Robert appointed Lancelot as the commander of the vanguard for the Seven Kingdoms' allied forces, tasking him with leading the advance troops to the Wall first.
Meanwhile, Lancelot had been buffed by the Nine-Colored Deer. A pattern of seven stars appeared on his chest, shaped like a ladle—the Big Dipper.
After bestowing the power of the Big Dipper upon Lancelot, the Nine-Colored Deer vanished into the forest.
Lancelot could feel his magic and spirit double in potency. His strength, speed, and intelligence remained unchanged.
Additionally, he gained a new talent: "God's Favored."
Lancelot's current stats were as follows:
Name: Lancelot Lannister
Identity: Noble
Class: Knight
Strength: 25
Speed: 25
Intelligence: 25
Spirit: 50
Magic: 50
Talent: Warg, Mage, Dreamwalker, God's Favored.
Warg: Grants Lancelot the ability to control animals.
Mage: Grants Lancelot powerful magical talent and learning ability.
Dreamwalker: Grants Lancelot the ability to see possibilities of the past and future in dreams.
God's Favored: A unique talent bestowed by the Nine-Colored Deer. From now on, Lancelot has nine lives; but die once, lose one life.
Lancelot felt an unprecedented power surging through his body.
He tested the strongest spell Melisandre had taught him: the Firebird Jutsu (or similar).
"Chidori — Fire Dance!"
Lancelot formed hand seals and summoned a thousand fluttering crimson firebirds. They burst into flames in the air, instantly illuminating the night sky as bright as day.
Upon returning to King's Landing, King Robert established a War Council. It consisted of King Robert, Eddard Stark, Tywin Lannister, Balon Greyjoy, Mace Tyrell, Renly, Varys, Littlefinger, Pycelle, Barristan, and Lancelot.
The Vale, the Riverlands, and Dorne did not participate, each for their own reasons.
Except for Lancelot, everyone in this War Council was either a former Small Council member, a Lord Paramount, or the King himself.
With the decision made to send troops beyond the Wall, Varys shared the latest intelligence on Daenerys with everyone.
Daenerys Targaryen, the last princess of House Targaryen. Her brother Viserys had already died, crowned with molten gold.
According to Varys's informants, Daenerys Targaryen had hatched three baby dragons.
Consequently, King Robert decided to send someone to assassinate Daenerys Targaryen.
At this point, Littlefinger suggested sending Eddard Stark's bastard, Jon Snow, to complete this mission.
"What? Baelish, you'd send a child to assassinate another child?" Eddard Stark thought Littlefinger was inhuman.
"Ned, this matter was mentioned to me by Catelyn. If you have any dissatisfaction, you can go back and ask Catelyn!" Littlefinger smiled indifferently.
"Robert, you agree to this proposal too?" Eddard Stark looked at King Robert.
A cloud of gloom hung over Robert's face, but he eventually nodded silently.
Thus, Jon Snow was dispatched to assassinate Daenerys Targaryen.
At the Nanshan Nursing Home, after feeding the horses, Jon Snow was about to rest when an old man suddenly appeared behind him.
"Oh, gods, you almost scared me to death! Old man, do you need something?" Jon Snow asked.
"Jon Snow, you say you are Eddard Stark's bastard? But I think you don't look like a young Eddard Stark. Instead, you look more like Prince Rhaegar."
"Do you know who Rhaegar was?" the old man asked.
"The man who abducted Lyanna and was ultimately killed by King Robert himself on the Trident."
"I look like him? I don't have silver hair or violet eyes," Jon Snow retorted.
"Your temperament resembles his, not your appearance. Both of you possess an innate melancholic air," the old man said.
"That's impossible!" Jon Snow refuted. He dismissed the man as senile and didn't waste any more words with him.
When the King's command arrived at the Nanshan Nursing Home, Jon Snow couldn't believe he had been assigned such a mission.
He was reluctant; he didn't want to carry out the assassination of Daenerys.
But if he refused, Eddard Stark would surely become a target of public criticism.
In the end, Jon Snow accepted the dagger. Alone, he quietly boarded a ship bound for the continent of Essos across the Narrow Sea.
Eddard Stark returned to the Tower of the Hand and had a huge argument with Catelyn Tully. In the end, he slapped Catelyn for the first time.
In a fit of rage, Catelyn Tully returned to her maiden home, taking some Tully retainers back to Riverrun.
King Robert and Eddard Stark also fell out over this matter, and their relationship became strained.
To ease the tension with Ned, King Robert privately invited him for a drink. Without any attendants, the two went to a tavern in King's Landing at night to drink.
"Ned, I've heard some rumors lately," King Robert said after draining the ale from his horn.
"Rumors? Rumors are like prophecies; the more they spread, the weirder they get!" Eddard Stark said, already somewhat tipsy.
"Aye, rumors are like prophecies. They change flavor as they pass from mouth to mouth. Even the original rumor-monger might be shocked to hear his own rumor half a year later!" King Robert slurred drunkenly.
The two drank until they were thoroughly intoxicated. However, on their way back to the Red Keep, a thug from Flea Bottom stabbed Robert with a knife.
The next day, King Robert's body was laid in the Great Sept. His death was extremely dramatic, and the thug was nowhere to be found.
Eddard Stark, however, was placed under house arrest. The Northern lords protested strongly, demanding Eddard Stark's release.
But Eddard Stark himself stated he was willing to accept a fair trial.
The old king was dead; the new king ascended.
Joffrey's coronation was very simple because the Crown was basically broke and deep in debt.
When Joffrey presided over his first War Council, he made a shocking move.
"A new king needs to appoint a new Hand. Since Lord Eddard Stark has not yet been cleared of suspicion of regicide, I am temporarily rescinding his position as Hand of the King. I now appoint my brother, Lancelot, as the new Hand of the King."
Everyone stared in disbelief. They glanced at Tywin's face, but it was as calm as still water, betraying no emotion.
Lancelot walked up to Joffrey, took the Hand pin, and fastened it to his chest.
"Now, my Hand! Do you have any advice for your King? Regarding the people's livelihood, military strategy, or politics?" Joffrey asked.
"Your Grace, I believe the safety of the Royal Family is paramount to the kingdom. Seven Kingsguard are insufficient to protect all members of the Royal Family."
"Therefore, I propose expanding the Kingsguard from seven members to a Round Table of twelve knights," Lancelot said.