Chapter 14 - The Audience

As Jaime watched on at the procession of audiences in the throne room, he was trying to sike himself up at what he needed to do while also thinking back to the discussion on the plan he had with Ned and Hanko.

- Flashback: The Secret Meeting -

"You want me to do what?" At first he thought maybe he didn't hear right due to his recent donation of blood that Hanko requested.

"I want you to leave the Kingsguard," Hanko answered. Jaime was about to argue about the Kingsguard being the highest honor but Hanko interrupted. "You remember we just talked about how morally dubious the Kingsguard can be. Besides, it's an unspoken secret the main reason you were in the Kingsguard was to prevent your father from having his firstborn take over the Westerlands, and to act as a makeshift hostage. The only difference now is, instead of King Aerys, it is Jon Arryn who obviously wants to keep you as a hostage. Do not get me wrong, you are still an incredible swordsman by the standards of the realm, however we have to admit, you basically were brought into the Kingsguard for all the wrong reasons anyway. It would work out better if you were rid of the Kingsguard oaths and instead stayed to your knightley ones."

Jaime's thoughts seemed to conflict with the idea. Everything he had been taught screamed at him being a Kingsguard could still be rewarding. It wasn't until he thought about his father's words again that he realized how fruitless it really was.

...A glorified bodyguard…

He sighed in defeat. "I understand."

"Great! We will do this a week from now. It would be best if you can be removed from the Kingsguard before Ned comes in with your apology."

"Why?"

"Trust me, if Ned comes in with the apology afterwards, Jon Arryn would most likely lock you away to keep you from leaving in the name of having the 'realms savior' as a Kingsguard."

- Flashback End -

The rest of the audiences ranged from petty squabbles over land and taxes, to notices of banditry within the crownlands. Only one or two came with announcements from other places.

"Jon, are there any other pending issues I need to stay for? I'm ready to get out of here."

"No Your Grace, I don't beli-"

"Apologies, Your Grace, Lord Hand, but I have an important request I must bring to your attention." The room didn't recognize who so rudely interrupted the Hand of the King before they realized that Jaime Lannister had stood out from his place guarding the front of the throne, to then turn around and face the throne in a kneeling position.

Jon Arryn looked on in confusion at the interruption, but continued nonetheless. "Please, Rise Ser Jaime Lannister of the Kingsguard. Please tell us of your request."

Tywin Lannister, also in the throne room, looked on at his son with a barely perceptible scowl. He didn't know what his son had planned, but it wasn't the right time to ask for something right as the King was exhausted and wanting to leave.

This is it. Jaime thought as he rose up. "I ask that I be removed from the Kingsguard."

This caused loud murmuring to rapidly spread around the room.

Tywin didn't show any expression but practically seethed in his mind. Jaime! We could have planned on this better, what are you THINKING!?

Jon Arryn looked on at Jaime skeptically; then also turned to look at Tywin to gauge his reaction. From Tywin's reaction of his fists tightly clenched at his sides, he knew this wasn't planned between father and son. Jon Arryn turned back to Jaime and decided to inquire. "Why, Ser Jaime, why would you want to be removed from the Kingsguard? It is a most prestigious calling for a knight of the realm; is it not?"

"Because I already failed in my oaths as a Kingsguard. As the realm knows, I am now called the Kingslayer." Jaime ironically enough decided to play on the moniker that Eddard had given him now to prove a point. "In summation, a Kingslayer would not be a good person to have guarding a King."

Jon Arryn rebutted. "You forget Ser Jaime, your actions were able to remove a tyrant and prevent him from terrorizing innocents any more than he already had. Your actions allowed a more benevolent king to take his place. Wouldn't you want to serve as a Kingsguard to a better king?"

Jaime didn't show it, but sneered internally. After being shown the error of his ways from Hanko, he knew Arryn's ultimate goal of keeping him there as a hostage against his father. He knew he had to 'strike back' in a way to show how bad of an idea it was to keep him there.

"Though I appreciate Lord Hand for putting my actions in a good light, I realize also that my actions cast a shadow on any future actions I take." Jaime reasoned. "If I stayed as a Kingsguard, my word to my oaths would always be questioned. Having someone here who broke his oaths even once to his king before could never truly be trusted by any king. Every action I take would be questioned as to if I would be doing it in possible harm to His Grace. That indeed prevents me from keeping the position of a Kingsguard."

Robert looked on in quick thought before he spoke up this time. "Ser Barristan the Bold, please step forward." Barristan Selmy stepped forward from his spot on the steps guarding the king, next to Jaime, and turned to face the king at his command. "As the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, I would ask you what you make of this request?"

Barristan turned to look at Jaime, who didn't give away anything before turning back to his King. "Apologies Your Grace, I am but a humble servant, I do not have any-"

"Hogwash Ser Barristan, you don't need to keep up the pleasantries, please, I value your opinion on this matter," King Robert insisted.

