chapter 163 part 2
Ser Barristan trusted Lord Eddard's honor. He spoke steadily, "I require a reasonable explanation now. My honor does not permit your current actions."
Cersei immediately interjected, "Stark, no matter how prettily you speak, you cannot change the fact that you are trying to usurp the throne!"
On the Iron Throne, Joffrey shrieked, his voice cracking, "Kill him! Kill them all for me!"
*Shing.* Jaime stood opposite Lord Eddard, slowly drawing the longsword from his waist. "Lord Direwolf, I suggest you not refuse Queen Cersei's goodwill."
Lord Eddard snorted. "Kingslayer. You are not worthy to wear the white cloak. Your honor is long since stained."
Jaime's expression changed. He was about to speak, but Cersei cut him off with a sharp cry. "Enough talk! Stark is a traitor! Seize him!"
*Shing, shing, shing.* The Hound, the rest of the Kingsguard, and the Lannister redcloaks all drew their longswords.
Joffrey shrieked again, "Kill them!"
...
"Cersei, I wanted to avoid needless bloodshed, but you have left me no choice."
Lord Eddard looked to the Lord Commander of the Gold Cloaks. "Lord Janos," he continued, "I ask you to take Cersei and her children into custody, but see they are not harmed. Return them to Maegor's Holdfast and place them under guard."
Lord Janos put on his plumed helm and shouted, "City Watch!"
More than a hundred Gold Cloaks lowered their spears, but their points were aimed in Lord Eddard's direction.
Lord Janos said, "Traitor Eddard Stark, the City Watch swears to defend King Joffrey to the death!"
Cersei's voice was full of mockery. "Stark, I too wish to avoid needless bloodshed. Order your men to lay down their arms and beg for the king's mercy."
Joffrey's shriek was laced with excitement. "Kill them for me! Kill them all!"
Lord Eddard caught sight of Pycelle and Varys sneaking over to Cersei's side. "..."
Glyn's analysis was right. Enemies were truly everywhere.
Lord Eddard knew clearly then that he had been foolishly played. The Lord Commander of the Gold Cloaks was actually Cersei's running dog; this was a trap she had laid long ago.
...
An unconcealable smugness was on Lord Janos's face as he repeated, "Eddard Stark, lay down your weapons and kneel in surrender!"
...
Eddard took the greatsword Ice from the attendant who offered it. He gripped the hilt with both hands, settling into a fighting stance.
The captain of the guard, Jory, turned to look at his lord. He chuckled, "My lord, they have many spearmen. It will be hard to defend!"
A veteran of a hundred battles, Lord Eddard felt his blood begin to boil, just as Robert had said. He missed the days of fighting side-by-side with his old friend.
"Jory, the North was never good at defending."
"As you command, my lord..."
Jory waved his arm and roared, "Prepare to fight!"
...
"Hooah! Hooah! Hooah!" The battle cries of the Stark greycloaks were deafening in the Throne Room.
Joffrey, who had been standing there excitedly screaming for blood, jumped in fright and fell back onto the Iron Throne. His palm was sliced open by the chair's sharp points, and fresh blood dripped down.
"Mother, I'm bleeding!"
Cersei did not hear her son's cries, but The Hound did. He strode forward, pushed aside Maester Pycelle who was hiding behind, and stepped onto the dais below the Iron Throne.
Jaime raised his sword, taking a fighting stance. "Lord Direwolf, lay down your weapon!"
The direwolf's grey eyes were blazing with the will to fight. He could no longer hear any other sound. His gaze slowly swept over the many enemies... Finally, he locked onto the Lord Commander of the Gold Cloaks.
Lord Eddard's hands relaxed slightly, then tightened on the hilt of his sword once more.
"Winterfell!"
"Aye! Aye! Aye!"
"Stark!"
"Charge! Charge! Charge!"
Lord Eddard led the greycloaks in a charge toward Lord Janos's position.
...
Lord Eddard's greatsword Ice first sheared through three spearheads, then with a horizontal sweep, sent the heads of two Gold Cloaks flying.
The fight forced Eddard to a halt, and his guards surged past him.
Janos bellowed, "Hold the line! Thrust!"
The first few greycloaks to charge were almost all run through by spears, among them Tomard, who was nearly fifty.
A long spear pierced Tomard's abdomen and came out his back, its tip dripping with blood. He could not help but spit out a mouthful of it.
"For Winterfell!"
Tomard let out a final, hoarse roar and charged forward along the shaft of the spear impaling him. With his last breath, he plunged his longsword into his enemy's neck.
The greycloaks fell one by one. After eleven of them had gone down, the fight became a chaotic melee.
Every time Ice, forged of Valyrian steel, was swung, it sheared through men and their weapons alike. The enemies before Lord Eddard fell one after another, while the guards at his side used their own swords and bodies to block the attacks aimed at him.
Once they closed to short range, one greycloak took down at least three Gold Cloaks. The fighting prowess of Winterfell's elite struck fear into the enemy.
"Janos!"
Lord Eddard roared. A diagonal slash from Ice split Lord Janos's breastplate from his left shoulder down to below his right breast, leaving a long gash.
After a moment, blood sprayed forth, and Lord Janos fell stiffly to the ground.
...
Lord Eddard panted heavily, his face stained with blood. His gaze shifted, locking onto Jaime Lannister not far away. The filthy Kingslayer and the Lannister redcloaks were protecting Cersei.
The Direwolf turned and took up his fighting stance once more.
"Stark!"
"Charge! Charge! Charge!"
The twelve remaining Stark greycloaks surrounded Lord Eddard, roaring as one. Their morale was still high.
(end of chapter)