Livia returned to the table and downed the goblet. She certainly needed the liquid courage if she was to continue what she had planned to do.

She didn't know what had gotten into her for wanting to do such a thing, perhaps it was her father's disappointment or it was the arbor gold.

Before she could talk herself out of it, she set off towards where many were already dancing and meeting Jaime's eyes, she raised up seven fingers. He only raised an eyebrow as if he was challenging her.

Well, she was not one to shy away from a challenge. Livia closed her eyes and spun around, her skirt fluttering around her.

1...2...3...4...5...6...7

Around and around until she stopped. Livia opened her eyes to see the world in a blur around her. Taking one step forward, she stumbled.

She almost fell to the floor, only she was caught just in time and was immediately swayed to the melody. When her vision cleared, she saw that she was in the arms of the man she saw at the ceremony.

The man with the raven hair and blue eyes. He was taller than she had expected, towering over her, a confident and easy smile on his face as he placed one of his hands on her waist and the other, holding her hand.

"Well, I would ask you what you were doing but I already know why." The man spoke, his voice quite deep.

Livia looked up at him, almost in shock before she quickly recovered. "Oh, you do? What was I doing then?" She asked, regaining her senses around her and dancing gracefully, meeting his steps.

He laughed then, his laugh so beautiful, it rendered her speechless. "You wanted to dance, didn't you? I'm happy to comply with your request, my lady."

He was unlike Rhaegar, whereas the prince was slender and graceful, this man was toned and robust. Who was this man, she wondered.

"Why, thank you, kind sir." Livia laughed with him.

"Robert Baratheon, at your service." The man who she now knew as Robert said.

"Livia." That was her only reply, she had not thought to think about saying her family name. For that night, she had just wanted to be Livia, without the Lannister name being such a weight on her.

Robert seemed to sense the hint of mystery around her and took it in stride.

"Enchanted." He said, placing a soft kiss on the hand he had been holding.

As they continued dancing, Livia couldn't seem to take her eyes off of the handsome man in front of her. She knew that somewhere around the room, her brother and sister were watching her like a hawk but in that moment, nothing else mattered.

"So what did you think of the ceremony, Lord Robert?" She asked, as he guided her into a turn.

"As all ceremonies usually are, boring." He answered, making her look at him confused.

"You disliked it then?" She questions, cocking her head at him.

"Not necessarily but I think that when a man and a woman decide to wed, they shouldn't waste their time listening to a man who knows nothing about being wed." He says, subtly leaning closer towards her.

"What do you propose then?" Livia asks, curious on what he had to say on the bounds of marriage.

Livia wasn't overly religious but what he was saying, he was questioning the rites of marriage.

Robert seemed to ponder on it for a while before he answered. "If they truly love one another, they must just say how they feel, promise their heart instead of saying words that were pre-written and said by thousands, nay billions before them."

After saying those words, he surprised her by lifting her into the air, making her laugh. She ended up on the ground once more but with her arms twined around his neck.

"That is a beautiful sentiment. If only more people did that, love would be evident in weddings, and it won't be as you say, boring." Livia smiled.

"And you?" Robert questioned, leaning closer.

He pulled her closer but she leaned back in an effort to look at him as she asked, "What about me?"

"How would you picture a perfect wedding?" He said, seemingly curious.

He seemed genuine as well, as he gracefully guided her through another dance.

She had been so caught up with talking to him, she hadn't noticed how much time had passed.

"I don't know really, I haven't thought much about weddings." She shrugged.

"Oh come on, surely you have. At least tell me what you would wanna see at your own wedding." He replied, tucking a loose curl behind her ear.

Warmth spread across her face as Livia thought about her own wedding but as usual, her mind came up blank.

Robert seemed to have seen the indecisiveness in her face and pulled her closer that she was pressed up against him. His hands around her waist and her arms wrapped around his neck.

He whispered at her ear. "Close your eyes, Livia. Close your eyes and picture a path for you to walk with your favorite flowers scattered on the ground."

Livia does as he says. It was so vivid in her mind that she could almost smell the scent of lilacs.

"Then what?" She whispers.

"Then you walk down the aisle, your dress flowing freely behind you as everyone looks on with awe. You look up at the altar and you see," He paused.

"See who?" She asks though no reply came from Robert.

Livia almost opens her eyes when she felt lips press on hers. Her chest filled with shock but instead of pushing Robert away, she found herself kissing him back.

She felt his hands cradling her face as he intensified the kiss, butterflies exploding in her stomach. Tangling her hands around his raven curls, she pulled him even closer, if that was even remotely possible.

This was not a childhood kiss like the one she shared before. This was a kiss of passion and lust, it wasn't like anything she ever felt before. Different from Oberyn.

Oberyn. Robert. Father.

With those in her mind, she finally pushed Robert away, breathing heavily as she did so. She looked up at him, her hands on her lips and she found him looking at her quizzically. Burning with shame, she stormed out of the ballroom.

But before she could fully leave the celebration, she felt a hand pulling her back, to the sides of the room. Her eyes met blue as she saw Robert looking at her, confused.

"What's the problem?" He asked, looking frustrated as if her walking out on him was a big wound on his ego.

"Nothing, I-I shouldn't have done that. We shouldn't have done that." Livia said, trying to put as much distance between them.

"I'm sure that's not what you're really thinking." Robert said as if he couldn't quite believe her hesitations.

"Really? Is that what you think?" She questioned, feeling fed up with Robert's narcissistic tone.

"By the way you were kissing me, I'm sure. After all, is that not why you were looking for a dance partner. Although maybe a different form of dance." He answered, meriting a gasp from her.

Livia found herself slapping him before she could even think of anything else. He was not a charming gentleman. Robert Baratheon was a narcissistic, arrogant and pompous arse.

"If that is what you thought then you were clearly mistaken. I would say it was a pleasure meeting you Robert Baratheon but it really wasn't. Good evening, my lord."

With that last word, Livia Lannister walked out of the ballroom, her head held high and her face fuming.

She was well on her way to her bedroom to sleep off the anger and the slight buzz of wine when someone pulled her into the shadows, covering her mouth before she could scream.