Chapter 10: The Council

Author's Note: First off, I deeply apologize for the agonizingly long wait I made you endure. This was by far the hardest chapter I have ever written. It may be a little dull so forgive me for that. But rest assured the next chapter will come much sooner and it won't be as much of a bore. So to all my readers, Enjoy.

Eddard

Ned Stark was exhausted, the journey to King's Landing had been a depressing affair. Sansa was crying over Lady and Arya was crying over Mycah. The incident at the Trident had left a stain on not only Ned's relationship with Robert but also his daughters. Sansa had refused to speak to him for a week. Until Roland had come and spoke to her. He didn't know what he said, but afterward, Sansa visited her father and the two made amends.

Ever since the incident, Lord Stark and his household had remained in the part of the prosession that was as far away from the royal family as possible. Surprisingly Roland had taken to keeping company with them. After talking with Robert, Ned learned that his relationship with his son had been simularly strained.

To be perfectly honest, it killed Ned that he couldn't tell Sansa that Lady was alive. But Roland insisted on it saying. "If one little slip of tongue reaches my mother than Lady will forever be in danger." Ned tried to protest, stating that surely Robert would understand the situation. Roland shook his head and said in the most serious voice that Ned had ever heard from the young prince. "You have a lot to learn about the south Lord Stark. Word of advice, trust none of them."

Sure enough, almost as soon as he entered the Red Keep, Ned was hounded by the spiders snd snaked that made up his friend's small council. First to greet him was Lord Varys, the spider, Master of whisperers. Of all the council members, Varys was the one Ned liked the least. He along with Lord Stannis had advised Robert to get rid of him. But Robert had refused. Then there was Lord Renly, Robert's youngest brother and Master of Laws. He a nice enough man, but Ned always found him to be too silly. Grand Maester Pycelle greeted Ned respectfully and always seemed tired and gentle. Finally, there was HIM. A short slender frame of Petyr 'Littlefinger' Baelish. It was no secret to Ned that Littlefinger was in love with his wife Catelyn. Enough to challenge a duel with Ned older brother Brandon.

As he looked around Ned noticed a certain councilmember missing. "Where is Lord Stannis?" He asked. Renly laughed "I'm afraid my elder brother left for Dragonstone shortly after the king left for Winterfell." 'Figures' Ned thought to himself. The one person on the council that he respected and could trust isn't here. True there was Ser Barristan Selmy, the Lord Commander of the Kingsgaurd. But unfortunately, Robert made it clear that he didn't want Ser Barristan on his council.

As soon as he sat down, the council got right down to business. "His grace wants us to host a tourney in honor of the new Hand of the King." Renly immediately announced.

"How much?" Littlefinger quickly asked.

Ned looked at the letter himself and read out the answer. "Forty thousand gold dragons to the Champion of the joust, thirty thousand to the runner up. Twenty thousand to the victor of the melee and ten thousand to the victor of the archery contest."

"A hundred thousand gold pieces." Littlefinger summed up. "Not including other factors to the total ammount. Ned looked at Renly as he breathed a heavy sigh, clearly it troubled him.

"Can the crown bear such a heavy expense?" Pycelle asked with a look of great worry.

Littlefinger shook his head. "The treasury is empty, I'll have to barter with Lord Tywin Lannister again. He then turned to Ned. "We already owe him three million in gold dragons."

Ned's eyed widened in shock. "Are you saying the crown is three million in debt?"

Littlefinger hmphed, "If only, the crown is Six million in dept. Three million to the Lannisters, two million to the Iron Bank of Braavos. Robert has even borrowed the rest from Mace Tyrell, the Tyroshi Cartells and even the Faith."

Ned was shocked to learn that Robert had spent his reign plunging the realm into such a heavy debt. 'Six million gold dragons', he thought in disbelief. 'Half of it to Tywin Lannister.' "How could he let this happen. Aerys Targaryen had left the coffers overflowing with gold."

Pycell shook his head. "Despite our best efforts, his grace hardly listens to wise advice. He does as he pleases. Even Jon Arryn could only do so much."

Ned ran his fingers through his hair. He was exausted and now these new revalations had added to the already heavy burden that was bestowed upon him. He made a mental note to speak to robert about the tourney. It simply could not happen.

After finishing with other minor council matters. Ned turned to leave for the Tower of the Hand when he was intercepted by Littlefinger. "I only wish to take you to your wife," he said simply. She is here in the city." At first, Ned was suspisious. 'What would she be doing here," he wondered. Perhaps this is a trick. He had little stomach for these mindless games. He would not tolerate them, least of all from Baelish.

When Ned realized that Baelish had taken him to one of his brothels, he snapped. Ned grabbed him by the throat and began strangling him. "You're a funny man. A very funny man." Ned laughed. Yet their was nothing humorous about it. His long fingers kept squeezing until Ser Rodrick approached and confirmed Baelish claim.

During his reunion with his wife, Ned learned of the assassination attempt on Bran. According to Baelish the dagger that the assassin used belonged to him and that he lost it to Tyrion Lannister.

After bidding farwell to Catelyn, Ned returned to the Red Keep. As he climbed the stairs of the Tower of the Hand. He contemplated these shocking revalations. Someone had tried to kill his son not once but twice. Whats more they injured his beloved wife in the process. Yet for ome reason, something didn't feel right. He still couldn't believe that Tyrion was responsible.

Now as he sat at his desk, Ned began putting together everything he knew about Tyrion. It was no secret that Tywin despised his youngest son. But many people including Robert have told him how clever he is. It ust didn't seem like him to do something like this. For one thing, the dagger was of great quality, valeryan steel with a dragonbone hilt. It seemed stupid that anyone would give an assassin such a valuable weapon.

