Game Of Thrones: 20 Stupid Character Decisions With Terrible Consequences

7. Ned Ignores Arya's Warning

In the next scene, Arya wanders deep into the depths of the Red Keep and finds the giant bones of the dragons of old. She overhears a secret conversation between Varys and Illyrio Mopatis. Varys warns that her father is on the trail of Jon Arryn's death, that he has found the book and the bastards of King Robert. Illyrio suggests killing this Hand, like they did the last. Arya can't name the two men, but she does take the warning to Ned, declaring their intentions to kill him. She also mentions Ned's uncovering of King Robert's bastard son, something she could never have known about unless she did indeed overhear the things she claims. This is striking proof that validates her accusation, and yet we will never know if Ned believes her or not, because they are interrupted by news of Catelyn's arrest of Tyrion. What we do know is that Ned never resumes the conversation with Arya, and yet another warning about the danger he is in goes over his head.

6. Ned Overlooks Further, Vital Leads

Ned is summoned to an emergency Small Council meeting, the subject of which is the revelation of a living Targaryen across the Narrow Sea. King Robert wants to send hired knives after Daenerys, but Ned will have no part in it, and promptly resigns as Hand of the King. Later, in the Hand's office, Littlefinger offers to take Ned to meet the last man Jon Arryn spoke to before he was killed. Wait, say that again! Ned doesn't have time however; he's packing to leave King's Landing. He does have time to visit Littlefinger's brothel and ask more questions about Robert's bastards though. The intriguing witness to Jon Arryn's final moments is never mentioned again.