CHAPTER 11

By the time they got to Gulltown, port was buzzing that the latest news was that The King had died of a boar goring.

The next vision Celia has is…

'Ned Stark walking with his men down a corridor in the Red Keep, while being called by a messenger.

The messenger runs up to Ned, "Lord Stark!"

Ned's soldier, Varly, puts out his arm, has his sword drawn and shouts, "Stop!"

Ned said recognizing the messenger, "No, all right. It's all right. Let him through."

The messenger said, "Lord Stark, King Joffrey and the Queen Regent request your presence in the Throne Room."

Ned asked, "King Joffrey?"

The messenger said incredulously, "King Robert is gone. The Gods give him rest."

Ned is petrified by the news. A little while later, Ned arrives walking close-by the Throne room, where Petyr Baelish, Varys and a few Stark men await him.

Petyr Baelish whispered, "All is accomplished. The City Watch is yours."

Ned asks, "Good. Is Lord Renly joining us?"

Lord Varys said, "I fear Lord Renly has left the city. He rode through the old gate an hour before dawn with Ser Loras Tyrell and some 50 retainers. Last seen galloping South in some haste."

When moving on, in front of the Throne room, Janos Slynt and the Gold Cloaks await Ned.

Janos Slynt said, "We stand behind you, Lord Stark."

The herald shouted, "All hail his Grace, Joffrey of Houses Baratheon and Lannister, the first of his name, King of the Andals and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm!"

King Joffrey said sitting down on the throne, "I command the council to make all necessary arrangements for my coronation.

I wish to be crowned within the fortnight. Today I shall accept oaths of fealty from my loyal councilors."

Ned said, handing a message to the leader of the Gold Cloaks, "Ser Barristan, I believe no man here could ever question your honor."

Barristan Selmy said taking the message, "King Robert's seal. Unbroken. "Lord Eddard Stark is herein named Protector of the Realm, to rule as Regent until the heir comes of age"."

Cersei said arrogantly, "May I see that letter, Ser Barristan? Protector of the realm. Is this meant to be your shield, Lord Stark? A piece of paper?" Cersei shreds Robert's letter to pieces, throwing them to the floor.

Barristan Selmy was astonished at the queen and said, "Those were the King's words."

Cersei said with authority, "We have a new King now. 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 said affronted, "Your son has no claim to the throne."

King Joffrey shouts, standing up in anger, "Liar!"

Cersei said hatefully, "You condemn yourself with your own mouth, Lord Stark. Ser Barristan, seize this traitor!" Ser Barristan was confused and didn't move. The other Gold Cloaks grabbed him.

Ned said, "Ser Barristan is a good man, a loyal man. Do him no harm."

Cersei said nastily, "You think he stands alone?" Gregor Clegane draws his sword.

King Joffrey jumps up and down shouting, "Kill him! Kill all of them, I command it!"

Ned shouted, "Commander! Take the Queen and her children into custody! Escort them back to the royal apartments and keep them there, under guard!"

Janos Slynt shouted, "Men of the Watch!" The Gold Cloaks draw their swords.

Ned shouted, "I want no bloodshed! Tell your men to lay down their swords! No one needs to die!"

Janos shouts out, "Now!"

Suddenly, the Gold Cloaks switch sides and attack the Stark men. Petyr Baelish sneaks up to Ned Stark. He grabs him from behind, then holds a dagger to his throat.

Petyr Baelish said in Ned's ear, "I guess you should have listened to me and not trusted me either." Ned was in complete shock at the total betrayal he did not expect. He closed his eyes for a second and prayed, then looked around the room as his men were slaughtered. The vision ended.'

Celia was so very upset. Her father was so naive to think any of these people were made of any kind of honor. Her father was such a fool, he had no idea how craven everyone else was and had no idea how to watch his back. She was saddened and was hanging her head.

The visions keep coming of them seizing and killing everyone loyal to the Stark's as they were loading their belongings up to leave. Arya running and hiding in the city. Lord Varys trying to convince her father to confess to their charges against him to save his daughters as her father's leg infection grows worse from the beatings and starvation in the black cells. The most surprising thing was that Robb was marching their armies south. Robb and her mother must have heard the news of her father's imprisonment.

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Celia couldn't wait for the ship to finally dock. Jaqen had tried to tell her to keep calm and think smart. They were ready to disembark immediately. He had been teaching Celia shadow magic and glamor magic. He even gave her a couple faces to use. They both were wearing different faces walking to the inn in King's Landing. They rented a room for a week and boarded Midnight two doors down at a stable. Celia had Shadow stay in the room with plenty of food and water under a wish for the bowls to never be empty and his feces and urine to disappear until she came back. She and Jaqen went out into the city to find Arya.

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Arya is chasing down pigeons on the street while staying hidden from the Kingsguard. She catches one and snaps its neck. Soon afterwards, she sees a baker's stall with pastries on display.

Arya asked kindly, "Could l have one? A lemon one or any of them."

The baker said gruffly, "Three coppers."

Arya asked nicely, "How about a nice fat pigeon?"

The baker growled, "Oh, piss off now. Go on."

Arya asked, "Do you have any stale ones from yesterday? Or any burnt ones?"

The baker shouted, "Piss off!"

Everyone starts walking up the street, leaving Arya confused. Two street urchins run past her up the stairs.

Arya asked them, "Hey, where's everyone going? What's happening?"

A street urchin said, "They're taking him to the Sept of Baelor."

Arya asked, cocking her head with furrowed brows, "Who?"

The street urchin said, "The Hand of the King."

Arya follows the crowd to the Sept of Baelor. She climbs up the pedestal of Baelor's statue to get a better view of her surroundings.

