Game Of Thrones... With A Twist

A Game of Thrones - Chapter 17

<Midday, Black Cells, Dungeons, The Red Keep, King's Landing, The Crownlands...>

Ned's ragged breathing could be heard in the darkness, alone without the sunlight nor the moonlight, no warmth save that which he could make himself within the darkness of the Black Cells.

The flaring and burning light of a torch caught the attention of vary Stark grey eyes as the light briefly blinded the Lord of Winterfell, who seemed to have aged years within the darkness.

"You've seen better days, my lord." Spoke the voice of one Lord Varys, dressed in black to disguise his comings and goings into the Black Cells in his visits to the Warden of the North. 

"Another visit? It seems you're my last friend." Ned asked, his face bearded and his eyes sunken from staring at the darkness, wondering when the end of his days would come... and hoping that all his children were safe, at least.

"No, no, many still love you." Varys denied as he handed Ned another water skin that the Stark took immediately.

"Sansa came to court this morning to plead for your life." Varys informed as he removed his hood. 

"On her knees begging for me. Hm! Did you laugh with the others?" Ned asked mockingly. 

"You do me wrong, my lord. Your blood is the last thing I want." Varys denied calmly in a more serious tone.

"I don't know what you want. I've given up trying to guess." Ned said as he took another generous drink of life-giving water, something that was not a privilege nor right to those locked in the Black Cells.

Varys smirked a bit before he spoke, "When I was still a boy – before they cut my balls off with a hot knife – I travelled with a group of actors through the Free Cities. They taught me that each man has a role to play. The same is true at court. I am the Master of Whisperers. My role is to be sly, obsequious and without scruples. I'm a good actor, my lord." Varys claimed with some pride.

Ned grunted before he asked, "Huh. Can you free me from this pit?"

"I could. But will I? No." Varys answered grimly as Ned let out a bitter laugh. 

"As I said, I'm no hero." Varys reasserted his own role.

"What do you want? Tell me. No riddles, no stories... Tell me, what do you want?" Ned asked aggressively from where he sat, tired of the games played in this shithole of a city.

Varys kneeled down and spoke seriously and a far deeper tone, "Peace."

"Did you know that your two elder sons, are marching south with an army of northmen? Loyal lads. Fighting for their father's freedom." Varys informed Ned as the Lord of Winterfell asked, "Robb? Edwyn? They're just boys." He spoke softly, his mind's eye showing his sons as they were when they barely eight, Robb struggling in his lessons and Ed learning how to swing a sword.

"Boys have been conquerors before. But the man giving Cersei sleepless nights is the king's... late king's brother. Lord Stannis has the best claim to the throne. He is a proven battle commander and utterly without mercy." Varys stated, but Ned would not agree.

"Stannis Baratheon is Robert's true heir. The throne is his by rights." Ned claimed strongly as he turned away from Varys.

The Spider tsked as he stood up with his torch, "Sansa pleaded so sweetly for your life. It would be a shame to throw it away. Cersei is no fool. She knows a tame wolf is more use to her than a dead one." Varys chastised.

Ned turned to Varys and spoke strongly, "You want me to serve the woman who murdered my king, who butchered my men, who crippled my son?"

"I want you to serve the realm! Tell the Queen you will confess your vile treason, tell your sons to lay down their swords and proclaim Joffrey the true heir." Varys demanded, trying to get the Lord Stark to do what he wanted, but Ned turned away and breathed deeply, not wanting to poison his honor with this... lie.