State of Grace / Ned Stark

23. Feel My Wrath

"The whore is pregnant."

"You're speaking of murdering a child." Ned corrected.

"I warned you this would happen. Back in the North, I warned you, but you didn't care to hear. Well, hear it now. I want 'em dead, mother and child both. And that fool, Viserys as well. Is that plain enough for you? I want them both dead." Robert demanded.

"You will dishonor yourself forever if you do this." Ned declared.

"Honor?! I've got Seven Kingdoms to rule! One King, Seven Kingdoms. Do you think honor keeps them in line? Do you think it's honor that's keeping the peace? It's fear! Fear and blood!"

Fire and blood, ned thought. Fire and blood, Roberts Targaryen ancestors came out in him when he was in war mood. Fear and blood, fire and blood...

"Then we're no better than the Mad King." Ned corrected.

"Careful, Ned. Careful now." Robert grumbled.

"They are all morons." Grace grumbled to herself as she sped walked down the hall. "All of them. Joffrey was right, lets get rid of the starks, send them all home and take Catelyns fucking head." Grace pushed open Cersei's door to find it empty. A grumble as dissatisfaction filled her. 

"You want to assassinate a girl... Because the Spider heard a rumor?" Ned reminded him.

"No rumor, my Lord. The princess is with child." Varys answered

"Based on whose information?" Ned questioned.

"Ser Jorah Mormont. He is serving as adviser to the Targaryens." Varys answered.

" Mormont? You bring us the whispers of a traitor half a world away and call it fact?" Ned questioned.

"Jorah Mormont's a slaver, not a traitor. Small difference, I know, to an honorable man." Petyr corrected

"He broke the law, betrayed his family, fled our land. We commit murder on the word of this man?" Ned looked around the group.

'And if he is right and she has a son?' Robert shouted 'a Targaryen at the head of a Dothraki army what then?'

'The narrow sea still lies between us' Ned reminded him. 'I will fear the Dothraki the day they teach the horses to walk on water.' Ned added

'Do nothing that is your wise advice? Do nothing until our enemies are on our show us! You are my council, council speak sense into this honorable fool!' he demanded

'I understand your misgivings' varys said. 'Truly it is a horrible thing we must consider the realm, to rule sometimes we must do a vile thing for the good of the realm.'

'I wish this girl no ill will,' Pyselle said 'but should the dothraki invade how many innocence will die? How many towns with bleed? Is it not wise that she should die now so that tens of thousands might live?'

'We should've had them killed years ago.' Renly told him confidently.

'When you find yourself in bed with an ugly woman' Petyr told them. 'You must close your eyes and get it over with. Cut her throat and be done with it.' he smiled over his cup. Ned stared back at him before letting out a long sigh.

'I followed you into war twice.' Ned reminded him 'without doubts without second thoughts. But I will not follow you now.' Ned told him 'the Robert I grew up with didn't tremble in the shadow of an unborn child.'

'She dies.' Robert informed him. 'She dies.' Robert repeated staring ned down.

'I will have no part in it' Ned informed him.

'You are the kings hand Lord stark you will do is I command or I will find me a hand that will!' Robert warned him. So Ned pulled the hand pin off of his jacket throwing it to the table.

'Good luck to him then. I thought you were a better man.' Ned remarked.

'How dare you!' Robert said standing up 'get out of here go run back to Winterfell. I will have your head on a spike.' Robert shouted.

"She did what?" Cersei spat.

"Thats what I'm saying!" Grace agreed her hands in the air annoyed. "Why would she do that? VARYS!" Grace growled. He stopped walking and smiled over at them. "Ass. Here. Now."

"Hello your Gr-"

"Catelyn took Tyrion. Why?" Grace demanded. 

"The lord Tyrion has been taken? I had not-"

"Save it." Grace growled. "Spill it. Now, if you value your head." 

"My lady," Varys began. 

"Dont spin one of your lies Varys, I want the truth, this is my brother." Grace remarked him as she forced him into a seat she stared down at him. 

"Catelyn came right after you arrived back at the capital." Varys remarked. "She had a blade, an assassin came and attacked the young lord Bran before he woke, he's alright but... the blade left behind was valyrian steel." 

"So?"  Grace countered. 

"Thats rare Grace." Cersei offered. 

"I know that, what does it have to do with Tyrion?" 

"Catelyn spoke to myself and lord Bealish-"

"You have known for over a moon." Grace hissed. 

"Tyrion was safe when she came." Varys assured. Grace huffed a breath. "Petyr said that he lost the blade, to Lord Tyrion years ago."

"And that blade was used to attack Bran?" Cersei questioned, Varys gave a single nod. 

"What idiot arms an assassin with their own blade?" Grace spat. "Tyrion is a smart man, if he wanted someone dead, they would be dead."

"I believe you." Varys agreed. "Which is why I pray Tyrion survives." 

"If he doesnt, Catelyn is going to feel my wrath." Grace declared. "Hell, she already will."

+

Ned was in his chambers quickly packing his things. He wanted to see Grace, but she was mad at him and thought it best to just leave, a clean break. She wanted him gone anyways didnt she? She hated him, he fucked up and his wife stole her brother, yes. Grace would want him long gone. But his heart ached at leaving their relationship like this, broken, shattered. 

"I'll go ahead with my daughters. Get them ready. Do it yourself. Don't ask anyone for help." Ned instructed.

"Right away, my Lord. Lord Baelish is here for you." jory agreed.

"His Grace went on about you at some length after you took your leave. The word "treason" was mentioned." Petyr remarked.

"What can I do for you?" Ned countered.

" When do you return to Winterfell?" Petyr questioned.

"Why? What do you care?"

"If you're still here come nightfall, I'll take you to see the last person Jon Arryn spoke with before falling ill. If that sort of thing still interests you."

"I don't have the time." Ned corrected.

"It won't take more than an hour. But as you please." Ned hissed out a breath as Petyr left, he went to find Jory, he needed to know what Jon Arryn died for.

"Round up all the men we have and station them outside the girls' chambers. Who are your best two swords?" Ned questioned Jory.

"Heward and Wyl." Jory answered

" Find them and meet me at the stables." Ned requested. He looked to Grace her arms flailing around as she spoke to her brother.