Garden of Bones

"Garden of Bones"
Game of Thrones episode
Daenerys and her khalasar at the gates of Qarth, in the area known as "the Garden of Bones"
Episode no.	Season 2 Episode 4
Directed by	David Petrarca
Written by	Vanessa Taylor
Featured music	Ramin Djawadi
Cinematography by	Martin Kenzie
Editing by	Katie Weiland
Original air date	April 22, 2012 (2012-04-22)
Running time	51 minutes
Guest appearance(s)
Gethin Anthony as Renly Baratheon Nicholas Blane as the Spice King Nonso Anozie as Xaro Xhoan Daxos Michael McElhatton as Roose Bolton Joe Dempsie as Gendry Eugene Simon as Lancel Lannister Oona Chaplin as Talisa Gwendoline Christie as Brienne of Tarth Ian Hanmore as Pyat Pree Roxanne McKee as Doreah Amrita Acharia as Irri Steven Cole as Kovarro Ben Hawkey as Hot Pie Finn Jones as Loras Tyrell Esmé Bianco as Ros Ian Whyte as Gregor Clegane Ian Beattie as Meryn Trant Tony Way as Dontos Hollard Anthony Morris as the Tickler Sam MacKay as Lannister Guard David Fynn as Rennick Andy Kellegher as Polliver Masie Dee as Daisy Gina Moxley as female Lannister Prisoner Fintan McKeown as Amory Lorch Emmet O'Riabhaigh as Wounded Lannister Donal Gallery as male Lannister prisoner Slavko Juraga as a Member of the Thirteen
Episode chronology
← Previous "What Is Dead May Never Die" Next → "The Ghost of Harrenhal"
Game of Thrones (season 2) List of Game of Thrones episodes

"Garden of Bones" is the fourth episode of the second season of HBO's medieval fantasy television series Game of Thrones. The episode is written by Vanessa Taylor and directed by David Petrarca. It premiered on April 22, 2012.

The episode's title comes from a phrase used by Ser Jorah Mormont to describe the desert surrounding the city of Qarth to Daenerys.

Robb Stark (Richard Madden) launches a night-time attack over a Lannister reinforcement army encamped at Oxcross, easily defeating the Lannister forces. The next morning, while examining the battlefield, he discusses the captured Lannister personnel with his bannerman Lord Roose Bolton (Michael McElhatton). Bolton favours flaying and eliminating the prisoners for interrogation and to preserve supplies, but Robb insists on their fair treatment and reminds him that his sisters are still prisoners at King's Landing. Robb later meets a neutral field nurse, Talisa (Oona Chaplin), while aiding her in a foot amputation on a Lannister soldier. Despite Robb's protests, Talisa holds him accountable for the carnage at the battle; her spirit and forthrightness leave him impressed.

King Joffrey Baratheon (Jack Gleeson) continues to grow more and more cruel; after hearing of Robb Stark's latest victory, he orders Ser Meryn Trant (Ian Beattie) to deliver a public beating and shaming of Robb's sister, Sansa (Sophie Turner). Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage) and Bronn (Jerome Flynn) arrive in time to defuse the situation; Bronn later suggests to Tyrion that sex may calm the boy king, and Tyrion arranges for the prostitutes Ros (Esmé Bianco) and Daisy (Maisie Dee) to service Joffrey. However, Joffrey instead sadistically forces Ros to beat Daisy to send a message to Tyrion. Later, Ser Lancel Lannister (Eugene Simon) visits Tyrion and informs him that Queen Cersei Lannister has ordered the release of Grand Maester Pycelle. Tyrion tells Lancel that he is aware of Lancel's affair with Cersei, but will keep the truth from Joffrey in exchange for Lancel spying on Cersei for him.