In other words, if he was dead no matter what, the only question that remained was whether he would die with his honor intact or in shreds around him. Needless to say, he chose the latter. However, had it been as simple as the Lannisters killing Ned for what he knew as soon as they captured him, none of the prison drama would ever have transpired. Whether or not he what he knew gave him leverage even from within a cell, THEY believed it did and that gave him a bargaining chip: Your life and your childrens in exchange for mine. Once he surrendered that leverage he was utterly at the mercy of people whose defining characteristics are lack of mercy or scruples. Knowing all that, he did it anyway, which makes him as stupid as he was honorless. Giving into hostage takers demands doesn't free the hostages, it simply enriches their captors (and is particularly stupid when killing the hostages would eliminate all THEIR leverage).
He was dead no matter what. He cared about his honor, but it wasn't just a question of his honor but also a question of trying to save his daughter's life. Ned made a choice and sacrifice his honor via throwing himself on the grenade.
Cersei may be a lion protecting her cubs, but she isn't stupid once the knife was away from Joffrey's throat, she had no reason to hurt Sansa. Cersei only causes harm to others when it benefits her or her cubs.
1) The only reason Bran was hurt was due to the fact Bran saw her and Jamie having sex and thus was a threat to Joffrey's safety. Furthermore it is revealed that Cersei thought Jamie was rash and that she could have convinced Bran he never saw anything for he was only 7.
2) You are not aware of this but once Joffrey murdered a cat due to Joffrey being a psychopath, cutting the cat to pieces to see what was inside. Because Joffrey caused an animal to needless suffer, King Robert beat Joffrey. After the beating Cercei threaten to kill Robert in his sleep if he ever harmed her son again.
3) Cersei kills King Robert via too strong of wine due to the fact Ned was snooping around and it was only a matter of time before Ned found out and told Robert.
Thus if Ned confessed Cersei had no reason to harm Sansa. Furthermore harming Sansa would be disastrous to her cause for Sansa is a hostage for Robb and if the Lannisters ever killed Robb then a Lannister marrying Sansa could become Lord of the North.
interesting thread over on tv guide...cannoli will hate it.
- 13/06/2011 05:14:48 AM
1066 Views
He was going to put aside his principles and say, 'I betrayed my country and my king and my people'.
- 13/06/2011 05:55:39 AM
761 Views
I am sorry but that is a bunch of BS
- 13/06/2011 12:01:18 PM
606 Views
*NM*
Even if I concede he was dead from the moment he was captured, that leaves HOW he died to determine.
- 13/06/2011 04:14:44 PM
692 Views
Ned is a northerner, and well aware of the good he could have done on the Wall.
- 13/06/2011 05:49:40 PM
540 Views
That was not the clincher though. What good he could do on the Wall is nothing next to a usurper
- 17/06/2011 08:47:06 PM
607 Views
Cersei would protect her cubs, she is a lioness
- 13/06/2011 11:58:48 PM
718 Views
Look up the concept of hostages sometime. Plus, Varys was playing Ned.
- 17/06/2011 09:15:02 PM
695 Views
So what should have Ned done, once he was in that cell? *NM*
- 18/06/2011 04:50:27 AM
638 Views
Stick to his guns and not agree to take the Black or recant his actions against Joffrey
- 04/07/2011 03:29:23 PM
660 Views
I'd pick family over honour.
- 13/06/2011 10:05:46 PM
629 Views
Cersie is the one who says "love is poison" in the second book to Sansa.
- 15/06/2011 06:54:21 PM
562 Views
And some day, when your kid needed people to trust you, you'd be screwed.
- 17/06/2011 09:37:25 PM
620 Views