Some weeks following Bran’s fall from the tower, Jon Snow goes to say goodbye to the comatose boy, as he is leaving Winterfell to join the Night’s Watch. Catelyn, who is sitting beside Bran's bed, glares at Jon. He tells Bran that he will visit him when his duties permit, and maybe Bran can come and visit him at Castle Black one day. Catelyn tells him to leave. Jon kisses Bran on the forehead and leaves just as Eddard then arrives to say goodbye as well. Catelyn painfully asserts that seventeen years ago he rode off with Robert Baratheon and came back a year later with another woman's son, and now he is leaving again. He tells Catelyn he has no choice but to go, but Catelyn dismisses that, telling him that men always say that when honor calls. Eddard does have a choice, and he has made it. Catelyn tells him that she cannot cope by herself, but Eddard insists that she can and must. The procession leaves Winterfell and splits at a nearby waypost where Jon and Benjen Stark head north towards the Wall, while Eddard, Sansa and Arya join the king in riding south to the capital of King’s Landing. Before Jon rides off with his uncle Benjen, Eddard tells him there is great honor in serving the Watch and Starks have manned the Wall for thousands of years. “You are a Stark. You might not have my name, but you have my blood." He then promises to Jon that the next time they meet again, he will finally tell him about his mother.

Days later, along the Kingsroad and heading south to the capital, King Robert has lunch with Lord Eddard and says they could strike off into the countryside, swords at their sides and tavern wenches to warm their beds. Eddard is amused, pointing out he should have asked him twenty years earlier. A curious Robert asks Eddard about Wylla, the mother of his bastard son Jon, adding that she must have been a "rare wench" for Eddard to forget his honour. Eddard refuses to enlighten him, however. Robert then reminds him that at that time, they were in the middle of a war and no one knew if they would ever return to their families. King Robert then discusses with Eddard news that has just arrived from the eastern continent of Essos. Robert's spies have learned of Princess Daenerys Targaryen's marriage to Khal Drogo, whose Dothraki khalasar is reported to number over one hundred thousand warriors. Eddard points out that the Dothraki cannot cross the Narrow Sea, as they have no ships, but Robert is concerned that the kingdoms will soon face another war.

Some time later, the royal party crosses into the region of the Riverlands, and reach the Crossroads Inn, a waystop on the way south. An incident involving Prince Joffrey and Arya’s direwolf, Nymeria, has resulted in Arya’s disappearance. After several hours searching for Arya in the nearby woods, Eddard enters the inn to find that Arya has been found and taken before Robert, who is angered that this has become a major incident, with his wife and new Hand  blaming one another's children. Prince Joffrey offers a false account of the incident, and asks Sansa to confirm it. Put in an impossible position, Sansa refuses to contradict him, enraging Arya. The king decides to let Eddard discipline Arya while he will do the same to Joffrey, however, a dissatisfied Cersei demands that the direwolf be executed. When it is noted that Nymeria has not been found, Cersei spitefully requests that Sansa's direwolf Lady should be killed instead. King Robert acquiesces to Cersei’s demand, growing impatient of the situation, which upsets a distraught Sansa further as she and her angered sister protest. Out of his hands, a furious Eddard attends to the matter himself outside as he passes by Sandor Clegane, Joffrey’s bodyguard. He has the butcher’s boy Mycah’s bloodied corpse flung over his shoulder, despite his innocent involvement in Joffrey’s injury. Eddard is disgusted, and asks if Sandor ran the boy down, “the Hound” responds: "He ran, but not very fast." Eddard then regretfully kills Sansa’s direwolf with his dagger. Meanwhile, at Winterfell, a crippled Bran awakens from is coma without any recollection of the fall from the tower or what caused it.

