Chapter 51 Chapter 50 Ed

The sound of thunderous hoofbeats woke Eddard Stark from his short sleep, and the gray morning light was streaming in through the windows.He raised his head from the table and looked towards the square downstairs.People in full armor and bright red cloaks are performing routine morning drills, or fighting with swords, or cutting down straw dummies on horseback.Ned saw Sandor Clegane galloping across the hard dirt, raising his iron spear through the golem's head.Cloth was crumbling, straw was flying, and the Lannister guards were laughing and cursing. Is this a show for me on purpose?If so, he thought, Cersei was more foolish than he thought.Damn, why didn't this woman run away?I give her chance again and again...

The morning was cloudy, cloudy and heavy.Ned had breakfast with his daughters and Septa Mordane.Sansa was still angry, she lowered her face and stared at the food in front of her, not taking a bite.Arya wolfed down everything in front of her. "Syrio says there's one more lesson to go before the boat at night," she said. "Father, can I go? My things are all packed." "It can't be too long, and remember to leave time to take a shower and change clothes. I hope you'll be ready by noon, you know?" "Okay," Arya said. Sansa looked up from the food. "She can have dancing lessons, why won't I be allowed to say goodbye to Prince Joffrey?"

"Lord Eddard, I'd be happy to go with her," Septa Mordane suggested. "I will never let her miss the boat." "Sansa, this is not the right time for you to see Joffrey. I'm sorry." Sansa's eyes welled up. "Why doesn't it fit?" "Sansa, your father knows what's best," Septa Mordane said. "You shouldn't doubt his decision." "This is so unfair!" Sansa pushed back, knocked over the chair, and fled the study crying. Septa Mordane rose, but Ned held up a hand for her to sit down. "Sister, let her go. I'll explain to her someday when we all return to Winterfell safely." The nun nodded and sat down to continue eating breakfast.

An hour later, Grand Master Pycelle walked into Eddard Stark's study.He was hunched over, as if the chain around his neck weighed him down. "My lord," he said, "his Grace is gone. May the gods of heaven rest in peace." "No," Ned answered, "he hates rest more than anything, and may the gods give him love and laughter and the joy of fighting for what is right." He just felt heavy.Knowing that this moment will come sooner or later, but when actually hearing these words, some part of my heart still dies with it.He would have given all his titles for the freedom to cry...but he was Robert's Hand, and the moment he dreaded had come. "Thank you, please invite all the important officials of the court to my study." He told Pycelle.He and Thomas have tried their best to ensure that the Prime Minister's Tower is safe and sound, but he would not dare to guarantee it in the chamber.

"My lord, is this okay?" Pycelle blinked, "Should we wait until tomorrow we are not so sad, and then come to discuss big plans?" Ned's tone was calm but determined. "I'm afraid we must meet now." Pycelle bowed. "As the Hand orders." He summoned his servants and sent them off at a brisk pace, while he gratefully accepted Ned's chair and mug of ale. Barristan Selmy arrived first, wearing a snow-white cloak and carved armor, completely white and flawless. "My lords," he said, "it is now my duty to guard the young king, please let me serve him."

"This is where your duty lies, Ser Barristan," Ned told him. Next came Littlefinger, still in his blue velvet and gray mockingbird cloak from last night, with riding dust on his boots. "My lords," he smiled broadly, and turned to Ned. "Lord Ed, the little thing you asked me to do has been done." Varys came in smelling of lavender. He had just taken a shower, his fat face was scrubbed and freshly powdered, and his soft slippers were soft and silent. "A little bird is singing a sad song today," he said, sitting down. "The whole country is crying. Shall we begin?"

"Lord Renly first," Ned said. Varys gave him a sad look. "Lord Renly is out of town, I am afraid." "Out of town?" Nedben expected Renly to support him. "He left by the side door an hour or so before daybreak, with Ser Loras Tyrell and fifty attendants," Varys told them. , no doubt heading for Storm's End or Highgarden." A hundred soldiers from Renly.Although the situation was not good for Ned, there was nothing he could do about it.He drew Robert's will. "The king called me to him last night and ordered me to take his last words. Lord Renly and Grand Maester Pycelle were both present to testify when Robert sealed his seal. This letter shall be read by his majesty after his death." The Conclave is open. Ser Barristan, may I trouble you to examine it?"

The Kingsguard Captain examined the paper carefully. "This is indeed King Robert's seal, unopened." He opened it and read. "... Eddard of House Stark is Regent and Guardian of the Realm, to govern the affairs of state in my stead until my legal heir comes of age." In fact, the heir has long since come of age.Ned thought, but didn't say it.He mistrusted Pycelle and Varys, and Ser Barristan believed the boy was the new king, and he wanted to protect him out of honor.The old knight might not give up on Joffrey so easily.Although he didn't want to use deception, Ned knew that he had to play his game step by step, and continue the previous game quietly, waiting for his position as regent to gradually consolidate.When Arya and Sansa returned to Winterfell safely, and Duke Stannis also led the army to King's Landing, it would not be too late to settle the issue of succession.

"I want you to confirm my identity as Lord Regent in accordance with Robert's last wish." Ned said, looking at the faces of the people, guessing Pycelle's half-closed eyes, Littlefinger's lazy smile and Varys. What kind of thoughts are hidden behind the anxiously trembling fingers. The door opened suddenly.Fat Tom went into the study. "My lords, please forgive me, the king's steward insists on..." The imperial steward came in and bowed: "Dear lords, the king requests that an imperial meeting be held in the throne room immediately." Ned had expected Cersei to strike first, so he was not surprised to be summoned this time. "The king is dead," he said, "but we will go with you. Tom, please arrange for an escort."

