The Iron Throne of Ice and Fire

The Red Fort is dark and silent.

Outside the door of the king's chamber, Duke Eddard saw the three Kingsguards led by Ser Barristan. Their expressions made him feel a strange chill in his heart.

The chamberlain opened the door and said loudly: "Your Majesty the Prime Minister, Duke Eddard Stark."

"Bring him in."

Robert's voice was thick, and Duke Eddard's heart skipped a beat. Something was wrong... He strode in.

The fires in the symmetrical fireplaces at both ends of the bedroom were burning brightly, filling the room with a gloomy red light.

The heat in the room was suffocating. Robert lay on the curtained bed with Maester Pycelle at his side, and Lord Renly paced anxiously in front of the closed window.

Cersei Lannister sat on the edge of the bed, her hair disheveled, as if she had just woken up from sleep, but there was no sleep in her eyes.

Robert's feet were stuck out of the blanket and in his boots, which were caked with dirt and hay. Duke Eddard lowered his eyes and discovered a green coat thrown on the carpet. It had traces of being cut and discarded, as well as brown-red dirt.

The room was filled with smoke, blood, and the smell of death.

King Robert looked at Duke Eddard and whispered: "Ned..."

His face was as pale as milk and his injuries were severe.

"who is it……"

Duke Eddard stepped forward. He wanted to ask who did it...but his voice was silenced as if his throat was clamped with pliers...He stretched out his hand to hold the bedpost.

Renly came over, his clothes were stained with blood: "It's a wild boar."

King Robert's voice was hoarse: "It's a damn demon! Ned, I drank too much and the arrow didn't hit. I deserve to go to hell."

Duke Eddard turned his head and asked angrily: "Renly, what are you doing? Where have Ser Barristan and the Kingsguard gone?"

Renly explained bitterly: "Ned, my brother ordered us to stand aside so that he can deal with the boar alone."

Lord Eddard reached up and lifted the blanket from Robert's body.

The boar must have been a terrible thing, for it tore Robert's chest and abdomen with its two tusks. The gauze used by Maester Pycelle to bandage was stained with blood, and the smell was even more terrifying.

Lord Eddard weakly let go of the blanket... How could this happen? If death cannot be avoided, the place where Robert ended up should be the battlefield!

King Robert said angrily: "It stinks so much... This is the stench of death. Don't think I can't smell it. I'm going to be in trouble this time, right? But I... I didn't make it easy for the wild boar either. , Ned..."

As he spoke, King Robert showed a smile that was as shocking as his wounds, and his teeth were blood red.

"I stabbed that wild boar in the eye with a knife. Ask them if it's true... Where to ask!"

Lord Renly murmured: "Yes, I followed my brother's instructions and we brought the wild boar back. Its wounds can prove it."

Robert whispered: "Use it to make your dinner..."

After a pause, he continued: "I want to talk to Ned. Let's be alone for a while. You all stand aside."

Queen Cersei seemed like a wife who was reluctant to leave her husband. Her voice was filled with sadness: "Dear..."

The majesty of the crowned stag remained as before, and he scolded: "I told you, stand down. Which word do you not understand, you stinky woman?"

Queen Cersei's expression changed. She stood up reluctantly, glanced at Lord Eddard meaningfully, picked up her skirt and walked towards the door. Others followed her and left together.

Only Eddard and Robert were left in the room. Eddard's vision was blurred by grief, and he cursed in a low voice: "Robert, you damn thing!"

King Robert said harshly: "Haah, fuck you, damn Ned, I won that boar, I didn't lose!"

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Step by step, Green quickly walked up the wall of the Red Keep. He soon found Queen Cersei standing alone at the corner of the wall.

After Green approached, he stroked his chest and said, "Your Highness the Queen."

The moonlight shines on Queen Cersei, who is standing quietly, as if she has been covered with a veil, like a beautiful statue.

Green walked a few steps and stood beside Queen Cersei, following her gaze and looking in the direction of the king's bedroom.

After a while, Queen Cersei spoke, her voice was very cold: "Earl Green, Robert is dying..."