When the royal party reaches King's Landing, immediately Eddard is asked to attend a meeting of the king's small council. En route, he encounters Jaime Lannister in the throne room. Jaime is still unhappy that Eddard judged him dishonorable for killing the “Mad King” Aerys Targaryen, the murderer of Eddard's father Rickard Stark and his brother Brandon, and for having the nerve to casually seat himself upon the Iron Throne after mayhem was through. Jaime is unrepentant about it. Eddard then meets the council members: Lord Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish, the Master of Coin and childhood friend of his wife Catelyn, Grand Maester Pycelle, the advisor in all matters scientific and academic; Renly Baratheon, the youngest of the king's two brothers and Master of Laws; and Lord Varys, the head of the king's intelligence network. Varys informs Eddard that the council members heard about his troubles along the Kingsroad and that they pray for Prince Joffrey's recovery. Eddard grimly responds "It's a shame no one prayed for the  butcher's boy,” Eddard is then stunned to learn that the crown is six million in debt, half of which is to Lord Tywin Lannister, father to Cersei, Jaime and Tyrion as well one of the wealthiest and most powerful people in Westeros. To make matters worse, King Robert has just ordered a lavish tournament to celebrate Eddard's appointment as Hand of the King. He resolves to advise Robert to cancel the tourney, but the council is doubtful the king will listen.

Afterwards, Queen Cersei talks to Prince Joffrey about the incident on the river involving the butcher’s boy and Arya’s direwolf. She tells him that when he is king, the truth will be whatever he decides it will be. Joffrey thinks there will be trouble with the Starks, and promises that when he is king, he will double their taxes, force them to contribute to a standing army and, should they object, crush them and install someone loyal, such as his great-uncle Kevan Lannister, as Warden of the North. Cersei points out that the North is too vast and wild to be militarily conquered by outsiders, and a king needs to be more clever. She also advises him to be kind to his betrothed  Sansa Stark to avoid stirring up trouble for later, and concludes that "Anyone who isn't us is an enemy." Meanwhile, Arya and Sansa have a meal with Septa Mordane, but Arya is angrily stabbing the table with her knife. She tells them that she is practicing for Joffrey, that he is a liar and a coward and that Mycah would still be alive if Sansa had only told the truth. Mordane tells Arya to leave the room. Eddard arrives and talks to Sansa, giving her a gift of a doll. Sullen, she replies she hasn’t played with dolls since she was eight. Eddard looks helplessly at Mordane, noting that, "war was easier than daughters." Eddard then explains to Arya in private that Sansa was put in a difficult position and while she shouldn't have lied, winning the long-term approval of Joffrey, her future husband, was important. Arya is unhappy with the situation, but Eddard mollifies her by allowing her to practice with her sword.

Later, Catelyn Stark and Ser Rodrik Cassel have made their way down south and arrive at King's Landing as they attempt to sneak into the city. However, they are spotted by one of Littlefinger's men. They are taken to meet Lord Baelish at a brothel he owns, where Lord Varys is also waiting. He explains that one of his 'little birds' told him they were coming. Catelyn is angered by the way they've been treated, but asks Littlefinger for aid in finding the people who tried to have Bran killed. Littlefinger is able to answer this quickly stating that the elaborate dagger wielded by the assassin used to be his, but he lost it in a gamble with Tyrion Lannister. Littlefinger fetches Eddard to meet his wife, but Ned suspects a trick and pushes Littlefinger up against a wall outside the brothel wanting to know what his game is. Catelyn then appears, and Eddard is pacified. After hearing news of Bran’s attack, he vows to expose the Lannisters to Robert. Littlefinger agrees to be his ally in this, for the affection he once bore Catelyn as a youngster. That evening, Catelyn takes her leave of Eddard, regretting that she cannot stay and see the girls, but it’s safer this way. Catelyn asserts that she knows the Lannisters committed this crime. Eddard agrees, and says he will find overwhelming proof and bring it to King Robert, and hopes he is still the man Eddard once knew. Eddard tells Catelyn that Littlefinger still loves her, but she just says, "Does he?" and kisses Eddard goodbye. She and Ser Rodrik then depart the city

Some time later, in the Red Keep, Arya is summoned to a meeting with her "dancing master", a man named Syrio Forel. Syrio is the former First Sword of Braavos, a master swordsman whom has been contracted by her father Eddard to teach her how to use her sword that she received from her half-brother Jon. Syrio calls her a boy, to Arya’s irritation. When she responds that she is a girl, he tells her it doesn’t matter if she is a boy or girl. She must be a sword. He approves of her small size, which makes her a difficult target in combat. He says he will teach her the way of swordfighting in Braavos, the Water Dance, rather than the hacking and slashing of the knights of Westeros. Eddard then approaches and watches them practice from the door. Initially he is pleased to see his daughter applying herself and training hard, but he then quickly realizes that he is training her for war. Suddenly in his mind the clunk of wood used as her practice sword is replaced by the clash of steel and the screams of the dying.

