A lion chased me up a tree and I greatly enjoyed the view from the top - Confucius

It was the wee hours of the morning when Tony and Happy rode into Carinthia. The city was just stirring and its guards were too sleepy to question two laundry men with a lot of laundry as they entered the city. They made their way to the inn and stabled their horses. The innkeeper showed them to their rooms and agreed to wake them up in 4 hours just in time for a late breakfast.

They fell asleep immediately, Happy snoring gently and Tony too tired to notice.


All was quiet in the stables as well. The donkey chewed on some hay happily. The cart was in the corner, still filled with linen.

The donkey looked curiously at the linen bundle as it began to rustle. Then a slender fair hand appeared from the mass of bed linen. Another hand appeared as well and they began to push away the bedsheets and pillows until finally Pepper could break free.

She crept out of the cart, strawberry blonde hair tousled wildly. She walked over to a barrel of water and splashed her face with force. Then she put on her lad disguise by tucking her hair under her large black hat and wearing a shapeless, oversized coat. She had bound her breasts and wore a large kerchief around her neck, so between the large hat and the kerchief, her face couldn't be seen clearly. She slung her satchel around her chest.

Then she walked to the inn and sat down at a table in its restaurant area. Breakfast was being served.

She gestured at a serving boy imperiously and he immediately brought her a cup of ale.

The innkeeper strolled over curiously. "Who might you be, kind sir? I don't think you have a room here."

She deepened her voice and spoke. "I'm with your other guests who are sleeping upstairs. The laundry men from a far away place."

She wiggled her eyebrows at the innkeeper, trying to make him understand that she was part of Tony's group. He did so immediately and nodded solemnly. "Right then, breakfast for our good sir here."

The serving boy brought over rye bread with cheese and a meat stew. Pepper ate the hot food with gusto. She hadn't eaten anything since last afternoon, before hiding away in the cart.

She grinned gleefully as she thought about what she had done. After the way Tony excluded her from the mission, she decided to prove to him that she could be an asset on a quest and wasn't going to be sidelined.

She confided in Magdalene, who had a few choice words about Tony's attitude. It was her idea that Pepper should hide in the donkey cart under all the linen. This was easy because Tony had entrusted Maggie with the task of arranging the linen around the armor. And Jarvis agreed to tell Tony, a little white lie about Pepper's whereabouts.

So she lay in the cart quietly on the trip to Carinthia. It was a comfortable journey but Pepper had to really control herself from laughing out loud, during Tony's and Happy's lusty limerick competition.

Much to her glee, she heard Happy loudly coming down the stairs. She kept her head low as he walked into the dining room and sat down at the table next to her. He looked at her absently and returned her friendly nod.

Hee hee, Happy doesn't even recognize me.

Happy raised his hand suddenly and Pepper tensed slightly as Tony walked to the table. She realized he was staring at her. She kept her head low and chewed slowly.

Can I fool the great Lord Stark with my disguise?

Tony sat down and Happy started talking excitedly about the city. But Tony was still staring at her intently. Then their breakfast came and they ate quickly.

Pepper relaxed and had another glass of ale, then waited for them to leave, so that she could follow them. She saw them take the stairs as all the rooms were on the first floor. She casually got up and walked up the stairs. Then she paused.

Now which room are they in? The ones on the left or the right? I'm confused.

Then she heard Happy's loud exclamation coming from the left. She walked quietly to the 3rd door and heard Happy say something again.

She came closer to the door, to knock, only to be shocked when the door abruptly opened and she was suddenly yanked into the room forcefully. A strong hand had caught her by the shoulder and held her firmly against the room's wall. She was stunned but kept quiet as she looked into the grim faces of Tony and Happy.

Happy said "Hey lad, who are you and why are you following us?"

But Tony cut him off with an exasperated smirk on his face. "It is no one but Pepper, Happy." And he pulled Pepper's hat off her head.

She smiled innocently at them both. "Hey boys... so I hope you had a good rest..."

Happy was acting like a goldfish again. "How... how did you, where did you..."

Pepper ignored his question and turned to Tony, who was still holding her shoulder firmly. "How did you know it was me? What gave me away?"

His eyes flickered with emotion at that sentence but he sternly asked her, "What are you doing here, Pepper? I thought I made it clear you were not to come on this quest."

She looked back him, her face equally stern. Face him, Pepper. Don't back down.

"Tony, I am going to prove to you, that I can take care of myself. And you have to acknowledge that i managed to stow away without your notice."

Tony had a mischievous gleam in his eye. He nodded in agreement. "Very well, you have made your point."

Happy looked relieved at the way the matter was settled.

Pepper was relieved too. She didn't want to fight with Tony again. She grinned at him happily. "So... what's our plan?"

Tony said, "Happy, please go to the stables and make sure the horses are prepared. I will help Pepper decide on a weapon and will meet you at the stables."

Happy nodded and left. Pepper saw the chest with the armor in the room. "Won't you be taking this?" She asked as she tucked her hair back under her hat.

"No, we are going to do some reconnaissance first as we need to understand what is going on. We can come back for it later. Now the bag of weapons is over there behind the bed. Go, take a look."

Pepper walked over to said bag. Then she heard the door close and a loud click and clang.

She gasped. I've been had!

She ran back to the door and tried to open it but it was latched from the outside. She started to pound her fists on the door and shouted,

"Anthony Stark, you let me out! This is not fair! How dare you...you fiend... you! How dare you lock me in! Let me out!"

She laid her ear against the door, listening for any indication that Tony was still there. But she heard nothing. Then she slumped against the door and sat down on her heels. Now what should I do?


Any guesses on how Tony realized it was Pepper in disguise?