Robert didn't particularly like the cold. 

Being cloaked in furs and more clothing than necessary was quite irritating. He found it difficult enough to wear the fancy attire in King's Landing when he would have been happy with a simple white tunic and breeches.

Yet here he was on the road of Winterfell, freezing his arse off despite wearing many layers when he wished he was by the warmth of his chambers back in King's Landing.

He couldn't help but think of Livia. She was always on his mind these days. When they were traveling on horseback, he would remember the story of how she learned how to ride a horse and how she rode a horse with ease.

When they would stop to set up camp, he would recall when they sat in front of the fire and when they first truly saw each other. Even stopping at taverns, he would remember the time she came to a tavern and easily put him in his place. 

And she loved him. Livia loves him. His first instinct was to ask why. After all, how could someone as strong and beautiful as her fall for someone like him?

She had managed to heal after such a terrible event and he couldn't even get past his nightmares. She was a true lion and he still acted like a wayward stag. She was a true queen and he was barely a king.

But for some completely unexplainable reason, she chose to give him her heart. He didn't have any experience in caring for something so precious but he was damn well going to do his best.

As for him, he didn't know how he felt. He had thought that he had loved Lyanna, maybe he did but what he felt for Livia was completely different.

With Lyanna, it felt like a cold wind that swept his eyes to fall on her but with Livia, it felt like a warm embrace, knowing that you can close your eyes and trust that she will still be there.

Maybe he did love her, maybe going on this trip and finally saying goodbye would confirm that he felt the same for Livia. 

But one thing Robert knew for sure, when all this business of saying farewell was over, he would return to Livia's side because that was where they both belonged.

With each other.

"I would ask what you're thinking about but it's written all over your lovesick face." Jon piped up, interrupting his thoughts.

Robert schooled his features into an uninterested face. "And what am I thinking of, oh great one?"

"You're thinking of Queen Livia. You always have that look on your face when you are." Jon answered, laughing.

Robert rolled his eyes. Another thing that reminded him of her. "You must think you're very funny."

"You're thinking about your wife, oh no, what a crime." Jon sarcastically replied before becoming serious. "Gods, Robert. There's nothing wrong with missing your wife. I guess you have me to thank for that."

Robert turned to him, confused. "What do you mean by that?"

Jon pulled on his horse's reins, laughing. "You asked if you could marry someone else. Remember?"

"Thank the gods you convinced me. I wouldn't have known what to do with myself without her." Robert chuckled.

"You'd probably be whoring and drinking yourself into an early grave." Jon joked.

Robert frowned at Jon disappointingly, before cracking up. "That's probably true."

Suddenly, the retinue paused for a second, seeing the walls of Winterfell towering over them. Robert felt his chest tighten once.

This was it. He just had to get over this and everything will be alright. 

Livia's words echoed in his ears.

"I love you because you helped me heal a part of me I always thought would be broken. I told you, not so you could tell me the same but because I want you to know that when you return, I will be here."

He just had to do this. For her. For Liv.

°•°•°•°•°•°

"Your Grace."

"Ned!"

Robert swept his friend into an embrace, laughing heartily. Ned coughed, trying to cover up his own laughter whilst everyone in Winterfell had their eyes on them.

Jon Arryn looked on, laughing at seeing the two, their camaraderie still there. Despite their argument in the past about the Targaryens, it was good that they had managed to resolve it.

"It is so good to see you." Robert greeted.

"And I you, despite the circumstances." Ned answered, before turning to the smiling woman beside him. "May I present my wife, Lady Catelyn."

"Lady Catelyn," Robert said. "and this little one must be your son."

"Yes, we chose to name him Robb." Ned replied, smiling.

Robert's eyes widened, turning to Ned in surprise. His best friend had chosen to name his first-born after him. His heart warmed at the thought. He couldn't wait to tell Livia about it.

Robert coughed, dispersing the thought of Livia, before announcing. "Come Ned, I wish to pay my respects."

He had to get it over with.

Together they walked in the direction of the crypts. The cold seemingly becoming colder. Robert could vaguely hear the crowds behind them dispersing.

"How is Livia?" Ned asked, breaking the silence, his voice echoing in the stone. "I heard that she is with child."

"She is. She's doing well. She's been aiding different parts of the realm with rebuilding after the war." Robert answered, feeling a sense of pride at Livia's works.

She's been doing much more than what her position required. Perhaps when he returned, they could go to Casterly Rock but with her pregnancy, maybe a hunting trip would be better.

"I'm glad your marriage is doing well." Ned said as they reached the deepest parts of the crypts. 

Before Robert could answer, Ned paused in his steps and they found themselves face to face with Lyanna Stark's final resting place, a statue built in its place.

Ned stayed silent, noticing that Robert's face had gone solemn. 

Despite the silence, Robert's thoughts were all over the place. He was there, what now? Was Lyanna Stark's voice was going to speak to him from the grave? Now that he thought about it, that would be fucking terrifying. 

He should make peace. He could do that. Alright. 

