Do not miss tomorrow's chapter! Smut Warning in advance.
Doubt thou the stars are fire;
Doubt that the sun doth move;
Doubt truth to be a liar;
But never doubt I love.
- Hamlet, William Shakespeare
Tony stood in front of the fireplace, his arms raised slightly. He took a deep breath, trying to clear the throbbing ache in his left shoulder, where he had been punched . He had tried to pull off his shirt but had forgotten about his injury.
He swore loudly, "Goddamn it!"
"My lord, may I help you?" A low voice said from behind his door.
He knew who the voice belonged to and gritted his teeth. "There is no need." he growled out.
Of course Pepper did not listen to him and entered the room. He felt her hands on his back, gently feeling him.
She moved in front of him and stood close. Her warm hand passed over the large purple bruise on his shoulder.
He hissed as she pressed it slightly.
Pepper looked at him with soft blue eyes and said gently, "Tony, you can't stretch your shoulder anymore. Let us do this one arm at a time."
She unbuttoned his shirt completely and pulled it out of his trousers. She then unbuttoned the cuffs of both sleeves.
Tony wanted to object but he was curious to see how she would take off his shirt.
Pepper stepped even closer, such that she was brushing against him. He took a deep breath, the intoxicating scent of lilies filling his nostrils. Then she supported his injured left side by placing one of her hands on his back, holding him firm.
She helped him shimmy his right hand out of the sleeve, by bending his elbow and his wrist.
When his right hand was free, she turned her attention to his injured side and gathered the shirt in bunches, carefully moving it off by the sleeve.
Tony stayed silent, rather astounded by her gentle handling of his injury. He stood there in his pants, bare chested and barefoot, waiting to see what she was going to do next.
Pepper nudged him to sit in a chair and threw another log on the fire. He watched her walk to the window and open it.
Tony exclaimed, "Pepper, what on earth, it is freezing outside!"
"My lord," she said distractedly, as she seemed to be collecting something from the sill, "You need something cold on your bruise. What better than some ice?"
She placed whatever she had collected in a neat square of cloth, that Tony recognized as one of his kerchiefs. Then Pepper closed the window and came back to him with the kerchief.
She knelt between his legs and reaching up, gently placed it on his left shoulder. Tony jerked upwards, yowling, nearly knocking her over.
"That hurts! "
"Tony, if you'd hold still, it wouldn't hurt as much! Do not be so delicate! It is a little cold, that's all!"
Tony growled something indistinct even to himself.
Pepper said, "If you hadn't had gone to sulk, this wouldn't have happened!"
Tony grumbled, "If your secret hadn't shocked me so, I wouldn't have run away to sulk!"
Pepper was smiling at him. She gently pressed it against his bruise and he relaxed slightly.
He churlishly muttered, "Thank you for helping me with my shirt."
Pepper said quietly, "You're welcome."
Then Tony took a deep breath and looked at Pepper, kneeling before him, leaning tenderly on him. He gulped hard as he realized what she was wearing, a knee-length, flowing white sheath with full sleeves. She looked at him, wide-eyed, hair tied back neatly.
She seems so fragile and ... child-like... why do I feel as if I have seen her like this before?
Then she murmured, "I shall get more snow..." and made to stand up. He offered her his hand and she placed her warm one in his. As was his habit, Tony rubbed his thumb over her fingers as she used his hand to support her ascent.
Then Pepper was standing in front of him, in front of the fireplace and Tony realized that her chemise was so sheer, that the firelight rendered it nearly transparent.
He slowly dragged his eyes up over her slender frame, starting from her delicate feet and narrow ankles, up Pepper's heavenly long lean legs and creamy thighs. He felt his cock throb as his gaze moved over her pretty reddish brown curls hiding her womanhood.
Then he continued to move his eyes upwards, over her taut belly that he knew was satiny soft, her beautiful firm breasts and her delicately profiled neck with its dips and hollows. He lingered over her lush pink lips, curved into a soft smile and met her eyes then, staring into the beautiful, deep blue orbs, shining like the ocean at night. The look of love and tenderness in them, made him swallow hard.
Tony felt Pepper's soft fingers slowly touch his face and linger over his bruised eye. "The swelling has reduced." she murmured thoughtfully.
He couldn't find his tongue but thoughts were racing through his mind like fishes through a stream.
Pepper always takes such good care of me when I am injured... or even when I am alright, she cares for me... I cannot believe she didn't tell me... she has been hiding this for so long...
But he spoke of something completely unrelated to his thoughts.
