenys, his nephew Aegon, and the rape and murder of his sister Elia during Robert's Rebellion. He wants the heads of Gregor Clegane, who murdered Elia, and Tywin, whom Oberyn believes gave the order for Elia and her children to be killed.

Tyrion, his wife Sansa Stark, his secret lover Shae, and another handmaiden are sitting in a garden. Even though weeks have passed, Sansa is still deeply saddened over the deaths of her brother and mother. Tyrion asks for some time alone with his wife, and attempts to console his wife but fails; Sansa has heard the gruesome details of the Red Wedding, how the corpses of her mother and brother were desecrated after their murders. Sansa goes to the godswood as that is the only place she will not be bothered. Tyrion returns to his chambers and finds Shae in his bed. He scolds her because no one can find out about their relationship. She attempts to seduce him but he resists. She accuses him of trying to bribe her with diamonds and ship her away to the Free Cities, but he doesn't know what she's talking about (Varys did this acting alone). She angrily leaves the room but is spotted by the handmaiden, who is hiding behind a pillar.

Jaime, Cersei, and Qyburn are in Cersei's chambers. Cersei had a golden right hand made for Jaime, and Qyburn attaches it to Jaime's stump. Qyburn asks Cersei about her symptoms, and she says they are gone. She thanks him and refers to him as maester, but Qyburn corrects her and says he is not a maester, and he then leaves. Jaime tells her that he will stay in the Kingsguard with one hand so he can stay close to her, then tries to kiss her, but she turns away, much to Jaime's confusion and anger. Cersei implies that she has taken other lovers and that their relationship has changed because of his lengthy absence, a statement that clearly wounds Jaime. The handmaiden suddenly enters and says she has important information for Cersei.

As preperations for the royal wedding continue, Margaery Tyrell and her grandmother Olenna Tyrell are interrupted by Brienne of Tarth, (Olenna being delighted to see the truth of the rumours about Brienne) who requests a private word with Margaery. Brienne tells Margaery the truth of Renly's death and vows to one day exact revenge on Stannis Baratheon, who she holds responsible. Elsewhere in the Red Keep, Jaime discusses security and the placement of the Kingsguard during the wedding with Ser Meryn Trant and King Joffrey. Jaime is clearly irked by his nephew/son's arrogant attitude as well as Meryn's sycophantic agreement to the king's bragging that he is responsible for keeping the people fed (Jaime notes that this is more the doing of the Tyrells) and claiming he singlehandedly won the war. Jaime (who had previously noted to his father that thousands of people in King's Landing alone still want Joffrey dead) points out that the war is far from won; Stannis is still alive and likely raising fresh armies to continue fighting. Dismissive of the threat posed by Stannis after the royal victory at the Battle of the Blackwater, Joffrey leafs through the Book of Brothers, which details the history of the Kingsguard and those who served in it, pausing to make fun of Jaime's short entry, as well as Jaime's age and missing hand, asking how he intends to guard the king with only one hand. Jaime sarcastically quips that using his left hand makes for more of a challenge.

Sansa prays alone in the godswood, where she is approached by Dontos Hollard, who thanks her for convincing Joffrey to spare his life and gives her his mother's necklace as a token of gratitude. Sansa's prayers are watched by Jaime and Brienne; Brienne expects Jaime to uphold his oath to return Catelyn Stark's daughters in return for his freedom, but Jaime counters by pointing out the situation is complicated by Catelyn's death and Sansa's marriage to Tyrion.

In The North
Ygritte and Tormund stand outside a stone ravine. Tormund chides her for failing to finish off Jon Snow. Suddenly their scouts signal that someone is approaching. Styr and a band of Thenn approach them through the ravine. Out of earshot, Tormund comments about how much he hates Thenns. Styr says his party raided a village south of the ravine and gathered meat. He says the meat tastes so much better south of The Wall, and chides Tormund for losing their warg as well as Jon. He reminds Tormund how the Night's Watch are feasting and getting fat at Castle Black. Styr suggests that Tormund taste crow meat before he dies, as a human arm roasts over a fire.

At the Wall
At Castle Black, Jon Snow has survived the injuries inflicted by Ygritte and has largely recovered, though he still grimaces while getting dressed. At some point, Jon has been told about Robb's death. He shares with Samwell Tarly that he had always been jealous of Robb for having more of their father's affection and for being better than him at riding and fighting and with girls. Still, he says he could never bring himself to hate Robb. Sam responds by saying he has felt the same way about Jon, that Jon is better than him at everything (except reading).

It turns out that Sam had been sent to retrieve Jon, who has been summoned to testify before a panel of five sworn brothers, including Maester Aemon, acting Lord Commander Alliser Thorne, First Steward Bowen Marsh, and the exiled former Lord Commander of the King's Landing City Watch: Janos Slynt. Both Thorne and especially Slynt are openly hostile to Jon, disbelieving much of what he says. At the hearing, Jon admits to killing Qhorin Halfhand but says that it was not murder, that Qhorin wanted Jon to kill him to give Jon credibility with the Wildlings in order to get a spy into Mance's army. Slynt dismisses Jon as "the bastard son of a traitor" while Thorne, a friend of Qhorin's, reacts with incredulity that Jon would presume to act like he knew the Halfhand. Jon responds by saying that Thorne should know that Qhorin would have done anything to protect the Night's Watch.

