Pepper was in a frenzy as she stalked around the castle. She had been spending the better part of an hour opening door after door searching for her elusive king. She had grown accustomed to this though. Ever since the late King Howard and Queen Maria passed, the newly crowned regent locked himself up in whatever quiet space he could find and worked.

She knew Tony didn't want to be king. He didn't enjoy the accountability that came with ruling over a kingdom, not to mention he despised the required social functions all royals has to take part in.

The only time he showed interest in mingling was if one or occasionally two of the visiting foreigners caught his attention. But they could only hold his attention for so long. The current record was eight hours thirty seven minutes and approximately twelve seconds.

However, this time, none of the Asgardians caught his fancy. Prince Thor and three quarters of his most trusted advisors, The Warriors Three, while provided amusement when drinking and feasting, did little to hold the young king's attention.

While Midgard and Asgard were allies in past wars, the leaders have bumped heads more than once over the ancient treaty that held their alliance together.

And Prince Thor, while celebrated in his own kingdom was not receiving such a reception from his host.

"Where is he?" Pepper muttered as she stomped down the stairs to the former and currently unused dungeon. "Bruce can't keep Prince Thor occupied all day." She continued to mutter such thoughts to herself until she reached solid ground.

The harsh hissing from hot metal being placed in cool water let her know she was finally successful in locating her king. She followed the echoing noises until she reached the makeshift workspace. Tables were pushed together with large sheets of metal and various tools that she knew little about. If it wasn't for the chains on the walls and lack of any windows or decor, one would never guess numerous persons were tortured and murder in the very space.

Tony was dressed very simply. He ripped the sleeves off his burnt white tunic and his onyx pants were tearing at the seams. His arms were well build and his hands covered in calluses. Something most rulers didn't possess. His black hair was soaked in so much sweat that he was able to slick it back and keep the locks out of his eyes. The youthful man standing before her looked nothing like a king, but a simple blacksmith. But that's how Tony was in the privacy of his own home. Before the people of his kingdom he put on an extravagant show, dressed how kings do in fairy tales. Covered from head to toe in a rich scarlet and shimmering gold. But not here. In his own space he could dresses and act however he pleased, for there were no judgmental eyes in Tony's private court.

"Milord." Pepper attempted to shout over the noise but to no avail. She muttered a curse under her breath and straightened herself out. She walked right towards the king to the point where she was hovering over him.

"Your Majesty." She whispered sweetly in his ear. The low, sultry tone of her voice produced the needed reaction.

Tony body straightened and he turned around, tousling his sweaty mop of hair. But the mischievous grin faltered as he realized he was being toyed with.

"Lady Potts." He said coyly before turning back around. He picked the sword out of the bucket of cold water and carefully inspected it.

"We are not doing this." Pepper crossed her arms and began tapping her foot fervently. "Prince Thor of Asgard, along with a select group of his court are visiting. They appeared unannounced so I made Bruce show him the gardens while I began the hunt for you."

"The gardens are more vast than the castle itself. If Bruce gives them a proper tour, they won't return until dinner." Tony waved off Pepper's urgency to the situation. He moved away from the table and swung the sword a few times before inspecting it again.

"Tony, the neighboring kingdom's prince has appeared unannounced, along with three members of his guard and court, the Warriors Three. Don't you find it the lease bit suspicious that they came here uninvited and unannounced."

Tony placed the sword on the workbench and turned around to face Pepper. He placed both hands on her shoulders and rubbed them soothingly.

"Of course it suspicious." He cooed in a way to make Pepper calm down. "But like you said, Bruce is giving them the grand tour. And he and Thor always had a special relationship."

Pepper rolled her eyes at that comment, but held her tongue. There was no point in them having this debate again.

"Speaking of special relationships, the kingdom has been questioning when you will have your own. You turn twenty soon and are still without a wife and thankfully no unmentionable children we need to concern ourselves with."

