Guest: Okay, I'm going to respond this one last time and then I'm going to stop, mostly because I'm no longer able to tell if you're reading my response or if you're just cherry-picking, given how much your response is contradicted by my own. Even if Robert did not laugh, he wasn't indifferent. He was pleased (or at minimum, okay with) the death of two children for no reason other than they were Targaryens. This is mentioned multiple times by Robert's biggest fan Ned, who is hardly going to lie to lie about that, and was the main reason Ned warned Cersei, because he knew Robert had no problem killing children. You either refuse to accept that or as I said, you're cherry picking my response instead of reading it. From both the books and the show, it doesn't seem Robert had many positive personal relationships, with even his own brothers not thinking that highly of him. The only people we know for sure that thought Robert was this great guy are Ned, who has proven to not always be the best judge of character, and Jon Arryn, whose character we know little about. I also never said Robert was always this drunken manwhore, just that he displayed similar behavior in his youth. For example, by the time of the rebellion against the Mad King, Robert had already fathered a bastard, after he was betrothed to Lyanna. If he can't be expected to be loyal to Lyanna, who Robert insisted was the love of his life, it says volumes about how much Robert got around as a young man. I also never said Robert was always like this or that Ned was a fool for being his friend, Rory (who is an unreliable narrator because he dislikes Robert) merely pointed out that he was never the good man Ned thought he was, which seems to have caused you to blow a fuse. If that's the case, you're in the wrong fandom, because there are few characters in Game of Thrones/ASOIAF that I would call 'good'.

Ned sat on a bench in the Godswood, musing on his next course of action. He had thought on Rory's words but ultimately, he could not bring himself to do harm to three innocent children. And he did not believe that Cersei would do as Rory said. Foremost, she was a mother and would take heed to protect her children from Robert.

Ned winced, feeling the pain in his leg as he heard the bells of King's Landing ringing when he felt a presence in the Godswood. Looking up, he saw it was Cersei.

"You're in pain," Cersei said, seeming compassionate.

"I've had worse, My Lady," Ned said, grabbing his cane and using it to get to his feet.

"Perhaps it's time to head home. The South doesn't seem to agree with you," Cersei said and Ned took a moment to gather his thoughts before speaking.

"I know the truth Jon Arryn died for," Ned said and saw Cersei stiffen, fear in her eyes for a moment before she quickly masked it.

"Do you, Lord Stark? Is that why you called me here, to pose me riddles?" Cersei asked, trying to sound dismissive but Ned could hear the hint of fear in her voice.

"Has he struck you before?" Ned asked and Cersei smiled slightly.

"Your friend Rory asked me the same question. Jaime would have killed Robert if he had. My brother's worth a thousand of Robert," Cersei told him.

"Your brother or your lover?" Ned asked pointedly and saw Cersei's smile leave her face.

It was quiet for a moment before Cersei looked away from him.

"Targaryens wed brother and sister for three hundred years to keep bloodlines pure. Jaime and I are more than brother and sister. We shared a womb; we came into this world together. We belong together," Cersei said and Ned paused for a moment, realizing she truly believed that.

"My son saw you with him," Ned said, his voice trembling slightly with emotion and Cersei's righteous expression melted away, replaced by something akin to regret.

"Do you love your children?" Cersei asked after a moment.

"With all my heart," Ned said without hesitation.

"No more than I love mine," Cersei declared.

"And they're all Jaime's," Ned said and she scoffed.

"Thank the gods. In the rare event Robert leaves his whores enough to stumble into my bed, I finish him off in other ways," Cersei said with a sick grin. "In the morning, he doesn't remember."

"You've always hated him?" Ned asked and Cersei was taken aback.

"Hated him? I worshipped him. Every girl in the Seven Kingdoms dreamed of him, but he was mine by oath. And when I finally 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," Cersei said before her smile turned into a sneer. "Then that night, he crawled n top of me 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."

Ned stared at her for a long moment, knowing it was all out in the open now. But there was no point in hiding under pretense now. And Ned knew what he had to do.

"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," Ned told her and Cersei looked at him with an unreadable look on her face. "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?" Cersei sneered. "You should have taken the throne for yourself. Jaime told me about the day King's Landing fell. Jaime was sitting on 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, but that wasn't one of them," Ned said firmly.

"Oh, but it was. When you play the Game of Thrones, you win or you die. There is no middle ground," Cersei sneered before storming off.

Ned stared after her for a moment. She may be angry, but Ned was confident Cersei would do the right thing. She may be as proud as her brother and father, but Cersei was no fool. She would not endanger her children's lives.

Later that day, in the Tower of the Hand, Rory was packing his things when he heard the door to his chambers open behind him. Rory looked over his shoulder, seeing Ned walk in with his cane. Ned closed the door and the room was silent before he spoke.

"I told Cersei I knew her secret and would tell Robert when he returned. I told her to run and to take her children," Ned said and Rory sighed in dismay.

"I was hoping that you would rethink your actions. I should have known better. Whatever happens now, it's on you Ned," Rory told him grimly as he picked up his sword, strapping it to his back. "I just hope your daughters don't pay the price because of your refusal to see Cersei for who she is."

