Note at the end of the chapter


Love is the whole thing. We are only pieces.

When the song stopped, Pepper, flush with exertion, made her excuses to Aland and walked away from the dance plain. She needed a drink badly.

She had been dancing for two hours straight, first with Aland, then Byram, then Clifton and then again with Aland. Each man more charming and attractive, than the last. Aland particularly stood out in her mind, for he made her laugh with his sparkling wit and conversing style.

It felt so good to dance again. But the man I really wanted to dance with, is hiding in his keep, tinkering with his precious armor. Typical Tony. She mused wryly.

I wanted to see that infamous Lord Stark charm, that Magdalene keeps talking about. The knight of the realm, with the glamorous lifestyle of the King's court. Oh well, another time perhaps.

She looked around for Magdalene and saw her moving towards the copse of trees, where the archery contest was being held.

Magdalene waved at Pepper and gestured her over. "Milady Pepper, come quick, you must not miss Lord Anthony's turn in the archery contest."

What, he came! Why didn't I see him? She picked up her skirt and ran to Magdalene, who had managed to jostle her way to a prime viewing position. The competition was already underway.

Pepper stood next to her, slightly on tip-toe and watched as the archers lined up, Tony being one of them. He was at the farthest end of the lineup. She couldn't see him very clearly but she knew it was him. No one else stands as straight as him. She could see Happy tensely waiting behind Tony, holding arrows.

The yeoman started the countdown and at the end of it, the archers shot their arrows towards the target dummies, at least 8 meters away.

All arrows hit the dummies but only two had hit them straight in the head. Pepper held her breath as the judges decided who would progress to the final round. The crowd cheered wildly as two names were announced: Tony and Byram.

The remaining contestants left the field and Tony and Byram walked towards Pepper's end of the arena. Pepper started as she could clearly see Tony now. He was not wearing his customary all-black garb but instead, was clad in a white, full-sleeved shirt with laces at the collar. Over it, he wore a dark grey vest, decorated with thread knots and laced tightly across his chest. High, black boots and black trousers completed his ensemble.

Then she gasped as she noticed he had trimmed his beard very neatly. The beard was now cut close to his face, highlighting his beautiful profile. He had shorn his shaggy mane as well, it stopped just above his shirt collar. He had always reminded her of a shaggy lion with his deepset, wide brown eyes, long beard and aquiline nose but now he looked magnificently male and handsome and virile... a lion in its prime. She couldn't stop staring at him as he turned to say something to Happy.

I want to touch it so badly. His beard, his hair.

She blushed deeply as she imagined Tony standing perfectly still, like a big cat, while she stroked her fingers through his freshly cut hair. And rubbed her knuckles over his trimmed, bearded jaw.

I have to wonder, would his hair be prickly or soft, since he trimmed it? Even his beard, will it still tickle my fingers? One thing I know for sure, his lips would still feel soft and warm, in contrast to the straight short hairs above them.

The yeoman's loud declaration of the start of the next round, roused her from her sensual thoughts. The target was a clay disc that would be shot from a sling. The archers had to hit the disc hard enough to pierce it and make it fall to the ground. A special steel tipped arrow was handed to Byram and Tony each. They would go in turns. The first archer to successfully knock down the disc would win.

Byram went first, the disc was released and his shot was wildly off target. The crowd signed with disappointment.

Tony was next. His shot was on track but narrowly missed the disc. The crowd sighed again.

Pepper mentally cheered Tony on. He will hit it the next time. I'm sure of it.

The second round began. This time Bryam's shot struck the disc and the crowd gasped. But it didn't pierce it. The disc was just knocked off course.

Pepper held her breath as Tony pulled his bow string back and stared intently at the sky. The disc was released. He waited, waited and fired. The arrow hit the disc and it fell to the ground, pierced by the disc.

The crowd went wild, cheering madly. Bryam sportingly shook Tony's hand. Tony was surrounded by well-wishers. Pepper tried to call out to him but he couldn't hear her over the noise of the crowd.

I will meet him back at the Keep and congratulate him then. Let him bask in the crowd's adulation.

She saw the yeoman approach Tony with the prize, a small gold medallion. He placed it around Tony's neck. The crowd clapped wildly and Tony motioned for them to stop.

He cleared his throat and said "I thank you for your hospitality and your wishes. But I dedicate this prize to the fair maiden who blessed me with her favor before the contest. It is thanks to my lady's blessings, that I am the victor."

The crowd started shouting out names of the village's maidens, trying to guess who had given Tony, their favor. Pepper heard her name being called out as well.

But I didn't give him my favor. I would have if I knew he was here and was participating in the contest. Could there be another maiden? Who is she?

Tony smiled at the crowd's guesses and then beckoned to someone standing behind Happy. A little girl with a veiled face, walked over hesitantly to him, wringing her hands. She was at least 8 or 9 years old. The crowd hushed and then a loud murmur could be heard.

Pepper realized why. She had heard of this girl, Héloise, who had been badly burnt in an accident. She wore a veil to hide the burn marks on her face. The village children avoided her, scared of her appearance. Even some adults shunned her.

Tony picked her up in his arms and she giggled with joy. He then raised his left arm, displaying a bright red kerchief tied around his elbow. Héloise plucked it off and tied it around her own arm. Tony let her down and knelt on one knee.

"My lady Héloise, I am eternally grateful for your favor in battle. My victory is yours. Kindly accept this token of my gratitude."

He took the medallion off and gently placed it around Héloise's neck. She touched it in awe and smiled at him sweetly. The crowd loved it and whooped with delight. Héloise ran back joyfully to her parents.

Pepper stood still, stunned by Tony's gesture. It was so... sweet and touching. So simple.

Then she pushed through the moving crowd to reach Tony but when she got to the archery plains, he was nowhere to be found. She huffed with impatience and resolved to catch him at the Keep.


Tony wears a smart vest from - 3339 knights jacket.

I've tried to twist the Iron Man dance scene where Tony sees Pepper in the backless dress. What if Pepper had been dancing with someone else?

Also what if Pepper is the one who ogles Tony. Why shouldn't she, he's a very attractive man, perfectly logical to stare at him.

In my personal experience, men get bad tempered on the day they trim their beards. Just saying.