Title inspired by a song by Iron & Wine. It just seemed to suit Tony in this chapter.
Alis volat propriis
Translation: She/he flies by her/his own wings.
Three Days before Full Moon
It was early morning and Tony stepped slowly into consciousness because of something warm, soft and fragrant pressed against his chest. The sensation was so comforting that he pressed closer to the softness, nuzzling the aromatic bouquet of hair close to his jaw. His member stirred with interest at the feel of soft curves. He moaned softly as the being snuggled closer to him and aroused him even more. Then he remembered who he was sharing the bed with and opened his eyes wide.
Somehow in the night, Pepper had cast the bolster aside, rolled over to his side of bed and was now curled up against him, her body flush against him from head to toe. Her head was near his chin and she was lying on one of her hands while the other was on Tony's shoulder, pulling him to her. She had slipped one of her long legs in between his thighs.
That would explain why some parts of me are awake before others. He thought darkly.
She must have felt cold during the night. He realized he was right at the edge of the bed, so turning over was not possible. How can I dislodge her without waking her up? Think, Tony, think!
He could slide out of bed sideways and keep her on the bed still. It could work. He might cramp his leg from the twisted movement but that was it.
He was just going to move, when his beard scratched Pepper's cheek and she yawned and blinked her eyes open sleepily. She smiled up at him so innocently that he stopped breathing. She's not truly awake yet. Then she looked at him properly and as awareness entered her gaze, she seemed to realize where one of her legs was. She gasped, jerking her leg from between his thighs with force.
Tony literally saw stars as Pepper's knee (which was clearly not as soft as the rest of her) connected firmly with his groin. He howled and fell backwards off the bed, the pain of falling to the floor, secondary to the numbing pain between his legs.
Oh good God, she's unmanned me.
He lay on the floor, clutching his groin, fearful that it may just fall off with the pain.
Pepper's face loomed over his from the bed. Her voice came from very far away. "Tony, Tony, I kneed you, shit! I'm sorry, I did not notice! Consarn it! Tony, what do you want me to do? Tell me what to do?!"
Tony took deep breaths, gently massaging the area. I am not going to cry I am not going to cry. He sat up slowly and groaned anew. "Oh that hurts. Sard it, it hurts so bad. Ngggghhhh"
If he was not in so much pain, he would have laughed at the comically distressed expression on Pepper's face. She had sat back on her heels. "Can I do something? How can I help?"
He croaked out, "Ask the inn keeper for some cold water, right now please..."
She ran out of the room and he lifted himself weakly, letting lose a string of abuses now that no lady was present. Then he shakily hobbled to the toilet.
After their lovely early morning incident with the knee, Tony and Pepper were being very awkward with each other. Even Le Loup noticed and wise enough to divulge this only to Tony while Pepper was busy serving herself from the sidebar.
He clapped Tony hard on the back and whispered to him very smugly, "Ah my friend, it is okay to have a little morning-after awkwardness. What is the matter? Did the flame-haired one refuse to leave the bed? Ha ha, it happens."
Tony rounded on him angrily. "It was not that at all." He growled. "We did not sleep together. Get your brain out of the gutter, FRIEND, lest I remove it for you."
Le Loup backed off, hands raised. "Sorry, sorry, I read the mood wrong." He quickly stepped to the side bar himself.
Tony was actually growling under his breath.
Why so testy, my friend? hissed the dragon casually. Did you want something to happen today morning? Before you were distracted with physical pain.
Well, yes, I... just, for a minute there, I was going to forget myself. I wanted to... I wanted to kiss Pepper so badly. When we were on the bed. She was so close. But... now is not the time for that. I'm just on edge.
Le Loup came back, plate piled alarmingly high with scrambled eggs. He leaned closer to Tony. "Say friend, I want to ask you something. But do not bite my head off. Just say yes or no."
Tony nodded at him tersely.
"Very well, if you are not interested in the red-haired one, I will take a stab at it. Ok?"
Tony looked at Le Loup calmly, then turned to look at Pepper, who was still at the sidebar, talking to another woman. He took a deep breath and slowly slid his hand under the table, to grab Le Loup's inner thigh hard such that the man yelped in pain.
