I couldn't resist, I wanted to write tipsy Pepper.

The mentioned song "The Friar in the Well" is a medieval folk song.

Synopsis (from Wikipedia):

A friar tries to seduce a maiden. She cites fear of hell for refusing. He says he could whistle her out. She hangs a cloth in front of the well and invites him home, with directions to bring money. Then, she declares that her father is coming and tells him to hide behind the cloth. He falls in. When he pleads for help, she tells him that if he can get her out of hell, he can whistle himself out of the well. Sometimes she reminds him that St. Francis never taught his friars to seduce maidens. Eventually she helps him out, refuses to return his money, and sends him home, dripping wet. The story spreads, and she is commended for her cleverness.


If music be the food of love, play on. - "Twelfth Night", William Shakespeare

The Gathering was finally coming to an end. After a scrumptious dinner that had the guests groaning as they left their seats, Tony stood at the Hall door, saying goodbyes and thank yous to the village folk as they left.

The Village Headman and the elders had conveniently disappeared after dinner and the task of thanking people for their attendance, had fallen on to him as the highest ranking noble in the vicinity.

His hand had been shaken and kissed too many times in the past thirty minutes and his mouth was paining from the pleasant smile he had plastered on it. But Tony was mentally counting off the minutes and the guests, till the Hall would be empty.

Pepper had been with him but ten minutes ago, she had excused herself and he wondered where she had gone. The Village clock sonorously struck 12 am and with it, the last guests filed out.

Finally he shut the doors and leaned against them, exhaling heavily with relief.

Thank God! It is done! Next time, I am going to leave first! Without even eating dinner!

He heard the Dragon chuckling in his head. I am glad you enjoyed yourself this evening, Dragon...

Now Anthony, my boy, do not tell me you did not enjoy dancing with your sweet fiance again and again.

Tony smirked with happiness and the Dragon said softly, She is a patient one, your Pepper as you like to call her, she forgave you rather too easily for your little stunt with her dance card.

Well, it is the infamous Stark charm, you see, that persuaded her to let it go.

He shook his head wryly as the Dragon guffawed loudly in his head. Alright Dragon, that will do.

Tony walked back to the main hall, searching for Pepper. He saw there were still a number of people, Beatrice, Janice, Stephanie and some other ladies and men as well, hanging around the stage. Pepper was also there, busy talking to Beatrice's friend, Pyotr, the friendly young man from the inn.

He was confused because the musicians had left but some of the men had clambered onto the stage, with some instruments of their own.

Pepper and her ladies were all in the middle of the hall, heads together, busy whispering to each other. Magdalene had climbed up on the stage. She was swaying slightly and Tony widened his eyes with horror as he realized that she was very foxed.

Sure enough, Magdalene burped loudly and when she was admonished by Janice, blew the hapless woman a raspberry very rudely. Tony muffled a snort.

Happy came over to him and leaned on him dreamily. He sighed loudly on Tony's shoulder and Tony realized his friend was also foxed, judging by the strong bitter smell of ale coming from him.

"Happy," he gently inquired as Magdalene began to wave her arms at the village musicians, "Happy, my friend, just how much have you had to drink?"

"Just a tad, Tone, just a tad." Happy hiccuped charmingly and then said in a sotto voice, "It is not just me, all the ladies are tipsy too."

Tony sighed heavily. "Great! Tipsy ladies and foxed men. And here I was trying to clear the Hall out."

Then he heard the slow beating of the drum and Magdalene announced loudly, "Ladies and Gents, the stuffy elders have finally left." The people in the Hall cheered at this.

Magdalene raised her hand triumphantly and continued, "And not a moment, too soon, if I do say so! Anyhooo, without further ado, us ladies, I mean, other than me, shall be dancing a merry jig to an old ditty. I present, Janice, Stephanie, Beatrice and the Lady Virginia."

Tony widened his eyes with shock as Pepper and the aforementioned ladies stood on the dance floor in two rows, hands joined. They curtsied deeply as the few spectators cheered them.

