What If Ned Stark Refused the Hand of the King and Stayed in Winterfell

what if Ned Stark refused the hand of the king and stayed in Winterfell let's explore the depths of it in the video before we start go ahead and click that like button 25 200 likes gets everyone a part twoo the cold wind bites Ned Stark's face as he walks through the Winterfell Courtyard despite that he feels himself breaking into a cold sweat as he considers what he will say to King Robert most men would kill for such an honor but how can he refuse him still it cannot be helped as Ned feels uncomfortable with the offer with a deep breath he heads into the Great Hall where breakfast is being served Robert beckin net over with a cup of black beer ah just in time Ned I hope you come here with good news I'm afraid not I'm sorry your grace but I do not think I can accept this offer you you're refusing most men would kill for this honor I've seen a few Tri why then perhaps if they're so interested in it they might be better suited for it Robert stares still trying to make sense of what he's hearing despite his efforts to convince Ned the great Lord holds his ground he insists his duty as here in Winterfell to his family and cannot leave them when he cannot convince Ned Robert's initial anger is as Fierce as a storm his face flushed with a familiar heat of frustration throughout the meal he Roars curses flips over a PL plate and then smashes a mug against the wall all while saying that all of this coming here was for him Ned weathers all this and by the end Robert is laughing and cursing Ned for never being able to stay mad at him but though he cannot serve his hand he does give him some advice I am no Courier but one of your brothers has been at court and sat in your Council longer than me perhaps one of them might be better suited pick one the silk glove or the Iron Gauntlet it may be the hardest decision of my rule damn you Ned but in the end they part on good terms Robert clasping Ned's arm and calling him stubborn as ever there are no hard feelings Robert assures him but asks Ned to visit him soon yet even as the king departs Ned cannot shake the sense that trouble lingers like a shadow for the first few weeks after the king's departure things seemed to return to normal Ned continues ruling Winterfell and finds no trouble in the north save for Bran's fall which leaves a dark shadow over his family despite that everything seems quiet and leads Ned to believe that everything will be all right but while his son lies unconscious a fire breaks out in the library and Ned hurries to deal with it by the time the Flames are extinguished he hears Grim news a cats paw strikes in the dead of night slipping into Bran's room to murder him Ned emerges with a long sword in hand to find Catlin with with blood on her hands and summer standing over the wouldbe Assassin as they look through his body they find a dagger Valyrian steel and a dragon bone Hilt Ned studies the blade with a grim expression it's no ordinary weapon someone in the South someone of power wanted brand dead the implications are staggering and as he holds the dagger in his hands his thoughts drift to Lysa Aaron's letter her warning about the Lannisters suddenly feels far less like paranoia and far more like a chilling reality the next morning Ned gathers his family and closest advisers in the Great Hall he lays the dagger on the table before them beside him catlyn sits with her hands freshly bandaged This was meant for br catelyn's face is pale her hands clenched in her lap Rob looks ready to explode with anger I cannot sit idly by while someone tries to murder my son I will ride to King's Landing and confront Robert myself he must know of this treachery are you certain that is the wisest course of action there have been troubling Rumors in the South you will be at risk I will only be there a short time it is not as if I plan to accept Robert's offer Rob shall rule the North in my stead advise him well taking only a handful of guards in the dagger in question Ned finds a ship to take him South to King's Landing the journey South is long and cold giving Ned too much time to think by the time he reaches the keep he is certain of one thing the Lannisters are behind this Ned can feel something in his gut telling him it's true when he arrives in the red keep Ned is greeted by renley who thanks him as his refusal leads the youngest barathan being named hand of the king but they have no time for pleasantries as Ned insists on speaking to Robert immediately seeing how serious the warden of the north is renley takes him directly to Robert's quarters the king is surprised to see him but welcomes him at first joking he didn't expect Ned to visit so soon but his Good Humor Fades when he hears Ned's story he watches as Ned produces the dagger in question and Robert's face darkens we must find the owner of this dagger it may lead me to the man who tried to murder my son I know who owns that dagger but it won't lead you to the murderer it's mine yours I I won it during a wager in my son's last name day but someone stole it before we left Winterfell I was looking all over for it give it here this is the weapon of Kings not some Cutthroats toy don't worry I will get to the bottom of this renley suggests they gather all the courtiers who accompanied Robert up north he deduces that it must have been someone important who was close to the king to steal it Robert agrees and provides a list of names of everyone who came