Lord, I'm one, Lord, I'm two, Lord, I'm three, Lord, I'm four
Lord, I'm five hundred miles from my home

- "500 Miles", Peter, Paul & Mary

She opened her eyes to look up at a grey stone ceiling.

How can that be? My bedroom ceiling in Stark Keep, is made of wood.

Then she realized she was lying in a large bed in a strange unfamiliar room. And she looked down at herself, only to see she was completely naked. A white sheet was pooled around her bruised feet.

Wait... why are my feet bruised?

She slowly looked at her body. There was scratches and gashes all over her. She examined a rather unusual mark on her breast.

They look like teeth marks... why would Tony bite me so hard there? And why are there rope burns on my wrists?

Then she saw her shift lying on the floor, torn viciously in two, one of her slippers at its side.

And then she took a good look at the room she was in.

A single window, high up on the wall, too high to reach from the floor. A dark room with curtains drawn but I know it is day time for light is shining through the curtains. A large black bed with four vertical columns and a high rectangular panel above me.

No furniture except for a table full of candles and glass beakers. And in the corner, a...

Then she swallowed. For hanging on a hook on the opposite wall, was a set of robes in rich purple. Below them, were flat clog-like shoes. And a thick black wooden cane.

Tony doesn't have any clothes in purple. So whose room is this... and what I am I doing in it? Like this?

The lock clicked and she sat up absolutely straight, pulling the sheet over her exposed body.

Then she screamed in anguish, her heart racing, for a face she never wanted to see again, had entered the room and was leering at her evilly.

"My dear, you are finally awake. And so eager."

A tall, bald man with a long, flowing grey beard and twinkling light blue eyes. So light, they were nearly translucent.

Stane!

He walked towards her and she tried to scramble off the bed but as she did, he waved his hand and something tightened around her neck, holding her in place.

She felt her neck and realized a collar had formed out of thin air around it, chaining her to the bed.

Stane grinned at her and said, "You aren't going anywhere, your Highness."

As he loomed over her, she moved as far back as she could, screaming, "Don't you! Don't you dare touch me!"

He said wickedly, "That's not what you said last night..."

His eyes roamed all over her body, barely covered by the thin sheet and she tried to hide herself.

"What have you done to Tony? Have you hurt him?"

He dodged her punch, catching her wrist firmly. "Virginia, who is this Tony? An imaginary friend of yours?"

She opened her mouth and then shut it. Stane pushed himself off the bed and whistling loudly, walked over to the table.

He seems so at ease. So relaxed. As if...

She shook her head, trying to block out the horrible thought.

Stane looked at her and raised an eyebrow. "Are we having one of our monthly fits? Where you do not remember where you are and fight with me? Come on, Virginia."

He shrugged at her and then said with a wide grin, "Okay, let me refresh your memory. You were the princess and then," he idly picked up a glass beaker, "I found the secret of Summac and you killed your mother, while trying to stop me."

She flinched hard at that and he nodded. "Oh, you did do it, Princess, there's no denying it."

Stane began to move the beakers, doing something with them.

"And then you were thrown into prison for being a murderer and I took over your kingdom." He inspected a beaker, "And your people are happy under my rule."

"They are slaves!" she whispered angrily.

He grinned at her. "What difference does it make? They are under my rule. And you have been an excellent bed partner for the past one year. But it is time for something new."

"One year..." she whispered in horror. "Then I never... I never escaped Cumbria."

Stane looked back at her. "Oh no, my dear. You never did. I took you from your jail cell, only because I wanted to sleep with you."

Then he smiled at her. "But now Virginia, you are going to perform your true duty. What you are destined for."

She lifted her chin mutinously. "I won't do it. Whatever you want, I won't do it, Stane."

Stane tsked at her. "So much fire. "But my dear," she saw him hold the beaker and walk towards the black wooden cane. "I have ways of making you agree."

"I won't do it, Stane." she said as he picked up the cane and came towards the bed. "You can beat me all you like."

Stane laughed loudly. "Child! I am the most powerful necromancer, this land has ever seen."

His blue eyes shone eerily. "Why would I resort to brute force, when I can use my magic to make you do what I want?"

He placed the cane against the bed and caught her by the ankle, pulling her towards him. "After all, I used magic to make you my bed slave, didn't I? And it worked so well... you don't seem to remember, all that you and I have done in this bed."

His eyes roved over her body with lust and she shuddered.

Then she pulled herself back as he chuckled and lifted the cane. He poured a clear liquid from the beaker onto the cane and threw the beaker away.

The cane began to hiss loudly and she asked fearfully, "What is that? What is going to happen?"

Stane looked at her as the cane began to writhe and move on its own, hissing loudly.

She pushed herself back against the wall, trying to get away from whatever he was doing.

Stane said menacingly, "My dear Virginia, I have enjoyed you for a year but it is now time you meet the Master. It is most anxious to make you its disciple in every manner."

She watched in horror as the cane twisted itself to look at her with red eyes. Then in a terrible familiar voice, it hissed, Finally, my dear girl, we meet once again. This time, you cannot escape me. One way or the other, I will break you.

She screamed as the writhing cane flung itself at her, fangs bared. Then all was dark.


Tony yawned loudly and stretched himself luxuriously. He had been working on his design for his lattice of light armor, for two hours now, without a break.

