Thank you to Aragorn II Elessar for his help with this chapter.

A few weeks had passed since Ned was arrested. Things had happened about as Rory expected.

Sansa seemed to have taken Rory's warning seriously, having done as Cersei wanted and written to her brother, who had gathered his banner men, all who had raised their banners. Word was that they were currently marching towards King's Landing.

Arya had gone missing the day Ned was arrested, the guards unable to find her after killing her teacher. Rory wasn't sure whether that meant she was dead or alive.

One thing Rory hadn't been expecting was for Renly to take Loras Tyrell, along with fifty retainers and flee King's Landing. Last they had heard, Renly was on his way to Highgarden, although what Renly was planning was anyone's guess.

So far, Rory had done his best to appear to not take sides in this, act like he believed Ned truly had committed treason. He had cooperated with Cersei, doing everything she asked of him. By doing so, he was allowed to stay, where he could keep watch over Sansa from a distance.

Thankfully, they hadn't seemed to have harmed Sansa this far. But Rory had a feeling it was only a matter of time. The Lannisters weren't exactly known to be honorable.

Rory had spent the entire two weeks Ned was in the Black Cells considering grabbing Sansa, going to the Black Cells, busting Ned out and fleeing from King's Landing. But centuries of experience told Rory that they never make it out of the Keep if he did that. He needed to be smart, figure out a way to get them out alive.

Currently, Rory was in the throne room, watching with several Lords as Joffrey was coroneted. Out of the corner of his eye, Rory saw Sansa walk down the steps, entering the room.

Cersei and Joffrey saw her too. Cersei smiled at Sansa in a way Rory recognized as when she was trying to manipulate someone while Joffrey seemed almost indifferent.

"And in the place of the traitor, Eddard Stark, it is the wish of His Grace that Tywin Lannister, Lord of Casterly Rock and Warden of the West, be appointed Hand of the King," Pycelle declared, not surprising Rory in the slightest.

No doubt Cersei had whispered that idea in her son's head. A full Lannister court.

"And lastly, in these times of treason and turmoil, it is the view of Council that the life and safety of King Joffrey be of paramount importance," Pycelle said, looking at Cersei, who then got to her feet.

"Ser Barristan Selmy, " she said and Barristan stepped out of formation, turned around and kneeled before them.

"Your Grace, I am yours to command."

"Rise, Ser Barristan. You may remove your helm," Cersei commanded and he did so. "You have served the Realm long and faithfully, every man and woman in the 7 Kingdoms owes you thanks. But it is time to put aside your armor and your sword. It is time to rest and look back with pride on your many years of service."

"Your Grace, the King's Guard is a sworn brotherhood; our vows are taken for life. Only death relieves us of our sacred trust," Barristan protested.

"Whose death, Ser Barristan? Yours or your king's?" Cersei asked and Barristan had a look of remorse.

"You let my father die. You're too old to protect anybody," Joffrey mocked and a look of anger crossed Barristan's face.

"Your Grace-"

"The Council has determined that Ser Jaime Lannister will take your place as Lord Commander of the King's Guard," Cersei declared and anger turned to rage.

"The man who profaned his blade with the blood of the King he had sworn to defend?" Barristan spat.

"Careful, Ser," Cersei said sharply.

"We have nothing but gratitude for your long service, good Ser," Varys said, interjecting before this could get ugly. "You shall be given a stout Keep beside the sea with servants to look after your every need."

"A hall to die in and men to bury me," Barristan scoffed before he began removing his armor. "I am a knight. I shall die a knight."

Barristan then threw his Helm and cape to the floor, followed by his gloves.

"A naked Knight, apparently," Littlefinger joked and some in the hall laughed.

The laughter stopped as Barristan drew his sword. As the other members of the King's Guard drew their swords, Rory eyed the scene with interest, wondering what Barristan was going to do next.

"Even now, I could cut through the five of you like carving a cake. Here, boy!" Barristan shouted at Joffrey, who jumped as Barristan threw his sword at his feet. "Melt it down and add it to the others."

Barristan then turned and walked from the room, his head held eye. As he passed, he and Rory locked his eyes, both of them silently agreeing.

The Lannisters were taking control of everything. Varys was clearly on their side now, which didn't surprise Rory in the slightest. The man reeked of self-preservation. Pycelle and Littlefigner were clearly working for them. War was coming, and it was time to pick sides.

As Barristan left the room, it was silent for a moment, silence that was broken by one of the servants standing by the throne.

"If any man in this hall has other matters to set before His Grace, let him speak now or go forth and hold his silence."

For a long moment, it was silent until it was broken by an unexpected source.

