"My queen, I must object to what you plan to do."

"Livvy, you don't have to go out there."

Ignoring Cersei and one of her guards, Livia stepped out of her carriage, much to the surprise of her guards.

Livia walked among the people who all stared as she headed towards a small broken building that she was told was a place for all the sick and wounded of the city.

She looked the structure up and down, seeing the cracked stone and dirty floors. These people were in such harsh conditions and they were meant to be healing.

Livia stepped forward, only to be stopped by one of the men at the entrance of the building.

"You don't want to get in there, miss." The man's gruff voice said.

One of her guards drew his sword, pointing at the man. "You will address the queen properly!"

The man's eyes widened in shock at the presence of the weapon. Things always tend to worsen when men drew their swords.

Livia placed a hand on the sword's hilt, pushing it back in its sheath. "It's alright. Put your sword away."

The knight did as he was told before glaring at the man.

The man bowed, still pale. "Forgive me, Your Grace. But you really don't want to go in there."

"Why is that?" Livia asked, hearing the groans of pain and coughs coming from inside. If there was any way she could help, she would do it.

"It's disgusting in there, not fit for a royal as yourself. You'd only be disappointed." The man answered.

"All the more you should let me through. If there is anything I can do for this establishment then how will I know what to do if I don't see what to improve?" She smiled before pushing through and entering.

Upon entering, she caught a whiff of something rotten. All around her were cracked marble and wounded soldiers. 

Seven hells, the war's effects were still in here.

A plump woman dressed in white, covered in brown stains, most probably blood, approached Livia. "My lady, is there anything you need?"

"Yes, are you the head of this establishment?" Livia asked.

"Yes, my lady. We are just a few in the city who wish to aid the wounded. There are so many wounded and we just wanted to do our part." Upon seeing the knights entering after Livia, the woman's eyes widened. "Forgive me, my queen. It's not much but it's all these men have."

Livia approached the woman, taking one of her hands into her own. "I do not wish to take this away from you. I wish to help, in any way that I can."

"My queen, I-" The woman started before they were interrupted by the sound of someone yelling in one of the beds, a soldier.

Immediately, the woman went to the man's side as she struggled to hold him down long enough to make him drink milk of the poppy yet the man kept struggling.

Livia rushed to their side, taking the small bowl from the woman as she held the man down. Livia tilted the small bowl into the man's mouth, all the while whispering. "It's alright, it's alright."

Finally, the man drank and his eyes fluttered slowly shut, his screaming silenced. The woman looked at the young queen in awe. No noble would have done what she did and yet she had.

"Have all these soldiers been getting the proper treatment?" Livia asked, putting down the bowl.

The woman frowned, shaking her head. "We make do with what we have. Some milk of the poppy, mostly we just use cloth to dress their wounds while they bite on a bark."

"Very well. Men will be delivering materials and medicine here tomorrow. They will also help with the construction of the building. Anything else you might need, I will be visiting soon and you may tell me then." Livia answered, making the woman get down on her knees holding unto her hand.

"My queen. Oh thank you, thank you. You are too kind. May the gods bless you." The woman sobbed, still on her knees. 

Livia pulled her up to her feet. "No, please. No one told you to help these men and yet you did. It is only right that I help. Now, I will expect to see you soon..."

"Jeyne, my queen."

"I will see you soon, Jeyne."

With that, Livia smiled and walked outside, her guards still in tow with a hint of respect in their eyes, seeing what she had done. After all, they were mere soldiers before they were knights. To see their queen concerned for lowly footmen and soldiers made them respect her and love her as much as the people who witnessed it did,

As they moved towards the carriage, the people clambered towards their new queen, wanting to have a glimpse after all the talk of how she helped their small hospital. They had heard of her being a great beauty but now, her kindness. It had been a long while since the people had a queen who gave a damn about them.

"My queen!" The people called out, making the knights press closer to Livia, in fear of an ambush. "Queen Livia!"

Livia smiled to each one of them that crossed her paths, all of them reaching out their hands towards her, in shock when she would not shrink back from their touch, even going so far as to shake their hands.

When she arrived at the carriage, Cersei waited inside with a frown. Livia just smiled taking the bags of coins and handing them to her guards, instructing. "Distribute these coins to the people."

The guards nodded, bowing, and did as she told. "Yes, my queen."

Cersei wrinkled her nose at her. "Why do you do this? We could've just stayed in the keep."

Before Livia could reply, the people outside started chanting as they returned to the keep, the chants getting louder by the second. "Queen Livia!"

Livia smiled. She much preferred that sound to the sounds of war. "That's why, my dear sister. Because of the people. Being queen is being more than just their sovereign, I must help them."

Cersei shrugged before her eyes glinted in mischief. "Speaking of being queen, I have heard of what happened in the hunt."

"And?" Livia asked, confused as to how the events in the hunting trip could relate to being queen.

Cersei rolled her eyes, as they neared the keep. "And, am I expecting to be an aunt soon?"

"Oh." Livia's eyes widened. She had been so preoccupied with thoughts of the letter, the people, Robert, and everything else that she had forgotten that as queen, it was part of her duty to bear the royal heir. "We haven't spoken about that yet."

"Spoken about it?" Cersei scoffed. "What's there to speak about? Making an heir should be your main priority."

