Eddard realized how dire the situation had become. He immediately ordered the defenses of the Tower of the Hand strengthened and sent men to notify Renly and the other nobles loyal to Baratheon.
Unfortunately, he had still underestimated Cersei and the Lannisters' power in King's Landing. One night had been enough for his enemies to make all their preparations.
The next day, news of Robert's death spread rapidly. Eddard urgently convened the Small Council, but when he arrived at the Council Chamber, he found Joffrey already sitting on the Iron Throne.
Cersei stood beside the throne with the entire Kingsguard, along with all the nobles who supported House Lannister and several members of the Small Council. Renly, the Master of Laws, was absent.
After Eddard had told Renly about his meeting with Cersei the day before, the Lord of Storm's End had known their cause was lost. He understood the Lannisters' strength in King's Landing far better than Eddard did.
If they had caught the Lannisters in King's Landing by surprise and seized them, the Iron Throne might still have been theirs. But now Eddard had put the Lannisters on their guard.
Renly knew that even joining forces with Eddard would accomplish nothing, so he had fled King's Landing with his men that night and returned to Storm's End. Before leaving, he had sent Eddard a letter urging him to leave as well, but the Lannisters had intercepted it along the way.
The moment Eddard entered the Council Chamber, Grand Maester Pycelle, standing beside Joffrey, spoke in a trembling voice. "By law and tradition, Prince Joffrey should be crowned king."
"I object." Eddard stepped forward. "Before his death, King Robert explicitly named Renly Baratheon as his heir. I have His Grace's will. Furthermore, I have reason to question Joffrey's parentage."