It had been a few weeks since Catelyn had departed King's Landing. Rory and Ned had been attempting to continue their investigation, but Ned had had very little time due to the knights that were flocking to King's Landing for the tourney that Robert was throwing in Ned's honor (despite Ned's insistence he didn't want time and money spent on him), so Rory was mostly forced to do the investigating on his own.

But Rory wasn't just investigating Jon's death or Tyrion's supposed guilt. He was also investigating Littlefinger. Rory didn't trust him. And while it had turned up nothing concrete just yet, what he had heard said nothing good about Littlefinger.

Currently, Rory entered Ned's study in the Tower of the Hand, finding Ned studying a large book.

"Rory, I'm glad you're here," Ned said as he looked up, Rory closing the door behind him. "Have you found anything about Jon?"

"Unfortunately, no. What's that?" Rory asked curiously, gesturing to the book.

"The lineage and history of the great Houses of the Seven Kingdoms. According to the Grand Maester, Jon was very interested in it before he died," Ned said, showing Rory the book as he walked over to where Ned sat.

"Did he say why?" Rory inquired and Ned shook his head.

"Pycelle claimed not to know, that he didn't ask," Ned explained.

"Do you believe him?" Rory asked.

"I do not know. But he seemed very forthcoming. He says that, before he died, Jon kept repeating 'The seed is strong'," Ned said and Rory frowned. "Do you have any idea what that could mean?"

"No. But, like I told you, I haven't seen or spoken to Jon in years outside letters. Did Pycelle say anything else?" Rory inquired and Ned nodded.

"He suggested that Lord Varys is responsible for Jon's death, that he had Jon poisoned," Ned said and Rory was silent for a moment.

"Do you believe him?"

"I do not know. I do not know Lord Varys well enough to make such a judgement. But poison is usually a woman's weapon," Ned pointed out.

"Not always though," Rory noted and Ned nodded.

"Not always," Ned agreed and a beat passed.

"So what are you going to do?" Rory inquired.

"First, I'm going to get through this tourney. Then, resume my investigation in full force," Ned said and Rory smiled dryly.

"I can agree with that. I think I'll think a stroll, see the gardens. I hear they're lovely," Rory noted.

"I would've thought you'd see how the King's Guard stacks up against you," Ned noted and Rory smiled.

"Against these guards? I always win," Rory said confidently.

"Don't you always?" Ned noted with a smirk.

"Yeah, but against these knights, it's hardly a fair fight. Only one who might give me a challenge is Jaime Lannister, and I'd rather not put up with the Queen's glares if I beat her brother," Rory said and Ned laughed.

"It might finally be worth it, just to see Jaime Lannister's pride wounded," Ned said gleefully.

"Well, you're more than free to try it yourself. In the meantime, I have a courtship with the gardens," Rory said before walking out of the room, leaving Ned laughing behind him.

Rory was on his way to the gardens when someone walked up beside him, joining him on his walk. To his annoyance, it was Littlefinger.

"Centurion," Littlefinger greeted.

"Lord Baelish," Rory said neutrally. "May I help you?"

"Have you heard of Ser Hugh of the Vale?" Littlefinger asked and they stopped.

"Should I have?" Rory asked as he turned to face Littlefinger.

"He was Jon Arryn's squire. Strangely, he was knighted almost immediately after Lord Arryn's death," Littlefinger said and Rory was silent for a long moment.

"Why are you telling me this?" Rory demanded.

"So you can tell Ned. You do not trust me, but I promised Cat I would help him. So I hope to prove that I can be trusted," Littlefinger said and Rory smiled unpleasantly.

"I wonder, would Lady Stark still hold you in such high regard if she knew what you'd been telling everyone about her?" Rory asked pointedly and, while Littlefinger didn't outwardly react, Rory noted his shoulders had stiffened slightly. "I think we both know how Ned would react to such sordid tales of his wife."

"It was before they were married," Littlefinger said stiffly.

"Dishonoring someone that way doesn't have a limit, especially in the minds of the Starks. Had you done this in Winterfell, Ned would have your head. Trust you? Seriously?" Rory scoffed. "If you would sully the reputation of someone you claim to have such affection for, there's no telling what a man like you would do."

Rory then walked off, leaving Littlefigner staring after him with a curious look.

After asking around a bit, Rory found Ser Hugh walking along the fence to be used for the tourney.

"Ser Hugh," Rory called out but Hugh walked right passed him. "Ser Hugh!"

"As you can see, I'm busy," Hugh snapped as he turned around to face Rory.

Out of patience, Rory grabbed him by the neck and slammed him back first against the fence. Some people stopped to look at what was going on but Rory paid them no mind, staring at Hugh, who looked at him fearfully.

"I am a knight-" Hugh started.

"And I am the man who taught the king how to fight, along with an old friend of his. I could choke the life out of you right now and he'd just laugh, assuming I'd have a good reason," Rory said calmly and Hugh paled. "But I won't, assuming you cooperate. I'm going to let you go, and you are going to answer my questions. Blink once if you understand."

Hugh did so and Rory released him. Hugh put a hand to his throat as Rory lowered his hand to his side.

"What do you want to know?" Hugh asked, looking at Rory fearfully.

"You were knighted after Jon Arryn's death. Why?" Rory demanded.

Later that day, Rory entered Ned's study, finding Ned looking out over King's Landing, seeming deep in thought. Hearing Rory enter, Ned looked over at him.

"Are you all right? You seem troubled," Rory noted and Ned smiled gruffly.

"I am. I had a conversation with Lord Baelish that led me to an armorer in town. Apparently, Jon paid frequent visits to this armorer," Ned said and Rory frowned.

"Did you find anything of interest?" Rory inquired and Ned nodded.

"Aye. I found Robert's bastard son," Ned said and Rory stared at him for a moment.

"What?"

"There was a boy there; Jon was very interested in him. He's the splitting image of Robert," Ned explained and Rory was silent for a more moment.

"Not exactly a surprise Robert has a bastard; he fathered another one before the Rebellion. But why was Jon so interested in him?" Rory wondered.

"That is what we need to find out," Ned said and there was a moment of silence.

"I had a conversation with Baelish too," Rory said and Ned looked over at him. "It led me to Jon's squire, now a knight."

"Baelish mentioned him to me. Did he say anything about how he became a knight?" Ned inquired.

"According to him, Robert knighted him at the Queen's insistence. He thinks it was to buy his loyalty," Rory explained.

"Or his silence," Ned muttered. "I had a visit from the Queen just before you arrived."

"What did she want?" Rory asked, uneasy by the look in Ned's eyes.

"She claimed it was to make peace over what happened with Sansa's Direwolf, but I believe she wanted to get the measure of me, and also to deliver a warning. She implied that if we were to become enemies, she would kill me," Ned explained and Rory was silent. "As I said, poison is a woman's weapon."

"You think Cersei Lannister killed Jon?" Rory asked in surprised.

"Lysa's letter said it was the Lannisters who killed him. She never said it was the Imp," Ned pointed out. "Lysa may be mad, but that does not mean she is wrong."

"Maybe, maybe not. But you can't make such an accusation against the Queen on the word of a mad women," Rory argued and Ned nodded his agreement.

"Aye. Which is why I need your help to investigate the queen."

Not a very long chapter, I know, but I hope you all enjoyed it anyway.