28 AGOT Eddard VI: The Seed Is Strong

After hearing Jory's report, Ned follows Jon Arryn's footsteps to the armory. Ned meets Gendry and immediately knows he's a bastard son of Robert's.

The clues come together in this chapter for the reader, though not yet for Ned. He's looking for proof Cersei and Jaime killed Jon Arryn and ill seem to find it in the realization that Jon Arryn suspected Cersei's children were not Robert's but Jaime's. However, the twincest doesn't mean the Lannisters killed Jon Arryn. Littlefinger is setting up Ned to make a false accusation.

Gendry and Robert's other bastards have the Baratheon look thta makes Renly so remind of a young Robert. That's what Jon Arryn was looking for proof of in the book of lineage and what his last words conclude. The seed is strong means Baratheon looks tend to dominate, the same way the Tully look has presented in the majority of Stark children.

Though it should have been factored in to the original expense account for the tourney, no one thought to increase the City Watch and temporarily. Renly even seems to blame the commander, though him being incompetent is not a good sign, either. How did such a man rise to command?

This chapter puts togethr the clues that Jon Arryn thought a book of lineage worth consulting and that he and Stannis had been making a tour of Robert's bastards. Since readers already know about twincest, it's now clear Robert's heir is not his son. None of the king's children are legitimate.

That Renly is preparing to propose a new bride for Robert seems to suggest he knows and expects the truth to come out. However, later facts suggest otherwise. It seems Renly was preparing to suggest Robert replace Cersei with Margaery based on Cersei's character alone.

Ned's visit to Gendry also brings to mind the pain of class distinctions in Kings Landing. Tobho Mott's establishment appears rich, even fanciful, but the caverous stone barn where the forges run is not so nice a place. And Gendry's apprentice fee was paid for, making him middle class. Yet, that he is sullen mens he is unhappy.