Days later, during a meeting of the small council, Lord Eddard learns that the forthcoming tournament to celebrate his appointment is seeing the city swell with visitors, and has already resulted in a tavern riot, a brothel fire, three stabbings and a drunken horse race. Ned informs Littlefinger that money will have to be found to strengthen the city guards, as well as lending twenty of his own men to Janos Slynt's command of the City Watch. When Eddard says he looks forward for tournament to end, Lord Varys points out that it allows the mighty a chance for glory and the common folk a respite from their woes. Littlefinger himself is happy because every inn in the city is full and all the whores are walking bow-legged. Following the meeting, Eddard talks to Grand Maester Pycelle about Jon Arryn's last few weeks. Pycelle assures that he did all he could to save Jon Arryn, but the illness was very sudden and severe. He saw Arryn just the night before in his chambers, as Arryn often came to him for counsel. Eddard asks why and Pycelle indignantly points out he has been Grand Maester for many years and that kings and hands both benefit from his wisdom. Eddard explains that he meant why did Arryn come to see him. Pycelle then recalls that shortly before his sudden illness, Arryn borrowed a book about the lineages of the Seven Kingdoms, and his last words were, "The seed is strong."

Taking the book with him, Eddard comes across Arya in the hall standing on one leg as part of her training with Syrio Forel. Arya asks whether Bran would be able to live in King's Landing with them now that he's awoken, but Eddard states that he would have to regain his strength first. Arya then comments that Bran had always wanted to be a knight but Eddard states that Bran will be able to do many other things such as become lord of a holdfast or sit on council. When Arya asks if she would be able to become any of those, Eddard instead tells her that she will marry a highborn lord and have children. However, Arya is not pleased with this response, telling her father, "that's not me." She goes back to balancing on one leg as Eddard looks on. Afterwards, Littlefinger meets with Eddard and suggests that he keep his investigation into Jon Arryn's death lower in profile. He also gives Eddard some interesting intelligence: Jon Arryn's former squire, Ser Hugh of the Vale, has been knighted and will fight in the tourney. He also advises him to investigate an armorer located in the city. Eddard decides that Littlefinger may be more trustworthy than he first thought, but Baelish discourages him from thinking that way.

Eventually Eddard's investigation leads him to a smithy in the slums of the city called Flea Bottom. There he meets with master smith Tobho Mott and his apprentice Gendry, whose work Jon Arryn was also apparently interested in before his death. Tobho Mott has Gendry show Lord Eddard a bull's head helm he made as a sample of his work which Eddard commends, but Gendry adds that it's not for sale. Mott scolds him but Gendry states he made it for himself, and Eddard assures Mott he's not offended. Gendry then informs that Jon Arryn would drop by and ask other questions as well, such as if he liked being at Mott's smithy and if he was treated well, then onto who his mother was. Studying his face, Eddard then realizes that Gendry is one of King Robert’s bastard sons, but can't work out why Arryn was interested in this. It is known that Robert has many bastard children and shows little interest in any of them. On leaving, he tells Mott that if Gendry should become interested in wielding a sword instead of forging them, to send him to Eddard. Later on, Cersei enters Eddard’s chambers to speak with him in private. She suggests putting the Kingsroad incident behind them and asks what he hopes to accomplish as Hand. He simply replies to run the realm as best he can for Robert. Cersei laughs, saying that all they can do is pick up the pieces that Robert leaves behind. He will simply do whatever he wants to do. Cersei then muses that Eddard is just a good soldier, happiest when taking orders. Eddard then asserts that he was trained to kill his enemies. Cersei notes that so was she.

