They shall brazen their way out of this.

For a moment, Eddard felt a chill in his spine, but then Cersei stared at him with her piercing green eyes, and licked her lips. "I shall meet my lady in the Royal Solar," said Eddard commandingly, as he stood up to gather his clothes.

"Indeed," agreed the Queen. "I will come with you." She smiled at Jaime. "And we shall go get my brother for... security." Jaime suppressed a chuckle as he looked about

The trio met Catelyn in there, after they'd gotten dressed, and decided upon an approach. "Ned," began Cat, as he entered. "I... what is going on? This strange message, and Robert dead, and... I took a ship at White Harbor..." She stared at Cersei and Jaime, trying to process what was before her.

"Robert betrayed us all," said Eddard simply. "His plan was to make Sansa his whore and use me to get rid of Cersei. Thus the Starks would take the blame and the dishonor while he got to go on his merry way..."

Cersei nodded. "But your husband and I had... different plans. Which succeeded. Now he is the King. And I his Queen."

Catelyn stared at Eddard in shock. "Ned... what... what...?"

"The way of the Old Gods does not forbid a man from having two wives," said Eddard simply. This was true, even if the practice had fallen out of favor. "You and she shall be my Queens together. Sharing me and... other things."