Game of Thrones: King of Magic

Chapter 56

Eddard Stark. King's Landing.

We had finally arrived in King's Landing, the center of the Seven Kingdoms and my new place of employment and piles of unresolved business and responsibilities. And now I was in Robert's study, whipping wine as usual, while his seemingly fifteen-year-old squire, Lancel Lannister, poured him more and more, reminiscent of a tireless messenger from the king to the kitchen and back again.

Sansa, Arya, and the rest of the royal family, along with the Lannisters, were resting in their chambers after the long journey. My men, on the other hand, were spreading out around Red Castle, meeting with those Lady Kinvara had sent. She'd warned me before she left that her men would come to us, but I still wanted to know who to trust. Primarily because of Sansa and Arya, whose protection was hard to come by here, unlike Winterfell.

- "More wine!" Robert said in his usual gruff tone.

- "But, Your Grace, it's finished..." Lancel replied in an uncertain tone.

- "Again?!" Robert made a disgruntled face, "Then bring some more!"

The squire nodded quickly and a little fearfully, and then practically ran out of the office, giving me an apologetic look. I sighed tiredly and looked at Robert.

- "You should stop drinking. You should go and get some rest," I told him.

- "I am the king! I can drink as much as I want and when I want!" Robert replied firmly, draining his glass, "Why are you here? And why don't I see the symbol of the right hand on your chest yet? Didn't Pycelle give it to you yet?"

- "I will take it, don't worry," I reassured him, "I know that the meeting of the Small Council will be held in three days, and I would like to see all the members present. Preferably sober ones."

- "You are the Hand and can make decisions on my behalf. I have no reason to be there unless the topic concerns that whore and her savage."

- "Nevertheless, I would have you present," I insisted, "And Stannis too."

- "That fanatic?" Robert wondered, "Why do you need him? Or is it because of that woman you had in the castle? You think I didn't realize she was a Red Priestess?"

- "I want everyone at the meeting with me as Hand. Stannis has been ignored long enough, and he was instrumental in the war against the Mad King. Yes, I understand why you gave him the Dragonstone, but he didn't take it as expected, as evidenced by his conversion to the Red Faith and essentially isolation."

- "I don't care how that hard-headed fool took my favor. Dragonstone is his, and he can do what he wants there, including taking offense and acting like a child who's been given the wrong whore," Robert said, "And I don't recognize you, Ned. You're beginning to remind me of those snakes that hang around."

- "It's... hard to explain, Robert, and I apologize for that," I said.

- "Forgive me, just explain why you want Stannis," Robert demanded firmly, but with a touch of warmth.

- "It's because of Solomon," I sighed tiredly.

- "A sorcerer? Have you completely lost your mind?"

- "Maybe so, but considering what he's done for my family, I just can't ignore what he said," I began, "Solomon said that he could see the future to some extent, and that we were all in for a big change that would be extremely difficult to adjust to. He didn't mention it, but I'm sure his words had a sequel. And if I'm right, we need to stick together to keep the Seven Kingdoms together."

- "And you believe him?" Robert asked doubtfully, "Have you got a brain freeze in the North?"

- "Solomon has never been wrong once in all my time with him, so I tend to believe what he says. And as unfortunate as it sounds, I consider John's death to be the first sign of this change."