As the tourney continues, Lord Eddard discusses Ser Hugh’s death with Ser Barristan Selmy of the Kingsguard, one of the most decorated and honorable knights in Westeros. Jon Arryn’s former squire was killed by Ser Gregor Clegane at the tournament before Eddard had a chance to speak with him. They cannot ascertain if Hugh was killed deliberately. Eddard then convinces King Robert not to fight in the tourney, bluntly calling him too fat. Robert reluctantly agrees. Eddard sits next to his daughter Sansa as the competitors arrive for the first joust: Ser Gregor and Ser Loras Tyrell, the youngest son of the powerful House Tyrell, already a famed  tournament knight. Loras gives Sansa a red rose and exchanges a look with Renly Baratheon in the stands, who then takes a bet against Littlefinger, who favors Clegane. The joust begins and Loras quickly unseats Gregor, whose horse falls to the ground. Baelish tells Sansa that it was clever of Loras to ride a mare in heat, as it threw Gregor’s stallion into confusion. A furious Gregor decapitates his horse in a fit of rage. He smashes Loras off his horse and attacks him with his sword. Gregor’s own brother, Sandor Clegane, jumps in the way and exchanges blows with him before the king orders them to stop. The siblings historically loathe one another. As Sandor immediately kneels before Robert, Ser Gregor storms off the field in anger. Ser Loras thanks Sandor and holds his arm aloft to be cheered by the commons over their shared victory.

Afterwards, in the Red Keep, Eddard is visited by Lord Varys, who closes the door to ensure they cannot be overheard. He enquires about Bran's health and Eddard replies that he will never walk again. Varys then tells him that the king is a fool and will soon be dead unless Ned can save him. Ned wants to know why Varys is telling him this now. Varys tells him he had to be sure Ned could be trusted. He calls Ned an honorable and true man, maybe the only one in the city. He also confirms that Jon Arryn was assassinated with a poison called the Tears of Lys because he "started asking questions." Later on, Arya escapes from the dungeons where she was chasing a cat as per her training. Whilst there, she overheard Lord Varys speaking about Eddard and when she finds her father and warns him about what she overheard but has garbled it up: “Eddard found a bastard, wolves are fighting lions and something is going on with a savage.” Eddard is bemused by this report, trying to make sense of her findings. They are then interrupted by Yoren, a man of the Night’s Watch who has ridden without stopping from the Riverlands in order to bring Eddard forewarning of Lady Catelyn's arrest of Tyrion Lannister. Ned keeps the information to himself, while Arya asks Ned’s guard Jory Cassel about the state of her father's household guard. Jory tells her she does not have to worry about her father's safety.

At the meeting of the small council, King Robert informs Eddard that Daenerys Targaryen is pregnant and her son will have a claim to the throne. He wants her and her brother Viserys Targaryen killed as soon as possible. Eddard states that this act would be dishonorable and beneath their dignity. Robert explodes in fury, telling Eddard that he has seven kingdoms to rule and honor does not come into it: it's fear and blood that keeps the peace. Eddard says that makes them no better than the Mad King, infuriating Robert even more as he is incredulous that Eddard's conclusion is that they do nothing. He asks the council to speak their advice to Eddard. However, the other members of the council: Pycelle, Renly, Littlefinger and Lord Varys, all concur that Daenerys must die for the good of the realm. King Robert orders Ned to enact the order. Eddard tells Robert that he will not support this. He followed Robert into war twice with no doubts or hesitation, but he will not follow him into this. Robert angrily snaps that Eddard is the King's Hand; he will do as commanded or Robert will find another. At that, Eddard removes his badge of office and leaves it on the table. A furious Robert orders him to leave and go back to Winterfell before he takes his head as a traitor. As Ned is packing, Littlefinger arrives and offers to take Ned to the last place Jon Arryn went before he "fell ill".

