Soooooo after watching the latest Avengers: Infinity War trailer(such a nice relaxing trailer, don't you think?), I really did not want to start this arc of the adventure this weekend...


And into the forest, I go,

to lose my mind

and find my soul - Anon

Pepper stood in the doorway of Tony's room, staring at his empty bed. It was seven in the morning.

Lord Stark is a nocturnal creature... if he stayed up half the night, he should be snoring in his bed... so why is it empty?

She looked around the disheveled room, another thing that was bothering her.

Clothes strewn everywhere, his shoes on his bed, half-eaten food on the table. Tony can be an eccentric genius at times but he is relatively neater than this.

Something glimmered on his desk and she walked over to it. Then Pepper gasped softly at the Dagger of Aramiah lying on Tony's desk. She picked it and ran her fingers reverently along its jagged, sharp edge.

Why would Tony leave this behind? He loves this... this is just like the day he disappeared...the day the Black Knight came. I hope nothing has happened to him.

Magdalene came into the room and started grumbling about the mess.

Pepper turned quickly but Maggie spoke, "If you are going to ask about his lordship, I saw him leave at six. He said he had some work and he would come straight for dinner."

"For dinner!" Pepper exclaimed. "That's a long time. I wonder what he is doing."

Magdalene shrugged and Pepper decided to help her tidy up. She started folding one of Tony's shirts and raised it up to the light. Then she looked at its collar critically. Just as I suspected, torn and frayed... have to darn this one.

She couldn't help but smile as she remembered that darning Tony's clothes had been her favorite pastime, when she had started living at Stark Keep.

Magdalene cleared her throat and Pepper looked at her. "Maam... I want to say something but I ... I don't mean no disrespect..."

"Of course not, Maggie, tell me, what is it?"

She looked at Pepper in her gaze. "I am beginning to fear for Lord Stark's sanity... he has been acting very weird since the... since he was kidnapped by that undead creature."

Pepper lowered her head. She did not want to admit that the same fear was plaguing her as well. Tony had been acting very weird over the last week.

Magdalene continued, "He is never here in the mornings, he never eats lunch and he comes very late for dinner. He does not talk to us except in monosyllables. He is very snappish and rude. Hereald told me that Tony does not go to the Village either. He's been avoiding Hereald as well. And..."

She stepped closer to Pepper. "Lord Stark disappears with his armor and sword. Where is he going with it? What is he doing?"

Pepper kept quiet. She had her own list of Tony's weird behavior, which she kept to herself.

He has been avoiding me too. Either he's not around or he is busy in the workshop. Behind a locked door. Something he has never done before. And he is doing something very secretively. Which he just won't tell me.

She sighed. "I agree, Magdalene, Lord Stark has been a little... strange of late. But rest assured, it is just the after-effects of the fight. He will be his normal self soon."

And then she decided to tell a big lie. "And I know what he is doing with his armor and sword. He is going to a smithy in a nearby town and trying to strengthen it."

Magdalene narrowed her eyes at her and Pepper knew the older woman was a sharp tack and would not be fooled easily. "Be that so? Alright, my lady, but... but he has his own smithy here! Why does he need a blacksmith?"

Pepper shrugged trying to be casual. "He insists he needs professional help."

Magdalene continued to clean as Pepper walked to the window and stared out of it, thinking deeply. Tigliath bounded into the room and rubbed against her. She scratched his ears absently as she kept thinking, trying to piece together the puzzle of Lord Stark's behavior.


He rode through the forest, searching, looking.

What am I looking for?

The trees whispered to him, "For the Witch Queen, stupid man, the Witch Queen."

What?

From the ground, a rabbit spoke to him. "Today is the day of the Witch Queen's coronation."

I thought there already was a Witch Queen.

A deer snorted at him. "There was, silly man, but today... today a new queen is being crowned. After 500 long years of absence, a new queen will sit on the throne of the forest."

The entire forest tittered and whispered with glee. "Witch Queen, Witch Queen, Witch Queen."

He looked around him nervously as Balthazar whinnied loudly in fear.

