The news of what his wife had done soon spread through Westeros, everyone knew what had been done and Ned was now standing responsible for the impulsive actions of his wife. Even though he knew that what she was doing was not unjustifiable regarding the evidence that seemed to pile up for the Lannister's. Lord Tywin had summoned his bannermen as soon as he had heard of what had been done, before Ned had gotten a chance to speak with the lord he had already left King's Landing and was marching North.
Ned could only hope that his daughter's were far away from the capital by now that the Lannister army would not catch up to them. He had started spending time in the library more and more since he renounced his title, no longer wearing the pin he was given, and the books that he chose merely raised a bushy eyebrow by the grand maester Pycelle. Through his reading he learned many things, especially the fact that had long been regarded as merely a rumor, but in this book solidified it rather as a fact. Through several generations the Baratheons had always been black of hair, the color clearly dominant in their bloodline, yet none of Robert's children shared this feature; instead they all had the Lannisters' golden hair. It was no secret that Robert had several bastards through the kingdom, and most of them residing here in King's Landing.
Which is the reason that he now found himself where he was, at one of the many brothels of King's Landing, having just got done speaking with a whore about her newly born daughter, black of hair. Littlefinger had led him and his men there, as it was one of these brothels that Jon Arryn too had visited as he also had realised how little Robert shared with his children. Ned could not help but wonder if Jon har actually died of a fever or if his findings had come to light to the wrong people and therefore was disposed of. He is riding through the rain, with his men along with Littlefinger, the rain causing the air to become humid and sticky to his skin, thrumming to the ground and getting in their eyes.
"My Lord!" Gerrold shouted, his voice hoarse with worry, and in an instance the street was packed with Lannister soldiers. Ned saw leather armor, collar gloves and leg rails and steel helmets adorned with gold lions. Their coats stuck to the backs soaked with rain. He did not have time to count, but at least ten soldiers in line blocked the street on foot with long swords and spears with iron tips."Behind!" Harwin yelled and when Ned turned his horse around he saw that there were more behind them, cutting off their possible retreat. Gerrold took his sword out of its sheath, "Give room or die!"
"The wolf's howl," Their leader said, as Ned watched the rain run down his face. "But it's only a tiny flock."
Littlefinger rode slowly forward. "What is the meaning of this? This is the King's hand."
"He was the King's hand." The mud beneath his horse's hooves suppressed the sound of hoofbeat and the line of Lannister soldiers split to let him come forward. On a white steed and wearing golden breast armor, the golden lion roared challengingly. "But now I'm not so sure as to what he is."
"This is madness, Lannister." Littlefinger protested. "Let us pass. We are expected back to the castle. What do you think that you are doing?"
"He knows what he is doing." Ned answered calmly.
Jaime Lannister smiled. "That is true, I am looking for my brother. You remember my brother, Lord Stark? He was with us at Winterfell. Golden hair, sharp tongue. A short man."
"I remember him well." Ned told Jaime.
"It would seem as if he has gotten into a bit of a mess on his way and my father is rightfully upset. You wouldn't happen to know who it is that would wish ill upon my brother?
"Your brother has been arrested upon my orders and will face a trial for his crimes." Ned enlightened the man before him.
Jaime pulled his longsword from its seath as he urged his horse forward, angry at Ned for trying to trick himself and his father, now utterly convinced that he tried to trick Tywin into becoming Hand so that he and his wife could falsely accuse his brother. For a crime that he knows his brother would never commit, for it was he who did it.
"Show me your sword, Lord Eddard. I will slaughter you gladly precisely like I did with Aerys if I have to, but I prefer that you die with a sword in your hand." He gives Littleginger a cold, contemptuous glance. "Lord Baelish, I advise you to quickly disappear before you get any blood splattered on your precious clothing."
Littlefinger did not need to think twice. "I will fetch the city guards." He promised Ned. The line of soldiers opened to let him pass through before closing again. Littlefinger rode off, leaving Ned and his men with the Lannister's. All of Bed's men had their swords drawn and they were all on horse, whereas the Lannister's were all on foot, except for Jaime. Ned supposed that they could run through the lines of soldiers, but Ned thought that there was a safer tactic. "If you kill me," He warns Jaime, "Catelyn will surely kill Tyrion."