North with him they're all gathered in the throne room where Robert lounges on the Iron Throne glaring down at them he Twirls the dagger along the arm of the Iron Throne he announces that one of them stole this dagger and he will not allow anyone to leave until he learns who for a few tense minutes the court Falls silent as no one dares speak the only sound comes from the shuffle of nervous feet and the murmuring of the courtier then to everyone's shock Joffrey steps forward the boy looks pale but defined his lip curling into a sneer I took it Robert's Fury is immediate he leaps off the chair and Lumbers forward grabbing Joffrey by the collar you by the seven how could you do something like that why did you try to kill a boy I only did what you said you said it yourself it might have been Mercy if the boy had died the words strike like a blow and for a moment the hall is deathly quiet Robert's grip loosens and his face twists with something between guilt and fury he turns slowly his eyes meeting Ned Starks the shame in Robert's expression is unmistakable and he struggles to hold Ned's piercing gaze I said No Such Thing not like this and yet here we are Robert your son admits to stealing your blade and trying to murder my boy what have you meant by your words this this was the result enough everyone out now the cores scatter like leaves in the wind the heavy doors slamming shut behind them only renley and Ned remain both standing tense and watchful as the chamber clears Robert wheels on Joffrey without warning he strikes the boy across the face Joffrey stumbles clutching his cheek his Defiance crumbling into tears you Little Fool do you even understand what you've done do you think this is some game you've shamed yourself shamed me shamed this entire bloody house if there were anyone else you've tried this stunt on I would have a rebellion on my hands I did it for you you said you think I wanted this that I wanted the blood of a child on our house you're a fool boy a bloody God's damn fool before he can say more the doors burst open and Cersei strides into the chamber her green eyes blazing enough Robert you've made your point he is your son you will not strike him again my son that is my great shame to think the blood of the barians flows in that Craven's veins but I'll not have a child murderer as my Heir do you hear me woman I have aamm to take his head off you will do no such thing do you think you can cast him aside like one of your common bastards do you think tywan Lannister will stand for this do you think I will try it Robert just try to stop me come my son you don't need to endure this barbarity any longer Joffrey hesitates casting a glance back at his father but cersei's grip tightens and he follows her without another word the doors close behind them with a heavy thud leaving Robert standing in silence for a moment he looks as though he might smash the table in half but instead he s into his chair his head in his hands Ned were you heard you must know I didn't that's not what I I do not appreciate my son being treated like some lamed horse Robert but I know that you did not mean it like that what will you do I don't know he mutters his voice heavy with despair the boy is a monster Ned and he's mine Gods help me he's mine there is much debate on what is to be done about Joffrey between the three men Robert did not make an idle threat when he said he would have executed Joffrey seeing the disgust in Ned's eyes fuels that even further he sees it almost as a way to make amends for it but thankfully Ned does not require any Bloodshed like that after the sight of rhaegar's children being murdered he insists no more blood shall be spilled in these Halls one thing that Robert is clear on though is that he does not wish Joffrey to succeed him while he's always known Joffrey to be temperamental something like this truly horrifies him and he cannot bear the thought of the prince sitting on the Iron Throne renley suggests exiling him to some Lord who might wish to Ward him warning that it would look unkingly if he exiled his son but Ned counters that nothing will stop Joffrey from Simply hurting more people finally they come to a solution one none of them like but one they can accept Joffrey will be sent to the wall but as these plans finalized renley returns to the Tower of the hand where Cersei is waiting for him your grace what brings you to my Chambers at this hour the king is a fool you see that as clearly as I do don't you Robert spends his days drinking himself to an early grave his Knights brawling and whoring is this the man you wish to see on the Iron Throne as the realm falls apart around him he is my brother and what will happen when his recklessness destroy estro us all you heard him today striking his son threatening Exile we have the Mad King come again Robert is no aries Your Grace besides the matter has been decided I won't betray him no matter what faults he may have you won't betray him but what of Joffrey he is your kin too isn't he your blood a Baratheon as much as Robert the difference is that I happen to like Robert but what do you have to gain from that fondness if you stand with me when I declare Robert is unfit to rule it will give my claim Merit support you in what a coup an arrest do you think I'll stand by while you depose my brother it took Robert 15 years to name one of his own as hand of the king but back Joffrey now and within a month you can be more Regent the Lord protector what kind