 Arya , who has been living as a beggar in the streets of King 's Landing since her escape from the Lannisters , learns a crowd is gathering at the Great Sept of Baelor , where her father will be judged before the gods , and in order to see over the crowd , climbs onto the statue of Baelor the Blessed . As he is dragged through the crowd , Ned notices Arya on the statue , and alerts the Night 's Watch recruiter Yoren ( Francis Magee ) to her location . With Sansa , Cersei , Joffrey and the Small Council looking over him , Ned confesses to treason and swears fealty to Joffrey in front of the crowd . Satisfied , Sansa and Cersei ask Joffrey to spare Ned as Joffrey promised , but Joffrey breaks his promise and orders Ned to be executed . As Sansa watches in horror , Cersei , Varys and the Small Council attempt to intervene , and Arya tries to rescue Ned , only to be stopped by Yoren , who prevents her from seeing her father 's execution . When he sees that Arya has been rescued , Ned accepts his fate and is beheaded by Ser Ilyn Payne ( Wilko Johnson ) . 
