Tony

Dark wings, dark words.

That was what the old serving women would always say when a raven arrived with a message. It was a pretty little phrase, good for those that liked to pretend they were soothsayers and prophets. When news of a death or an accident or a war was delivered thanks to a raven the wrinkled hunched over women could return to their needlework and mutter that they had been right, that they had known that the news would be foul for ravens only brought the darkest of information and that was something that the young should learn. Best to listen to the words of their elders, after all.

And when the news turned out to be good news Tony had found, from his own experience, that the old women either found something to distract everyone with or would twist the good news into something horrible. A marriage was being declared? They were quick to state how the husband was a vile drunk with puff penis or the woman was a shrill whore whose nethers were infested with lice. A child was born healthy and strong? Born under ill stars and was destined for pain and to bring pain. A war was over or a battle had been won? They'd focus on the dead men and if there wasn't any then dead horses. Summer would remain forever and death had been defeated so that all would remain happy and young forever? Now how would the men go ice fishing and there would be far more bees that would sting everyone and give them hives.

Dark wings, dark words. Like so many sayings and 'commonly held' knowledge that phrase only held truth when one tilted their head the right way. And for those that believed in those held beliefs any attempt to claim they weren't true were seen as the foolish or the naïve refusing to see what was right in front of them.

Tony had been called foolish and naïve many times in his life. And every time he had refused to let it stand. He had mocked, he had belittled, he had torn down their reasoning until everyone in ear shot was laughing and the fool that had thought to embarrass him instead found themselves red-faced.

Yet as Phyllup came into the small dining hall with the message that had just arrived Tony couldn't help but feel a shiver of dread flow through him. Dark wings, dark words.

"A message from King's Landing, my lord," Phyllup stated as Tony put down his goblet and shoved aside the glazed pork that had been served up to him.

"I knew it," Pepper whispered, horror and rage dueling for dominance in her voice. "I knew this was a trap! I knew it!" She whipped around the glare at Tony. "I told you to refuse!"

"You know I couldn't. I wanted to but there was no way to do so without raising questions at best and the rage of King's Landing down upon us at worst," he countered.

"Let them come… I'll have my own version of the Rains of Castamere when I'm done with Tywin Lannister!" Pepper snarled, standing up and nearly sending her chair crashing to the ground. "Where is my axe?"

"In your chambers, milady," Phyllup said.

"No, not that one, the one I took from those Iron Born bastards that has the sunstones!"

"Oh, yes, I believe-"

"Rhodey, do NOT let her get her axe!" Tony exclaimed, his friend moving from his own seat to calm Pepper down as the Lady of Iron Pointe began to make her way out of the dining hall and, most likely, towards the armory.

Tony couldn't quite get mad at her for her rash actions. First and foremost because if he did try to point out that she was thinking without acting she quite literally had years of his own schemes and manic moments to call back upon in order to counter his own points. Second was the fact that all of them had been on edge for the last few weeks and thus this was merely the punctuation on those stress filled fortnights.

It had been another raven that had brought the first words from King's Landing. At first Tony had believed it was finally Tyrion seeking out his opinion on things, as he had been waiting for his old friend to message him concerning the situation in King's Landing and how the West was doing in the midst of war. He had understood the delay, as with so many different factions battling across Westeros it was risky to send ravens out, especially with information that would create the perception that the Lannister Cause was weak. But with rumors spreading that Renly had been driven from the Seven Kingdoms and Ned settling down to fortify his position in preparation for the winter that was to come Tony had assumed that things had quieted down enough for Tyrion to send a message. Perhaps well wishes for Jon on account of his marriage, requests for supplies, so forth.

Instead he had found that the raven had bore Tywin Lannister's words and with them everything had been turned upside down.

Jon had been granted a spot on the Small Council, serving as an advisor for his royal highness King Joffrey, King of the Andals and the many other titles, and was expected in King's Landing, along with (should he choose) his wife and any servants and men of arms he wished to attend him, in no more than 8 weeks time.

