Long live the King!

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***

The pain in his leg was unbearable.

Eddard groaned and tried to get up, but immediately collapsed back into bed. His bed, in the Hand's chambers at the Red Keep. The rays of the setting sun stood in dusty pillars in the room. He had slept all day.

He wanted to call for Jory, but remembered that the captain of his guard was dead. Jaime Lannister had stuck a dagger in his eye. Kingslayer, lover of his own sister, a man without honour. Oh, how much trouble would have been avoided if Robert had sent him to the Wall!

When Eddard left the brothel, the building was already surrounded. For one Stark man, there were four Lannister men. Grinning insolently, the Kingslayer demanded answers for kidnapping the Imp and, when Eddard took the blame, threw himself into the fray.

Before he lost consciousness, Eddard had time to see Jaime and his henchmen fleeing from the city guards brought in by Lord Baelish. It was probably Littlefinger who ordered him to be taken to the Red Keep.

Five of his men were killed. Their deaths weighed heavily on Eddard's heart, but worse still, he had failed the king. He had failed to thwart the Queen's plan, which meant Robert might already be dead. There was a faint hope that Lancel had somehow managed to keep the king from joining the general fight... but no, Robert would not listen to the boy. The only Lannister who, despite his young age, could be called a man of honour.

- Lord Eddard,' came a soft voice.

He turned his head. There was Lancel, light on his feet. A serious face, sad. So the news is going to be bad.

- It's good to see you awake,' said Lancel. - I've been guarding your door for an hour. Your guards wouldn't let me wake you, and it's urgent.

- Robert? - Eddard asked in a weak voice.

- The king is still alive. He was wounded in a common fight-a trifling scratch, everyone thought at first. Robert won the fight, for no one would dare strike the king unless by accident. Or supposedly by accident.

- Where is he?

- Asleep in his chambers. The Grand Maester gave him some milk of the poppy. The king has a fever, he's feverish. I saw his wound. It's festered and stinks and the skin around it is blackened.

- 'Poison,' he whispered.

- Yes, Pycelle thinks it was manticore poison. I'm afraid we won't be able to find the culprit. There were so many people there.

- Ser Jaime. Where is he?

- Gone to the Cliff. Ser Loras won the tournament due to a no-show.

- The Queen?

- I haven't seen her majesty since last night.

He took the young man's palm - beautiful, narrow, with long, supple fingers.

- Lancel, I must tell you. The reason the Queen tried to kill Robert - and I'm sure she sent the assassin with the poisoned weapon - is fear of exposure. The Queen's children, Lancel. Oh gods, how blind I was! We were all blind. The queen's children-not by her husband, but by her own brother, Ser Jaime!

- I guessed that,' Lancel said.

Eddard stared at him in amazement.

- And you told me nothing?

- Would you have believed me?

He remained silent.

- There is proof,' he said at last. - The book, the bastards. That's what Jon Arryn was looking for, and that's why he was killed. I must tell the King.

- The King sleeps, Lord Eddard. And if the Grand Maester is to be believed, he will never wake.

Eddard took a deep breath. He was prepared for the worst, always had been. Winter was near. Those words had been imprinted on his heart ever since Lyanna had died in his arms.

- Then we must act. I am still Hand of the King. We must arrest the Queen and take her children into custody.

- You don't have enough men, Lord Eddard. The queen has more guards than you do.

- Then there are the city guards.

Lancel grinned. For a moment it seemed to Eddard that another man, much older and more experienced, was staring at him with the emerald eyes of a teenager... but after a second the obsession dissipated.

- If Cersei's children are not Robert's, Stannis is the rightful heir to the throne. Do you know, Lord Eddard, how Janos Slynt, the city watch commander, feels about Lord Stannis?

- What does that have to do with it?

- I've been in the capital longer than you, Lord Eddard, and being around the King, you hear things. Janos Slynt is a thief and a bribe-taker. And he's picked his underlings the same way. And Lord Stannis is known to be a just man. I've heard him offer to arrest Slynt, but the King turned him down: everyone steals, and better a known thief than an unknown one.

