[King's Landing - Red Keep, Black Cells]

Ned was still imprisoned. For how long he had lost count.

A light was seen nearby and appeared to be getting closer. Ned looked up when the light was right by him.

It was once again Varys, who was again holding a torch.

"You've seen better das, my lord."

"Another visit? lt seems you're my last friend."

"No, no, many still love you."

Varys once again had the skin of water. Ned took it. As he started to drink from it, Varys pulled down his hood.

"Sansa came to court this morning to plead for your life."

There was a pause as Ned continued to drink from the skin.

"On her knees begging for me. Hm....did you laugh with the others?"

"You do me wrong, my lord; your blood is the last thing l want."

"l don't know what you want. I've given up trying to guess." Ned said, annoyed and frustrated.

He took a drink from the skin while Varys thought for a moment about what to say next.

"When I was still a boy - before they cut my balls off with a hot knife - I traveled 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." He grinned sheepishly and shrugged. "I'm a good actor, my lord."

"Huh. Can you free me from this pit?" Ned asked, with an air of false hope.

"I could..." He looked around the dungeon. "But will I? No." This caused Ned to laugh sarcastically. "As I said, I'm no hero."

"What do you want? Tell me. No riddles, no stories - tell me, what do you want?"

Varys knelt down beside him. "Peace." Ned looked at him skeptical. "Did you know that your son is marching south with an army of northmen? Loyal lad, fighting for his father's freedom."

"Robb? He's just a boy..." He looked away, worried.

"Boys have been conquerors before. But the man giving Cersei sleepless nights is the king's - the late king's brother." Ned looked back at Varys. "Lord Stannis has the best claim to throne. He is a proven battle commander and he is utterly without mercy."

"Stannis Baratheon is Robert's true heir. The throne is his by rights. We both know Princess Aelinor was Robert's only trueborn child; a girl. We all know what happened the last time a woman attempted to sit the Iron Throne."

Varys stood again. "Sansa pleaded so sweetly for your life; it would be such a shame to throw it away. Cersei is no fool. She knows a tame wolf is more use to her than a dead one."

"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!" Varys yelled.

Ned still looked furious.

"Tell the queen you will confess your vile treason, tell your son to lay down his sword and proclaim Joffrey as the true heir!"

Ned looked away, still upset, causing Varys to crouch back down.

"Cersei knows you as a man of honor. If you give her the peace she needs, and promise to carry her secret to your grave, I believe she will allow you to take the black and live out your days on the Wall with your brother and your bastard son."

Ned chuckled. "You think my life is some precious thing to me? That I would trade my honor for a few more years of—of what!?" He stared at Varys in disgust before looking away. "You grew up with actors. You learned their craft and you learnt it well. But I grew up with soldiers. I learned how to die a long time ago."

Varys looked disappointed and defeated. "Pity. Such a pity." He stood up and started to leave, but briefly turned back for a moment, a look of disappointment still on his face. "What of your daughter's life, my Lord? Is that a precious thing to you?"

Ned looked back at Varys, a mournful look on his face. Once Varys was gone, the Black Cells were once again shrouded completely in darkness.

In the streets of Kings Landing, Arya was wandering around, trying to find something to eat. She couldn't return to the Red Keep. There was no telling what would happen to her.

"Can I have one? A lemon one—or any of them." Arya asked after she had grabbed a bird.

"Three coppers." The salesman answered.

"How about a nice fat pigeon?"

"Piss off, now. Go on."

"Do you have any stale ones from yesterday? Or any burnt ones?"

"Piss off!" The salesman cursed.

Bells rang and everyone ran.

"Where's everyone going? What's happening?" Arya asked.

"They're taking him to the Sept of Baelor!" A passing boy answered.

"Who?" Arya asked.

"The Hand of the King!"

Arya dropped the pigeon and followed the citizens. She climbs onto the statute of Baelor and watched as her father was brought out by two men of the City Watch.

Ned noticing Arya, spoke to Yoren while the crowd yelled "Trator! Coward!"

"Baelor!" Ned shouted, catching Yoren's attention as he passed him.

It was then Yorned turned to the statue of Baelor, seeing the Hand's youngest daughter, Arya. The crowd quieted as Ned was brought before the city.

"I am Eddard Stark. Lord of Winterfell. And Hand of the King." He looked to Sansa, who nodded to him. "I come before you to confess my treason in the sight of Gods and Men. I betrayed the faith of my King and the trust of my friend Robert. I swore to protect and defend his children, but before his blood was cold I plotted to murder his son.... and seize the Throne for myself."

The crowd yelled angrily, someone throwing an object at Ned. He drifted backwards, but was caught by Sandor Clegane, who pushed him forward.

"Let the high Septon and Baelor the blessed bear witness to what I say: Joffrey Baratheon is the one true heir to the Iron Throne, by the Grace of all his gods, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm."

"As we sin... so do we suffer. This man has confessed his crimes in sight of gods and men. The gods are just but beloved Baelor taught us that they can also be merciful. What is to be done with this traitor, Your Grace?" Pycelle asked.

The crowd yelled, then Joffrey raised his hand to silence them.

"My mother and sister wishes me to let Lord Eddard join the Night's Watch. Strippled of all titles and powers, he would serve the realm in permanent exile. And my Lady Sansa has begged mercy for her father. But they have the soft hearts of women, as long as I am your King, treason shall nevr go unpunished. Ser Ilyn, bring me his head."

"Joffrey, no!" Cersei shouted at the same time Morgana yelled, "No!"

"No, please, stop!" Sansa pleaded.

Arya tried to run to her father, but she was stopped by Yoren. He grabbed her, pulling her into his chest.

"Don't look!"

"Let me go!" Arya shouted, still trying to free herself.

"Shut your mouth! Look at me!" Yoren told her.

Sansa cried out while a man of the City Watch held her back.

Cersei looked on, worried about what came next, knowing that Joffrey's mind had been made up. Ser Ilyn Payne drew Ice, the Stark's ancestral sword, and approached Lord Eddard.

Ned looked over at Sansa momentarily and then looking at the crowd.

"Stop!"

Ned looked back at the Baelor statue, to see that Arya was no longer there. Ned bowed his head, muttering something, then shut his eyes, then Ser Ilyn decapitated Ned Stark. Arya looked to the sky as birds fluttered before she shut her eyes.

There was no turning back. War was here.