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"The North is a harsh place, mother. They take their responsibilities very seriously" Tyrion added seeing the look on his mother's face.
"Glad to see you're protecting the throne."
"Sturdy old thing. How many kings' asses have polished it, I wonder?"
"Eighteen Kings from Aegon I to Robert I," said Oberyn Martell with a smile, "I thought your father would have made sure you were educated well in these things."
Jaime said nothing, only smiled a tight smile.
"What's the line? The King shits and the Hand wipes."
"You are antagonizing him again" Joanna looked at her son sternly.
"I'll be sure not to do that this time around" Jaime sighed.
"Very handsome armour. Not a scratch on it."
"I know. People have been swinging at me for years, but they always seem to miss."
"You've chosen your opponents wisely then."
"Isn't that the point of lessening casualties? You always go for the man who you know you can win against instead of the man who can prove to be an issue. There isn't anything bad about it" Theon spoke, looking at Lord Stark curiously.
The Lord of Winterfell nodded stiffly, while Jaime Lannister just smirked triumphantly.
"I have a knack for it. It must be strange for you to come into this room. I was standing right here when it happened. He was very brave, your brother. Your father too. They didn't deserve to die like that. Nobody deserves to die like that."
Jaime closed his eyes and sighed. Sometimes he could still hear them, the screaming and the begging. When he reopened his eyes he saw the Starks in question. Not in the same manner as Ned Stark did, he noted.
"But you just stood there and watched."
"That is a little unfair Ned" Lyanna whispered to her brother, so only he could hear her. "Even if he wanted to help, he was one knight against many more no doubt. What could he have done if say Ser Barristan had come against him? Or even Prince Lewyn Martell? Or Ser Jonothor Darry? He's skilled but against three he wouldn't stand much of a chance."
Ned remained silent, his jaw shut firmly. Lyanna just sighed.
"500 men just stood there and watched. All the great knights of the Seven Kingdoms. You think anyone said a word or lifted a finger? No, Lord Stark. 500 men and this room was silent as a crypt. Except for the screams, of course, and the Mad King laughing."
Brandon shut his eyes and shuddered. The screams of his father came roaring back into his mind as the recollection had triggered it. He was helpless to save him, a noose around his neck and the sword mere inches from him. Whether a blessing or not, he had died first, and the screams of his father were the last thing he heard.
He opened his eyes when he felt a large hand on his knee. It was his father, stern and silent. But his father's hand held his knee firmly, comfortingly. Brandon placed his hand over his father's and gave it a firm squeeze.
"And later... When I watched the Mad King die, I remembered him laughing as your father burned... It felt like justice."
"Is that what you tell yourself at night? You're a servant of justice? That you were avenging my father when you shoved your sword in Aerys Targaryen's back?"
Nobody cared about the Mad King dying, not even Rhaegar who watched in silence. Only Daenerys seemed to react though, flinching when she heard about her father's death. Or perhaps the flinching was a late reaction to learning what her father did, a little late on getting over the shock and disgust.
"Tell me... If I'd stabbed the Mad King in the belly instead of the back, would you admire me more?"
"You served him well, when serving was safe."
"Didn't Ser Barristan do the same?" Margaerys commented, an innocent comment not meant to cut open any wounds. "By your logic, Lord Stark, Ser Barristan should have taken the Black or killed himself after the death of King Aerys. Yet he serves Robert Baratheon. He served the next Kinng when it was obvious that serving him would save his life."
"Ser Barristan swore himself to Robert because Robert had won him over in battle" Ned pointed out roughly, but not unkindly. "He did not stab his King in the back."
"The same could be said for Ser Jaime too, that he had been won over by the cause of the Rebellion and he killed the King in the moment he turned cloak and decided that he would rather serve King Robert."
"It's not the same girl" Robert spoke this time, "he was sworn to protect the King and kill the King's enemies or die trying, not kill him when his back was turned."
"Same as Ser Barristan killing you or dying in the process?" Margaery asked.
"Enough of this! Continue watching for gods' sake" Olenna snapped, breaking the argument before it could build further.
[Scene changes to Ned entering the small council's chamber where the others are already awaiting him.]
"Lord Stark."
"Lord Varys."
"I was grievously sorry to hear of your troubles on the Kingsroad. We are all praying for Prince Joffrey's full recovery."
"A shame you didn't say a prayer for the butcher's son."
"Neither had the rest of the Council, I can assure you of that Lord Stark" Varys said with a small smile.
"He isn't wrong" Renly added his support. The man did not exclude himself from this, something Ned noted.
"Renly! You're looking well."
"And you look tired from the road. I told them this meeting could wait another day, but..."
"But we have a Kingdom to look after. I've hoped to meet you for some time, Lord Stark. No doubt Lady Catelyn has mentioned me."
"She has, Lord Baelish. I understand you knew my brother Brandon as well."
"He did?" Brandon raised a brow.
"All too well. I still carry a token of his esteem from navel to collarbone."
"Oh, him" the man snorted. He'd forgotten about that.
"Perhaps you chose the wrong man to duel with."
"It wasn't the man that I chose, my Lord. It was Catelyn Tully. A woman worth fighting for, I'm sure you'll agree."
"She still fancies your wife" Lyanna whispered and Ned nodded his head.
The wife in question was smiling at the pictures. It was good to see her friend do well in life.
"I humbly beg your pardon, my Lord Stark."
"Grand Maester."
"Oh, he is still there," Rhaegar said with a frown.
"Any problems with the man?" Renly raised a brow.
"Yes. A Grand Maester is supposed to be unbiased and help his King with his necessities. Pycelle there preferred and was biased towards Lord Tywin more than appropriate."
"That hasn't changed" Stannis grunted.The man was biased towards the Lannister agenda still now.