Livia raised an eyebrow. "I beg to differ, sister. By the looks of the realm, Robert and I still have a long way to go."

"Father will not be happy about this." Cersei said.

Livia couldn't help but shudder at the thought of her father being angry, remembering the words they had exchanged the last time they spoke. But he was wrong, Robert respected her even without having to prove herself to him. All they needed was to talk. 

"Yes, he may be unhappy about it but it is Robert and I's decision." Livia answered.

The doors to the carriage opened, signifying that they have arrived at their destination. Livia was about to climb out, only to be stopped by Cersei's words.

"You've changed, Livia. It's as if you've forgotten that you're one of us."

Livia turned around, meeting her sister's confused and angry eyes with her warm gaze, calm.

"I'm still me, Cersei. Still a Lannister, but also a Baratheon as well as the queen of the Seven Kingdoms. You'd do well to remember that."

°•°•°•°•°•°

"My little birds have brought unsettling news from the South, Your Grace."

At that, Robert's gaze drifted to Varys as he poured himself half a goblet of wine. After all, he no longer needed much of the sour drink anymore, what with his nightmares no longer terrorizing him.

Only on particularly bad days do they haunt him but even then, he had Livia to talk to, no matter how late it was in the night, she would stir awake to speak to him and distract him, as he would do for her.

Robert snapped himself back to the present. "What would that news be?"

"There are talks of an uprising in Dorne, a rebellion against the crown." Lord Varys replied,

Murmurs began at the table with all the members, making them all look worried.

"A rebellion?" Robert asked. "Led by who?"

"Men are being gathered by the second prince, Oberyn Martell." Lord Varys answered, making Robert look at Jon with a silent look.

"And what does this rebellion hope to achieve?" The Hand of the king asked.

"The young prince wishes to avenge his sister, the late Elia Martell and he hopes to depose you, King Robert." Lord Varys directed.

Robert couldn't help but let out a laugh. "I never gave the command to kill them. I sent them back her body to give her a proper burial. On what grounds does he hope to depose me?"

Lord Varys frowned. "He says that the man who tolerates the murder of women and children is not fit to be king."

With a clench of his fist, Robert stood, his anger threatening to explode. "Varys, send more spies to Dorne and find the truth in these. If they are planning exactly as you said, it is a declaration of war."

"Your Grace, perhaps we should approach things diplomatically." Jon offered.

Robert had wanted to scoff. When had things been successfully handled diplomatically? But Jon was right, if they wanted less bloodshed, they had to do things peacefully.

"Very well, in a week's time. I shall be sending an emissary to Dorne. One who will speak to Prince Doran Martell and ensure his loyalty to the Crown." Robert commanded, looking at each member of the small council.

Even as a new monarch, his voice and power magnified throughout the room.

Jon stood, bowing to the king. "I will be honored to be your emissary, my king."

Robert gestured for everyone to stand, signifying the meeting's end, all of them looking at him.

 "Make sure Prince Doran understands the consequences of defying the King of Westeros."

°•°•°•°•°•°

Later that night, when the hour of the wolf was upon King's Landing and the only light throughout the chambers was a single candle, Livia found herself wide awake.

She could hear Robert's steady heartbeat as she lay her head on his chest. She could feel his hands playing with the ends of her hair.

It was late and they both had a long day yet neither of them could sleep, with too many thoughts in their heads.

"Robert." Livia whispered, breaking the heavy silence with a wisp of air and a word.

"Yes?" Robert asked, continuing to comb through her locks.

She said, rubbing circles on his chest. "May I speak bluntly?"

He chuckled. "You always do."

She tried to smile but found herself worried again, as she took a deep breath, preparing herself to ask before blurting out. "Do you wish for me to be with child? To have your heir?"

He coughed, making her sit up as he did the same, looking at her with wide eyes. "What has brought about this conversation?"

Livia had half a mind to tell him about her sister but she decided against it. "It's what everyone expects, isn't it? For me to bear a son, your heir."

Robert released a breath, taking both her hands in his. "If you are to be with child then I shall be happy to be a father. However, if you wish otherwise, I can wait. After all, we have plenty of time to make as many children as we want."

She couldn't help but let out a soft gasp before laughing and blushing. Most men would want a mere heir to continue their line but Robert was not like most men, making her heart flutter. 

She knew then that if they are to have a child, he will love them, may it be a girl or boy.

Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to fall for him. 

Livia leaned forward, planting a soft kiss on his lips before they resumed their position early on, with her head on his chest and his arms around her.

"I have heard of what you did in King's Landing today." Robert spoke.

She waited for him to continue before she asked, worried that he might have disapproved. "And what do you think?"

"I'm thinking that maybe I should have gone with you." He replied, making her laugh.

"Was the small council meeting truly that bad?" She asked.

She heard a small intake of breath, making her look up at him worriedly before he met her eyes.

"It's nothing you should concern yourself with, Liv. Do not worry." Robert said, smiling.

Growing up in the Rock, she had learned early on, how to discern looks and eyes but she trusted him. 

"Alright." Livia said, closing her eyes as slumber descended upon her.

Trust. Him.

She had forgotten that she had kept Oberyn's letter as a secret so what's stopping Robert from hiding his own?

Trust. Her.

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