When Jon refers to the wildlings as "free folk," Slynt accuses him of going native, to the extent he even talks like them. Jon snaps back, acknowledging that he talks like one and also admits to living amongst the wildlings, eating with them, climbing the Wall with them. He catches himself before admitting that he lay with one but says it anyway. Slynt calls for Jon's execution for breaking one of his vows. Aemon points out the impracticality of executing every ranger who lays with a girl and says that "the wall would be manned by headless men." Thorne says that there is a difference between sneaking off to a brothel and sleeping with the enemy.

Jon does not defend himself at this point. Instead, he says that Mance Rayder intends to attack the Night's Watch with his army of 100,000 wildlings and gives intel on Mance's plan of attack. Both Thorne and Slynt disbelieve what Jon has to say. Aemon, however, realizes that Jon is speaking the truth, and the hearing ends with Jon being allowed to keep his head.

In the Riverlands
Arya Stark and the "Hound" Sandor Clegane are still traveling through the Riverlands on a single horse. They pass by overturned carts and dead bodies, including those of children. Arya asks when she is going to get her own horse, complaining of the Hound's stench. He scoffs at the idea, noting that horses are hard to come by and that he wouldn't give Arya her own horse (even if one was available) as she is the only thing of value he has since he did not take anything of value when he left King's Landing. Arya assures him she has no plans to run off, saying that she would die by nightfall without him as she has no one to go to. The Hound reminds her that she still has an aunt in the Vale, Lysa Arryn, to whom he plans to ransom Arya.

The two eventually come upon a tavern. Both hungry, Arya suggests that they attack the men there, to which the Hound expresses reluctance as there are five men. Just then, two men exit to relieve themselves. Arya recognizes one of them as Polliver, the Lannister man-at-arms who had previously taken Arya's sword Needle and killed her friend Lommy. She also notices that Polliver still has Needle and runs off to get it back. The Hound chases after her, stopping her at the tavern's door, but they are seen and choose to go in anyways.

It is clear that Polliver and the other men are making trouble and intend to rape the tavern owner's daughter. Arya and the Hound go to a table far away from everyone else, but Polliver still recognizes the Hound and walks over to Arya and the Hound's table and strikes up a conversation. He does not recognize Arya, who he thinks is just the Hound's latest sexual conquest. Polliver implies that he and his men intend to rape and pillage on their way back to King's Landing and invites the Hound to come along. Polliver says that he and his men wear the King's colors and can do whatever they like, to which the Hound leans forward and states emphatically, "Fuck the King."

The conversation then becomes tense and turns into a standoff. They eventually draw their swords. At first, the Hound fights the five men alone while Arya stands in the corner. He easily dispatches two of them and fights off the rest, stabbing one in the groin. Another, however, gets him on the ground, holding a dagger to his throat. The Hound is able to fight him off, stabbing him repeatedly in the head with his own dagger.

Arya then joins the fray, smashing a pot over the head of one of the men and stabbing him with his own long sword. She then slashes Polliver's leg from behind, causing him to fall to the ground. Arya takes Needle from Polliver and stands over his prone form. She echoes what he had said to Lommy just before he killed him, though Polliver still doesn't recognize her and has no idea what she is talking about. Arya then repeats what he had said to her when he took Needle: "Fine little blade. Maybe I'll pick my teeth with it." It is at that point when Polliver recognizes her. Arya then kills Polliver in the same way he had killed Lommy by driving Needle slowly into his throat. Arya and the Hound then leave the tavern, taking with them a horse for Arya.

Across the Narrow Sea
Daenerys Targaryen sits near the sea with her three dragons, each one about the size of a small horse. Daenerys strokes Drogon's head, while Rhaegal and Viserion fight over a dead lamb, Drogon joins the fight. As Daenerys tries to calm him down, without warning, Drogon snaps at her with a hiss, a warning to not interfere. He then roars and goes to contest the kill.

This act, that her own children would threaten her, and that they are outgrowing her influence and ability to rein them, leaves Daenerys visibly shaken. Jorah Mormont approaches and tells her that dragons can never be tamed, not even by their mother.

Daenerys returns to her Unsullied army to resume the march to Meereen. She notices Grey Worm and Daario Naharis are absent and sets out to find them after being told they are "gambling". She finds the two men sitting face-to-face holding their swords in front of them; they have been contesting their strength since midnight. Daario explains they are deciding on which of them will ride up front with her in the vanguard. Frustrated, Daenerys states that the honor goes to Ser Jorah and Ser Barristan as they did not keep her waiting all morning. She orders the two men to ride at the back with the livestock. She also adds that the last man holding his sword shall find a new queen to fight for and both men immediately drop their weapons.

