Ladies and Gentlemen, the Oracle is about to be chosen.

Things are going to get weird.

Also, this is a very looong chapter. I could not figure how to break it. Apologies for the length.


Fluctuat nec mergitur.

Translation: It is tossed by the waves but it does not sink.

One Day before Full Moon

12:30 in the Afternoon

The day of the Ceremony dawned bright. Tony was so exhausted from his sneaking around at night, that he slept through breakfast and woke up at lunch time.

He dressed quickly and went to the main dining hall for breakfast. He noticed that all the servants were very busy, running up and down, carrying this and that. One of the frog-like priests was directing them. He walked to the window in the hall and looked out at the long line of wagons and carts, laden with white and blue flowers, waiting patiently to unload their goods.

He ate quickly and decided to find the historian, Milene. She is not like the priests but she is not possessed either. Maybe she can help me find Pepper.

He knew Le Loup and the men must still be sleeping. He was tired too but was functioning on pure adrenaline. He decided to casually follow the line of servants up the staircase. They all seemed to be heading to the topmost floor.

Once he reached the floor, walked leisurely through the Palace's artistically decorated corridor. He stopped abruptly as he could see a huge blue colored door ahead. Servants were entering and exiting the door. But what had halted Tony in his tracks, was the tall, mustachioed man, standing near the door, deep in conversation with the High Priest. Consarn it! It is that damn Captain!

He rushed to stand behind a statue of a mermaid and peered around it cautiously. Now I cannot walk past him, I have to go back and get a look from somewhere else. He might recognize me.

The Dragon hissed, Good idea. Stay out of his way.

Tony quietly turned and descended the staircase till he reached the first floor. Okay, so I cannot check out that door until the coast is clear. Instead I must find the historian.

Then he tensed as he saw two horsemen march towards him. Tony stiffened. More of these bastards. He straightened and gave them his sternest look ever. They saluted him and marched on.

Tony relaxed, then he heard a female voice say loudly, "There is no need to be short with me! I have every right to be here." He walked quickly towards the voice. He walked onto the promenade and saw who was talking. The historian was arguing with two horsemen, who were barring her way.

The horseman said threateningly, "You better watch it, girlie... we do not answer to the likes of you."

Tony decided to intervene. "Well then, will you answer to me?"

All three turned to look at him, Milene with relief. The horseman growled at him, "Do not interfere, Count. This is a matter of the Palace."

Tony put his hand on his sword hilt and said, "Let the lady go and step away. If this is a matter of the Palace, let us go to the Palace Steward then."

The horsemen backed away at that. They marched away without looking backwards while Milene exhaled deeply.

Tony said "Are you alright, my lady?"

"I am no lady, Count Rupert. I'm just a humble worker of the Palace." She took a deep breath. "They just scared me, that's all."

She smiled at him. He asked curiously, "What did they want?"

She sighed and turned towards the corridor. "On the fifth floor, the Ceremonial Audo is being prepared. It is the grand auditorium in which the Oracle ceremony will take place. The Chonsario will patrol the grounds and the Palace, until the Ceremony is done. Sometimes, they can get... a little too defensive." Tony snorted. She continued wryly, "They are a violent bunch. But the scariest of them all, is leader, Captain Giurescu."

Tony stared at her. Finally a name for that evil man.

He tried to sound as casual as possible. "Why are you scared of Giurescu? What do you know of him?"

Milene shrugged. "None of us, except the priests, know much about the horsemen. One day, they just came here and Duke Rorshach told us to obey their every command as if it were his own. Giurescu has been staying at the Palace for a month now, as a guest. He convenes regularly with the priests and the Duke."

"Why are you really scared of him, Milene?" asked Tony gently. She is hiding something.

The historian trembled and avoided Tony's gaze. "One night, when I could not sleep, I looked out of my window. On the grounds below, I saw Giurescu hit one of the candidates on the night of the full moon and drag him screaming to the Lacus Norturona. In fact whenever a candidate disappears, I know that man had something to do with it."

Lacus Norturona? Where have I heard that name before... Oh! The pond at the end of the canal.

He said casually, "What is that?"

"The giant lake behind the Palace. It has been there for centuries, Count."

Milene looked at Tony steadily then. "I am not a fool, Count. I know of the disappearances. But I am not involved. The priests and Giurescu. They are up to something. I just..." Her eyes filled with tears. "I cannot do anything. The priests will kill me if I object. I am helpless. But I cannot bear to see these men and women die without a trace."

