Cersei had never worried this much in her entire life, but ever since the Starks had butted into it her family had been torn asunder. Her wretched brother, Tyrion, lay captured by the crazy lady of House Arryn, her father stayed on the front lines in the Riverlands to squash the Tully skirmishes, and Jaime. Sweet Jaime was taken from her and sent to aid their father in the fighting. At least her children were safe, and now that the pesky Dayne girl had left again Myrcella and Tommen would stop asking for her. She had been far too lenient with the girl when she was younger, she should have never let her sink her claws into her cubs at all. Now her younger children cry out her name when they have nightmares, they wish she was there to tell them stories, and they want her kisses when they scrape their knees.
Joffrey still hated the harlot and she was grateful for that, but he was doomed to marry that boorish Stark child. Hopefully, she would make a better puppet for use when her son sits on the throne. That silly witch from her childhood had been wrong when she claimed, "You'll be Queen for a time and comes another. Younger, more beautiful to cast you down and take all you hold dear." Sansa was no great beauty at all, simply a child who wishes for more than she will ever be able to grasp.
Many years ago she once thought Myria would be that very threat since many claimed she was one of the greatest beauties in the realm when she flowered at fourteen years. But now she is stuck in the North with a legitimized bastard, which was as far from the Iron Throne as she could get.
"My Queen?" Cersei glanced over to the doorway of her solar to see a pitiful maid gazing at the floor while wringing her hands together.
"What is it?"
The girl jumped a little at the harsh tone, "Lord Stark asks for your company in the gardens. If it pleases you, Your Highness." The blonde woman nodded and waved the terrified girl away. How a feeble woman like that worked in the palace was a wonder to her. It wasn't her problem anyway, and after adjusting her pinned back hair she rose from her vanity and walked from the room.
She slowly made her way through the halls, if Lord Stark wished to speak to her then he would do it on her time. She smiled as she past Myrcella and Tommen walking down the hall, but frowned as they failed to pull their eyes away from the book they were reading to notice their mother. Cersei pushed down her feelings of pain and continued to the gardens. Once she reached the gardens she wandered through the elaborately designed shrubbery and flower beds until she caught the form of Lord Eddard sitting on a stone bench on the side of a small fountain.
She approached him and wrapped her pale pink shawl closer to her body, "You're in pain." She gestured to the cane sitting next to his leg.
Ned glanced up at the Queen and stood to greet her, leaning on the cane she condescendingly pointed out, "I've had worse, My Lady."
Cersei smirked, "Perhaps it's time to go home. The South doesn't seem to agree with you."
"I know the truth Jon Arryn died for," Ned watched as the smirk fell from the Lannister's face.
"Do you, Lord Stark? Is why you called me here? To pose me riddles?"
Ned raised his hand and tapped the side of his face, "Has he done this before?"
The Queen reflexively brought her hand up to the bruise on her cheek her husband had lovingly given her the day before, "Jaime would've killed him," She glanced at the ground. "My brother's worth a thousand of your friend."
"Your brother, or your lover?"
A pregnant pause filled the air and the nobles held eye contact until the lion pulled her eyes away from the direwolf and turned her head, "The Targaryens wed brothers and sisters for three hundred years to keep bloodlines pure. Jaime and I are more than brother and sister, we shared a womb, came into this world together, we belong together."
"My son saw you with him."
Cersei and Ned both remained stone-faced at the accusation thrown at the royal until she smiled.
"Do you love your children?"
"With all my heart."
"No more than I love mine."
"And they're all Jaime's."
The Queen scoffed, "Thank the Gods. In the rare event that Robert leaves his whores for long enough to stumble drunk into my bed, I finish him off in other ways. In the morning he doesn't remember."
"You've always hated him."
She raised her brow, "Hated him? I worshipped him. Every girl in the Seven Kingdoms dreamed of him, but it was mine by oath," She let a small smile fall onto her lips. "And when I saw him on our wedding day in the Sept of Baelor lean and fierce and black-bearded it was the happiest moment of my life." The smile faded from her face. "And that night he crawled on top of me stinking of wine and did what he did, what little he could do. And whispered in my ear "Lyanna." Your sister was a corpse and I was a living girl and he loved her more than me."