Tony did not let go but instead started to mutter out of the corner of his mouth. "Le Loup, listen to me carefully. The red-haired one's name is Pepper and she is not a piece of meat. And she is not your type. Do not go anywhere near her or I will not be responsible for my actions. Am I being clear?"
He let go of Le Loup who nearly fell out of his chair, face red, eyebrows raised. Le Loup nodded comically with fear. Pepper came back just then and smiled charmingly at them. "What are you boys up to? Le Loup, why is your face so red? Are you quite alright?" she asked with concern.
Le Loup nodded. Pepper sat down and started to eat her sausages with gusto. Tony saw that Le Loup was going to do what he usually did during breakfast: stare at Pepper's breasts lustily. This time, he caught Tony's eye and promptly stopped staring because of the glare Tony was giving him. Tony cleared his throat and said, "Pepper and I have learnt a lot during our scouting yesterday."
Briefly, Tony summarized what he learn from the blue-collar folk.
Pepper gasped at the mention of the Captain. "Good god, how is it possible? I saw you kill him, Tony! Yet here he is, hiding in Patait!"
Le Loup raised his eyebrows. "A dead man walking? Come now, what sorcery is this?"
Tony shrugged. "The Captain is the first enemy, Pepper and I faced together." His heart lifted as he saw Pepper slowly smile at his statement. "He is not an ordinary man. He has brought some evil to this land and the priests are helping him propagate it. Enough about me. What did you learn, Pepper?"
Pepper told them about the Menolestes of Milene and their secret ceremonies.
Tony and Le Loup were fascinated. Le Loup said, "Something is happening during those ceremonies in the Palace. And on the night of the full moon. But we do not have much time. Today is the third day before the full moon. The next Oracle ceremony will be held on the day after tomorrow. We need to be there, in the Palace, somehow."
Tony asked Pepper curiously, "What did you learn of this Goddess, Milene?"
Pepper shrugged. "Not much, all I know so far, is that she is the patron Goddess of Patait. Do not worry, I will learn more today and tell you." She twinkled at him.
Tony grew suspicious. I do not think you are going to like Pepper's plan, Anthony. said the dragon mirthfully. She's a bold, smart one, she is. A perfect mate for you.
Tony asked suspiciously "I thought today, we were going to find out how to get in the Palace. What do you have in mind?" Le Loup also looked at her curiously.
Pepper smiled in that mysterious half-smile that women always seemed to use when they were up to something. "That is just it. I have found a way for at least one of us to get in the Palace. Now hear me out completely and then you can argue."
She leaned closer and they did too. "Remember I mentioned the need for an Oracle? Without the Oracle, the Great One, whatever that is, cannot be communicated with. That is why the priests keep having the ceremonies and inviting the Kingdom's elite to witness the selection. The beggars told me that the priests collect a list of candidates for the Oracle from the townsfolk. They choose people and kidnap them where they stand. What if I get chosen as an Oracle candidate? That way, I will be taken for the ceremony, get in the Palace and come to know what is going on. Then all that is needed is for you two to get in."
She smiled and held up a hand as both Tony and Le Loup opened their mouths to argue.
"Now, now, I have thought this through. I know you will ask me, what happens after the ceremony? Well, I will be in the Palace. I can find out what is going on and save the next poor soul who is going to disappear. I can also learn what exactly is this Great One? Is it another demon? Is it a wizard? Where does it come from? Alright Le Loup, you have a question, you go first."
Le Loup asked sarcastically, "You seem pretty confident that the Menolestes will select you as a candidate. What do you know of their selection process?"
Pepper smiled smugly. "From what I heard, they like attractive, young, confident men or women. Someone who catches the priests eye. I definitely fit the bill, don't you think so? And I am making it easier for them to notice me. I am going to go to their territory and attract their attention. Not wait for them to come to me."
Le Loup nodded grudgingly. "I admit, it is a good plan. It seems foolproof, especially since time is scarce."
Tony could not control himself anymore. He shouted "Are you completely insane, Pepper?! Going straight into the lion's den and saying, 'oh pick me and kill me, I am willing'!? God damn it!"