"I don't have time for stuff like that." Tony shrugged it off hoping Pepper would get the hint to drop it. But knowing her, no matter how badly he wanted her to give up on something, she wouldn't. That's why, in a sense, he loved her. And why he picked her to be his right hand. His closest confidante. She would never lead the kingdom astray. She knew how to help the people, balance the books, and deal with diplomats in a way he never could. While his title is king, deep down, what he truly is, is an inventor.

Pepper nearly snorted from laughter at Tony's statement. "You have no time for courting and marriage, but you have plenty of time for your escapades and late night fraternization." she sobered up and kissed his cheek in a sisterly way. "We both know that's just an excuse. Now, you need to clean up, we have a prince to entertain."

Tony, begrudgingly, left his workspace and followed Pepper to his private chambers. She opened the door for him and dutifully standing at the entrance was his Lord in waiting, Jarvis.

He was an older man, whose hair possessed more white than black, and despite standing tall and proud, one could see his body hobbling as he moved Tony offered his oldest and most trusted servant a nice quiet retirement. A cottage in the woods where no one could bother him. Weekly food drop offs. All his necessities to live paid for. But he always refused. And secretly, that made Tony pleased.

Despite filling his court with trusted advisors, you never know which spiteful Lords could have little birds hiding in court. And Jarvis was as trustful as they come.

Jarvis stripped Tony of his worn clothing and tutted disappointedly.

"If milord needs new clothing, my I be so bold to remind him we have a seamstress who would be more than capable in producing suitable working attire."

"Jarvis if this is you way of telling me I need new clothes-"

"You need new clothes." He said before pushing his king into the gold bath tub.

Tony rose sulkily from the lukewarm water, but Jarvis was paying to mind to him. So Tony grabbed the rosemary scented bar off the side table and began scrubbing off so much grim the water immediately changed to a soft brown.

"I hope you find this attire suitable. It was made just this morning." Jarvis showed Tony the scarlet garment that had a golden argyle pattern embroidered on the top. The red pants were simplistic unlike the top and a pair of knee high black boots were next to the modesty screen.

"Is that a petticoat?" Tony sputtered out soapy water that was dripping down his face. His attention was solely focused on the middle bottom half of the borderline ostentatious garment.

"This is traditional formal attire. Unlike that peasant wear you call clothing. Your father, and his father, and his father worse such garments during royal meet-"

"If you think I'm wearing that to meet Prince Thor...I'm not a child anymore. you can't force to wear that. I would sooner proclaim my abstinence from sex and drinking in front of the entire kingdom than wear that."

"Should I tell Lady Potts to include that proclamation in tomorrow's itinerary then?"

Tony sunk to the bottom of the large tub and refused to surface until oxygen became a priority.

Rhodey could not contain his sniggering as his king approached him. His grin was wide and his smile made it seem like he had one too many drinks at the tavern. But how could one not laugh at the sight before him? His king looked like a present one would receive from Father Christmas.

"Don't say a word." Tony demanded of his amused knight, who unlike him, was dressed in what be believed to be normal attire. He was not wearing the full armor he did for training and battle, but instead had on a thinner cobalt and silver armor that allowed better movement, especially at the joints. It wouldn't hold up well in a long battle, but if a skirmish took place during this visit it would protect him well enough.

"Of course milady...I mean milord." Rhodey's laughter still not dying down.

"Jarvis actually got you to wear that?" Pepper was strolling down the hall, newly clothed in a dark blue and silk dress. The square neckline and cuffs of her oversized sleeves were decorated in silver and gold and a sapphire in the shape of a raindrop hung from her neck. "He deserves a raise in his weekly wage."

"If I have to wear this," Tony ruffled the skirt, "why aren't you wearing a hood?" he quickly took note of the missing ornate headwear. While in the confines of the castle, Pepper discarded such attire, for more formal occasions and when she was visiting the various cities and villages, she was always adorning the traditional women's wear.

"Because I'm not the queen." She responded cheekily. "Now let's head to the gardens."

Even though Tony could not see the prince he could hear the boisterous laugh. It was louder than the fountain he was standing next to.