"And I..." Magdalene hiccuped loudly again, "I shall be singing..." someone booed and Magdalene shouted back violently, "Well you cocksnipe, I'd like to see you sing then! Come on!"

Tony had wanted to object himself but shut up, fearing Maggie's fearsome wrath. Besides, he was curious to see Pepper dance with the villagers.

Whoever it was, backed off and Magdalene held her head up proudly, "Without further ado, I give you, The Friar in the Well!"

The flute started to play in a low and slow tune as the ladies made a circle by joining hands at a center point and slowly moving around.

Maggie began to sing.

As I lay musing all alone,

fa, la, la, la, la

A pretty jeast I thought upon;

fa, la, la, la, la

Then listen a while, and I will you tell

Of a fryer that loved a bonny lass well.

fa, la, la, la, la

fa, la, la, lang-tre-down-dilly

The ladies dipped once and kept moving round and round, as the flute kept playing.

He came to the maid when she went to be,

Desiring to have her maidenhead,

But she denyëd his desire,

And told him that she feard hell-fire.

Once again the ladies dipped and began to move in the opposite direction now.

Then the drum and the harpsichord joined the solemn flute and turned the tune into a jaunty, catchy melody. The spectators began to slow clap as the ladies stamped their feet hard on the floor as they kept moving in a circle.

`Tush,' quoth the fryer, `thou needst not doubt

If thou wert in hell I could sing thee out:'

At this line, the spectators laughed loudly.

`Then,' quoth the maid, `thou shalt have they request;'

The fryer was glad as a fox in his nest.

Then the ladies moved apart and stood in a horizontal line, shoulders touching, facing the audience. They had all clutched their gowns up in one hand, to give them freedom of movement. Tony was temporarily distracted by the sight of Pepper's pretty calves.

As Maggie sang the next stanza, the ladies began to lightly jump in place and kick up their heels, in time with the melody.

`But one thing,' quoth she, `I do desire,

Before you have what you require;

Before that you shall do the thing,

An angel of mony thou shalt me bring.

The pace of the dance had quickened as the ladies exchanged places mid-dance, moving lithely between each other, all the while, kicking up their heels.

Tony felt himself grin as he saw Pepper was really enjoying herself. Her face was flushed, hair moving with her movement, she was smiling widely and singing along to Maggie's ditty. Her arms were entwined with Stephanie's on one side and the Beatrice's on the other.

Then the music tempo increased and the ladies made pairs. They joined hands and began to spin each other around on the spot. This somehow encouraged the spectators to participate and they joined the ladies with glee.

`Tush,' quoth the fryer, `we shall agree,

No mony shall part my love and me;

Before that I will see thee lack

I'le pawn the grey gown from my back.'

Now couples and singles, young and, old, all were dancing merrily to the cheerful tune as Maggie kept singing. Tony looked around and saw that even Happy had joined the dancing crowd, holding his wife Stephanie as they moved enthusiastically about the dance floor.

Pepper and Beatrice had paired up and were gleefully shouting as they danced like pagan fairies, red and blonde hair being tossed wildly.

Tony tapped his foot to the tune and then he began to walk through the dancing crowd, being careful not to bang or bump into anyone as he did so. He was moving towards Pepper and Beatrice.

He reached them just as Pepper dipped Beatrice. She looked at Tony and nearly dropped Beatrice in shock.

"Tony" she exclaimed and pushed her hair back, "I thought you had gone home! I...!" Pepper flushed charmingly and Tony cupped her cheek softly. Not breaking eye contact with her, he asked Beatrice, "Mind if I cut in?"

He heard Beatrice laugh and she ran off. Tony caught Pepper about the waist and pulled her into his arms. He twirled her and then raised her in the air and she laughed out loud with joy. As he lowered her, he whispered, "Shall we dance wildly, my lady?"

She smiled beautifully and then kissed him hard, her tongue mating wildly with his, her hands rifling passionately through his hair. She broke off the kiss and then Pepper said sultrily, "See if you can keep up with me, Lord Stark!"