Lastly, against his better judgement, Ned admitted to himself that he had taken a liking to Tyrion. He was hated by Tywin, and Ned hated Tywin for the savageries he committed 16 years ago in King's Landing. He was cunning with a sharp tongue, humerous and a drinking habit that equalled Robert's. But most of all like Roland, Tyrion treated Jon with respect and even gave sound advise.

Soon Ned's mind then drifted to Robert's second son. He had already taken a liking to the prince. When he first saw him at Winterfell, for the briefest moment, Ned thought he was Robert. Roland resembled Robert in his youth and Lord Renly in the present. Even their personalities were simular. However as he spent more time with Roland, Ned discovered that Roland's mind differed greatly from his father. He was quieter, more reserved, and displayed a high level of elegance and sophistication that Robert lacked. Like everyone else, Ned was surprised that Roland developed a friendship with Jon. But he was glad of it all the same. When Ned had asked why he treated Jon equally. Roland smiled and said, "Trueborn, Baseborn, a man is a man. Basterds don't get to choose what they are. But that doesn't mean they are any less than everyone else."

Ned owed much to Roland. First he took the time to find his daughter when she went missing at the trident. Then afterwards, he saved Lady from execution. He had been the only one to openly protest against Lady's execution. Most of all he shared Neds anger at what happened to the butcher's boy and tried as gently as possible to give the news to the boy's father.

Ned's mind now went back to the betrothal between Joffrey and Sansa and was filled with regret. He now wished that he had thought it through before making such a hasty desision. "Roland," He said to himself. "Why weren't you born first? If I knew what I realize now, I would of requested that Sansa be betrothed to Roland instead of Joffrey."

Finally after careful thinking, Ned decided to pay Roland a visit. 'I'm surrounded by fools, Roland knows the court better than I do. Perhaps he can give me advice on how to handle these people.' Given what has happened in the past month. Ned knew that Roland would be one of the few people that he could get the truth out of.

He reached the prince's chambers and knocked on the door. A moment later Roland opened the door.

"Lord Stark," he exclaimed clearly surprised by the visit.

"Prince Roland," Ned replied. "Forgive me for disturbing you."

"Oh no not at all" Roland said dismissively. "How can I help."

"I was wondering if you could giv me insight on your father's council."

Roland smiled "Of course of course come on in and take a seat."

Roland's room was furnished unlike any of the other room he had seen before. On the walls were shelves lined with books on warfare and a few on other topics. His bed was situated on the far corner. A small desk with a lamp, quill, ink, and parchment stood beside it. Near the end of the bed was a smaller round bed where Shadow was sitting. At another end stood a wooden statue holding Roland's personal armor. That left a very large space in the middle.

Roland pulled a couple of chairs from beside the wall and beckoned Ned to sit.

"Now," he began "what would you like to know?"

Ned leaned forward, with his hands clasped together. "I'm flocked by decievers, I merely wish to know who I can trust."

"I see," Roland said rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Well that's easy, except for Lord Stannis and Ser Barristan, you can't trust anyone. I still don't know why Uncle Stannis left. You two would do very well together."

Ned was surprised at this assessment. "What about the other four? Pycelle."

"Pycelle can't be trusted unless you trust the Lannisters." The Grand Maester's loyalty is to one person only, Tywin Lannister. In fact he is the reason King's Landing got sacked. It was his council that Aerys Targaryen listened to and he payed the ultimate price for it. On top of that he puts on this act of being old, slow and frail. But in truth he is only the first of those."

Ned stared in shock at this revalation. 'If Pycelle is truly a Lannister man than it is likely that he had a hand in Jon Arryn's death.' Ned made a note to be more careful around him from now on."

"Uncle Renly is probably more trustworthy than the others but not by much. He is a decent enough man, but he is unfit to be a council member. He is kind, but he is just too silly. He takes his job as Master of Laws as seriously as my father does with ruling."

While he was talking, Ned studied the young man intentely trying to find the lie in his eyes. But there was none. Roland remained in eye contact and kept his voice serious.

"Lord Varys is one of the most unpredictable individuals I know. Mainly because I can't figure out what he wants. All I can figure is that it has something to do with House Targaryen. Yet I have found him more trustworthy than Pycelle or Baelish."

"Baelish?" Ned asked in surprise.

"Yes Baelish," Roland repeated. Of all the members of the small council Littlefinger is the one you should trust the least. Especially you Lord Stark. Collectively Littlefinger and the Spider have more spies than in all of Essos reaching from Dorne to the Wall.

Ned began rubbing his head and paced around the room Just when he was starting to think he could trust Littlefinger. "My wife and Baelish have known each other since they were children. I would think that if he would be honest with anyone it would be with Catelyn."

Roland gave out a short laugh. "You wouldn't be saying that if you had heard the things he has said about your wife."

Upon hearing this Ned whirled around and faced Roland with a dangerously calm look in his eyes. "What do you mean what has he said about Catelyn."

"I never got all the details, but was something about taking her maidenhead."

Ned clenched his fistsand fought to contain his anger. He had a right mind to go to lord Baelish and beat him senseless. But his rational thinking got the best of him and Ned calmed himself.

"Thank you Roland for telling me all this." Ned said offering his hand.

"Not a problem Lord Stark," Roland replied taking Ned's hand.

As he turned to walk out the door Ned decided to asked one more thing. "Prince Roland, one more thing."

"Yes."

"Do you believe Jon Arryn died of natural causes?"

Immediately Roland shook his head. "No, he did not."

Ned cocked an eyebrow. "What makes you so sure?"

Roland sighed deeply and said grimly, "Jon Arryn was well, there was nothing wrong. Healthy men don't just die."

Well there you go I hope it wasn't too dull for you. Remember all reviews welcome. Until next time. I promise the next chapter will come much more swiftly.