Warning: Mature Content ahead.


Be patient where you sit in the dark. The dawn is coming.

It was an hour from midnight. Tony stood in the undergrowth, clad in his armor except for his helmet. He felt the rush of adrenaline and fear that always hit him before battle. He scanned the camp. All the men were huddled around the fire. Soon they would turn in for the night.

His face tightened at the thought of Virginia. She didn't deserve this and he was going to make sure she escaped safely. He just had to be careful.

He watched the assigned watch pair of man and dog head for the border of the camp. Right towards Tigliath. Good luck facing him. The plan was simple: Tigilath would take down the watch.

The camp would be alerted and they would head towards that side of the clearing, leaving Virginia unguarded. He would get her out and come right back to finish off the slavers. Especially their evil leader. He had no qualms about killing them.

He rested his hand on his scabbard. He carried no shield because the armor was strong enough to take any blow from a man-made weapon. Also he preferred being swift and nimble as opposed to heavy and restricted and a shield would throw him off balance. He took a deep breath calming himself, going over the pre-battle motions that Yin Sen taught him. The dragon was excited at the thought of battle and was huffing softly in his ears.

The watch hadn't reached Tigilath yet. They would in a few minutes, according to his calculations. And the camp surprisingly had not yet settled down to sleep. In fact they seemed to be making merry. Virginia's stocky keeper had rolled out a barrel of ale and they started drinking. Then the Leader came into view and the men started cheering.

Tony's heart started to slowly, pound with rage at the sight before him. Virginia was dragged into the center of the clearing by a rope around her neck. Her hands were tied and one of the men tried to grope her. She kicked at him and the crowd hollered even more. Two men placed a metal bed frame near the fire.

The blood was rushing to Tony's head. He knew what was going to happen but was powerless to stop it as he had to let Tigliath do his part first. The Leader pushed her down flat on the bed.

Someone handed him some more rope and first he tied her wrists wide apart to the bed and then did the same for her legs, so that she was restricted, spread eagled, to the bed. She struggled against her bonds but it was of no use. The Leader accepted a tankard and started to drink deeply.

Tony watched silently and clenched his fists. He swore vehemently. I can't take on all of them at once. They need to be distracted.

His chest started to burn with the effort of keeping himself calm. He put his helmet on, as a reflex, to distract himself from the terrible scene before him.

Paradise lost, innocence lost. Too bad, Anthony. You sit here in the shadows and watch Virginia suffer. said the dragon solemnly.

The fat man brought a knife to the Leader, who had finished his drink. He used the knife to cut open Virginia's dress, exposing her shift. The men started to cheer as the Leader climbed on the bed and placed his hands on her thighs.

She spat at him for this and he pulled the rope around her neck, to raise her head. Then he slapped her hard. The sound echoed in the clearing but it seemed to echo the loudest in Tony's head and his vision turned crimson. He would wait no more.

The dragon unfurled in his chest and they roared as one in the night.

x-x-x-x

The blow stung Pepper's face and she tasted blood in her mouth. I can survive this, I have to. I won't give this devil the pleasure of seeing me break. She closed her eyes, trying to block out the sight of the Leader's pointed evil grin, bearing down on her.

Then she heard a roar, something not quite human. Everyone heard it and for a moment, the men fell silent. The Leader looked around and hissed "What was that?"

A deafening snarl came from far way, as if to answer the roar, this time definitely from an animal. Then the Fat One pointed at the top of the clearing. "There's something there!" he shrieked.

Silently, a tall, shadowy figure appeared at the top of the clearing. The night was cloudy, so the being was steeped in shadow. For a moment, he stood there in perfect stillness. Then he slowly stepped forward, a huge knight in full battle armor with a great helm covering his face.

He had no shield. His armor was the darkest black of night with an unholy blue light shining from his chest. His eyes glowed red beneath his visor. The knight slowly pulled out a great curved sword from his scabbard and pointed it at them menacingly.

For a moment, nobody moved, paralyzed with fear. The Fat One broke the silence by screaming loudly. "It is the Iron Knight! God save us from the cursed being!" The knight then whistled shrilly.

From the right, a great black beast entered the clearing. Its amber eyes glowed and blood dripped from its fangs and fur. It crept slowly but surely towards the men, a low growl emitting from its throat. The knight let out a mighty roar and charged forward. At the same time, the beast sprang at the nearest slaver, ripping out his throat.

Both being and beast were determined to kill everyone there. The knight swung his sword and disemboweled the first man to cross him. He clashed swords with another slaver, then kicked him backwards and slit his throat. The Leader scrambled off Pepper, desperate to find his sword.

Pepper was helpless as she was tied to the bed with no way to free herself. The Fat one was loudly praying on the ground next to her, tears running down his face. One of the hounds decided to face the knight and leaped at his head. Its teeth collided with pure metal and it fell back to the ground with pain. The knight calmly picked it up by the neck and flung it into the fire.

A slaver charged towards the knight on horseback, pike in hand. He stabbed the knight in the chest with the pike. Pepper gasped as the knight absorbed the blow with a slight sway but remained standing, unscathed. The slaver turned his horse around to strike again but out of nowhere the beast pounced on him in the saddle and mauled him viciously.

