Massacre in the Red Keep

"Kill him! Kill all of them I command it!"

- King Joffrey Baratheon

A massacre in the Red Keep was the result of Lord Eddard Stark's failed attempt to place King Joffrey Baratheon and his family under arrest to ensure the coronation of Robert Baratheon's true heir, his brother Stannis.

Alongside the attacks against the smallfolk of the Riverlands, this was one of the key events in the detonation of the War of the Five Kings.

In the books
The first casualty of Ned's guards is Tomard. One of the Gold Cloaks drives his spear into his back, killing him instantly even before his sword hits the floor. The letter that Ned gave him for Stannis Baratheon is taken from his body and later presented to Sansa as evidence of her father's "treason". Thus Stannis never receives the letter, unlike in the TV show, but he has already known long ago the truth about Cersei's kids.

Another of Ned's guards to die is Cayn, who does not appear in the TV show. He manages to drive back the nearest spearman with a flurry of blows, and for an instant it looks as though he may cut his way free. Then the Hound attacks him, first cutting off his sword hand at the wrist. The second slash drives Cayn to his knees and opens him from shoulder to breastbone.

After Arya escapes from Meryn Trant, she reaches the stables. Outside she finds Hullen, the Master of Horse at Winterfell. He had been stabbed so many times it looked as if his tunic was patterned with scarlet flowers. His eyes open and he whispers "Arya Underfoot. You must... warn your... your lord father..." and dies. Inside the stable Arya finds four more bodies of Stark servants, a groom and three household guards, and one body of Lannister soldier. One of the dead guards is Desmond, who assured Arya earlier that that no harm would befall her father, and that every northman was worth ten southron swords. She kicks the body in a sudden fury and calls him a liar.