3. Ned Alerting Cersei To His Plan
Now Ned made a lot--and I mean A LOT--of mistakes during his tenure as Hand of the King, but this is absolutely, 100 percent, the coup de grâce of horrible, horrible mistakes. Ned reveals that he has discovered the truth that cost Jon Arryn his life and that he plans to tell Robert as soon as he returns from his hunt. He gives Cersei the opportunity to flee King's Landing with her children to spare their lives from Robert's wrath. Cersei is unfazed by this, of course, as she has been playing this game for some time and isn't about to lose this battle of wills to an opponent who is inexperienced enough with the way of things in King's Landing as to show her mercy. She warns him, "when you play the game of thrones, you win or you die." You can point to a lot of Ned's decisions and make a legitimate case for each one as being his worst mistake. But this one really the cake. Before he even has the chance to reject Renly's offer, before he even decides to confide in Littlefinger and secure the aid of the City Watch, he reveals his plan to the very person he is ousting as an incestuous traitor. I get that Ned's trying to do the right thing and allow them the opportunity to flee with their lives, but this is just a poor decision. He gives Cersei ample time to prepare for Robert's return and to protect herself and her son. Even if Ned had taken Renly's offer, it's likely Cersei would have been prepared for an impending attack in the night. And Littlefinger coming through with the City Watch? That was never going to happen--ever. Ned may not have had much hope in deposing the king with only the truth he had discovered and Robert's will, but what little chance he had went out the window with this blunder.