8th Month of 298 A.C. King's Landing

Lord Eddard Stark

He hated King's Landing, truly he despised the gods damned capital, it was a viper's nest, there was not a single honest person here, truly there was not. Everyone had some sort of agenda or goal that they wished to achieve, either to further themselves or their families. And they did so without honour, without dignity, it was sickening to him, and he often found himself wondering why he had agreed to come south at all. Then he would remember Lysa's letter and the warning she had given and he would stick to that, he needed to protect Robert, he needed to protect his friend from the Lannisters. They had their claws in everything here, from the city watch to the servants, everyone and everything was Lannister and it angered him. Sometimes he wondered how his friend could have become so careless, how Jon Arryn could have allowed such a thing to happen, and then he would see Robert, fat, lazy and complaining about the past, and he would understand, his friend had allowed this to happen because he did not care. And Jon Arryn had struggled through it all and had eventually died.

The journey to King's Landing had revealed more to him of his friend and the royal family than he actually wanted to know. The queen ruled with an iron fist, determining what happened and when it happened, and Robert, who had never taken orders well, allowed this to happen. It was a wonder the queen had not removed his balls from him and placed them in a vice, so useless had Robert become. There had been flashes of his old friend though, on the way down, they had stopped in Darry because Arya had gone missing and when the Queen had demanded that a direwolf be killed for justice for the crown prince's own stupidity his friend had spoken then in a harsh tone, stating that the wolf was not at fault and that it was for him to decide what happened. And so reluctantly, Ned had allowed the direwolf to go, he knew his daughter despised him for it, but it was for the best. Arya had not forgiven him for not speaking for her at Darry, and Sansa had not forgiven him for not speaking up for Lady at Darry and so his two girls were for once united in their loathing of him and it hurt. The crown prince had also shown something of a more malevolent side to his person as well. Ned was beginning to wonder if it was even a good idea to come south in the first place.

But then he would think of Lysa's letter, and the strangeness of Jon Arryn's death and he knew, he just knew that he had to remain in King's Landing to see it through. He had to find out why Jon Arryn had died and he had to bring his killer to justice. That investigation was not truly going anywhere though and it was frustrating him, other than meeting two or three of Robert's bastards' and seeing that they looked nothing like the royal children, there was nothing else to show for his investigation. Meanwhile, the tourney of the hand had gone off reasonably well despite Ser Hugh of the Vale dying and the Clegane brothers nearly killing one another. And yet his girls did not talk to him, and Robert continued to neglect the realm. It was frustrating.

He supposed that was why he had agreed to come with Petyr Baelish after the council meeting had ended today. He did not trust the man, had no reason to trust the man, but when Baelish had said that he had something interesting to show him he had followed wondering what it could have been. That was how he had found his wife in one of Baelish's brothels. How Cat come to be here he knew not, only that she and Ser Rodrik had been met by men sent by Baelish and brought to somewhere safe away from the lions. She had brought disturbing news with her as well. Their son had nearly been killed and there was a dagger to prove it. He recognised the dagger somewhat, it was similar to the one Jon had given the crown prince for his nameday, except it was of a finer make. He voiced his thoughts. "And Gerion thought that it might well have been from a collection of lords who tried to gain the royal favour?"

He did not want to think that his friend could have said such a thing but knowing this Robert it was possible. His wife nods. "Yes my love. Gerion seemed convinced that someone could well have overheard the king when he was speaking to the queen. And even if he did not mean it seriously there were enough people there vying for their favour that they might have done it out of desperation."

"But Robert, Robert is not some sort of sadistic killer. He knew Bran was a child why would he say such a thing?" Ned asks aloud, his thoughts troubled.

"The king often speaks without thinking my lord. Surely you have noticed by now. The tourney, the welcoming feast. All of them are prime examples of where his mouth gets the better of him. Especially when he is drunk, and when is he not drunk." Baelish says.

Ned considers this a moment and then says. "But this dagger is too fine a quality for anyone of the nobles who came with Robert to be theirs. Such a blade would only be affordable if one was from a wealthy noble family and there are few of those here in the crownlands."

"Unless they had, like Lady Catelyn suggested allied together to achieve this goal." Lord Varys replies. "Whilst unlikely considering the fierce rivalry between the houses in the crownlands, it is not beyond the realms of reason. Especially for those houses that wish to emerge from underneath the shadow of the rebellion."