It was a grand gesture. Men who served on the small council were recorded in the tomes of the maesters and their lives studied to the fullest. Even the least of them saw one maester at some point dedicate their lives to telling their tale. Jon's life would be recorded and examined centuries after his death. More so because he was a bastard that had risen so high, a rare feat that would put him within the same conversations as the Bloodraven and Orys Baratheon. And if he should do well he could very well end up being remembered as one of the most important Starks to ever live, spoken of in the same breath as The Builder and The King Who Knelt and The Lord of the Hour of the Wolf.

'But it isn't a gift,' Tony thought as Rhodey worked to settle Pepper down. 'It is a gilded cage made of daggers dipped in poison.'

It was obvious what Tywin truly desired. He wanted a Stark well within his grasp, one that might be a bargaining chip should the need arise and an opportunity to barter with Ned come about. His son (or at least that's what Tywin believed... Tony sent a prayer to the Old Gods, the New Gods, and the New-But-Artificially-Aged-To-Look-Old Gods that the Old Lion never realize just who Jon's parents truly were)would make a powerful piece in the Game of Thrones. And until then Jon would be a perfect piece of propaganda; a son of the North married to the Red Viper's daughter now advising the 'true' king of Westeros. It would make Joffrey seem like a fair and forgiving monarch, showing that he was able to see beyond names and blood and work with those that simply respected his title.

'And, of course, should something happen to Ned and his family Tywin would have a perfect new Warden of the North right there in King's Landing. Wait for Natasha to become pregnant, hope for a girl, then kill the parents in an accident and marry the babe off to a Lannister.'

Tywin had wanted Jon with him before when he had been in the field and it had only been The Mountain's attack that had allowed Tony to trick the head of House Lannister into buying them more time. But now nothing could have prolonged Jon's going... though Pepper had come up with some rather mad ideas; his personally favorite was trying to claim Jon didn't actually exist and clearly Tywin was have delusions in his old age. Jon's response was more pragmatic, as he had reminded them all that Sansa's soul was still trapped by the Night's Queen. He saw Tywin's offer as the perfect chance to free the young woman who he had been raised to see as his sister. His plan was rather... blunt: kill Joffrey in cold blood then he and Natasha kidnap the Night's Queen, something something something everything is solved.

Natasha had suggested they think a bit harder before rushing off to commit both regicide and an exorcism

Bringing up Joffrey though had only made Pepper AND Tony more adamant that Jon could not go. The little shit had already tried to behead one Stark and murdered another. What would happen when things went bad on the war front, Ned embarrassed the Lannister forces, and Joffrey needed someone to take his rage out on? Visions of Jon suffering the same fate as Rickard and/or Brandon had filled Tony's head and he'd waffled between taking them all into hiding or armoring them all up and flying in to take out King's Landing once and for all.

It had only been, of all people, Fury that had calmed them down and got all in Iron Pointe to see reason. He had promised that his spies in King's Landing and their networks would work to protect Jon from Tywin. He reminded them that Jon would have Natasha with him, and that Varys would also be instructed to assist Jon. Tony didn't trust the eunch in the slightest but he realized they had no choice in the matter; Jon had to go or they would be revealing all to Tywin. And that was something they simply couldn't do. Thus three weeks earlier had seen Jon and Natasha ride off for King's Landing with a few select guards and Happy as the commander of their household knights. That had been a difficult thing to secure, as Happy had argued that even with Jon going into the heart of enemy territory it was still more likely that Tony would do something stupid. It had taken promises, whining, and a few veiled threats from Nat to finally get the pessimistic man to agree to accompany the two on their journey.

And now a new raven had arrived.

"It's too early for them to have arrived," Tony pointed out, carefully using his bread knife to cut the seal on the message and unfurl the scroll. "Jon and Natasha couldn't make it to King's Landing this soon unless they used Jon's armor. And Happy would have found a way to let us know if they'd done something that stupid." In a quieter voice he muttered, "Like scream so loud they could hear in Pentos."