Tony caught her hands. "Do not cry, my lady. This will come to an end soon. Can you take me to the Candidates? I just want to see where they are kept."

Milene gasped. "Oh no Count, you cannot go see the Candidates today! The High Priest, Rana, has them under lock and key in his chamber below the Palace. Rana prepares them for the Ceremony with his priests. You will be able to see them only during the Ceremony. I do not know exactly where his chamber is. But it is too dangerous."

Tony kept quiet. Milene was gently pushing him along back to the staircase. "Go back to your room, Count. Do not stay outside."

He sighed heavily and then she whispered to him, "After the Ceremony is over, I will send you a message. Meet me at the mentioned location and time. I think I can help you meet whom you want to meet, then."

Tony felt relieved at that and smiled at her gratefully. Then he walked back to the staircase, deep in thought.


07:45 in the Evening

A gong sounded and echoed through the Palace's corridors. It was to alert the attendees to proceed to the Ceremonial Audo as soon as possible. Tony was dressed entirely in black, with a black and gold doublet, black breeches and high boots. He had hidden the Dagger of Aramiah in his boot.

He walked up the stairs, to the fifth floor and then proceeded to the giant blue door, with golden handles. He saw that there were two horsemen guarding the door and searching each invitee. Tony tensed up at the extremely thorough body search that was taking place in front of him.

I cannot let them search me, They will be able to feel the arc in my chest. And how will I explain that?

He raised his chin, putting on his haughtiest expression and walked boldly to the door. He was going to enter without going through the check, when one horseman stopped him with a hand in his face.

The horseman growled at him, "You need to be searched, Sir."

Tony looked down his nose at the horseman and fixed him with an icy stare. He remembered his days amongst nobles in the court and spoke in an extremely affected tone. "Do you know who I am, peasant? I am Count Aloyvisius John Ignatius Rupert, the First Count of Hentzau, Kingdom from the North. The noblest of blood flows through my veins. And you dare deign to touch me!"

He glared fiercely at the horseman. "I shall demand your head for this! Loup!" he yelled and out of nowhere, Le Loup appeared, grinning evilly.

"Cut off this man's head and throw it to the dogs!"

The horseman got confused and then Milene came along and said soothingly, "It is alright, it is alright. I am so sorry, my Count, no insult intended."

She glared at the horseman, "Do not offend our royal guests so. Let the Count pass. He is an esteemed guest of Patait. If you have a problem, take it up with the High Priest."

The horseman grumbled but let Tony pass and Milene winked at him.

Tony looked around as he stepped into the Audo. The viewing area was a large circular theater, with a staircase to climb up to reach the vertically arranged seats.

The area was lit by a number of candles, arranged artfully here and there, to provide a gentle blue light. White and blue flowers were scattered liberally everywhere and amongst the seats.

In the center of the viewing ring, was a stage. At least, Tony felt it was the stage. There was a bed on a platform. Above the bed were two large mirrors, arranged such that they would reflect something onto the bed. Garlands of white and blue flowers were draped over the stage's base.

I wonder what is going to be reflected and from where. Tony thought.

He was shooed to his seat by one of the froggy priests. I've got a nice seat, right in the center and high enough, so I can easily see what is going on the stage.

He saw an ambassador pointing excitedly upwards to the viewer seated next to him. Tony looked up as well and gasped.

God's teeth, a giant skylight!

In the middle of the Audo's ceiling, was a huge, oval-shaped panel of glass painted black. The panel was encircled by a solid ring of silver, engraved with what seemed to be waves.

Hmmm, whispered the Dragon, A skylight eh? How do they open it?

I think someone will be on the roof of the Audo, to open it at the required time. But what shall be reflected? Will a light be shone through it?

No, Anthony, whispered the Dragon. It is the moon's light that will fall through. The moonlight from the three quarters moon. Nearly a full moon.

Tony gulped. I do not understand what is going to happen.

He saw that the Audo was nearly full now. Everyone was in their seats, chattering excitedly.

The clock struck 8. A gong was sounded. The candles were snuffed out. The room plunged into darkness. Tony could not even seen his own hand in front of his face.

A single source of blue light appeared on the stage. It was the High Priest holding a huge candelabra. He was looking magnificently toady in robes of resplendent ocean blue, billowing about him. His white eyes glowed ominously in the blue light.

