Chapter 35 Chapter 34 Ed

"Robert, please," Ned begged, "please think carefully, you are murdering children!" "That bastard is pregnant!" The king pounded his fist on the table like thunder. "Ned, I warned you about this, remember? I told you that when I was in the Borrowlands, but you wouldn't listen. Well, now listen to me clearly: I want them dead, mother and child All together, and that fool Viserys. Is that enough? I want them dead." The rest of the important ministers are doing their best to pretend not to be there.They are undoubtedly much smarter than him in doing so.Rarely has Eddard Stark felt so alone. "If you do, you will be infamous forever."

"If you want to blame it, try to blame it on me, as long as it can be done. I'm not so blind that I can't see the shadow of the ax dangling around my neck." "There's no hatchet," Ned told his king. "Just the old story of twenty years ago. You're playing with shadows . . . and there's no telling." "Not yet?" Varys asked softly, twisting his powdered hands. "My lord, you have wronged me. Would I make up false news to deceive His Majesty the King and all your lords?" Ned looked at the eunuch coldly. "My lord, your news comes from traitors thousands of miles away. Perhaps Mormont is mistaken. Perhaps he is lying."

"Ser Jorah won't dare lie to me," Varys said with a sly smile. "Please don't worry, my lord, there will be nothing wrong with the princess's pregnancy." "That's what you said. If you make a mistake, we needn't be afraid; if the girl miscarries, we needn't be afraid; if she bears a daughter, not a son, we needn't be afraid; if the child dies of Swaddles, we need not be afraid." "But what if it is a son?" insisted Robert. "What if he lives?" "The Narrow Sea is still in between. I shall fear the day the Dothraki teach their horses to walk on water."

The king took a sip of his wine, then glared at Ned from across the council table. "You mean to tell me not to do anything, just wait until the evil dragons come ashore with soldiers and horses, don't you?" "The 'brood of the dragon' you mentioned is still in the womb," Ned said. "Even Aegon waited until he was weaned before going south and north." "My gods! Stark, you're always such a bully!" The king looked around the table. "Why, are you all dumb? Who's going to reason with this bewildered fool?" Varys gave the king a grin, and put a limp hand on Ned's sleeve. "Lord Ed, in good conscience, I can really understand your concerns. I don't feel comfortable bringing this news to you. We are discussing a terrible thing, a despicable thing, but those of us who are presumptuous People in politics must put the well-being of the people of the country as the priority in everything, regardless of how they feel."

Lord Renly shrugged: "It seems to me that it is very simple. Viserys and his sister should have been killed long ago. It is only because His Majesty, Brother, believed Jon Arryn's words wrongly." "Lord Renly, it is never a mistake to be merciful," Ned replied. "On the Trident River, Ser Barristan who is here now felled a dozen excellent warriors alone, some of them were Robert's friends. Some were mine. When he was brought before us, wounded and dying, Roose Bolton urged his throat to be cut, but your brother said, 'I won't pay for a man who fought bravely and faithfully Kill him." Then he sent his maesters to heal Barristan." He gave the king a cold, meaningful look. "It would be nice if that person was here today."

Robert also knew red cheeks. "That's different," he complained. "Ser Barristan is a knight of the Kingsguard." "And Daenerys is only a fourteen-year-old girl." Ned knew it was irrational to push, but he couldn't keep silent. "Robert, I ask you, wasn't the reason we raised our armies against Aerys Targaryen to stop him from murdering children?" "We are going to kill the Targaryens!" growled the king. "Your Majesty, remember that even Rhaegar could not frighten you," Ned said, trying to restrain the contempt in his voice, but failed. "Have you become so timid after all these years that the shadow of an unborn child can make you tremble?"

Robert turned purple. "Say no more, Ned," he warned, pointing at him. "Don't say a word. Have you forgotten who the king is?" "I have not, my lord," Ned replied. "You have not, have you?" "Enough!" roared the king. "I don't want to waste my time. If I don't kill her, I will be damned. What do you think?" "It's time to kill," Lord Renly said. "We have no choice," murmured Varys, "what a pity, what a pity..." Ser Barristan Selmy lifted his pale blue eyes from the table. "It is an honor, my lord, to meet an enemy in battle, but it is not to strike a man before he is born. I beg your pardon, I must stand by Lord Ed's side."

Grand Maester Pycelle spent several minutes clearing his throat. "My organization is for the benefit of the nation, not just the ruler. I served King Aerys as faithfully as I now serve King Robert, so I have nothing against his daughter. But I ask you ——If the war resumes, how many soldiers will die in the wilderness? How many villages will be burned? How many children will be snatched from their mothers' arms and died under the gun?" He twirled his big white beard, with a pitiful and exhausted expression appearance. "Wouldn't it be wiser, or even more merciful, to save thousands of lives if Daenerys died alone?"

