The Red Keep was dark and silent.
Outside the King's bedchamber, Duke Eddard saw three Kingsguard, led by Ser Barristan, and their expressions sent a strange chill through his heart.
The Lord Steward pulled open the door and announced loudly, "Prime Minister, Duke Eddard Stark."
"Bring him in."
Robert's voice was hoarse, and Duke Eddard's heart sank—something was terribly wrong… He strode in.
Fires burned hot in the symmetrical fireplaces at either end of the bedchamber, filling the room with a gloomy red light.
The heat in the room was suffocating; Robert lay on the draped bed, Maester Pycelle attended him, and Duke Renly paced restlessly by the closed window.
Cersei Lannister sat by the bed, her hair disheveled, as if she had just woken from sleep, but her eyes showed no trace of slumber.
Robert's feet, still in muddy, straw-covered boots, extended from beneath the blanket. Duke Eddard's gaze fell upon a green tunic discarded on the carpet, showing signs of being cut open and stained with reddish-brown grime.
The room was filled with the smell of smoke, blood, and death.
King Robert looked at Duke Eddard and whispered, "Ned…"
His face was as pale as milk; his injuries were very severe.
"Who…"
Duke Eddard stepped forward, wanting to ask who had done this… but his throat felt clamped, stopping the words… He reached out and held onto the bedpost.
Renly came over, his clothes covered in blood: "It was a boar."
King Robert's voice was hoarse: "It was a damned demon! Ned, I drank too much, didn't hit it with an arrow, I deserve to go to hell."
Duke Eddard turned his head, angrily demanding, "Renly, what were you all doing? Where were Ser Barristan and the Kingsguard?"
Renly explained bitterly, "Ned, my brother ordered us to stand aside so he could face the boar alone."
Duke Eddard reached out and pulled back the blanket covering Robert.
The boar must have been a terrible beast; its two long tusks had ripped open Robert's chest and belly. The bandages Maester Pycelle had used were already soaked with blood, and the smell was horrifying.
Duke Eddard weakly let go of the blanket… How could this happen? If death was unavoidable, Robert should have met his end on a battlefield!
King Robert roared, "It stinks… This is the stench of death, don't think I can't smell it. I'm in a bad way this time, aren't I? But I… I didn't let that boar off easy, Ned…"
With that, King Robert showed a smile as shocking as his wounds; his teeth were blood-red.
"I stabbed that boar in the eye. Ask them if it's true… Ask!"
Duke Renly murmured, "Yes, as my brother commanded, we brought the boar back, and its wounds will prove it."
Robert said softly, "Use it for your dinner…"
He paused, then continued, "I want to speak with Ned. Leave us alone, all of you withdraw."
Queen Cersei sounded like a wife reluctant to leave her husband, her voice laced with sorrow: "My dear…"
The dignity of the Crowned Stag remained; he rebuked, "I said, withdraw. Which word don't you understand, you wretched woman?"
Queen Cersei's expression changed. She rose unwillingly, then gave Duke Eddard a meaningful glance, picked up her skirt, and walked towards the door, with the others following her out.
Only Eddard and Robert remained in the room. Grief blurred Eddard's vision, and he cursed under his breath, "Robert, you son of a bitch!"
King Robert said gruffly, "Ha! Damn you, Ned, I beat that boar, I didn't lose!"
… … … …
… … … …
Thump, thump, thump, thump, Green hurried up the Red Keep's wall. He quickly spotted Queen Cersei standing alone beneath a corner tower of the wall.
As Green approached, he placed a hand on his chest and said, "Your Grace."
Moonlight bathed Queen Cersei as she stood silently, as if cloaking her in a veil, like a beautiful statue.
Green took a few steps and stood beside Queen Cersei, following her gaze towards the direction of the King's bedchamber.
After a long moment, Queen Cersei spoke, her voice clear and cold: "Count Green, Robert Is dying…"
No longer calling him a drunkard? Green's eyes flickered. He nodded, "On my way here, I encountered Duke Renly and the others, and inadvertently overheard some news."