Don't you call me a drunkard? Green's eyes moved slightly and he nodded: "When I came here, I met Duke Renly and the others and overheard some news."

Queen Cersei turned her face sideways and looked at Green beside her: "Earl Green, do you think my son... Joffrey... can successfully inherit the Iron Throne?"

Green said casually: "Of course..."

With that said, Green turned towards Queen Cersei and said, "Queen Cersei, you seem worried?"

Queen Cersei mocked: "Maester Pycelle told me that the king would not survive tonight. That man knew his situation very well, but he drove the queen out, leaving Duke Runwolf alone."

Green frowned and said: "Queen Cersei, please rest assured that Prince Joffrey is the undisputed heir to the Iron Throne..."

Green's eyes became sharp and he continued: "If something happens against your wishes... Queen Cersei, my troops are on standby outside the city."

Queen Cersei raised her arm and touched Green's cheek with her soft hand. Her voice was rare and gentle: "Earl Green, I believe in your loyalty."

After saying that, Queen Cersei stepped forward and leaned on Green's body.

Green's body trembled visibly, but Queen Cersei's voice was still gentle: "Green, you can hug your queen tightly. This is the queen's reward for loyalty."

After a pause, Green's hands moved stiffly and were placed on Queen Cersei's back shoulders and lower back.

Green's voice was a little hoarse: "Thank you for the reward, Your Highness Cersei."

The night was quiet, and Queen Cersei spoke slowly: "Earl Green, Janos Slynt took the initiative to join your queen."

Green's eyes trembled and he whispered: "Your Highness Cersei, this is good news. The 6,000 golden robes in the hands of Earl Slynt can be said to be the guarantee for Prince Joffrey to successfully inherit the Iron Throne."

Queen Cersei left Green's arms and looked up at Green.

"Earl Green, I cannot believe that you trust Lord Sterling as much, and that the Lioness would not entrust her and her son's safety to him."

Queen Cersei's green eyes shone in the moonlight, and she stared closely at Green's face.

"Your Highness Cersei, are you worried that he will betray you..."

As he spoke, Green's eyes moved slightly, and he looked directly at Queen Cersei: "What do you want me to do?"

Queen Cersei raised the corners of her lips imperceptibly and said, "Your troops and horses cannot be left outside the city."

Queen Cersei knew very well in her heart that although she succeeded in getting rid of Robert first, the winner would eventually be decided between the lioness and the running wolf.

Queen Cersei did not tell lies. She has bribed the Lord Commander of the Golden Robe Janos Slynt. Slynt is now the key to Cersei's solution to Duke Stark.

Janos Slynt was born as a commoner. Although his title was Earl, he was an Earl without a fief, which was equivalent to a false title and was not recognized by the nobles.

Queen Cersei promised Lord Janos that when the deed was accomplished, he would reward him with the fief he had dreamed of and become a noble.

For various reasons, the two hit it off, but as Queen Cersei said herself, she would not absolutely trust Lord Janos who had just taken refuge. She needed Green's soldiers and horses to contain the golden robe, so that she would be foolproof. .

In Game of Thrones, where losing means death, Cersei will do whatever it takes to become the ultimate winner.

…………

Queen Cersei left warmth on Green's cheek, and she asked gently: "Green, have you thought of how to show loyalty to your queen?"

Green's Adam's apple rolled, and he nodded slightly: "Your Highness Cersei, I will bribe the captain of the city guard, and my soldiers and horses will quietly enter King's Landing, ready to be dispatched by you at any time."

Queen Cersei showed a look of satisfaction, and her white fingers touched the cold... ancestral armor on Green's body.

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The king's chamber.

Robert's voice was very weak: "Ned... I should kill you too... You won't even let people hunt in peace... That kid Robert came to me and said you want to capture the West. The robbers...I was still very happy...I thought there was finally a war...Those people need to be taught a lesson...Damn wild boars...the gods are punishing me..."