"It's more merciful," Varys said, "Oh, my lord, that's very well said, and it couldn't be more correct. It is true, if the gods in the sky are negligent and give Daenerys Targaryen One son, the kingdom will inevitably suffer from bloodshed." Littlefinger spoke last.Lord Petyr was holding back a yawn when Ned looked at him. "If you find out that you're sleeping with an ugly girl, the best thing to do is to close your eyes and get on with it." He announced loudly, "She won't become more beautiful anyway, so let's just kiss her." .”

"A kiss?" Ser Barristan repeated, startled. "Kiss with a knife and a sword." Littlefinger said. Robert turned to face his Hand. "You see, Ned, that's all. You and Selmy are the only ones who disagree on the matter. Who shall we send to kill her?" "Mormont is desperate for a royal pardon," Renly reminded them. "Single-minded," Varys said, "but he longed for life more. Now that the princess has arrived in Vaes Dothraki, she will die if she draws her sword there. If any fool dares to stab Khaleesi in the holy city." Shoot, what will happen to him, if I tell you, you won't have to sleep tonight." He stroked his powdered cheeks. "Other than that, it's just poison... why not just use the Tears of Lys. There's no need for Khal Drogo to know if it was a natural death."

The drowsy eyes of Imperial Master Pai Sear opened wide at once, and he squinted at the eunuch suspiciously. "Poison is a coward's weapon," the king complained. Ned had had enough. "You hired someone to kill a fourteen-year-old girl, and you think the method is not fair enough?" He pushed back the chair and stood up. "Robert, do it yourself. The man who condemns should do it himself. Look into her eyes, see her tears, and listen to her last words before killing her. At least you should." "By the gods," cursed the king.The words burst out of his mouth, as if he could barely contain the anger. "Damn, do you really want to fight me?" He reached for the flagon at his elbow, found it empty, and slammed it hard against the wall. "My wine is gone, and my patience is gone. Don't be a mother-in-law, and get things done quickly." "Robert, I'm not going to be an accomplice to murder. You can do what you want, but don't ask me to put my seal on it." At first Robert didn't seem to understand Ned's words, he had seldom been resisted.After he understood, his face slowly changed.He narrowed his eyes, and a blush crept up his neck, over the velvet neckline.He pointed at Ned angrily and said, "Lord Stark, you are the Prime Minister, you must do what I say, or I will hire someone else." "Then I wish him well," Ned said, undoing the engraved silver hand badge of his status that fastened his cloak.He laid the badge on the table before the king, and was saddened to think of the man who had borne it for him, the friend whom he had loved dearly. "Robert, I thought you were not of that sort. I thought we had a nobler king." Robert turned purple. "Get out!" he hissed, almost speechless with rage. "Get out of here, you bloody bastard, I've had enough of you. What are you waiting for? Go, go back to Winterfell. You'd better never let me see that face of yours again, Or else...or I swear I'll cut off your head and hang it on a gun." Ned bowed, and left without a word.He could feel Robert's eyes on his back.Before he even walked out of the meeting room, the discussion continued. "I heard there is an organization called 'Faceless' in Braavos." Grand Maester Pycelle suggested. "Do you know what they're doing?" Littlefinger complained, "Half price alone is enough for you to hire an army of ordinary mercenaries, and the assassination targets are only ordinary businessmen. I don't even dare to think how much it would cost to assassinate a princess." think." The door closed behind him, muting out the sound.Ser Boros Braun stood guard outside the chamber, in the long white cloak and mail of the Kingsguard.He gave Ned a quick, suspicious look out of the corner of his eye, but didn't ask further. The sky was gloomy and oppressive, and Ned walked through the outer courtyard of the castle and returned to the Prime Minister's Tower.He could feel the dampness in the air, as if it was about to rain. If it really rained, he would be very happy. Perhaps a rain would make him feel less dirty.He went into the study and passed Vayon Poole on.The manager came immediately. "My lord, what are your orders?" "I am no longer the Hand," Ned told him. "I have had a quarrel with the king. We are going back to Winterfell." "Then I'll get ready, sir. We'll need two weeks to arrange the journey." "I'm afraid we haven't had two weeks. I'm not sure if there will be a day. The king even said he would hang my head on a gun." Ned frowned.He didn't really believe the King would hurt him, Robert never would.He had been furious then, but when Ned was out of his sight, his anger cooled, as it had always done before. every time?Suddenly, uncomfortably, he found himself thinking of Rhaegar Targaryen.Fifteen years had passed since his death, and Robert still hated him as much as he had done before.The thought really upset him... and other troubles, starting with Catelyn's trouble with the dwarf that Yoren had warned him about last night.Needless to say, word would spread quickly, and now that the king was furious...Robert might not care if Tyrion Lannister lived or died, but it touched his pride, let alone what the queen would do. "Looks like I'll be safer if I start early," he told Poole. "I'll take my daughter and a few guards first, and the rest of you will follow when you're ready. Let Jory know, but keep it to the others." , before my daughter and I leave, don’t take any action. The castle is full of surveillance eyeliners, and I don’t want my plan to leak out.” "My lord, at your command." After he was gone, Eddard Stark strolled to the window and sat down