- Oh, my gods,' Eddard mumbled. - So I have no one to rely on?

- You must run, Lord Eddard. You and your daughters. Run now, now, while the king is still alive and Cersei has not yet seized power. Once the king is dead, you won't be allowed to leave the city.

- Wait,' my leg is aching from the pain, 'what about Lord Renly? If we join forces with him--

- Lord Renly left the city two hours ago. I saw him riding down the Rose Road myself, accompanied by Ser Loras Tyrell and several other knights of the Vale.

- Run,' he said bitterly. - Flee like a coward!

- Courage and recklessness are different things, Lord Eddard.

He shuddered. The boy was right. And wise beyond his years.

- But how? How do I get out of the city when I can't even stand up?

- Your men will carry you. There's a galley in the harbour, the Fast One. I've made arrangements with the captain. You and your daughters will be taken to Dragonstone.

- And the rest of my men?

- There's not enough room on the ship for all of them. They'll have to leave the capital on their own. And don't say anything to your daughters. Sansa is in love with Joffrey, and I fear she might tell him or the Queen.

- Poor Sansa,' he sighed. - Her heart will be broken.

- But she'll keep her freedom, that's the main thing. Hurry, Lord Eddard. The King could die at any moment.

- And if he lives?

- Then you'll just take a little boat trip and come back. But if the king dies, you'll be grateful to me. I'm going against my own family to save you from prison.

- Lancel,' he said softly, 'why don't you come with us?

Eddard even had the thought that Lancel might replace Joffrey as Sansa's fiancé... or Arya's.

Lancel shook his head.

- I have done so much for you already, Lord Eddard. Do not ask me for more. Even if my family is wrong, it is still mine. And I will not betray it.

Eddard realised that further entreaties were useless. He shook Lancel's hand in silence and called the servants to give the necessary orders.

***

The golden crown lay asymmetrically on the golden curls, the left edge higher than the right. The king's fingers stroked one of the blades of the Iron Throne.

- Kneel before Joffrey of House Baratheon, first of that name, King of the Andals, the Roynars and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and protector of the realm!

- Long live the King! - roared the chorus of flatterers.

Cersei, in a dress of black mourning silk decorated with small rubies, smiled modestly and triumphantly.

- I don't see Lord Stark here,' the king said crankily. - Where is he? And where is Sansa, my bride?

- Your Grace,' Petyr Baelish cast a quick glance at Light. - Lord Eddard and his daughters sailed this night for Dragonstone.

- Why? - Joffrey was genuinely surprised. - Why did they do that, Lord Baelish?

- Your Grace,' Cersei looked at Light as well. - Your advisers managed to uncover Lord Stark's plot with the king's brothers. Your father was still alive when those traitors plotted to take the throne from you.

The King frowned.

- Is my fiancée Sansa a traitor too?

- No, Your Grace,' Varys sang softly. - She is an innocent child. She was unaware until the last moment of her father's criminal intentions, who, knowing of her loyalty to your Grace, had his men seize the poor girl and take her away by force.

- What are they going to do with her?

- Find her another suitor, I suppose,' Baelish said. - You should forget about her too, Your Grace. A traitor's daughter is no match for a king, even if she's innocent.

- And my Uncle Renly? Why did he leave? Is he in league with Stark?

Cersei looked questioningly at Light. Light shrugged. Renly no longer mattered. The last time Light had seen him - he'd ridden through the River Gate - Renly had been pale and his fingers on the bridle trembled slightly. He had five or six days to live.

- 'Your Grace,' Cersei said. - Your advisers believe that Lord Renly, like Lord Stark, has left the city to gather banners and go to war against you.

Joffrey laughed.

- Fools! I will crush them like kittens! I am king!

- Your Grace, even a king as great as you cannot rule the state alone. Since the King's Hand and the Master of the Law are on the run, you should appoint others to take their place. Faithful men.