As promised, Lord Baelish brings Lord Eddard to the last place Jon Arryn went before falling ill, which happens to be Littefinger's brothel. There Ned meets another one of Robert's bastards, a baby girl and her mother named Mhaegen, a prostitute working in the brothel. Mhaegen remarks that her child has Robert's nose and black hair. Eddard then asks Baelish why Jon Arryn was searching for Robert's bastards, but Littlefinger insists that he doesn't know. Leaving the brothel, Eddard, Jory Cassel, and the two guards that accompanied them are confronted by a large group of guardsmen led by Ser Jaime Lannister. Jaime has heard of his brother Tyrion's arrest in the Riverlands by his wife Catelyn and threatens to kill Ned. Eddard points out, however, that if he does, Tyrion will die as well. Jaime acknowledges that this is true, so he says he will settle for killing Eddard's men instead. Ned's two guards are killed and in response, Eddard and Jory fight and kill six of the Lannister soldiers. Jory engages Jaime but is quickly killed when Jaime stabs him through the eye with a dagger. Furious, Ned crosses swords with Jaime. Athough an even match for Jaime, a Lannister guard steps in during the fight and stabs Eddard through the leg with a spear. An angered Jaime then departs, demanding to Eddard that he wants his brother back.

Some time later, beneath a canopy of netting, Eddard Stark is lying on a bed, wounded after being attacked by Jaime Lannister and his men. Sweating profusely, he opens his eyes. Groggy with blurry vision, he sees King Robert and Queen Cersei standing by his bed, looking down at him concerned and disapproving respectively. Cersei is furious with Eddard's acts in having her brother Tyrion arrested and attacking Jaime in the street. Eddard quickly informs them, falsely, that Catelyn took Tyrion prisoner on his orders. Robert realizes that Eddard is just saying this to in order to protect his wife and states that he didn't know Catelyn had it in her. Cersei wants her husband Robert to take action against him, but Robert refuses to condemn him without hearing Eddard's side, and tells her to be silent. When Cersei protests further, and calls Robert a woman, he hits her. She then asserts that she will wear the bruise with honor. He tells her to be silent, or he will honor her again, and Cersei leaves in anger. Afterwards, Robert restores Eddard to his position as Hand, and tells him not to quit again, or he will give the position to Jaime. He tells Lord Eddard to end the animosity between House Stark and House Lannister, as strife between these two powerful houses could lead them into war. He is leaving on a hunt and wants the realm at peace by the time he returns.

Afterwards, in the throne room, a group of refugees come to tell of how their villages have been destroyed. Eddard hears tales of a huge knight ravaging the Riverlands. A spokesman for the refugees tells of the horror of the attacks. Homes, fields and granaries were burned. Women were raped and murdered and children were also butchered. He realizes that it's Ser Gregor Clegane, who is likely under Lannister orders to punish the Riverlands - which are held by House Tully, the former house of his wife Catelyn, who now holds Tyrion captive. Even though King Robert told him to make peace with the Lannisters, Lord Eddard could not bring himself to let this injustice stand. Eddard strips Gregor Clegane of his knighthood, land, and titles, and sends Lord Beric Dondarrion with a retinue of one hundred knights to arrest and execute him in the king's name. He also orders Grand Maester Pycelle to send word to Casterly Rock, demanding Lord Tywin Lannister's presence in court to explain his bannerman's actions or be branded an enemy of the crown and a traitor to the realm. Lord Baelish and Pycelle are both concerned with the harshness of these orders and Eddard's actions against the Lannisters, but Eddard wants to see justice done.

That evening, walking heavily on his cane, Lord Eddard walks over to the bed on which his daughters Sansa and Arya are sitting. Without declaring any reasoning behind his decision, he informs them that he is sending them both back to Winterfell. Arya wants to know if they are going home because Eddard is dying from his injured leg, but he assures them that safety concerns are the reason. Both Stark sisters begin arguing with him as Sansa doesn't want to leave Prince Joffrey, and Arya is finally seeing results in her sword training with Syrio Forel. Sansa protests that no one cares about her trivial dancing instructor, still unaware of what her sister is training in. Sansa then notes that they are talking about breaking her betrothal to Joffrey. Lord Eddard says that he will find someone else for her. Sansa refuses—she is going to marry Joffrey and have lots of golden-haired babies. This gives Eddard pause. Afterwards in his quarters, Eddard returns to the lineage book that Jon Arryn was looking at before he died. As Eddard consults the book's entry on House Baratheon, Lord Eddard finds that every time a Baratheon has married, the children have had black hair… right up to Cersei and Robert's children, who are all blond. Ned then realizes that Prince Joffrey is not Robert's true-born heir and is result of an incestuous relationship between the queen and her twin brother Jaime. This leads Ned to ponder whether this may have been what Bran encountered before his “fall” out of the tower in Winterfell.

