Chapter twelve

Off with his head

Ned

Eddard Stark had been locked in his 'cell' for what seemed like moons. He had no contact with anyone for as long as he could remember. The servants brought his food in silence never answering his repeated questions about his daughters or his request to see the king.

As he slept, he continued to dream of Robert's rebellion and the tower of joy. Each night he saw his sister die to the cries of Jon. He saw the bodies of his nephews' siblings wrapped in Lannister cloaks and heard his best friend's laugh. Ned needed human contact and soon or he felt like he would slip into a state he would be unable to come out of. His only solace was the belief his daughter's had escaped.

It was midday he would guess, judging by the position of the shadows on the walls, when he was surprised when the door opened. A kingsguard entered and looked around quickly before barking "Clear." It was then when Joffrey walked in, and Ned hastened to rise in order to bow to the king.

"Your Grace." Ned said his voice horse from disuse.

"Lord Stark." Joffrey acknowledged him.

"Get some wine in here." King Joffrey ordered someone outside the door.

"Lord Stark I must apologise for not coming to see you sooner. After all your help I should have at least made sure that your accommodation was suitable." Joffrey said actually looking contrite for once.

"King Joffrey, you have no need to apologise. I am aware it was not on your order that I have been confined but that of your mother. I only ask for news on my daughters." Ned said.

"Your daughter's left. They also took my brother, but that's no loss although it further enraged my mother. As you said it was her orders that had you arrested. She has no authority in my court. There is war, my lord." Joffrey said carelessly.

"War? Who has declared war and on what grounds? You are the King, Robert's son." Ned said shocked.

"My uncle's Stannis and Renly have declared to the realm that I am illegitimate and a product of a affair between my mother and my Uncle Jamie. Of course, this is ridiculous but I must admit I was never taught how to lead a war so I've come to you as I trust you will help me as you helped my father." Joffrey looked sickened and Ned was unsure as to weather it was because of the incest claims or asking for help.

"Of course, your grace. I think the best place to start is not to deny the claims at first but to plant seeds of doubt. Even if you weren't the rightful heir, you have two siblings. Then it is Stannis then Renly. The fact that Renly has declared himself is a boost to our cause." Ned said thinking quickly.

"Lord Stark, I hereby clear you of the charges my mother accused you of and reinstate you as my hand of the king. I trust nobody more than you to lead us all during this war." Joffrey smiled.

Joffrey

Later that day after Joffrey had told the guard's and servants to return Lord Stark to the Tower of the Hand, he was relaxing in front of the fire nursing a glass of wine when his doors flew open, and he sighed knowing there was only one person stupid enough to do that.

"Mother." He said refusing to even turn around.

"Joffrey, what do you think your doing? I arrested Ned Stark and then his foolish daughter's stole your brother! He shouldn't have any power." Cersei said her chest heaving.

"You forget yourself mother. I am the King, and you are now the king's mother no longer the queen. You are in this castle by my grace and nothing more." Joffrey said feeling brave.

"I am your mother!" Cersei screeched. "I am the queen."

"You are the queen mother. Lord Stark is my hand and will be my regent. You have no experience in ruling anything other than your children. He has fought and won a war. He has ruled the North for years. There is war mother and I refuse to let them win simply because you want to play ruler." Joffrey turned and looked at his mother with a sneer.

"My father-"Cersei tried to speak.

"Your father was hand of the king for the Targaryen's. He has a reputation of fear and violence and that is not how I wish to rule. He will not be my hand and he is lucky he is still Lord of the weasterlands." Joffrey channelled his conversations with Lord Stark as he spoke.

"You can't –" Cersei tried.

"I can. I am the King." He said simply.

"Ned Stark shouldn't be hand of the king. If not my father, then your Uncle Jamie he has seen war." Cersei smiled triumphantly.

"He stabbed the king before father in the back. Plus, with the rumours of you having a affair it would look very suspicious mother." Joffrey couldn't resist that jab as it was this rumour that had the realm at war and his legitimacy and rule questioned.

"Ned Stark shouldn't rule! He's not a Lannister." Cersei all but screamed.

"Neither am I mother. He won't be ruling, I will, he will advise me as I trust him too. Tell Pycelle to write to the North that he has been freed or we will be facing a war on more fronts. You are dismissed." Joffrey then turned back to the fire and waited until he heard the door close and let out a breath, his mother was hard work.

Cersei

Cersei slammed the door on the way out. How dare her son work against her? She had worked so hard to keep him dependent on her. Before he became king, she would have bet a good portion of her fortune on being able to rule through him. It was Stark's fault. It all was his fault. Cersei thought she had got rid of him by arresting him but that didn't work so she sat and pondered what next to get rid of the man.

Suddenly Cersei's face spread into a smile on could describe as worrying. She stood and headed out of the door with only one goal, to alienate the Stark's from the crown.

She walked with purpose all the way to the Maester's chambers and walked in without knocking.

"Pycelle." She said loudly, knowing he would not ignore her, he knew his place.

"Your Grace, what a pleasure." Pycelle shuffled in with his head bowed in deference as Cersei preferred.

"Pycelle, the king in his inexperience has decided to release Lord Stark and tasked you to send word to the North. It must not be done." She said with finality, proud of her plan, if the north still caused war Joffrey couldn't have Lord Stark as hand.

"Your Grace, if it was a order from the king I couldn't possibly." Pycelle said shakily.

"You forget yourself. Who is it who pays you generously for your work? Who is it who instated you as Grand Maester and could have you removed just as easily?" Cersei smiled and continued before he could answer. They both knew the answer to that. "Do not send that letter."

Hello to anyone reading, I'll be attempting to update more but no promises. Life has a way of running away and I don't always feel like diving into writing however the knowledge of House of the Dragon had me thinking about Westeros.

Until next time,

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