Esse Quam Videri
To Be, Rather than to Appear
Pepper leaned in closer, lowering her eyes, lips so close to Tony's lips.
And a loud knock sounded on the door and she backed off. Pepper stood up suddenly, trying hard not to flush. She wanted to smack herself hard.
That was close. Pepper! What were you thinking? You stupid fool. He ... you... argggghhh
She couldn't meet Tony's eyes. But he caught her hand and she stared at him then. He was looking at her sadly, with a pensive half smile. "We need to talk, Pepper. We really need to."
"Sure, Tony." she said. But in her heart, she dreaded the discussion.
She opened the door and curtsied as it was the Duke. She smiled at him and said "Good afternoon, Duke." After the rooftop battle, Milene had helped Pepper and had also introduced to Duke Rorshach, who had finally freed himself from his home.
Pepper had been horrified to learn that the Duke had been possessed by the Vampire Giurescu for nearly a month now. When the Vampire first joined forces with the High Priest, they had gone to the Duke, hoping for his support. But being a good man, he had rejected their evilness and Giurescu had reacted.
Knowing that the Duke was a powerful man and would set the Patatian Royal Guard on them, the Vampire had attacked him then and there. Once he had subdued the Duke, he force fed the Duke his own vampire blood, such that he became an unwilling slave to the Captain. Then the Palace had become the Menolestes, for the Captain made Rorshach sign over command of the Patait guards and army to him. The Chonsario had easily entered the city and the Duke was made a prisoner in his own house and in his own mind.
Milene's visible relief at seeing the Duke walk into the Palace, told Pepper a lot about how the possession had twisted the noble, respectable man. While under the Captain's influence, he had ignored his people and drank like a fish because the Captain wanted him to.
The minute the Vampire died, the Duke had been freed and so, had rushed to the Palace, anxious to find out what was going on.
He and Pepper had become fast friends, especially bonding in their concern over Tony.
"My dear Virginia," He said in his pleasant regal voice, "please do not stand on ceremony with me. I owe you my life, my everything. If it were not for you and your strength, I shudder to think what would have happened to me and my people. I bow to you, fair maiden." He did so and then straightened, smiling deeply at her, his green eyes twinkling at her.
The Duke, Rorshach was a tall man, black haired and broad-shouldered with a soldierly demeanor. For a man in his fifties, he was physically in his prime, due to his military lifestyle. Somehow he reminds me of Tony, maybe... maybe that's why I feel so comfortable around him...Is it the military manner or the thick black hair?
She watched silently, a little curious as the Duke stared at Tony with mirth and some other emotion in his green eyes. Tony, on the other hand, was looking at him warily, body tense.
The Duke nodded at him and said, "So my warrior friend, finally you are awake. You gave me and your lady here, quite a scare. Indeed you inconvenienced her greatly as she never left your side, holding your hand and troubling the Palace's physicians for reports on your health."
Pepper was recovering from the jolt of hearing the words "your lady" used to describe her and Tony together. The Duke winked at her mischievously. Tony's reaction puzzles me, why is he so tense? He told me he knew the Duke, that he was his first mentor.
He continued "Patait owes you both a debt of gratitude, I frankly do not know how we can repay you... In fact, Lord Stark, your dashing heroics have made you a crowd favorite. You have quite the collection of fans. You can ask Virginia here, all the Palace maidens throng your room, whenever she's rarely not around, hoping to catch your attention and she's had to kick them out several times."
Pepper snorted. Palace maidens, my foot, simpering, giggling idiots, coming here and pretending to cry about the brave hero but actually trying to fall on him, just to touch him...
Then she blushed deeply as Tony was looking at her with a wide grin, his eyes laughing at her.
Please tell me I did not say that out loud and he did not hear me say it...
"Pepper is... very protective of me," he said slowly, the laughter still in his eyes. "But," his tone firmed, "I hope the people of Patait know it is actually her who is the hero here or rather heroine." He went on to briefly explain, how she boldly went to the Temple and infiltrated the Palace as a Candidate.
He's always making sure people know of my involvement, my efforts. Always. And that I am part of the praise and rewards. He's a proud man, I know that but Anthony Stark is a fair man, he never takes credit when it is not due to him, even at times when he has done most of the work.
She noted him telling Rorshach about the Menolestes drugging practices and how she had to suffer. Poor Tony, he feels so guilty... I must reassure him.
"Well" the Duke said, "You will be happy to know that all the priests are dead. High Priest Rana is nothing but ash and..." he hesitated, "the others were all found killed where they stood, in their basement lair. Either burnt or bled." He shuddered. "The work of a man, hell bent on destruction. Horrifying."
Tony said nothing, he just looked down at his hands. He swallowed hard and his jaw tightened.
Pepper knew Tony had something to do with this violence. Yes, he mentioned that the priest with the wave tattoo injected him in Rana's 'room... which is in the basement lair... ... I do not know why you did it but... you should not feel bad. Will you get bad dreams about this as well?
She was standing near him and instinctively placed her hand on his shoulder in a gesture of comfort, squeezing the hard muscle.
