Wonderland // Ned Stark // Petyr Baelish (1)

46. Trust Me

"I don't want to go." Arya shouted.

"Me either. Talk to father, tell him, beg him to let us stay." Sansa pleaded.

"He is worried. He was attacked." Alice reminded them. "If he says-"

"NO!" they screamed out.

"Don't take his side, take our side, we were having so much fun!" Sansa begged.

"Yeah, don't make us go back. Don't you love us?" Arya added and Alice pulled Arya to her.

"I love you both so much." Alice assured "But what your fathers wants-"

"NO!" another echo of complaints.

+

'lord stark a moment,' renly requested. 'alone if you will?' ned followed Renly off. 'he named you protector of the realm. She won't care. Give me an hour and I can give you 100 men.'

'what can I do with 100 men?' ned questioned.

'attack, in the night, we take joffrey into custody. every moment you delay gives cersei time to prepare. By the time Robert dies it will be too late for us.'

''what about stannis?'ned questioned.

'save the seven kingdoms from cersei and give them to stannis?' He asked incredulously. 'You have odd notions of protecting the realm.'

'stannis is your older brother.'

'the line of succession doesn't matter, it didn't matter when you rebelled against the mad king.' Renly reminded him. 'It shouldn't matter now. what's best for the kingdoms what's best for the people. We know what stannis is he inspires no trust or loyalty. I do.' Renly told him.

'Stannis is a commander. He's lead men into war twice, he destroyed a Greyjoy fleet.' Ned reminded him.

'yes he's a great solider so was Robert tell me do you believe good soldiers make good kings?' Renly countered.

'I will not honor Roberts last hours by shedding blood in these halls'. Ned informed him. 'And dragging frightened children form their beds.'

+

"Ned's going to do something stupid, isn't he?" Alice asked as she cooked lunch. She glanced back at Sansa and Arya bickering on the couch.

"I gave him my advice, if he takes it or not..." Petyr shrugged running his hands along her sides. "That smells wonderful." He remarked kissing her neck.

"Is the king going to die?" Alice asked softly.

"Looks that way." Petyr agreed.

"I don't think Joffrey will ever be ready to be king." Alice whispered.

"No... he won't." Petyr agreed. "He is also..." Petyr clamped his lips shut. He couldn't burden Alice with the truth.

"What?" Alice asked leaning back into him as she stirred the pot.

"Nothing... Lord Stark is protector of the realm..." Petyr informed her.

"I know... that's very exciting..." Alice said awkwardly.

"Are you alright Alice?"

"Of course." She agreed but her voice came out choppy. Petyr opened his mouth but Alice put the spoon down and turned to him. "I was talking to the Hatter."

"The hatter?" Petyr asked. "You don't wear hats."

"No, in wonderland." Alice corrected she twisted her lips as she turned back around. "He said... well I asked him if I could bring you with... he didn't really give me an answer but I think its possible." Petyr chuckled resting his chin on her shoulder. "Would you... want to go?" Alice offered looking to him.

"I would love to." Petyr agreed as she kissed him.

"Alright girls, food is ready."

++

"What's going on?" Alice questioned falling into step with Petyr.

"Something stupid." Petyr told her vaguely. "I want you to go home. Not wandering through the woods Alice. I want you to go home." He instructed holding her face in his hands. "Alice, tell me you are going home."

"Okay. I will go home." Alice agreed and he kissed her gently. "But whats going on?"

"Home Alice." Petyr said again turning her around. "Home." Alice took slow steps as she peered back at him.

'We stand behind you lord stark.' they walked into the throne room, a united front.

'All hail your Grace King Joffrey of house Baratheon and Lannister the first of his name the king of the andals and the first man, lord of the seven kingdoms and protector of the realm.' Ned walked forward his cane clicking on the ground his leg still throbbing but he had a mission. Joffrey sat on the iron Throne

'I command the council to make all necessary arrangement for my coronation' Joffrey demanded 'I wish to be crowned within the Fortnight. Odds of fealty from my loyal council.'

'Ser barriston I believe no man here could have a question your honor,' ned said he handed over the scroll to which he had wrote with Robert before he died

'It is King Roberts seal unbroken.' he announced stepping forward. 'Lord Eddard stark is here named protector of the realm,' he announced 'to rule as regent until the rightful heir comes of age.' Barristion said as cersei stood up

'May I see that letter ser Barristion?' Cersei requested sweetly but there was venom in her voice.

'Of course your Grace.' he walked up the steps delivering it to her before walking down

'Protector of the realm?' She asked 'is this meant to be your shield lord stark?' she said ripping it up a piece of paper. She tore the pieces up throwing them to the ground.

'Those are the Kings words, the kings words!' ser barristion declared.

'We have a new King now' she informed him 'lord Eddard when we last spoke you offered me some counsel allow me to return the courtesy... bend the knee my Lord. Bend me and swear loyalty to my son and we shall allow you to live out the rest of your days at the great waste you call home.'

''Your son has no claim to the throne.' Ned said

'LIAR!' Joffrey screamed

'You condemn yourself with your own mouth lord stark. Ser barriston seize him. This traitor-' cersei demanded.

'Sir Barristion is a good man do not harm him.' Ned said as his men stepped forward

'Do you think he stands alone?' Cersei questioned as her guard step forward as well.

'Kill him.' Joffrey shouted 'kill him and kill them all I command it!' Sandor like a good dog drew his blade stepping forward with the rest of the knights.

'Commander.' Ned said 'take the queen and her children into custody. Take them back to their Royal Apartments and keep them there under guard.'

'Unbelievable,' cersei muttered.

'I want no bloodshed no bloodshed,' ned repeated, 'so tell your men to lay down their swords no one needs to die.' Cersei looked around but there was blood shed as a Lannister forces came forward. Petyr wrapped blade around Ned's neck.

'I did warn you not to trust me.' Petyr whispered in his ear. "And to think how sad Alice will be at your treachery..."

+

'Sansa go to your room and bar the door.' Septa Mordane instructed.

"What?'

"NOW.' Septa demanded as Sansa rushed down the hall. They grabbed her, she didn't put up a fight as they tossed her in a cell.

+

Arya watched in horror as Syrio was attack. He used his wooden sparing sword with elegance but he was no match for three knights and blades of steel. Arya wanted to help, she wanted to run, but all she could do was stare as Meryn Trant killed Syrio. They looked to Arya and she found her sanity and took off.