"Ambush then," Pepper said even as Rhodey helped her back to her chair. "It's what I would do if I thought the person I wanted to capture might realize I wanted to capture them. Set up an ambush halfway, while they were still loose and relaxed and not tense from worry. Spring it real quick and then take them where one would least suspect! Make it look like the guards had turned on each other, maybe raze a villain to pin the blame on bandits, then hack off a limb to keep them from running and head back to my keep."

"...should I be concerned you've spent so much time thinking about how you'd kidnap someone?" Tony asked before reading over the scroll. "Written in Tywin's own hand. 'Lord Antony Stark'. Well, that's good news. I don't think he'd still be calling me a lord if he were getting ready to march on iron Pointe."

"Tony, could we do this without the commentary?" Rhodey asked.

"I suppose but you are taking all the fun out of this, Rhodes." Tony returned his gaze to the message. "'By order of... HRH?' I think all that means His Royal Highness. Anyway, 'His Royal Highness King Joffrey you are to order to sail to... Braavos to meet with the Iron Bank concerning the Crown's debt'?" Tony blinked and reread that line but it didn't change or alter in any way, remaining just as he had read it. "'Passage in Maidenpoole will be prepared along with further instructions. Lord Tywin Lannister, Hand of the King'." Tony passed the scroll over to Pepper who read it in utter confusion while he turned to the spymaster who was seated at his table. "Well Fury? Got anything you'd like to reveal to us? Or are you just going to mooch my food and be cryptic. Because you can do both if you want but I'd remind you that I can't hide Pepper's axe forever." Tony gave a lazy shrug. "Might even get her a new whetstone for it…"

Pepper though shook her head. "No on, I want it blunt and dull. Make me work up a sweat."

"…well that is terrifying and oddly arousing," Tony said as Rhodey began to slowly back away from the Lady of Iron Pointe. "So, what's it going to be, Blinky?"

The one-eyed man set down the goblet he'd been drinking from and held up a hand in a gesture of calming. "I knew that there were issues with the Iron Bank. They are calling in all sorts of debts ever since Robert died and his brothers didn't line up to bend the knee to Joffrey. At first it was just small ones that were coming due for final payments, making deals that if people paid off a bit sooner they'd cut some of the interest that was owed them. Merchants and magisters were actually happy to go along with that as it was a good deal for them. Then they stopped offering the delays and just began demanding the money. And began targeting bigger debters." He shook his head as he thought of all that had happened in such a short time. "They've become worried that this war will mean a delay in their payments, seeing as Westeros is one of the biggest sources of debt in the civilized world. I mean, there are the factions in the Undisputed Lands but they make sure they sign iron clad contracts to get their money. With Robert things seemed to be stabilizing. Aerys hadn't been good for business and Robert borrowed heavily, yes, but the realm was prospering. He spent a ton but other lords were investing and making deal."

Rhodey frowned at that. "I thought Baelish was supposed to be some sort of mage that made gold dragons appear. The stories were all about how he could find new sources of revenue… investments and such for the crown to make coin."

"Lies," Tony said bluntly. "Ned told me about it when we were traveling to Riverrun." He shut his eyes, the memory of that long painful voyage, when their grief over Sansa had nearly consumed all three Stark men, weighed on his mind heavily. "Littlefinger borrowed from the Lannisters. Ned complained about it several times, how Jon Arryn let Robert run far too roughshod over the Small Council. How much was wasted on feasts and tourneys and how no one seemed to actually consider that one day the debt would need to be repaid… because Tywin Lannister is not the man to gift his good-son a bent copper, let alone vast mountains of gold dragons to just do whatever he wishes. Those were always loans."

Pepper chimed in. "Hefty ones with interest." Tony shot her a look and she smirked. "What do you think I was doing when I was the secret Warden of the West while you were moping in your workshop? I've been through Tywin's account books and I was making sure that loans were being repaid… not Robert's, as Joffrey is never going to begin paying those off so long as the war is going on, but smaller ones."

"And that is what the Iron Bank was doing at first," Fury said, cutting in once more. "And with the North splitting off and the Stormlands still not under anyone's control after Stannis went silent...and who knows what in the Seven Hells Lysa Arryn is up to... they are beginning to sniff out that someone is going to make a play to cut down how much is owed."