Tony laughed at Pepper's eager challenge and clasped her tightly in his arms, determined to show her just how wildly he could dance.


They danced all night till the wee hours of the morning. Pepper was now very tired. So she leaned contentedly against her knight as they walked up the hill near the lake. They were on their way back to the Keep.

"Tony," she said sleepily, feeling so drowsy and boneless, "Tony Stark... you dance well, you..."

She felt his chest rumble against her cheek. Pepper had her arm around Tony's neck and was leaning into him, because for some strange reason, she just couldn't stand straight.

Tony murmured softly, "Pepper my sweet, you are truly foxed." He chuckled lightly. "A first for you, I take it."

She felt the need to object. "Hey... I am not fixed! I mean foxed! I am just... a little tired."

He asked teasingly, "Now, now, Lady Virginia, be honest, how many glasses of ale did you have?"

Pepper abruptly stopped, which made Tony halt too. She looked at him straight in the eye, tilting her chin up. "Lord Stark, I shall have you know... I did not have any ale!"

Tony held up the lantern he was holding, to look at her. Then she hiccuped and he laughed. "Okay, my lady, then how much wine did you drink?"

She bit her lip at that, knowing she had to come clean. "Well... a glass or two..."

He quirked one eyebrow her and she bent her head and whispered, "If I have to be honest, I should say four..."

"Four!" he exclaimed mirthfully and she flushed.

"Tony! What can I say? The grapes are in season! It wouldn't do to let them spoil on the vines!"

He grinned widely at her and she smiled back. Tony looked so cute in the moonlight, that she couldn't help but kiss his nose.

"Besides... Lord Stark... I have every right to make merry... know ye that I am to be married?"

Tony held her to him with one firm hand around her waist. She was wearing his coat and he tightened it around her. "Indeed my lady," he whispered as they walked on, "pray tell me more of this marriage..."

Pepper grinned and then deepened her voice, trying to sound like the Headman, "The Lord of the Village, scion of the House of Stark, shall wed Lady Virginia, that's me. And they both shall live happily ever after, in Stark Manor, with their cat and their horse and their dragon."

Tony guffawed loudly and she took offense. "Tony, what is so funny?"

"Nothing, my love, nothing... alright we are finally here. Home sweet home."

Pepper stared agape as she saw they were at the main door of the Keep.

"How did we ..." she gestured backwards, "how did we reach so fast?"

Tony smiled at her and said, "My lady, since you are the bride and future lady of the Keep, may I escort you to your room?"

She said haughtily to him, teetering slightly, "Of course you may, your lordship."

Then Pepper shrieked with delight as he swept her up in his arms and kicked open the door.

Tony stood in the hallway and Pepper loudly exclaimed, "The Lady and Lord Stark have arrived!"

Then she clasped her hand over her mouth to shush herself and he grinned at her. "Do not worry your ladyship, Jarvis and Maggie are still in the village. They are too," Tony cleared his throat, "too tired, like you, to come back walking."

She placed her finger against his lips and whispered loudly, "I am not Lady Stark yet... shush..."

He looked at her and said solemnly, "You are in every manner and way, Lady Stark. All that remains is a ceremony." He kissed her finger gently and she sighed.

"Tony, Tony, Tony," she murmured as she kissed his ear. Then Pepper said equally solemnly, "You also need to make love to me completely, my lord, then only I can truly be Lady Stark."

Tony turned a bright red and she smirked at him.

"Have I ever told you, Lord Stark, I enjoy seeing you flush." She gently cupped his cheek. "Red is such a lovely color on your skin."

He began to carry her up the stairs and Pepper asked teasingly, "What's the matter, Lord Stark? Cat got your tongue?"

Tony just shook his head at her as they reached her room. Then he pushed open her bedroom door and gently set her on her feet.

Pepper swayed slightly, feeling the ground move under her feet and he caught her to him, to steady her.

"My goodness, Tony... how does one walk straight when one is foxed?" She said, leaning against him.

