'Game Of Thrones' Season 5 Spoilers: What Happened To The Characters Before The Finale, 'Mother's Mercy'

"Game of Thrones" Season 5 is coming to a close Sunday, so fans have one more chance to be shocked or surprised. Considering how much happens in one episode, the attempt to keep track of everything that happened this season can be tricky. With that in mind, let's look back at where we stand before the "Game of Thrones" Season 5 finale.

Warning: "Game of Thrones" Season 5 spoilers ahead.

In The North

Jon Snow is beginning to take over as a leader of the Night's Watch after Mance Rayder's Wildling army was stopped by Stannis Baratheon. Jon is trying his best to keep his pledge to the Night's Watch even after Stannis offers him legitimacy and the title of the Lord of Winterfell. Stannis is willing to give the Wildlings their freedom if Mance Rayder bends the knee. However, Jon can't convince Mance to pledge his loyalty to Stannis. Mance is sacrificed to the Lord of Light, but Jon kills him before he is burned alive.

That all leads to the election of a new lord commander. Ser Alliser Thorne and Ser Denys Mallister were the only candidates before Samwell Tarly nominated Jon for the role. The vote is split between Ser Alliser and Jon, but Maester Aemon had the deciding vote and chose Jon as the new lord commander of the Night's Watch. Jon names Ser Alliser first ranger, but Janos Slynt refuses to follow orders. That disobedience cost Janos his head.

Jon is forced to make tough decisions as lord commander. In a move that alienates some of his friends, Jon keeps his alliance with the Wildlings and offers them passage through the wall. Consulting with Tormund Giantsbane, Jon launches a rescue mission to Hardhome. As they are loading on to boats, a White Walker army attacks the outpost. Many Wildlings are killed, as we get another glimpse of the Night's King and see Jon kill a White Walker with the Valyrian steel sword Longclaw. As Jon and Tormund leave Hardhome, the Night's King raises an undead army. Jon's arrival with a new group of Wildlings is met with grumbling and plenty of staring eyes.

While Jon is away, Samwell is left without his biggest ally at Castle Black. Sam continues to get mistreated, but he sticks to his studies and tends to Maester Aemon. Sam is researching dragonglass and at Aemon's side when the old man dies. The relationship between Sam and Gilly reaches a new level after two men of the Night's Watch attempt to rape her. Sam protects her from the attack and gets beaten by the men. Jon's direwolf, Ghost, arrives and puts an end to the threat.

Stannis' march to Winterfell is not going well. A blizzard has drained supplies and killed horses, which forces Stannis to make a very difficult decision. A fire inside the camp kills even more horses and destroys the food reserves. In his attempt to gain favor with the Lord of Light and increase his odds of victory in the coming battle, Stannis agrees to sacrifice his daughter Shireen Baratheon. He sends Ser Davos Seaworth to Castle Black to ask for men. Selyse Baratheon tries to save her daughter from burning alive, but several guards stop her.

After leaving the Vale, Littlefinger and Sansa Stark head to Winterfell. He tells her about his plan to marry her to Ramsay Bolton. Sansa is terrified, but accepts her fate. At Winterfell, Littlefinger informs her he will be heading to King's Landing. Now alone, Sansa reunites with Theon Greyjoy/Reek. She's shocked by his appearance, but has not forgiven him for killing Bran and Rickon Stark.

Ramsay and Roose Bolton continue to prepare for the battle with Stannis. Sansa is married to Ramsay, and her wedding night concludes with her rape, with Theon/Reek being forced to watch. Sansa asks for his help in escaping, but he betrays her and tells Ramsay of the plot to rescue her. Theon/Reek admits he did not kill Bran and Rickon, which gives Sansa a glimmer of hope about her family. Meanwhile, Brienne of Tarth and Podrick Payne are nearby, awaiting a signal to rescue Sansa.

King's Landing

King Tommen Baratheon is married to Margaery Tyrell after the death of Tywin Lannister. Cersei Lannister is protecting her family as she plots the downfall of the Tyrells. The Sparrows make their first appearance, and Lancel Lannister, Cersei's cousin, former lover and accomplice in Robert Baratheon's murder, has joined the religious group. Cersei attempts to control the Small Council -- including the appointment of Qyburn as the master of whispers -- which leads to her uncle Kevan Lannister to return to Castle Black.