"She is a mother, she will protect her children,"" Ned said simply and Rory whirled around.

"Exactly Ned! And she will destroy anyone who threatens the lives of her children! And you just painted a target on your back," Rory snapped. "Your one of the most honorable people I know, yet you still don't see that not everyone holds honor to the same standard as you, least of all Cersei Lannister."

Ned looked taken aback by this but, before the conversation could continue, the door burst open. Rory and Ned whirled around to see it was Renly, panting and out of breath.

"Ned! It's Robert! We were hunting! A boar!" Renly rambled.

Ned entered the room where Robert was being seen by Maester Pycelle, leaving Rory waiting outside. After a few moments, Prince Joffrey emerged from room, closing the door behind him. He walked passed Rory without as much as a glance in his direction. Rory glanced after him, a sense of unease filling him.

After a few moments, the doors opened again and Cersei, Renly, Barristan, Varys, and Maester Pycelle exited the room.

"Rory," Cersei said with a respectful bow, which Rory returned.

"My Queen. How is he?" Rory asked and she paused.

"It…does not look good," Cersei finally said.

"He will not last a week," Pycelle said in dismay and Rory frowned, hardly able to believe that a man like Robert was dying.

"If you'll excuse me, I need to go break the news to Tommen and Myrcella," Cersei said before walking down the corridor without another glance at any of them.

Like mother, like son.

"Centurion," Varys said and Rory looked over at him. "I understand you were…close to His Grace."

"I wouldn't go that far. I trained him as a boy, that's all," Rory said with a sigh. "Still…I can't believe he's really…"

"I failed him," Barristan said with a heavy sigh.

"You can't protect someone who won't help themselves. Trust me," Rory said, thinking of many similar, drunken accidents he had seen as a nurse back in Leadworth.

"Lord Centurion is right. Assigning blame will do us no good," Pycelle said.

At that moment, the door opened and Ned walked out into the corridor and they al lturned to him, the conversation ceasing.

"Rory, he'd like to see you," Ned mentioned.

Rory nodded after a moment, walking passed Ned and entering the room. As he closed the door behind him, Rory took in the room. Robert was laid in bed, a large bandage near his torso. From the pale look on his face, Rory knew Robert was likely not going to last two days.

"Centurion. Thank you for coming," Robert said as Rory slowly approached.

"One cannot refuse a king," Rory noted and Robert laughed, wincing slightly at the pain the action caused.

"We both know you could. You didn't come for me, you came for Ned. You never cared for me," Robert pointed out and Rory didn't deny it. "I don't blame you. I was never the man Ned thought I was, even as a boy."

"You didn't call me to reminisce about the past," Rory noted and Robert nodded.

"No, I didn't. I've already made Ned promise to watch over Joffrey, guide him and make him better than me. I'd like you to stay as well, train him, guide him. With you and Ned looking out for him, Joffrey will be a far better man than me, and an even greater king," Robert requested.

Rory was silent for a moment, realizing Ned had not told Robert after all. Probably didn't have the heart, Rory noted. Rory thought for a moment, not sure what he was going to do. But, as much as he disliked Robert, he at least deserved a peaceful death, or as much as he could have under the circumstances. So Rory nodded slightly, not sure what he had just signed up for.

"I keep trying to go home, but I keep getting dragged into this mess," Rory grumbled to Ned as they stood in Ned's study.

"You do not need to stay. You already told me you would leave. Everyone knows you dislike Robert, no one would blame you for leaving," Ned pointed out.

"I would," Rory said after a moment. "But what is your plan Ned? You said it yourself; the Realm will never accept a bastard king."

"Robert's brother Stannis is the rightful heir. I plan to have a letter delivered to him, informing him of this," Ned said and Rory nodded, not saying a word.

Rory knew little of Stannis other than what he'd heard, but what he knew painted Stannis as a harsh yet just ruler, one who didn't set out to make friends. He could hardly imagine the Realm accepting Stannis as ruler.

"You do not approve," Ned noted. "Neither does Renly. He wants me to try and get him on the throne."

"Can't say I'm surprised. Renly, from what I've heard, seems to be self-entitled and glory seeking. Backing Stannis is the logical move; some would say the right move. I'm just not sure how the Realm will react to Stannis as king," Rory noted. "He's not someone who makes friends. And you need friends if you're going to survive in here."

"What would you have me do? Drag frightened children from their beds? Because that was Renly's suggestion," Ned said hotly and Rory looked at him sharply.

"Has he gone mad? The small folk would revolt, never mind what Tywin Lannister would do," Rory said horrified before sighing. "There are no good options Ned. You've made an enemy of the Queen and Robert probably won't last a few days. Whatever you do next, do it fast Ned. You don't have a lot of time."

While it certainly would have been smarter for Ned to listen to Rory, I just don't see him doing that. Ned is honorable to the point of stupidity and he just refused, even in canon, to see Cersei for who she really was. And Ned would just not be able to live with himself knowing he caused three innocent deaths. There's just not a universe where Ned doesn't tell Cersei.

And now things start to heat up.