of King could Joffrey become with the right guidance your guidance the next day chaos erupts in the red keep cortier scatter as Robert calls for Joffrey to be brought forward to face his judgment but when his guards move to retrieve him they return empty-handed saying that he's not in his quarters the training yard or anywhere in the red keep the king immediately knows that Cersei is responsible and the queen appears dignified and smug as she claims that Joffrey is now out of his reach as she sends him off in the dead of night accompanied by Jamie Lannister to escort him to castleway rock to his surprise renley steps forward and clears his throat please brother see reason sending him to the wall would only divide the realm further the Lords would see it as weakness or Worse Madness reason you defied me you dared to act behind my back in my court did Cersei put you up to this madness he tried to murder a child in his bed that boy is worse than a fool he's a Savage a Savage with Lannister blood if you try this the Lannisters will rise in Rebellion the realm will bleed please you looked the other way the last time Al Lannister brought you the body of a babe I should have your head for that do you presume to lecture me on choices you know nothing of ruling and you do while you [ __ ] and hunt and feast and fight it is the small Council who has kept the realm together and we have decided that the king is no longer fit to rule but as the King's Guard moves the sound of marching feet echoes in the corridor Cersei and reny's Men pour into the chamber armored and armed their faces Grim with determination the kingk guard hesitate glancing at one another the king is tired see to it that he has taken to his quarter so he may rest half of them sir Boris blunt sir Marin Trant and Sir Preston Greenfield step forward to stand with the Queen's forces the others sir barrist and seli Sir Aris oakhart and Sir Manden Moore draw their swords and place themselves between The Intruders and their King Ned draws his sword alongside Robert's household guard it's over Robert lay down your crown and you can live out your days in peace resist and There Will Be Blood you think a little blood frightens me then like a spark igniting dry Tinder the first blade strikes A Lannister guard lunges at Robert but sir barriston intercepts him cutting the man down with a swift stroke he catches The Sword in midair and tosses it to Robert as chaos erupts in the room becomes a battlefield Ned fights his way to Robert's side his long sword flashing as he cuts down a lanister soldier who lunges at the king their guards form a tight circle around them as they battle through the Lannister forces they are outnumbered almost 3 to one but the Lannisters lack are barriston the old Knight leads the way his sword blur as he carves through the enemy ranks sir Aries and Sir mandin guard the rear their Shields battered but holding firm despite their skill the odds are against them they are badly outnumbered and for every guard they fell two more take his place renley shouts for the fighting to stop but his voice is lost in the clamor of Steel and screams Ned's men fall one by one buying precious seconds for their lord and the King to escape the council chamber becomes a slaughterhouse the once pristine marble floor slick with blood finally battered and bloodied they reach the doors and flee into the winding corridors of the red keep but as the pullus begins to close the King's Guard manages to find horses and lead them Galloping out just as the gate slams shut behind them when they reach the docks Robert orders one of the gys to take them to Dragonstone leaving King's Landing in Lannister hands as the ships cut through the blackwaters Robert stands at the prow gripping it until his knuckles turn white when they arrive it Dragon Stone Stannis greets them cooly but courteously inviting them to discuss everything in the painted table as Robert and Ned recount the events at King's Landing the coup Joffrey's Disappearance in the Lannister's treachery Stannis listens in Stony silence his expression unreadable you've made quite the mess brother you were fools both of you did you trust the Lannisters after all these years after all the signs you were blind Robert too gentle with the boy when he showed his true nature you think I don't know that one brother wants me to spare the boy the other would have me kill him outright what would you have me do Stannis he's my son you still haven't figured it out then have you he is no son of yours what did you say Joffrey is no son of yours Robin nor are the others John Erin and I suspected as much for you years why do you think John kept muttering the seed is strong he found proof before his death the boys the product of incest Cersei and Jamie the king Slayer fathered those children you have proof of this nothing too solid me and John had documents the hair of the bastards you fathered with women across the realm dark hair like you and then there's Joffrey golden headed like his mother's family but before we could investigate it further Jor Marin died not died murdered by the Lannisters I suspect no doubt meant to cover their tracks blind how can I not see it all those years there's no time for Lamentations to and Lannister has mobilized an army nearly 30,000 strong he marches to bring Joffrey back to King's Landing while renley gathers his host from the stormlands and robs star is moving south with his army this is no mere coup any longer This