Vita non est vivere sed valere

Translation: there is more to life than just being alive

Tony held the reins of Aurora and Balthazar as he waited patiently for Pepper to appear. It was a warm sunny day, the day of the summer solstice.

In celebration of the day, a couple of towns, including Boron and the Village had gotten together and set up a fair. They did this every year and every year, Tony was invited but he never attended.

This year however, things were different.

I am courting the most beautiful lady in the land and the shameful thing is that I have never taken her anywhere except to the training field or the meadow!

The Dragon roared with laughter. Where has that infamous Stark charm gone?! Poor Pepper...

Sssh... I feel bad enough as it is.

The minute the Village alderman had come to invite him, Tony had thanked him, then he had raced down the hill to the Village to ask Pepper to the Solstice Fair or Vigilia. She had dimpled charmingly and agreed, much to his relief.

So here he was waiting for her to come out of the milliner''s house. He mentally went over the road to the Fair.

We take the straight path from here, away from the lake to the east... pass the circle of Carthas. .. twenty minute ride at the maximum. Oh and we have to go down the hill...

He was busy with his thoughts but he looked up when he heard soft footsteps on the grass, coming towards him.

Tony sighed with pleasure at the sight of Pepper in a simple indigo blue linen dress with long white sleeves and black lacing at the neck.

She smiled at him and he quickly shifted Balthazar's reins from one hand to the other, to take her hand.

She had other ideas and quickly pulled his head down to kiss him deeply. He was lost in her sensual greeting, when out of the corner of his eye, he noticed something.

He broke off the kiss to whisper, "Pep, do you know that your milliner friend is staring at us from the balcony?"

She whispered back, "I am kissing the most handsome man in the land, I think she's staring because of that."

He flushed at her compliment and she laughed musically. Then he helped her onto her horse and they were on their way.


They had crossed the circle of Carthas, riding steadily, talking of this and that. Pepper was busy explaining how the second floor of the inn was to be redone.

Tony agreed with her plan and said, "Maybe you should call Leroy Seq from Carinthia for this work. He is a renowned carpenter."

Pepper was quiet for a moment, thinking it over. Then she spoke. "But Tony, won't he be expensive, I mean...can I afford him?"

He nodded, saying "Let us talk to him at least. It can't hurt to try. Okay, we have to turn her and ride up the hill and down again."

Pepper halted Aurora and asked curiously, "So Tony... how far away are we from the fair ground?"

"5 minutes ride..."

She was smiling at him cutely and he couldn't help but smile back at her. Then a mischievous glint entered her eye.

I know that look, she had the same look on her face when she wanted to climb up that damn Devil's mast of the Botafago...

"Pepper," he said slowly, "Whatever you have in mind, my answer is no."

She pouted at him and said pleadingly, "Come on Tony, don't be such a spoilsport... it is not dangerous, I just want to have a race."

He stared at her wide-eyed. "A race?! Where? Here?"

"Yup, up the hill and down the hill to the fair grounds, just as you said..." She kept smiling at him.

I don't see the harm in a race... there must be some catch here but I can't see it...

"Alright, we can race. Let's decide on a starting position."

"Hold on Tony." Pepper was still smiling at him in a mysterious manner. "We need to decide the spoils for the winner."

He shrugged. "Why do we need spoils, why can't we just race?"

She rolled her eyes at him and he smirked. "My lord, to sweeten the taste of victory, someone must clearly lose and the other must clearly win."

"Alright, what are the spoils here?"

Pepper seemed to mull it over for a minute but Tony knew she already had something in mind. She looked at him from beneath her lashes, a devilishly sensual look that made his penis twitch and said slowly, "If I win...if I win, my lord, you will let me ride Balthazar."

He nearly fell off his horse. "No!" he roared at her, "Absolutely not!"

Riding Balthazar was a sensitive topic between them as he felt it was too dangerous and Pepper, of course, felt he was being too cautious.

She was not fazed by his reaction but said calmly, "This is just a term, my lord, just a condition of a wager..." Then she turned those melting sky blue eyes on him and he felt his resolve turn to mush.

