The Mountain of Ice and Fire

Led by the Master of Whisperers, Eddard walked onto the drawbridge of the Moat Cailin, passed through the four-meter-thick gate, and entered a massive square fortress – the residence of kings throughout the ages: the Red Keep.

The Kingsguard Boros Blount guarded the drawbridge; the towering Meryn Trant and the grim and ruthless Mandon Moore guarded the gate. The Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, Barristan Selmy, guarded the door to the king's bedroom with three other white-clad brothers.

Eddard glanced at Barristan's pale face and sensed that something was wrong.

All the way, he had felt the Master of Whisperers' face as hard as stone, and he had a bad feeling in his heart.

"What's wrong with the king?" Eddard asked Barristan with his eyes.

Barristan looked miserable and didn't say a word.

The Master of Whisperers announced the Hand of the King's arrival before the king's bedroom door in a singsong voice. King Robert's voice came out: "Let him in."

Robert's voice was turbid, as if he had a mouthful of phlegm in his throat!

Eddard pushed the door open, and a wave of heat hit him: both fireplaces in the room were burning fiercely. Grand Maester Pycelle was there, Duke Renly was there, Cersei was there, and Ser Barristan followed closely behind the Hand and entered the hot bedroom.

Robert was lying on the bed, his feet stretched out beyond the edge of the bed, his boots still covered in mud. A very unpleasant smell of medicine emanated from his direction, filling the entire room.

Eddard was shocked. He walked over, and Robert's voice sounded: "Ned, can't you fucking hurry up?"

Eddard didn't say a word and reached out to lift the blanket on the king's body. The bandages that almost covered his chest and abdomen were all stained red with blood. The smell of decay mixed with the smell of medicine was nauseating.

Eddard put down the blanket. He could see how serious King Robert's injuries were. He couldn't believe that the king had survived so many days from the Kingswood back to the Red Keep.

"What happened?" Eddard asked, feeling a pang in his heart, as if the injured person was not the king, but himself.

"A boar..." The king wanted to laugh, but the pain made him crack his mouth and hum, "Damn beast... its tusks got me."

Eddard suddenly became angry: "Duke Renly, what were you doing at the time? And you, Ser Barristan, you are the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, responsible for the king's safety. What were you and your white-clad brothers doing at the time?"

Barristan gritted his teeth and didn't say a word, his face ashen.

Duke Renly was restless, pacing back and forth under the long window, never stopping for a moment: "Lord Eddard, my brother ordered us all to stand aside and let him face that big guy alone."

"Ned, don't blame them," King Robert said. "It was my own order... but I didn't let that boar off easy either... I stabbed it in the eye... you can ask them..."

"According to my brother's instructions, we transported the boar back," Duke Renly said. "My brother hopes to have a boar feast."

"Yes, that's right," King Robert said weakly. "You all go out first and let me and Ned stay alone for a while."

Cersei said, "Robert... you should rest more... and talk less."

"Get out, you stinking woman!" Robert cursed. "Are your ears deaf or your mind stupid? Can't you understand what I'm saying? Everyone, get out, I want to talk to Ned alone."

Grand Maester Pycelle brought a bowl of poppy milk: "Your Majesty, drink it to relieve the pain."

"Get out, you old, undead dog, do I have to curse you a few more times?" Robert reached out and knocked the poppy milk to the ground. "Get out!"

Duke Renly, Cersei, Pycelle, and Barristan all withdrew. Barristan closed the door. Everyone stood in front of the bedroom door. Littlefinger Petyr Baelish also arrived, at the end of the corridor, and the bald Lord Varys also came.

Everyone gathered in front of King Robert's bedroom door with strange expressions. Inside the room, the king and the Hand were talking. The door slowly opened after a long time.

Eddard stood at the door with a tired face, but anyone could see the sadness in his eyes. Everyone knew that the king and the Hand had an unusual relationship. They grew up together and fought together. No matter how angry the king was, he would not attack Eddard. The threatening words were all just threats, but it was different for others. Threats would become reality.

"Lord Varys, the king has ordered the revocation of the assassination order against Daenerys Targaryen," Eddard said softly, his voice containing sadness and exhaustion.

"Lord Hand, the little birds have already been sent out. Now that the order is revoked, I can't guarantee..."