Queen Cersei turned her face and looked at Green beside her: "Count Green, do you think my son… Joffrey… can successfully inherit the Iron Throne?"
Green said casually, "Of course…"
Saying this, Green turned towards Queen Cersei and added, "Queen Cersei, do you seem to have concerns?"
Queen Cersei scoffed, "Maester Pycelle told me the King won't last the night, and that man knows his own condition very well, yet he drove the Queen out, leaving only the Duke of Winterfell alone."
Green frowned slightly and said, "Queen Cersei, please rest assured, Prince Joffrey is the undisputed heir to the Iron Throne…"
Green's gaze sharpened as he continued, "If anything happens against your wishes… Queen Cersei, my troops are waiting outside the city."
Queen Cersei raised her arm and her tender hand caressed Green's cheek, her voice uncharacteristically gentle: "Count Green, I trust your loyalty."
Having said that, Queen Cersei stepped forward and leaned her entire body against Green.
Green's body visibly trembled. Queen Cersei's voice remained gentle: "Green, you may hold your Queen close; this is the Queen's reward for loyalty."
After a pause, Green's hands moved stiffly, resting on Queen Cersei's back and lower back respectively.
Green's voice was a little hoarse: "Thank you for your reward, Your Grace."
The night was very quiet. Queen Cersei slowly began, "Count Green, Janos Slynt has voluntarily pledged himself to your Queen."
Green's eyes flickered, and he whispered, "Your Grace, this is good news. The 6,000 Gold Cloaks under Lord Slynt can be said to be the guarantee for Prince Joffrey's smooth inheritance of the Iron Throne."
Queen Cersei pulled away from Green's embrace and looked up at him.
"Count Green, I cannot trust Lord Slynt as I trust you. The Lioness will not entrust her and her son's safety to him."
Queen Cersei's emerald eyes glowed in the moonlight, and she stared intently at Green's face.
"Your Grace, are you worried he might betray you…"
As he spoke, Green's eyes flickered, and he looked directly at Queen Cersei: "What do you want me to do?"
Queen Cersei imperceptibly curved her lips and said, "Your troops cannot remain outside the city."
Queen Cersei knew in her heart that although she had successfully dealt with Robert first, the Lioness and the Direwolf would eventually have to determine a victor.
Queen Cersei was not lying; she had already bribed Commander of the Gold Cloaks Janos Slynt. Slynt was now key to Cersei dealing with Duke Stark.
Janos Slynt was of common birth; although his title was Count, he was a Count without a fief, equivalent to an empty title, and not recognized by the nobles.
Queen Cersei had promised Count Janos that after the deed was done, she would reward him with the fief he longed for, thereby legitimizing his noble status.
For various reasons, the two hit it off, but as Queen Cersei herself said, she would not absolutely trust Count Janos, who had just pledged allegiance. She needed Green's troops to restrain the Gold Cloaks, only then would it be foolproof.
In the game of power, if you lose, there is only death. Cersei would stop at nothing to become the ultimate winner.
… … … …
Queen Cersei left a warm touch on Green's cheek. She asked gently, "Green, have you thought of how to show your loyalty to your Queen?"
Green's Adam's apple bobbed, and he nodded slightly: "Your Grace, I will bribe the city gate captain. My troops will quietly enter King's Landing, ready to obey your command at any time."
Queen Cersei showed a satisfied expression. Her fair, tender fingers tapped Green's cold… ancestral armor.
… … … …
… … … …
King's bedchamber.
Robert's voice was very weak: "Ned… I should have killed you too… wouldn't even let a man hunt in peace… That boy Robert found me and said you were going to catch bandits in the Westerlands… I was so happy then… thought there was finally a fight… those people needed a lesson… Damn boar… The gods are punishing me…"
King Robert coughed up a pool of blood: "Varys… Pycelle… my brothers… Ned… don't trust those useless men… My eldest son… I don't like him… but I love him… take care of Joffrey for me… help my son… don't let that wretched woman… chatter in my son's ear all day… I only trust you…"
Duke Eddard's heart ached, and he murmured, "Robert…"
Joffrey isn't your son… Duke Eddard wanted to tell the truth, but he couldn't. The pain Robert was enduring was clearly written on his face, and he couldn't bear to inflict more pain on him.
