What if Eddard Stark told Robert Baratheon about his "children" while he was on his deathbed?

[rushzone]

If Ned told Robert Baratheon about Jaime and Cersei Lannister's secret incestuos relationship and told him everything that he had learned while he was in Kings Landing then what would Robert Baratheon have done? And more importantly would Roberts small council and his kings guard listen to him?  He was fatally wounded and near death after all, would the council and the kings guard still carry out his commands? Cersei would probably tell the court that Eddard Stark had tricked him and that Robert was to ill to comprehend what Eddard told him. Also Littlefinger would probably have still payed off the gold cloaks to betray Ned. What do you guys think? Would it have ended differently? Or would a similar situation arise where Robert dies and Ned is branded a traitor?

Edited September 24, 2022 by rushzone

[Aejohn the Conqueroo]

I think the fact that Ned didn't tell him shows us that Ned himself had no faith that it would have mattered. So he took it upon himself to amend King Bob's will - which didn't matter either.

[Winterfell is Burning]

I think Ned was right that not only Cersei and Jaime would have died, but the kids likely would have died as well.  Their only salvation was if Robert didn't resist for long enough to see the other carried out, but assuming he did, then either they're dead or at least Robert sends an order to all the noble houses with the news, and there's a civil war still, but on much shakier ground for the Lannisters.

Edited September 29, 2022 by Winterfell is Burning

[cytherea]

And if he did tell Robert, and he did carry out orders to arrest and/or execute both Cersei and Jaime and the children, likely the crown would have gone to Stannis, but then, it likely wouldn't have mattered either, seeing as Renly was also ready to claim it to himself. In the end, they'd likely have a war in their hands either way

[BoltonBannerMan]

There is a strong possibility that it would not matter. Robert was on his deathbed and people tend to forgive and forget when dying (thou this might not be true for such a guy). Maybe he simply wouldn't care.

On the other hand, if he cared, if Jamie, Cersie and the kids got killed. Well, Tywin would rebel for the starts, Stormlands and the Reach might still go with Renly... there would still be a bloody war.

[moonhawk]

Aegon IV legitimized his bastards on his deathbed, so at least the King's last wishes are respected when someone is there to listen to them. If Ned had told, Robert would definitely have done something, as he didn't like Cersei and didn't have a positive opinion of Joffrey.

[Corvo the Crow]

Ned, fetch me a block.

[BlackLightning]

There would still be war. By the time we get to the point where Robert is dying, the War of the Five Kings was unavoidable.

Balon was always going to rebel. Renly too, especially where Stannis is concerned. Even if Ned told Robert the truth and Robert was consumed with rage and ordered their deaths, Ned had very few swords to his name in the city whereas Cersei had over a thousand. The Red Keep would become a slaughterhouse. Tywin has even more of a reason to raze the continent and he already had multiple armies in the field. Plus, Littlefinger was never Ned's ally and had always been plotting to betray him at some point.

And even if Robert denounced Cersei and Jaime as guilty of high treason and their children illegitimate, there's no guarantee that he would even pass the throne to Stannis. Robert is still Robert - a depressed, bumbling oaf. Endearing...but nonetheless a bumbling oaf suffering from major depressive disorder. For all we know, he could pull another Aegon IV and legitimize all his bastards, thereby naming Edric Storm as the heir. Which puts at right back at the idea that the War of the Five Kings was inevitable because there's no way in hell the Lannisters would allow that to happen. If something were to happen to Ned and his daughters (which is very likely given Littlefinger and the numerical advantage Cersei has over Ned), then Robb would rise in rebellion as well with Greatjon and the others hailing him as King in the North. If Mace would have a problem with marrying Margaery to Edric, then we'd be looking at a War of Six Kings.

It'd be more ambiguous as to who are the good guys and the bad guys this time around.

[John Suburbs]

On 9/24/2022 at 4:49 PM, rushzone said:

If Ned told Robert Baratheon about Jaime and Cersei Lannister's secret incestuos relationship and told him everything that he had learned while he was in Kings Landing then what would Robert Baratheon have done? And more importantly would Roberts small council and his kings guard listen to him?  He was fatally wounded and near death after all, would the council and the kings guard still carry out his commands? Cersei would probably tell the court that Eddard Stark had tricked him and that Robert was to ill to comprehend what Eddard told him. Also Littlefinger would probably have still payed off the gold cloaks to betray Ned. What do you guys think? Would it have ended differently? Or would a similar situation arise where Robert dies and Ned is branded a traitor?

Even if Robert believed Ned there is still no proof. Ned's own children look more Tully than Stark. So Robert would have died before a trial could even take place, or if they rushed it through Cersei could call for a TBC with Ser Gregor as her champion, which she would win.

So it might have worked out better for Ned if he had told Robert. When Cersei beats the rap, he could have honorably withdrawn from the capital with his daughters and his house intact.

[Craving Peaches]

6 hours ago, John Suburbs said:

Cersei could call for a TBC with Ser Gregor as her champion

As Queen would she not need a member of the Kingsguard as her champion? Or am I misremembering? And if Cersei did use Gregor, couldn't Robert use Jaime? Or would he be dismissed from the KG at that point?

[John Suburbs]

On 1/20/2023 at 6:41 PM, Craving Peaches said:

As Queen would she not need a member of the Kingsguard as her champion? Or am I misremembering? And if Cersei did use Gregor, couldn't Robert use Jaime? Or would he be dismissed from the KG at that point?

Not if her accuser is the king. Remember, the plan of both Stannis and Ned was to convince Robert that the children were not his so he would then dispense his justice. So Robert would pick a KG, and Cersei would pick her own champion. But sure, I wouldn't put it past Robert to choose Jaime as his champion, so that even if Cersei wins, she loses. And mayhaps Jaime would simply refuse, which would be a yet another violation of his oath . . .

[Craving Peaches]

On 1/23/2023 at 7:52 PM, John Suburbs said:

So Robert would pick a KG, and Cersei would pick her own champion.

But Cersei does say this:

Quote

"When the queen's honor is at issue, law and custom require that her champion be one of the king's sworn seven. The High Septon will insist, I fear."

So presumable if this happended when she was queen the same rules would apply.

[John Suburbs]

20 hours ago, Craving Peaches said:

But Cersei does say this:

So presumable if this happended when she was queen the same rules would apply.

Eh, Cersei has a way of bending the rules to her benefit. She didn't choose a kingsguard for Tyrion's TbC, but of course, her honor was not at stake then. Regents have wide latitude to enforce the rules as they see fit.