"Your Grace," Rory was stunned when Sansa spoke, bringing attention to her as some of the Lords began murmuring among themselves.

"Come forward, my Lady," Joffrey commanded and Sansa did so, walking in front of the Throne.

"The Lady Sansa of House Stark."

"Do you have some business for the King and the Council, Sansa?" Cersei asked a slight edge to her voice that Sansa did not seem to hear.

"I do," Sansa said before getting down on her knees. "As it pleases Your Grace, I ask mercy for my father, Lord Eddard Stark, who is Hand of the King."

"Treason is a noxious weed. It should be torn out," Pycelle said.

"Let her speak," Joffrey snapped at him. "I want to hear what she says."

"Thank you, Your Grace."

"Do your deny your father's crimes?" Littlefinger asked.

"No, my Lords. I know he must be punished. All I ask is mercy. I know my Lord Father must regret what he did. He was King Robert's friend and he loved him, you all know he loved him. He never wanted to be Hand until the King asked him. They must have lied to him, Lord Renly or Lord Stannis or somebody, they must have lied," Sansa rambled.

"He manipulated my father, a dying man, into naming him Lord Protector," Joffrey said icily.

"I know, Your Grace. He was badly hurt; Maester Pycelle was giving him Milk of the Poppy. He wasn't himself and someone must have made him do that, otherwise he never would have done it," Sansa insisted.

It wasn't a bad argument, Rory mused silently as he glanced at Sansa. But he doubted that it would do much to sway any of them.

"A child's faith, such innocence. And yet they say wisdom often comes from the mouth of Babes," Vary mused.

"Treason. Is. Treason," Pycelle said coldly and Sansa's face fell.

"Anything else?" Joffrey asked.

"Please, if you still feel any affection in your heart for me, please, do me this kindness, Your Grace," Sansa almost pleaded and Joffrey leaned back in the Iron Throne, sighing as Sansa got to her feet.

"Your sweet words have moved me. But your father has to confess. He has to confess and say that I'm the one true king or there'll be no mercy for him," Joffrey told Sansa.

Rory looked at Joffrey, knowing it was a trap, even as he heard Sansa agree. Even if Joffrey could be trusted, Cersei could not. She would never allow Ned to spread the truth about her children.

This could not end well.

Later, Rory was in his room, pacing back and forth. There had to be a way, a way for him to save Ned.

Rory was broken out of his frantic thoughts by a knock on his door. Warily, Rory walked over and opened it, revealing Varys on the other side.

"What may I help you with, Lord Varys?" Rory asked, his voice flat.

"I believe it's what you may help the Starks with," Varys said and Rory raised an eyebrow. "May I come in?"

Rory sighed before stepped aside, letting Varys enter. Once Varys was inside, Rory closed the door behind him.

"Ned Stark is going to die if he does not comply with Joffrey's demands," Varys said once the door closed.

"Why do you care? Aren't you with the Lannisters now?" Rory sneered.

"I do not have much choice. Nor do you, if you want to get your precious Starks out of King's Landing alive," Varys argued.

"You really think Cersei will let Ned walk out of here, knowing what he knows?" Rory asked in disbelief.

"Ned Stark is a man of honor. If he vows, before the entire city, that Joffrey is the one true king, she will let him live, leave with his daughter. All he has to do is be convinced of this," Varys said and Rory caught on.

"You want me to convince him to confess," Rory muttered.

"You are his friend. He will listen to you. And my last conversation with Ned Stark proved he is not so willing to listen to me. You have been trying to figure out a way to get the Starks out of King's Landing. This is how," Varys insisted and Rory stared at him for a long moment, considering it.

In his cell, Ned blinked as he saw a torch light up. For a moment, he thought Varys had come back. But as his vision focused, he saw it was Rory.

"Rory," Ned said in greeting.

"How are you doing?" Rory asked as he knelt down in front of him, Ned noticing he was barely gripping the torch, holding it far away from the rest of his body as if afraid of the flame.

"I've endured worse. What has happened? The Spider visited me but I don't know how much of what he said was the truth or lies," Ned said and Rory paused, considering. "What of my daughters?"

"Arya is missing. From what I heard, her instructor was killed letting her get away, but there's been no sighting of her since. Sansa is being held prisoner, but they haven't laid a hand on her so far," Rory told him and could see relief cross Ned's face at this news about Sansa, although he could see worry and fear for Arya. "I'm more worried about your son, Robb. He's called your Bannermen, they're marching towards King's Landing. It looks like it could be another war."

"Robb," Ned said in worry and there was a moment of silence.

"Sansa came to court today, to beg mercy for you," Rory said and Ned looked at him sharply. "Joffrey agreed to it, if you confess you tried to usurp him and declare him the one true king."

