The Ghosts of Harrenhal: A Song of Ice and Fire Podcast (ASOIAF‪)‬ A Game of Thrones | House of the Dragon

Jaime might’ve bitten off more than he can chew with standing vigil over his father for seven days and nights. While battling sleep, he recalls his last conversation with Rhaegar Targaryen as well as his recent one with the chief undergaoler. He’s visited by Cersei and again rejects her plea to be Hand of the King. Finally, he brokers a lunch for Cersei and feeds her exact steps to success. Simon and Mackelly wonder if she’ll still muck it up.

Chapter Review:
While Jaime Lannister stands vigil over his father's body, he thinks of how if he’d known that Tyrion was going to kill their father he’d have stopped him. He thinks of the conversation he had with the chief undergaoler of the Red Keep dungeons. He gets the same story Cersei got regarding Rugen, the missing undergaoler. Jaime is furious to learn that the turnkeys who fell asleep the night of Tyrion’s escape were murdered, by order of the queen.

Said queen appears in person, as Jaime stands vigil. She’s dressed as a commoner to escape notice. She says Kevan refused her offer of Hand of the King and that he knows about Jaime and Cersei’s relationship. She begs Jaime to reconsider taking the role of Hand of the King. Jaime again refuses. Again, in no uncertain terms. A furious Cersei stalks off after unleashing a barrage of angry words toward Jaime.

When the sun comes up, mourners again flood the Great Sept of Baelor. Tywin’s body has continued to decay and the odor has intensified greatly. When Queen Cersei and King Tommen approach the corpse, Tommen gags and runs for the door. Jaime goes after him and consoles the little king. Queen Cersei arrives and admonishes her son for embarrassing her. Mace Tyrell is close on her heels. Jaime sets up a lunch between Cersei and Mace, to Cersei’s annoyance. But Jaime explains that it’s an opportunity to send Mace on a task out of the city, where he might get himself killed.

Characters/Places/Names/Events:
Jamie Lannister - Twin and lover to Cersei. Biological father of Tommen.
Cersei Lannister - Mother to King Tommen, Queen Regent of the Seven Kingdoms.
King Tommen Baratheon - Child king of the Seven Kingdoms.
Tywin Lannister - Lord of Casterly Rock, recently murdered by his son Tyrion.
Kevan Lannister - Brother to Tywin.
Grand Maester Pycelle - Elderly member of the Small Council.
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Busy day for Queen Cersei. She fends off mourners expressing regret and vying for her favor and works to keep the Tyrells off the Small Council. She bonds with Qyburn before finally having a highly contentious dinner with her uncle. Mackelly and Simon are in shock that Kevan went there.

Chapter Review:
Queen Cersei Lannister and King Tommen kneel before her father Tywin’s body. The odor emanating from the late Hand of the King is not missed by those in attendance, so all are glad when the prayers end. Afterward, mourners approach Cersei to express condolences. Falyse Stokeworth offers that if her sister Lollys has a son, they’d like to name him Tywin. Cersei shoots the idea down.  She congratulates Lancel on his betrothal and his new lordship. He’s not thrilled about either. He met with the high septon. Cersei reminds him of the power of silent prayer.

She’s approached by Mace Tyrell. He’s angling to be named Hand of the King, but says his uncle Garth is on his way to King’s Landing to serve as Master of Coin. Cersei has no interest in another Tyrell on the Small Council, so lies and says she’s offered the role to Gyles Rosby. Mace is shocked, but his mother steers him away. Later,  she asks Rosby to be Master of Coin and to act as though it was offered yesterday.

Back in the Red Keep, Qyburn says he's found a gold coin in the missing gaoler Rugen’s chamber. It’s from the Reach, which causes Cersei to question whether the Tyrells were involved in the plot to free Tyrion. Cersei plans to call for the headsman for Gregor Clegane. Qyburn asks to move Gregor to the dungeons, to continue to work with him.

Her uncle Kevan arrives for dinner. Cersei asks him to be Tommen’s Hand of the King. Kevan says he will, if he’s also made King Regent. Cersei is to go back to Casterly Rock. She refuses. Kevan says he’s taking his brother and going home. Tommen has his mother… and his father too.