Lord Stark glanced at the ground," When the King returns from his hunt I'll tell him the truth. You must be gone by then, you and your children. I will not have their blood on my hands. Go as far away as you can, with as many men as you can because wherever you go, Robert's wrath will follow you."
"And what of my wrath, Lord Stark?" She asked. "You should have taken the realm for yourself. Jaime told me about the day King's Landing fell. He was sitting in the Iron Throne and you made him give it up. All you needed to do was climb the steps yourself, such a sad mistake."
"I've made many mistakes in my life, but that wasn't one of them."
She shook her head, "Oh, but it was. When you play the game of thrones you win, or you die. There is no middle ground." With her words, so alike to the ones Myria echoed in his ear not even a day ago, she left with a sweep of her dress. He waited until the Queen had wandered far enough before returning to the seat he had taken before. He knew the game he was playing was dangerous and was happy one of his daughters was safe from its clutches, but Sansa was still within the walls of the Keep and still so naive to the danger they were in. Not even an hour after Jon and Myria had sequestered Arya out of the city did he have to sit on the throne and listen to his wife's family be accused of crimes the Mountain had committed.
He sighed but stood and finally left the peace of the garden behind him in the hope of finding his daughter. As he limped through the Keep many bowed to him as they passed in the halls, but Ned just ignored the pity and intrigued the court members gave him. While he wandered to the Tower of the Hand he caught sight of Lord Petyr Baelish as the tall man strode through the hall, and quickly ducked behind a corner hall to avoid the sly man's gaze. As he was about to continue on his detour he heard a voice call out for the very man he was going through so much trouble to avoid.
"Lord Baelish," Ned turned to see a glimpse of fine silk robes as the male voice addresses the Master of Coin.
"Ah the Spider, how may I help you Lord Varys?"
"Simply asking how my friend is doing on this fine day, is that not allowed?"
Baelish laughed lightly, "We both know you rarely make time for small talk, why start now?"
"Fair," Varys' voice became quieter. "I was wondering how the Lannisters are holding up with the skirmishes against the Riverlands since I have heard that Tyrion has been released from the Eyrie. I would have thought the Old Lion would stop his advances for the betterment of the realm."
"Varys all you speak of is the realm," Baelish scoffed. "Why would Tywin stop when he can put the Riverlands in a vice grip for the crown."
"A vice grip he does aim for, but I doubt it's for the crown."
Baelish sighed, "All I am aware of is Tywin demands reconciliation for the capture of his son, perhaps if Lord Stark had his wife send Lady Lysa Arryn to the capital to ask for forgiveness all would be better?"
Lord Stark frowned at the man's words and limped along his path away from the private conversation. Myria said he was not to be trusted, but if he offered such sound advice to the Master of Whispers then he must have some faith in the system of justice. And Cat vouched for him, but Ned could not get the warning from Jon's wife out of his mind for some reason. It seemed as if she only advised warning and riddles, quite odd of a woman who seemed so sweet and naive. The Northern Lord had barely reached the top of the stairwell to his family's chambers when a guard from his household came to his side with an issue for him to address. He nodded his head and decided to talk to Sansa later when the sound of rushing footsteps caught his attention.
"Ned!" He turned to see Renly Baratheon running towards him out of breath, "It's Robert, we were out hunting...a boar and I..I." He stuttered through his sentence, but Lord Stark frowned at the fear in his voice. The young stag beckoned for the Hand to follow and he did.
Ned had never run so fast in his life even with his injured leg, his King, his friend, was injured. He stopped running when he reached the crowd of people around the door to the King's chambers and shoved the gossiping lot out of his way as he entered the room.
The smell of death was pungent in the air and Ned frowned at the sight of his old friend lying in his bed covered in his blood. Prince Joffery sat at his father's side with a tearful look upon his face while the Queen stood quietly by the foot of the bed. Grand Maester Pycelle acknowledged the hand's arrival with a small bow before turning back to the King.