What's the harm in making a wager, there's no guarantee she will win. Besides you get to lay down a term as well.

He growled out, "Pepper, I agree to the term BUT," he held up a hand as she was going to whoop for glee, "The riding will be supervised, I will guide you and the location and timing will be my choice."

"Duration is my choice." she countered. Then as their horses were close to each other, Pepper leaned forward in her saddle and caught his cheek tenderly.

"Tony, I would never ride Balthazar without your guidance... you know that right?" She said softly, "You know I seek your council in all such matters, I respect you and treasure your instruction."

He was touched by her words and the look in her eyes, so he nodded and spoke gruffly, "I agree to your terms."

She smiled at him and he said, "Now my term is if I win, you move back to Stark Keep."

"Done." She said simply and quickly.

Tony stared at her wide-eyed, a niggling doubt in his mind. He voiced it out loud. "Wait, how, why are you agreeing so readily to this? Pepper, did you want to move back to Stark Keep?"

"Yes," she said, "I wanted to. For some time now." She flushed as he kept looking at her. "I want to... I want to be near you, Tony."

He did not know how to react without making a fool of himself, since his first instinct was to jump down from Balthazar and whoop for joy. Then his curiosity won out.

"Pepper, why, why didn't you tell me earlier?"

She looked at him softly, "I did not know how it would sound... I mean, it would be highly presumptuous of me to tell you, I want to move back to Stark Keep, just like that."

He shook his head at her. "Not presumptuous at all, my love. Not at all." He caught her hand and kissed her knuckles slowly, looking at her. "So my lady, are we in accord for the terms?"

She nodded primly, "Yes we are, my lord, let us race."

"Not so fast, first we must seal the agreement." He leaned towards her, put one arm around her waist, drawing her to him and took her mouth hard. She gasped into his mouth but quickly recovered and matched his passion, making him groan with her fervor.

Balthazar shifted restlessly underneath him but Tony held the reins tight, to keep him and Pepper close. He broke off the kiss and whispered to her darkly, "My lady, I am going to win this race because I want you back under my roof."

He nuzzled her face with his. "And on your first night back, I am going to give you a surprise."

She leaned back to look at him excitedly. "A surprise! What is it, Tony?!"

"No no, when I win and you move back, that is when you will get the surprise."

She tossed her head at him. "You seem pretty confident of your victory, my lord, mayhap I should remind you that my steed, Aurora, was the finest mare in Carinthia and moves like the wind when she rides."

Her horse whinnied at the sound of her name and Tony grinned at Pepper's haughty look towards him. He took her hand, shook it and said, "To the victor, go the spoils."

She nodded regally at him. "Indeed, my lord, indeed."


Two horses lined up a little distance away from the bottom of the tree.

One was a black behemoth, a magnificent war horse with a midnight black mane. He tossed his large head and began pawing the ground in anticipation. His rider, the Iron Knight was silently challenging the other racer, with his eyes.

The other horse was a complete contrast to the war horse. Delicate, slender and white as snow with a silky mane of sunshine, it whinnied in excitement and her rider, the Daughter of Summac, blew a loud raspberry at her opponent, giggling at the shocked look on his face.

Then they straightened, reins were tightened and at the end of the Knight's count to three, both horses charged ahead, towards the large hill.

With his powerful muscular build, Balthazar took the lead, surging forward with force, tufts of dirt flying in his wake from his powerful hooves. Aurora was close behind.

From the way the war horse was moving over the land, it seemed clear who would be the victor. As they neared the top of the hill however, the tide of victory turned.

Balthazar had expended a lot of energy to climb up the hill. Being a heavy horse, he was tiring out and this is where Aurora, slender and light, took the lead, reaching the top of the hill first.

Balthazar snorted in anger and rode after her with fury, determined to close the gap. It seemed easy for the war horse because the ride was all downhill from here and riding downwards was infinitely easier than riding up the hill.

In theory, the war horse's thinking was right. But he was struck dumb by the way, the lithe Aurora practically flew down the hill, her hooves barely touching the ground.

