He dreaded the south.
It never was his wish to ever return to Kings Landing, or south of the Neck for that matter. The only remnants here were bitter memories one would rather forget. Fighting alongside Robert in his youth, the man he called his brother, to overthrow the Mad King. To save his sister, to bring justice for his family. Only to find the Mad King beheaded in the throne room, stabbed in the back by his own Kingsguard, Jamie Lannister, perched on the Throne. Father and Brandon died in this room. And here he was now, seated on the barbed Iron Throne, waiting for what felt like days. I rode south only for you Robert. To save you.
Jon Arryn was dead, and should Lysa's word heeded true, it would've been at the hand of the Lannister's, who would soon kill King Robert as well. The dreadful lot, who sacked this city, murder Jon, and attempted to assassinate my son. You've kept horrid company Robert.
He hoped he'd arrive soon.
Justice for their crimes. Then and now. Even now it was hard for Eddard Stark to stomach, the Kingslayer and the Queen committing treason against the crown, against Robert. The truth Jon Arryn had died for. Brother and sister, leaving Robert with only false heirs. Just as the Targaryen's did to keep their bloodline pure.
"We came in the world together, we belong together," Lady Cersei had told him when they met last twilight. attempting to sway him with her sweet words and beauty. Once she saw he had no care for what excuses she had or offers to say, only curses and threats came. "When you play the game of thrones you win, or you die. There is no middle ground Lord Stark."
He felt little pity for what's to come.
She should've heeded my words. "Leave with your children, before Robert returns, for his wrath will follow." As far as she was concerned, he wouldn't return from his hunt in more than a fortnight, giving her more then enough time to prepare, and dispose of the honorable Lord Stark. She was a proud lion, and wouldn't flee so easily with her tail tucked between her legs.
She underestimated me. I grew with soldiers, fought battles, helped Robert win the war and secure his throne. I learned how to die long ago, but I don't intend to now. He remembered giving the parchment to his messenger, written by his own hand, "Give to no one but King Robert. It must be in his hands, and his eyes that see. No one but the King. Not his Lannister squire, not Ser Barristan the Bold, only King Robert. Make haste and ride by first light."
He met with Cersei that night, and two more had past when he heard the King had rode through the city gates with the moon at full, fuming and raging.
This city has made me a snake, begotten of honor. But it cannot end as before. No more children shall be murdered defenseless in their beds. I must calm Roberts fury. Control it. Make him see reason. End another war before it begins.
He ordered the guards to be prepared for the King's early return, and keep watch on the royal children and Queen Cersei. Not Lannister guards. Janos Slynt, the commander of the city watch, is seemingly always surrounded by the Lannisters. No doubt he's in the Queen's pocket. The Baratheon guards and my own, ones I know to be loyal to Robert and I. The bellowing he begun to hear drew nearer each passing second, and stood from the throne slowly, his leg still aching from the fall from his horse, and cane wobbling in his hand. Will my leg ever be the same again? He knew Robert's fury would be immense, and Eddard would have to try his best to quell it. Ours is the Fury indeed.
"Ned! Where are you, you damn bastard?!", the doors flew open, as if his bellowing made the doors give way. Robert was wroth, head red with rage, dark blue eyes murderous as he looked upon Lord Stark. Looking unraveled as if riding for days, his garments looked worn strecthing over great belly. Sweat beaded his head, breathing heavily with his chins moving under his black beard. Ser Barristan and a few of Roberts bannermen followed shortly after, hands on their swords as if a battle was about to occur. There may well be one soon. In Robert's clenched hand, a paper.
Robert held it up to Lord Stark, his knuckles white with rage, and spoke, his jaw square, teeth clenched. "Ned, is what...this said...true?"
