Chapter 580: Brought to Court

With the clanking of heavy chains, silence filled the Throne Room. Though packed with people, nobody dared to speak. All eyes turned towards the entrance.

Eddard "Ned" Stark, Duke of Winterfell, was clad in prison attire. His hands and feet bound by heavy chains, his ash-gray hair disheveled. An unkempt beard covered his face, and his eyes seemed somewhat vacant.

Under the escort of the Unsullied soldiers, he entered the Throne Room. His gaze, somewhat lost, swept across the nobles of the Seven Kingdoms. Most faces were now strangers, with only a few still familiar.

They excitedly greeted him.

"Lord Stark!" "Lord Eddard Stark!"

Among them, a burly noble from the North, wearing the insignia of 'Winter's Pride,' seemed particularly emotional. His beard quivered slightly. It had been many months since their Lord Stark had appeared publicly. He had been held captive in the Red Keep, his fate unknown. Only Lady Catelyn had been granted visiting rights.

"Lord Karstark," Ned replied, dragging his heavy chains, escorted by the Unsullied, passing through the crowd. Recognizing familiar faces, the confusion on his face ebbed slightly, responding with a hoarse voice.

These were surviving Northern nobles. After the Battle of Riverrun, they surrendered to the Targaryen forces. Some had even joined the regular army ranks, merged into the Second and Third Legions, accompanying Prince Oberyn on his Westerlands campaign. Others served with the Golden Company, aiding Viserys in defeating Stannis and crushing the Stormlands resistance.

Many Northern nobles had performed outstandingly, earning promotions or accolades.

The harsh climate of the North had shaped its inhabitants. They knew from birth that winter was coming, and they had to prepare to survive. Hence, they didn't concern themselves with empty courtesies, court ceremonies, flashy cultures, or tourneys. They spoke bluntly, without guile, and their intentions were straightforward.

The Stark family had ruled the North for thousands of years. Their one wish was for the Warden of the North to be one of their own, not an outsider.

Northerners' stubborn and insular nature made them hard to govern, much like the Dornish.

"The North once stood alongside us, fighting a common enemy. After King Robert was captured, they promptly surrendered and achieved great merit..."

Historically, new dynasties often belittled their predecessors, providing justification for their rule. Yet, it was rare for a new dynasty to praise its predecessor. The Targaryens had once scorned Robert Baratheon as a 'Usurper.' Still, Viserys, determined to establish a new kingdom, chose to acknowledge King Robert's rule, admitting that the Targaryens had been overthrown by the 'Mad King' Aerys II.

Political compromises were often mutual necessities. In politics, words could change in an instant. It was common for seasoned politicians to contradict their own words.

Thus, the 'Usurper' became 'King Robert.' But the name of the war remained the 'War of the Usurper.' Robert had usurped the Iron Throne, becoming the king of the Seven Kingdoms.

Ned Stark, bound in heavy chains, approached the dais. His honest nature couldn't comprehend the subtle shifts in rhetoric. He didn't care to ponder it either.

Among the high seats, he recognized a few faces: Varys, the "Spider"; Prince Oberyn of Dorne; his old adversary, Jon Clinton. But many were strangers: Commander Mys Toyn of the Golden Company, Khal Drogo of the Dothraki, and Grey Worm, Commander of the Unsullied. Their sharp gazes pierced Ned Stark.

"It's been a while, Lord Eddard Stark," Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish, clad in a black cloak, greeted him with a smirk.

On the side, Tyrion Lannister, the 'Imp' and royal advisor, standing on the steps below the Iron Throne, coughed lightly. He looked up at the silver-haired young man on the throne, wearing a Valyrian steel crown. Then, he continued, "Your Grace, the North has been loyal, not resisting the unification. The sins of the Usurper's War remain unresolved, and the North is yet to be reclaimed. Therefore, Lord Eddard Stark still has the right to retain his title as Duke of Winterfell..."

Tyrion's voice echoed in the silent Throne Room. These were not his own sentiments but a pre-arranged script.

Ned, gaunt with a rough beard, remembered his wife's words before he was imprisoned. After a moment's silence and a deep breath, he bowed slightly towards the Iron Throne, replying hoarsely, "Your Grace."

Seeing Ned submit and address the king properly, all the Northern lords present breathed a sigh of relief— all but one.

Ramsay Snow, whose brothers had perished, no longer urgently desired the Bolton name. Instead, he had other ambitions. Observing that Ned did not uphold the hardy spirit of the North and had immediately submitted, Ramsay's eyes darkened. Yet, he quickly smiled brightly.

Viserys, seated on the Iron Throne, only nodded slightly. Eddard Stark, Duke of Winterfell, was then led to stand beside Prince Oberyn.

"Lord Eddard Stark," Oberyn greeted, having returned to King's Landing with his captive, Tywin Lannister. The Dornishman, with his deep complexion, wore a smile resembling Ramsay's. "I've long heard of Lord Stark's reputation for integrity."

"Prince Oberyn," Ned, recently released from prison and overwhelmed by his long confinement, had little to say to the Dornish prince and simply nodded in response.

At that moment, another voice resounded from the front of the Iron Throne, drawing everyone's attention.

"Lord Geoffrey Brecken."