Eddard I

Drip* drip* drip*

Lord Eddard of House Stark arises from his slumber as sweat continues to drop from his face. In front of him, is darkness, his daily reminder of what's to come next. The sweet embrace of Death is near and for the past weeks in the black cells, Eddard had contemplated many times about this.

He was not yet dead, but it's as if he was already. His life flashed before his eyes, his home of Winterfell, his brother Brandon, his sister Lyanna, his father Rickard, his guardian Lord Jon Arryn, and his friend Robert. It's as if it was just yesterday when he last saw them but now they're dead, and death awaits him as well.

He couldn't help but think of his children, his wife, and the love of his life. Ned kept many secrets, secrets that would never see the light of day. Secrets upon which the realm will bleed for. Secrets that he himself was ashamed to hide from everyone.

But he could not help it, there was no choice. Ned Stark was an honorable man, honorable but yet like all of us, still a man, a man who makes mistakes, a man that is imperfect.

The honorable Lord of Winterfell... who would've thought that somehow some way he would break oaths he would have never thought to even break.

And as time goes by, the sun has set in King's Landing. Ned Stark was none the wiser of the time outside the black cells. All he knew was that he was thirsty. As if the old gods heard his plea, a burly figure came in holding a torch.

It's the first in a long time that Ned had seen any light or figure near his vicinity.

"Who are you?"

The burly figure stopped in his tracks. The scent of wine wafting through the hood of his cloak, as his figure also stopped wobbling. It's as if the man himself had changed, no longer was there a drunken walking man in front but an upright person.

The man lifted his hood.

"Why, it's only been a few days, I don't suppose that you have already forgotten about me my lord?"

There he was, Varys the Spider. It seems as though this Master of Whisperers is more than what he appears to be.

"What brings you here Lord Varys? It's hardly been a few days, I've been counting and it seems I have been here for at least a month"

"Let's not mind the pleasantries Lord Stark, I've merely been joking to brighten up the mood. But I do suppose that nothing will get brighter here within these black cells."

Varys kneels down and brings up a water skin to Ned's mouth.

"Open wide, my Lord, I'm afraid with the way you're being treated you'd be dead come a fortnight. It's a miracle in itself that you lasted this long."

As Ned Stark refuses to budge his lips apart, Varys speaks up again.

"Do you think I poisoned your drink? You must think me a fool Lord Stark, even if I did want to poison you, there'd be no need, you'll be dead sooner than you think."

With assurance, Ned drinks a few water within the water skin. After catching his breath, Ned turns to look at Varys.

"Lord Varys, I don't suppose you've only come here to serve me water. Tell me your true intentions of coming to me. What about my daughters?"

"I would save the rest, if I were you. Hide it. Men have been known to die of thirst in these ceIIs. The younger one seems to have been escaped while the other is still betrothed to Joffrey. Cersei will keep her close, the rest of your household.... I must say I do hate the sight of blood"

"You watched my men being slaughtered and did nothing."

"And I would do so again, given the chance my Lord. l was unarmed, unarmored and surrounded by Lannister swords. When you look at me do you see a hero?"

"What madness led you to tell the queen you had learned the truth about Joffrey's parentage?"

"Mercy.... that she may save the children"

"Ahh yes the children, it's always the innocent who suffer. Tell me Lord Stark who do you think really killed Robert? Was it the wine? No, the wine merely slowed him down. Or was it the boar? The boar only took the final blow. Neither if them killed Robert, but it was mercy my Lord, your mercy that killed the King."

"You do know that you're a dead man now Lord Stark"

Ned knew but he would never accept it. He still had something to do, he still had something to tell Jon.

"Catelyn holds the Queen's brother. The Queen can't kill me!"

"Sadly enough Lord Stark, your wife has caught the wrong brother. To add salt to your wounds, the Imp has slipped away from the Eyrie."

Realizing the events that happened without his knowledge, Eddard was now sure that there was no way out of this, one way or another he will die.

"If... if what you're telling me is the truth, slit my throat and leave me to rot."

"I'm afraid today is not your lucky day my Lord."

"Who do you truly serve Varys!!!?"

"In this world of noble houses, I serve none but the realm my Lord, for someone must."

---------- 1 week passes --------------

Ned was left to his thoughts once more as he awoke to the sound of the cells creaking and a shadow walking near.

Without looking Ned calls upon the figure,

"Another visit Varys?"

"Have you grown tired of my company Lord Stark? It does pain me that you think as such"

*Chuckle*

"It seems you're the only friend I have, not much of a choice is there?"

"No, No, many still love you. Your daughter Sansa pleaded for your life this morning and I must say I was quite moved by her show of emotion."

Ned's heart ached when he heard that. His ever so bitter daughter, beneath that cold face, it seems that she still has some affection for this father of hers.

"Can you get me out of here?"

"I can but will I? As I have said previously Lord Stark, I am no hero. Did you know your son marches south with the northern banners beside him, what a loyal lad."

Sansa and Robb, my children. *Gritting teeth*

"Tell me!! What is it that you want?!"

"I want you to serve the realm! Tell the queen you will confess your viIe treason, tell your son to lay down his sword and proclaim Joffrey as the true heir. Cersei knows you as a man of honor. If you give her the peace she needs, and promise to carry her secret to your grave, I believe she will allow you to take the bIack and live out your days on the Wall with your brother and your bastard son."

Anger arises within Ned as he is once again reminded of the betrayal and deceit that the Lannisters have done. He would never for the life of him admit, for the love he had for Robert, his true heir must be brought to the throne not some inbred bastard.

"You want me to serve the woman who murdered my king, who butchered my men, who crippled my son? You think my Iife is some precious thing to me? That I would trade my honor for a few more years of. . . Of what?"

"But what of your daughter's life, my Lord? Is that not precious to you."

Conflict, Ned Stark was once again faced with a conflicting decision as he had been before. Honor or Family, confusion wrought upon his eyes.

"Think long and hard my Lord, there is no gray area, you either live or you die. Remember one thing Lord Stark, we can choose the game however we cannot change the rules."

--------- EXECUTION DAY------------

As Ned Stark walks upon the stage set up in the capital, numerous people booed at him and threw stones and debris. And once again like it once was written, King Joffrey declares his execution to the surprise of many. Varys, Cersei, Grandmaester Pycelle, and Sansa... sweet Sansa.

Ned Stark kneels down before everybody, his mind wandering, the sounds around him fade out. He looks upon the ground with regret in his eyes.

He mouths for the last time

"Ashara, I'm sorry.... I wasn't able to tell him."

*SLICE*