"Your Grace," Eddard said calmly, looking him in the eye, seeing his fury clouding his mind, yet a sliver a doubt, as if he pleaded with him to tell him otherwise. If only it were. "It's true Robert, all of it. I found wi-"
Robert turned to Ser Barristan and his guards with him, almost screaming at them, "Find that traitorous bitch! Along with their spawn of incest bastards! Bring them here now! ". He turned back to Ned, "You better be damn sure about this."
Ned watched Robert make his way and sat on the Iron Throne, fuming with anger. Eddard approached him carefully, knowing he had to control him. "Robert, what do you intend to do with them?"
Robert looked at Ned and snarled, "I'll kill them Ned. Put their heads on spikes for the entire city to see and know what has happened. I already put one Lannister in chains, that fool Lancel. He confessed to being her eyes and ears on me once I brought my hammer on his hand. She betrayed me, played me for a fool all along Ned, that lion bitch. Doing just as the dragons had and breeding together."
"And what of the children Robert?" he asked warily. No more murdered children.
He rose from throne and shouted at Ned, "Did you not hear me Ned?! I know you haven't gone deaf in the North. They're false heirs and lionspawn!"
His fury blinds him. "Robert," Eddard spoke camly, but stern, "They are children, innocent of any crime their father and mother have done. You kill them, Tywin will rage war, and the city will revolt. They won't take kindly to the execution of children."
"Their spawn of incest Ned! I called them my own, they called me their father, yet it was all a ruse that wretched Cersei. I never was a proper father to them. I was more a father to my bastard then I was to any of them here."
Edric Storm, living at Storms End I believe. He may soon need to come to Kings Landing. A discussion for another time. "That doesn't mean you can just execute them as if they were nothing, or a prisoner in the black cells"
Robert glared at Ned, "They became just that when you found it was the Kingslayer's seed that bore them." He sighed, his initial fury slowly dying. A guard came, approaching them both.
"Your grace, we found the queen and the children in their quarters."
"Bring them here at once, I want her to see her life crumble before throwing her and her children in the black cells. And bring me wine! It's going to be a long night."
The guard left swiftly, as Robert sat on the throne again, with Eddard facing him.
"Your grace, listen to me. You cannot put the children in the black cells, and you cannot kill them neither."
"Then what do you expect me to do Ned?", he yelled. "Let them wander around the castle just as before?"
"They are about to have their lives taken from them, their life collapsing on crimes they didn't commit, you can't-"
Robert stood again, face turning red, "I am the king Ned! I will do what I damn please!"
Ned still stood unflinching, facade unbroken. "You'll be no better then the Mad King if you believe that." What has this place turned you into?
Robert stood agape, stunned, and angrier then ever. Almost a whisper, he spoke, "Careful Ned. Be very careful with me now. You called me the Mad King once already. I already broke one hand, you don't want me to break another." He paused, as if he already made his mind on whether he should. "Then tell me, Lord Stark. What should be done when they walk through those doors?"
Ned breathed slowly, and started, "Let the children stay in their quarters. Under house arrest. If you wish you can send Joffrey and Tommen to the Wall, and Myrcella to the Silent Sisters. They'll live decent lives there, and have no right to usurp your throne. Revoke them of your name, declare them bastards of Cersei and Jamie Lannister for the Seven Kingdoms to hear.
"Cersei and Jamie should be exiled to Casterly Rock or to Esos. Executing them could make Twyin move to declare war on the crown. He is a proud man, always moving towards furthering his house's legacy. He would not take well that the future of his house is now put to shambles. Heed my advice Robert. I beg you."
Robert stared at him, hands clenched on the throne in a silent fury, silent as an abandoned tower, save the crackling of the fires, and the shouting of guards with the Queen soon to arrive.
The throne doors opened, revealing Cersei, looking menacingly at Lord Stark, and her children huddled together around her, facing their father. Your father isn't here children.
Robert was silent, yet their eyes never broke their gaze. Please be the man I know you are. The brother I grew with.
Finally, he looked to them, his wife, and the children he raised, nothing revealing love in his eyes, only disgust.
And he spoke.