The tears stayed within his eyes as he looked upon the body of his sister, his dear Elia.

The once bright and lively woman, reduced to a lifeless corpse.

Oberyn Martell felt a deep ache in him as he stared at the woman he has looked up to all his life. The woman who, despite being broken plenty of times, still held her head up high.

"Prince Oberyn," A messenger said, capturing both Oberyn's and his brother, Doran's attention.

"What is it?" Oberyn could not help snapping angrily in response.

This messenger was interrupting his state of grief. How dare he do so? Did he know what he was feeling, the anguish, the pain?

The messenger flinched at his tone before answering. "A letter was sent as well. A message for you."

"A message? From who?"

"Lady Livia Lannister. She specifically asked that this message be delivered to your hands directly."

Oberyn looked at the piece of parchment like it was a lifeline. The answer to all of his questions. The one to bring him the truth. The truth, an explanation that all he has heard were lies. That they could not be true.

He grabbed the letter and opened it frantically, hoping for something. His eyes scanned the page quickly taking in all the words until he only felt the sadness overtake him once again.

Words of comfort. Words of apology. Words would not bring his sister back. He did not know what he expected but he definitely expected more than that from her. 

The Lannister first-born. Lord Tywin's pride. His precious lioness. The beauty of the Rock and most of all, the love of his life.

"When is to be the wedding?" Doran asked the messenger.

Oberyn's head snapped up quickly at that. "Wedding?"

"Yes, my prince. I believe it is today." The messenger replied.

Though he had a hint on whose wedding, he still had to ask, he had to make sure. It could not be what he thought. "Whose wedding?"

"His Grace, King Robert Baratheon and Lady Livia Lannister."

At that, Oberyn crushed the letter in between his fingers, as if it was his heart, crushed into pieces.

°•°•°•°•°•°

"I don't believe I've seen this much celebration in so long."

"You've never been to the Stormlands then."

Livia shook her head, taking another sip of water from her goblet. "I don't believe I have."

Robert glanced at her, drinking from his own goblet. "Celebrations like these are frequent. Loud, rowdy crowds and plenty of drunks."

"So, like you then?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.

"You wound me, my queen." He raised a hand to his chest before laughing.

My queen. That was something she would never get used to.

The feast was magnificent. Truly, all the preparations were worth it. The grandness of it all, she could not believe that what once was an empty room now was a room brimming with life and celebration.

It was as if everyone was trying to erase the events that happened mere weeks ago.

"My king, my queen." Her father, Lord Tywin spoke up. "May I present gifts from Casterly Rock."

Knights in red, carrying with them bolts of rich silk and cases of gold, presented them in front of the long table and all the court as everyone looked in awe.

"Thank you Lord Tywin for your endless generosity." Robert said, expressing his gratitude aloud for everyone to hear.

He then leaned toward Livia to whisper. "I take it, your father is happy?"

"Very happy." She whispered in return. "After all, you did make his daughter a queen."

He roared out in laughter. "His daughter does look beautiful in a crown."

"Was that a compliment?" Livia asked, playing along.

However, before he could answer, a man and a young woman approached the great table, bowing.

"Your Grace. May I offer my congratulations on your wedding." The man said.

"Thank you, my lord." Robert thanked, his playful tone becoming serious.

"I would like to present my daughter, Lady Thisel Lydden." The man said, waving his hand to present the young woman beside him, almost a child.

"Your Grace, my queen." Lady Lydden said, her voice so soft, bowing once again.

She was so young and pretty, in a simple way that Livia couldn't help but feel quite jealous.

Livia turned to Robert, intertwining her hand with his, delighting in the fact that he smiled back, though quite confused.

When the Lyddens were dismissed, Robert looked at her in question but she only smiled. Hopefully, he wouldn't notice how jealous she'd gotten.

He was quiet for a moment before his face broke into a smile. "You're jealous."

Livia gasped. Had she been that obvious? "I am not jealous."

"You are." Robert confirmed, smiling and looking awfully proud of himself. "I knew you'd gotten fond of me."

"Keep telling yourself that."

Robert raised an eyebrow. "Do you want me to stand up for you? Is that what you want so that you wouldn't have to feel jealous? Very well."

He proceeded to stand up, which the whole court followed as he raised his goblet. "I would like to propose a toast."

"What in seven hells are you doing?" She whispered, only for him to ignore her.

"To my brilliant and beautiful queen who still manages to surprise me time and time again. The realm is ever better with you at my side." He said, looking only at her despite addressing the court. "No one shall disrespect you or your family for as long as we reign, I swear it."

"To my darling queen, Livia Baratheon." Robert raised the goblet once more. "Long may she reign!"

"Long may she reign!" Everyone echoed, drinking from their goblets as Livia pulled Robert to sit down once more.

He was laughing so much that he had started to turn red, whether from the wine or the laughter, she did not know. He pulled her into a quick kiss, from which she tasted the wine she had been trying so hard to avoid.

Cringing, she pushed him away slightly but he didn't seem to have noticed. Livia asked, breathless. "About how much did you drink?"

"I do not know. Two or three." Robert answered, also breathless.

"Goblets?"

"Barrels."

°•°•°•°•°•°

Livia sat at her vanity, unsure of what to say. The bedding ceremony was horrible yet every bride went through it. Even her own dear mother had to suffer that.