Tony spoke slowly, "Pepper, the first night after the slavers, when you came to my room," he saw her eyes flicker at that, "you were wearing a shift just like this one." He shook his head, amazed at his burning need, to tell her this now.
"Yes," she said softly, her fingers gently pushing back his hair from his forehead.
"I had been sitting here, in this very chair and I could see right through your shift," he whispered, "and I had wanted to be a gentleman and look away but I couldn't take my eyes off you. I just couldn't."
Pepper just looked at him silently, eyes soft.
"Before you came in, I had wondered what should I do. You see, suddenly, I was responsible for someone else, something frighteningly new to me. And then you offered yourself to me and I wanted you so badly."
"But you did not hurt me, Tony." she whispered. "You are a good man, my lord."
Memories of Pepper assailed him and Tony said quietly, "Why am I thinking of that memory, of that time now? Because after that day, my view of you changed. I had always dreaded responsibility but I had realized then, that by killing those slavers, I was responsible for you. And somehow it didn't scare me. I didn't want to slake my lust on you because... well, I am not that sort of man, to take advantage. But I also felt responsible for you. I could not hurt you."
He stood slowly, looking at her sadly. "Pepper, I did not want anyone to suffer what you suffered under the slavers, so I eradicated them. And then you found me in the cold and saved me. Again you blew me away with that act. No one had cared for me like that... at least not for a long time... I had forgotten what it was like to have someone's care..."
She was going to interrupt him, so he said, "Please hear me out."
Pepper nodded and he continued, "Then you came to me and asked me to train you... and we started training together... that's when I felt a kinship with you. I felt you were just like me, someone who had lost their family, their standing, their everything and was lost in turn. And I thought that like the Dragon had helped me, I could help you. From that kinship, I found purpose and a friend."
He smiled sadly, "We became good friends, didn't we, Pepper? Finally I had someone and someone had my back."
She took his hand and whispered to him fiercely, "Tony, I still have your back. Nothing has changed."
He whispered slowly, "But it has, Pepper, don't you see? We aren't the same at all. You have been lying to me for a year."
Pepper flushed and Tony turned and walked to the window. Looking out at the white snow, he swallowed hard, trying to get rid of the thick lump of emotion in his throat. He pressed the kerchief to his shoulder.
Suddenly angry at himself, he said, "Why didn't I see it? Why didn't I see the truth? Why didn't I think about how you ended up here? Looking back, I realize there were so many clues to your lineage."
He closed his eyes, recalling memories. "You could read and write... only a gentle-bred lady would know that. You could ride well and sing too... again tell-tale signs of a lady but you knew how to cook?" he muttered questioningly.
Pepper looked at him and said quietly, "I spent a lot of time in the kitchen, I learnt a lot from the castle cooks."
"Is that normal? The future queen spending time with the hired help?"
She said slowly, "I did not have a conventional royal upbringing, Tony. My father was a social man but he cared more for his family and his friends than a rich court life. And after he died," she smiled sadly, "my mother had to fight politically for her crown, for the throne. There were many so-called friends and relatives, who felt a man should be king. But she held strong and the throne remained hers. Then people avoided us, so we lived a very isolated life. I did not have balls and soirees or courtly gatherings but I had simple pleasures like gathering flowers or cooking, drawing or playing the pianoforte for the castle inhabitants, be they servant or soldier. My mother did not care much for titles, my lord, and I do not either. Titles do not make a man great, his deeds do."
He ignored that and refocused. "So that explains why you get along well with the villagers and others, you do not have the airs of those typical from a royal family."
She nodded in agreement.
"So what else? What else did I miss? You may not have airs but you have the manners of nobility. You know how to dance."
"Yes," Pepper smiled softly. "I used to practice with my friends and I had a tutor. He would teach me singing and dancing and courtly manners."
"So that explains that." Tony laughed sarcastically. "Good breeding shows, you were always more polite and had better manners than me. I just put it down to the fact that you were a lady. What else have I missed, Pepper?"
She said in anguish, "Tony... is this really necessary?"
"Oh yes, it is, Princess!" He said angrily and she flinched at his tone.
Tony shoved his hands in his pants, resisting the urge to pull her into his arms and shake her. "I want to understand exactly how I foolishly fell for your lies, that you were just a noblewoman. Let's continue, shall we? The power of Summac... it has been passed down, from generation to generation of women in your family, right?"
She nodded.