Some days later, in the gardens of the Red Keep, Lord Eddard meets with Cersei Lannister and in a bold move he informs the queen that he knows the secret that Jon Arryn died for. He explains his discovery of the fact that Cersei's three children are not Robert's, but the product of incest between her and Jaime. Cersei quite casually does not deny the charge and in fact is proud of it, comparing her love to her twin brother to the old Targaryen practice of marrying and bedding siblings in an attempt to keep the bloodline pure. She also doesn’t deny her part in Bran’s fall from the tower at Winterfell. Cersei then admits to having despised Robert ever since their wedding night, when the king drunkenly stumbled into Cersei's bed and called her "Lyanna," Eddard’s deceased sister who was Robert’s former wife. Eddard angrily tells her to take her children and leave the city immediately. He then explains that when Robert returns from his hunt, he will tell him the truth of the matter and Cersei should run as far as she can before that happens, lest Robert's wrath find her. Cersei calls Ned a fool for turning down the throne himself after the sack of King's Landing. Eddard tells her that he has regrets, but that isn't one of them. Cersei then departs with a chilling warning: "When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die. There is no middle ground."

Shortly following his meeting with Cersei, a panicked Renly Baratheon finds Eddard and informs him that Robert has been badly mauled by a boar and is not expected to survive to accident. Eddard finds the fatally-wounded King Robert lying in bed and telling Prince Joffrey that he wishes he could have been a better father to him. Once alone with the King, Eddard chooses not to tell Robert about his recent discoveries to spare his final hours from any emotional pain regarding his “children”. Robert instructs Eddard to write a letter naming him as the Lord Protector of the Realm, to rule until Joffrey comes of age. Eddard, however, does not write Joffrey's name, instead saying "the rightful heir". Robert also asks him to cancel the attempt on Daenerys Targaryen's life in the eastern continent of Essos, a final act of mercy displayed by the dying king. After leaving the chamber and bidding farewell to his closest friend, Eddard talks to Lord Varys and Ser Barristan Selmy. Asking Barristan a seemingly-innocent question about the wine, Varys slyly points out that Robert’s squire and the queen’s cousin, Lancel Lannister, ensured the king was kept "refreshed" with alcohol during the hunt, meaning his reactions were slowed and unreliable. Varys then regretfully informs that it is far too late to stop the attempt on Daenerys' life.

Some time later, Renly confronts Eddard and offers him a hundred swords to take soon-to-be King Joffrey into custody, but Eddard refuses to dishonor Robert's last hours with bloodshed. Renly insists that every moment they delay action give Cersei more time to prepare as with the moment of Robert’s death it will be too late for them both. Renly suggests that he himself could make a good king, but Eddard angrily points out that Stannis Baratheon is Renly's older brother and the true heir that follows the line of succession. Renly asserts that Stannis inspires no love or loyalty, adding that good soldiers do not make for great kings. Afterwards, in his study, Eddard writes a letter laying out his findings to Lord Stannis and instructs a courier to take the message to Dragonstone, Stannis' island fortress. Lord Baelish then arrives and talks to Eddard, who tells him the truth about Joffrey's parentage. Littlefinger suggests that they keep this quiet, acknowledge Joffrey as king and make him their puppet. If he proves intractable, they can reveal the truth and eventually crown the more malleable Renly instead. Eddard, however, considers this as treason. Littlefinger realizes that even though Lord Eddard has Robert's edict naming him Regent  and  Protector of the Realm, he doesn't have the men needed in order to seize control from Cersei, adding that Ned needs the loyalty of the City Watch. Littlefinger understands that the honorable Eddard can't come right out and ask him to bribe them, but agrees to do what needs to be done.