He chuckled softly. "So Pepper, you finally admit that you are foxed?"

She moved back and scowled at him. "Tony Stark, it does not do to remind a lady that she is inebriated... now Lord Stark... I have helped you many a time, when you came home, wounded or sloshed... so today you need to help me change please."

He grinned widely at her and said, "As the lady commands... how should I ..."

"Unclasp the shoulder cuffs." she whispered sultrily.

Maybe it was the alcohol but Pepper felt it was truly because Lord Stark looked so sexy, that she was feeling extra frisky.

Tony held up a blanket and made her hold it in front of her. He placed his warm heavy hand on her shoulder and unclasped the metal cuff.

The end fell away and he did the same for the other. Pepper grinned evilly because Tony was looking away as he did this. To give her some privacy. But she didn't want any.

She dropped the sheet down and stood there in her blue shift, that started at her chest and ended at her knees. Tony made a small noise in his throat as he gazed upon her.

Pepper was determined to fluster him, so she raised her hands above her head, knowing that the shift material would tighten over her chest. She closed her eyes and stretched languorously, smiling secretly as she heard Tony swear softly.

When she opened her eyes, Tony was standing there, molten brown eyes looking into hers. She moved closer to him and pressed herself to him, feeling his hard frame tremble against her.

When he still didn't kiss her, she sighed gently and then placed her hands on his hips and cupped his butt, holding him tightly against her.

"Tony Stark, I do declare, your backside should be captured in art and prose, for the centuries to come." Pepper whispered sultrily, caressing said butt lightly with her hands.

Tony flushed and she murmured, "My Lord, you look amazing and..." she took a deep breath, leaning into his neck and sighed, "you feel so good... Tony, I want to lick every part of you..."

But the aggravating man just clasped her firmly by the shoulders and held her away. "Pepper" he growled out.

"Don't 'Pepper' me..." She caught his jaw in one hand and lightly patted it, knowing it was Tony's weak spot. His jaw tightened under her fingers and he put up an admirable effort to stay still but his beautiful brown eyes, the sensual emotions rifling through them, made her moisten her lips.

Pepper moved her hand to his hair and whispered against his cheek, "I distinctly remember talk of ravishment... before we had to go back inside the Hall..."

He murmured tightly, "Pepper, sweetheart, you are very foxed... you should go to sleep."

She kissed him slowly, taking his lips tenderly between hers, slowly touching her tongue to his. Pepper felt Tony close his arms around her and lift her gently against him. She sighed with happiness as she felt herself being lowered to her bed.

Pepper closed her eyes as Tony moved his mouth to her ear, looming over her on her bed. Then his lips left her and she felt the bed move as he stood up. She quickly opened her eyes to see Tony grinning as he pulled her blanket over her.

"Pepper, go to sleep, you need to rest." he said as he tenderly tucked her in.

"But I am not in the least bit sleepy!" She said and then amazingly, she felt herself yawn loudly. Pepper blinked, suddenly feeling sleepy as Tony knelt by her bed and gently stroked her hair. She liked what he was doing, so she lay back down and caught his other hand as he kept stroking her head.

Tony murmured soothingly, "Sweeting, you have had a busy day, you competed in not one but two tournaments, then you had to dazzle the villagers with your gown and your dancing... sleep now, please."

She pouted at him and then yawned widely. "I won both tournaments too... winning was exhausting..."

Tony said mildly, "I thought the second tournament, the one between you and me, ended in a tie."

Pepper winked at him. "I only conceded victory, my lord, on the condition of ravishment. Now I take it back..."

He laughed softly and then kissed her mouth lightly and then kissed her nose. She sighed and closed her eyes and felt him press a gentle kiss to her each eyelid.

Pepper tightened her grip on his hand and kissed it. "Tony, go to sleep..." she ordered sleepily, eyes closed.

She heard Tony chuckle softly and then he whispered to her, "Sleep tight, my love, a thousand times, good night".

She repeated the same to him and fell fast asleep.