EDDARD II

At times Ned would sit staring blankly, because of the all the things Aemon told him. Eddard was still trying to wrap his head around the Queen and her brother, Peter Baelish, and the Eunuch Varys Master of Whispers. Telling Robert about the Queen and her brother would lead to war. So that he could not do, but Baelish could be taken care of now. As for Varys Aemon asked him to leave the Eunich and his fat friend to him.

Two days after leaving Winterfell Ned stops at Castle Cerwyn for the Night. After breaking his fast he and his men move on. They travel all day and all night and stop to camp at sunset. By midday on the fifth day they reach the edge of the Burrowlands. They stay on the King's Road as they head South. Soon they reach Moat Cailin and rest two days before moving on. The last Castle to mark the Lands of the North is the floating Castle of Greywater Watch, which travels through the marshlands.

Ned's group stays on the King's Road as they travel South. After four weeks on the road they finally reach King's Landing. Ned waits until sunset to sneak into the city. He heads for the Tower of the Hand at the Red Keep. "Halt! Who goes there?" The Guard on duty asks.

Ned wears a hooded cloak, "I wish to keep my name to myself for now good sir…Would you take this to Lord Arryn." He hands the man a folded letter and a bag of gold. Ned and his men wait for an hour before the guard returns.

"Follow me."

They are taken to the solar, "Leave and us and tell Arland to see to those men." Jon Arryn commands.

"Yes, my Lord."

When the door closes Ned removes his hood. "Ned, it is good to see you."

"And you Jon."

They hug, "What brings you South and why come see me first and not Robert."

"Friendship brings me South…We have much to discuss. But I needed to speak with you first before I spoke with Robert."

"Come sit…Would you like some wine?"

"Ale if you have it or water."

"Sorry no ale. Have you ever had Arbor gold."

"I have but, lets not. When I see Robert he will drown us both is wine and stories."

"You have the right of it. Now what do you wish to speak with me about?"

"The Master of Coin…Petyr Baelish…Tell me about him."

"Littlefinger? Well he came into the King's service after we put down the Greyjoy Rebellion…A friend of my wife. He owns a brothel here in King's Landing three now that I think about it, and several others across the South. He has been very, good at his job. Why do you ask about him?"

"Perhaps I shall have one cup of wine after all." He takes the cup after Jon pours it and hands it to him. Then he downs the cup and nods, "Do you remember what happened between my brother and Lord Baelish."

"A duel if memory serves me correctly…A duel for your now wife."

"He is still in love with my wife and has a plan…to try and take her from me."

"How?"

"By starting a war."

"How will starting a war get you his wife?"

"Dying." He bluntly replies, "Tell me. How did Petyr come into his position?"

"I appointed him."

"Why?"

"My wife suggested him."

"You should know that while Petyr has eyes for Cat, Lysa has eyes for Petyr."

"Just tell me Ned what you think you know."

"I am certain that your wife and Lord Baelish have been in contact with one another, since after you became Hand of the King…I am certain that he convinced her to put his name in your ear as Master of Coin. I am certain that she demanded that Petyr show his gratitude by sleeping with her."

Jon takes a drink and then another, "If any other man had said these things to me…I would have punched him in the face, but…How do you know all this?"

"I have eyes and ears here in the Capital."

"You…My former Ward and pupil…Lord Eddard Stark relying on spies."

He had to lie, he couldn't tell him about Aemon, his nephew, and their power to see things by staring into a fire. "I like to keep informed of what goes on."

"I know you speak true Ned, but I can't just take your word alone."

"How about this…We go see Robert together in the Morning. Suggest a hunt and then when they think we are gone…That is when we catch them in the act."

"Very well then."

"Now tell me how have, you been?"

"Busy! Robert takes little to no interest in ruling…He spends gold like he has an unlimited source of it. He takes whores and serving girls to his bed as if he is the last man in Westeros. You should have taken the Throne."

"I did not want it."

"A pity…Come let us be off to bed…I get the feeling that the next few days will be long in deed."

The next day they surprise Robert at morning meal. There are boiled eggs, bacon, fish, bread, cheese, fruit, juice, and wine. "Alright Jon, I am here. Why did we…" The words stop in his mouth when she sees his lifelong friend, "Son of bitch! Ned!" He walks up to him in his robe and hugs him. "What in the seven hells are you doing down here. More wine!"

