Eddard Stark, aching all over, exhausted and hungry, rode through the towering bronze gates of the Red Keep in a foul mood. Behind him were his weary subordinates from the North and a long line of caravans.
After entering the royal territory, Eddard heard a constant stream of news, all concerning the conflict between his brother-in-law Edmure and the Mountain in Riverrun. He knew his brother-in-law's character well; his biggest flaw was his arrogance, believing himself to be invincible, while his greatest virtue was filial piety. But no matter how outstanding or noble his brother-in-law was, he would never be a match for the Mountain.
When news arrived that Edmure had followed the Mountain into the Westerlands, Eddard Stark was furious. He immediately sent a raven to Lord Hoster, ordering him to command Edmure Tully to return at once, as the Westerlands were a dangerous place the Tully family absolutely could not enter. One of the main reasons he came to King's Landing as Hand of the King was to secretly investigate the death of his predecessor, Jon Arryn.
Jon Arryn was his adoptive father and also his brother-in-law. The two were related through marriage: Ned, who married his sister Catelyn Tully, and Jon, who married his sister Lysa Tully. Catelyn burned Lysa Tully's letter on the spot, but Ned remembered every word. The letter stated that the Lannisters had murdered Jon Arryn and were about to target Lysa Tully when she fled King's Landing with her son Robert Arryn, returning to her territory in the Vale.
Eddard recalled the time at Winterfell, at the banquet, when he went to toast King Robert, and Jaime Lannister stood up and blocked his way. Amidst the clamor of the crowd, Jaime disdainfully advised Eddard against heading south to King's Landing, saying that everyone in King's Landing was a liar, and he was an honest man; going south would lead to trouble. Eddard immediately retorted that the Starks were the king's vassals, and whether or not to go south was King Robert's decision, not the Lannisters'. Jaime chuckled and offered to spar with Eddard to liven up the banquet. Eddard coldly replied that his sword was not for sparring, but for killing. Jaime Lannister… no, the Kingslayer, the Kingslayer, was forced to step aside.
That was back in Winterfell, in his own fortress, where the Kingslayer was so arrogant.
What on earth happened to Edmure Tully? The Mountain's breach of Riverrun and subsequent blackmail of House Tully had already tarnished the family's reputation, and yet he went to the Westerlands with the Mountain after being humiliated—this was an unforgivable act of stupidity.
Eddard suffered from insomnia from then on, and he sent a raven to Riverrun every day for four days in a row.
Ed arrived at the Prime Minister's Tower. As soon as he dismounted, a large, fat man dressed in brocade robes ran up to him: "Your Majesty, I am the Grand Steward Adonis. I have dispatched Grand Master Sir to convene an emergency royal meeting. I hope Your Majesty can go there immediately."
A surge of resentment rose from the soles of Ed's legs. He had just dismounted, covered in dust, and because the further south they went, the hotter it got. He and his men had lived in the north for too long and were feeling unwell. They hadn't even entered the Prime Minister's Tower yet, and they were already covered in dust, and they had to go to the Throne Hall for a meeting, an emergency meeting at that.
Ed's face was grim. He wanted to say, "Fuck you! I just want to take a hot bath, eat two roast chickens, and then sleep on the soft feather bed before having that damn emergency meeting." "Alright, please let me change my clothes first, otherwise it would be too impolite!" He couldn't show his displeasure to the high-ranking officials right away, so Ed had no choice but to swallow his pride.
"Yes, Your Excellency, please change your clothes. I will wait here!"
Ed stopped Vijan Poole, the treasurer and chief of staff to the Prime Minister, who was entering the gates of the Prime Minister's Tower, and instructed him to arrange accommodations for the ladies, have the grooms clean the stables and take good care of the warhorses, and then ordered Captain Jori Caesar to lead two men with him to the throne room.
A short while later, Adonis led Eddard and his party of four to the Throne Hall. The last time Eddard had been there was sixteen years ago. Back then, when Eddard led his men into the Throne Hall, a man sat on the Iron Throne wiping blood from his golden sword; that man was Jaime Lannister, the Kingslayer.
Eddard walked to the foot of the seventh step of the Iron Throne and silently watched the Kingslayer until he stood up. On the ground before him lay the mad king, Aerys Targaryen, covered in blood. The Kingslayer plunged his sword into the back of the king to whom he had sworn allegiance, the blade piercing through the king's body, and he killed him.
