Tywin tells Tyrion that he thinks Tyrion is responsible for the coming war. Tywin suggests he will give Tyrion a small force to deal with what remains of the men that Ned sent against Gregor. With some cunning flattery, Tywin helps convince the clansmen to follow Tyrion into battle. In the throne room, Joff calls on nearly every family in Westeros, including the Starks, to swear loyalty to him or be deemed traitors.
Cersei relieves the aging Barristan from his post as Commander of the Kingsguard, even though members of the Kingsguard take their oaths for life.
Barristan is appalled. Barristan throws down his armor and sword in contempt. Joff promotes the Hound to the Kingsguard. The Hound accepts the position though he refuses to be knighted. When the royal business is done, Sansa asks for mercy for her father. Joff agrees on the condition that Ned confess his treason.
He imagines Robert scolding him for his foolish pride and honor. Varys visits Ned and gives him news about the Stark family. Varys asks Ned why innocents always suffer most when high lords play at the game of thrones. He tells Ned that he does not serve Cersei or Littlefinger. He serves only the realm, and his only goal is peace.
He tells Ned that, when he leaves his cell, he has a choice: Ned can maintain his loyalty and duty to Robert by insisting that Joff is not the true king, in which case Sansa may be executed along with Ned; or, for the love he bears Sansa, Ned can confess to a crime he did not commit. Ned chose this option to help protect his family, with Sansa still under the hold of the Lannisters; had Ned refused to confess, then her life likely would've been made even worse and put at greater risk. Of course, this is also because of Ned's famous honor: he trusts Varys' word and that Cersei and Joffrey will stick to theirs, which Joffrey then doesn't to the shock of even Cersei.
A trial by combat, then, wasn't on the table because Ned didn't think he'd need to face a trial of any sort. Had Ned refused to confess and instead opted to be tried, it's still unlikely that he would have demanded a trial by combat. While someone of a different faith can demand one, they are very traditionally a choice of those who practice the Faith of the Seven, while Ned kept the Old Gods.
On top of that is Ned's weakened physical and mental state: with a badly injured leg, a feverish state, and having been locked in a cell with little food or water, he was in no condition to fight. He might have been able to elect someone else as his champion, but realistically the options were slim-to-none. The Crown would've had varying choices of great warriors - Ser Barristan Selmy, the Hound, the Mountain, etc - and while Ned was well-respected and liked, it'd be hard to find someone willing to go against the King and a likely death for him in this scenario.
That would've put his family in an even more perilous situation, as well as costing him his life, so is another reason not to demand a trial by combat. Not sure if should have put spoilers in, may the SE gods guide me. Someone needs to give Ned the Obi-Wan treatment! Add a comment. Active Oldest Votes. Improve this answer. Community Bot 1. Can speaking of Baelor the blessed and High septon while he don't believe in faith of seven be considered as a lie?
TheLethalCarrot concerning Jon true lineage, he often says "You're of my blood", which is true, and he did have an affair with a woman, more supposed to be with Ashara Wylla's mistress who commited suicide after the death of their baby.
He would however have lied about the identity of his lover to Robert. The article about this is sadly in french, I don't know where to find its equivalent in english : lagardedenuit. TheLethalCarrot, I don't actually recall any time that Ned explicitly said Jon is his bastard "on camera". Even in Cat's musings in the books, he is described as very close-mouthed about Jon's origins other than to say he's "my responsibility" and that "his mother is dead".
I agree with your core assertion, but I'm not sure we can back up the opening statement that he liked about fathering Jon. Paul given what we've seen haven't read the books yet Ned seems to have played on the "you're my blood" line therefor avoiding having to lie direct. Honourable fool undead — Seamusthedog.
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