The House of Black and White

"The House of Black and White" is the second episode of Season 4 of Game of Thrones. It is the forty-second episode overall.

Plot
Cersei fills the Small Council.

In King's Landing
Queen Regent Cersei Lannister convenes the small council. She fills it with her own cronies, lackies, and yes men; Orton Merryweather becomes Hand of the King, Qyburn replaces Varys as Master of Whisperers, and Ser Harys Swift becomes Master of Coin. The other members are Master of Law Mace Tyrell, Master of Ships Aurane Waters, Grand Maester Pycelle, and advisor Olenna Tyrell. Cersei, hoping to rid King's Landing of Tyrell influence, sends Mace Tyrell and his army to besiege Storm's End, which is still held by Stannis Baratheon's bannermen led by Galbert Farring. She also Mace's bannerman Randyll Tarly and his army to "establish security" in the Riverlands. Afterwards, she dismisses the Council.

That night, Cersei has the Tower of the Hand destroyed in a huge fire. As the inferno rages, Cersei grows fascinated by it, much to the discomfort of Jaime. Cersei orders Jaime to head to the Riverlands and put down the last pockets of resistance, specifically Riverrun, which is still held by Brynden Tully and has been ineffectually besieged by Black Walder Frey and "Lame" Lothar Frey.