It was such a barbaric tradition but she was thankful that it was not as bad as she was told, after all, she still had her dress on her, only her cloak and her shoes were removed. Perhaps everyone was terrified of Robert or even herself.

Even Robert was quiet but it could not have been as bad for him, after all, it was always worse for the brides.

He was by the table, still drinking. He had not stopped drinking ever since the feast began. 

Livia wrinkled her nose at that, removing the pieces of jewelry she wore and moving to change into her nightdress. Her heart pounded furiously in her chest, scared of what was to come.

After changing, she sat at the vanity once more, brushing the gold flecks from her hair. That was when she felt his hands upon her shoulders, making her jump.

She was about to scold him for surprising her when he began to press kisses on her neck. She gasped. "Robert."

Livia turned around to face him, standing up. Even as she stood up, he still towered over her, his height should have made her feel helpless but it made her feel something else.

Safe.

Robert leaned down to kiss her, no words from him, only silence and passion.

She attempted to meet every kiss but his kisses were like the ocean, waves so fast, too fast to catch. It was hopeless to try to keep up, so she let herself get carried away by the unending current.

He pulled her flush against him when he laughed, breaking their kisses. "It seems your heart is about to jump from your chest."

She laughed nervously, unsure how else to reply. "Of course it is, I'm terrified if you couldn't tell."

He was quiet then, but his hold on her did not loosen as his eyes flickered from her eyes to her lips. "Was I-Was I the first man you kissed?"

Livia was saddened at the thought of Oberyn but she covered it with a smile, shaking her head. "I'm afraid not. Don't worry, you were a close second."

Robert laughed at that before returning to their kisses. His kisses trailed down her neck and his hands moved to the laces at her waist. 

She gasped, grasping his hands before he could untie them. 

His eyes met hers and she was surprised at the amount of clarity in them, considering how much wine he had drunk.

"Trust me. Even if it is just for now." He spoke, his voice deeper than usual.

Her heart started to slow as she looked to see how much he meant those words. Even if everything he said was a lie, she was sure at that moment, that to them, it was real.

For once, waking up to reality did not seem so terrible.

Livia nodded and upon her consent, Robert lifted her into his arms but she was too shocked to laugh. Instead, her eyes were mesmerized by his as their gazes locked that she barely comprehended when he laid her on the sheets of the bed.

He removed his white tunic, leaving him in his breeches as he crawled over to her, kissing her deeply.

He slowly untied the laces, freeing her of her dress yet not at all breaking the kiss. She cradled his face in her hands, feeling the soft stubble that had started to grow on his face.

Her hands trailed to his breeches as she slowly removed them from his body. Only then did they look at each other. With no boundaries, bare for both of them to see. 

"Beautiful. Only I will see you like this." Robert whispered, a storm raging in his eyes.

Vulnerable and exposed, a sight only for each other. Livia pulled him to her, every inch of them pressed together.

For a second, there was silence and then there was pain, great agony causing her to whimper in his arms. A pain so profound that tears threatened to fall from her eyes.

She considered pushing him away, to end the pain when she heard his voice from the haze.

"Trust me." Robert whispered over and over again, unmoving until the pain dissipated.

At first, only he moved within her until Livia found herself moving with him, wrapping her legs around her waist, giving herself to him just as he gave himself to her.

It was not as she had imagined. She was told all her life that it was a sacred duty to be performed by a husband and wife to produce heirs.

Livia was not told of the great passion she felt. It did not feel like a duty to be performed. She could feel her heart beating profusely and she could feel his as well.

A piece of her died in the throne room, after all the destruction but now, with the two of them together, she did not feel so incomplete.

She felt alive.

Faster and faster until she reached her peak, seeing stars as she breathed out his name. "Robert!"

Robert still moved in her, his eyes shut tight but she knew that he was close, as he was panting heavily.

Finally, he reached euphoria, calling out a name. "Lya-"

"I trust you." Livia breathed out, her hand stroking his face.

His eyes flashed open in surprise, seeing her. "Livia!"

°•°•°•°•°•°

Spent, Robert stood up, his body tired but his mind very much awake.

He had almost called out Lyanna's name, despite being with Livia. If Livia had not said those words, he may very well have called her Lyanna.

At that thought, he stood up, still panting as he found a robe to wrap himself with. 

Robert glanced at the bed, seeing Livia breathing heavily, her body exposed to the cold night air. Perhaps there was still ti-

No, he shook his head of his impure thoughts. Instead, he walked over to the table and prepared two goblets.

He turned to her once again, glad to see her in her nightgown once again, that it would free him of the temptation to have her again so soon.

"Wine or water?" Robert asked as he poured himself some Dornish red.

"Water please." Livia answered. He approached her and handed her the goblet. "Thank you."

He watched as she drank deeply and received the goblet when she had finished. 

After drinking, he started towards the balcony when he heard Livia's voice. "Will you not sleep? We've had a very long day."

Robert wanted to go back to her, to feel her warmth against his own but he had to go outside or he would suffocate.

With his thoughts of Lyanna, he couldn't help but ask, would she never leave him be? Would she always be there, present to haunt his every waking moment? If not, would she be there as a spirit to creep into his life just when he thought that he had lost her forever?

"I just need some time to myself. To think. I-I shall join you soon."

Instead of frowning and scolding him as Robert expected, Livia only smiled softly. She was too good for him.

 "Of course. Good night, Robert."

"Good night, Livia."

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