In Tony's head, the Dragon hissed angrily at the sight of Rana.

He began to speak in a deep tone. "Esteemed Guests of Patait, the hour of the Moon is upon us. We search endlessly for an Oracle to herald the Great One's arrival. Today perhaps, our search will end. Please keep silent during the ceremony and do not get up from your seat. We will now be sealing the Audo's door."

At this, the giant blue door of the Audo was slammed and latched shut.

"The Candidates are here. Secondary Menoleste, please bring Candidate Dante forward."

Tony widened his eyes as the black haired young man from yesterday's presentation, was slowly helped up the stage by one of priests. The man was swaying noticeably as he climbed each step so carefully. His head was lowered and his hands were stiff by his side. The priest gently pushed him towards the bed and then made him sit down on it and lay his head down.

Tony gritted his teeth. Drugged out of his mind, I bet.

The priest strapped the young man to the bed using a single belt and then Tony realized that it was a not a bed at all, it was a wooden long bench with hinges, because the priest pulled the bench upwards, so the young man was tilted towards the audience.

This is getting frighteningly creepy. Why have they strapped him to the bench? whispered the Dragon.

The candelabra was snuffed out and the Audo was completely shrouded in darkness. Then a loud scraping sound was heard from above and Tony looked up. The skylight is being opened...

Moonlight began to creep in as it opened. Tony blinked as beautifully, pure tendrils of the white light of the moon lit up the Audo in its center, that is on the stage, since the skylight was now completely open.

A thick, cloying smell began to fill his nostrils and he wrinkled his nose. It was not unpleasant but strong and sweet. He saw the air thicken with a foggy smoke. The priests are burning incense.

Then the chanting started, somewhere off stage. Ominous and indecipherable.

Ommmmnnnnnn eeeeeee Aung Neeroooonnaaaaaaaa

Ommmmnnnnnn eeeeeee Aung Neeroooonnaaaaaaaa

It went on and on.

Through the fog, Tony saw the moonlight reflect off one mirror and bounce onto the next and finally, focus intently on the face of the hapless Dante, who was shivering.

The moonlight stayed on his face, highlighting his sweating brow and cheeks and his mouth stretched in a grimace. It then slowly moved downwards on its own, as if passing itself over Dante, as if searching for something.

The chanting grew louder and Tony blinked hard to clear his eyes and his ears. How is it possible that the light is moving on its own? The mirrors are not moving... at least, I do not think the mirrors are moving!

Once the light reached the man's toes, it stopped in place and then jerked suddenly upwards to his face. It shone brightly upon it. Dante opened his mouth in a silent scream and Tony gasped as the moonlight turned a dull blood red.

Dante began to jerk against the buckle then, still not uttering a word and Tony fidgeted in his seat, unable to witness this silent torture. Whatever you are, end it now! he pleaded.

The moonlight astonishingly reversed its path to the skylight, bouncing backwards from mirror to mirror and through the skylight. It disappeared from the stage and the chanting stopped completely. Tony exhaled deeply. The Audo was once again completely dark. He could hear footsteps on the platform, the sound of the belt being unbuckled and then shuffling.

Suddenly the High Priest's creepy white eyes appeared in the darkness, illuminated by the blue candelabra. The crowd gasped and he giggled, the sound creepily echoing in the Audo. "Candidate One has been rejected. Candidate Two is next."

The blonde girl, Eleta was led onto the stage. Like Dante, her head was down and she placed each step carefully like she was treading on water. Her hair was plaited neatly and she was visibly trembling.

She lay down and was buckled in and tilted. Then once again, the candelabra was snuffed out, the chanting resumed and incense began to fill the air. Tony watched with awe as the moonlight creepily snuck back into the Audo and bounced off the mirrors to playfully, land back on Eleta's face.

Dragon, how are they doing that?! It is pure light, yet why does it act like it is alive?

The Dragon whispered in an equally hushed tone, Anthony, I think it is alive. It is assessing each of the Candidates through the beam of light.

Eleta was crying silently, shoulders heaving, tears streaming down her face. But her torment was short as this time, the moonlight seemed reluctant to linger on her and quickly passed over her once and then left the room. It did not turn red.

Tony mused as Eleta was taken off the stage in the darkness. Does that mean she was rejected as well or ignored?

The High Priest came on stage again, announcing ominously, "Candidate Three is next."