to think.It was Robert who had left him no choice.In fact, he should thank him, it is a good thing to be able to return to Winterfell, he should not have left in the first place.His sons were there waiting for him.When he got back, he might have another son with Caitlin, they were not old yet.He had often dreamed of snow lately, and the deep stillness of the Wolfwood at night. On the other hand, the thought of leaving irritated him.A lot of things are still unfinished.Left unchecked, Robert and his court of cowards and sycophants will ruin the country...and possibly sell the country to the Lannisters to pay off their debts.As for the mystery of Jon Arryn's death, it has always haunted him.Oh, he did find some clues, enough to convince him that Jon had been murdered, but it was only the scraps and claws of the beasts of the woods.He had not yet seen the beast itself, yet he felt it was there, lurking, hiding, cunning. It suddenly occurred to him that maybe he should go back to Winterfell by sea.Ned didn't know water, and would normally prefer to take the Kingsroad, but if he took a boat, he could stop at Dragonstone and talk to Stannis Baratheon.Pycelle had sent a raven across the Narrow Sea with a letter from Ned politely asking Lord Stannis to return to his court, but there had been no answer.The other party's silence only deepened his suspicion.Stannis must know the secret of Jon Arryn's death, he was sure of that.The truth he seeks may well be waiting for him in the ancient island stronghold of House Targaryen. Even if you find out the truth, so what?Some secrets are best kept buried forever, and some are too dangerous to share with others, even those you love and trust dearly.Ned drew the dagger Catelyn had brought from the scabbard at his belt.Little Devil's Knife.Why would the dwarf want to put Bran to death?Presumably to shut him up forever.Another secret, or different threads on the same web? Was Robert part of it?He didn't think so, but it never occurred to him before that Robert would be capable of murdering women and children.Catelyn warned him, you know he was in the past.At that time, she said, the current king has become a stranger to you.It seems that the sooner he leaves King's Landing, the better. If there happens to be a ship going north tomorrow, it would be great if he can catch it. So he found Weiyan Poole again and told him to go to the port to inquire, not to show off but to act quickly. "Help me find a fast boat with an experienced captain." He told the steward, "I don't care about the size of the cabin or luxury, as long as it is fast and safe. I intend to leave immediately." No sooner had Poole been ordered to leave than Thomas announced the arrival of a visitor. "My lord, Lord Baelish wants to see you." Ned wanted to drive him away, but in the end he gave up.He is not out yet, and must play by their rules until he is free. "Tom, let him in." Earl Petyr walked into the study nonchalantly, as if nothing had happened in the morning.He wore a cream and silver velvet jacket and a gray silk cape trimmed with black fox fur, and he wore his usual mocking smile. Ned greeted him coldly: "Master Baelish, what is the purpose of your visit?" "I won't disturb you for too long. I was going to a dinner arranged by the Countess of Tanda. I just happened to pass by. Lamprey pie and roast suckling pig. She intends to marry her youngest daughter to me, so the table The food is always good. But honestly, I'd rather marry a pig. Oh, don't tell her that, I really like eel pie." "My lord, then don't let me delay your eel delicacy." Ned said with cold disgust, "At this moment, I can't think of anyone I would rather not be with." "Oh, I believe you can come up with a few if you just think hard. For example, Varys, Cersei, or Robert. His Majesty is very angry with you. After you left this morning, he continued to curse A pass. If I remember correctly, the words of arrogance and ingratitude are repeated in his words." Ned didn't even bother to answer, nor did he intend to invite the visitor to a seat.But Littlefinger took the initiative to sit down. "After you lost your temper, I was the only one left to dissuade them from hiring the Faceless Men." He continued happily, "Fortunately, I took back my order, but I just let Varys quietly release the news, whoever kills Tanger That girl from the Li'an family, we will make whoever is a nobleman." Ned felt nauseous. "So we're going to make assassins nobles." Littlefinger shrugged. "Anyway, the title is quite cheap, but the Faceless One can't afford it. To be honest, is it more helpful for me to help that girl from the Targaryen family than for you to be full of benevolence and morality? Just let someone who is full of noble dreams If the mercenaries are drunk, go kill them, they will probably miss, and the Dothraki will be more careful in the future. If we send the Faceless, they will have to collect the corpses." Ned frowned. "Didn't I forget that you talked about ugly girls and 'kissing' at the meeting, and now you're expecting me to believe you're trying to protect that girl? Do you think I'm an idiot?" "Well, in fact, you're a really stupid idiot." Littlefinger laughed. "Lord Baelish, may I ask you that murder is so interesting?" "Lord Stark, it's not the murder that interests me, it's you. You walk on thin ice, I bet you'll fall with a thump one day. I'm sure I've heard that this morning The first cracking sound." "This is the first time and the last time," Ned said. "I've had enough." "My lord, when do you plan to return to Winterfell?" "The sooner the better. What does this matter to you?" "It has nothing to do with me... but if you happen to stay in the city tomorrow evening, I'd be more than happy to take you to that brothel that your subordinate Jory can't find anywhere." Littlefinger smiled. Lynn wouldn't say either."