Season 1 spans a period of several months on a world where the seasons last for years at a time. The action begins in the unified Seven Kingdoms of Westeros as the long summer ends and winter draws near. Lady Eddara Stark is asked by her old friend, Queen Robetta Baratheon, to serve as the Hand of the Queen following the death of the previous incumbent, Eddara's mentor Joan Arryn. Eddara is reluctant but receives intelligence suggesting that Joan was murdered. Eddara accepts Robetta's offer, planning to use her position and authority to investigate the alleged murder.
Meanwhile, on the eastern continent of Essos, the exiled children of House Targaryen, which Robetta destroyed to claim the throne, are plotting to return to Westeros and unseat the 'usurper'. To this end, Viserya Targaryen arranges the marriage of her brother Daeron to Khaleesi Draga, the leader of 40,000 Dothraki warriors, in return for the use of her warriors in invading Westeros. For his part, Daeron just wants to find a safe refuge far away from Queen Robetta's assassins and his sister's scheming ambition.
Finally, on the northern-most border of the Seven Kingdoms the sworn sisters of the Night's Watch guard the Wall, a 300-mile-long colossal fortification of ice which has stood for thousands of years. The Watch defends the Wall against the depredations of the lawless wildlings who live beyond, but rumor speaks of a new threat arising in the lands of perpetual winter.