Robert looked up, looking at the face of Lyanna's statue. Did she really look like that? He couldn't even recall. Was her hair as dark as Ned's? Were her eyes a light blue or were they dark?

At that moment, Robert realized that he couldn't even remember Lyanna's face or her voice or anything about her. He couldn't remember how she liked her tea or how she laughed at his jokes because he never knew it.

What he realized was that Lyanna Stark was selfish, choosing to start a war for a married man. She knew the consequences of her actions yet she still chose to do so.

While Livia Lannister did everything solely for the benefit of other people, never once giving a thought to herself. Yet she still blames herself for the consequences that were no fault of hers in the beginning.

Lyanna never loved Robert and Robert never loved Lyanna. How could he when he didn't know anything about her, he may have felt the need to have her but never in his life did he love Lyanna Stark. 

Robert loves the girl who drinks her tea with a spoonful of honey. He loves the girl who hasn't a single idea what a bear trap looks like. He loves the girl who isn't afraid to fight for those she loves. He loves the girl who helped him realize that there was nothing wrong with him. He loves the girl he promised to come home to.

Robert Baratheon loves Livia Lannister. His queen. His wife. His life. His love. His Liv.

Fuck, and he had to tell her.

Whatever he came to Winterfell to do, it was done and now, all he could think about was Livia.

Interrupting his thoughts, Ned spoke. "You know, I was surprised when Livia wrote that you were coming to Winterfell even without an occasion."

"What do you mean?" Robert furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. "You invited me to come here."

Ned was taken aback. "No, I didn't."

"Damn it, Ned!" Robert exclaimed, striding to his friend furiously, pulling his collar. "Tell me you're fucking with me right now!"

"I'm not, Robert. What's going on?" Ned asked, shoving him backwards.

Robert pushed past him, heading out of the crypts with the intent of climbing unto his horse and heading back to King's Landing.

Who could've wanted him out of King's Landing enough to forge a letter from the North? Who could've wanted to separate him and Livia so badly? Who had the guts to even step foot in King's Landing just to talk to his wife?

When the answer hit him, he clenched his fist and barely held back a growl. Gods, he needed to go back. Now.

"Get me my fucking horse!" Robert shouted at one of the men who immediately ran to the stables. The Kingsguard all followed suit, getting their own horses.

"Robert, what in seven hells is going on?" Jon asked, confused.

"Ned never wrote a letter to King's Landing." Robert explained, pulling his horse from the stablehand.

Jon pulled the reigns from him, and Robert almost punched him, barely containing himself. "What? Then who did?"

Robert gritted his teeth, anger bubbling in the surface.

"Fucking Oberyn Martell."

°•°•°•°•°•°

A week on the road did nothing to appease Robert.

He had to get back to King's Landing before Oberyn Martell makes his move. He was exhausted, travelling for a fortnight before arriving then leaving immediately and travelling for a week.

Jon would always be the one to call to make camp, what with Robert refusing to stop moving. The young king would only agree when Jon would remind him that he wouldn't be able to protect Livia if he was tired to the bone.

Night had fallen and they were only a week away from King's Landing. 

Robert was seated inside his tent, thinking by the firelight from the lantern lit just for him. When he returned, he just had to see her, to hold her in his arms.

If his suspicions were wrong then he would still be happy to be with her but if he was right, then he would have prevented a big disaster from happening. 

Robert lifted his hand, pressing it unto the glass of the lantern, feeling the heat flicker across his palm. Livia would be there, he had to believe that.

Just when he was about to fall asleep, he heard sounds outside his tent. Robert sat up from his bed, hearing the shouts of the Kingsguard just outside.

"Alright. What is going on here?" Robert questioned, voice booming in anger. 

That was when he saw the Kingsguard stopping a soldier in red. Lannister colors.

"Your Grace, I must speak to you at once! Please!" The soldier begged. "It's about the queen!"

At that, Robert's head shot up. "Let him through."

He entered the tent followed by the soldier who introduced himself as Fendrel.

"Your Grace, King's Landing was attacked a week ago." Fendrel said, his eyes wide.

"What?" Robert exclaimed. "Who? How? What about the queen?"

Fendrel took a deep breath. "They attacked the Red Keep, the men in orange sunbursts. The queen ordered everyone to the throne room and Oberyn Martell came in, claiming the attack. They had restrained Ser Jaime and they were going to kill him unless the queen came with them and..."

She did.

Of course she would go with them. Livia loved her brother and she would rather die than see him hurt, than see any of them hurt. 

"Damn it, Livia." Robert murmured, pressing his palms to his face. Of all the times to be selfless.

Fendrel approached him then, holding a familiar stag and lion necklace. Livia's necklace. "The queen said to give this to you and to tell you that she was taken to Dorne. She also told me to tell you that...that she loves you."

Robert took the necklace from him, thanking Fendrel and asking the Kingsguard to give him food and shelter.

When he was alone in his tent once more, he held the necklace by the flame's glow. This didn't belong with him. It belonged to her.

But she was gone. Taken far away.

 Robert clenched his fist, the pendant digging into his palm and leaving its mark.

She was gone. But he would get her back.

Whatever it takes.

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