Jacqueline stood off to the side of the dais and watched the group enter in the throne room, while the herald announced Joffrey's new titles .The first thing to catch her attention was that Lord Stark walked with a limp, using a cane for help. Behind him walked Varys and Petyr Baelish of the Small Council. A number of Stark's household guards surrounded the small group of men.
Soon, the herald finished and the only sound was the group's footsteps as they neared the dias, with the tapping of Ned's cane louder than the rest. After a few moments, the Hand of the King and the group finally came to a stop in front of the Kingsguard and the throne. Something wasn't quite right. There was a strange tension in the air that hung over the room like heavy fog. And there were too many swords present for Jacqueline's liking.
Cersei, dressed in a flowing green gown, sat with her back straight and head high. Proud would be the way to describe her posture. Looking at her, one could not tell that she had just lost a husband. At least Joffrey looked a bit uncomfortable, though that could easily have been due to the Iron Throne being an uncomfortable seat more than the her nephew mourning his father.
Jacqueline had sat on the Iron Throne once. She was five and had just moved to King's Landing once the dust had settled after Robert's rebellion. Her childish curiosity had gotten the best of her and she had ascended the dais when she thought the room to be empty. She was too short and her thin legs dangled about two feet off the floor. The sharp blades of Aegon's enemies had nearly shredded her dress to pieces but Jacqueline had managed to sit on the throne without cutting herself. That was until Stannis appeared to pull young Jacqueline from her daydream.
Knowing she had misbehaved, Jacqueline had jumped off of the throne as quickly as she could, allowing one of the bent swords to cut her forearm. Left behind was a long thin line that slowly oozed blood. But she didn't cry as Stannis carried her to the maester. Nor did her brother scold her for it, probably deciding that the cut was a good enough lesson itself. Thankfully, the wound left no scar and no one else knew about her childish impropriety.
"I command the Council to make all necessary arrangements for my coronation," The sound of Joffrey's voice brought Jacqueline back to the present. Its tone was smug, like usual. "I wish to be crown within the fortnight." And then I can leave this place, Jacqueline thought. "Today, I shall accept oaths of fealty from my loyal councillors." Joffrey's voice was his, but the words were not. His mother had clearly instructed him on what to say.
A few moments of silence echoed through the room before Lord Eddard spoke. "Ser Barristan," he began, addressing the commander of the Kingsguard. "No man here could ever question your honor." Ned pulled a small scroll from his person and passed it to the old commander.
Ser Barristan looked at it for a moment. "It bears the seal of King Robert, unbroken." He announced to the room, but mostly to those on the dais. Jacqueline had to stop herself from taking an anxious step forward as the knight began to unroll the letter. "Lord Eddard Stark is herein named Protector of the Realm, to rule as Regent until the heir come of age." Ser Barristan read aloud.
Silence followed as Joffrey looked desperately to his mother. The queen rose to her feet, head high and proud. "May I see that letter, Ser Barristan?" She asked, raising a thin hand towards him and the letter. Jacqueline felt a hand on her shoulder then, and she turned to see Ser Antario standing behind her. The man gave her a small nod to signal that he had been successful in sending Jacqueline's letter to Dragonstone. Hiding her smile, the woman turned back to the queen, who was examining Robert's letter for herself. "Is this meant to be your shield, Lord Stark? A piece of paper?" Cersei asked before tearing the parchment in half and then in half again before letting the pieces fall gracefully to the floor forgotten.
The only one who spoke out at the Queen's actions was the Commander. "Those were the king's words." He said, almost defiantly.
"We have a new king now," Cersei responded, ending the old man's questions. "Lord Stark, when we last spoke, you offered me some council. Allow me to return the courtesy: bend the knee, my lord. Bend the knee and swear loyalty to my son. And we shall allow you to live out your days in the grey waste you call home."
Of all the ways Eddard Stark could have responded to Cersei's ill disguised threats, what he said next was not what Jacqueline was expecting in the least. "Your son has no claim to the throne." His voice was loud and strong.
"Liar!" Joffrey yelled but his mother simply let out a short laugh.
"You condemn yourself with your own mouth, Lord Stark. Ser Barristan, seize this traitor." So many things happened at once and Jacqueline wasn't sure who was the first to draw blood. Ser Antario pulled her further away from the conflict while drawing his own sword and forcing his way in front of her. Nonetheless, Jacqueline poked her head around the knight's body, determined to watch the chaos that was unfolding in front of the throne. In less than a minute, all of Lord Stark's household guard had been killed, mostly by the City Watch. Ned Stark was the lone surviving northmen in the throne room now, and even he had a knife to his throat, wielded by Petyr Baelish.
"Take him to the black cells, and clean up this mess." The queen announced before leaving quickly through the door behind the Iron Throne, followed closely by Joffrey and most of the Kingsguard.
Jacqueline herself was forced from the throne room by Ser Antario, who was saying something about returning to her chambers for safety. But it was Ned Stark's words that rang in her ears. Your son has no claim to the throne. If Joffrey wasn't the rightful king, then who was?