He looked up at her silently, eyes searching hers and she said to Duke Rorshach firmly, "They deserved whatever they got. They deliberately lied to the Celestial Being. They abused their relationship with the people. They kidnapped innocent people where they stood and let that damn captain kill the candidates!"
She firmed her lips and raised her chin at the Duke. "They deserved a violent death. I'm glad for it." Then she tried to compose herself as Tony rested his warm head on her hand, thanking her silently for her gesture of support.
Pepper realized the Duke was twinkling at her in a very familiar manner. He said warmly, "Well put, my dear. You will also be happy to know, that all the Chonsario dropped dead, the minute the Captain died."
Both Tony and Pepper gasped out loud.
"Yes, it seems like the Captain had collective consciousness and all the horsemen were connected to him mentally. The minute he died, their brain went dead. Astonishingly dark magic at work here.
He chuckled then. "Your friends, Hereald and Le Loup were witnesses to this event and have taken it upon themselves, to personally count and get rid of all the horsemen. Just to be safe."
Pepper couldn't help but laugh as she had seen Happy's thoroughness in ensuring that this time, the Chonsario were truly dead.
The Duke smiled and said, "I have been to the Marketplace, talking to the people, trying to reassure them, to hear their fears. I'm being completely honest here, no hiding nothing."
He nodded at Pepper. "Virginia, I've met your friend, Prithe. I have made a note of her situation and will definitely help her."
Pepper thanked him softly.
Then the Duke huffed and looked at Tony. "Well, Lord Stark, you and I need to talk about... well, you know about what."
Pepper looked at Tony with shock as he tensed physically under her palm. He growled out, "I have nothing to say to you, Duke."
Then before she could stop him, he swung his legs off the bed and tried to stand up.
He groaned in pain and lay back down, almost immediately. Pepper immediately shouted, "Tony! You stubborn idiot! In case you do not remember, you have been bruised badly and have injuries! Lie still please!"
He lay there, wincing and grimacing as she picked up the poultice from the side table and pressed it to the bruise on his abdomen.
He whined, "Pepper! It hurts, do not press it." But then he shut up at the look on her face.
The Duke was chuckling under his breath and Tony glared comically at him.
"Lord Stark, seeing as how you are currently immobilized ... I'm afraid you have to hear me out."
Even though she was highly curious, Pepper felt this was meant to be a private conversation, so she put the poultice back and was going to move away when Tony caught her hand.
"Stay." he said firmly. He looked at the Duke. "I do not want to have any secrets from Pepper. Whatever you want to tell me, you can say it in front of her."
Pepper sat on the edge of the bed, her curiosity at its peak and doing her best to ignore Tony playing intimately with her hand. She bit her lip as he absently locked their fingers together and then unlocked them. She inhaled sharply as he then traced the skin of her palm with his fingers, slowly lingering and then drawing circles. His other hand decided to join the play as well, one hand still stroking her palm, the other holding her wrist gently and softly caressing the back of her hand with its fingers.
What is he trying to do to me...My palm is sweating, God dear God... Such exquisite slow, slow torture...ooooh Tony! Stop rubbing your thumb along my skin... Consarn it!...His callused fingers feel so rough yet firm on my skin, especially... my palm... Tony!
But her brain refused to pull her hand away. She realized with some shock that the Duke had been talking for five minutes and she had not heard a word!
Focus, Pepper, Focus on what he's saying. But she still didn't remove her hand from his, determined to withstand the sensual torture.
The Duke was talking about the past. How he was Tony's mentor and how he was so proud of Tony.
Tony's hands tensed and then he said coldly, "Thank you for your kind words, Duke. But I did not do this for you. I ... I did this for my mother."
Sadness passed over the Duke's face. "I understand, Anthony. I hope... I hope you can think of forgiving me. It has been two years and not a day goes by, when I don't regret my hurtful actions."
Pepper was confused. She looked down at Tony. He sighed and said firmly, "After I was given the Flame of Ryunn... I came to the Duke asking for his council. King Leoric had just thrown me out of his court. And the Duke, he... he felt I had gone mad and banished me from Patait! From my mother's land!"
The Duke said sadly, "Anthony, I made a mistake, I'm sorry. I tried to apologize..."
"Yes, I threw your letters out every month! I do not want your apologies."
Pepper looked from one to the other. "Tony ... surely you can...I mean...". She was confused between Tony's stormy gaze and the Duke's pleading look.
"Tony, he is your mentor right? Surely you can see fit to let go of this... people make mistakes."
His gaze was so dark, she gulped at the emotions there. He exhaled angrily and the Duke said slowly, "Maybe he cannot forgive me because ... because..."
"Because my only living family member turned his back on me, at a time when I needed him the most!" Tony roared
"Family?"
The Duke hung his head. "I am deeply sorry, Tony. That's all I can say. If there is anything you wish of me, ask and I shall give it to you. But I do not want to fight with you anymore. I want to be there for you."
Tony looked at Pepper then, his brown eyes hard and angry. "The Duke is my mother's only brother. He was also my first mentor. We have not spoken since he threw me out."
