Eddard Mares

Ned the Red enters the king's service and accompanies Aegon II Targaryen to the Throne Room the day the king comes to hear the pleas of the smallfolk. That night he lingers at the foot of the Iron Throne with the king and his companions Martyn Reyne and Leon Estermont; when word comes of Prince Jaehaerys's death, the three try to calm a furious Aegon, who ends up smashing the model that stood for his father Viserys's reign.

Newly sworn into the Kingsguard, Eddard treats the post lightly, leaving his station to joke with Martyn and running into Ser Criston Cole along the way. He watches the fitting of the king's armor and holds back Larys Strong, who wants to speak with Aegon, though he lets him through and leaves the hall with the others when asked. That same night he seeks the king out again, inviting him to drink and to see to the deflowering of a squire; together they make their way through the taverns and end up at a brothel, where they cross paths with Prince Aemond and overhear the king humiliating him.

Alongside Martyn and Leon, Eddard regularly escorts Aegon between his chambers and the Small Council, and he is among the knights who stand watch over the king during his convalescence.

When the mob turns on Queens Alicent and Helaena, Eddard joins Leon, Martyn, and Rickard Thorne in the escort protecting them. He shields the two women from the food hurled at them and, when Helaena is seized by panic, helps her down the stairs. Things turn worse once he draws his sword: he, Leon, and Martyn find themselves surrounded by the crowd.

The clash sparks a riot in which Leon Estermont is killed. As punishment, Eddard and Martyn are stripped of their white Kingsguard cloaks and sent to the Wall to serve in the Night's Watch.