"Sit let us talk and eat."

"When did you get here?"

"I arrived late last night."

He looks at Jon, "And you did not come to get me!"

"Don't be angry with Jon…I insisted."

"By the gods I missed you. How is Cat and the children? I heard you had three."

"Cat is fine and it is four now with another on the way."

"Ha!" He slaps Ned on the shoulder, "You've been busy…I have three myself."

All Ned can do is smile, "Congratulations."

"Thank you, Ned…How long do you intend to stay?"

"A few days at the most…Cat is in her seventh month."

"Perhaps we can all go on a hunt."

"I knew there was a reason I made you my Hand Jon."

As they are riding out of the Keep the following day Ned and Jon tell Robert of their plan. "Who are you and what have you done with Eddard Stark…Jon is the same' Making secret plans and using spies."

"People change Robert…"

"Well lets go catch the two at their folly."

They leave their hunting party and head back to the keep entering through the Hunter's Gate. They find Baelish and Lysa together having sex in her room. Jon clears his throat, causing Baelish to fall out of the bed and Lysa to scream. "My Lord…I…I mean she…She blackmailed me."

"Petyr!"

"Guards!" Robert bellows. "Take Lord Baelish to the dungeons." As they take him away naked Robert looks at Jon Arryn, "Jon?"

"Place a guard at the door I will summon her when I am less angry."

"Jon are you truly angry?" Ned asks as they walk down the hall.

"Jon please…" She begs running after them using the covers to hide her nakedness.

JON ARRYN

Two days would pass before Jon summons Lysa. He wasn't really angry as he never loved Lysa. No matter what he did, Jon could never make her happy or it wasn't good enough. He finally summons her to his solar after meeting with the High Septon. "Sit!" He coldly commands her.

"Jon I…"

"Silence! As it turns out I never loved you…I tried but you made it difficult. Even more so by the revelation you have been killing my children with moon tea given to you by Baelish."

"Jon please let me explain."

"Any words that would come out of your mouth woman would be lies in my ears." He shoves a document across the table. "The High Septon has annulled our marriage at my request. Sign it!"

"I will sign, but only if you tell me what is to become of Petyr."

"He will be beheaded…"

"For sleeping with another man's wife!"

"He was also planning to have your father poisoned. Now sign…It is hard enough to restrain myself from strangling you to death." She signs the papers.

"My men will escort you to Riverrun…Tell your father whatever you wish. You leave tomorrow."

EDDARD

Now comes the hard part for Ned, telling his friend that he cannot betroth his daughter to Prince Joffrey. He follows Lord Commander Ser Barristan Selmy to the King's Quarters. "Ned come in…Meet my son Prince Joffrey Baratheon."

"An honor to meet you my Prince."

"The Honor is mine Lord Stark."

As they trade pleasantries Ned wonders how Robert could be so blind to the fact that this boy is not his son. He looks nothing like Robert. Robert dismisses Joffrey. "Tell me what do you think Ned…My son and your daughter?"

"Why don't you tell me about the incident with the cat."

Robert frowns, "Cat! What Cat?" So Ned reminds him, "That cat. I took care of that…I tore that kid's hide apart."

"And what about the bullying of his younger siblings?"

"What!" Ned tells him about the incident at Casterly Rock when Cersei took the children to meet their Grandfather last month. Afterwards Robert summons his wife Cersei, the children, Lord Tyrion Lannister, and the Hound Gregor Clegane. "Myrcella…Tell me true girl. When you went with your mother to Casterly Rock to visit your Gramdfather did Joffrey hold your head under water?"

"Robert what nonsense are you asking the girl?"

"Come here Myrcella." Tyrion says, He grabs her in a hug and Tyrion tells them the story.

"That's a lie! Myrcella my sweet…tell them it's a lie. Tell them you and Joffrey were playing."

She looks at everyone, "No mother…It is not a lie…Joffrey tried to kill me." She bursts into tears again.

"If not for Clegane Myrcella would be dead."

Robert stands up enraged, "Robert no!" He storms out to go looking for Joffrey.