"So all the female members of your house, have the power or pass it down to their next descendant. A royal house of pyromancy..." he mulled it over for a second, "yes, I can see that. The noble house of Potts, actually the royal house of Potts, has the strain of a magical power... Your mother told you to hide your power because it wouldn't do to have a royal who could magically control fire. I mean, no one in your house, has ever been open about this gift, correct?"
Pepper said quietly, "It is a family secret. If the people of Cumbria knew that their rulers could control fire, they would think they were being ruled by witches."
She lowered her head. "Anyway, they do think that I am a witch... because there were many witnesses, that saw me murder my mother with my misfire at Stane."
For a minute, Tony completely forgot he was angry with Pepper. He stepped closer to her and cupped her cheek.
"Pepper, you did not murder your mother. After my recent experience with Stane's sorcery, ergo in the form of the Bloodstone, I am more convinced than ever, that Stane or his master, whatever it is, performed some trickery and killed your mother. Or they deflected your fire towards her. Whatever it is, I do not think you murdered your mother, Pepper."
She raised her head and he felt his heart clench at the unshed tears in her eyes. They spilled onto her cheeks and Tony gently stroked her soft skin with his thumb, wiping them away softly. "And if your people do think that, then their view should be corrected."
Pepper smiled weakly at him. Then he remembered he was arguing with her and he lowered his hand.
Tony continued with his train of thought. "So Stane thought your mother had the gift?"
"No," Pepper said slowly, "Stane did not care for the actual gift of fire itself. He came to Cumbria because he wanted to steal the Necklace of Summac."
"Ah yes! I had forgotten!" Tony smacked himself hard on the forehead. "Why didn't I realize this at the time? Your mother was the Queen and Stane took advantage of her hospitality, to search for the Necklace! Of course! That is why he had the run of the Castle!"
Pepper nodded.
Tony's thoughts were clearer now. "The slavers were after you because Stane had set them on you."
"That's right. They did not know I was a runaway princess. Stane simply told them I was his escaped prisoner."
"So Stane wanted to seal his claim over the throne by imprisoning the last living heir to the throne of Cumbria. You. Because your mother, the Queen was dead. If you remained alive, you could contest his claim."
Pepper said softly, "Yes, that is one reason but... there is something else."
"What, what is it, Pepper?"
Pepper looked at her hands and sighed loudly. "It is just a theory but... I have read the books in the library, detailing the power of Summac, the way it trickled down through my family. And the books repeated one fact: The Necklace is magical but it can only be wielded successfully by someone who is worthy of the Power of Summac. Our house motto is "Ignis aurum probat" which stands for "The fire tests the gold". Stane or rather Stane's master must have realized, that it wouldn't be enough to just have the Necklace, if he wanted to use it, he need to be worthy of controlling it. And that worthiness is only present in a true Daughter of Summac."
Tony took a deep breath and looked at his hands. "In any case, now you are safe from Stane and... it doesn't change the fact that I did not notice that you were of royal blood."
She interrupted angrily, "Tony, I understand how you feel about royalty and their ilk. I know you have experienced disloyalty and hurt at the hands of King Leoric and his court but I am not like that! I wasn't brought up with courtly intrigues and richness and ugly gossip. I am just an ordinary country girl, who happened to came from a long line of royals, that's it. You know that, don't you?"
Pepper moved closer to him and looked deep into his eyes. "Do you think there is anything of your King Leoric in me? Any of the spite, the malice, the cruel pettiness? Be honest please."
He swallowed, recognizing the truth of her words. "I will give you that, Pepper, you aren't anything like a royal with regards to behavior. You do not have any airs or graces. You treat everyone as your equal or better."
Her eyes searched his. "Then why are you angry with me, Tony?"
He caught her arms and said tightly, "Because you lied to me, Pepper! You didn't tell me the truth!"
Pepper kept quiet, he saw her gulp hard and he continued ruthlessly, "You could have said something! At some point! We have..." Tony let her go and moved away, "We have fought together, gone on grand adventures, spent so much time with each other. I..." he turned to look at her, "I have been nothing but honest with you, about myself. Yet,you still kept this from me?"
She said firmly, "Do you remember how we met, Tony? You rescued me and took me to your home. Try to understand what I was going through at that time. There I was a runaway, with slavers on my trail. There was a price on my head. How could I confide in you then? How could I trust you? You could have turned me over to Stane for the reward! And would you have even believed me?! A woman dressed up as a man, with nothing but the clothes on her back, that I was the princess of Cumbria!"
Pepper swallowed hard. "You know, I was so happy after you saved me from the slavers camp because of the very fact that you saved me, not knowing I was of royal blood. I was just a runaway and you came back for me, Anthony Stark. Not only that, you refused my payment and you took me into your home, your life. Just me. As I am. You wanted to help me, for me. That is how I realized that you are a man worth his weight in gold."