Tony tensed and sat up straight in his seat. God's teeth... it is Pepper's turn.

His heart started to thump loudly in his chest. He watched as Pepper came into view. She was wearing the white toga with its gold belt. Unlike the others, she had not lowered her head but instead, looked straight ahead.

Her reddish gold hair glimmered in the blue light of the candelabra. She swayed slightly as she walked and she was taking deep breaths. Tony gulped hard as he noted her pale, ghost-like pallor.

Multiple emotions were passing through him as Pepper slowly and carefully, climbed the stage, guided by the priest with the tattoo. They have hurt her, shit, Pepper, I am sorry, I put you through this... I am going to get you out of this, sweeting... Those damn priests!

He clenched his fists with anger and felt the flame course through his veins powerfully. I am going to make them pay if it is the last thing I do.

The Dragon said in its serpentine voice, I too, am horrified at the thought of what Pepper must have gone through. But stay patient, Anthony, tomorrow you can finally face the Being and destroy this evil. Pepper's efforts will not have been in vain.

Pepper was strapped tightly into the bench by none other than the High Priest. As she was tilted towards the crowd, she stared blankly ahead into the darkness, eyes wide and unblinking.

The skylight was reopened and as the moonlight began to bounce off the mirrors towards Pepper, Tony began to mutter the same string of words again and again under his breath.

Don't you dare hurt Pepper. Don't you dare... don't you dare hurt Pepper.


My eyes are open, they feel open but I cannot see anything. It is so difficult to breathe. I cannot breathe. I feel as if ... as if I am drowning. I feel as if I am stuck in the frozen lake again. Let me open my eyes.

She did so and saw flashes of light burst in her vision. The light changed color as it flashed. She swung her head from side to side, trying to avoid the light. Then she looked straight into the burning, blinding white light. The light engulfed her, covering her, blinding her in whiteness. In it, she saw multiple slices of time, flicker in and out, each slice clear as though she was there.

First, she felt cold, chilled to her bones. Her teeth started to chatter. She saw herself as a child, feeling cold and about to cry. Then her father hugged her so tight and rubbed her hands and the child her smiled. She saw her mother pulling a cloak over her as she slept.

She saw herself struggle through the snow as she ran away from the slavers. Then falling into the lake and feeling the ice cover her. The coldness in her bones, her despair. Then being pulled out by a face with the warmest brown eyes. Tony... she whispered to the light.

It was spring now. Pepper could feel the breeze on her face. She saw her teenage self laughing with the other girls in the palace as they ran through the green, green grass on the hills of Cumbria. She saw herself placing a daisy chain on her mother's soft hair and smiling into her mother's deep blue eyes, so familiar, so much love in them. I love you, Mother.

She saw the village women, Magdalene and her cooking together, gossiping and laughing. She saw Tigliath and her lying on her bed, cuddling and snoring together.

Tears fell down her face as spring turned into a dark sky, full of rain and thunder. Stane... the thunder crashing down on her home. The thunder, the fire, her mother... No! she cried out and turned away.

Then she remembered the slaver camp and feelings of helplessness. Tied to the bed while the Slaver loomed over her. Darkness covered her and she could see nothing. Then a blue, glowing light began to shine in the darkness. The moonstone, Tony's flame.

Pepper remembered Tony training her how to hold a sword and swing it with force. She remembered facing the Chonsario. She remembered facing Morganna and defeating her. She wove her hands through the moonstone's light and shaped it into a sword, which she brandished at the white light, that had appeared in the darkness.

Come out and face me! she yelled.

Suddenly sunshine fell across her face. She was standing in lightly running water, surrounded by green grass and poppies. Tony was standing in the grass, smiling at her with love in his eyes. My knight, my Tony, she said.

The light flickered and then it was nightfall and Pepper was bathed in moonlight. The moon was so close, yet so far away in the sky, with the stars. She saw herself climb down from a rooftop and stare at Tony in the moonlight, the first time they truly met, face to face.

She saw the lake glimmer in the moonlight as she and Tony raced on horseback through the snow.

She looked at herself in Tony's arms, both of them dancing in each other's arms, in the moonlight. The way they nearly kissed.

Then a tear fell from her eye as she saw Tony cast her out of his room, her heart broken. He does not love me.

Then he was waving at her from across the lake, so close and yet so far. She sighed deeply and the moonlight caressed her face softly, wiping away the tear streaks on her face.

