Game of Thrones Iron Stark

The girls left the Dragonpit with Varys in tow. They were halfway back to the Red Keep when they spotted a young man in a wheeled chair.

Margaery immediately ran over and kissed his cheek.

"Willas! What are you doing out here? Shouldn't you be at the king's feast?"

Willas Tyrell smiled at his little sister. He noticed Varys but said nothing. The spymaster clearly didn't want to be acknowledged.

The other girls stared at Willas. He was handsome, well-mannered, and clearly clever — a shame he was stuck in the chair.

Willas looked at them curiously. "The king's feast and the queen's dinner are both still going. What are all of you doing out here?"

Reality inside the Red Keep was far less elegant than anyone imagined.

Robert was roaring drunk, swinging at anyone who got too close. Eddard and several Kingsguard were struggling to drag him away before he hurt someone. Willas had come outside just to escape the noise.

Shireen stepped forward, eyes bright. "Lord Willas… maybe you could walk again. If Tony were here. He healed my greyscale. He might be able to help your legs too."

Margaery's head snapped toward Sansa. She grabbed her hand.

"Sansa. Write to your brother right now. Tell him to come back to King's Landing. House Tyrell will pay whatever he asks."

Sansa hesitated. She knew Tony had gone to Dragonstone for dragonglass — something about the threat beyond the Wall. But Willas's hopeful face made it hard to say no.

"…I'll write to him," she said.

At the men's feast, Robert was finally gone. Eddard had hauled the drunken king to the Tower of the Hand to sleep it off.

Without him, the mood actually improved.

Tywin Lannister now held court at the center of the hall. Even Mace Tyrell was personally refilling the old lion's cup and smiling like it was an honor.

In a quiet corner, Stannis drank alone.

Renly, on the other hand, was surrounded by laughing lords. He raised his cup to every toast and looked like he was born for this.

The women's feast was no better for Cersei.

Olenna Tyrell had taken over completely. Every lady and girl in the room orbited around the Queen of Thorns. Cersei sat nearly alone, fingers tight around her goblet, eyes cold.

A maid whispered in her ear that Robert had been taken away drunk.

Cersei stood up at once.

"Ladies. I find myself suddenly unwell. Please continue without me."

She left to a chorus of polite bows.

The moment she was gone, the hall relaxed. Music swelled again and laughter returned.

Cersei walked quickly to her chambers. The room was dark. She stripped off her dress and whispered into the shadows.

"Jaime… Jaime…"

Strong arms caught her from behind. His mouth found hers before she could speak. She gasped, then melted into him.

They didn't bother with the bed at first.

In the Tower of the Hand, Eddard sat beside Robert's bed while the king snored and muttered in his sleep.

"Lyanna… Lyanna…"

Eddard's jaw tightened.

Robert kept naming other women too — some Eddard recognized, most he didn't.

He sighed. "You were right not to love him, Lyanna. But you chose just as badly in the end… didn't you, Rhaegar?"

He stood and walked to the door.

Ser Barristan Selmy stood outside in his white armor and cloak. He had heard every word.

"Lord Eddard," the old knight said quietly. "Was Rhaegar the last true dragon? Or is it his sister? Does the king truly want the girl dead?"

Eddard met his eyes. "Rhaegar is gone. My sister is gone. As for Daenerys… I'll do what I can to protect her. But if Robert is set on her death, I don't know if I can stop him."

Barristan nodded slowly.

He said nothing else.

But in that moment, standing in the white cloak he had worn for decades, Barristan Selmy felt something shift inside him.

For the first time in years, he wondered what it would feel like to take it off.