Oh my, his uncle ... no wonder he is angry. It is his grief at being rejected.
"Anthony, please understand what I was going through. I come back from a long and bloody campaign overseas. To learn my loving sister, the only member of my immediate family, was brutally murdered. And then, you, my favorite student, my best pupil, you came to me with tales of madness! Of a fire burning within you and an evil wizard! I reacted foolishly, I know I was a soldier who refused to believe in magic or supernatural events but..."
The Duke sighed here. "I'm not trying to justify my behavior here but I am deeply, deeply sorry and I want to reconnect with you. I... I love you, you are my dear Maria's child and you are my flesh and blood. We have such good memories together... I don't know what more to say." He stormed out of the room.
Tony turned away from Pepper, breathing hard. Pepper said slowly, "Tony... I know you are angry."
He just looked down, face tense.
"Tony, what your uncle did, was not right but sometimes if you love someone, you must forgive them when they do wrong. You must let go of your anger. And he is family." She blinked back tears of her own then, remembering her mother. "You don't realize how much you miss someone until they go away."
Tony was looking at her thoughtfully. She smiled sadly at him. "Holding on to anger is of no use. It eats away at you inside. Your uncle is trying to make amends. He has been through a lot too. Surely you can forgive him."
He sighed deeply. "Yes, you are right. I must... I must let go of my anger. I must forgive him. It is not right."
Pepper smiled at him and went to call the Duke back, who was standing in the hallway, staring out of a window. He was hesitant to return but she silently pleaded with him and he acquiesced.
When he entered, Tony sat up straight, wincing slightly. "Duke, Rorshach, Sir... I realize now that my anger clouded my judgement and that I... I should have explained myself better, I should have opened your letters, I should have spoken to you. I am sorry, I acted like a child. You were my mentor and I did not respect you with my behavior."
Pepper moved away as The Duke came close to the bed and stood near Tony. He clasped his shoulder and said warmly, "My boy, I am the one who wronged you and I ask you for your forgiveness. Family should not turn its back on one another. I'm sorry." He clasped Tony's hand and shook it firmly.
Pepper walked to the window, pretending to be busy. She saw the Duke tearing up and she wanted to give them some privacy. When she turned, Tony's eyes looked suspiciously moist too and she smiled at him.
He coughed and the Duke cleared his throat.
Tony said, "Pepper and me will be leaving as soon as I can..."
The Duke interrupted, horrified, "Anthony, you cannot leave just yet. King Rheiner wants to meet you. There will be a reward."
Pepper added, "Duke, we really should be on our way." Tony nodded. "I have some commitments in Boron that I must see to." At this Tony scowled. She furrowed her brows at him. He quickly stopped scowling.
The Duke looked from one to the other, wide-eyed. Pepper suppressed a grin at his comical expression.
"But... but don't you want to see Patait in all its wonders?"
Tony interrupted here, his expression very tender. "Pepper, we could go back to that stream ...near the inn. You said you wanted to. .. see the meadow and the poppies."
"The beautiful sunshine and the cool stream," she whispered, the memory coming to her. "Yes, yes, I want to go there again..."
The Duke said, "And there will be a ball."
"What!?"
Pepper nearly shrieked with joy. Tony lowered his head onto his hands.
A chance to dress up and mingle with guests and dance... oh dancing.. but Tony. ..he hates formal ceremonies like this.
She looked pleadingly at Tony who huffed but then smiled at her. "If that's what you want, then we will go to the ball. You deserve a ball."
The Duke smiled, relieved and said, "I must take your leave here. I have to talk to the ministers and Commander of the Royal Guard. There are repairs needed and preparations for the ball."
He left then, nodding at them both.
Pepper told Tony firmly, "NO".
He shrugged his shoulders. "Pep, I didn't say anything."
She looked at him firmly, "You want to leave the bed."
He goggled at her and she giggled. "Did the Celestial Being give you the power to read minds, Pepper?"
"No Tony but I know you very well now." She smiled at him.
He quirked one brow at her. "You can't keep me here forever, you know."
"Only until you heal."
Wait, let me ask him about the string around his neck.
"Tony? While you were sleeping, I found this around your neck." She held up the piece of gold plated wood. "What is it?" She asked curiously.
For some reason, he flushed and avoided her gaze. "It is nothing. Just something I found in Rana's lair... it is nothing."
"So I can throw it away?"
"No!" He tried to sit up to stop her. "I want it please. Please give it to me."
She shook her head at his childish antics and gave him the piece. He put the string back around his neck, pressing it absently against his arc.
He's trying to act casual. Is he hiding something?
"Tony," she said, "Will you please tell me, what is that piece of wood? It seems vaguely familiar."
He looked at her innocently and she was about to press him further, when the door burst open and Happy bounded in like a large dog, rushing to the bed. "Tony, Tony, you are awake!" Then Le Loup, Mackie and the Giant came rushing in as well and Pepper sighed.
Let these boys talk to Tony... I will have this 'talk' that he wants, with him later.
