At midnight on the full moon, the couple make it to Thor's door.
JARVIS announces: "Mr. Odinson has informed me that you may enter his quarters upon your arrival."
Tony and Pepper go in and spot the Thunder God at the end of the small foyer, a maroon cloak partially obscuring his face.
After a polite exchange of pleasantries (and Tony's crack about Thor's 'monk rope', ) Pepper says "Thor, we can never thank you enough for doing this for us."
Thor raises a hand to silence her, "Nay, reclaim your thanks. I am naught but honored to be part of this, for you are both my dear friends. Now, you must be eager to begin. Come."
Thunder rolled in the distance as they followed him through the hallway and they could hear the pitter-patter of raindrops beating harshly against the building.
"I'm guessing this weather is your doing?" Tony presumes.
"Aye. As the rain brings forth new life, nourishing the plants, it also sustains life, providing water. It seems only fitting the storms accompany us tonight during our journey to bestow a new life upon the Lady Pepper."
The Asgardian motions them into his den, a warm and comfortable room that would have been completely dark if not for the various sized candles lit and scattered in every corner.
"We will not be disturbed. Jane's work takes her away from the tower for the week." Thor reaches for a mint colored silk frock draped across a recliner and hands it to Pepper, "If you please, I would have you adorned in this during the ritual. There is a spare room down this hall and to the right for you to change in."
She takes it, inspecting its delicacy, "This is beautiful. Is it from Asgard?"
"Yes, shades of green are known to represent fertility. It is all in the details, as they say."
Pepper titters at Thor's proud grin, then leaves to dress.
Meanwhile, Tony takes a turn about the room, stopping to fan vapor from the candles toward his nostrils, "Nice ambiance you got going in here. These smell pretty good too."
"Thank you. It is a mixture of herbs and spices burned to create the necessary energy for the blessing."
A few minutes pass until they hear a clearing of throat and both men turn to see Pepper standing behind them, looking every bit of feminine grace in her Asgardian garb.
Tony wolf whistles, "Wow Pep, you look amazing!"
"A vision of pure loveliness." Thor adds.
She thanks them, face flushed, and goes to stand by her husband.
"The two of you may sit here." Thor instructs, kneeling on the giant tapestry rug decked in floor pillows.
"Though I have informed you this rite requires no blood sacrifice, I am afraid it will require bloodshed."
From beneath the folds of his cloak, Thor pulls out a huge knife with carvings running alongside its blade. He fixes his eyes on Pepper who is looking more terrified by the minute, "Milady, this may be unpleasant for you."
"The hell it's not!" Tony leaps up to stand in front of Pepper protectively, "That isn't happening. Either you cut me or we're outta here."
"Tony, I'll be fine." Pepper placates, swallowing hard despite herself.
"No Pep, there's no way Im'ma sit around in a lotus pose and let him butcher you with that enormous weapon!"
"Did you think I would harm your beloved?" Thor asks, clearly appalled. Tony merely glares over at him in response. "I would never do something so barbaric. Besides, this calls for my own blood, as it should be."
"Oh…" Tony says sheepishly as he returns to his seated position.
Thor softens his voice as he looks at Pepper once again, "Trouble thyself no more, milady, I was only warning you for I will be using my blood to write upon your forehead. I hope you will allow this."
Pepper does her best to disguise how frightened she had been moments before. "Yea, it's okay. Just do what you need to do."
Thor nods and looks over at Tony, expecting a final objection. Receiving none, he pushes up his sleeves and unflinchingly slices a deep gash into his forearm. As the blood begins to pool, he takes a small wooden bowl near his knee and tilts his arm to drain a generous amount into it.
He dips two fingers in his own blood, and taking his cue, Pepper inclines her head toward him, allowing him to draw intricate patterns on her forehead. Once he's done, he angles her head with his clean hand so that he may survey his handiwork. Seeming satisfied, the Aesir slides down the hood of his cloak and pulls an amulet from around his neck.
Tony leans over to get a peek at the talisman engraved with Mjölnir's emblem and intertwined with several other symbols. "Wow that looks really different than the one Darcy gave you."
"Hmm... indeed," Thor hums, carefully hanging it over Pepper's neck, "It is a more authentic version of the pendent she gifted me. Now, I will require silence as I recite the rites and bless her womb."
First wiping his hand on a folded cloth, Thor's head bows and he begins to mutter in a foreign language. Tony thinks it could be Old Norse, or maybe something even more ancient, alien even. Pepper closes her eyes as she feels Thor's blood across her temple start to tingle and a warming sensation spread from her belly to her extremities. Thor finishes his incantation in about what Pepper guessed was five minutes, raising his head to look upon her face. The candlelight reflects in dancing waves in his eyes, and something else moves within his irises- a mass of gray that resembles the gathering of storm clouds.
Pepper gazes at him in awe, whispering in a small voice, " Should I … am I supposed to pray to you?"
Thor smiles down on her fondly as his eye color diffuses back into a brilliant blue. "There is no need for such piety." He softly pats her shoulder before rising to take two chalices from a nearby table. "I will have you both drink of this mead, but first in libation, you must pour a portion into the ritual bowl so that it may mix with the remnants of my blood."
Pepper takes both goblets and hands one to Tony and they proceed to pour a measure into the bowl below before sipping from the remaining untainted wine.
They drink for a few minutes while Thor sets aside three dishes full of a creamed fruit-filled concoction.
The couple look up at him expectantly until he sits and explains, "As I cannot share in the drinking, I shall partake in the eating of ambrosia. You will find it delicious, I am sure."
Already getting a whiff of the divine smelling delicacy, Pepper immediately takes her dish and spoon and digs in after thanking Thor; however, it is Tony who hesitates before accepting his.
"Like a nectar of the gods' kind of deal? But isn't this stuff supposed to make people immortal?"
"Tony! Don't be uncooperative." His wife reprimands in between bites, "Besides, you're thinking of Greek gods."
The billionaire still doesn't look convinced, eying Pepper's spoonful like it could turn her into a goddess within seconds.
Thor only smiles into his own dish and says with a wink, "I assure you, the apples of Idunn have been omitted from this recipe ."
Tony can't tell whether Thor is teasing him or not, but this time he takes his ambrosia without question.
When both mead and ambrosia had been finished, the Thunderer announces, "It has been done. May you be fruitful and bear little ones. If this ritual fails to produce a child, with your consent I can petition Lady Sif for her aid. She is my counterpart and due to her own influence over fertility, the next blessing would be twice as strong with her present."
Tony stands to help Pepper to her feet as she says, "I'm sure that won't be necessary. I just know for some reason that this is going to work."
"Me too." Agrees Tony, extending a hand to shake with Thor's, "I have a very good feeling about this. Besides, we trust you."
Thor smiles through the handshake, "Then, there is nothing but to wait."