Varys has just told the small council that Ser Jorah has informed him Daenerys is pregnant. Robert wants to kill her andViserys now, but Eddard is protesting heatedly. He says there is no threat, as the Dothraki will never cross the sea, but Robert thinks his reign is in danger. Renly says they should have killed Viserys and Daenerys years ago, but Lord Jon always managed to convince Robert not to. Eddard points out how mercy can be useful, reminding Robert that Ser Barristan killed over a dozen men on the Trident yet when he was brought before Robert near death and Roose Bolton urged that his throat be cut, Robert pardoned him instead. Eddard argues well past the point of reason, calling Robert a coward and an ignoble king, but in the end is outvoted, with Renly, Petyr, Varys, and Pycelle voting for and only Barristan joining Eddard in voting against assassination. Renly suggests having Jorah do the deed, but Varys says that will not work, for the Dothraki would kill him, so he will refuse. Varys suggests using the tears of Lys, and Pycelle looks at him suspiciously. Eddard refuses to be party to the murder and resigns his position as Hand of the King. Robert tells him to go back to Winterfell or he will have Eddard’s head. As Eddard leaves, Pycelle brings up hiring the Faceless Men of Braavos, but Petyr complains they are too expensive. Eddard passes Ser Boros on his way out of the council chamber.
Back in his chambers, Eddard summons Vayon and has him prepare for the journey back to Winterfell. He decides he will leave first with his daughters and a few guardsmen and the rest of the household can follow behind. He contemplates going by ship to see Stannis, as he is convinced Stannis knows the secret that Jon died for. He has sent a letter to Dragonstone asking Stannis to return to his council seat but has received no reply. Eddard sends Vayon to look for a ship right before Tomard announces that Petyr is there to see him. Petyr tells Eddard that they have decided not to hire a Faceless Man and will just let it be known that a lordship awaits anyone who kills Daenerys. He then tells Eddard that if he will delay his departure briefly, he will take Eddard to the brothel he has been searching for.
Quotes…
Ned had heard enough. “You send hired knives to kill a fourteen-year-old girl and still quibble about honor?” He pushed back his chair and stood. “Do it yourself, Robert. The man who passes the sentence should swing the sword. Look her in the eyes before you kill her. See her tears, hear her last words. You owe her that much at least.”
“Out,” he croaked, choking on his rage. “Out, damn you, I’m done with you. What are you waiting for? Go, run back to Winterfell. And make certain I never look on your face again, or I swear, I’ll have your head on a spike!”
by Mel
So, Robert is just CRAZY! His whole council is ridiculous with the exception of Ser Barristan( (I really like him) So the arguement goes like this….
“You talk of murdering a child.” Robert doesn’t care.
“You will dishonor yourself forever if you do this.” Robert doesn’t care.
“Mercy is never a mistake. [Robert] sent his own master to tend Ser Barrista’s wounds.” Robert blushes but still insists this is different, and the girl must die.
“Have the years so unmanned you that you tremble at the shadow of an unborn child?” And here, finally, we get it: Robert purpled.
“Do it yourself, Robert. The man who passes the sentence should swing the sword.” Robert can barely contain his fury that, yes, Ned means it.
“I had thought you a better man than this, Robert. I thought we had made a nobler king.” Robert’s face was purple.
Then we have Littlefingers’ wise council…
“When you find yourself in bed with an ugly woman, the best thing to do is close your eyes and get on with it,” he declared. “Waiting won’t make the maid any prettier. Kiss her and be done with it.”
So the king tells him to get out and go back to Winterfell! Threatens his head, so Ned makes the proper arrangements to get his daughters out of King’s Landing immediately….phew, now I’m starting to feel a LOT better, get the hell out of King’s Landing!
But first… he decides to go visit a brothel with Littlefinger! Oh Ned!!!
Books to HBO
The council scene plays out very similarly, although the lack of Barristan Selmy at the small council means that Eddard is left without anyone who supports his position whatsoever. Robert’s line about the realm being ruled by “fear and blood” is a new one, and we suspect not quite one that the novel’s Robert would ever think or say. Otherwise, the scene plays out quite similarly.
About Melanie