"…they weren't foolish enough to make the contract with 'The Seven Kingdoms', were they?" Tony asked with a raised eyebrow.

Fury couldn't help but smirk at that. "I'd say you were the first person to consider that…" he gestured at himself rather than continue and Tony let out a huffing laugh at that. "They are naturally keeping that underwraps, of course. Claiming that it was with 'The Iron Throne' and not 'The Seven Kingdoms'."

"Of course they are. What poor fool is going to end up tossed into a pit of vipers for messing that up?"

Rhodey though shook his head. "I did some work for the Iron Bank… hunted down an official that tried to sneak away with a payment that was sent from a merchant sailing to Yi Ti, claiming that the man set sail before giving it to him. They didn't use vipers for that… they used The Coffin."

Pepper grimaced. "Is this something that is going to put me off eating the rest of my meal?"

"Yes," Rhodey said. "They took the man and first drizzled a butter and sugar mixture all over his body. They then placed him in a coffin that was too small, with holes cut into it for his feet, his hands, and his head. He was then force fed him overly spiced beef with onions, washed down with fermented cow's milk. When he'd had his fill the coffin was placed in a pit near the river."

"So far not too bad-" Tony began.

"The spiced beef caused him to violently begin shitting himself while the honey attracted rats and insects, the latter of which laid their eggs in the feces that began to coat his body, unable to easily escape the coffin."

"-nevermind," he said with a grimace, pushing his plate away.

"The vermin would nibble on him even as his coffin filled with his own shit, soaking into his skin… and then the next day they'd feed him the same meal all over again. Did all they could to keep him alive, actually… I left after two weeks and he was still down there. Didn't scream anymore but I think that was because of the infections-"

"So needless to say someone is going to pay and not in a good way if this gets out," Tony said, Pepper gagging and fighting to keep her meal down thanks to Rhodey's tale. He made a mental note to pay some of the local children to dump their chamber pots on the knight's head the next time he went for a stroll. "And the Iron Bank is desperate to try and get their money now, mostly likely involving writing up a new contract at worst or tricking anyone they can get into paying off the debt." He leaned back and rubbed his cheek in thought. "Have they sent representatives to speak with Ned yet?"

"They have," Fury stated, reaching over and snagging a roll and taking a bite out of it; Tony didn't know if he was actually hungry or doing it to show he was a badass who didn't get sickened as easily as the rest of them did. Tony pushed his plate further away from him so Fury could have at it while Phyllup quietly appeared at Pepper's side and offered her a bowl of candy from Lannisport; it was made from peppermint and was supposed to be good for upset stomachs. Tony waved the man over and grabbed a few himself, popping the sticky cool treats into his mouth. "They are obviously hoping that they can convince your cousin to deal with them… I can't say for sure what they want as there is actually a debate within the Iron Bank as to whether it would be wise to try and trick Eddard into paying 2/7th of the Crown's debt or merely trying to get him to make an agreement with them that would allow them a new source of wealth."

"Both of which aren't going to happen," Tony stated, smacking his tongue against the roof of his mouth noisily as he ate the peppermint candy. "Ned's too good with his money to need to take out massive loans… he's been squirreling away money for years now for Winter, same as almost every Lord Stark before him. And he's not dumb enough to fall for paying off a debt he didn't create… not with Manderly as his Master of Coin." The lord of White Harbor was a fat, jovial man… and one of the most cunning minds when it came to finance that Tony had ever encountered. He'd heard an old saying that one needed to count their fingers after shaking hands with a scoundrel but Wyman was the first person he'd met that made you actually wonder if you had started off with 10 fingers when you'd talked with him. Where Tywin used fear to rule Wyman used a mask of kindness to get his way… and if some people disappeared who crossed him who would ever believe it was him?

Pepper leaned forward, pressing one hand to the side of her face as she took in the spy master. "But there is more to this than just Westeros, isn't there?" Fury raised an eyebrow at that by Pepper's gaze didn't waiver in the slightest. "The Iron Bank has been making deals with nations at war for centuries. The feuds of the rich and the powerful are nothing to them. They didn't go to these extremes during the Dance of the Dragons nor during the Blackfyre Rebellion or Robert's Rebellion. And this is far too open for them... to demand talks about outstanding debt like this?"

