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 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.

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.

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 reign them, leaves Daenerys visibly shocked and shaken. Jorah Mormont approaches and tells her that dragons can never be tamed.

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. 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.

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 Lord 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 a Savage
 * Joseph Gatt as a Thenn
 * Martin Walsh as an Innkeeper
 * Daniel Rabin as Lord Blackmont
 * Brian Fortune as Bowen Marsh
 * Dez McMahon as
 * Sara Dylan as a Handmaiden
 * Josephine Gillan as Marei
 * Kristen Gillespie as a Whore
 * Tommy Dunne as
 * 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

Deaths

 * Lowell
 * Polliver

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."