A Game of Thrones, Chapter 12, Eddard
Summary
King Robert wakes up Ned, he has some important news he needs to share with him. They both ride and talk. King gets the word from Ser Jorah Mormont, who’s spying on Daenerys. He sends the word that Targaryen princess has wed a Dorthaki horselord. Robert is concerned that this may allow Targaryens to come back to Seven Kingdoms and challenge him. King wants to send a killer after Dany, Ned is against it. Eddard reveals the secret he kept since the battle for Trident, that Jaime Lannister was sitting on the Iron Throne as if he wanted it for himself. Robert seems unmoved by the news.
Quotes
“Daenerys Targaryen has wed some Dothraki horselord. What of it? Shall we send her a wedding gift?”
The king frowned. “A knife, perhaps. A good sharp one, and a bold man to wield it.”
“Unspeakable?” the king roared. “What Aerys did to your brother Brandon was unspeakable. The way your lord father died, that was unspeakable. And Rhaegar . . . how many times do you think he raped your sister? How many hundreds of times?”
Commentary
Ned starts to doubt his decision to leave Winterfell. He begins to see that Robert has not changed over the years. He was still stubborn man not willing to heed anyone’s advice. He always did how he pleased and the years of being a king have not changed that. Ned is not certain if he can get through to him.
We also get another piece information about Jon’s mother. Robert tries to get Ned talking about her, but Ned refuses. Not before revealing her name though: Wylla. This stands in contradiction to the gossip from the previous chapters when Catelyn heard that Jon’s mother is Lady Ashara Dayne.
Tags: Eddard