"If the deed is done, I have nothing to say, but try to revoke the assassination order as much as possible. This is the king's order."

"Yes, Lord Hand, I will go see the king and then do it immediately."

"You don't need to see the king. Go revoke the order immediately."

"Yes, Lord Hand." Varys bowed deeply and left silently.

"Grand Maester Pycelle, Duke Renly, the king has ordered you two to come in."

"Yes, my lord," Pycelle said respectfully. He raised his head and glanced at Queen Cersei. Duke Renly had already pushed the door open and entered.

*

The king's will had been written. It was a letter appointing Eddard as Warden of the North and Protector of the Realm. In the presence of Duke Renly and Grand Maester Pycelle, the king affixed his seal. Hand Eddard put away the king's will and put it in his bosom. He watched Grand Maester Pycelle prepare poppy milk for King Robert with his own eyes, and turned around and walked out after watching the king fall asleep after drinking the milk.

When Eddard came out, he saw the Hound leading a dozen red-robed men into the corridor. They were the queen's personal guards, responsible for protecting the queen's safety, and had the right to freely enter and exit the palace.

Seeing the Hound, Eddard's heart skipped a beat.

Eddard knew that the real moment was coming soon. King Robert's injuries were too serious. The boar's tusks had torn open his body from his abdomen all the way to his chest. The king would be leaving soon. He had to obtain the support of the City Watch of King's Landing, otherwise he would not be able to accomplish anything.

Under Queen Cersei's cold gaze, Eddard quickly left the Red Keep. He immediately sent Ser Ilyn Payne to Dragonstone to invite Stannis Baratheon to station his troops in King's Landing.

According to the law, Joffrey was not Robert's son. Robert's younger brother, Stannis Baratheon, was the rightful heir to the kingdom. Eddard also ordered someone to find Littlefinger Petyr Baelish and ask him to find a way to win over Janos Slynt. He also ordered the steward Vayon Poole to pack all the luggage and quickly take the two ladies away from King's Landing and return to Winterfell.

Sansa packed her luggage while crying, while Arya was still learning to dance, but she said when she had breakfast this morning that her luggage had been packed and she was just waiting to leave.

*

0263 Chapter 2: The Sad Protector of the Realm

"My lord!" Grand Maester Pycelle came in with a sad face. "Last night, His Majesty the King passed away."

Eddard's heart ached. He felt that something most important had completely left him. This feeling was familiar. When Lyanna Stark left him, he had this feeling in his heart.

Eddard just wanted to cry, but he was the Hand of the King, the Warden of the North, and the Duke of Winterfell. He couldn't show the sadness in his heart. These damn titles, if he could, Eddard would give everything just to exchange for a moment to grieve for King Robert. For this kingdom, and for himself.

When he and the king were alone yesterday, the king said that he knew he was a foolish king and was completely unqualified for the position of king, but he had no choice. He just wanted to be a mercenary, but he couldn't hand over the kingdom to Joffrey and Cersei. He thought that would be even worse.

Now the worse moment had come. Eddard's heart was filled with pain, but he had no right to vent his personal grief. The dead were at peace, and the living would still move forward with heavy burdens. In order to let Robert leave in peace, Eddard did not tell the king Cersei's secret. He couldn't bear to add another trace of pain to his old friend. Let him bear all the pain. Perhaps this was Eddard's fate.

Eddard looked at Grand Maester Pycelle. He knew that the most dangerous moment had also come.

The Hand's Tower had been arranged by Eddard as much as possible with guards to ensure the safety of everyone in the tower, but he didn't feel safe in any other place.

Every person of real power in the Red Keep of King's Landing wore one or several masks, which was what the Northerners disliked the most. He had also been sad for the king. Any generous bastard with a kind heart would find it difficult to endure the faces of these hypocritical people, but Robert endured it. He endured it for sixteen years.

Now it was Eddard's turn to endure it.

Eddard only needed to drag it out until Stannis led his troops to King's Landing and supported him as king. Then he would put down the heavy burden and return to the North, never coming to this inhuman place again.

"Lord Pycelle, please inform all the important ministers of the Imperial Council to come to me for a meeting," Eddard said.

"Here?" Pycelle's eyes were confused.

"Yes, here. Convene the Imperial Council. I have something to announce," Eddard said.

"Uh, okay!" the Grand Maester said.

