284 A.C.

"From Prince Oberyn Martell, my queen."

Livia's eyes widened in shock, her heart pausing for a second before she said. "You may go."

The messenger left when he was dismissed and Livia looked to her ladies. "You are all dismissed for now."

"As you wish, my queen." 

Thisel gave her a questioning look to which Livia only shook her head. She was fine. At least, she was at that moment.

"Thank you."

When she was finally alone, she tore through the letter, desperate to read Oberyn's words.

°•°•°•°•°•°

My dear Livia,

As much as I value every single word you send to me, it is not enough. I have written these words over and over for I do not know what to say or how to say them. You speak of freedom and the beauty of death but I have heard otherwise.

Stories of Elia, our Elia, your dearest friend, and my sister, defiled and murdered. Her children butchered like animals and the command is said to come from Tywin Lannister. Your father. Your father is said to have done this and I do not know what to believe.

I want to believe that all this is a lie yet everyone seems to know it as the truth. I thought to myself that maybe they are all wrong. With all of these uncertainties and unrest, I was angry. Doran is a weak fool, as usual. He will not act nor demand justice. I will get it.

You know me as well as I know you. I would like to believe that. I would like to believe that you are still the same girl in Casterly Rock and the same selfless soul when we spoke in the kitchens late at night.

I love you, Livia Lannister. I've always loved you. But I will not let my love for you cloud my judgment. If it was indeed your father who gave the order, I will make him pay for his sins. I know of his ruthlessness and effect on your life but your letter made me think of those words we spoke of. You may not be a selfish soul but I am and I will take you away from that den of lions no matter the cost.

I may not be as good a poet as you are but I don't need colorful words to express what I wish to say. Even you, my dear, cannot stop me. I know you may want to protect your father and your family.

But they have corrupted this realm and I promise I will not give up until I avenge Elia. Until I save you. Wait for me. 

Forever yours, Oberyn Martell

°•°•°•°•°•°

Livia's heart stopped as her fingers trembled, dropping the letter to the floor.

No, not Oberyn. Anyone but him. 

She had loved him as she loved Jaime and Tyrion. 

Livia always knew how Oberyn felt about her. She gained a clue about his feelings when they had spoken in the gardens on the night of Elia's wedding.

But she had thought that his feelings have already come to pass, after all, they had been apart for a long time.

This letter proves her wrong, rendering her cold inside. 

Oberyn and Elia were as dear to Livia as her own brothers and sister. Now, Elia was dead and Oberyn, he was the only one left and he claimed to love her.

Yet how easily he would hate her, were he to find out her role in the storming of the city.

He would hate her. She wouldn't be able to bear him hating her.

Livia picks up the letter from the floor, folding it with a frown.

"He wouldn't." Livia whispered to herself, assuring herself that he wouldn't dare. "He couldn't."

But she was to learn otherwise. 

°•°•°•°•°•°

"The Targaryens were given proper burials as you commanded, Your Grace." Lord Varys said, looking to Robert who nodded in turn.

"And my brothers? Have they established their new strongholds?" Robert asked, looking to Lord Arryn.

"Lord Stannis has already brought his family to Dragonstone. They are to begin settling down as you have named him Lord of Dragonstone. As for Lord Renly, he has successfully taken over as Lord of Storm's End." Lord Arryn replied.

"Very well, it seems we are finished with matters. I declare this meeting adjourned. You are all dismissed." Robert commanded, standing up as everyone began to leave the room.

Robert smiled to himself, things were going well. 

Well with the realm, with his family, and of course, with Livia.

He moved to leave the room only to see Lord Arryn waiting for him outside the small council chamber.

"What is it, Jon?" Robert asked, walking as Jon kept up with his pace.

"I must say, I did not expect you to hate each other but I also did not expect the two of you to get along so well." Jon mused.

"I didn't expect it either. I just...she's unexpected and she's different." Robert let out a nervous chuckle before eyeing Jon giving him a look. "What? Why are you looking at me like that?"

"I've heard you use those compliments on someone before."

"Hmm, for who?"

"Robert, she is not Lyanna." Jon said, stopping in his steps.

"She isn't. I know. They are two different people. So stop acting suspiciously." Robert answered, rolling his eyes.

Jon sighed. "I wasn't acting suspiciously. If you don't let go of your past, I'm afraid it will only end up breaking both your hearts."

Jon gave Robert a short bow before heading to his own chambers, leaving Robert to stew in his own thoughts.

'No, Jon is wrong. I don't see Livia as Lyanna, she is Liv. Lyanna, she was a part of his life and she always will be. It's not as if she can just go away. And Livia knows of my past. It wouldn't hurt us. It's over and done with, the war was over.' Robert thought.

Things were alright. Things were better than alright.

With that in mind, Robert opened the door to be faced with Livia's warm smile, bringing a smile to his own face.

Yes, things were alright. At least, they should be.

°•°•°•°•°•°

Livia smiled at Robert as he entered their chambers, trying desperately not to think of the letter she had hidden in her jewelry box.

That was one place that Robert would never look. It's not as if she wants to hide it from him but they had only gotten closer now. She'd hate to be the reason why they fought.

As he pulled her into his arms, planting a short kiss on her temple, she knew she had made the right choice.

Livia pulled back. "How was the small council meeting?"

"Eh, we only spoke of my brothers and their new strongholds."

"Have they settled down then?"

Robert shrugged. "I hope so. Stannis is upset. I wish he didn't have to root his whole family's lives in a different place. But Dragonstone won't take care of itself."

She laughed, ruffling his hair. "Only you can make being a king sound so boring."

Before he could answer, his eyebrows furrowed, pressing his palm against her forehead. "Are you feeling alright, Liv?"

"Yes why?" She asked in confusion, holding his hand from her face.

"You look upset. Is there something you're not telling me?" Robert asked, holding her still in arm's length.

"No?" 

"Why do I find that hard to believe?"

"Well, there is something." Livia started, after all, she had to say something else. "I wish to go down King's Landing in a few days. There are still a lot of structures that need rebuilding and I wish to oversee it."

Yes, yes there were a lot of things she wanted to tell him but she couldn't, not if she wanted things to stay this way. Besides, she had wanted to go help the people in any way.

As their queen, she had to do something other than just having picnics and throwing parties.

Robert nodded thoughtfully as if considering it. "You're going to be escorted and guarded at all times?"

Livia pasted a smile on her face. "Of course."

"Did you think I would say no? Is that why you're upset?" He asked, looking hurt.

"No! I just had something on my mind. I promise you, I'm fine. We're fine." She assured him, after all, it was close to the truth.

It wasn't his fault that she was acting this way. He didn't even know the reason and he wouldn't have to.

She and Robert would be better off if he didn't know, if he didn't worry. Besides, it was nothing to worry about. Oberyn was just angry but he wouldn't dare cause chaos in a newly recovered realm.

"If you need something else, you'll come to me. You know you can talk to me about anything. It's part of our agreement." Robert said.

The agreement. Right. She had almost forgotten about that.

Not about Oberyn. Not about this, she can't.

"I know." Livia sighed.

He cupped her face, looking at her with those ocean blue eyes. "Trust. It's all that matters."

It took everything in her not to flinch at those words. She was doing this to protect him, to protect them. She had done so before. She would do it again, lying, this time so she can protect Robert.

He would just have to trust her. That she's doing this for them.

"Trust."

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