Conspiracy

Jason crept through the Red Keep as night had settled in, leaving the corridors empty except for the odd guard patrolling around. While he did not worry about getting into trouble with the Watch, he preferred to be discreet with meeting Eddard. Soon he'd reach the doors that lead to the Hand's Tower, the private quarters and study for Lord Stark. A pair of northern guards, men brought along from Winterfell watched the doors, both giving respectful nods to the Surgebinder as he'd pass by.

The first floor seemed to be a mix of the lodge and small dining area for private gatherings. More Northerners were sitting or standing about, at least over half a dozen from Jason's count. By the spiral stairway leading up, Jason recognized Jory, the Stark's captain of the guard. He hadn't seen much of the man since moving into the Red Keep, though he knew the captain was a dutiful and loyal individual.

"Evening Jason. Lord Eddard is expecting you on the top floor." He'd gesture to the stairs taking the lead leading upward.

"A lot of security. What's going on?"

"A precaution. Lord Stark will explain."

They'd pass the second floor which seemed to be guest area, having a small sitting place which had a hallway leading out to smaller rooms. One guard was sitting back in one chair, seeming to be keeping an eye on the separate room doors. "Eddard's daughters have been moved in here for now. Sansa was frustrated at first, but she had settled down. Still, we're being mindful of their safety." Jory remarked.

The third floor was much like the last, yet it only had one separate room. Jason guessed this was Ned's bed chambers. Soon they'd reach the top floor, the study which like the last two had an antechamber that leads into the secured office. Jory knocked at the door in a certain pattern before someone within spoke out. The captain of the guard opened the door for the Surgebinder, revealing Stark's office. It was much like the study in Winterfell, although a bit bigger and has a balcony that gave a fine view of the ocean and King's Landing. Behind the massive oaken desk sat Eddard, who was busy writing up a letter, one of many that were piling up. Finishing the letter, Ned sighed as he'd set his quill down before glancing up at Jory and Jason, a tired and serious look in his eyes.

"Thank you, Jory. You can go now." Eddard muttered.

The captain nodded as he'd turn to leave, closing the heavy door behind him, leaving Jason and Ned alone now.

Neither Jason nor Ned said anything for the moment as the Northern lord worked on getting the last letter folded and closed with a seal. The Surgebinder paced around the office, eyeing a few books as he waited.

"So what are you planning Ned? Added guards show you're prepared for trouble…and I can see a few of those letters have a few powerful names on them." Jason calmly stated.

Ned set the letter on top of the pile before he'd shift up to stand, stepping around the desk. "A backup plan if trouble arises. If what I've deduced is true then we'll need all the support we can get." He'd gesture Jason to come closer, one hand resting on a thick tome with quite the long title.

"'The Lineages and Histories of the Great Houses of the Seven Kingdoms'. Davos mentioned you found a book that Jon had been researching into."

"Yes. This was buried under a lot of older tomes and records Jon had collected. I think with what strength he had, he deliberately hid it away as some kind of clue." He'd flip open the book where a bookmark was set, the chapter is on the Baratheon family. All across the page, it detailed marriages and short descriptions on each member of the family. Throughout it, there were small markings and circles made, mainly over the details on male descendants of the Baratheon line. "Take a look."

Jason studied the book and the markings, yellow eyes scanning page after page, noticing quickly a common quality among the men of the family. "All have black hair. It makes sense…dominate heredity trait" Looking closely he'd even see how past unions with Lannisters continued with the black-haired appearance.

"Exactly. It is the reason why Jon looked into Robert's bastards within King's Landing, to get physical proof of this." Ned remarked. "It means that Joffrey isn't Robert's true son, but a bastard child that Cersei has bared with someone else."

The Surgebinder paused as he'd shut the book close. "That mean Lord Stannis be next in line unless Gendry or elder son is legitimized by the King's command." He muttered. "So now it comes down to who's the father of Cersei's three children."

"From the look in your eyes, I can tell you have some ideas."