The kingslayer laughed before his king's corpse, "I was just trying out what it felt like to sit on it, Ed. I assure you, you won't want to sit on the Iron Throne. It's a throne made entirely of iron swords—cold, hard, and a stab to the ass."
Ed entered the throne room and stared at the empty Iron Throne on the seven steps.
The Iron Throne was created three hundred years ago by Aegon Targaryen, the Conqueror. He had his dragon mount, Balerion the Black Death, melt down thousands of swords discarded by his surrendering enemies, and it took fifty-nine days to complete the throne.
The Iron Throne is an iron chair covered with spikes, sharp corners, and twisted metal. The back of the chair is covered with sword tips pointing outwards. The Mad King Aerys Targaryen was often cut by the Iron Throne. The sharp sword tips of the Iron Throne have also killed several people. Maeger I was killed on the spot when he accidentally fell into a sword tip.
The Iron Throne Hall is the main hall of the throne room, and outside the main hall is the Council Chamber where the King's High Priests meet. Eddard Stark gestured for Jori Caesar and two guards to remain at the entrance to the Council Chamber. Adonis, the King's Chief Steward, respectfully opened the door for Eddard, who was taken aback when he saw who was inside.
Four senior courtiers sat at the conference table awaiting him: they were Grand Master of the Palace, Paisell; Treasurer Littlefinger, Petyr Baelish; Chief of Intelligence, Varys; and Minister of Justice, Renly Baratheon.
When Eddard set off from the town of Harlowe, Lord Justice Renly Baratheon was still lingering in the town.
Eddard Stark entered the council chamber, and the Lord Steward Adonis immediately closed the door, shutting himself out.
"Your Excellency, we've all been waiting for you!" Duke Renly gestured to the Prime Minister's seat.
Lord Renly actually returned to King's Landing before him? Does he possess sorcery? Did he take a different route?
Ed had no answer.
Ed looked at Grand Master Paisell, whose seat was to the right of the Prime Minister. To the left of the Prime Minister's seat was the King's throne, which bore the King's family crest: the Crowned Stag.
Paisell was a veteran of four reigns, serving four kings. His smile appeared very benevolent, with white hair and a long white beard that reached his chest. The Grand Tutor's forehead and the front half of his head were completely bald. His maester's necklace was the most heavily made of metal plates Ed had ever seen, a heavy chain of twenty-four of the highest-grade metals strung together, hanging from his throat to his chest. The necklace was crafted from every metal known to humankind: black iron and red gold, gleaming copper and heavy lead, fine steel, tin and dull silver, brass, bronze and platinum. Garnets, amethysts and black pearls adorned the metal chains, interspersed with emeralds and rubies.
The Grand Master smiled and said, "At your service, my esteemed Prime Minister, could you please hurry up? If you keep dawdling, I'm about to fall asleep again."
"As you wish, Your Excellency!" Ed forced a smile, enduring his hunger and exhaustion.
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Eddard walked over and caught the scent of perfume. Varys, with his clothes smeared with perfume and his face painted with rouge, made him nauseous; while Littlefinger Petyr looked at him with a smile that was clearly tinged with disdain and mockery.
These people are all actors, Ed reminded himself, not to trust a single one, and to always remember that.
Duke Renly wore a dark green velvet bodysuit embroidered with twelve golden stags. A brocade half-cloak draped casually over one shoulder, fastened with an emerald brooch: "Lord Eddard, you're late!"
"Lord Renly," Eddard replied, "you certainly walked very fast."
"There was no other way. It was an urgent letter from the King, an emergency meeting! I had to rush back overnight. Fortunately, I arrived in King's Landing half a day earlier than Lord Eddard." Renly pointed to an urgent wax-sealed letter in front of the Hand of the King's seat. "Lord Eddard, quickly open it and see what's inside the urgent letter my brother wrote to you."
Eddard sat down in the Prime Minister's seat. Before him lay a letter bearing the imposing royal seal, a top-priority dispatch. Ned's heart skipped a beat. Such an urgent letter—could it be related to Edmure Tully? Had Edmure gone to the Westerlands with the Mountain? Had something terrible happened?!
Ed took a deep breath to calm his racing mind. He slowly peeled off the wax seal with his thumb, smoothed out the letter, and read on, finding it increasingly hard to believe: "Damn it!" he couldn't help but curse.