In "You Win or You Die," the seventh episode of the first season of Game of Thrones, several key events take place that further the overall plot of the series.
In King's Landing, Eddard Stark, the Hand of the King, continues to investigate the death of King Robert Baratheon's previous Hand, Jon Arryn. He discovers that Arryn had been looking into the parentage of King Robert's children and suspects that they are not actually his own, but rather the children of Cersei Lannister, the queen, and her twin brother, Jaime Lannister. Eddard confronts Cersei with this information, but she denies it and convinces Eddard to keep the information to himself.
Eddard also meets with Renly Baratheon, Robert's brother, who reveals that he has been meeting with other lords and planning to overthrow the Lannisters and take the Iron Throne for himself. Eddard is reluctant to support Renly's plan and instead urges him to wait for Robert's return from hunting.
In the North, Jon Snow, Eddard's illegitimate son, continues to struggle with his place in the Night's Watch, a group of men who protect the Wall from the wildlings and the Others. He and his comrades discover a group of wildlings, including a woman named Ygritte, who are attempting to pass through the Wall. Jon takes Ygritte prisoner, but she manages to escape and leads Jon into a trap set by the wildlings.
In the Riverlands, Robb Stark, Eddard's eldest son, is leading his army against House Lannister in response to their capture of his father. Robb wins several battles and begins to gain the support of other houses.
In King's Landing, Robert Baratheon dies from injuries he sustained while hunting and Eddard is arrested for treason after he tries to reveal the truth about Joffrey being illegitimate.
In the East, Drogo's wound from his fight with Mago becomes infected and Daenerys, Drogo's wife, seeks the help of a healer, Mirri Maz Duur to save him. However, Mirri reveals that she is a follower of the Lord of Light and that she will only save Drogo if Daenerys agrees to let her perform a blood magic ritual.
In summary, "You Win or You Die" establishes the power struggles and secrets that drive much of the series. It also sets up several key conflicts and alliances that will play out in later episodes. The episode also showcases the brutal nature of the world of Game of Thrones, with the death of King Robert and Eddard's arrest serving as a reminder of the high stakes and ruthless tactics used by those vying for power.
