A Game of Thrones, Chapter 20, Eddard
Chapter 20, Eddard
Summary
Ned and the girls finally reach Kings Landing. They come ahead of the King and his escort. Before Ned has time to do anything he is summoned to Little Council meeting, where he meets Lord Petyr, Varys and Maester Pycelle. He finds out that Robert has sent Renly with an urgent message: they are supposed to prepare King’s Hand Tourney. Ned finds out a couple of things he did not know about how Robert is running Seven Kingdoms. After the Council meeting Ned is taken by Littlefinger to see Catelyn, who is hidden in one of his brothels. Cat tells him about events that happened in Winterfell.
Quotes
“I have hoped to meet you for some years, Lord Stark. No doubt Lady Catelyn has mentioned me to you.”
“She has,” Ned replied with a chill in his voice. The sly arrogance of the comment rankled him. “I understand you knew my brother Brandon as well.”
“What Lord Varys means is that all this business of coin and crops and justice bores my royal brother to tears,” Lord Renly said, “so it falls to us to govern the realm.”
Grand Maester Pycelle shook his great bald head, his chains clinking softly.
“Lord Arryn was a prudent man, but I fear that His Grace does not always listen to wise counsel.”
Sansa cried herself to sleep, Arya brooded silently all day long, and Eddard Stark dreamed of a frozen hell reserved for the Starks of Winterfell.
What was it that Jon had said when they found the pups in the snow? Your children were meant to have these pups, my lord. And he had killed Sansa’s, and for what?
That was the most dangerous part, Ned knew. “All justice flows from the king,” he told her. “When I know the truth, I must go to Robert.” And pray that he is the man I think he is, he finished silently, and not the man I fear he has become.
Commentary
Ned enters the “game of thrones”. With his arrival in Kings Landing a new world opens in front of him. A world of spying, deceit, lies and double-crossing. Ned is having difficulty fitting in, he’s being mocked and looked down upon. Turns out that Robert was not joking, he really does intend to party while Ned is running the kingdom, surrounded by flatterers, fools and secret enemies.
The big event in this chapter though is not the Council meeting, but Ned’s meeting with Catelyn. Stark finds out about the attack on Bran and supposed Lannister involvement. Ned is very worried. He’s afraid that if it comes to exposing the Queen, Robert is not going to be his ally. The war is mentioned for the first time.
Tags: Eddard