"Go on," Robert weakly whispered to the prince. "You don't want to see this." Joffrey rose from his spot on the bed and quickly fled from the room. Ned stepped closer to the bed while Robert laughed, "My fault, too much wine. Missed my thrust." Ned pulled back the blankets and frowned at the gaping hole in his friend's side. "Stinks," Ned pulled the blankets back up at Robert's word. "Stinks like death. Don't think I can't smell it. I paid the bastard back, Ned. I drove my knife right through his brain. You ask him if I didn't. Ask him."
He gestured to Renly and Ser Barristan who had been standing in the corner of the room out of Ned's sight. Both men sighed and Ned knew the answer without asking. "I want the funeral feast to be the biggest the kingdom's ever seen. And I want everyone to taste the boar that got me." Lord Stark nodded slightly and Robert turned his attention to the others in the room. "Leave us, the lot of you. I need to talk to Ned."
Cersei stepped toward her dying husband, "Robert, my sweet-"
"Out! All of you!" He coughed while he ordered the crowd to leave the room. Cersei shot Eddard a cold look before she and the rest of the small group left the room and shut the door behind them.
Ned took a seat on the side of the bed, "You damned fool."
"Paper and ink on the table, write down what I say," Ned sighed but collected the items and returned to his seat by Robert's side. "In the name of Robert of House Baratheon, First of his...you know how it goes, fill in the damned titles. Hereby command Eddard of House Stark...titles, titles...to serve as Lord Regent and Protector of the Realm upon my death to rule in my stead until my son, Joffrey, comes of age." Ned wrote everything down to the word except he wrote 'my rightful heir' in place of Joffrey's name. "Give it over." Ned passed the parchment and Robert swiftly signed his name under the decree. "Give it to the council after I'm dead. At least they'll say I did this thing right. This one thing. You'll rule now. You'll hate it worse than I did, but you'll do it well." Robert grasped Ned's hand, "The girl, Daenerys. You were right. Varys, Littlefinger, my brother: worthless. No one to tell me 'no' but you. Only you. Let her live, stop it if it's not too late."
"I will."
"My son, help him, Ned. Make him better than me."
Ned glanced at the ground as guilt filled his heart, "I'll...I'll do everything I can to honor your memory."
Robert laughed, "My memory. King Robert Baratheon, murdered by a pig," He coughed and shuddered. "Give me something for the pain, and let me die."
Ned nodded to his friend and solemnly left the room. He glanced at the group waiting outside and addressed Pycelle, "Give him milk of the poppy." The maester and Renly went back into the room while the rest of the small council waited outside of the doors.
Ser Barristan Selmy sighed, "He was reeling from the wine, he commanded us to step aside but...I failed him."
Lord Stark shook his head, "No man could have protected him from himself."
"I wonder Ser Barristan," Varys spoke up from the corner of the room. "Who gave the King this wine?"
"His squire, from the King's own skin."
"His squire?" Eddard pondered. "The Lannister boy?" Barristan nodded.
"Such a dutiful boy to make sure His Grace did not lack refreshment. I do hope the poor lad does not blame himself."
The three men shared an icy glance before Ned spoke again, "His Grace has had a change of heart concerning Daenerys Targaryen. Whatever arrangements you've made unmake them at once."
"I'm afraid those birds have flown. The girl is likely dead already." The Northern man glared at the eunuch before turning and heading slowly back to his chambers to inform his household of the events which he laid witness to. After he had spoken quickly to his daughter and household staff he and a few of his guards went down the tower towards the council room when they caught the eye of Lord Renly."
"Lord Stark, a moment?" Ned paused as Renly walked over to him and his men. "Alone if you will?" Ned nodded and his men walked away from the two nobles. "He named you Protector of the Realm?"
"He did."
"She won't care, give me an hour and I can put a hundred swords at your command."
"And what should I do with a hundred swords?"
"Strike," Renly stated as if it was the most obvious answer. "Tonight while the castle sleeps. We must get Joffrey away from his mother and into our custody. Protector of the Realm or no, he who holds the King holds the kingdom. Every moment you delay gives Cersei another moment to prepare. By the time Robert dies, it will be too late for the both of us."
"What about Stannis?"
"Saving the Seven Kingdoms from Cersei and delivering them to Stannis? You have odd notions about protecting the realm."
"Stannis is your older brother," Renly scoffed at the Northern Lord's logic.