What do you want? she asked, tired of the endless shifting through time. What do you want from me?

The moonlight glowed eerily in the darkness and she watched it fall and pool thickly around her feet. It whispered to her, Come away with me, Virginia. Come away with me. I will not reject your love. I have been searching for you for centuries .

Pepper shook her head as she could see the moonlight fading from her vision. She was returning to the present. The tightness in her chest began to ease. She heard the moonlight whisper to her softly, I will come back for you, soon... soon... wait for me, Virginia.


Tony had not realized how watching Pepper's turn under the moonlight's eerie probe, would wreck him internally with tension. He held his breath as the moonlight fell on her face first and then very, very slowly, began to move downwards.

As it moved over her body, Pepper closed her eyes tightly, something the earlier two candidates had not done. Her chest heaved with the effort of breathing. Her eyelids fluttered as the moonlight caressed her bound form.

Tony wrung his hands helplessly. God, what is it doing to her? Stop it! Stop it!

Then he bit his tongue hard as he saw tears stream down Pepper's cheeks. Her shoulders shook.

The moonlight had reached her feet. He tasted blood in his mouth, his anger at Pepper's tears and his helplessness, unbearable to withstand. She's weeping! God damn it, I cannot take this anymore! I am going to stop that damn light from whatever it is doing.

Tony had bent his knees and was going to when what happened next, stopped him halfway. The belt around Pepper was unbuckled by invisible hands, out of thin air.

And then the moonlight lifted Pepper high above the stage. The entire Audo gasped and Tony stood up, uncaring.

He stared with his mouth wide open as Pepper levitated upwards towards the skylight, horizontally with her arms by her side, hair drifting gently, robe billowing with the motion. Her eyes were closed and she seemed so serene and unearthly.

She stayed there for a minute and then, slowly, she was brought back to the stage and laid down tenderly on the floor. The moonlight lingered on her face for a few seconds, as if it was thinking about her. Then it turned a deep blue and Tony heard the sound of someone's clapping their hands with joy. The moonlight slowly backtracked its path into the room, bouncing backwards and left through the skylight.

The second it did so, candles were lit and the entire audience was on its feet, exclamations and murmurs loud in the room. Tony blinked at the sudden appearance of light after the darkness. Then he looked at the stage.

The Menolestes had come back to the stage, as a unit of blue. They circled Pepper's form on the floor and Tony forgot he was a Count and was not supposed to be concerned with the Candidates. He skipped two steps to land at the bottom of the seating area and walked quickly to the edge of the stage. He tried to see what the priests were doing by bobbing up and down. A horseman had appeared out of nowhere and was growling at him to take his seat but Tony ignored him.

Then he saw the priests were wrapping Pepper up in a white cloth, just like they had used when they kidnapped her. The horsemen were in the Audo now, shooing the guests out. He gritted his teeth as they finished wrapping her, used a chord to tie the bundle and walked away, carrying her still, white form between them.


11:00 in the Night

Tony had reached the promenade and was crouching behind a rose bush, trying to keep out of sight. After the excitement of the Ceremony, the guests had all moved to the first floor Banquet Hall for dinner. There they had happily tucked into a lavish dinner. To Tony, the food had tasted like sawdust. He desperately wanted to see Pepper and talk to her. It had been two days since they last spoke.

He had gloomily walked back to his room afterwards, when a kitchen boy had come running with a note. It simply said, "Meet M in the Rose Promenade at 11.".

Then he had remembered Milene's promise in the morning, of helping him meet Pepper.

So here he was, waiting for the historian. Tony felt his pocket. It contained some rice cakes and sweet bread he had taken from his room, to give Pepper. It was a silent, cool night. The horsemen and the priests had disappeared abruptly after dinner.

From what he had heard amongst the gossiping guests, the Great One had not selected an Oracle but something else entirely and it had shocked and delighted the priests. They were being extremely tight-lipped about the whole thing. Possibly, because they did not know how to handle the situation. Candidate Three was special indeed.

Tony tensed as he heard a twig crack in the stillness of the night. Someone is coming.

He heard a soft whistle and cautiously raised his head. Then he stood up, smiling. It was Milene. She smiled back and whispered "Follow me, Count."

He did so. They walked to the edge of the Promenade, then Milene and Tony climbed down the stairs and walked onto the Palace's grounds. Milene explained as they walked.

