A Game of Thrones-Chapter 33

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Eddard VIII
A Game of Thrones chapter
AGameOfThrones.jpg
POV Eddard
Page 294 (US bantam HC) US HC (Other versions)
Chapter chronology (All)
Eddard VII
Arya III  ← Eddard VIII →  Catelyn VI

Eddard IX

Eddard and Robert argue over sending assassins to kill Daenerys Targaryen, and Eddard resigns. When he returns to the Tower of the Hand, he tells Vayon Poole to prepare to return to Winterfell, and it would be best if he and his daughter leave as soon as possible by ship since he has angered the king. Littlefinger arrives with news that he will take Eddard to the Brothel that Jon Arryn and Stanns Baratheon that evening.

Synopsis

Eddard is trying to persuade Robert against sending men to kill Daenerys Targaryen, after they learn of her pregnancy from Varys. Robert wants every Targaryen dead, and gets very angry at Ned’s resistance. Eddard tells Robert the news could be wrong, and that a lot could happen before the child is old enough to become a threat, and Eddard states he does not consider the Dorthraki a threat until their horses can run on water. Renly comments that Robert should have had Viserys and Daenerys killed years ago, but he listened to Jon Arryn. Eddard points out that at the Trident, Ser Barristan slew a dozen of Robert and Ned’s men, yet when Roose Bolton urged them to cut his throat, Robert instead absolved him and he stood Lord Commander and at the table with the small council. Robert says it is not the same, Ser Barristan was a member of the Kingsguard, and Eddard counters that Daenerys is a 14-year old girl. He continues that the reason they overthrew House Targaryen was to eliminate killing of children, and Robert states it was to put an end to Targaryens. Eddard asks the king if he trembles at the shadow of an unborn child, and the king tells Eddard he has heard enough, and asks for a vote. The other counselors agree with the King except Ser Barristan; Ser Barristan states there is no honor in killing an enemy in his mother’s womb/. Grand Maester Pycelle takes what seems like minutes to clear his throat, tries to sound very pious talks how many thousands of soldiers and children will die if war comes. It is wiser and kinder that Daenerys dies. Littlefinger states that if you find yourself in bed with an ugly woman it is best to get on with it, kiss her with a steel kiss. Robert states that now it has been settle she will die, they have to decide who will do it. Renly suggests that Ser Jorah craves a pardon, and Varys agrees, but notes that now the princess approaches Vaes Dothrok where it is death to draw a blade, and Ser Mormont craves life more than a pardon. Varys suggests using poison, the Tears of Lys; Drago would never need to know. Pycelle seems to awaken from his sleepy. Eddard states they quibble about honor when they send assassins against a 14-year-old child, he should do it himself. If he wants the girl dead do it yourself—the man that passes the judgement should swing the sword. Robert tells Eddard to just have it done, and Eddard tells him that he will not affix his seal to it. Robert Eddard that as Hand he will do as ordered, or he will find one that will. Eddard places the badge of office on the table, telling him he was a better man than this. Eddard leaves with the king calling after him that if he sees him again he will see his head on a spike. As he leaves, Eddard can hear Pycelle telling the others that in Braavos there is a society called the Faceless Men. Littlefinger counters that an army of sellswords can be hired for half the price for a merchant. then resigns from office as Hand, and leaves the room, overhearing Pycelle mention the Faceless Men on Braavos, but Littlefinger is appalled because they are so expensive to hire.

Eddard feeling somewhat unclear, returns to the Tower of the Hand and summons Vayon Poole. When Poole arrives Eddard tells him he is no longer the Hand, and that they will be returning to Winterfell. Poole tells him that they will need a fortnight and Eddard tells him they may not have a fortnight, and may not have a day since the king had said he wanted his head on a pike; Eddard does not think that it will come to that. Eddard is disturbed that Robert still hates the long dead Rhaegar Targaryen so much. Then Eddard thinks about what will happen when it is discovered that Catelyn had taken Tyrion Lannister captive. The king may not care for the Imp, but it would hurt his pride, and then there was the queen. With these thoughts, he tells Poole that it might be safest if he and the girls go ahead, and the rest can follow. Inform Jory no one else and do nothing until he and the girls were gone. After Poole leaves Eddard thinks that it will be wonderful to be back at Winterfell with his sons, but is angry because the kingdom is in dire straits, Robert and the council of cravens and flatters would beggaring the realm, or sell it to the Lannisters for the debts. Then there was the murder of Jon Arryn, but compared to other issues, that was minor. He then considers taking a ship back to Winterfell, even though he would prefer the Kingsroad, not being a sailor. He could stop at Dragonstone, and maybe learn the truth he sought from Stannis Baratheon. Then he thinks that when he has the truth, the some secrets you do not want to know. He looks again at Imp’s knife which is in a sheath in his belt, and wonders if it is connected to this other mystery. Could Robert be part of it? He remembers the Cat has told him that he had known the man, and the king is someone different. Eddard summons Poole back and tells him to find a fast ship with a good captain, quietly but quickly; if he could be on a ship tomorrow, it would be best to be on it.

As soon a Poole leaves, Tomard announces the arrival of Littlefinger. Eddard is tempted to send him away, but thinks it would be best to maintain appearances, and tells Tomard to show him in. Littlefinger informs him that he managed to convince them not to hire the Faceless Men, and that instead the council will give a title to any man that kills the princess. Eddard, irritated, states that now they are giving titles to assassin. Littlefinger tells him that he actually did the princess more good than he did: if a Faceless man is sent against the princess, she will be as good as buried, but more than likely a sellsword drunk of images of lordship will botch it, and afterwards the Dothroki will be on their guard. Eddard is incredulous: he talks about ugly women and steel kisses and now expects him to believe he is actually protecting the girl. Littlefinger than tells Eddard that he takes Eddard to be an enormous fool; Eddard rules like a man dancing on rotten ice, and he heard the crack that morning. Eddard then tells him he has had his fill. Littlefinger then tells him that if he is still there that evening, he will take him to the brothel his Jory had been so ineffectually is searching for.

External links

References and Notes

  • The synopsis was copied from AOL member vbkorik27 previously at [1].