"Yes…and if it's true it makes matters a lot worse." The Surgebinder paced around the desk, gaze set on those sealed letters. "It's Jaime. It's the only logical explanation."

A hint of surprise and shock showed on Ned's face. "That is…a serious claim."

"Yet the most likely. If anything it's quite obvious if you look close enough." His piercing yellow eyes glanced right at Eddard. "They share more than just a simple sibling bond. Just the subtle hints during the tourney are proof of that. Besides, the children are nearly a spitting image of him and her. Give Joffrey a few more years and I'll bet he'll look a lot like Jaime when he was that young."

Ned took a deep breath, a troubled look showing across his face. "Bad enough to be born as bastards…yet products of incest." He'd pause as he'd rub one hand across his face and down his breaded chin. "If this is true…"

"If Robert learns of this who knows what he'll do. At best he'll disown them and have the Lannister's disgraced. Worse case…kill them all. Start a whole new war with all of the Western lands."

Ned nodded slowly, a grim look in his eyes. "I know. This is a deception that he will not stand for."

"So how do we handle this? One factor we have to think over is with Lord Tywin himself."

"Why is that?"

"I doubt he knows about Joffrey's or the other children's true parentage. The man values his family's reputation about all else and the act of incest would be damning towards it."

"True, yet he values family just as much. He'll no doubt try to discredit the claims and still defend his children from the King's justice."

Eddard gave a small nervous chuckle. "Seems we're in quite the corner then. A disturbing conspiracy with no simple solution."

Jason was silent for a long moment, looking at Eddard with a calm gaze. "Ned…you know that if Cersei and Jaime are together, it's logical that he was with her at the tower in Winterfell."

Lord Stark nodded, glace looking down at the table as one hand rapped against the strong wood firmly. The Surgebinder could sense the building anger from the man as he struggled to keep himself composed. Even Jason felt a stirring fury too, wondering how Jaime could act so normally in front of them, even during the moments discussing about the boy.

"I know…I'd like nothing more than to make them pay for what happened to my son." He'd take a shaky sigh before looking up. "Yet it will be through proper means…through the law and courts. We have to approach this carefully, else we will have a repeat of the Rebellion like decades ago."

"So any ideas then?"

Ned thought for a moment. "We could approach Cersei. As much as I hate the idea we can blackmail her with the information, give her a chance to flee King's Landing with her family. At the least that will give us time to calm Robert down with the news of her incestuous infidelity without having any senseless bloodshed."

"Ned, that woman's ego and desire for power won't have her back down. If you threaten her like that she will lash out and we both know she has powerful allies to back her up."

"Which is why we will be ready in force too. I have been gathering up my men and trustworthy knights, people who are loyal to the Baratheons and the King. In turn, you have allies to look to, men like Thoros and Loras Tyrell who both respect you."

"Thoros be a good choice, he's a friend to the king after all. Yet Loras I don't think we should involve. He may be famous for his prowess, but he seems to have little political standing with his family and here." He'd shake his head though. "Coup like that is too risky. We can easily be seen as the aggressors and be blamed for outright rebellion and treason."

"A fair point..." Ned thought for a moment, an idea coming to mind. "Robert hunt, I know he's invited you to it. You'd be away from the capital and any prying spies. Being that far out will give him time to calm down over this shocking news and you to reason with him."

"Still a gamble."

"Yet his authority would be the swiftest and just way to settle this matter."

For a while Jason was quiet, thinking over everything. He hated how limited and risky this was becoming. No doubt Ned understood that which was why he was pushing for more official actions."

"Fine, I'll do it." He muttered back. "Yet be ready for anything when we do come back."

"I pray that we will be prepared for this. You still have a few days until the hunt, give us time to think over how to handle this. For now, we just follow our usual duties…"

The Surgebinder nodded in agreement. "Then we play our parts." He'd turnabout for the door, feeling there was nothing left to say. For once he felt goodbye wasn't fitting for this moment and it seemed Ned agreed from the look on his face.

"Aye…that we do."

Passing through the heavy door out of the office, it slams shut as events were now set, reaching a point of no return.