A hedgehog, nearly indiscernible against the green shrubbery, stood on its tiny hind legs and said firmly, "Iron Knight, you are going to be late! Ride ahead please!"

What am I doing at this coronation? And why am I dressed in my armor?

The animals began to chide him. "Ride on, Iron Knight, do not be late."

A toad croaked sarcastically at him, "Your esteemed presence is required. You must not be tardy."

They were all being so forceful, that he rode on until he heard the trees whisper, "Iron Knight, leave your horse here and go on foot."

He did so, trying Balthazar's reins to a branch and began to walk into the thick shadowy canopy of trees, the green undergrowth crunching under his foot guards.

It was humid and he was sweating lightly, with the heat and fear. Why am I scared, I am going for someone's coronation, that's all...

He kept walking through the thick forest growth, ducking to avoid the low hanging branches of the trees. Then he stopped abruptly as a boar stood in front of him. A boar standing on its hind legs.

He swallowed hard as its beady little eyes looked at him critically.

"The Iron Knight, I presume?" It said in a very cultured, cutting tone.

He nodded.

It knocked its hooves together. "You are late, come follow me."

He followed it down a narrow tunnel of trees and grass, which finally opened into a small grassy clearing.

Animal and man stared at him as the Boar led him before the huge oak tree, that cast a mighty shadow, enveloping the clearing in green.

Sunlight shone through the thick branches of the oak. He saw a large hole in its trunk. A pagan design was painted in red around the hole.

He looked around at the group in wonder. Boar, hedgehog, rabbit, is that... a stag? And there's a pig and there is ...

Then he gasped and he felt his blood boil as he looked at Stane, grinning wickedly at him. Why! That bastard?! What is he...

Someone caught his left arm and he turned to look at the young girl standing next to him. She whispered soothingly, "Do not fret, Iron Knight. Stane will get his comeuppance sooner or later. Right now, the coronation is about to begin. It wouldn't be polite to start a fight."

She smiled sweetly at him, her golden hair shining in the whispery sunlight, greenish grey eyes twinkling at him. "Be patient, Lord Stark. You are an an esteemed guest."

He whispered back, "Just why am I here?"

She widened her eyes and whispered back, laughter in her voice, "Because you are the Iron Knight, silly man, of course you have to be here."

He heard the beating of a drum and Stane and the girl stepped away from the crowd, to stand next to the hole in the tree.

Stane said in his deep, booming voice, "Loyal followers and subjects, today we are blessed to attend the coronation of the Witch Queen. The future Queen approaches."

The entire assembly knelt and he knelt as well, trying to fit in.

Then he looked up as the tree's hollow was suddenly filled with fire, a great, roaring blaze. He gasped as the flame poured out of the tree.

The fiery tendrils rose and roared upwards and he watched in awe as a feminine figure began to form from the flames. Tall, slender and delicately outlined, a hooded figure stood before them, head lowered.

She pushed off her hood and he gasped with horror, a cold sweat running down his back. It was Pepper, clad in a blood-red sheath, with cascading waves of red hair, glowing like the fire around her.

Her dark blue eyes coldly passed over the kneeling group of animals and people. Then she met his shocked gaze and she winked at him.

He looked at the ground, his heart pounding as she said in a cold, fearsome voice, "I am here for my crown, bring it to me now."

The golden-haired girl conjured up a beautiful jeweled crown and the roots of the oak lifted on their own and twisted to form a wooden throne.

Pepper sat down regally and Stane and the girl gently placed the crown on her head. There was a burst of flame as the crown rested and Pepper threw her head back and laughed, her wicked laugh echoing around the clearing.

Stane proclaimed, "All hail the Witch Queen!"

The entire assembly repeated the words, including him and Pepper said firmly, "Rise my subjects, arise and greet your Queen!"

The group rose and clapped and cheered. The Pig grunted in glee as the Stag bellowed and stamped its mighty hooves.

She smiled at them all, in a way he had never seen Pepper smile before.

Then she looked at him and her smile widened. "I see the Iron Knight is here."

The group hushed and started to whisper.