Ser Barristan nodded. "I understand Your Grace. In this case, I would have to agree with Ser Jaime. The stigma he now wears of his 'Kingslayer' title would prevent him from serving at his best for your Grace."

Jaime was now glad he spoke of this to Ser Barristan in advance. He couldn't tell him of everything, but he asked that the knight work with him to remove him from the kingsguard. He appealed to him using the same facts. Ser Barristan was skeptical at first, especially because they were low on men at the moment. He would have expected anyone in Jaime's position to do anything they could to keep their place in the Kingsguard. Barristan might not know of Jaime's true reasons as to why he wanted to leave, however he agreed nonetheless to help him.

In the present, Robert seemed to ponder Ser Barristan's opinion. Jaime saw that Jon Arryn was trying to get a word in to his former foster son, but Robert waved him away.

"I have decided to grant your request Ser Jaime," Robert intoned. Jon Arryn now turned practically red with unspoken resentment, but Robert didn't seem to notice nor care. "Please remove the white cloak on your back and hand it to Ser Barristan at this time."

Jon Arryn was still both resentful to Robert and shocked at the acceptance of Jaime's request; shocked along with the rest of the crowded Lords and Ladies. Tywin for all his stoicism was having a hard time not celebrating right there and then. Jaime paid the murmurs no further mind. He nodded before carefully removing the cloak from the clasps holding it to his armor. With gentleness, he took the cloak up into both arms, and with care, folded it up to then give it to Ser Barristan who took it with gratitude that he paid the cloak the respect it deserved.

"If that is all-" Robert made to get up from the throne, but the doors to the throne room opened.

"Your Grace, announcing Lord Eddard Stark, Warden of the North, and his bannermen; Lord Manderly, Lord Karstark, Lord Glover, Lord Cerwyn, and Lord Reed."

Eddard Stark strode in with purpose. Behind him was a red and yellow silk-cushioned long pillow being held up on both sides by Lord Reed. On either side of, and behind the cushion were the other lords on one side each. All looking out guarded at the audience in the room as they strode towards the middle of the throne room.

"Lord Stark," Jon Arryn greeted his other foster son officially as they were still holding court. "It is most gracious to see you here today."

"I thank you my Lord Hand," Ned acknowledged. "I have come here on urgent business that I absolutely must bring to the attention of the Crown, Lords, and Ladies today."

"Eddard Stark, my friend, you don't need to do all the formal speech," Robert proclaimed. This didn't seem to surprise the audience as they knew of Robert's close friendship with the Warden of the North.

"I must apologize Your Grace, however I must stay formal as I have formal business to bring before the Seven Kingdoms," Ned answered the King. He turned to Jaime and greeted him with a genuine smile "I see Ser Jaime Lannister is here already, that makes this much easier to tell." Eddard turned back to Robert and Jon as he continued through their puzzled expressions. "I have recently been told of some events that happened during the sacking of King's Landing which must be known to all. As we all know, during the sacking of King's Landing, I came upon the throne room where the former Aerys Targaryen and his Head Pyromancer were lying already dead with stab wounds. King Aerys himself had stab wounds to his back."

There were murmurs among the crowded Lords and Ladies as they gossiped among themselves of the negative affirmations they were just reminded of from the one man considered 'most honorable' in the Kingdom. Jamie was starting to twitch in agitation as he was waiting for the turn-around to his reputation.

"When I first arrived in the throne room that day, upon seeing the scene, and the still warm body of Aerys Targaryen strewn on the steps, I did not hesitate to mark his Kingsguard in the room as a Kingslayer." Ned looked around to the Lords and Ladies as he continued. "I did not give him a chance to explain himself, I just took the scene in at face value and without thinking, bestowed upon him a title that, due to his status as a Kingsguard, besmirched his reputation and honor." Eddard turned back to the King and his Hand. "And to that, I stand here now in front of the Crown, Lords, and Ladies of Westeros to be humbled as I apologize for my error in judgment."

Robert and Jon were now shocked as they looked upon the scene of Ned, normally stoic and quiet Ned, now orated beautifully to the audience in the throne room. Tywin looked on from his position with intrigue. He never expected this oration from the man known as the 'Quiet Wolf' and that it was in praise of his son, his firstborn, spoke volumes in his own eyes.

Ned turned to Jaime and stared him straight in the eyes. "Ser Jaime of House Lannister. I stand here before you to humbly apologize for my swift and uncaring judgment that has besmirched your reputation and honor. I know what I have done cannot be easily forgiven, and I hope by my apology, and the further words I have here today, I can thus clear your name and reputation which I have torn asunder." Lord Eddard Stark, Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North bowed before Ser Jaime Lannister in front of the realm. He was also shortly followed by his bannermen in the room

Now the audience was in such silence that they could hear outside the closed doors of the throne room. It took many moments before Jon Arryn spoke up.

