285 A.C.

"As much as I enjoy your company, good brother. You still should not have come."

Robert stood by the helm of the ship, looking over at the still-recovering Jaime Lannister.

The poor knight still had bruises on his face and a cut on his lip despite weeks of healing. Luckily enough for him, the ladies still found him attractive.

If Livia knew that he let her brother come, even with all his injuries, she would slap Robert to the next decade.

It had been too long. They had wasted time with meetings and if he had to wait any longer, he would have drank a whole tavern dry. He had decidedly left Jon in charge of the kingdom as he sailed to Dorne. 

Ned had ridden to King's Landing just as they were about to sail, saying that he owed Livia. If the girl hadn't delivered his father's last message, Ned would be lost.

They had been on the ship for some weeks now and Robert was getting sick of the view of endless oceans.

"Oh please. Your honorable, dutiful friend, Ned Stark is here and I shouldn't be?" Jaime scoffed.

"Jealous?"

"Of your intimate brotherhood? No thanks, I still have quite some dignity left in me."

Robert grinned. On normal occassions, he would have guffawed at the joke but he couldn't find it in himself to laugh when he was on his way to get his wife back from the man who kidnapped her.

Jaime cleared his throat, bringing Robert to look at him. "Listen, I don't mean to pry but I saw your armor and your war hammer. Are you planning to kill Oberyn Martell? Is that it?"

He had brought the armor for a semblance of comfort. He wasn't going to face the Dornish in silks, he was going to come as the warrior, the man who ended the Targaryen dynasty. Maybe then, they would know they are not facing a wuss of a king.

Robert had thought about it on various occassions. Killing Oberyn Martell. After all, the Dornish prince had taken his wife. It would be easy to, he had killed Rhaegar Targaryen, he could kill Oberyn Martell.

But what about Livia? Would she want him to kill Oberyn? 

"Honestly, I do not know. Let's hope things won't have to come down to that." Robert answered.

"Well, I hope you come to your decision soon." Jaime said.

Robert asked, confused. "Why is that?"

"Because we're here."

°•°•°•°•°•°

Robert strapped in the last of the leather straps of his armor, looking at his reflection with a somber expression.

The last time he had worn this armor, he had become king. Maybe this would be the last time he would have to wear this. Hopefully.

Stepping out of the ship's cabin, he was faced with Jaime and Ned, both of them donning their armors as well.

He turned to the two, his eyes determined.

"Let's go get Livia back, shall we?" Robert said, before stepping out on the docks. 

The docks had been cleared of fishing boats and trader ships, leaving only their fleet. It was intimidating to look like, the sails were a combination of red and gold, of lions and stags, of Lannisters and Baratheons.

Beyond the docks were a retinue, people clad in orange silks. The man in the center, looking serious, as if he would rather be anywhere than in that moment.

Robert walked forward, Ned at his right and Jaime at his left while the rest of his soldiers followed behind them. They certainly looked like a force to be reckoned with.

The Dornish retinue bowed as soon as Robert stood in front of them. 

"Your Grace, we welcome you to Dorne." Prince Doran spoke.

Robert nodded his head but not before sweeping his eyes across the retinue and noticing that it was lacking in the one person he had been most anxious to face.

"Forgive me for being late. I had other matters to attend to." A voice interrupted, making Robert's blood boil as he turned to face where the voice originated from.

Prince Doran sighed, turning to the king. "Your Grace, may I present my brother-"

"Oberyn Martell." Robert said, recognizing the man as he gritted his teeth in barely contained anger.

The Dornish prince had a mischievous look despite his eyes being red and swollen, his hair unkempt.

"King Robert." Oberyn smirked, making Robert clench his fists. "I must say, I'm surprised to see you here. Last I heard, you were in Winterfell."

"Of course I am here, especially since something needs me here." Robert replied curtly. 

Everyone was silent, watching their exchange with barely contained curiosity.

The Dornish prince frowned momentarily before pasting a smirk on his face once again. "Forgive me for being late to your arrival, you see, a woman needed comforting after her husband left her."

Robert found himself stepping forward when he felt Ned's hand on his shoulder stopping him from pummeling Oberyn Martell.

"Give me who I came here for, Martell." Robert commanded.

Oberyn merely raised a brow. "And who did you come here for? I'm sure Dorne can provide you with enough whores and wine for the trip back."

Robert shrug off Ned's hand, pulling Oberyn by the collar. The Dornish soldiers cried out in protest, drawing their spears. Robert's men drew their own weapons as Ned and Prince Doran tried to call for order.

"Tell me where Livia is right now, Martell! I know she's here somewhere and I will scour the whole Dorne if I have to! You tell me where she is right now!" Robert roared in anger.

Oberyn only looked at him passively. "You left her. That's your guilt to bear."

"And kidnapping her is yours." Robert stated. "Where is she, you arse?!"

"She's better off with me. You know it." Oberyn whispered.

Robert let go of his collar and punched him across the jaw, making everyone gasp. 

"Your Grace, don-" Ned attempted to say but Robert had already made up his mind. 

"I challenge you to a duel, Martell. Any weapons. If I win, you tell me where my wife is. You win, I leave." Robert said, his mind reeling. He could barely conjure a thought, only that he needed to know where Livia was.