Cersei receives a threatening message, and she sends Jaime Lannister to Dorne to rescue her daughter Myrcella Baratheon. The Sparrows continue to gain power in King's Landing and punish the high septon after he is found in a brothel. Cersei names the High Sparrow as the new high septon, which leads to the reinstatement of the Faith Militant and the arrest of Ser Loras Tyrell for the crime of homosexuality. Ser Loras' trial also leads to the arrest of Queen Margaery for the crime of giving false testimony.

Cersei's victory is short-lived when the high septon reveals Lancel has confessed to his previous crimes. Cersei is arrested and is placed in a cell before her trial. Cersei's imprisonment was engineered by Littlefinger and Olenna Tyrell. Her imprisonment leads to Kevan being named the King's Hand.

Dorne

Jaime Lannister recruits Bronn for the trip to Dorne. The Sand Snakes want revenge for the death of their father, Oberyn Martell, and a war between Dorne and the Lannisters. Both plots involve the kidnapping of Myrcella, who is falling in love with Prince Trystane Martell. The two groups meet in the Water Gardens, and a fight starts, soon to be stopped by Prince Doran Martell's guards and Areo Hotah. Bronn is poisoned during the fight, but is given an antidote after some teasing by Tyene Sand.

Prince Doran sends Jaime to King's Landing with Myrcella and Prince Tyrstane -- the latter to serve on the Small Council.

Meereen

Daenerys Targaryen is struggling to maintain order in the city as the Sons of the Harpy attack her men. Hizdahr zo Loraq wants to reopen the fighting pits to appease the people, but Dany refuses. Further chaos ensues after she has Mossador -- a freed slave -- executed after he killed a Son of the Harpy who was awaiting trial. Fighting in the streets continues, and a group of Unsullied is surrounded by the Sons. Grey Worm is wounded, but Ser Barristan Selmy kills several attackers before he dies. Grey Worm kills the final Son and is recovering from his wounds.

Dany mourns Ser Barristan's death and lets her dragons kill a member of a noble family. To gain some peace, she also agrees to open the fighting pits and to marry Hizdahr.

Tyrion Lannister is on a journey across the Narrow Sea with Lord Varys, who explains that he has been working to help Dany and the Targaryens reclaim the Iron Throne. Tyrion and Varys take a break at a brothel in Volantis, where Tyrion is kidnapped by Ser Jorah Mormont. The two are headed toward Dany as Jorah believes Tyrion would be a good gift and a way to return to the side of his queen. There's some trouble in the ruins of Valyria. The Stone Men attack their boat, and Tyrion almost drowns, but is saved by Jorah. Unfortunately, Jorah contracts greyscale disease during the fight.

Washed ashore, Tyrion and Jorah are captured by slavers who later sell them at an auction. They are being held at a small fighting pit where Dany and Hizdahr are visiting, but she refuses to accept Jorah back as she meets Tyrion for the first time. Dany accepts Tyrion as an adviser before the opening of Meereen's fighting pit. As the fights go on, Jorah is among the combatants. The Sons return and kill people in the stands and Dany's men. As the Sons encircle Dany and her advisers, Drogon returns, but even the large dragon can't quite put an end to the threat. Dany climbs on the back of Drogon and flies away while Tyrion, Jorah and Daario Naharis look on.

Braavos

Arya Stark has begun her apprenticeship as a member of the Faceless Men. She gained passage on a ship to Braavos with a coin given to her by Jaqen H'ghar. Arya is struggling with giving up her past while she's in the House of Black and White. Learning to become "no one" and that "all men must serve," Arya slowly advances in her apprenticeship, but could not throw away Needle. She begins washing bodies and soon sees the Hall of Faces, but she's not ready to put on a new face.

Jaqen gives her an assignment as Lana of the Canals and to study the city as an oyster seller. There's a ship insurer who happens to be pretty corrupt and could be deserving of "the gift." While she debates killing the man, she sees Ser Meryn Trant. Meryn is one of those on Arya's kill list, and she faces a difficult decision about whether to give up her past and follow the path of the Faceless Men.