Jaime pokes Ned in his chest with the tip of his sword, the same golden sword that he had used to kill the last king. "Would she? Would the honorable Catelyn of Riverrun murder a hostage? I don't think so…." He sighed. "But I am not willing to risk the life of my brother in the hopes of a woman's honor." Jaime put his sword back into its sheath, "So I guess I have to let you run back to Robert and tell him how I frightened you. I wonder if he will care." Jaime pushed his wet hair back and out of his face as he turned his horse away from Ned. Once he was back behind the line of soldiers he ordered his captain that nothing ill will befall Ned Stark before loudly declaring; "But… we don't want to let him leave completely unharmed, so- kill his men."
The soldiers acted quickly as Jaime got down from his horse, attacking their horses and forcing the men to their feet, swords drawn at the ready- Gerrold and Auster were quickly speared through the chests, leaving Ned and Harwin to fight the rest. The both of them kill the Lannister soldiers charging them swiftly, their numbers grand but their skill lacking. Harwin works his way through soldiers until he stands before Jaime, their swords clanging against each other.
Jaime pulls a dagger out and uses it in his left hand, once Harwin is close enough he pushes the dagger through his left eye and into the man's brian, he lets go of the dagger and lets the dead man fall to the dirty ground. Now, Ned stands alone, surrounded by enemy soldiers who back up a few paces, letting him and Jaime stand alone. They attack each other, both with quick and powerful blows continuously blocked by each other. The clanging of their swords is the only sound except for the rain, the muddy ground making their footing slippery. Suddenly, one of the Lannister soldiers moves forward as Ned has his back to them, striking Ned with his spear through his leg, forcing him to the ground on his knees. At this, Jaime and the rest of the soldiers leave. Jaime, not wanting to tarnish the sliver of honor he has left, leaves Ned outside of the brothel surrounded by his dead men and horses in wait for the city guards.
The news of Tywin marching North with an army arrives via letter. Sue and Jory decide that the best course of action will be to stay away from the King's road and that they will try to find smaller roads to travel. It is unlikely that they will catch up to them, as they are on horses and not as many, but still they don't want to take any chances. They do not tell Sansa or Arya about why they are avoiding the main road, instead telling them that they are sight-seeing, discovering new places they did not get to see on their way to King's Landing.
Who had sent the letter was unknown, however it did have a small stamp on it, the picture of a bird, a mockingbird, so Sue could guess who it was. They traveled for longer during the days, their lunches often cut short and leaving early in the morning and setting camp later in the evening. This change was noticed and often commented upon by Sansa and Arya, not liking that they had so little time to do the supposed sight-seeing. Sue didn't know what to tell them, not wanting them to grow worried and they were soon at their destination anyway. She tried to turn their attention to other things, teaching Sansa how to make flower crowns and Arya how to properly punch someone.
She had gotten better at riding, being able to subtly make the horse turn direction and was now willing to let it walk at a more normal pace instead of the sluggish one she had insisted on upon first realising she had to ride a horse. Jory and Arya had laughed and teased her relentlessly about her fear of the animal and of a faster speed, but she did not budge. She had watched as some of the men galloped on their horses, the speed looking fun, but the fear of falling off was too grand to push aside and so she refused to make the horse walk faster than a normal walk.
Much to Jory's dismay as it was to his horse that hers was tied to. Her horse had been given the name Juniper, a light brown mare with a soft cream belly and dark tail and mane. She was mild tempered and never bucked or caused any problems, Sue even dared to give her apples and carrots and each time the horse would carefully take them from her hand. Their travels north had changed the climate, no longer was the sun bearing down on them, no humid hair that felt weird on their skin or air too heavy for them to fully breath. The northern air is much crisper and lighter and it no longer smelt like shit and rotting food, instead it smelt of forest and grass.