Ned Stark is being taken in chains from the sept and into the courtyard, in full view of the gathered population. Baelor's statue is to his left. Ned catches Arya's eye at the foot of the statue.

The people are shouting out, "Traitor! Coward!"

Ned is taken through the people and runs into Yoren of the Night's Watch.

Ned says to him, "Baelor!" Yoren looks towards the statue knowingly nodding his head. At the same time Celia is close enough to hear him. She looks and sees Arya. Celia tells Jaqen pointing her out. They both moved over to the statue.

People are shouting, "Traitor! Traitor!"

Ned is taken to a raised platform where Sansa, Cersei, Joffrey, Petyr Baelish are standing. Sansa smiles warmly at her father as he addresses the crowd.

Ned stands up and says, "I am Eddard Stark, Lord of Winterfell and Hand of the King. I come before you to confess my treason in the sight of Gods and men. I betrayed the faith of my King and the trust of my friend Robert. I swore to protect and defend his children, but before his blood was cold I plotted to murder his son and seize the Throne for myself. Let the High Septon and Baelor the Blessed bear witness to what I say. Joffrey Baratheon is the one true heir to the Iron Throne, by the grace of all the Gods, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm."

Grand Maester Pycelle says, "As we sin, so do we suffer. This man has confessed his crimes in sight of Gods and men. The Gods are just but beloved Baelor taught us they can also be merciful. What is to be done with this traitor, Your Grace?"

Joffrey shouts arrogantly, "My mother wishes me to let Lord Eddard join The Night's Watch. Stripped of all titles and powers, he would serve the realm in permanent exile. And My Lady Sansa has begged mercy for her father. But they have the soft hearts of women. So long as I am your King, treason shall never go unpunished. Ser Ilyn, bring me his head!"

The townsfolk roar with approval; Arya leaves the pedestal and runs towards the commotion. Celia is tracking Arya. Sansa gets visibly distraught and starts yelling as a member of the Kingsguard holds her back.

Sansa is screaming, "No, stop! Please, someone stop him!"

Cersei says, "My son, this is madness."

People are shouting everywhere, "Put him down!"

Varys runs to the platform to talk to Cersei and Joffrey, Ilyn Payne puts on his executioner's mask. Arya marches towards the courtyard but is grabbed by the arm by Yoren.

Yoren shouts at her, "Don't look!"

Arya yells, "Let me go."

Yoren shouts, "Shut your mouth. Look at me."

Sansa is frantically screaming, "Stop him, stop!"

From Ned's perspective, the roars of the crowd become almost silent; he looks towards Baelor's statue but finds no one there. He looks in the crowd and sees the face of Celia. She says moving her mouth. He reads her lips saying with tears in her eyes "I love you." He smiles at her. He lowers his head in recognition of his fate as the sound of Payne's longsword cuts through the hushed silence. We see the sword swing until it reaches his head.

Yoren prevents Arya from seeing the actual execution. Arya looks at the sky; a flock of pigeons flies away from the courtyard as she holds her head against Yoren's chest; she sighs heavily. Celia reaches out to pet Arya's head as Arya recognizes her and lunges into her arms. Celia kisses her head.

Ilyn Payne's bloodied sword and the Hound picking up Ned's head to show it to the rapturous townsfolk. Arya, her eyes closed and her face pressed against Celia's chest and her arms wrapped around her.

Yoren asked Celia, "Do you remember me, eh? Remember me?" She shook her head no.

Arya looked at him in tears, "I do your with the Night Watch."

Yoren said, "You'll be coming with me, boy, and you'll be keeping your mouth shut, little one."

Jaqen was standing behind her and said, "Celia, let a man go with a girl's sister. I will get a girl's sister out of the city with a man."

Celia looked down at Arya and said, "Arya, I want you to go with Jaqen and the Night Watch to get away. Stay with Jaqen and I'll get Sansa and find you. I promise I'll see you again."

Celia said, "Jaqen, go back to the room, get any of your things you need and the food bag. I'll take the rest with me and another packhorse when I go. Don't forget the mirror. I love you both." Jaqen smiled and kissed her quickly. He took Arya by the hand and followed Yoren. Celia watches them and changes her face back to a man.

Yoren leads Arya and Jaqen with him away from the mob and into a flight of stairs. Celia sees in the courtyard, Sansa faints.

Yoren said to Arya, "Keep your mouth shut, your needin' to be a boy." He takes out a knife.

Arya looks at him puzzled, "l'm not a boy."

Yoren says, "You're not a smart boy, is that what you're trying to say? Do you want to live, boy?!" He goes to start cutting Arya's hair as the screams and shouts from the crowd are heard above.

She leaned away in fear and Jaqen pulled his dagger and said, "Let this man do it. A girl needs to have short hair to be a boy. Be still." Arya let him cut her hair short.

Yoren said, "North, boy, we're going north with the Night Watch prisoners. You will have to be a prisoner, young fella."

Jaqen said, "A man understands and will play a man's part." Jaqen went back to the room and grabbed his armor and took only a few things with him and gave Arya the bag of food as Arya patted Shadow on the head.

Arya asked, "Are you in love with my big sister, Celia?"

Jaqen said to her smiling, "Yes, a man is in love with Celia Stark, a beautiful woman. A man will protect and keep Celia's sister safe."

Arya asked puzzled, "Why are we not staying if Celia is?"

Jaqen said, "Celia is saving a girl's sister, Sansa, in the Red Keep. Celia will catch up after she had paid the Red God for the death's due him." They both left to meet Yoren where he said to get added Jaqen to the prisoners and for her to travel with him.