"Bruce surely you jest!" The voice boomed jovially.

Tony gritted his teeth. Anger starting to bubble. The gall of that foreign prince. Acting so familiar with Bruce.

A throbbing pain overtook Tony and looking down the dark blue fabric was covering his boot. He looked up at Pepper who flashed him a forced and panicked smile and he attempted to do the same.

As they rounded the corner, Tony finally saw him. Despite being seven years since they last met, Thor looked mostly the same. His golden hair was much longer, shoulder length and had two thick braids which were pulled back. Dirty blond stubble was starting to grow, but it was patchy, notably missing around the sides of his lips. A midnight blue cloak covered the silver and brass colored armor, and where a sword would normally lie, rested a hammer.

Tony never understood why that was the prince's weapon a choice. Then again, he didn't understand why anyone in Asgard still carried such archaic weapons.

The explosive powder that he received as a coronation gift from one of the neighboring island countries, that was the future. But that was an experiment for another day.

But what infuriated Tony the most about Thor was that his right arm was firmly wrapped around Bruce's shoulders.

"Ton- I mean your grace." Bruce quickly brushed Thor off, but Tony noticed his pale cheeks had a rosy tint to them. "Prince Thor." Bruce's tone quickly changed to before formal. "Let me introduce you to his majesty, King Anthony Edward Stark."

"Friend Stark!" His voice was still for too cheery for Tony's taste. "It has been far too long-"

"Not long enough if you ask me." Tony muttered under his breath.

"I regret not being able to attend your coronation. I am sure it was truly a magnificent celebration."

"Yah, nothing beats a party in your honor after your parents have been brutally murdered." Tony spoke bitterly and immediately felt another swift bout of pain coming from his foot. "So Thor, what has brought about this most unwanted visit.

"During these peaceful times, the Allfather has granted me permission to travel to the kingdom's. As the future Allfather I must forge my own alliance and relations with all the neighboring kingdoms."

It sounded like a reasonable enough excuse. Thor is eighteen, the eldest son of three, and the rumors were Odin wasn't doing so well. His mother, Frigga could hypothetically take over as Allmother, and act as regent until Thor was ready to ascend to the throne if something were to happen, but considering Tony was sixteen when he was crowned, he had a feeling Thor wanted it sooner rather than later.

And yet Tony couldn't find himself believing the reason Thor gave him. Too many things unexplained. If this was something Thor planned, why didn't he send a messenger ahead of time instead of surprising everyone. And why was he wearing armor? While it was the traditional garb of Asgardians, they are warriors first, for cordial visits they tended to dress more plainly. Also, for a royal visit, the party was quite small, only three. Where were the handmaids and lords in waiting to assist them

"A royal visit without the Lady Sif." Tony spoke, choosing his words carefully. "How do you expect to make any alliances without a gaggle of attractive women and maybe throwing in a man or two for good measure."

Thor's eyes narrowed and became steely not finding amusement in Tony's partially jesting response.

But it was Pepper who made Tony bite his tongue, quite literally, when she stepped on his foot for a third time. This time though, she grinded her heel in to make her point clear.

"But that is neither here nor there." Tony spoke hastily through the throbbing pain that was starting to bruise. "Come. I'll have a servant fetch us some wine and you can recount your adventures thus far."

Tony was exhausted not only physically but mentally. He probably had one drink too many and he was almost positive another bruise was forming. This one though would probably be in the shape of an oversized hand, and located on his left shoulder where Thor constantly, and quite exuberantly patted him throughout the night.

How the Asgardians could put away that much liquor and still throw an ax straight was a quandary Tony had constantly. No matter how much the servants poured into their goblets, their tongues never loosened to reveal the real reason for the visit.

"I'm never wearing that again." Tony groaned as Jarvis assisted him in undressing. "Prince Charming asked me if the ladies of Midgard fancied men who wore clothing from their sisters wardrobes."

"Prince Charming?" Jarvis rose an eyebrow uncertain which Asgardian Tony was complaining about.