People two tables away, turned to stare at him and Pepper, as if to irritate him further, giggled. Le Loup muttered, "Now the whole inn is paying attention to us. Come on children, let us squabble outside."
Tony walked outside quickly, desperately needing fresh air. His heart was pounding hard with fear, worry, helplessness at Pepper's preposterous plan.
"I am not going to agree to this ever! Sending you there as bait!" He told Le Loup and Pepper, as they caught up with him, some distance away from the inn.
Pepper asked him quietly, "Do you have any other ideas, Tony?"
Tony ran his fingers through his hair in frustration.
"Wait! What if I get selected as an Oracle candidate? You said men or women, does not matter to the priests. So I can infiltrate the Palace that way and do whatever you were going to do, Pepper. Yes, I like this idea better."
He tightened his jaw as both Le Loup and Pepper were shaking their heads at him.
Le Loup said "It would not work. Priests will obviously prefer her over you. Sorry, Lord Stark, you are not as appealing as she is. There is a higher chance of success with Pepper going."
Pepper added, "Additionally Tony, we will ultimately need the Iron Knight. We do not know what this Great One is but I think we can safely rule out the possibility of it being an ordinary man. Whatever it is, only you can take it down. If you get in as a candidate, how would you be able to become the Iron Knight? No, I can blend in and you can come as the Knight."
She smiled reassuringly at him as Le Loup mused.
Tony glared at her. "So you are going to go straight into danger, willingly and you expect us to sit outside the Palace, waiting for you to return? Doing nothing?"
Pepper gave him an exasperated look and said "Anthony Stark, will you..." But the scoutmaster cut her off, "Children stop squabbling. I think I have a way on how I and Lord Stark can get in the Palace, so we will be there with you Pepper, on the second day. It is an easier way for two men to be there. Yes, I see it clearly now."
Tony glared at Le Loup, feeling that control of the situation was rapidly moving out of his reach. Le Loup looked at him pointedly. "Pepper mentioned that the city's elite are invited to this ceremony, yes? Well all we have to do, you and me, is steal someone's invitation and be there, masquerading as them. It will be fun, my friend, we get to dress up like a lord or a money lender or something!"
Tony dropped his jaw with shock as Pepper beamed at Le Loup with joy. "That is a great idea, Le Loup! See Tony, you will be there in the Palace during the ceremony."
Le Loup said with enthusiasm, "I know just who is the perfect idiot from which we can steal the invitation. Some foreign count has been invited to Patait, just for the full moon. He has never been to the Kingdom before, so no one knows him in the Palace. He resides on the outskirts of the Kingdom. In a big camp with his soldiers and servants. We can easily steal his invitation and enter. You can be the Count, Lord Stark, I will be your captain of the guard. What you say, hah?"
Tony looked from one eager face to the other. He was still horrified by Pepper's plan. "Am I the only one with sense here? You want me to masquerade as a Count and you, Virgina Potts, want to be kidnapped willingly by these bloodthirsty priests, whom the entire Kingdom is afraid of, and participate in a godforsaken ceremony?"
He turned his back to them and pinched his nose, breathing deeply. The Dragon whispered to him. It is not the best of plans, Anthony. But what choice do you have?
There is always a choice, Dragon. Difficult as it is.
He turned to see Le Loup walking back to the inn and Pepper standing there, looking at him steadily.
Tony stared back at her, sighing. He knew he was going to lose his argument with Pepper. But he had to try anyway.
Saying Pepper has blue eyes, is like saying a diamond is just a rock and an oak is just a tree. She uses their color to convey so many emotions. They turn icy blue, like ice on the lake, when she is being cold and distant. They are fiery when she is angry. There is a light shining from deep within them, when she's happy or joyous. When she is sad, the blue glistens like sunlight falling on the sea.
And then there's this look. The soft look. I do not know what it signifies. Concern? Care? Humor Tony? I do not know. The melting, marble blue color captivates me. The color of the sky when the angels have swept it clear of clouds. My mother's words. I never truly understood that description until I saw this look in Pepper's eyes.