Cersei made a sign to Pycelle. The Grand Maester stepped forward, grunting and oohing with feigned infirmity. His shaking fingers held the scroll away from his eyes: like most old men, Pycelle was farsighted.

- Your Grace,' he rattled on. - Your mother, the Queen Regent, thinks it best that her father and your grandfather, Lord Tywin Lannister, should be Hand of the King instead of the traitor Eddard Stark.

- Yes, Mama told me. Let him be.

- Your Grace,' Pycelle glanced at Light, 'your mother also thinks it best that her cousin and your father's former squire be made Master of the Law in place of the traitor Renly Baratheon, who should be knighted as a reward for his loyal service.

Joffrey nodded.

- Ser Barristan! - the queen called. - Do my cousin this favour.

Light knelt. Barristan Selmy's sword touched his shoulders twice.

- 'Stand up, Ser Lancel,' Cersei smiled at him and turned to her son. - 'Your Grace, now that you have loyal advisors, you should also take care of a reliable guard. Unfortunately, one of your guardsmen is not reliable. Ser Boros Blount!

Light grinned. It was his idea. Joffrey wanted to give the white cloak to the Hound, but that required taking it away from one of the current guardsmen. Old Barristan was still an excellent warrior despite his age, and his legendary reputation enhanced the prestige of whoever he served. The most useless member of the Guard was the fat and cowardly Ser Boros. Light had no trouble convincing the queen to expel him.

- Your Grace, there's been a mistake! I have always...

- Silence,' Joffrey said indifferently. - You will give your cloak to the Hound, or I will have you fight him. To the death.

Sandor Clegane grinned wickedly and drew his sword. Boros Blount's flabby cheeks trembled.

- 'I... your grace, if you deem me unworthy, I submit to your will.

- Get out,' Joffrey said, and Boros Blount withdrew to the laughter of the crowd.

Pycelle continued reading. He listed the lords, great and small, whom the king had obliged to swear an oath to him on pain of being declared traitors. Catelyn Stark's outrageous act of illegally kidnapping a member of the royal family was mentioned. The king commanded the immediate return of his uncle, and if he refused, the Hand of the King, Lord Tywin Lannister, was ordered to lead a punitive campaign into the Riverlands, Lady Catelyn's homeland. Then came the details of the coronation, which was to take place the day after tomorrow in the Great Sept. Joffrey was clearly bored and finally yawned defiantly.

- I'm tired, Mum. Couldn't you be quicker?

Pycelle finished the text, rolled up the scroll and bowed to the king. Joffrey immediately declared the reception over and told everyone to leave.

***

Theon paced the courtyard of Red Castle like a hunted animal. The crossed halberds of gold cloaks blocked his entrance to the throne room, and all pleas, threats, and attempts at bribery were met with the same answer: 'It's not allowed!'. Theon demanded to speak to the commander. The fat, frog-like Janos Slynt shook his head and referred to the king's orders.

- But I must get in! I've been promised the post of master of the ships, but how can I get it if they won't let me in?!

- Orders are orders, My Lord. Unless the Queen or someone from the Small Council cancels it, you'll have to wait here.

After an hour that seemed an eternity to Theon, the doors to the throne room swung open. Theon saw a slim, blond-haired young man coming out and rushed to him.

- Lancel, at last! Can you believe these idiots won't let me in! Tell them! Tell them the queen herself.....

- I am Ser Lancel now. You will address me accordingly.

Theon was speechless in amazement. Lancel addressed the commander of the guard:

- Janos Slynt, I am your new chief. The king has just appointed me master of the law and knighted me.

Slint nodded graciously.

- The city guards are ready to do whatever you say, Ser Lancel.

Lancel looked at Theon with mild curiosity, as if he were an amusing animal. An animal that had foolishly walked into a prearranged trap.

- Janos Slynt, in the name of King Joffrey, I command you to arrest this man. He's the one who killed King Robert.