King Robert coughed up a pool of blood: "Varys... Pycelle... my brother... Ned... don't trust those losers... my eldest son... I don't like him... but I love him He... take care of Joffrey for me... help my son... don't let that stinky woman... chatter in my son's ears all day long... I only believe in you..."

Duke Eddard's heart hurt and he murmured: "Robert..."

Joffrey is not your son... Lord Eddard wanted to tell the truth, but couldn't. Robert's pain was clearly written on his face, and he couldn't bear to inflict more pain on him.

King Robert was in such excruciating pain that it was difficult for him to even speak.

"His...don't look at me with a sad face...this face doesn't suit you...go get paper and pen..."

With a click, Duke Edd 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, get ready."

King Robert breathed heavily for a while, and then he said: "The following is the will of Robert I of the Baratheon family. By the way... don't forget to write down all my many ghost titles... "

After a pause, he continued: "I hereby appoint the Duke of Winterfell, the current Prime Minister, Eddard of the Stark family as regent and guardian of the entire territory... after my death... to rule the Seven Kingdoms on my behalf... to the heir. Joffrey comes of age..."

Duke Eddard's quill waved paused, and he changed "Joffrey" to "Legitimate Heir"... The deception made Duke Eddard feel the stain on his personality, and he comforted himself that he was deceiving for love. ...May the gods forgive him!

Duke Eddard put down his pen with a complicated expression and said, "Robert, it's done."

"Give me my signature..."

King Robert signed it casually, handed it to Lord Eddard with trembling hands, and said, "Ned, when I die, I will give this to the Council."

Lord Eddard's tone was full of sadness: "Robert, don't do this, don't leave me, the kingdom needs you."

Robert held his hand tightly and squeezed hard: "Ned, you... you really can't lie... I know very well... I am a bastard king... a bastard like the Mad King... Gods forgive me... …”

Duke Eddard sadly comforted his dying friend: "No, you are much better than him!"

King Robert forced a smile: "At least, people will say... the last thing I did in my life... was not wrong. You will not let me down... I will leave this kingdom to you... You’re going to hate governance more than I do…but you’re going to do a great job.”

King Robert coughed up another pool of blood, and it suddenly became less difficult for him to speak.

"Remember to make that wild boar the main course of my funeral. Roast the skin until it's crispy. Eat all those bastard eggs. I don't care if you die. Promise me, Ned."

Promise me, Ned... Lord Eddard seemed to hallucinate Lyanna's voice.

"I promise you, Robert."

"Ned, make Joffrey... a better man than I am, and ask the gods to have mercy on me."

"..., I will, my friend."

King Robert seemed to relax a little. He closed his eyes and murmured to himself: "In the end, he was killed by a wild boar. If it hadn't been so painful, damn, I should have laughed."

Duke Eddard couldn't help but smile. He looked sad: "Robert, should I call the people from outside in?"

King Robert nodded weakly: "I've seen enough of your current face. Let Pycelle get you something to relieve pain... Why is it so cold here?"

…………

People waiting outside entered the room one after another. Duke Eddard found that Queen Cersei had left, which was a bit of comfort to him... If Cersei still has some sense, she should take the three children and escape from Red before dawn. fort.

King Robert did not ask about Queen Cersei's whereabouts. He asked Renly and Pycelle to be witnesses, took the king's seal, sealed the will written by Eddard, and sealed it.

Then King Robert drank the cup of poppy milk that Maester Pycelle had prepared.

Robert, whose black beard was smeared with thick white droplets, asked, "Am I dreaming?"

Eddard gave him the answer with a heavy heart: "Robert, you will have a sweet dream."

Robert smiled: "That's good...Ned, I will say hello to Lyanna for you...help me take good care of my children."

Robert's words were like a sharp knife stirring in Ed's heart. He didn't know what to do. He couldn't force himself to lie...but then he thought of Robert's illegitimate children, and thought of Bara who was still in the girl's arms. Mia, Gendry the Forge.

Duke Eddard said slowly: "I will... love your child as my own."

Robert nodded and closed his eyes.

Eddard watched as the poppy milk washed away the pain on his old friend's face, and Robert sank feebly into the pillow and fell into a deep sleep.