He said evenly, "Pepper, let us return to Lorinthia. Forget Patait. Forget the Great One and these damn priests. Let the King handle it. It is not our concern."
She widened her eyes at this. "Tony, you made an oath, remember? Patait needs your help."
He looked at his feet and then at her. Deep into those blue depths. "Pepper, I made an oath but no oath is so important that I put you in certain danger. My mother would not want innocent people to suffer just because Patait cannot solve its own problems. This quest is not worth..." he faltered, "it is not worth putting you in danger. It just is not."
She still looked at him steadily. "So you do not think I am capable of taking care of myself in the Palace?"
Tony swore so violently, Pepper was taken aback. He caught her shoulders and shook her lightly. "Damn it Pepper! You are the most capable, qualified, trustworthy person, I have ever met. It is not that! Don't you see? Death follows me somehow! I let Rhodey down! I let Yin Sen down! I have their deaths on their conscience. I cannot let you willingly go into such danger... if something should happen to you... It is on me, I cannot live with that..." he ended on a whisper.
She caught his hand then and looked him resolutely. "Lord Anthony Stark, we cannot turn our backs on Patait. Wait, let me finish... I am willingly doing this only and only because I have absolute faith in you. In the Iron Knight." She placed their joined hands on the arc, stroking it tenderly.
And then she whispered softly to him. "Tony, I know come what may, you will come back for me. I will do my best but I know, I believe without a doubt, that all else may fail but you will not fail me. Great One or not, you are the greatest knight I have ever known. And you will save me, if I need to be saved. Have faith in yourself, my lord. You are no ordinary man."
Tony swallowed hard. He was humbled by Pepper's statement, her belief in his abilities. The dragon whispered, You may have fallen from grace, Anthony, but be strengthened by Pepper's faith in you. She is right. You cannot doubt yourself now. And we both know, you will find a way to save her, should she need it. Come hell or high water.
He looked down at their joined hands and then at Pepper, who was smiling at him. She pulled him along back to the inn. "Come on Tony, I have got to dress up for my selection."
He wanted to lighten the mood. "I'm curious, Pepper. Just how many knights do you know, that you decided I am the greatest one of them all?"
She laughed impishly at that and he smiled wryly.
Tony kept telling himself not to worry as Pepper changed for her visit to the Temple. He paced the floor of the inn. He was worried and kept muttering to himself. Le Loup being smart, was standing far away from him.
Then he saw the inn keeper staring at something above and behind him with awe. He turned too and looked up to see Pepper at the top of the staircase. Time seemed to slow down immensely. It is that... that blue dress. I do not why it has this magical effect on me.
Pepper was slowly walking down the staircase, a vision, a spectacle of beauty in the blue mosaic dress, the one she wore to the Spring fair. The blue brought out the richness of her hair, pinned at the back of her head, so it was half open and its red, gold waves streamed down her back. It also complimented her porcelain complexion. She had worn an ornate headband, which made her look bewitchingly regal and highlighted her classic, delicate facial structure.
As she descended nobly, the inn folk also captivated by her appearance, Tony took a deep breath and inexplicably, could smell lilies. Unbidden the verse came to his mind, something he heard a long time ago, in court.
She walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that's best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes.
Pepper had reached him now and was standing in front of him, with a curious glint in her eyes. He raised his eyebrows at her, hoping she had not noticed him staring as she descended.
She told him mischievously, "Do you think the priests will like what they see?"
Tony growled at her then. "If they do not, they are fools and I will be happier for it."
She laughed at that and Le Loup added appreciatively, "Good choice, Pepper. The primary color of the Goddess is blue and you are sure to catch their attention in that."
Tony tightened his jaw at Le Loup's ominous, at least to him, sentence. She will definitely catch their attention. What will happen next?
Le Loup shooed them towards the cart. It was time to visit the Temple of Milene.
I used the scene from "She's All That". Jennifer Jason Leigh coming down the stairs, "Kiss Me" playing in the background and Freddie Prinze Jr. staring at her, dumbstruck. It is a cliche, I know, but I couldn't help it.
Oh and I also used Lord Byron's words as well.