Later on, Eddard is summoned to the throne room by "King Joffrey," confirming Robert’s passing as well as further Lannister control. Outside, he arrives to find Littlefinger and Varys waiting for him, along with Commander Janos Slynt and a detachment of the City Watch. Varys informs him that Renly Baratheon has now fled the city, along with Ser Loras Tyrell and a number of retainers. They were last seen heading south. The party then enters the throne room, where Joffrey smugly sits on the Iron Throne. He immediately demands oaths of fealty from his councilors and subjects. However instead, Eddard gives Ser Barristan Selmy the proclamation naming him as Lord Protector of the Realm. To Barristan's shock, Queen Regent Cersei takes the "paper shield" and tears it up. Instead, she suggests that Eddard bend the knee and swear allegiance and in return he will be allowed to safely return to Winterfell and stay out of their affairs. Eddard responds that Joffrey has no claim to the Iron Throne and commands Janos Slynt to take Cersei and her son into custody. Instead, the City Watch immediately kill Eddard's bodyguards, while Littlefinger himself sneaks up behind Eddard and holds a knife to his throat, saying, "I did warn you not to trust me."

Shortly after Eddard’s arrest in King’s Landing, the Lannister soldiers complete their purge of the Stark guards and household staff, including Sansa herself, though young Arya was able to escape the Red Keep successfully. Meanwhile, Lord Varys visits Eddard in his cell in the dungeons. He is incredulous that Eddard warned Cersei of his discovery and intention. Eddard insists that he wanted to extend mercy to Cersei's children, whom Robert would have killed if he'd known the truth. Varys bluntly tells Eddard that his mercy is what killed King Robert. He also reports that Lady Catelyn no longer holds Tyrion Lannister prisoner, meaning that the Starks have nothing to barter with for his life. When Eddard suggests they should just kill him, Varys says "Not today, my lord." As he departs, Eddard asks Varys who he truly serves. Varys, in a rare display of honesty, replies "The realm, my lord. Someone must." Following Sansa’s arrest, Cersei and the remainder of the small council, comprised of Pycelle, Varys and Littlefinger, summon the young Stark girl to inform her that her father has been arrested for treason. They manipulate Sansa into writing a letter to her brother Robb Stark at Winterfell, asking him to bend the knee peacefully to King Joffrey. They add that Eddard's fate may depend on how her brother and the other Northern lords respond. Sansa agrees to write the letter that eventually is flown to Winterfell and springs Robb into action, who then marches south for war.

Days later, Lord Varys visits Eddard in the Black Cells underneath the Red Keep. Varys informs Eddard that his daughter Sansa begged for his life before the entire court. He also tells Lord Stark that his son Robb is leading an army from the North. In addition, Queen Regent Cersei is more concerned over the intentions of the late King Robert's brother, Stannis Baratheon, a proven battle commander known to be without mercy. For the sake of his daughter's life, Lord Varys urges Eddard to confess to the treasonous charge against him. In return, Cersei will let him take the black and join the Night’s Watch at the Wall, alongside his younger brother Benjen Stark and bastard son Jon Snow. Lord Eddard is angered by the suggestion that he would trade his honesty and honor for his life, though he appears to have second thoughts when Varys insinuates that Sansa would also pay the price for his defiance.

Some time after escaping the Red Keep, a starving Arya lives on the streets of King's Landing, attempting to catch a pigeon to feed herself. Arya notices crowds of people running to the city's center and she discovers that they are assembling to witness the trial of her father. Arya runs to the crowded square and climbs on the pedestal of a statue of former Targaryen king Baelor so she can get a better view. Lord Eddard is brought out and pulled through the crowd. He eventually spots Arya, and then, as he is taken past the Night's Watch recruiter Yoren, he manages to signal in Arya's direction saying "Baelor,” hoping that Yoren can find Arya and take her to safety. As previously agreed with King Joffrey, Eddard confesses to false treason and then declares that Joffrey is the true king. Joffrey then informs to the crowd that he could be merciful and send Eddard to the Night's Watch, but instead commands Ser Ilyn Payne to bring him the traitor's head. Arya dashes forward, drawing her sword in an attempt to save her father but Yoren manages to grab her. Arya looks up at the sky and upon seeing the frightened birds taking flight, Arya knows that her father is dead. Eddard’s great sword is covered in his blood from the beheading by Ser Ilyn while Sandor Clegane holds Ned's severed head up to the adulation of the baying crowd. Amidst the chaos, Yoren drags Arya away and once out of the courtyard, he cuts Arya’s hair off with a knife to avoid capture. He vows to get her out of King's Landing and take her to Castle Black to join her half-brother Jon Snow as a recruit of the Night's Watch.

