the great war

you win or you die

Before you start reading it is going to be a long chapter, so grab a snack and a drink.

Ned Stark is sitting in the garden by himself and is seemingly waiting for someone.

Cersei enters and walks up to him.

-You're in pain.
-I've had worse, my lady.

-Perhaps it's time to go home. The South doesn't seem to agree with you.
- I know the truth Jon Arryn died for.
- Do you, Lord Stark? Is that why you called me here, to pose me riddles?
Ned notices the bruise still on Cersei's cheek.
-Has he done this before?
- Jaime would have killed him. My brother is worth a thousand of your friend.
- Your brother....or your lover?

Cersei realizes the implication NED is making and smirks. NED realizes he's right.

-The Stuarts wed brothers and sisters for 300 years to keep bloodlines pure. Jaime and I are more than brother and sister. We shared a womb. We came into this world together. We belong together.

- My grandson saw you with him.
- Do you love your grandchildren?
- With all my heart.
- No more than I love mine.
-And they're all Jaime's.
Cersei laughs.
- Thank the Gods. In the rare event that Robert leaves his whores for long enough to stumble drunk into my bed, I finish him off in other ways. In the morning, he doesn't remember.
- You've always hated him....
- Hated him? I worshiped him! Every girl in the Seven Kingdoms dreamed of him, but he was mine by oath. And when I finally saw him on our wedding day in the Sept of Baelor, lean and fierce and black-bearded, it was the happiest moment of my life. Then that night he crawled on top of me, stinking of wine and did what he did, what little he could do, and whispered in my ear, "Lyanna". Your sister was a corpse and I was a living girl and he loved her more than me.
- When the King returns from his hunt, I'll tell him the truth. You must be gone by then - you and your children. I will not have their blood on my hands. Go as far away as you can, with as many men as you can. Because wherever you go, Robert's wrath will follow you.
- And what of my wrath, Lord Stark? You should have taken the realm for yourself. Jaime told me about the day King's Landing fell: he was sitting in the Iron Throne and you made him give it up. All you needed to do was climb the steps yourself. Such a sad mistake.
- I've made many mistakes in my life, but that wasn't one of them.
-Oh, but it was. When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die. There is no middle ground.
Cersei leaves. Ned watches her go, a wary look on his face.

NED is walking down a hallway with Kormed and Tomard.
-Your Captain of the Guards now, Kormed. I need you to ensure that -
- Ned! Rendly said
RENLY suddenly comes in from the staircase behind them. He appears to be out of breath as he approaches them.
- It's Robert. We were hunting - a boar -
RENLY runs off. NED looks shocked and follows him. Tomard and Kormed follow suit.

In Robert's chambers, Robert is lying in bed. Joffrey is sitting beside him, looking devastated while gripping Robert's hand. Cersei, Grand Maester Pycelle, and Barristan Selma are also seen in the room. Barristan's armor has blood smeared on it.

-I should have spent more time with you, shown you how to be a man. I was never meant to be a father. Said Robert

Renly leads Ned into the room.
- Go on. You don't want to see this.
Joffrey very reluctantly leaves. Ned approaches Robert.
-My fault.... Robert said to Ned. He laughs weakly. -Too much wine. Missed my thrust.
NED lifts up Robert's blanket and sees a massive bloody gash across his torso.
- It stinks. It stinks like death. Don't think I can't smell it.
Cersei looks on as Ned covers Robert back up. Robert laughs again.
- I paid the bastard back, Ned. I drove my knife right through his brain. You ask them if I didn't. Ask them!
Robert coughs a few times. -I want the funeral feast to be the biggest the Kingdoms ever saw. And I want everyone to taste the boar that got me. -Now leave us, the lot of you. I need to talk to Ned.
-Robert, my sweet – Said Cersei
- Out, all of you!
Robert coughs again. Everyone else leaves - Cersei and Pycelle do so somewhat reluctantly, but do so nonetheless, leaving Ned alone with Robert. Ned sits down at Robert's bedside.
-You damned fool....
-Paper and ink on the table, write down what I say.
Ned grabs the paper and quill and begins writing.
- "In the name of Robert of the House Baratheon, first of..." you know how it goes. Fill in the damn titles. I hereby command Eddard of House Stark" - titles, titles - "to serve as Lord Regent and Protector of the Realm upon my death to rule in my stead, until my son Joffrey comes of age".
Ned hesitates, then writes "my rightful heir" instead.