Game of Thrones: Episode 3 - The Sword in the Darkness starts off just after the funeral of Gregor and Ethan Forrester. Rodrik, after appearing to have died at The Red Wedding, is healing, but he has officially taken his role as Lord of Ironrath. Meanwhile, Mira Forrester is waist-deep in political intrigue as her time in Lady Margaery's retinue puts her both in a position that could help her family and under the scrutiny of the Lannister family, and given her family's association with the Starks, that isn't really a good thing.

By the end of Episode 2, Asher, the second oldest Forrester son, has reconnected with his uncle and has learned about the tragedies that have befallen his family. Now he and his companion, Beskha, are looking for some mercenaries to hire and put some might behind the Forrester name. Finally, there is Gared Tuttle, Gregor's squire who has been sent to the Wall, in order to protect him from the vengeful wrath of the Whitehills. Before The Sword in the Darkness starts, Gared has done some basic training and shown his skills. He has also met and become acquaintances with two other recruits, Cotter and Finn. These two character represent very different personalities and it seems Gared is destined to befriend only one of them and, most likely, make an enemy out of the other.

In Game of Thrones: Episode 3 - The Sword in the Darkness, Asher's story continues as his party approaches Meereen. With the Lost Legion on their heels and a dead-end canyon ahead of them, their only escape seems to be a small cave. It's just a shame that Daenerys' missing dragon, Drogon, also happens to be using the cave. Caught between the fire-breathing threat and the enemy mercenaries, you find yourself forced to make one of those iconic Telltale Games choices. You have two companions and only enough time to help one of them - who do you choose and can you live with the consequences?

Meanwhile, back near the throne, Mira's still in shock over the events that concluded the last episode. Not only does she have to worry about people finding out about her late-night encounter, but it seems Tyrion's interest in her as a business partner is raising Margaery's suspicion.

With Margaery's wedding to Joffrey approaching, tensions rise. Not only does Margaery's disappointment in Mira mean that the Forrester girl might lose whatever favor she might be able to grant for her family, but Mira is also approached by a Whitehill representative who was attempting to sell Ironwood to the crown. Just when it looks like things might go right for Mira and she might finally be able to help her family, Joffrey's wedding feast concludes suddenly and Tyrion is arrested. Now Mira has to jump through a few hoops in order to either secure the agreement between her and Tyrion or get rid of the evidence of their association.

As for Ironrath's section of Game of Thrones: Episode 3 - The Sword in the Darkness, Rodrik finds that he can't just rest and recover from his injuries. When Lord Whitehill's fourth son, Gryff, shows up in order to take control of the castle, Rodrik has to make some hard decisions, one of which is whether or not he will take a knee to the Whitehills.

Rodrik will face a few more decisions as well. There are two main goals he must accomplish, and only enough men to hope to succeed at only one. He can either fortify Ironrath against the Whitehill forces or he can storm the opposing family's stronghold in the hopes of rescuing the youngest Forrester, Ryon. Regardless of your choice, before Rodrik can execute the chosen path, he learns that one of the members of his inner circle might be a traitor, but the source of the information is also questionable. It's clear that the rooting out of this possible traitor is going to be a major plot point for Rodrik in future episodes.

Gared's story in Game of Thrones: Episode 3 - The Sword in the Darkness kicks off with his class of recruits getting their assignments and taking the black, but there are a few hiccups right out of the gate as well. Just after taking his pledge, Gared is visited by his uncle Duncan, the castellan of Ironrath. While Duncan claims to be there to deliver Ironwood, his other motive is to help push Gared on his quest to find the mysterious North Grove. To complicate matters a bit more, it isn't long before a new wave of recruits make their way to Castle Black, and among them is the very Whitehill soldier that caused Gared to be sent to The Wall in the first place.

Jon Snow quickly realizes that there is some animosity between Gared and Britt, but he tries to impress upon Gared that joining the watch means leaving the past in the past and moving forward. After all, if Britt becomes a brother, then the two will have to fight side-by-side against wildlings, and possibly worse.

Before Gared's part of this episode is over, he will learn more than one secret, find himself testing his new oaths and even considering becoming a deserter in order to look for the North Grove.

Game of Thrones: Episode 3 - The Sword in the Darkness leaves all of the main characters in one kind of lurch or another. While Mira's predicament leaves her in a more political pitfall, it is no less dangerous than another character's fight to the death or another's decision regarding how House Forrester is perceived both by the Whitehills and those that serve at Ironrath.

Based on the tantalizing snippets shown before the episode's credits, it looks like Asher is going to have to do some fast talking in order to get the army he wants, while Gared's final choices on top of the Wall mean he might have to desert the watch regardless of how you handled yourself.

With three episodes left to this season, it seems like a lot of plot points are still building pressure, but at least a few of the choices that were made in this episode and earlier are bound to come crashing down.