*

The first to arrive was Ser Barristan Selmy, the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, wearing a white robe, and also an important minister in the Imperial Council.

The second to arrive was Littlefinger. He still had a cynical smile on his face. His boots were still covered in mud: "Lord Hand, the little thing you asked me to do is done."

A big stone fell in Eddard's heart.

The third was Varys. He was still full of fragrance, with rouge on his face.

"My lord, what's the matter?" Varys asked as soon as he came in. "I thought the Imperial Council would be held in the throne room."

Eddard said, "Why is Duke Renly late? Did any of you see Duke Renly when you came?"

"Duke Renly?" Varys pursed his lips. "Lord Eddard, Duke Renly left from the side door of the Red Keep before dawn last night. Ser Loras Tyrell also left with him. They took away all the guards, about a hundred people."

Duke Eddard was disappointed. He had hoped that Duke Renly could help him. Renly and Loras, plus the hundred guards under their command, were a considerable force. Renly and Loras' martial arts skills were also very good. Loras could even block the Hound.

After the king and Eddard had a secret talk, Duke Renly had found Eddard and asked him to launch an operation at night to secretly raid the Red Keep and take Cersei and her three children, but Eddard refused.

Eddard was absolutely unwilling to harm any child. Children were innocent. This was one of the tenets of chivalry.

Eddard took out the king's will. He first gave the will to Barristan to inspect the seal. Barristan confirmed that the seal was correct. Then Eddard asked Barristan to open the letter and read it aloud. The letter said that after the king's death, he appointed Eddard Stark as the Hand of the King, the First Minister of the Seven Kingdoms, the Warden of the North, to lead the kingdom's military, political, and administrative affairs, and to exercise all the powers of the king until the kingdom's rightful heir ascended the throne.

Eddard said, "Everyone, please abide by the late king's will and recognize me as the Protector of the Realm, the Hand of the King, and the leader of the kingdom's political, military, and administrative affairs."

Grand Maester Pycelle, Littlefinger, the Spider, and the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard all stood up and bowed together, acknowledging Eddard's position as Protector of the Realm.

Eddard was more at ease in his heart when he received the unanimous support of the important ministers of the Imperial Council. As long as the Imperial Council recognized him, all power would be in his control.

At this time, the Master of Whisperers came in in a hurry to report: "Everyone, the king has announced the holding of a coronation ceremony in the throne room. He wants all the important ministers to go to the throne room immediately to swear allegiance to Joffrey I."

Eddard sneered: "Lord Master of Whisperers, the king is dead."

"The late king is gone, but the new king has already sat on the Iron Throne. According to the kingdom's laws, Joffrey is the new king."

Barristan also said, "Lord Hand, Joffrey is the rightful heir. I should also serve the new king."

Eddard said, "Joffrey has not been crowned yet, so he is not the king. I am the Protector of the Realm. It should be me who convenes the meeting of the important ministers of the Imperial Council. Well, since Cersei can't wait, let's go to the throne room first. I want to explain something important to everyone."

"What is it?" Varys said.

"Joffrey is not King Robert's son. He has no right of inheritance. The real heir to the throne should be Stannis Baratheon."

The four important ministers of the Imperial Council were all speechless.

Barristan was truly shocked. This showed that his sword was sharper than his mind. The other three were all old foxes. Their eyes were filled with shock, while the other eyes that were hidden were examining Eddard, their gazes meaningful.

*

Eddard led the important ministers of the Imperial Council and his guards to the throne room. Under the windows on both sides of the hall, golden cloaks were standing full. Commander Janos Slynt personally led the team. Eddard's eyes met Janos'. Janos nodded to Eddard obscurely, which made Eddard feel relieved.

Joffrey was sitting askew on the Iron Throne. The boy's face was hanging with a playful smile, as if this was a very ironic game. The Hound stood next to the king's Iron Throne, and five Kingsguard stood in a row in front of the seven steps of the Iron Throne.

Cersei stood between the Iron Throne and the Hound, her expression arrogant, her chin raised.

Behind the Iron Throne, twenty red-robed warriors were lined up in a row.

But Eddard was very at ease in his heart. The number of golden cloaks was five times that of the red cloaks.

Thank you [Riding a Donkey to Read] for the reward, thank you, Happy New Year, all the best!