"Fenrir? Forseti? Freyr?"

"Lord Fandral, milord." Tony snapped his finger as if he came up with the name himself and then plopped down on his bed. "Well, while you were charming our guests, I chatted with servants who have been assisting them. They have not even overheard a whisper on the real reason for their visit. They came on foot, only have the cloths on their backs and a single pouch of gold for bartering."

"Can you do more digging? See if you can find out what villages they traveled through and when. I want to know who they visited before us and who they are seeing after."

"Of course milord." Jarvis bowed respectfully. He went to Tony's bedside and picked up the candle, but the door flew open before he could blow it out.

"I just received word from the guards stationed at the gate. Prince Thor and the Warriors Three have left."

Tony shot up from his bed which irritated his pounding head more. This situation was already strange, but this brought it to a different level.

"Left? What do you mean they left?"

"From what I could ascertain from the chambermaid who was stationed there, a crow broke through one of the windows and it had a small scroll attached to its leg. After reading the message, Prince Thor immediately left.

"Did you order the trackers to follow them?"

"Even if I did what use would it be? It would be best just to forget about this whole thing."

Tony was about to protest, bit Pepper flashed a deadly warning glare.

"All this was, was the disrespectful whims of a juvenile prince. Nothing more." She spoke in a stern, motherly tone.

"Pepper, you can't tell me you don't find all this the least bit suspicious.

"No I don't." She said shortly, then slammed the door behind her.

Days turned to weeks and weeks into months. After that episode with Prince Thor, Tony was forced to return to his humdrum life. He never learnt the reason as to why Prince Thor visited nor why a crow broke a 300 year old stained glass window.

In fact, Midgard didn't host a single visitor until after the snowfall melted and the first signs of spring shone. The first was an Asgardian Ambassador who profusely apologized on behalf of King Odin for his son's behavior and presented a gift on Prince Thor's behalf.

While the Asgardian refused to give a reason behind the string of strange anomalies, Tony could tell that whatever it was, was bad.

Pepper accepted the gift and forced it into Tony's hands before escorting the ambassador out.

With a sigh, Tony looked down at the gift and realized it was a leather bound book. He unbuckled it and looked at the first page, The Kingdom of Midgard, a transcript of the tales of Prince Thor Odinson.

He closed the book shut and tossed it on the floor. "That has to be a first."

Tony looked up and realized Bruce entered the throne room. He must have entered as Pepper was escorting the Asgardian out since he never heard the door open.

He picked up the book and dusted it off even though no such blemishes could be seen and attempted to hand it back to Tony.

Tony looked from Bruce's face to the book and his eyes darted between the two until he finally sighed and snatched it rom his hand. "you would have tossed it too if you saw who the author was." Tony opened the book to the first page and flashed the golden writing that shone the prince's name.

"Well progressing from prince and future king to author is the logical move." Bruce said with a grin.

Tony opened the book and began thumbing through it. If he found something of interest, and by interest it was something they could laugh at, he would read it out loud. This went on until Pepper returned and scolded him for his behavior.

So Tony resigned to pace in silence while he read, but refused to hide his sniggering if he found something of amusement.

"What's this?" Tony asked halfway through his skimming of the book. He was taken aback. Couldn't believe it. It was not his castle or gardens or anything in the Stark family name that that dunce of a prince claimed to be the greatest treasure in all of Midgard, it was nothing of his own creation that was being praised so to stroke his ego. "A magpie?" Tony nearly shoved the book in Pepper's face as he scoffed in disbelief.

Pepper curiously took that book and her eyebrows furrowed as she read over it. "While many claim the greatest treasure in the kingdom of Midgard to be the late queen's garden, I have found something of greater value within the garden itself, a magpie. Its song it sang was unlike any I have heard. Alluring and full of sorrow. But the hope of something better could be heard in its tune if you listened carefully enough. While I did not hear its song for long, only but a moment, I crave to hear more of what this mysterious bird has to say. It has become a part of me and I would gladly visit Midgard again to hear this mysterious creature singe but once more" Pepper read the section out loud and both her and Tony's eyes fell upon Bruce.