"Quiet!" she commanded. "Step closer, Knight."

He obeyed her, fearful but fascinated by this form of Pepper.

She smiled up at him and stood, extending her hand to him. Something deep inside him, made him take the hand and bow deep over it, kissing her cold fingers.

"Iron Knight," she said as he raised his head to look into her shimmering blue eyes. "Kneel before me and accept me as your Queen."

I should object... this isn't Pepper! This isn't her!

Something hissed in his ears and his head. This is your Queen. Accept her...

So he obeyed and knelt. He felt her touch him lightly on both shoulder blades and the crowd behind him gasped. Then Pepper commanded, "Rise, Iron Knight, my champion!"

The crowd cheered as he rose. Then without warning, Pepper thrust her hand at his Arc and ripped it from his chest. He cried out as pain blinded him, the feeling of the Flame being wrenched from him.

His eyesight dimmed and he felt the ground shake beneath him as Pepper held his flame in front of him as a shining, bright blue orb of fire. He collapsed to his knees, his heart beat slowing as she cupped his jaw and whispered, "Your Flame is mine, thank you for your service, brave knight."

As his eyes closed and he felt himself fall to the ground, he heard the crowd cheer, "Long Live the Witch Queen! Long Live the Witch Queen!"


Tony gasped and jerked upright, his hand going to his Arc instinctively.

"It is still there... it is still there!"

He looked around, trying to come to his senses.

"The clearing, the animals! The oak tree! Where am I?!"

Then he exhaled sharply as he realized he was sitting in his arm chair by the fireplace in his room. The fire crackled and he stood up shakily, his heart pounding.

"Just a dream! Just a dream... it was just a dream... Calm down... calm down..."

He tapped his Arc, felt his Flame within him and tried to slow his breathing down.

Then he remembered. "Pepper!"

Tony walked out of his room and stood next to her door. He lifted his hand to knock but stopped. He could hear Pepper giggling and Tigliath purring loudly.

"You like that, don't you Tigliath!" He heard her say, laughter in her voice.

For some reason, he didn't want to disturb her. She is okay... and she is here... her laughter, it sounds so different from... from the Pepper in my dream...

He remembered the Pepper in the dream, her cold blue eyes, her evil grin and shuddered.

And then she pulled my Arc out from me... right after naming me her champion...

He pinched the bridge of his nose, his mind filled with too many worrying thoughts and stress.

What is going on? Why am I seeing these dreams? Do they mean something?

He walked back to his room, closed the door and locked it. Oh good Tony, lock the door, that will keep the dreams out!

Tony poured himself a glass of ale and sat back down to stare broodily into the fireplace. The first dream came on the day Rhodey... the Black Knight came here... it is either me in the dreams... or that girl... there is a girl in the dreams... running over green grass and into the Abyss... what do these dreams mean?

He stood up and walked to his desk. Then his hand shook as he placed it on the knob of the last drawer. He felt his Flame roar as he opened the drawer. Then Tony sank to his knees in pain as the object within the drawer, glimmered at him.

He gritted his teeth at the blinding agonizing pain surging through him in waves. "Gaaah! Got to keep it open, got to face it!" Sweat was pooling on his brow and with a groan, he slammed the door of the drawer shut.

Tony used the desk to help himself stand up and he tottered back to his chair and sank into it heavily. He wiped his brow with his arm and drank the entire glass of ale in one gulp. The alcohol burned his throat but he needed something to distract himself from the heaviness in his chest.

On the day he had the dream of Stane taking Pepper away, he had gone back to the meadow and with a lot of painful effort, collected each sliver of the smashed Bloodstone in his kerchief. He had brought them back to the Keep and hidden them in his room.

Thankfully, that day, Magdalene was out and Pepper was sleeping, so no one noticed me struggling with the effect of the Stone.

He had put the kerchief in his drawer and had been horrified when he opened the drawer the next day, to see the slivers had somehow joined back together, to form the original jewel in all its bloody glory. It was as if it had never been smashed.

