Season 2 spans several months on a world where the seasons last for years at a time. The Seven Kingdoms are at war, with the Queen in the North, Robba Stark, fighting to win independence for her people and those of the Riverlands. Robba decides that she must win the allegiance of the fiercely independent ironborn to her cause, and sends her best friend Thea Greyjoy to treat with her mother, who is hatching plans of her own. Meanwhile, Joanne Baratheon holds the Iron Throne with the backing of the powerful House Lannister, but her aunt Renla has also claimed the throne with the support of House Tyrell, whose armies are much larger. As they struggle for the throne, Tyanna Lannister arrives in King's Landing to take matters in hand, only to face opposition from her scheming brother, Certei, now the King Regent.