'lord stark a moment,' renly requested. 'alone if you will?' ned followed Renly off. 'he named you protector of the realm. She won't care. Give me an hour and I can give you 100 men.'
'what can I do with 100 men?' ned questioned.
'attack, in the night, we take joffrey into custody. every moment you delay gives cersei time to prepare. By the time Robert dies it will be too late for us.'
''what about stannis?'ned questioned.
'save the seven kingdoms from cersei and give them to stannis?' He asked incredulously. 'You have odd notions of protecting the realm.'
'stannis is your older brother.'
'the line of succession doesn't matter, it didn't matter when you rebelled against the mad king.' Renly reminded him. 'It shouldn't matter now. what's best for the kingdoms what's best for the people. We know what stannis is he inspires no trust or loyalty. I do.' Renly told him.
'Stannis is a commander. He's lead men into war twice, he destroyed a Greyjoy fleet.' Ned reminded him.
'yes he's a great solider so was Robert tell me do you believe good soldiers make good kings?' Renly countered.
'I will not honor Roberts last hours by shedding blood in these halls'. Ned informed him. 'And dragging frightened children from their beds.'
+
'We stand behind you lord stark.' they walked into the throne room, a united front.
'All hail your Grace King Joffrey of house Baratheon and Lannister the first of his name the king of the andals and the first man, lord of the seven kingdoms and protector of the realm.' Ned walked forward his cane clicking on the ground his leg still throbbing but he had a mission. Joffrey sat on the iron Throne
'I command the council to make all necessary arrangement for my coronation' Joffrey demanded 'I wish to be crowned within the Fortnight. Odds of fealty from my loyal council.'
'Ser barriston I believe no man here could have a question your honor,' ned said he handed over the scroll to which he had wrote with Robert before he died
'It is King Roberts seal unbroken.' he announced stepping forward. 'Lord Eddard stark is here named protector of the realm,' he announced 'to rule as regent until the rightful heir comes of age.' Barristion said as cersei stood up
'May I see that letter ser Barristion?' Cersei requested sweetly but there was venom in her voice.
'Of course your Grace.' he walked up the steps delivering it to her before walking down
'Protector of the realm?' She asked 'is this meant to be your shield lord stark?' she said ripping it up a piece of paper. She tore the pieces up throwing them to the ground.
'Those are the Kings words, the kings words!' ser barristion declared.
'We have a new King now' she informed him 'lord Eddard when we last spoke you offered me some counsel allow me to return the courtesy... bend the knee my Lord. Bend me and swear loyalty to my son and we shall allow you to live out the rest of your days at the great waste you call home.'
''Your son has no claim to the throne.' Ned said
'LIAR!' Joffrey screamed
'You condemn yourself with your own mouth lord stark. Ser barriston seize him. This traitor-' cersei demanded.
'Sir Barristion is a good man do not harm him.' Ned said as his men stepped forward
'Do you think he stands alone?' Cersei questioned as her guard step forward as well.
'Kill him.' Joffrey shouted 'kill him and kill them all I command it!' Sandor like a good dog drew his blade stepping forward with the rest of the knights.
'Commander.' Ned said 'take the queen and her children into custody. Take them back to their Royal Apartments and keep them there under guard.'
'Unbelievable,' cersei muttered.
'I want no bloodshed no bloodshed,' ned repeated, 'so tell your men to lay down their swords no one needs to die.' Cersei looked around but there was blood shed as a Lannister forces came forward. Petyr wrapped blade around Ned's neck.
'I did warn you not to trust me.' he whispered in his ear.
+
'You father has proved to be an awful traitor, my dear." Varys actually seemed sadden at that.
"King Robert's body was still warm when Lord Eddard began plotting to steal Joffrey's rightful throne." Pycelle, actually believed the words he was saying to be truth.
"He wouldn't do that." Sansa told them. "He knows how much I love Joffrey. He wouldn't." sansa pleaded she wanted her father, she didn't know where Arya was either and no one would tell her anything.
"Please, Your Grace, there's been a mistake." Sansa looked between them. "Send for my father. He'll tell you. The King was his friend." Sansa continued to pleaded.
"Sansa sweetling, you are innocent of any wrong. We know that. Yet you are the daughter of a traitor. How can I allow you to marry my son?" Cersei sat there, tall and proud of her accomplishment.
"A child born of a traitor's seed is no fit consort for our King. She is a sweet thing now. Your Grace, but in ten years who knows what treasons she my hatch?" Pycelle's reminded her.
"No, I'm not. I'll be a good wife to him, you'll see. I'll be a Queen just like you, I promise. I won't hatch anything."sansa pleaded.
"The girl is innocent... your grace. They should be given a chance to prove their loyalty." Varys told her. "Little Dove, you must write to Lady Catelyn and your brother, the eldest.."
"Robb." Sansa filled in his name for her as Cersei nodded and grabbed a piece of paper for Sansa. Robb, the cunt that married her baby girl and had her in a fit of worry. Bran was awake, Tyrion held hostage and Amelia was at winterfell, only the Gods knew the kind of hell they were putting her through now.
"Word of your father's arrest will reach him soon, no doubt. Best it comes from you. If you would help your father urge your brother to keep the King's Peace. Tell him to come to King's Landing and swear his fealty to Joffrey."
"If...If I could see my father... perhaps I could... Talk to him about-" sansa tried.
"You disappoint me, child. We have told you of your father's treason. Why would you want to speak to a traitor?"
"What will happen to him?" Sansa's mind raced thinking of the worst.
"That depends." Cersei told her.
"On...' sansa swallowed the lump in her throat. 'on what?"
"On your brother. And on you." Cersei gave Sansa the paper and quill. Sansa nodded, and cersei told her what to write, a smug smile on cerseis face.
++
'You are summoned to Kings Landing to swear fealty to the new king.' the master told Robb.
'Joffrey put my father in chains and now he wants his ass kissed?' Robb questioned incredulously.
'You refuse to obey-'
'I don't refuse. his grace summoned me to Kings Landing then I will come to Kings Landing.' Robb said 'but not alone.' he handed back the scroll 'call the banners'
'All of them my Lord?'
'They've all sworn to protect my father have they not?' Robb questioned
'They have.' he agreed
'Then we will see what their words are worth.' Robb told him, Theon nodded in agreement Ned Stark was like a father to him. He was willing to go to war for him to get him back.
"What do we do with Amelia?" Theon pondered.
"She stays here, under guard until we have my father and sisters back. We will use her as they are using my family."