She smiled softly and said, "It is not just you who have treated me well. Even the villagers have always treated me well and were good to me. They treat me like a lady, even though till this day, I have never told them about my family. In fact, I never even mentioned that I was of noble birth."
Tony looked down at his hands and said gruffly, "You are good to them, Pepper. You listen to them, talk to them like human beings. Of course they would like you."
He chuckled. "I daresay more than half of them are in love with you. Happy is one of your biggest fans. And so is Jarvis. And then there's Maggie..."
Tony looked at her and smiled widely, "You must be aware by now, that Magdalene is famous for being one of the most crotchety and irritable inhabitants of Lorinthia."
Pepper laughed loudly and then quickly clapped her hand over her mouth. "Tony!" She said chidingly but her eyes were sparkling at him.
"It is true and I suspect Maggie is proud of it. But..." he absently caught Pepper's hand. "She is very fond of you. She is your staunchest defender. After the archery tournament, when some idiots," he scowled, "were still grumbling about your win, she rounded on them so quickly! It was hilarious!"
Then Tony sobered and looked deep into Pepper's eyes. His anger had faded away.
He said solemnly, "Truth be told, Pepper... it is very easy to love you... there is so much to love..."
And that's the truth. I do not want to be angry any more. I love Pepper, Queen or not... if she will have me...
Pepper placed her hand on his cheek and looked at him deeply, eyes luminously blue. She whispered, "For a man of iron and sword, you are actually very tender, Anthony Stark, especially with your words."
She moved her fingers through his beard, stroking him and he sighed.
"Tony..." she said softly, "I am truly sorry I didn't tell you about... about Cumbria. About my being the Queen. I... I realize now that I should have confided in you, especially when you listened to my story on the ship and still loved me. You still wanted to be with me."
He said gruffly, "Your power cannot change the way I feel about you, Pepper."
"Well, then why should my lineage? Honestly Tony... I do not even have a kingdom anymore. I am truly an orphan. I have nothing. Except.." she pressed her lips to his gently, "you... all I have is you, Lord Stark. And that is something I will remain eternally grateful for."
She placed her hand on his bare Arc and whispered softly, "Tony, my lineage has given me nothing. I could never be free about my powers because of it. I always had to behave in a certain way and do only certain things because of it."
Pepper leaned on him gently. "The most free I have ever been, is with you. You taught me how to be independent. And you are the only one, who accepted me for what I am truly. How does a cold dead throne of duty compare to such a love, the love of a good man like you?"
Tony felt his throat tighten at Pepper's soft words. He searched her blue eyes. "Pepper... you have a responsibility to your rank ... queens do not marry below their station. And they especially do not marry lords whose titles have been stripped from them and who are..." he swallowed hard, "poor."
She firmed her lips and his own quirked because he knew he had irritated her with his remark about money.
"Lord Stark... if you had accepted payment for every quest, every helping hand you gave, every act of kindness... you would have been the richest man in Lorinthia. I alone, owe you so much. And you are not poor, my lord," she pinched his nose, "you spend your money on your people. Like hosting archery tournaments to give women a chance at competing."
He looked down at his hands and said softly, "You would marry a man, who cannot give you richness and luxuries and a courtly life? You are a queen, you deserve better. This keep is all I have and I know it does not compare to a palace."
She caught his chin and gently lifted it, so he met her eyes.
Pepper said, equally soft, "I do not want and will never want those things, Tony. I have everything I will ever need, here." She placed her hand on his Arc.
Tony had to ask because he needed to hear it from Pepper's lips.
He caught her arms, looked at her solemnly and whispered, "Pepper, are you sure you do not want your throne back? Your kingdom? We can get it back, my queen."
Pepper furrowed her brows. "Tony, why do you call me a queen? I -"
He whispered bashfully, "I've ... I've always called you the Queen of my heart... in my head at least."
Then Tony turned red at Pepper's soft exclamation of joy. "Tony Stark! You astound me with the depth of your regard for me..."
Then she hugged him tightly and he rubbed his chin against her forehead.
Pepper said fiercely, "Let Stane have his throne! And the Necklace of Summac! I have something infinitely more precious."
She caught his chin in her hand and looked straight at him. "I have the love of the Iron Knight... the greatest gift a woman could dream of..."
He nodded and said solemnly, "My sword and my life is yours as well as my heart, Pepper... I am yours, come what may."
