Black Cells

The Black Cells
Information
Type	Dungeon
Location	Beneath the Red Keep

"Get him out of my sight. Throw him in one of the Black Cells."

―Tyrion Lannister

The Black Cells are one level of the dungeons of the Red Keep. They are reserved for prisoners accused of high crimes, such as treason. Cells are completely dark, with no possible light sources (except when jailers enter with torches).

Varys has access to the Black Cells, but dons the guise of a gaoler to enter.

History

Season 1

Ned Stark is confined to the Black Cells following his arrest. He is visited twice by Varys who tries to convince him to confess to treason in order to prevent war and to save the lives of his daughters Sansa and Arya.

Season 2

After learning that Pycelle is an informant for Queen Cersei, Tyrion Lannister has his men Timett and Bronn cut off Pycelle's beard and throw him into one of the Black Cells. Not long afterwards Cersei sends Lancel to demand that Tyrion have Pycelle freed. He agrees to let him go, given that he has made his point, but will not let him return to the Small Council.

Season 4

Tyrion is confined to the Black Cells after being found guilty of the murder of his nephew King Joffrey. On the eve of his execution, Jaime frees Tyrion, so he can escape to the Free Cities. Tyrion first uses the passages in the Red Keep to visit the Tower of the Hand and confront and kill his father.

Season 5

In an effort to curry favor with the High Sparrow, the Queen-Regent Cersei Lannister has the corrupt High Septon thrown into the Black Cells for "bring disgrace" to his office.

Season 6

After killing the High Sparrow, the Faith Militant, the Most Devout, and several of her enemies and many civilians, Cersei has her former tormentor Septa Unella brought to the Black Cells. She then has the resurrected Gregor Clegane torture Unella.

Season 7

Following Euron Greyjoy's assault on the Targaryen Fleet, Cersei has her enemies Ellaria Sand and her daughter Tyene Sand. Seeking vengeance for their role in the murder of her daughter Myrcella Baratheon, Cersei poisons Tyene with the Long Farewell and forces her distraught mother to watch as her daughter succumbs to the poison's effects. Cersei orders that Ellaria be held in the Black Sells for the rest of her life to reflect on her past actions and her daughter's corpse.

Notable present prisoners:

• High Septon (After the riot of King's Landing)
• Septa Unella
• Ellaria Sand
• Tyene Sand

Notable former prisoners:

• {Eddard Stark}
• {Pycelle}
• Tyrion Lannister

In the books

In the A Song of Ice and Fire books the Black Cells are the third level of the Red Keep's dungeons. On the upper level are cells with high narrow windows where common criminals are confined together. The second level has smaller, personal cells without windows for highborn captives. Torches in the halls cast light through the bars. The Black Cells themselves are smaller still and have doors of wood so that no light enters them; they are reserved for the most vile and dangerous prisoners. The fourth level is the one used for torture and none who enter leaves alive.

References

Template:Red Keep