Much like all evenings before they had set up camp rather quickly, and were now seated around different campfires, telling stories and singing songs. Sue was sitting with Septa Mordane, Sansa, Arya, Jory, Wyl- one of the northern guards around the same age as Jory with a bushy black beard and of a broader stature and several other men who Sue had yet to learn the name of. Their fire was big, one of the biggest in the camp, the camp was big- with nearly three hundred men it was to be expected. The night air was chilly and everyone had wrapped their cloaks firmly around themselves and moved closer to the burning fires. The stars and moon provide the smallest of lights and the owls hoots echoing through from the forest into their little clearing.
Sue was seated between Jory and Wyl, both having apparently been ordered to remain as the Stark daughters personal guards, there was also Adam who had been given the same order, who was seated between Sansa and Arya who sat on the log next to Sue's. The men were talking about old battles, bragging about their scars and prowess in wars. Sansa and the Septa had brought their needlework with them to sit by the fire and continue with whatever it was they were making this time, and Arya sat by Adam and was drawing something in the dirt with the end of a stick as she was conversing about something with her guard. Adam was kind, younger than Wyl and Jory, at only twenty years of age he had a more laid back attitude, but he was highly skilled with a sword and intimidating. He was taller than most men in their camp, standing nearly an entire head over most, not as tall as either of the Clegances but almost close in height to Sandor, but only almost. Sue had caught him and Arya on several occasions sparing, him teaching her how to fight as Syrio Forel watches, giving them pointers here and there.
"My lady, did you sing much in Dorne?" One of the soldiers asked her, sitting on the other side of the fire as he held a lute in his arms. Sue feels heat rise on her cheeks as a lot of the men's attention is changing towards her.
"No, I'm afraid not." She answers, shaking her head as he frowns at her response.
"Come now, lady Sue. Won't you bless us with a song?" Wyl asks playfully as he shows her slightly and smiles down at her kindly making her laugh.
"I don't even know any songs." She says with a wave of her hand, as Arya cuts in, wanting to hear her older sister sing; "You can make something up!"
"That's a great idea, Arya!" Sansa suddenly speaks, having heard the conversation now that it was about a song, she too wants to hear her older sister sing, "Something about princes!" She adds gleefully to which Arya makes a face and suggests warrior princesses instead. Sue looks at the man with the lute and nods to the instrument, "May I borrow that?" The guards burst into cheers at getting to hear their young lady sing as the man nods and smiles as he hands it over to her. She runs her finger across the strings one time, just to get a feel of it. A lute can't be that different from a gitarr, at least she hopes it's not, as she settles on a fairly easy song that can't be much different then the ones who already exist here and that isn't too long.
"Robin Hood and Little John, walking through the forest
Laughing back and forth at what the other'n has to say
Reminiscing this and that and having such a good time
Oo-de-lally, oo-de-lally, golly, what a day
Never ever thinking there was danger in the water
They were drinking, they just guzzled it down
Never dreaming that a scheming sheriff and his posse
Was a-watching them and gathering around
Robin Hood and Little John, running through the forest
Jumping fences, dodging trees and trying to get away
Contemplating nothing but escape and finally making it
Oo-de-lally, oo-de-lally, golly, what a day
Oo-de-lally, oo-de-lally, golly, what a day"
Cerseis POV
Her husband had gone on another hunt. As he always did when angered. Leaving her alone in the Red Keep, ever since Jaime had left to fight for their father against the Starks she had been completely and utterly alone. She could not understand why their father was making such a big deal out of Tyrion, the monster. He, who killed their mother, was worth nothing, not to her. She had told Jaime that he should not leave, let the imp take the fall. Everything would be fine if they just left him there.
She knew, however, that it was not right. Not right in the eyes of their legacy, for the name of Lannister. He brought shame wherever he went. If not for his looks then for his behavior, always whoring and drinking. That their father would go to such lengths for him surprised her slightly. Now, she was left behind. Her father's visit had come as a surprise, seemingly for everyone. Jaime had told her of Ned Stark's ruse. One evening, when the two were finally alone. The crickets echoing through the open windows and their sound bouncing off the stone walls. Her lying securely in his arms, legs intertwined and the thin blanket thrown carelessly over them. He has his nose in her hair as they lie there and catch their breaths.