Prince Doran attempted to speak. "Oberyn stop this now, I co-"

Oberyn only smiled, wiping the blood from the side of his lip. 

"I accept your challenge."

°•°•°•°•°•°

"Have I mentioned that you are the most stupid idiot in the world?" Ned asked, glaring at Robert.

They were at the arena for the duel Robert just arranged for himself. Ned was helping him adjust his breastplate.

"Only five to seven times." Robert answered, sighing.

"Of all the stupid things you could've done, now there's a chance we could go home without Livia." Ned replied, frowning.

Robert rolled his eyes. "Your faith in me is very inspiring."

"All I'm saying is, we could've gotten Livia's location from someone else. After some time, I'm sure we could've gotten that information. You could die. Did you think of that?" Ned asked, seriously exasperated.

"I'm not leaving her there for another second. She could be suffering, not knowing that I'm here. If I die, though I hope I won't, at least, she would know I died fighting for her." Robert said, grabbing his war hammer, the familiar weight in his hand comfortable.

Ned only shook his head, giving him an encouraging smile. "Don't think about dying for her, think about living for her. She would want you to be alive, do you hear me?"

Robert nodded before embracing his friend with one arm. "Thank you for being here, Ned."

A herald announced the beginning of the duel and Robert took a deep breath. 

Looking up, he looked at the sky, seeing blue. He hoped Livia was looking up so that, even if they were far apart, they would be seeing the same thing.

'I'm here, Liv. I'm here.'

Turning his attention to the man in front of him, Robert gripped his war hammer tightly. Oberyn Martell wasn't even wearing armor and had decided to use a spear against him. 

Oberyn had speed and agility but Robert had strength and precision. 

Robert could win. He will win.

Oberyn twisted the spear in his grip, as if performing a show, the Dornish folk cheering for him. Robert grunted in annoyance, swinging his war hammer in Oberyn's direction. 

The prince dodged the heavy hammer and retaliated by stabbing his spear towards Robert's leg but luckily, the king grabbed the spear and smashed his hammer against it, breaking the wooden weapon into two.

Robert couldn't help but smile but his joy was short-lived when Oberyn caught another spear and jabbed it on Robert's left arm, drawing blood.

Robert hissed at the pain, feeling a burning sensation. He swung his hammer at Oberyn's legs, knocking Oberyn off his feet. 

The pain at his arm was much worse than it should be and as the confusion settled on his face, Oberyn smirked as he recovered. "Funny what poison can do."

Shock enveloped his face but he didn't let it stop him, swinging his hammer wildly. "Fuck you, Martell. Now, I really know you're a coward."

Oberyn growled, lunging forward, only for Robert to step aside and graze the Dornish prince with the sharp side of his hammer.

Robert was just about to strike his winning blow when Oberyn jabbed his spear unto Robert's leg, leading him to kneel and let go of his war hammer.

The Dornish prince pointed the spear to Robert's neck, smiling. Robert could barely hear the sound of the crowd as Oberyn leaned forward. "I guess I win. Do not worry, I'll care for Livia and her child. I'll be the father you would never be."

In a last spite of anger, Robert roared, snapping the spear in his hand and punching Oberyn. 

Oberyn tried to recover from his shock but Robert's punches were coming relentlessly. The king only saw red, not once hesitating, even when Oberyn's face was streaming blood out of his mouth and nose.

Robert felt the throbbing in his arm and his leg but he didn't stop, shouting angrily. "Where is she, Martell?!"

He could kill him. He could beat him to death but Livia, Livia wouldn't want that. She would tell him to show mercy. She would have another person on her conscience, he would have another person in his conscience. 

No. He wouldn't do that to them. He came to Dorne to save her, he didn't come there to kill anyone.

Hesitantly, he paused in his punches as Oberyn coughed out blood. 

Robert growled. "I didn't come all this way to kill you. I came for my wife, now tell me where she is!"

Oberyn stared up at him, the pain in his eyes evident. Somehow, Robert knew that pain didn't come from the punches. 

"I love her. You did...you did the same for Lyanna Stark. How can you not understand?" Oberyn croaked, the words being forced from his lips.

Robert frowned, before speaking, softer this time. "I never loved Lyanna Stark. I loved the idea of her. I do not know if you truly love Livia but I know you care for her so prove it, where is she?"

"Livia is at...at the Tower of Joy." Oberyn closed his eyes for a second before opening them, his expression resigned to his fate."Tell...tell her I'm sorry, I'm sorry for everything."

Robert nodded once, before getting on his feet and walking to Ned, who looked concerned and at the same time, relieved.

"We must go. Livia's in the Tower of Joy." Robert said once, moving towards the direction of their men but Ned stopped him.

"Robert, you're injured. If you go now, you won't make it there without falling from your horse." Ned said, one hand stopping him.

"No, I have to get to her, I...I," Robert stuttered, feeling warmth spread across his body like a fever.

Robert fell to his knees, gasping. His eyes turning to Ned's in alarm.

"Robert!" Ned's voice called out but Robert heard it as if it was through water. Blurred.

His eyes shut momentarily and he caught a glimpse of Livia's smile. Robert could hear her saying his name as he slowly succumbed to the darkness. 

'Robert. Stay with me. Don't go or I will never forgive you.'

'I love you, Liv. I'm sorry.'

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