On the road to Mereen, Daenerys speaks with Missandei, who tells her queen that Mereen would be wise to fear her approach. Daario meets them on the cliff side, and Daenerys expresses her annoyance when he shows her flowers he has picked. He reveals that the flowers represent a portrait of the landscape, and serve various purposes, chiefly that knowing her surroundings is important to Daenerys's strategy.

The marching army halts, and Daenerys goes to the forefront, discovering a slave child crucified upon a cross. The child is dead, her hand pointing the way to Mereen, and Ser Jorah tells Daenerys there is one for each mile to the last of the great slave cities, 163 in total. Ser Barristan offers to have outriders go ahead to bury them, but Daenerys refuses, ordering that each of them be buried, and their collars removed, but not before she has looked upon each and every face.

Cast
Starring
 * Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister
 * Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Ser Jaime Lannister
 * Lena Headey as Queen Cersei Lannister
 * Emilia Clarke as Queen Daenerys Targaryen
 * Kit Harington as Jon Snow
 * Charles Dance as Lord Tywin Lannister
 * Natalie Dormer as Lady Margaery Tyrell
 * Jack Gleeson as King Joffrey Baratheon
 * Sophie Turner as Princess Sansa Stark
 * Maisie Williams as Princess Arya Stark
 * John Bradley as Samwell Tarly
 * Rose Leslie as Ygritte
 * Kristofer Hivju as Tormund Giantsbane
 * Rory McCann as Sandor Clegane
 * Gwendoline Christie as Brienne of Tarth
 * Jerome Flynn as Bronn
 * Sibel Kekilli as Shae
 * with Iain Glen as Ser Jorah Mormont

Guest starring
 * Diana Rigg as Lady Olenna Tyrell
 * Pedro Pascal as Prince Oberyn Martell
 * Indira Varma as Ellaria Sand
 * Michiel Huisman as Daario Naharis
 * Ian McElhinney as Ser Barristan Selmy
 * Peter Vaughan as Maester Aemon
 * Owen Teale as Ser Alliser Thorne
 * Anton Lesser as Qyburn
 * Yuri Kolokolnikov as Styr, the Magnar of Thenn
 * Jacob Anderson as Grey Worm
 * Nathalie Emmanuel as Missandei
 * Dominic Carter as Janos Slynt
 * Daniel Portman as Podrick Payne
 * Ian Beattie as Ser Meryn Trant
 * Tony Way as Dontos Hollard
 * Will Tudor as Olyver
 * Andy Kellegher as Polliver
 * Chris Reilly as Morgan
 * Stuart Martin as Morgan's friend
 * Joseph Gatt as a Thenn warg
 * Martin Walsh as an Innkeeper
 * Daniel Rabin as Lord Blackmont
 * Brian Fortune as Bowen Marsh
 * Dez McMahon as a Night's Watchman
 * Sara Dylan as a Handmaiden
 * Josephine Gillan as Marei
 * Kristen Gillespie as a Whore
 * Tommy Dunne as the Valyrian sword smith
 * Gabrielle Dempsey as Innkeeper's daughter
 * Maria Sikavica as

Cast notes

 * 18 of 25 cast members for the fourth season appear in this episode.
 * Starring cast members Aidan Gillen (Petyr Baelish), Liam Cunningham (Davos Seaworth), Stephen Dillane (Stannis Baratheon), Carice van Houten (Melisandre), Isaac Hempstead-Wright (Bran Stark), Alfie Allen (Theon Greyjoy), Conleth Hill (Varys) are not credited and do not appear in this episode.

Appearances

 * Main: Two Swords/Appearances

First

 * Prince Oberyn Martell
 * Ellaria Sand
 * Blackmont
 * Deziel Dalt
 * Styr, Magnar of Thenn
 * Lowell
 * Morgan
 * A Thenn Warg

Deaths

 * Lowell
 * Polliver

In the books

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

Memorable quotes
Prince Oberyn Martell: "If the Mountain killed my sister, then  your father gave the order. Tell your father I'm here. Tell him the Lannisters aren't the only ones who pay their debts."

Arya Stark: "You're fine with murdering little boys, but thieving is beneath you?"

Sandor Clegane: "A man's got to have a code."

Prince Oberyn Martell: "The King's own uncle Imp, Tyrion. And what are you, his hired killer?"

Bronn: "Started that way, aye. Now I'm a knight."

Prince Oberyn Martell: "How did that come to pass?"

Bronn: "Killed the right people, I suppose."

Alliser Thorne: "You always know when a man's telling a lie? How did you acquire this magical power?"

Maester Aemon: "I grew up in King's Landing."

 Polliver: ​ "You don't seem to understand the situation"                                                                                                                                                                                              Sandor' Clegane​': "I understand that if any more words come pouring out your cunt mouth, I'm gonna to have to eat every fucking chicken in this room"