Earlier this season, Catelyn Stark (Michelle Fairley) delivered a monologue suggesting that there is a curse on House Stark -- and that it's all her fault.
The leeches attached to Gendry's skin were actually stunt leeches, designed 由 the 支持 department to be as realistic as possible. No 动物 (or Joe Dempsie) were harmed in the filming of the scene!