What the eunuch says makes sense and yet, it does not sit comfortably with Ned. There is something wrong with it all. "There is something not quite right about that assumption though. The lords of the crownlands more than likely are apathetic toward Robert and myself at best. They have no reason to actively do something like this. Unless…."

"Unless what my lord?" Catelyn asks.

"Unless someone paid them to combine together to do the deed. The man who was sent to kill Bran sounded from the south did he not my lady?" he asks his wife.

"Yes he did, very southern, from this area in fact." Catelyn replies.

"The lords of the crownlands might well have done something at the suggestion from someone with a lot of money. Someone whom they could not afford to say no to." Ned goes on.

There is a moment's silence then and then Lord Varys speaks. "If you are suggesting someone from the royal family had something to do with the attempt on your son's life, my lord that is a very bold claim to make. Is there anything to suggest that this is the case?"

Ned looks at his wife then and she says. "The Kingslayer did not go off hunting with the others, and he and the queen were nowhere to be seen for many hours whilst everyone else was off hunting. And then when my son fell, the Kingslayer was one of the first people there to help. I thought nothing of it then, but now, now I wonder if there was more to it."

Baelish speaks then. "It is certainly possible that the Lannisters had something to do with this. They have always had something against your family Stark, ever since the rebellion at least. But that does not seem to be the Kingslayer or the Queen's style. If your boy saw something he was not supposed to see, the Kingslayer, would have just killed him there and then. No, sending a hired knife after someone, seems like something, another Lannister would do."

Ned can feel his patience running thin. "Do not talk in riddles Baelish. Either say what you mean or do not speak at all."

The master of coin holds up his hands placatingly and says. "Easy Stark. What I am saying is that, there is a third Lannister sibling, one who has neither the skill of his brother nor the openness of his sister. He is cleverer than both and if he thought your boy saw or heard something he should not have heard, then he would be the one to give the incentive for others to get rid of your son. I believe Tyrion Lannister is behind the attack on your son."

A long silence follows this and then Ned speaks. "The Imp? Why would the imp want my son dead? I do not think he spoke even one word to Bran whilst he was in Winterfell. It makes no sense."

The master of coin looks at him a sly smile on his face one that leaves Ned feeling chilled. "Things often do not make sense when it comes to family. Tyrion Lannister might well despise his sister, but he loves his brother dearly. And if he were to have caught wind that the boy might have seen something or heard something that he should not have heard, he would most definitely act on it."

There is something about this that makes Ned feel uneasy, there is something here that is not being said. What it is he does not know, but before he can speak Lord Varys speaks. "Lord Baelish is correct in that should Lord Tyrion feel that his brother is threatened he would do what his brother could not and try and deal with the problem discreetly. And yet I do not think this is Lord Tyrion's work. It is too clumsy and too ill thought out. No this is someone else's work."

"Whose? Who would be so evil as to try to kill a child?" Ned growls his anger getting to him now.

Catelyn takes his hand then and squeezes it. The eunuch speaks. "It is possible that word has gotten out to the Queen about your little investigation into Jon Arryn's death my lord. There are spies everywhere, and your goodsister was not the most subtle of people when it came to her anger and her worries. If your son, who you, yourself have said is a good climber, then it is possible that he saw something he should not have seen, and the queen in her desperation had someone paid to try and silence him."

Ned feels something akin to anger and despair fill him. Cat gives a shuddering breath beside him and asks. "Why? Bran is only a little boy. He would not have done anything. Why would she try to kill a little boy?"

"Because she is Tywin Lannister's daughter my lady, and the Lannisters have already shown that they have no trouble killing small children to protect their own interests. The queen is no different." The eunuch responds.

Ned feels anger grow inside of him. "Then the king must know of this. If his queen is trying to kill innocent children Robert must be made aware of this."

"And when you bring your accusation before the king, you can be sure the queen will be there my lord. She will laugh and deny it, and you will be made to look a fool. You have no solid evidence to prove that she did the deed, or even why she needed to do the deed. Your son still sleeps." Baelish responds.

"Then what am I supposed to do?" Ned growls. "I cannot let this go unanswered, I must find out the truth."

Baelish smiles again, a smile that does not reach his eyes. "Be patient and wait. The queen will grow nervous if she was the one who ordered your son's death. Eventually she will let something slip, and that is when you act. Not before and not after. Only then."

"Will she though?" Catelyn asks concerned.

Baelish nods the smile still on his face. "She is a Lannister, of course she will."