"The horsemen and the priests are having a meeting at the Lacus. So they will not patrol the grounds at least for two hours. I understand you want to talk to Virginia but be careful, the horsemen must not catch you. You must leave before they return."

Tony stopped walking abruptly. "Wait, you are taking me to Virginia? How do you know I wanted to talk to Virginia?" He stared at her with shock.

She smiled impishly. "Well, the first night you were here, before the dinner, when the candidates were presented, I saw the way you stared with concern at her. You watched her leave with such anguish and you nearly followed her. Then now, during her levitation, you stood up. I would be a fool if I did not realize there was something between you two. And Virginia..." she looked down at her hands. "I heard her mention a name, Tony, again and again... every time she is drugged. Are you Tony?"

Tony did not how to respond to that. He opened and closed his mouth and then Milene looked at the sky and gasped. "We must hurry, let us walk quickly now!"

As she quickened her pace and Tony hastened after her, he asked, "Did you understand what happened at the ceremony? The Menolestes seemed damn surprised. I thought they were expecting an Oracle. Is Virginia the Oracle?"

Milene shook her head. "I do not know whether she is or not. But the priests are ecstatic and the horsemen are agitated."

"Where are we going?"

"Before the ceremony, Virginia and the other two candidates were held in the underground level of the priests."

Tony interrupted with awe. "They have their own underground lair!? Below the Palace!"

She smiled. "It is their exclusive area. No one is allowed in or out without their permission. I suspect it is where they create all their psychotropic drugs as well. Anyways, they deemed that Virginia is now special enough to warrant her own room. So she has been moved to the first floor of the Palace, to the Duke's former quarters."

They had reached a portion of the Palace that jutted out slightly from the main building itself but was still connected to it. There was a large window in the center of the portion.

Milene whispered, "The Duke had a secret room added to his quarters. It is only visible from this side of the Palace. And it can only be reached by unlocking the hidden latch in his bookcase. Or through this window."

Tony saw a tall, shady tree growing very close to the wall. Its thick branches conveniently extended towards the window.

"So that's her window?" He asked.

Milene nodded.

"Good. All I need to do is shimmy up the tree and get her attention."

Milene said, "I had a servant keep a thick coil of rope hidden at the base of the tree. Use it to climb up and to secure yourself on the tree."

Tony was overcome with gratitude at Milene's kindness. He firmly caught her hand in his own and squeezed it with warmth, then he pressed it to his lips. "Milady, once Virginia and I end this mess, I will repay you for this somehow. We owe you."

She flushed and said softly, "Go now Tony... talk to your lady. I must leave. Remember, you have only two hours before the horsemen start patrolling the grounds."

Tony ran quickly to the tree and found the long piece of rope. He made a loop in it, using one end and swung it at a low hanging, thick branch, such that it hooked around the branch. He then climbed up the rope to the branch. He repeated this exercise till he was at a very thick branch of the tree, whose end extended very close to the window.

He tied one end of the rope around himself. The other end he tied to the tree's trunk. Then he straddled the branch and shimmied forward along it, such that he was at the window.

Tony laid his ear gently against the window, listening carefully to see if there was anyone else in there with Pepper. He could not hear any voices. Then he lightly knocked on the window. He heard a gasp and the sound of someone moving around. Then the window latch was opened and through a tiny crack in one shutter, he saw a familiar blue eye peeking at him.

Before he could say anything, she gasped loudly and opened the windows shutters. Pepper leaned out heavily from the window and hugged whatever she could reach of him, tightly.

He chuckled at her enthusiasm and relief on finding her. "Pepper, I am so happy to see you but Whoa! Do not knock me off the tree!"

She suddenly seemed to realize how he had reached her and let him go quickly but Tony held on to her hands and drank in the sight of her like a man dying of thirst, who had finally found an oasis.

She was in the room, he was on the tree, crouching perilously on the thick branch, holding her hands. The three quarters moon shone mistily through the tree's branches, lending the scene an ethereal quality.

Pepper seemed very tired. Her eyes were slightly unfocused. Her hair was mussed charmingly and she was wearing a white sleeveless shift. She was warm to his touch and smelt like the Moonflower except in a fragrant way. She smiled at him dreamily and he narrowed his eyes at her.

"Pepper, were you sleeping?"