She moved like a white cloud in the wind, golden mane streaming, her rider whooping with glee as they neared the finish line. The war horse and his rider knew they were beaten and by a good distance, as they watched the pair cross the finish line.


Pepper tucked her arm tightly into Tony's as they walked onto the fairground. They had settled the horses and she was still smiling from her victory.

He glanced down at her and whispered good-naturedly, "My lady, you walk in here like a conqueror surveying his latest victory. As the defeated, I fear for my horse."

Tony smiled down at her and she whispered back, "It is only for a ride, Tony... Balthazar is yours and yours only... you look magnificent on him, I could never take your place."

He locked his hand with hers and squeezed her fingers.

Pepper looked around at the lavishly spread Fair, stalls and little booths lined up neatly. There was a decent crowd of people of all ages. Children ran around and played while adults slowly walked and inspected the wares at the stall.s

Tony asked her, "So my lady, what do you want to do first?"

"I do not know my lord, there is just so much to see and do, to be honest."

"Why don't we start by looking at the food stalls?"

She grinned up at him. "You are hungry, aren't you Tony?"

He patted his stomach. "Horribly. Magdalene's cooking yesterday night was so ... well... so bad that I was scared to try her breakfast today morning."

She laughed at his comical grimace and as they walked, hawkers busy crying out to them, he continued.

"At least I'm glad, she stopped trying to poison me."

Pepper stopped suddenly and looked at him, not knowing whether he was joking or serious. "My lord, what do you mean poison? Magdalene would never try to harm you."

He snorted. "She has threatened to, on numerous occasions. But she has never gone through with her threat."

Pepper stopped in front of a pie seller because she saw Tony practically drooling at the aromatic little mince pies on display. They brought a couple and while she neatly ate one, he wolfed down four with a speed that astounded her.

Tony finished eating and wiped his mouth with his handkerchief. Pepper noticed he had missed a spot of meat on his chin. She instinctively took the kerchief from his hand and rubbed the spot slowly with it, getting rid of it.

Their eyes met and Pepper moistened her lips, feeling very warm at the way Tony's eyes had darkened at her touch.

So mahogany brown, so deep, ... the way you look at me, my lord, I truly feel like a queen.

She reminded herself that they were in public and that she could not be so forward with her affections. But she couldn't resist touching him. So she let one edge of the handkerchief drop and used the fall of cloth, to hide her fingers as they moved over his firm warm lips slowly.

Tony trembled, his dark gaze holding hers captive, as she touched his lips softly. He touched the tip of his tongue to one of her fingers and she caught her breath.

Then she lowered her hand and he whispered to her, "Soon my love, soon..."

She nodded, breathless once again, from the way his eyes promised to do wicked things to her.

Someone called out, "Anthony! Anthony! Lord Stark!" And they both turned.

A tall blonde man in a captain's uniform walked towards them. Tony exclaimed warmly, "Kieran! You, devil, you!"

The men shook hands warmly and Tony introduced her. "This is Lady Virginia Potts from ..." he faltered here and she held her breath hoping he wouldn't say Cumbria. "From Lorinthia."

The soldier bowed over her hand deeply and said, "Charmed, my lady, to make your acquaintance."

She nodded her head and Tony explained, "Captain Kieran is the head of the Guards of Kolthein, a land not far from here. We both trained under Duke Rorshach, in my eighteenth year."

The Captain nodded, smiling widely, "I, this wily charmer and that gentleman Moor, James Rhodes."

At the mention of Rhodey, Pepper felt Tony tense and a look of grief passed over his face.

The Captain looked sad himself and said quietly, "I miss that man. Every time I train and I dodge a blow. I remember his skill with blocking and dodging."

Tony just nodded his head and looked away. Pepper entwined her fingers with his, trying to comfort him. He looked at her and smiled slowly.

The Captain said, "Let us speak of happier times. Lord Stark, what brings you to the Solstice Viligia?"

Tony answered, "I wanted to show Pep- I mean, Lady Virginia, the Fair."

