Jaime II

The feast, celebrating the victory of the Royalist fleet- or more, like theLannisterfleet,- over the Ironborn was huge. Unnecessarily so, in his opinion.‚You're wasting amountain of money over awar, that didn't even last ayear.'

Robert was drunk, laughing loudly on ajoke or whatnot from someone Jaime didn't bother to identify. Cersei was cold, like the Wall and her face might as well have been carved from stone. It was clear to him, that she wanted to be anywhere else, but next to Robert, when he was drunk. (Not to mention, that he was eyeing aserving wench, all the whilesupposedlyconversing with that knight.)

Looking around, he could not find his father anywhere. However, his eyes stopped on Eddard Stark for abrief moment, who looked even more uncomfortable and stoic, than his sister- which, he supposed was afeat in itself.

Then, he caught sight of Tywin, closely followed by Kevan, who was carrying awooden box inlaid with gold. Jaime raised an eyebrow in adreadful interest. What was this now?

„Ah, Lord Tywin!" bellowed the King- well,Usurper. Jaime could –and would– never think of Robert, as king. That had been Rhaegar, but Rhaegar was dead.

His father bowed, but Jaime could see the flash in his green eyes, as he looked towards Arryn. Once upon atime, he'd been the Hand of the King and even now, he coveted the position. For what... he never understood- power was fleeting and dangerous, if in the wrong hands. Aerys had been the proof of it- the power had eventually turned him mad, as it had many others.

„Your Grace, in the name of House Lannister, Ipresent you the traitor." Tywin spoke.

Kevan opened the box and Jaime needed all his willpower to stay upright. On aLannister-red cushion was the cut off head of Victorian Greyjoy, the neck clotted with blood, glassy eyes staring into nothingness.

Robert bellowed something- some praise- to his father, but Jaime could not listen. Looking at the head, was like staring into the face of the Stranger. Ashiver ran down his spine. He'd known his father wasn't completelyalrightin the head- that he was, just as bloodthirsty, as Aerys had been,- but this was past everything he ever guessed his father was capable of.

It seemed, the Greyjoy's had almost ended up, like the Reynes and the Tarbecks- good thing, that Arryn's head was in the right place. He hadn't allowed Robert to kill Balon's children- instead, he took Balon's daughter, as award, while Stark did the same with his son.

He couldn't focus, not really. What reached him, was that Robert congratulated his father and was all but patting him on the shoulder for awork well done. And all the other bastards were celebrating with them, as if ahead wasn't on the High Table.

Jaime noted with some relief, that Stark looked as repulsed, as he felt. However, he didn't move from his spot, but he could see, that the Lord of Winterfell was determined to ignore Robert for the rest of his time there.

The first minute it was appropriate, Stark and his small retinue stood up, thanking Robert for his hospitality (most were too drunk to notice... but was the Quiet Wolf's tone dripping deadly sarcasm?) and left swiftly.

For once, Jaime envied him. He would have liked to flee the feast as well, but under no circumstances could aKingsguard abandon his spot.

‚And what an honor to serve you, Robert. Ikilled amadman all those years ago, to save acity from being turned into ash, by wildfire and now, Ihave to stand by and watch, as another madman ruins the Realm.'

Sometimes he wondered if it would have been better, to let Aerys live...

Eddard II

They rode quietly down the Kingsroad, all of them repulsed by what they'd witnessed. He couldn't believe Robertrelishedin that sight...

It sent shivers down his spine.‚What sort of man have you turned into, Robert?'

„Are you alright, Ned?"

Ned snapped out of his thoughts and looked to his right, where Howland Reed was riding, the others behind them. He shook his head. „I'm anything, but alright, Howland. My foster brother... Robert's not the man Iused to know. He would have never let this happen and now he was even congratulating Tywin. The crown has changed him."

There was aheartbeat of silence before Howland answered.

„Or, perhaps it showed, what kind of man he truly is."

Ned shivered once more, despite the hot air. He would have liked to deny it- that Robert could not be like this,- but he didn't say anything. He could not convince Howland, that Robert was agood man when he himself no longer believed in it.