Characters/Places/Names/Events
Cersei Lannister - Mother to King Tommen, Queen Regent of the Seven Kingdoms.
King Tommen Baratheon - Child king of the Seven Kingdoms.
Tywin Lannister - Lord of Casterly Rock, recently murdered by his son Tyrion.
Jamie Lannister - Twin and lover to Cersei. Biological father of Tommen.
Kevan Lannister - Brother to Tywin.
Qyburn - Former Maester, stripped of his chain by the Citadel.
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Arya arrives in Braavos. Inside the temple of the Many-Faced God, she meets a man who isn’t fooled by her aliases. He tests her on her fear of death, and she passes with flying colors. She hopes to feed a hunger, but it’s not for food. Mackelly and Simon wonder what it is she’s hungry for.

Chapter Review:
Arya Stark, or “Salty” as she’s known by the ship’s crew, sees the lights of Braavos on the eastern horizon. Soon the enormous titan statue that guards the city comes into view. As her ship The Titans Daughter passes underneath, she can see the defenses built into the titan. The ship’s captain Ternesio Terys is all too happy to get rid of Arya, and has his oldest son Yorko row her to land. However, before he lets her go, Ternesio makes sure she knows his name and is aware of the favors he’s done for her.

Yorko provides a comprehensive, if slightly biased, guided tour as he rows her through the canals of Braavos. He leaves her at the stairs to the temple of the Many-Faced God. Arya tries the doors of the temple but they’re locked. She shouts that Jaqen H’ghar sent her, brandishes the iron coin he gave her, and says “valar morghulis.” The doors suddenly open on their own. Inside, she finds statues to many gods as well as several people weeping quietly. A man sits by a pool weeping. Arya gives him a cup of water from the pool and he drinks it. He stands and staggers to an alcove between the statues. Arya notices a stab wound in his gut.

She’s met by a young girl and a man, both in cowed robes. The man asks Arya her name. She tries several of her aliases, but the man isn’t fooled. It’s only when she says she’s Arya Stark of Winterfell that the man is content. He says this is no place for her, but she begs him. She has nowhere to go. He asks if she fears death. When Arya says she doesn't, the man lowers his hood to reveal a skull with a worm in the eye socket. He asks for a kiss, and Arya obliges. She then tries to eat the worm. It disintegrates and the skull turns into the face of a kind man. He asks if she’s hungry. She thinks that she is, but it’s not for food.

Characters/Places/Names/Events:
Arya Stark - Younger daughter of Ned and Catelyn Stark.
Braavos - A free city in Essos.
Titan of Braavos - Huge statue that guards the sea entrance to Braavos.
Multi-Faced God - A god worshiped in Essos.
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Lord Commander Jon Snow sends Sam to Oldtown to earn his maester’s chain. Gilly, her baby, and maester Aemon are to go with him. Simon and Mackelly dream of a warmer future.

Chapter Review:
Samwell is scouring the Castle Black libraries for information on the Others. Pickings are surprisingly slim. He’s tired and hungry so he heads up to the castle. In the yard, he’s met by Edd, Grenn, and Pyp. Jon wants to see him.

The guys think that Jon is too good for them now he’s Lord Commander, but Sam defends his friend - he does have a lot on his plate. First order of business is rebuilding the stairs up the Wall, and training every single brother in archery.

Sam meets Gilly at Jon’s door. She’s upset and he’s clumsy in her presence. Within, Jon tells Sam that she was begging for Mance’s life on behalf of Val, but Mance’s crimes are unforgivable even if Stannis and Melisdanre didn’t have an eye on Mance’s royal blood for their magic. Jon wants Sam to take Gilly, her baby, and Maester Aemon to Oldtown. There Sam is to earn his chain as Aemon’s replacement. Sam is conflicted - he wanted to be a maester but his father forbad it. At dawn the next day, they ride toward Eastwatch, with Aemon and a tearful Gilly in a wayn.

Characters/Places/Names/Events:
Samwell Tarly - Bother of the Night’s Watch, friend to John Snow. Slayer of Others.
Stannis Baratheon - Claimant to the Iron Throne.
Gilly - Daughter of Craster. Beloved of Samwell.
Jon Snow - New Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch.
Melisandre - Priestess of R’Hellor, advisor to King Stannis.
Maester Aemon - 102-year-old maester of the Night’s Watch. 


