Jaime Lannister killed the Mad King Aerys.
Yes, it was to protect the kingdom, and of course it was for the greater good, and there was no denying that it helped Robert's Rebellion, but that did not excuse the fact.
"What would you have me do, kill the boy?" Robert snarled, and then regretted that he'd said anything.
This newly formed emergency council blinked back at him. Ser Barristan Selmy was the first to reply. He was here speaking on behalf of the Kingsguard, and yet it was still uneasy between him and Robert. He had fought on the other side, after all.
"Your Grace, this cannot be simply ignored. This one act of murder would sully both the name and the honour of the Kingsguard forever more. I would be ashamed wear white," Selmy was saying.
Tywin kept his gaze fixated on Selmy, and he radiated a fury that Robert thought only Baratheon could possess. He knew then with certainty that a lot of those gathered here today would walk away with fattened purses if they voted that Jaime be pardoned, Tywin's unique way of saying thanks. Selmy ignored the glare and carried on about the stain on the Kingsguard, oh the shame of it. It was getting extremely repetitive.
One thing they could all agree on was that there was no precedent for this.
Those who said he should be pardoned said it was an act that could be excused in war, and that if Jaime had killed Aerys on the battlefield, that he would be lauded as a hero.
The others argued that that was precisely the problem; he killed a man who was under his care, not an enemy on the battlefield.
Regicide alone was a crime against the gods, and they didn't even have a word for how wrong it was for the murder to committed by one of the Kingsguard.
The Northerners in particular were outraged. They still thought the laws of hospitality were sacred, and this was even worse again in their book.
Ned was the only Northerner who did not openly call for Jaime's death, and even he said that he should take the black.
Robert took a long draught of his wine. Any remark to either side would just exacerbate this fucking mess. He kept on drinking until Ned gave him a look. He knew that fucking look. He put down the goblet, and tried to pay attention.
The meeting went on for another hour like that, behead the boy, let him prance around like a good little knight. Robert honestly couldn't give a shit either way.
The midday heat was making them slow yet angry. Robert was nearly willing to just say alright kill him if it meant he could escape that damnable room when Jon Arryn saved them with the third option
"Let Jaime take the black," he said, cutting cleanly across the most recent squabble that had broken out.
It took a lot of haggling, but the truth of it was that the Night's Watch was not too different from the Kingsguard. Life of celibacy, forsaking all claims and titles, no children and no wives. Switch the white cloak for black and there you were.
He would rise quickly enough in the Watch, he could regain some honour.
It was better than a beheading at least.
Cersei did not speak to Robert when they were alone for a year afterwards. She held his arm and she smiled when they were in public, but at night she lay perfectly still, cold and as unfeeling as steel.
She resented him, and he hated her equally. Bitch whore wench. He stopped himself from saying the words but they hung in the air between them, as heavy as Robert's own crown.
What did she want him to do? Pretend nothing was amiss? Let the Kingslayer stay?
Even Cersei, dumb bitch that she was, had to know that that was unrealistic.