Free Game of Thrones Season One Ultimate Unofficial Guide: The Game of Thrones Season 1 by Cole James

her efforts will be futile if the Lannisters are allowed to rule the realm.

Episode 7: You Win Or You Die
    At the beginning of this episode, we open to Tywin Lannister scolding Jaime after being informed of Ned’s summons. Tywin asks Jaime why Ned is still alive and proclaims that it is the family name that lives on, not personal glory or honor. He puts pressure on Jaime to become the man he is meant to be.
    At King’s Landing, Ned confronts the queen about her secret and naively tells her to leave with her children before he tells Robert. She has no shame in admitting to the truth about her children’s lineage and stands her ground against Ned. She reminds him that he had a chance to take the throne after the Mad King was killed, but didn’t. She states that there is no middle ground in the game of thrones. You win or you die. Robert returns from his hunt badly injured from a boar. He asks to speak to Ned alone and the queen tries to protest. We know why and she looks very nervous as she leaves the room. Robert has Ned dictate orders naming him Protector of the Realm until Joffrey is ready to take the throne. Ned writes “rightful heir” instead of Joffrey because he knows the truth of the situation. Ned leaves the room to find Varys hinting about the fact that Lancell Lannister was the one giving the king wine, adding fuel to the conspiracy fire. Next, Renly pulls Ned aside and conspires to have Ned name him king, but Ned refuses and sends word to Stannis Baratheon, the rightful heir, of his succession. Petyr Baelish suggests to Ned that he should make peace with the Lannisters and use his position as protector to gain personal power. At these final drastic moments several ulterior motives are revealed, none of them in accordance with what rightfully should happen. Ned learns of Robert’s death when he is summoned by King Joffrey to the throne room. He arranges to have the City Guard defend him and finds that Renly has fled the city with his lover, Ser Loras. Ned enters the throne room to find Joffrey already using his power to make new appointments to the royal court. Ned presents Robert’s decree placing him in charge. The queen rips it up and orders Ned’s arrest for treason. The City Guards turn on Ned, arrest him, and kill his men. Ned discovers that Baelish is the one who betrayed him.
    While all this is going on at the Capital, a horse returns to The Wall without its rider. It is Benjen’s horse. Jon is upset and wants to search for his uncle but is told no. Assignments are announced for the recruits who have been training and Jon is assigned as the personal steward to the commander. He is shocked and offended by this, but Sam helps him see the positive in the situation. We get another glimpse of Jon’s arrogance despite his having grown up as an outsider in his father’s household because of his status as a bastard. He and Sam go beyond The Wall to take their vows at a weirtree. As they finish their vows, becoming Men of the Night’s Watch, Jon’s direwolf comes out of a cave carrying a frozen hand in his mouth.
    On the Khal side of the story, Daenerys is at the market with Jorah. He leaves to see if there is any mail that has arrived for him and we learn that he has been given a full pardon for “services rendered to the king.” He then looks over to see Daenerys at a wine vendor. He arrives back at her side just in time to stop her from drinking poisoned wine. The vendor is captured by the Khal. Back at their camp, Drogo learns of the attempt on his queen’s life and becomes enraged with vengeance. He proclaims his intentions to cross the sea and conquer the kingdoms and the throne for his son.
What We Learn
     Ned had talked Jaime out of taking the Iron Throne for himself after murdering King Aerys. Ned declined his chance at the throne as well.
     Lancell was purposely feeding Robert copious amounts of wine.
     Renly, who is conspiring to take the throne, has fled to Ser Loras’