In the aftermath of Eddard’s brutal execution, word has been sent throughout Westeros and when it reaches Winterfell, Maester Luwin woefully informs the crippled Bran of his father’s passing. When word reaches the Stark camp in the Riverlands, Lady Catelyn and Robb commiserate their loss together, as she swears to her crying son that they will seek revenge against the Lannisters once Sansa and Arya are in their safety. Meanwhile, back in the capital, the sadistic King Joffrey has Ned’s head placed on a spike above the Traitor's Walk of the Red Keep. Joffrey torments the devastated Sansa by forcing her to look upon her father’s mutilated head, as well as the other slain members of her household. She overcomes her revulsion and is able to maintain her composure, preventing his satisfaction at seeing her upset. Eddard’s death, however, does not release Sansa from the king’s clutches, who insists that when she starts to bleed she will provide him with an heir. Eddard's execution launches the Seven Kingdoms into the devastating War of the Five Kings, with the North and the Riverlands seceding from the authority of the Iron Throne. Robb Stark is later proclaimed as the King in the North, who leads the fight for Northern independence against the crown.

*In the aftermath of Eddard’s death, follow Catelyn, Robb, Arya, Sansa, Bran or Jon’s journey throughout the rest of the series.

Several years after Eddard’s execution, his son Bran has journeyed far beyond the Wall, in order to seek out the Three-Eyed Raven, the last greenseer who possesses the ability to perceive future, past or distant events. He is the only human living among the last of the ancient race of the Children of the Forest. In a cave, underneath a heart tree, Bran continues his greensight training in order to take over as the new Three-Eyed Raven. In his latest vision, the Raven shows Bran a memory from Winterfell’s past, watching his father Eddard and uncle Benjen training in the yard as young boys, by a younger Ser Rodrik. Bran also witnesses his late aunt Lyanna Stark as a young girl, who rides into the courtyard on horseback. In addition, his vision shows him a stableboy that he realizes is a young Hodor, and surprised that in his youth he was not a lackwit but was speaking normally. Bran then witnesses young Eddard hugging Benjen and bidding his father Rickard farewell before his departure to be fostered in the Vale under Jon Arryn. Though Bran wants to stay in the vision, he is dragged out by the Raven, who warns that he may become too enamored with the past to want to return to the present.

Some time later, Bran has another vision, this time at the Tower of Joy in Dorne, shortly after the end of Robert's Rebellion. The last two of the Targaryen Kingsguard block the way of a small party of Northmen led by Eddard Stark as young man. Eddard tells the famed swordsman Ser Arthur Dayne to stand down and asks where his sister Lyanna is, but Dayne simply wishes Stark the best in the wars to come. The two sides then clash, with Dayne quickly cutting down the number of Northmen. Eventually, Dayne duels Eddard one-on-one and gains the upper hand, but is unprepared for Howland Reed stabbing him through the back of his neck. Eddard then runs towards the tower, having heard a woman's scream come from one of its windows, as Bran then runs to follow him. Eddard looks back for a second, seemingly aware of Bran’s presence somehow, but then runs into the Tower of Joy. Inside, Bran then witnesses Eddard discover his sister Lyanna lying in bed with blood-stained sheets. One of the handmaidens hands a newborn baby to Ned, who takes the child in his arms. A weakened Lyanna whispers to Ned that the boy is Aegon Targaryen and begs her brother to promise he'll keep her child safe, as King Robert would kill him if discovered. As Ned looks at his infant nephew, the child's eyes open up to reveal the dark-colored eyes of Jon Snow. Bran realizes that Jon is Lyanna's son and not Eddard’s at all, and that Robert’s Rebellion was built on a lie as she was in love with Prince Rhaegar Targaryen and willingly bore a child with him. The child of a secret that Ned took to his grave for the love of his sister. The child who has the rightful claim to the Iron Throne.