"What did Ned Stark want with father?" She asks her brother, holding onto his hand to her chest. Jaime sighs softly, "He claims that he wants father to take over his place as Hand." She frowned at that. Ned Stark, she had taken him for a fool but not a complete moron.
"Surely father saw that this was some trap?" Cersei practically scoffs out her words, the ruse so simple and unplanned in her eyes. As if the wolves could corner the lions like this.
"No." Jaime almost whispers as he presses his nose into her golden locks once more. "Father agreed with him. Lord Stark went into an entire argument about how he wants to stay in the north and how father is the only plausible person to give the position to." Jaime tells her, consciously leaving Sue's name out of it. Cersei turns in his hold, so that they now lay nose to nose.
"What did Robert have to say about this?" She asks, her voice colder and harder at the thought of Robert. Jamie's face hardens also at the mention of his sister's husband. "Apparently, Ned has not told his friend anything yet. Wanting to speak with him with father present. Something about an united front, I think." Cersei stiffens in his arms as she locks eyes with him.
"They are putting him up for treason." She snarls. Anger growing inside of her. How dare these northern lords come and try to push her family away from their positions like this? Of course this is why Robert wanted Ned as his Hand. Jaime shakes his head at her.
"No." He tells her. "Lord Stark explained that it was not treason, since they were not planning on overthrowing the king, spying on him or any of the diplomats, or attempting to harm the Crown."
"Does father actually believe him? Do you?" She inquires, leaning to sit up on her elbows and looking down at her twin with furrowed brows.
"Father believes him. They are going to meet with Robert on the morrow to discuss it. I- I don't know. I doubt that Lord Stark's intentions are true, but I don't think that he wants to remain in the south longer than he has to." Jaime answers honestly, looking up at her and beginning to toy with the ends of her hair slightly with his fingers.
"If our father were to come here…" Cersei begins, almost uncertainly. "We would have to be more careful."
"We already are too careful, Cersei." Jaime counters, tired of having to hide their love. As if it was wrong, cursed, unnatural. Her eyes grow colder and harder, her face loosening its previous softness and turning concentrated. "No one can know of this Jaime. They can not find out." She tells him seriously. He merely rolls his eyes at her seriousness. He can not count the number of times he has tried to whisk her away. Maybe to Essos, somewhere far away. Where they could marry, where they would not need to hide their love but could instead live in the open.
"We might not have to hide for much longer. The way that Robert is whoring, eating and drinking he is sure to fall for his death sooner rather than later." He sourly replies. He can see as the words leave his lips and reach Cersei's ears as her eyes gain that same calculating look she always gains when pondering over something. Robert being gone would mean many changes. Her son, Joffrey would be king. And there would be no need to convince anyone who the Hand should be, for the position would immediately go to their father and there would be no fear of deceit when he takes his title. Ned Stark could return and rot in the north for all she cared. "If Robert died-" She begins, only to be quickly cut off by Jaime.
"No." He tells her sternly. "You can not be responsible for his murder."
"If father and Ned Stark speak with him on the morrow it is only a matter of time before he goes on another of his hunts again. We poison his wine. Make it look like an accident. No one would ever know." She explains the first idea that pops into her head. It could work. Robert is known for his drinking and his hunting. If he were to get too drunk during one of his hunts and come back so injured that he can not survive, no one would assume it was ever planned.
"If Robert dies when our father is named Hand everyone will think that he did it." Jaime argues. Shaking his head in disbelief at his sister. He knew that she could be cold but he never thought that she would kill anyone. Afterall, the Stark boy had been his doing. Cersei grit her teeth and pull her lips into a tight thin line before turning sharply around, once more laying with her back turner towards Jaime.
He had not agreed with her, but she knew what she must do. She managed to get closer with one of her cousins, Lancel. Spewing nonsense to him that the boy seemed to gobble up stem and all. He convinced him to keep offering Robert as much wine as possible, to slow him down.