Is that Tigliath? Yes it is, there can't be another panther. If that is Tigliath, then who or what is the knight? It can't be... Lord Stark?!

The second hound faced Tigiliath and they clashed in a whirl of fur, tooth and claw, feline versus canine. A second slaver on horseback was dispatched swiftly by the knight. The Fat One suddenly came to his wits and scrambled to his feet. He desperately ran away from the clearing, towards a horse.

The knight pulled a long dagger out of his greaves and threw it with force at the Fat One. It hit him right in his neck and he fell to the ground with a gurgle. The beast or perhaps Tigiliath, had emerged victorious from his short battle with the dog. There were only two more slavers left, one of whom was the Leader. He was nowhere to be seen.

x-x-x-x

Tony wryly realized he had completely ignored his own plan but so far so good. Four men down, two to go. What about the dogs? He had killed one, Tigliath had definitely killed the one with the watcher. That left one more.

He heard the sound of bone being crushed and saw Tigliath snapping the neck of the last hound between his teeth. He paused for a moment, listening to his heartthud violently in the stillness of the night.

"Look out!" Virginia yelled.

He turned to see the tall lean slaver come towards him, sword raised. Tony assumed a defensive stance and waited. The man then dropped his sword, fell to his knees and raised his hands above his head. "Please, my lord knight, mercy. I don't want to die here. Mercy. I ask for your forgiveness. I will change."

Tony tightened his jaw. He didn't deserve mercy. He had no doubt participated fully in the enslavement of others.

Kill him said the dragon. You know you want to. Does he really deserve a second chance.

Smiting down the violent and guilty is easy. What about those who repent? What difference is there between me and him? He is a man doing what he is told to do by someone in command. I was the same just for a different commander. If he asks for a second chance, how can I deny him what I was fortunate enough to receive?

He replied "Repent for your sins. Ask forgiveness from those you enslaved. Leave this place and never come back."

The man got up and ran past Tony, only to be stopped by a knife in his back. Anthony turned around to see the Leader holding Virginia hostage. He was holding her close to him with one arm around her torso, the other holding a knife at her throat.

"Lord knight, do you care to parley? I do not know what made you choose my humble camp and slaughter all my men. Was it to save lovely Virginia here or just coincidence?"

He scraped the knife along her throat, lightly scratching her.

Her eyes were wide and full of fear in her pale face. She stood perfectly still. I have to save her. Nothing can happen to her.

Be calm, Anthony. Don't let him get the upper hand by being emotional. Said the dragon.

Tony sheathed his sword and stepped closer, thinking hard. Tigliath had come close as well, crouched and growling ready to pounce. But even he seemed to realize the dangerous position Virginia was in.

I can't charge, I can't use the dagger, I might hit her. I can't leave her to this monster.

"What do you want?" he snarled

The leader grinned obscenely and Tony suppressed a shudder at his filed toothy grin.

"What I want my lord, is to leave with my life. So you are going to walk away to the beginning of the clearing, taking your damn hell beast with you."

"Let her go." Tony said tightly.

"Not until I'm on horseback and a safe distance away. Then I will leave sweet Virginia behind."

Tony stared at him with suspicion. "How do I know you will keep your word and not harm her?"

"You will just have to trust me, milord". He smirked. "Now start walk..."

He was cut off abruptly by Virginia stepping violently on his outer heel. As he stepped back in pain, she jabbed her free elbow into his nose, drawing blood.

Finish him off! roared the dragon.

"Virginia, get down!" yelled Tony. Before the Leader could recover and swing at her, he had to stun him. He pressed the switch in his armor and the glass lid of the flame in his chest opened. He summoned all his strength and called upon the dragon. A powerful stream of blue flame burst from his chest and engulfed the leader.

Virginia crawled away quickly and scrambled to her feet. She ran to Tony, who pushed her behind him. Tony lunged at the Leader who had been singed by the flame. In one swift motion, he swung his sword and cut off the Leader's head.

It was done. She is safe. It was done. Tony took a deep breath and turned to face Virginia. "Are you all right?"

She backed away from him fearfully and he lifted his helm's visor. "Do not be afraid, Virginia."

"Lord Stark," She murmured with shock. "You are..." She was speechless.

There was nothing but fear in her eyes and he nodded grimly. Suddenly his helmet felt too heavy and he removed it. He stepped away from her and started to walk out of the clearing. Now that the blood lust had left him, he was drained of energy. "Let's go home."

He whistled for Balthazar to come to them. The war horse thundered up and Tony stood near the saddle, waiting to hoist Virginia up. She walked to him and he looked at her. "Virginia, you need to rest, you have endured enough for one night. We can talk in the morning." He said gently.

She raised her head and looked at him. He was struck by the relief and joy in her dark blue eyes. Then she smiled and embraced him, standing on tip toe, leaning into him, ignoring his bloody armor.

He stood still, unwilling to break the sweet spell. He felt a wetness on his cheek as she rested her face against his. His body relaxed and he took a deep breath. She whispered to him softly, "Thank you, milord, for coming back for me. Thank you."

Then she hoisted herself on the saddle and smiled at him. "Call me Pepper." All he could do was stare at her and he shook himself out of the stupor. Later, we will think about this later.