Game Of Thrones: 20 Stupid Character Decisions With Terrible Consequences
3. Ned Doesn't Take Renly's Offer
Well, if Ned had blown it all by going to Cersei earlier, he is offered the proverbial 'Get out of jail free card' by Renly, which, you may have guessed, he does not take... the man's decision making really does beggar belief. Renly proposes to give Ned one hundred men, to strike in the night and take Joffrey into their custody. Renly knows (if Ned certainly doesn't) that Cersei will simply ignore any decrees of regency that Robert imposes on Ned in the event of his imminent death, and that the only course of action is to remove Joffrey from the equation, thereby rendering Cersei's grasp on the Iron Throne inert. Ned denies Renly's claim to the throne, believing, as the law states, that Stannis is the rightful heir, being the elder of Robert's brothers. Stannis is a soldier, and has commanded men into battle. "So has Robert," Renly says, then asks: "Do you still believe good soldiers make good kings." I think in one scene, Renly proves that he of all of them is actually most worthy of the throne. Alas, Ned is going to do things the 'right' way, and damn the consequences.
2. Ned Trusts Littlefinger, And Loses the Game
The final nail in Ned's coffin comes, as you might expect, from the trust he places in the man whom, above all others, you simply should not trust. Ned wants to declare Joffrey's illegitimacy to the court and name Stannis Baratheon as the rightful king. To do so, he's going to need the loyalty of the city watch to neutralise the threat of Cersei's own men. Littlefinger commands that loyalty, as he is the man who pays them. Ned summons Littlefinger to grant his request, but Littlefinger urges him to make peace with the Lannisters; to rule as reagent over Joffrey in accordance with King Robert's will. In this scene, Ned accuses Littlefinger of proposing treason, and then places his trust in him to deliver the Goldcloaks. I kid you not, this happens within the same conversation! They go to Joffrey's court to deliver Robert's will and well, you know the rest...