He couldn't touch it, it was too painful, so he had contented himself to look at it for as long as he could physically bear. It was a lot smaller than Morganna's stone but it seemed even redder in color and had a painful effect on him. And this stone was set in gold and looped on a thick golden chain.

In his room, he continuously felt its presence, a dull throbbing ache in his chest and his brain. When he gazed upon it, blinding pain hit him, his Arc felt as if it was being ripped from his chest and he would always stagger to his knees, wave after wave of pain racking him.

The funny thing is... I have been looking at it for three days now and I don't feel any stronger... rather, he gripped his Arc firmly, I feel as if I am getting weaker... I feel tired and I want to ... I want to rest... But I can't! I cannot sleep!

Tony did not know whether it was because of the Bloodstone or the nightmares or both but he just did not want to sleep. He suspected it was the nightmares. He was scared of them, their intensity, the horrible visions they showed him.

So he hadn't slept completely for five days now and he was started to feel the effects of his insomnia. Especially since he was also training himself everyday, in full armor, in a field far away from here.

My eyes burn, my body aches and I keep blacking out from time to time... but we need to get stronger, we need to be able to face this! The more we face the jewel, the more stronger we grow... isn't that right Dragon?

Then he shook his head at the silence. Of course, you aren't there... of course you have disappeared...

Ever since he had brought the Bloodstone home, the Dragon had disappeared from his head. At first, Tony was worried but now he was just angry. Typical flaming beast... disappears when I want to talk...

Just then there was a knock on his door and he sat up straight and stared at the door in fear. Then he heard Pepper ask softly, "Tony... is everything alright? I heard a slam..."

He kept quiet, hoping she would go away. I don't want to talk to you, Pepper, I can't face you...

Tony knew he was being irrational but for some reason, he did not want to tell Pepper what was going on with him. The insomnia, the dreams, the Bloodstone, his secretive training, he was hiding all this from her. Of course, it made him feel guilty.

I love her... I love her dearly but I can't ... I just can't let her know the truth... after all... there is something about her that Stane wants...

Initially he had started training to strengthen himself, in order to better protect Pepper from Stane But lately, a horrible thought repeatedly plagued him.

Am I training so hard to strengthen myself... against Pepper? He looked at the drawer with the Bloodstone and felt his hands shake. What if these nightmares aren't just dreams? Are they visions of the future? Is Pepper going to ...

He swallowed hard, knowing how powerful Pepper had grown with her fire.

At first, she was just a strong swordwoman but now... her fire... the way she can use fire against her foes. She is really formidable, the strength of eternal fire within her.

He heard a hissing whisper. What do the dreams keep saying? Pepper joins Stane... Pepper is Stane's queen... what if she did so willingly... and you, her poor Knight, thinks to protect her...

He stood up in shock. Dragon, is that you?! How can you...

But the same doubt was in his mind too and Tony shook his head desperately to clear it.

Too many thoughts, too many dreams... am I losing my mind?

Then he heard Pepper softly speak, "Tony, I hope you are sleeping..." she sighed heavily, "I will see you in the morning, my lord, please... don't run away so early to wherever you are going... good night."

He clenched his fist hard at the hurt in her voice. Pepper, I can't... you can't help me... what if you are going to hurt me?

Tony felt moisture in his hand and looked down to see, he had clenched his fist so hard that the glass in his hand had broken. The jagged edge had cut him deeply but he hadn't felt any pain.

He tossed the broken glass away and stared down at the deep cut. Blood flowed clear from the wound and he was fascinated by its color.

So red, so bright... just like the stone... I must take another look... Surely its effect on me, will lessen.

He tied his hand up with one of his kerchiefs and opened the last drawer. As his Arc started to pain, he took a deep breath and focused on the stone. I am going to pick you up, damn you!

He bent and picked up the stone. At first it was cool to his touch but he felt it grow warm. Tony could feel his head throbbing again, like it was going to split in two. But he determinedly placed the jewel on the desk and walked back stiffly to the chair.

Then Tony sat on the chair and stared at the jewel, trying to ignore the pain. I am going to get used to you... even if it kills me...

And he sat there like that, locked in a staring match with the Bloodstone as the night carried on.