It was early on inGame of Throneswhen the Hand of the King, Lord Eddard Stark deduced Jaime Lannister fathered his sister, Queen Cersei’s children. He didn’t go to his friend, King Robert I Baratheon who was away hunting but foolishly sought an audience with Cersei at a secluded courtyard of the Red Keep. “I know the truth Jon Arryn (the former Hand) died for,” said Ned.
In response, Cersei unabashedly confirmed her and Jaime’s relationship saying, “The Targaryens wed brothers and sisters for three hundred years to keep the bloodlines pure. Jaime and I are more than brother and sister. We shared a womb. We came into this world together, we belong together.” When Ned told her to take her children and flee Robert’s persecution, Cersei delivered what’s arguably the most memorable quote in the entirety ofGame of Thrones, viz. “When you play the game of thrones, you win, or you die. There is no middle ground.”
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Ned and Cersei’s memorable dialogue features inGame of Thronesseason 1, episode 7 which goes by the name “You Win or You Die.” True to its title, the said episode boasts epic staging and performances by theThronescast. Cersei who knows Ned lacks pragmatism recallsher brother/lover, Jaime’s account of the day King’s Landing fell. After Robert killed Aerys' heir, Prince Rhaegar Targaryen at the Trident, Jaime who was one of the Kingsguard urged the king to bar the gates of the capital to keep Tywin Lannister and his army out. But Lord Lannister and his army were let in at Grand Maester Pycelle’s counsel, and they sacked the city.
Aerys who still refused to surrender, ordered Lord Rossart to carry out his wildfire plot. The Mad King was about to burn the capital with caches of wildfire that he had hidden all over the city. The locations included the Great Sept of Baelor, the slums of Flea Bottom, houses, stables, taverns, and even beneath the Red Keep. Jaime broke his vow and chose to slay the man he had sworn to protect. Shortly after, Ned and Jaime came face to face; the question remains of what went down in the throne room that prompted Cersei to say Ned foolishly took the middle ground while playing the game of thrones.
Ned Found Jaime Lannister On The Iron Throne
Jaime slashed the Mad King across the throat as he tried to flee. He did what had to be done to save the city, which in truth was an act of heroism. Unfortunately, eliminating Aerys from the face ofthe Seven Kingdomsearned Jaime the name “Kingslayer.” When Ned entered the throne room, he found Jaime on the throne with his golden sword across his legs. Jaime gave the seat up to Ned who claimed it for Robert. In the coming days, Jaime sabotaged Aerys' wildfire plot by secretly hunting down and killing the two complicit pyromancers, Belis and Garigus. These events fromGame of Throneslore bring into focus what Cersei said to Ned after which she conspired against him:
“You should have taken the realm for yourself. Jaime told me about the day King’s Landing fell. He was sitting on the Iron Throne and you made him give it up. All you needed to do was climb those steps yourself.”
Cersei called Ned’s decision to not claim the throne “a sad mistake” because she was bereft of values such as loyalty and decency. Her quote foreshadowed Ned’s fate as he was executed inGame of Thronesseason 1, episode 10 “Fire and Blood” after confessing to treason under duress. Turns out, Cersei had already plotted regicide i.e., Robert Baratheon’s assassination through her cousin and Robert’s squire, Lancel accompanied the king on his hunting trip in the Kingswood. Lancel slowed down the king’s senses with potent wine, resulting in him being mortally injured by a boar. While on his deathbed, Robert sought a private audience with Ned and named him Lord Regent and Protector of the Realm until his son, Joffrey came of age. Ned took it upon himself to replace Joffrey’s name with “my rightful heir” on the will. The dying king signed the letter and ordered Ned to give it to the council after his death.
Cersei’s Machinations
In a shocking turn of events, Ned never got to rule as his fate was sealed the moment he told Cersei about the parentage of her children. He was surrounded bytreacherous people such as Petyr Baelishwho gave him the false assurance that the City Watch was his. When Joffrey, who’d already declared himself king sought Ned’s presence in the throne room, Ned hoped to honor Robert’s will and do the right thing. Joffrey commanded the council to make arrangements for his coronation and demanded fealty from his loyal councilors. Ned paid no heed but instead passed Ser Barristan Selmy Robert’s will with an unbroken seal.
Cersei tore the letter into pieces and demanded Ned either bend the knee or face their wrath. Because Ned was under the impression that the City Watch and their commander, Janos Slynt were under his command, he ordered the men of the Watch to take Cersei and her children into custody. It turned out they wereloyal to the Lannistersthe whole time. They turned against Ned and slaughtered his allies in the throne room. Ned realized it was lost cause when Lord Baelish put a dagger to Ned’s throat and said, “I did warn you not to trust me.” Cersei was the star of this pivotalGame of Thronesepisode. She played very well, and by so doing, demonstrated that those who took the middle ground in their quest for power sealed their fates.
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