4. Ned Trusting Littlefinger
Look at Ned choking the life out of Littlefinger, a man he knows to be an untrustworthy sleaze who took every opportunity to ogle his wife and otherwise plot to steal her away from him. What happened to that Ned? Westeros needed that Ned. Unfortunately, Ned heeded the advice of his wife to trust her old friend and suitor, Lord Baelish. Littlefinger aids Ned in his search for Robert's bastard sons and Ned seems to gain some confidence in the thoroughly untrustworthy Baelish. When Ned discovers Joffrey's true parentage, he reveals the truth to Littlefinger, who suggests they use the information to influence Joffrey's rule from behind the scenes. If Joffrey proves to be too unruly, they can reveal the secret and install Renly Baratheon as king. Ned, of course, rejects this treasonous plan and Littlefinger agrees to sway the City Watch to their cause. Of course, Littlefinger does not do this but rather employs the City Watch to turn on and murder Ned's men. Littlefinger himself puts a blade to Ned's neck reminding him, "I did warn you not to trust me." Ned had numerous opportunities before it got to this point--most of them, of course, not meeting his ridiculously high standards of honor--but trusting Littlefinger was the decision that led to his arrest and imprisonment and inevitably to war between the North and the Iron Throne.