"It was Tywin who sent the message, not the Iron Bank," Fury pointed out.

"And that is why they are never this open. Unless they wish to embarrass a monarch they will never risk letting out such demands so that word might spread. And this doesn't embarrass Joffrey... well, it does but it also puts them in a bad light. People are always looking at the actions of the Bank, trying to determine what every command and decree might say about it and the world at large. They would send an envoy to talk terms of repayment... with a Faceless Man waiting in the city before their arrival if they thought the king or queen would not speak truthfully and make empty promises. To be so brazen as to demand others come to them... they would never do this if it were simply Westeros causing them problems. It is too bold and showy for merely the Seven Kingdoms. So what else has happened that has forced them to take such action?"

Fury calmly took his napkin and wiped the corners of his mouth before speaking. "How do you know so much about the Iron Bank, Lady Stark?"

Pepper smiled sweetly. "The Potts weren't sitting around draining the wealth we brought with us after our exile. My family knew that you must breed dragons if you wish to have them... and the Iron Bank was so kind to assist us in that matter." She paused. "And there might be a certain member of the bank who, when young, tried to court me."

"Quite," Fury stated before leaning back in his chair. "And you are correct. There are other matters that have forced the Iron Bank into taking these actions." He sighed. "Essos has become as chaotic with upheaval and change as the Seven Kingdoms. Daenerys Targaryen has not only hatched three dragons but has set her sights on Slaver's Bay. And while the Good and Wise Masters there believe that they will be able to swindle her the Iron Bank has come to the same conclusion I have: she will not come to them like a Beggar Queen but as Aegon would."

"Fire and blood," Tony muttered.

"Fire and blood," Fury confirmed. "And there is more. Qarth has fallen."

That got Tony's attention. "The Greatest City That Ever Was has been conquered?"

"Completely. All the ruling factions have been been killed save for one: Viktor Vondam, who was a childhood friend of Jon Arryn, has taken control of the city and all its wealth and forces. Daenerys apparently had a hand in helping with that, as there are reports that she alone razed the House of the Undying after the mages tried to take her dragons, and the mages had already wiped out all of the Thirteen save for Viktor himself. That led to the remaining powers to battle to fill the power vacuum. And in the confusion of all that Vondam and his forces took them both by surprise and slaughtered them. He has declared himself supreme ruler, taking the title Doom and renaming the city Latvaria."

"...fuck," Rhodey muttered. "No wonder the Iron Bank is getting skiddish."

"And there is still more," Fury admitted. "At the Iron Bank's own doorstep, in Braavos itself, there are whispers of a new player in the feuding of the Free Cities. A mystic and warlord from Yi Ti called 'The Mandarin'."

"The Mandarin?" Tony asked with an amused smirk. "Sounds like a fruit you'd have on a summer day."

"It isn't humorous, Antony," Fury said darkly. "The Mandarin calls himself a teacher and has begun to gather around him the makings of a new religion... of course that is only if you are generous with titles. More fitting is to call them a cult. The Red Priests have begun to whisper of disappearances among their ranks, as have other religions that have temples in Braavos. The Sealord downplays it all but the Iron Bank does not cast aside such rumors so easily."

"So we have a religious war potentially brewing along with the actual wars," Tony muttered. "Wonderful, just wonderful."

"Is it possible they know about the Others?" Rhodey asked. "The Iron Bank probably has as many spies as your Council does. They might have heard something..."

"I doubt it," Fury stated. "The Others are considered a Northern myth here in the Seven Kingdoms, a fairy tale dreamed up by barbarians and savages. Now consider the fact that Braavos loves to look down their noses at Westeros and claim superiority over them... what are they likely to think of the people most of Westeros looks down upon?" He shook his head. "No. It's the political upheaval that has them worried."

Tony scoffed "And now Tywin wants me to sail right into that madness and deal with the Iron Bank for him."