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Brienne begins her wild goose chase in the hunt for Sansa Stark. She meets some unusual travelers on the road and makes some unexpected travel companions, on her way to Duskendale. She also learns that she’s not the only one looking for the Stark girl. Simon and Mackelly worry about saddle sores.

Chapter Review:
Armed with Oathkeeper, Brienne of Tarth rides through the Crownlands asking all and sundry if they have seen a high-born maid of three and 10 riding with a portly knight or a fool. She doesn’t mention Sansa’s name, and gets no help from anyone.

She camps down with a couple of hedge knights for the night. Ser Creighton tells of his amazing, hardly believable, exploits at the Battle of the Blackwater. Ser Illifer is a quieter soul. But it is the latter who figures out who she is. He accuses her of Renly’s murder, but she denies it. 

They meet a group of “sparrows” the next day. These adherents of the Faith of the Seven are heading to King’s Landing with the bones of murdered holy people. They hope to find protection from King Tommen when they get there. Another knight, Ser Shadrich, tells Brienne that she is not the only hunter. Varys has offered a reward for Sansa’s whereabouts. Brienne feigns ignorance. That night she slips away from the others - preferring the lonely road.

Characters/Places/Names/Events:
Brienne of Tarth - Charged with rescuing Sansa Stark.
Sansa Stark - Eldest surviving Stark child. Currently in the Eyrie with Petyr Baelish.
Illifer the Penniless - Taciturn hedge knight.
Creighton Longbough - Loquacious hedge knight.
Ser Shadrich - Hedge knight, also seeking for Sansa to claim the reward offered by Varys.


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Cersei is awakened to the news that her father is dead. She can hardly believe it, but is not exactly broken up about it. At least her little brother is locked up and will be a head short by this evening. Ah, about that: he’s escaped. Mackelly and Simon spot many of Cersei’s character flaws, while ignoring their own.

Chapter Review:
Cersei dreams of sitting the Iron Throne. It’s a great dream until Tyrion appears, and her clothes disappear. Then it takes a nasty turn. She gets cut and the Iron Throne fights her. Tyrion laughs. A maid wakes her. Not to save her from the dream but because the Kingsguard are here to let her know that Tywin is dead. Cersei’s struggling to separate the dream from reality. But she begins to piece it together. She dresses and is escorted to the Tower of the Hand.

En route, she ponders how she should react and how she and her rivals will use her father’s death to their advantage. Jamie has followed the secret passage in the fireplace, and Loras Tyrell has been sent to check on King Tommen. She sends Boros Blount to confirm that Tyrion is still secured. She wants Pycelle to prepare her father’s body, but he’s been and gone and not even bothered to remove the quarrel from Lord Tywin’s guts.

Qyburn comes in and prepares the body, and asks what’s to be done with Shae. Cersei hadn’t even noticed her. She wants her removed quietly, so nobody gets the idea that Tywin was consorting with a prostitute. Jamie arrives back, no sign of the murderer. She offers him the role of Hand, he refuses. Uncle Kevan demands that they stop squabbling. Blount returns with news that Tyrion is escaped. Cersei recalls a prophecy in which the Valonqar will choke the life from her.

Characters/Places/Names/Events:
Cersei Lannister - Queen regent and mother to King Tommen.
Tywin Lannister - Lord of Casterly Rock, recently murdered by his son Tyrion.
Jamie Lannister - Twin and lover to Cersei. Biological father of Tommen.
Loras Tyrell - Knight of the Kingsguard.
Boros Blount - Knight of the Kingsguard.
Kevan Lannister - Brother to Tywin.
Grand Maester Pycelle - Member of the Small Council.
Qyburn - Former Maester, stripped of his chain by the Citadel.
Shae - Former lover of Tyrion, murdered by him.
Valonqar - High Valyrian for “little brother”.


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Support us:
Buy from our store Buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold, or become a sustainer and receive cool perks Donate to our cause Use our exclusive URL for a free 30-day trial of Audible Buy or gift Marriott Bonvoy points through our affiliate link Rate and review us at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, podchaser.com, and elsewhere.

Find us on social media:
Discord Twitter @GhostsHarrenhal Facebook Instagram YouTube All Music credits to Ross Bugden:
INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden)
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