She nodded and yawned, then stretched her arms above her head. Tony studiously looked at her face, trying to avoid staring at her chest as the material tightened beautifully across it.

"Pepper" he said gently, "Pep.. are these priests drugging you?"

Her eyes clouded over and she nodded sadly. "The Moonflower," she whispered, "it ... they keep making us take it. Spraying it or drinking it like a syrup or eating it whole." She closed her eyes tightly. "It is very difficult for me to make out what is real and what is a dream."

She shivered and he tightened his grip on her hands.

"What... what happened during the ceremony, Pep? What did that thing do to you?"

She swallowed hard, eyes still closed. "They gave us a double dosage of Moonflower, so that we could commune with It. It made me... It brought back all these memories... I ..." she opened her eyes, they were full of tears. She whispered, "Please Tony, I do not want to talk about it. Please."

He nodded quickly, not wishing to distress her further, stroking her petal soft arms.

He said cheerfully, "Say, you want to take a walk down in the grass? Only for a little while... come on, I can help you climb out..."

Then his voice trailed off as Pepper silently bent down and picked up a thick steel chain. 'I cannot, Tony. I am chained to the bed."

She said sadly.

Tony gritted his teeth with anger. He looked at the sky then, trying to control his temper. If I had the gauntlet, I could have weakened the chain and then broken it with my sword. Damn it.

Then he swallowed hard as Pepper softly touched his face, fingers caressing his jaw. He leaned into her touch as she started stroking his beard with her knuckles.

"It will be alright, Tony, do not worry so much..." she murmured, eyes melting soft blue. "Tomorrow we will finally see this Great One and then..." she smiled sadly at him. "Then we will both be free."

Suddenly, the urge to tell her how he felt, was overwhelmingly strong. "Pepper," he started, "Pepper, I want, I want to apologize for my behavior in Carinthia." She had knelt down, leaning against the windowsill, head resting on the bottom frame of the sill and one hand still touching his jaw. She looked at him sleepily curious.

He caught that hand in his. He looked at it and stroked it softly, trying to say what was in his heart. "I... I am the world's greatest fool. I was scared of the way you made me feel. And so I ran away, I ran away from you, from the precious gift you were offering. I am so sorry, Pepper."

He brought her wrist to his mouth and kissed each finger of hers reverently. "Pepper," he said softly, "please forgive me, please... please let me back into your heart. I've loved you for so long..."

Tony finally looked at her, only to sigh deeply. For she was fast asleep, eyelashes thick and dark against her cheeks, face relaxed beautifully in repose, sweet innocence in peaceful slumber.

He looked at the sky and huffed softly. I deserved that I suppose. I should do it right. No shortcuts. Anyways I must be going, the waxing moon is high in the sky, it is getting late.

Then he looked at Pepper. First, I must tuck my lady in her bed.

He undid the rope about his waist and climbed into the room from a corner of the wide windowsill. Then taking care not to rouse her, Tony knelt on the floor, cradled Pepper in his arms and lifted her up gently, holding her against him. She did not stir but instead snuggled closer to him, murmuring against his throat.

He walked slowly to her bed, enjoying the feel of carrying Pepper's soft, warm body in his arms. He gently laid her down on the mattress and pulled the coverlet over her, tucking her arms in. He placed the rice cakes and the bread from his pocket on the bedside table.

He whispered to her, "Good night, Pepper... I will see you tomorrow. I will be there by your side, when the beast comes."

He was going to turn, when he heard her murmur his name. He bent low to her, close to her face and whispered "What is it, sweeting?"

Pepper did not answer, she just raised her head slightly and softly brushed his open lips with her own in a feather-light caress. He kept absolutely still as he felt her soft, moist flesh touch his. Is this a dream?

She kept her lips pressed tenderly to his for a few seconds and then whispered slowly against them, her eyes still closed, "Good night Tony... thank you for finding me."

Then she lowered her head back onto the pillow and smiled in her sleep. He raised his head, touching his lips with wonder. He could feel the ghostly imprint of her lips on his.

Tony did not remember climbing down the tree or the long walk back to his room. His heart was so full of emotion, he did not know which one he should feel first. Somehow he found himself in his bed. He drifted off to sleep, the feel of Pepper's sweet, soft, sleepy kiss still on his mouth.


I am an expert in arranging mirrors to reflect moonlight, thanks to Ubisoft's Prince of Persia - Sands of Time. Finally, it came to some practical use.