"That's what I still don't understand," Rhodey said. "Why send Tony? Why not Littlefinger? Isn't it his job to deal with coin and loans?"

"He's the one that requested the loans," Pepper pointed out. "Why send Tony unless Tywin wants him out of Westeros?"

"I think there is more to this than we know," Fury stated. "I'll send word to Natasha to look into it with Varys. If this is a plot to get you out of Westeros we'll put some plans into motion."

"That's assuming Tony even goes," Pepper stated only for Tony to shake his head. "Don't you dare say you don't have a choice."

"You can ask me not to say that but it doesn't make it true. No different than when you ask me not to make some crazy device... you know it's going to happen, I know it's going to happen, so why lie to ourselves?" Tony slouched in his chair, head rolling back as he spoke. "Look, one can't deny a request from the Hand of the King. Especially when it is Tywin Lannister and the King he serves is that shit Joffrey. I say no and I am going to have to give a good reason why... and the only one Joffrey might accept is, "Terribly sorry, can't do it because I'm already dead.". None of us like it but there is no way around it."

"So what? I'm supposed to look after Iron Pointe while you go sailing off to Westeros?"

Fury spoke up. "I would actually recommend against you two separating. While it is common for wives to remain behind when their husbands travel if this is a plot to remove Tony from the picture Iron Pointe would become a dangerous place for you to remain. You would actually be safer with him."

"And if this is a plot to get me killed?" Tony asked.

Pepper smiled. "Then I can save you... again."

"Wait a minute here!" Tony complained, sitting up. Or at least he tried to sit up but he found the act was rather difficult to do with how he had slid down in his chair. "Give me... ugh... umf!" Finally he managed, in a rather undignified way, to wiggle himself back into a sitting position. "So it's dangerous for me to go but you think I will be okaky with you risking yourself?"

"We faced off against the Mountain and only one of us not only didn't get a scratch on them but also managed to talk down the giant sack of rage and muscle." Pepper shot him a look. "We also faced off against Vanko and the Iron Born… you have barely just recovered and I managed to save you in a suit I hadn't even worn before."

"…she does bring up a good point," Rhodey said.

"No she doesn't!" Tony complained. "Well, okay, she kind of does but that isn't the point, except maybe it is, and I just realized that I'm not going to win this argument no matter what I do so I might as well accept that you are coming." Tony used his fingers to tug lightly on his brow. "Still doesn't mean I like this. Who is going to watch over Iron Pointe then? Rhodes?"

The dark skinned man scoffed at that. "If you think for a moment I'm not coming with you as well you are gravely mistaken. Braavos was my home, Tony… you need me to walk you through it."

"Oh, I'll be fine," Tony said with a wave of us hand. "Find big bank, walk into big bank, leave big bank, get back on ship. Easy as can be."

"No offense, my lord," Jarvis said, speaking up for the first time since the meal had been interrupted by the message, "but I've seen you get lost in this very castle."

"That was-"

"Last month."

Tony, who had raised a finger to counter that point, slowly lowered his hand and turned his head away from the others as he began to mumble to himself. He could hear the others snickering at him but he paid them no heed, instead trying to recall if he actually had gotten lost in the castle the month past. If he hadn't and tried to come up with an excuse then he'd only embarrass himself. But if he did get lost and denied it they would just keep pressing him.

'Just need to change the subject, nice and clean,' he thought to himself as he turned back to his friends and the cyclops that had invaded his home and wouldn't leave. "That reminds me of the time Tyrion brought a jackass and a honeycomb into a brothel." The others just stared at him. 'Yup, you did good, Tony… real good!' "Now, Jaime claims that was the 2nd worst birthday he ever had-"

Jarvis cut in at that point. "As for who will be watching Iron Pointe the logical answer would be myself, supported with some of Fury's men such as Phyllup to aid me."

"You?" Tony said. "I mean, no offense there Jarvis but is that really wise? Maesters advise, not rule."

"Grand Maester Munkun was Hand of the King for a year during the reign of Aegon III. And maesters have ruled in all but name when their liege lords were too young to properly command their lands. I assure you that it wasn't your cousin Bran Stark who ruled Winterfell when Lord Robb and Lady Catelyn marched South… it was Maester Luwin who was in command."