She said, "I have never been to such a grand gathering of businesses before. It really is a well organised event."

The Captain nodded. "Say Anthony, a couple of us soldiers are sampling the local beverages for sale. What better way to celebrate our furlough, then to sit in the sun and drink ourselves merry? Join us, my friend, it will be just like old times."

Pepper looked over at where the Captain was pointing. Indeed they are making merry.

Four or five men, wearing similar but less decorated versions of the Captain's uniform, were sitting at a long table. At least three or four flagons of alcohol, sat on the table and they kept filling their glasses, drinking deep and refilling them. They were truly in their cups and as they saw Tony, they began to cheer and wave at him loudly, startling the passerbys with their drunken vigor.

"Anthony!"

"Anthony, you ponce!"

"Come here boyo! Have a little drink with us!"

She looked at Tony, who was smiling at them, waving back and her heart constricted with dread because she knew what he was going to do next.

He will go join them ... to drink... as he loves to drink with soldiers... these are his old drinking buddies... and Tony is already thinking of Rhodey... so he is going to get drunk and... depressed.

Then she mentally chided herself for judgmental.

He hasn't been drinking for a while. So he does deserve this break. I can't change him. I have to ... accept him for what he is.

The Captain said slowly, "I'm not sure it is ideal for the Lady to join us."

Both Tony and her said, "No!" loudly and at the same time.

Pepper let go of Tony's arm and looked at him. She said brightly, "It is alright, Tony, I can take care of myself. Please join your friends."

She pointed at the nearby stalls. "There are some clothing items and household stuff that I wanted to look at. You would be bored anyway."

She smiled up at him, trying to hide her disappointment at losing his company. Tony just looked at her quietly and then smiled at the Captain.

As she stepped to move away, he caught her hand and placed it on his arm.

Pepper stared at him as he said firmly to the Captain, "I am sorry, Kieran. I promised the lady to take her to the fair and I have to keep my promise. Besides... I do not want to drink right now."

She felt warm feelings permeate her bones at Tony's words, relief that he was not going to get drunk and happiness that he wasn't going to leave her alone.

Kieran goggled at him. "But Anthony... we haven't met for so long. The boys ... they wanted to..."

Tony patted him on the arm and said, "Maybe someday. I'm sorry. I made a promise."

The Captain sighed loudly and said, "Good to see you, Anthony. Good day, my lady."

Tony started to lead Pepper towards the stalls she pointed at. She looked back at the Captain, standing there mournfully and had to ask.

"Tony ... why didn't you go with your friends? Don't you...didn't you want to meet them?"

He shrugged and said quietly, "If I had gone with Kieran and my friends, we would have done what we always do... drink till dawn, despair with memories of fallen comrades and fall asleep at the table with a horrible headache the next morning."

He shook his head grimly. "Been there done that. No more ... I will not wallow in memories any more."

There was a bleakness in his eyes and she caught his hand tightly. He looked down at her and Pepper watched as the bleakness turned to happiness and his eyes twinkled at her.

He said softly, "I want to make new memories... memories not splashed liberally with spirits and sadness. I do not want to drown myself in drink anymore. I do not want to remain in darkness and shadow."

She was entranced by the look of love in his eyes as they stared into hers. "I want to step into the sunshine and feel the light on my face. Pepper, I want to be worthy of you and leaving alcohol behind, is one step I can take towards that."

She didn't think she would ever feel any more love for his man than at this moment. His need to leave behind that ugly part of him, just for her, made her heart sing.

Pepper was truly speechless. "Tony ... I don't know what to say... I..."

She wanted to kiss him very badly but couldn't, so she settled for kissing him quickly on his cheek. Then she took his hand and held it tightly.

Tony seemed to be embarrassed by her awe and cleared his throat. "You wanted to look at some household items, Pep."

She smiled at his obvious attempt to change the subject. Then she said, "Actually I wanted to look at the weapons they had on display. Would that interest you, my lord?"

The look of relief on his face, made her laugh out loud and punch him lightly as they walked away to the weapon stalls.