Is War I've instructed Rob not to engage Twin's forces he's young but wise enough to listen I'll gather what forces remain to me few they are I believe I can also get loyalty of house firing King and Massie leave the crownlands to me I'll denounce Joffrey is my Heir and tell them the truth he's not my son I'll raise my banners and they'll rally to me Roberts sets out riding through the crownlands with his ragged band of loyalists Ned Stark remains at his side and they visit each house personally talking to their Lords and Ladies sharing supper and exchanging stories many of them are concerned about the war some fearing for their lands and families forcing Robert to step up as king though his years as a warrior are behind him his Charisma and fiery Spirit remain each time he talks to them he doesn't just bring Revelations about Joffrey's parentage but assurances he promises that he will deal with Taiwan Lannister and that he will not set one foot in the crownlands with passion and energy that many thought died long ago he begins to win the houses over soon along with the Kings masses and fairings Robert's armies also gain houses like stoew worths rosb and Rikers though King's Landing remains Out Of Reach Cersei lacks the Army to challenge him instead Robert takes his forces West to confront Tywin who continues his Rampage against the riverlands as they travel Robert can't help but feel the familiar feelings of his days during the Rebellion part of him is thrilled with it but even these positive memories are drowned out by the shadow hanging over him as he knows he's responsible for the Rebellion though Taiwan might be leading the armies this all happened because of his neglect taiwan's Army sweeps through the riverlands burning Villages and forcing houses to yield allowing him to take most of the houses west of the trident the Eastern Lords fearful of Lannister reprisal begin to Rally to Robert's side the two forces meet in a series of bloody inconclusive battles Robert's Forces fight with desperate ferocity denying the Lannisters a place where they can cross the Trident but taiwan's forces are larger and better supplied it seems only a matter of time before the Lannisters break through it doesn't help that Robert struggles to keep up though he wishes to lead his troops in battle the king tires easily and struggles to fight he sees some success as he manages to defeat sorus blunt and many praise it as defeating a treacherous King's Guard Robert knows that it was hardly a feat to defeat him as the game of cat and mouse continues Ned sends word to Rob to try and attack tywin's rear by freeing riverrun which can put some pressure on him however Tywin retaliates by unleashing his Raiders behind Lannister Lions while continuing his probes onto the Trident meanwhile renley Army begins rushing up the Kingswood to reinforce King's Landing after almost a week of fighting Tai at last forces a crossing over the river threatening to flank Robert's forces and drive them back Ned gathers their forces and tries to Rally the men in the falling Fjord he stabilizes the lines but the mountain and his men manage to secure a foothold despite unleashing Knights and archers upon them Ned cannot dislodge them and taiwan's force begins to reinforce them Robert and the reinforcements from Stannis rush to help them Robert's presence helps rally the men especially as he plunges into the field h in hand but while Brave the king struggles to hold his own against younger and more experienced Knights many begin to urge Robert to retreat taking whatever forces remain and retreating back to the crownlands but he refuses opting to die on the field if it comes to that but to everyone's surprise they hear horns coming from the north several Scouts report that they see Stark and Tully banners flying in the distance as a smaller Force about 6,000 comes Galloping towards them Rob's Army slams into the Lannister forces waiting to cross the fjords and instead break and run leaving their comrades trapped on the Eastern Bank soon chaos spreads as despite taiwan's efforts to Rally his men the Panic spreads and he is forced to retreat with the remnants of his forces Rob and robbert meet on the battlefield their armies bloodied but Victorious I thought I told you to liberate riverrun I did I left a force to try breaking the siege while I took the Cavalry to ride to your Aid the Lannister didn't suspect a thing you've got good instincts you've got the makings of a king but the war is far from over in King's Landing Cersei consolidates her power while renley is rallying his forces but with stannis's Fleet blocking off Blackwater Bay and Taiwan Taking Flight Robert rides hard back to the city Rob and Ned pursue taiwan's defeated Army while Robert rides his forces to King's Landing if Cersei was hoping for a Siege she was sadly mistaken though she tried to buy their loyalty many gold cloaks feel no affection to her and rather than risk the Wrath of the King open the gates to him the queen is soon captured and imprisoned while their children are detained seeing how badly the war is going reny's armies begin to Mutiny refusing to turn against their King rather than risk battle the youngest Baratheon flees across the narrow sea with most of his loyal supporters this leaves Roberts Atop The Iron Throne but with Joffrey and Taiwan still around the war is far from over please like the video a part two will be made at 2,500 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