Tony pursed his lips, considering that. "It is unexpected, it goes against tradition, and many of the more conservative houses will balk." He grinned. "I like it!"

Jarvis bowed. "And do not worry… I will ensure that the men left by Fury only assist." He cast a look towards Phyllup and the steward had the good sense to gulp at the not-so-hidden threat the maester had just delivered.

"Besides," Pepper said, "we'll be back very quickly, Jarvis. It will take longer to get the Maidenpool than it will to get to Braavos, Tony will try his best not to get the Iron Bank to kill us all-" Tony opened his mouth to protest before bobbing his head back and forth, accepting that she had a point; knowing his luck he'd say the wrong thing and end up having to fight a gargoyle or a hydra they had locked up in the depths of the bank to guard all the gold. "-and then when we get back to Maidenpool we'll see about donning our armor and flying back here."

Fury cleared his throat.

"Oh? Would the man that keeps drinking my wine and eating my food for free like to now change our plans?" Tony asked.

"You are forgetting, Lord Stark, that there was a task I assigned you… one that this trip will allow you to perform without having to answer questions concerning why you traveled to Essos."

Tony shut his eyes as he remembered just what Fury was hinting at. "Daenerys."

"We need her, Antony. Her and her allies and her dragons. All of them are going to play a part in defeating the Others. They are creatures of ice and death. Dragons are creatures of fire and-"

"Death. Hot, painful death."

"-magic," Fury continued. He leaned forward and locked eyes with the Lord of Iron Pointe. "Has it not occurred to you that magic truly had began to fade from our world when the last dragon died? And now the fantastic and unexplained has returned around the same time of their birth? Old mysteries and legends are being proven true. Forgotten relics discovered. New advances discovered."

"The sunstones aren't magic," Tony complained. "They are stones that react with metal to release energy in ways that defy all logic that we currently have but they aren't magic."

"That… sounds exactly like magic," Rhodey stated.

"I know and I'm pretty sure I've had this conversation before but honestly I don't want to give Winkie here a win."

Fury rolled his one good eye. "The point, Lord Stark, is that dragons are a measurement of the rise and fall of magic. And if I am correct we are going to need every scrap of power we can get to defeat the Others. Your ancestors didn't defeat the White Walkers with mere brute strength… they wielded energies and powers that are scoffed at now as fables. But fables… sometimes prove to be true."

Pepper, to Tony's surprise, nodded in agreement. "It reminds me of Uncle." She smiled fondly and Tony merely watched her, charmed by the innocent way she smiled; by all in the dark world he lived in did he love it when she smiled. "Not my real uncle… everyone just called him that in Pentos, from the lowest beggar to the richest magister. He was from Yi Ti and sold artifacts and oddities and loved to tell me stories and tales from his lands when I would visit his shop. He always stressed that only "magic can defeat magic."." She shrugged, looking away from Fury. "Silly, I guess-"

"Not at all," Tony said, reaching over and taking her hand and giving it a kiss. Pepper blushed as she always did when he was affectionate and thus Tony only caught out of the corner of his eye Fury looking at Phyllup and mouthing the words, "Captain Black."

But before he could bring that up Rhodey stood up. "Well… I guess we have to get packing then. We have a long trip. I'll let the guards know."

"I'll send a reply to Lord Tywin," Jarvis stated. "And I will ask he alert young Jon."

Fury nodded. "Do that. I'll contact Varys and let him know to arrange more help protecting Jon and Nat… if this is a trap then they'll need an exit strategy." He stood up from the table and looked at Tony. "And what are you going to do?"

"Honestly?" Tony said. "I was thinking of kicking you all out and fucking Pepper right here on the table." She slapped his shoulder but the way her eyes flashed showed that with only a little bit of pressure he'd get her to agree.

Fury merely raised an eyebrow. "Whatever you need to do, Stark. Just make sure of one thing… this time don't do things like at Jon and Natasha's wedding." He waved his hand in his direction. "Bring your fucking suit."