King Robert's extreme pain made it very difficult for him to speak.
"Damn it… don't look at me with that mournful face… that face doesn't suit you… go get paper and a quill…"
Creak, creak, Duke Eddard moved the small round table in the room to the side of the bed. He flattened a blank piece of parchment and picked up the quill.
"Robert, it's ready."
King Robert gasped for a while before he spoke: "The following is the last will and testament of Robert I of House Baratheon. Oh, and… don't forget to write down all my long list of damned titles…"
He paused, then continued, "Hereby appoint the Duke of Winterfell, currently Hand of the King, Eddard of House Stark, as Regent and Protector of the Realm… From my death… to rule the Seven Kingdoms in my stead… until my heir Joffrey comes of age…"
Duke Eddard's quill paused. He changed "Joffrey" to "my lawful heir"… The deception made Duke Eddard feel a stain on his character. He comforted himself that he was doing this for love… May the gods forgive him!
Duke Eddard put down the quill with a complex expression and said, "Robert, it's done."
"Give it to me to sign…"
King Robert scribbled a signature, then handed it to Duke Eddard with trembling hands, saying, "Ned, when I die, give this to the Small Council."
Duke Eddard's voice was filled with sorrow: "Robert, don't be like this, don't leave me, the kingdom needs you."
Robert gripped his hand, squeezing hard: "Ned, you… really can't lie… I know very well… I'm a bastard king… a bastard like the Mad King… May the gods forgive me…"
Duke Eddard sadly comforted his dying old friend: "No, you are far better than him!"
King Robert forced a faint smile: "At least, people will say… the last thing I did in my life… wasn't wrong. You won't disappoint me… This kingdom is yours… You'll hate ruling more than I did… but you'll do it well."
King Robert coughed up another pool of blood, and suddenly, speaking became less difficult for him.
"Remember to make that boar the main course of my funeral, roast its skin crispy and eat that bastard whole, I don't care if you burst. Promise me, Ned."
Promise me, Ned… Duke Eddard seemed to hear Lyanna's voice.
"I promise you, Robert."
"Ned, make Joffrey… a better man than me, may the gods have mercy on me."
"... I will, my friend."
King Robert seemed to relax slightly. He closed his eyes and murmured, "To be killed by a boar in the end, if it weren't so painful, damn it, I should be laughing."
Duke Eddard certainly couldn't laugh; his face was filled with sorrow: "Robert, shall I call the others in?"
King Robert weakly nodded: "I've seen enough of your face for now. Have Pycelle give me something for the pain… Why is it so cold in here?"
… … … …
The waiting people outside entered the room. Duke Eddard noticed that Queen Cersei had already left, which was a small comfort to him… If Cersei had any sense, she should take those three children and flee the Red Keep before dawn.
King Robert did not ask about Queen Cersei's whereabouts either. He had Renly and Pycelle witness him take the King's seal and seal the will Eddard had written.
Then, King Robert drank the cup of milk of the poppy prepared by Maester Pycelle, draining it completely.
Robert's black beard was covered in thick white droplets. He asked, "Will I dream?"
Eddard, with a heavy heart, gave him the answer: "Robert, you will have a good dream."
Robert smiled: "That's good… Ned, I'll say hello to Lyanna for you… Take good care of my children for me."
Robert's words were like a sharp knife twisting in Eddard's heart. He didn't know what to do; he couldn't bring himself to lie… But then he remembered Robert's bastards, remembered Barra still in the girl's arms, Mia in the Vale, and Gendry at the forge.
Duke Eddard slowly said, "I will… cherish your children as if they were my own."
Robert nodded and closed his eyes.
Eddard watched as the milk of the poppy washed away the pain from his old friend's face. Robert sank weakly into the pillow, falling into a deep sleep.