A Night’s Watch deserter is tracked down
outside of Winterfell, prompting swift justice by Lord Eddard “Ned” Stark and
raising concerns about the dangers in the lawless lands north of the Wall.
Returning home, Ned learns from his wife Catelyn that his mentor, Jon Arryn,
has died in the Westeros capital of King’s Landing, and that King Robert is on
his way north to offer Ned Arryn’s position as the King’s Hand. Meanwhile,
across the Narrow Sea in Pentos, Viserys Targaryen hatches a plan to win back
the throne, which entails forging an allegiance with the nomadic Dothraki
warriors by giving its leader, Khal Drogo, his lovely sister Daenerys’ hand in
marriage. Robert arrives at Winterfell with his wife, Queen Cersei, and other
members of the Lannister family: her twin brother Jaime, dwarf brother Tyrion
and Cersei’s son and heir to the throne, 12-year-old Joffrey.