"This isn't about the bloody line of succession. That didn't matter when you rebelled against the Mad King, it shouldn't matter now. What's best for the kingdoms? What's best for the people we rule? We all know what Stannis is. He inspires no love or loyalty. He's not a king. I am."
Ned stared down the Baratheon and noticed the power lust in his eyes. "Stannis is a commander. He's led men into war twice, he destroyed the Greyjoy fleet-"
"Yes, he's a good soldier. Everyone knows that, so was Robert," Renly snapped. "Tell me something, do you still believe good soldiers make good kings?"
"I will not dishonor Robert's last hours by shedding blood in his halls and dragging frightened children from their beds." Ned then signaled his men to follow as he strode past the angered Lord of Storm's End.
Early the next morning the bells rang throughout the city alerting everyone to the death of the King. Lord Stark wandered through the halls with his Household guard and stopped when he caught sight of Lord Baelish and Varys standing by the Commander of the City's Watch, Janos Slynt.
"We stand behind you, Lord Stark." Ned nodded to the commander and Baelish for his swift accommodation of the Watch. The group then opened the large doors and swept into the throne room.
"All hail His Grace, Joffrey of Houses Baratheon and Lannister, first of his name, King of the Andals and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm," Ned observed the vast amount of Lannister guards standing throughout the throne room as well as all seven of the King's Guard standing by the foot of the Iron Throne where Joffrey had seated himself. He slowly stepped closer to the throne and made eye contact with Cersei sitting in a chair to the right hand of her son.
Joffrey stared a Lord Stark and the council members behind the man, "I command the council to make all the necessary arrangements for my coronation. I wish to be crowned within the fortnight. Today I shall accept oaths of fealty from my loyal council members."
Lord Stark kept his eyes on Joffrey, "Ser Barristan, I believe no man here could ever question your honor." He pulled the sealed letter Robert had him write the day before out of his belt pocket and passed it towards the Commander of the King's Guard.
The older man walked down the steps of the dais and grasped thee outheld parchment, "King Robert's seal, unbroken," He opened the letter and read it out loud. "Lord Eddard Stark is herein named Protector of the Realm, to rule as regent until the heir come of age." Joffrey shot a glance from the knight to his mother.
"May I see that letter Ser Barristan.?" He passed the parchment to the Queen Mother." Protector of the Realm? This is meant to be your shield, Lord Stark? A piece of paper?" She smirked and ripped the letter in half.
"Those were the King's words."
"We have a new King now," Lord Stark glared at the Lannister woman. "Lord Eddard when we last spoke you offered me some counsel, 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 gray waste you call home."
Ned shook his head, "Your son has no claim to the throne."
"Liar!" Joffrey cried.
Cersei let a soft smile fall onto her face, "You condemn yourself with your own mouth Lord Stark. Ser Barrristan, seize this traitor."
Ser Barristan reluctantly stepped forward toward the Lord and the crowd of City Watch, "Ser Barristan is a good man, a loyal man. Do him no harm."
"You think he stands alone?" At Cersei's words, the Lannister guards unsheathed their swords and pointed them towards the Northern man and the City Watch.
Joffrey jumped to his feet at the sound of steel, "Kill him! Kill all of them, I command it!"
"Commander," Janos Slynt glanced at Lord Stark. "Take the Queen and her children into custody. Escort them back to the royal apartments and keep them there under guard."
"Men of the watch," The City's watch raised their weapons at their Commander's words. Lord Stark's men ready their weapons towards the Lannister men.
"I want no bloodshed," Ned said to the Lannisters. "Tell your men to lay down their swords. No one needs to die."
Cersei shifted her eyes to the City's Watch Commander and watched as he cried out, "Now!" The men of the City's Watch turned their weapons not to the Lannisters, but to the Stark men and began to attack the Northerns swiftly and violently. Lord Stark turned around in shock and watched as his men were impaled and hacked at by the men they thought stood by them. The few Northern men not caught by surprise attempted to fight back, but with the City's Watch on their side, the Lannisters quickly began to dispatch the rest of Ned's loyal men.
Ned pulled his blade to fight his way out when a dagger was pressed against his neck and his arm was grasped tightly. His eyes widened when Baelish's voice caught his ear, "I did warn you not to trust me."