Editing Varys (section)

===''A Game of Thrones''===
[[File:Mike Capprotti Whisper Campaign.JPG|350px|thumb|Varys whispers to Lord [[Eddard Stark]], by Mike Capprotti © Fantasy Flight Games]]
One of Varys's spies, Ser [[Jorah Mormont]], sends word from [[Essos]] that the exiled Princess [[Daenerys Targaryen]] has wed Khal [[Drogo]]. Varys sends a rider to inform King [[Robert I Baratheon]], who is returning from [[Winterfell]] with his new [[Hand of the King]], Lord [[Eddard Stark]].{{ref|AGOT|12}} In [[King's Landing]], Varys tells [[Catelyn Stark]] he does not recognize the [[Valyrian steel dagger]] used to attack her son [[Bran Stark|Bran]] at Winterfell. Lord [[Petyr Baelish]], however, claims to have once owned it and then lost it to [[Tyrion Lannister]].{{ref|AGOT|18}}

Eddard dislikes Varys during his first meeting with the [[small council]],{{ref|AGOT|20}} finding him unnerving.{{ref|AGOT|25}} After the [[Hand's tourney]], however, Varys disguises himself and, bypassing [[House Stark guards|Ned's guards]], meets Lord Stark at his chambers in the [[Tower of the Hand]]. He warns Eddard that Queen [[Cersei Lannister]] is trying to kill King Robert. He states that his goal is peace and stability and professes to assist Lord Stark in his investigations against [[House Lannister]]. Varys also reveals that the former hand, Lord [[Jon Arryn]], was poisoned with the [[tears of Lys]].{{Ref|AGOT|30}}

In the depths of the [[Red Keep]], [[Arya Stark]] observes a disguised Varys meeting with Magister [[Illyrio Mopatis]], who is asking to delay a war between Houses [[House Stark|Stark]] and [[House Lannister|Lannister]] until the right time. Arya does not recognize the men, and Eddard believes the two are merely [[mummers]] when told about them by his daughter.{{Ref|AGOT|32}}

Varys brings Jorah's report of Daenerys being pregnant to the small council, which results in Robert's command to assassinate both her and [[Rhaego|her unborn child]].{{ref|AGOT|33}} When Robert goes hunting in the [[kingswood]], Varys attends court while Eddard sits the [[Iron Throne]] in the king's absence.{{ref|AGOT|43}}

When King Robert is wounded while hunting a boar, Eddard orders Varys to halt the attempts on Daenerys's life.{{ref|AGOT|47}} Varys is in attendance when Cersei has [[arrest of Eddard Stark|Eddard arrested]] in the [[throne room]].{{ref|AGOT|49}}

After Robert dies from his wounds, Varys remains master of whisperers for the new king, [[Joffrey Baratheon|Joffrey I Baratheon]]. When Joffrey demands that someone take the blame for his father's death, Varys suggests Ser [[Barristan Selmy]].{{ref|ACOK|3}} Joffrey and Cersei dismiss Barristan from the [[Kingsguard]], a move many outside the council see as a folly.{{Ref|AGOT|57}}

Varys visits Eddard in the [[black cells]] disguised as a gaoler. Varys persuades Ned that for the sake of his daughter, [[Sansa Stark]], he must falsely confess to treason so Cersei will allow him to [[take the black]], thus delaying a war between Stark and Lannister.{{Ref|AGOT|58}} Despite Varys's intentions to spare Lord Stark's life, however, King Joffrey goes against the council's wishes and decides at the last minute to have Ned executed, much to the shock of Varys and the other onlookers at the [[Great Sept of Baelor]].{{Ref|AGOT|65}}