Littlefinger reached out and helped Ned down the steps.Varys, Pycelle, and Ser Barristan followed closely behind.Wearing mail armor and steel helmets, the guards of Winterfell waited outside the tower in two columns, a total of eight people.Guards escorted them across the square, gray cloaks flapping in the wind.Although there were no bright red Lannisters around, there were many city guards with golden cloaks patrolling the walls and gates, which made Ned feel at ease. Janos Slynt was greeted at the great hall door, in ornately carved black-and-gold armor, with a high-feathered helm tucked under his arm.The Commander of the City Watch nodded stiffly, and his men pushed open the bronze-rimmed oak gate, which was twenty feet high.

The steward led them in. "Greetings, King of the Andals and the Rhoynar and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm, His Majesty Joffrey I of House Baratheon and House Lannister," he sang. It was a long way down the hall, and Joffrey was waiting for him on the Iron Throne.With Littlefinger's support, Ned Stark limped slowly toward the boy who claimed to be king, and the others followed.The first time he had set out on this road, he had forced Jaime Lannister from his throne on steed and sword, while the Targaryen dragons watched from the four walls.He wondered if Joffrey would give up the throne so obediently. All five of the Kingsguard - save Ser Jaime and Ser Barristan - were present, forming a crescent around the base of the throne.They were in full armor, with fine armored helmets from head to toe, long white cloaks fluttering behind them, and shining white shields bound around their left arms.Cersei Lannister and her two younger children stood behind Ser Boros and Ser Meryn.The queen wore a gown of sea-green silk, embroidered with Myrish lace white as waves.On his hand was a gold ring inlaid with emeralds as big as a pigeon's egg, and on his head was a matching gold headband. In a spiked chair above them sat Joffrey in a gold-wire tunic and a red satin cloak.Sandor Clegane stood on the steep, narrow staircase to the throne.He was clad in smoke-gray armor, with that Grim Dog helmet on. Behind the throne, there are twenty Lannister guards with swords hanging from their waists.They hung bright red cloaks on their shoulders and wore lion helmets on their heads.But Littlefinger kept his word: on either side of the wall, under Robert's tapestries of hunting and war, stood the City Watch in golden cloaks, each of them clutching a black-iron-tipped eight-foot Spears, all ready, outnumbered by five times the Lannisters. When Ned stopped, the pain in his broken leg was unbearable, and he put a hand on Littlefinger's shoulder to steady himself. Joffrey stood up.His red satin cloak was embroidered with gold, with fifty roaring lions on one side and fifty leaping stags on the other. "I order the Conclave to prepare for my coronation at full speed," the boy announced. "I hope to have it done within two weeks. Today I will be sworn in by the court's great men." Ned took out Robert's letter. "Master Varys, please take this letter to the lady of the Lannister family." The eunuch handed the letter to Cersei, and the queen glanced at it. "Guardian of the Realm," she read, "my lord, do you want to use this as a shield? Just a piece of paper?" She tore the paper in half, then into four, and the pieces scattered all over the floor. "It is the king's will," Ser Barristan said, horrified. "We have a new king," said Cersei Lannister. "My lord Eddard, you gave me some advice last time we met, and now let me do the same. Kneel, my lord. As long as you kneel Swear allegiance to my son and we will allow you to step down as Prime Minister and retire to the gray moors you call home." "I hope so," said Ned coldly.Since she insisted on making a break here and now, he had no choice. "But your son has no claim to the throne. Lord Stannis is Robert's rightful heir." "You liar!" Joffrey screamed, blushing. "Mother, what does he mean?" Princess Myrcella asked the queen with a sad face. "Isn't Joe the king now?" "Lord Stark, you are asking for your own death," said Cersei Lannister. "Ser Barristan, take down this traitor." The captain of the Kingsguard hesitated for a moment, and in the blink of an eye, he was surrounded by Stark guards with drawn weapons. "I think you're not just talking, but you can't wait to grab power." Cersei said, "My lord, do you think Ser Barristan is fighting alone?" With a metal collision full of ominous hints, the Hound He drew his long sword.The rest of the Kingsguard and twenty Lannister guards advanced at the same time. "Kill him!" screamed the boy king on the Iron Throne. "Kill them all!" "You leave me with no choice," Ned told Cersei Lannister.He called to Janos Slynt, "Commander, please arrest the queen and her children temporarily, but do no harm. Send them back to the royal household and put them under guard." "The City Watch!" Jonos Slynt yelled, pulling on his helm.A hundred golden cloaked guards lowered their spears and approached them. "I do not want needless bloodshed," Ned told the queen. "Tell your men to lay down their arms, and there will be no need—" With a sharp thrust, the nearest capital guard thrust his spear into Tomad's back.Fat Tom's sword slipped from his limp hand, and the bloody point of the spear protruded from under his ribs, piercing leather vest and armor.Before the sword hits the ground, the person is dead. Ned's cry came too late.Slynt slit Wally's throat himself.Kane turned around and swung his sword, a flash of sword light burst out, forcing back the spearmen beside him.For a moment it seemed as if he was about to break through, when the hounds came.Sandor Clegane cut off Kane's right wrist with the first blow, and split him alive from shoulder to breastbone with the second.Kane died instantly. Seeing his men die beside him, Littlefinger drew the dagger from Ned's waist and held it against his chin.His smile is apologetic. "Didn't I warn you not to trust me?"