283 A.C.

It was as if the whole throne room went quiet as everyone stared at the figure who emerged. His hair flowing behind him like a regal knight, his eyes tired yet bright and his posture still straight.

The child on Livia's lap, her hair half-braided squirmed, reaching her tiny hands toward the figure in glee. "Papa!" She squealed.

"Shh, my love. You have to be quiet now." Livia whispered, pressing a finger to her lips.

Rhaenys nodded, giggling a little as she covered her mouth.

King Aerys let out a laugh that echoed all throughout the room. "Come home at last?" He asked the figure, mockingly.

Livia turned from the figure to the king. He was no longer the regal man who ascended the throne, she noticed. His hair was long and unruly. His nails were untrimmed and his arms covered in scabs. He looked more a leper than a king.

"Yes father. I have returned." Prince Rhaegar said, his tone somber. So different from the bright prince Livia knew before. Now, he was just a mere man, nothing more.

"Done with your whoring? Maybe you can finally lead the army against the usurper." The king said, raising an eyebrow as if he was merely discussing what was for dinner instead of the fate of the realm.

Livia fully expected Rhaegar to get angry and lose his temper but he only stood his ground, as if tired. "Yes, I will lead the army against Robert. I will end this rebellion once and for all."

In the place of thunderous applause, only silent ensued and she found herself turning to Elia. Elia, her head turned down in tears. The Dornish princess truly did love him and this was how he repaid her.

Livia's blood boiled as everyone turned to exit the throne room after being dismissed. She lifted Rhaenys from her lap and set her upon her tiny feet.

"Will we come see Papa?" Little Rhaenys asked, as she turned to see the prince looking upon the throne.

"Later, my sweet. I'm sure your papa will see you later." Livia answered, smiling softly. She did not know if he was truly going to visit his daughter but making the little girl smile was her top priority at the moment.

If she could not make Elia smile, the least she could do was make Elia's daughter happy.

"Play with Aegon now." Rhaenys demanded, racing after her mother who was carrying her brother.

Livia was left standing in the throne room, now almost empty. Only two figures occupied it. A knight and his prince.

She took soft steps towards the two, almost eavesdropping yet hearing nothing. She approached, close enough that they noticed that she was there.

Upon seeing her, Rhaegar clapped Jaime on the shoulder. "When the battle's done, I mean to call a council. Changes will be made. I meant to do it long ago but... well it does no good to speak of roads not taken. We shall talk when I return."

Jaime only nodded and left, but not before nodding at his sister.

Livia met Rhaegar's eye before starting to walk away. In mere seconds, he was walking in stride with her.

"How is she?" He asked her as she refused to give him the satisfaction of an easy conversation.

"Who? The wife you betrayed, the daughter you abandoned or the mother you left behind? It seems you need to manage the amount of women in your life." She replied with snark.

"Livia, that's not fair of you." He said, with a frown.

Livia attempted to walk faster. "Not fair? What's not fair is all the things you've done. Have you any idea of the mess you've left behind? And yet, you deceive my brother as well, to hope for a better realm after this."

"I didn't lie to your brother, Livia Lannister. I do intend to make this realm better." Rhaegar met her steps.

"And yet, you start a conflict that has divided this whole realm into two." She finally stopped walking to glare at him.

"I did not mean for all thi-" He started.

"Rickard and Brendan Stark are dead. Thousands are dead and for what? Your dalliance with Lyanna Stark? Were you not content with your family? A wife who loves you, children who will succeed you? Was it not enough?" Livia demanded for an answer.

It was quiet, only the sounds of King's Landing slightly heard through the windows. Rhaegar Targaryen rubbed his face with his hand, sitting down on a ledge.

"I love her." Rhaegar spoke softly. "I love her so much, I would die for her."

She sighed then, sitting down beside the prince she was supposed to marry but with fate's intervention, she did not. Perhaps, it was a blessing in disguise, Livia thought.

"Is she worth all of this?" Livia asked, waving her hands as if to pertain to everything.

Without a single moment's hesitation, he said. "Yes."

At that moment, she hated them. Rhaegar and Lyanna. Rhaegar, for leaving Elia, Rhaenys, Aegon, Viserys and Rhaella for the king to toy with. Lyanna, for causing all this fighting.

Livia hated them both for managing to find love and choosing that love over everything else. Over family, over loyalty, over duty when that is all Livia has known her whole life.

She stood up, facing the man who has just bore his whole soul to her. "Your mother is fine. She is fragile with the child she is carrying and your father is not making it any better. Elia is strong, but she cannot take any more of this betrayal. Rhaenys misses you and so does Aegon. Visit them tonight, all of them. That's the least you could do before you go."

Rhaegar stood from his seat, clasping Livia's hands into his own. "I will. Take care of them, please. I don't deserve your aid but I beg you, don't let anything happen while I am gone."

"I will care for them but not for you, Rhaegar. You may have been a friend to me before all this but you have betrayed all of them." Livia spoke harshly but truthfully.

When their supposed engagement did not push through, the two had become friends and confidantes but because of all this, they were now barely strangers.

"Still, thank you, Livia. I know I can trust you." He said, clasping her hands once more before leaving towards the direction of Rhaenys's room.

°•°•°•°

"He's gone, isn't he?"

"I'm afraid so, my friend." Livia said to Elia, as they overlooked the horizon from the gardens.

"After all of this, what will happen to us?" Elia asked softly, her eyes shining with unshed tears.

"There are many possibilities. Do not limit yourself to one." Livia answered, with a smile.

"I don't want to part from my children." Elia said, biting her lip as if to stop her tears from falling.

"Then you will not part from them. They will stay with you, their mother." Livia replied.

"And what about you?"

"What about me?"

Elia laughs, breathless. "Livia, I consider you my sister, my family. You know what I wish to happen, what I've always wished for. Oberyn has always cared for you."

Livia smiled sadly. "Elia, you know I can't, my father-"

"Please, just consider it. Imagine, the three of us together again in Dorne with the children. There would never be a need for sadness or heartbreak anymore." Elia said, almost hazy as if she was convincing herself of this.

Livia turned to the Dornish princess to see her eyes, glazed with tears. So caught up in her fantasy, wanting to get away from this nightmare she was forced into, all because she fell in love with a man who loved another.

Livia's heart broke at the sight which prohibited her to say. "I will think upon it."

Elia pulled her into her arms. "Thank you, my friend. It will all work out soon enough. You'll see, Livia, you'll see."

Livia could not speak, how else could she say anything when Elia was truly lost in her daydreams.

Dreams that could never be real except in the mind of a woman who is already broken.

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