"Lord Eddard Stark. From your speech I was able to gather that you are apologizing for a crime you committed against another's reputation, but within that oration I did not hear the specific reason why you are apologizing as such."

"Lord Hand," Ned stood back up straight and continued. "I thank you for pointing that out, and I will confirm why I am apologizing thusly."

"I found out only recently about some facts. While we were all in the city trying to capture King's Landing and the former King Aerys Targaryen, Ser Jaime Lannister was in this room where a conversation took place between Aerys and his Head Pyromancer. In his madness, we all know Aerys had wildfire created for his many burning of innocents...including my family." The assembled Lords and Ladies waited a moment as they realized he was taking a moment to compose himself at the bad memories before continuing. "However before the sacking, he had wildfire placed all around the city in caches. Before Ser Jaime Lannister ended the madness of the Mad King, the Mad King proclaimed loudly to his Pyromancer 'Burn them all; burn them in their homes, burn them in their beds...burn them all.' It was an order that the Pyromancer started to leave to complete, when Ser Jaime acted in time. He slew the Pyromancer and Aerys, preventing them from setting ablaze the caches of wildfire and burning the entire city to the ground, and saving all of the innocent people and fighting forces from burning alive."

While the throne room seemed deathly still at the implications, Jon Arryn's head seemed to spin at a speed unknown for a man his age to stop on the visage of the Master of Whispers, Varys. He glared at the man in anticipation of an answer. Varys only shook his head in denial that he did not know of this. A tension started to rise in the room as panic started to build in the Lords and Ladies of Westeros. This plot was prevented recently, did anyone else know about these caches? Are the caches still in their places untouched? Are they below the throne room even now?

Eddard Stark seemed to catch on to the tension in the room as his voice seemed to cut into it to break it with his next words. "Please my Lords and Ladies, you have no need to panic. The same source of information that told me of these events has also confirmed for me he was able to remove these caches of wildfire. The highest seat in the realm, King's Landing, is no longer under threat of King Aerys."

There were still misgivings, however most people in the room seemed to exhale a sigh in relief. If Ned Stark said it was resolved, then who were they to argue.

"My Lord Stark, you have apprised us that someone reached out to you with this information, specific information that occurred during the Sack of King's Landing. This person has also seemingly dealt with a highly volatile substance, and threat to the crown all on his own without any knowledge of such being leaked." Jon Arryn addressed before asking his question. "Who is this person?"

Ned looked to Jon Arryn, "I do not know his name, but I do know that he is a powerful sorcerer."

There was a gasp throughout the room as the Lords and Ladies in the throne room couldn't help but worry about this new variable now known. Varys went pale at the mention of a magical being.

"A sorcerer!?" Robert questioned loudly this time. "Where is this blasphemer so I may smite him with my warhammer!"

"I'm sorry Your Grace, however I do not know where this sorcerer is any longer," Ned explained. "When I first laid eyes on the man, it was after he subdued my personal guards with such speed and martial prowess I was unable to draw my sword in time to guard myself."

This seemed to shake Robert Baratheon. "A fiend so fast he could beat you? If it wasn't you saying it I wouldn't believe it Ned."

"Your Grace, the sorcerer did not have to subdue. He could have easily killed us all and taken my family sword to sell for millions of gold dragons if he were such a cut-throat or fiend. Instead, this man did not kill my men or me, and instead explained all that I have, and asked for a favor."

"HA! Clearly this fiend has manipulated you to do something for him!" A Lord from the gallery called out from the crowd.

"Then trust in me my Lord, because I came of my own volition to right my wrongs to the court. What the sorcerer asked me for was an easy task. Before I fulfill that task, I must finish my own."

Eddard Stark walked to one of his liel Lords who passed him a folded parchment. Stepping back to his original place in front of the steps, he opened the parchment and started reading aloud.

"I, Lord Eddard Stark, Warden of the North, and all of the Lords that have herein signed this document, hereby proclaim that Ser Jaime Lannister has earned the title of 'Friend of the North' due to his actions in saving the entirety of the army of the Northernmost-kingdom. This will entitle him to be given first rights and preferential treatment when it comes to any business and safe-haven with the northern houses. This title extends til either the end of his days or until it has been proven he committed heinous actions against any persons of the Seven Kingdoms."

Simultaneously, the Northern bannermen in the room did thrice stomping of their feet in unison to display their approval of this proclamation. The announcement alone had Tywin practically salivating if he could express his emotions. This secured the future of his house when dealing with the North. The North is the largest of all the kingdoms and yet the least explored. There are opportunities to be had there, and Jaime not only was back to being the heir of Casterly Rock and the future Warden of the Westerlands, but now had strong ties to the Northernmost Kingdom.

There were murmurs among the crowd, but no one outright said anything. Due to that Eddard Stark continued.

"Now, that I have completed my own business, I will move onto the favor I was asked of the sorcerer."