Bruce felt like he was being backed in a corner. Pepper and Tony were staring daggers and he couldn't face them. His eyes were nearly burning a hole in the ground as the pressure radiating from the other two intensified.

"What magpie is he talking about Bruce?" Tony asked more seriously. "I know of no such magpie. And I'm the king. We played in that garden every day as children. I still walk its paths, even now. So tell me, how could there be such a bird existing in my kingdom, let alone my own garden without me knowing?"

"Tony, don't you think you're over reacting?" Bruce regretted the words as soon as the escaped his lips. "It's just a bird."

"It's just a bird?" Tony asked hypothetically. "It's just a bird." He flashed a faux smile and laughed bitterly in Pepper's directions. "Just a bird." He said again as his arms waved in the air.

"Prince Goldilocks comes into my kingdom, unannounced, uninvited and we welcome him with open arms-"

"Technically Pepper and I did all the welcoming." Bruce muttered quietly as Tony continued his ranting tirade.

"-We threw a party in his honor. And he has the nerve to say the best damn thing in my kingdom is some bird and its song. It's an insult. A declaration of war. He's not even king yet. Just a prince. A stupid, pretty boy prince, with perfect abs and that smile. I just want to punch his teeth in."

"Punching the future King of Asgard, that could start a war. This." She closed the book and dropped it on the closest table. "This is harmless. Just a scholar's transcript of the prince's story."

"How is it I have never heard of this magpie before?" Tony didn't care about anything else. This allusive magpie had taken hold of him, and he has yet to hear its alluring song. He knew he wouldn't be able to any work on his projects until he met this supposed "best thing in the kingdom of Asgard."

"Tony, I'm sure it's nothing. I have never heard of this bird before either. Right Bruce?"

Bruce got unnaturally quiet again and his eyes returned to the stone flooring. Cracks were beginning to form in the stonework and would need to be fixed. Bruce tried not to fidget, but he body refused to stay still.

"Bruce, don't tell me you knew about this bird." Tony

"I…It's just a bird. I see it occasionally on my way home at night." Bruce exasperated. "When I was showing Prince Thor around the gardens, near the outskirts, it was sitting on a low tree branch. Singing as it sometimes does. Prince Thor stopped and listened. He said the song reminded him of his brother. His voice must of scared the bird, because right when he spoke, it looked at us and flew away in a hurry. Whatever stupor the magpie put the prince in vanished and we continued with our tour."

"I want to meet this magpie." Tony began pacing around the room. "Prince Thor claims it to be the best thing in my kingdom, so let's see how wrong he is."

"Tony. It's a bird." Pepper reminded him. "You can't order it around like you do courtiers. It's a wild animal."

Tony ignored her, his attention fully on Bruce. Bruce who has apparently seen the bird before. And regularly. Did his friend find himself as captivated by the bird's music as the prince? Or was he too caught up in his own world to pay it any mind. And if Bruce has seen the magpie regularly, who else in the kingdom has heard its song. "What do you make of the bird Bruce? Do you think this magpie is Midgard's greatest treasure?"

"I'm not answering that." Bruce knew no matter what he said, Tony would overreact and still demand to meet the bird. But still, Prince Thor had a point. He had heard the magpie's music nearly daily on his walks home from the castle. Everyday it would sing a different song. Each one more captivating and calming than the previous days. And while he would never admit it to Tony, it truly was one of the kingdom's most well kept, secret treasures. For its music was unlike any birds in the entire kingdom. It truly was one of a kind.

Tony's body went rigid and he straightened himself up. He got unnaturally quiet and Bruce and Pepper both knew his brain was whirring with a plan. His body made a 180 and Tony's boots clicked harshly as he walked towards the door.

"Tony, where are you going?" Pepper somehow snapped and groaned at the same time.

"To get Rhodey. We're going bird watching."