"Is that why you've come? To convince me to confess?" Ned scoffed.

"No. I came to tell that no matter what, you can't do that," Rory said, surprising Ned. "You throw yourself at the mercy of the Lannisters, I doubt you'll ever get out of King's Landing alive. I can't get you and Sansa out, not yet. I need time to come up with a plan."

"Do not worry about me," Ned said, causing Rory to look at him in disbelief. "I have had much time to think, locked in this cell. You were right, telling Cersei the truth was my end. Varys said my mercy killed Robert, and it also killed me."

"Ned, I can figure something out," Rory tried to plead but Ned shook his head.

"I grew up with soldiers, Rory. I learned how to die a long time ago. I've accepted my fate. But Sansa, she should not have to share my fate, she should not suffer because of my foolishness," Ned said, looking at Rory pleadingly. "Get her out; make sure she does not die in this damned city. Protect her. Promise me, Rory. Promise me."

Those words were still buzzing around Rory's head when he was let into the Small Council chamber, where Joffrey, Cersei, Varys, Pycelle and Littlefinger were waiting.

"Well, Rory? What has Lord Stark decided?" Cersei asked and Rory took a moment to gather his thoughts.

"Lord Stark is a…proud man. I doubt anything short of Robert rising from the dead would convince him to confess," Rory said after a few moments, taking a moment to gauge the reactions of the Council.

While Varys seemed distressed by this, Cersei seemed displeased and Joffrey angered. Pycelle looked indifferent to this news. None of this surprised him.

What did gauge his interest was how Littlefinger almost smirked before fighting to keep his face neutral. Someone less experienced wouldn't have noticed, but Rory did.

It just confirmed one thing for Rory: Littlefinger had been the one to set Ned up. It hadn't hard for Rory to figure out, but now he knew for sure.

He couldn't do anything about it at the moment, but once he was free to do as he pleased…well, Littlefinger would be reminded of a promise Rory had made him.

"Thank you, Lord Centurion," Joffrey said, breaking Rory from his thoughts. "There's only one thing to do: I must have him executed."

"Let us not be so hasty, Your Grace," Varys said quickly. "Ned Stark makes a great bargaining chip. As long as we have both him and Sansa, Robb Stark will not make any drastic moves."

"Lord Varys speaks sense. Treason is treason, but Ned Stark is more valuable alive than dead," Pycelle agreed.

Joffrey seemed to consider their words for a moment before nodding.

"Very well. But a Stark will still need to be punished," Joffrey said, a look in his eyes that caused Rory to become uneasy. "Have Sansa brought to where I had her Septa's head put on a pike."

Later, Rory watched from a balcony overlooking the scene as Joffrey had some of his guards bring her to where he had two heads on pikes. Sansa looked up at them with a look of terror on her face before looking away.

"This one's your Septa," Joffrey said before he noticed Sansa was looking away. "Look at it and see what happens to traitors. Look at it."

"Please, My Lord," Sansa almost begged.

"Your Grace. I am king now. Look at it!" Joffrey snarled.

With a blank look, Sansa turned and stared up at the pike.

"Well?" Joffrey asked when she didn't react, as though she was staring through it.

"How long do I have to look?" Sansa asked and Joffrey frowned, enraged that he didn't get more of a reaction.

"As long as it pleases me. You know what fate awaits your father. On our wedding night, I'm going to give you your father's head and then your brother's once I raise my armies," Joffrey mocked her and Sansa was silent for a beat.

"Or maybe he'll give me yours," she said and Joffrey frowned as she looked at him blankly.

"My mother tells me a king should never strike his lady. Ser Meryn."

The guard behind Sansa suddenly turned her around and struck her twice across the face, cutting Sansa's lip on his armor.

Seeing this, Rory tightened his grip on the stone walls, reminded of a young Amy, when she had been bullied by the people who all thought she was crazy for believing in The Doctor. But it was worse for Sansa, because Joffrey was clearly a cruel, sadistic monster. Rory knew the type.

'Promise me, Rory. Promise me.'

Rory remembered Ned's words again. Rory hadn't really had an answer at the time. But he couldn't just stand by and let this young girl who reminded him so much of his beloved Amy suffer at the hands of this monster. Rory closed his eyes, making a silent apology to Amy. But Sansa clearly needed him more.

"I promise," Rory said under his breath as he opened his eyes, feeling the weight of his words wash over him.

As he saw The Hound lead Sansa away from the bridge, Rory knew with certainty he had just found himself drawn into another war.

So, Ned will survive beyond season one in this universe, but he's still a prisoner and well, it's Game of Thrones. Anything can happen.