"What is the time?" He looked out of the Workshop's window and grimaced. "Dear god, it is pretty late! I should sleep."

The Dragon was busy snoring, he was sure of it, so he snuffed out the candles in the smithy, leaving one lit to walk back to the Keep.

"Wait a minute, it is a beautiful night, why do I need a candle?"

Indeed, the moon was in fine form, bright and creamish yellow, crescent shaped, up high in the sky. He snuffed out the candle and stepped out onto the Courtyard, smiling in wonder as its light bathed the yard before him.

Tony chuckled lightly to himself. "Didn't Pepper have a friend, who lives on the moon or is the moon or is the son of the moon?" He shook his head, "Whatever or whoever you are, I salute you, what a beautiful night..."

Then he remembered the day's events: the beaked creatures, Tigliath getting scratched and the woman dying. His thoughts sobered. He looked back up at the moon and whispered softly, "Whatever may happen during the day, the night will come... and so life must go on."

Just then, a shadow fell across the courtyard's cobbled steps and he felt the hair on the back of his neck rise in tension. Tony walked forward and turned to stare at the roof of the stables.

Something... or someone is up there... what are they doing in my Keep?

The shadow had disappeared from his sight and he rubbed his eyes. Perhaps I was dreaming? But...

Then he swore under his breath as he could clearly make out a slim figure moving across the stable's roof, silently creeping towards the outer wall.

He was going to shout but then stopped himself in time. I must climb up there and see who it is!

Tony noticed a rope hanging down the stable wall. Thank you fiend, now I can easily catch up with you!

He caught the rope and quickly climbed up the wall, hauling himself onto the roof. Then he slowly rose from his knees to stand up shakily.

Easy Tony, easy... don't fall. Tigliath my friend, I could have used your climbing skills now.

He gingerly crept on the roof tiles, trying not to make a sound as he moved towards the figure who had reached the high wall.

The figure was clad completely in black, was bulky around the torso and was shrouded in darkness because of the branches of the trees that hung over the high wall.

Tony peered in the darkness as he moved closer to it, quietly.

He or she or it! Is going to climb over the wall. How the hell does it know that is the lowest point of the wall?

When he was close enough, he unsheathed his dagger and said threateningly, "Oi you! Creeper! What are you doing on my roof?!"

The figure halted on the spot, standing still.

"Turn towards me slowly! Hands where I can see them! Do not try anything funny!"

The figure turned and stepped away from the high wall. The moon shone down clearly now on a very familiar feminine form. The figure removed her hat and he saw reddish gold hair fall out of it and glimmer in the moonlight.

Tony nearly fell off the roof in shock. "Pepper!" He exclaimed. "What! What are you doing up here!"

He realized she was dressed up in her lad disguise, breasts bound, baggy pants and boots. A stuffed sack was at her side.

Tony whispered in shock, "You are running away? Why?"

She shook her head, unwilling to answer and he moved closer. Pepper had tied a rag around the lower part of her face but he could see her puffy red-rimmed blue eyes looking at him with sadness.

"Have you been crying?" He asked with worry. "Pepper, what is the matter?"

She just looked down and Tony felt cold dread fill him. "Are you leaving because of me? Did I hurt you?"

He racked his brains, trying to replay the last few days but he couldn't think of anything he had done to hurt her.

Pepper stepped closer to him and pulled off the rag.

"Tony," she said quietly, "I am not leaving because of you. I..." she looked down at the courtyard. "I must do something, so I need to leave for a while."

"Leave for a while?!" He said incredulously. "You are sneaking out of my house in the middle of the night! Because you want to leave for a while!"

She flushed at his tone but nodded and said firmly, "I am leaving for a private mission, my lord, and I beg of you, understand my need and let me go."

Tony took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. I must not get angry. I must find out what happened.

"Pepper..." he said slowly, "could you at least tell me, why you are leaving? I think as your fiance, I have at least that right."

She bit her lip hard and looked straight at him. "I am going back to Cumbria. And I am going alone."

Tony stared at her for a moment, the word 'Cumbria' echoing in his ears.

"You want to go back to Cumbria? Why Pepper? What has happened?"

Then Pepper said explosively, "The land has been overtaken by an evil wizard! Who is torturing my people! I have to do something! I can't just stay here!"

Her words made sense but somehow Tony felt slightly hurt. "A year has passed since you ran away from said land. And now you want to go back? Why so suddenly? I thought we were getting married!"

She said coldly, "This isn't about us, Tony. I can't get married. Not while this is going on. And you wouldn't understand."

That pissed him off and he gave up. Tony threw his hands up in the air and bellowed, "You want to go back to Cumbria? Fine! Go back! I am not going to stop you!"

He walked towards the edge of the roof and knelt by its corner, so he could clamber down. Pepper was still standing where he had left her, still looking at him."

He heard her whisper sadly, "Goodbye, Tony..." and turn back towards the wall.

Then Tony thought long and hard.

What is wrong with me?! I love Pepper. Why am I giving up on our love so easily? I can't just walk away from her!

He stood up and walked back towards her. "Pepper!" he called out. "I think you should tell me why you are really going back to Cumbria."

She didn't turn around but said quietly, "To face Stane. And his Master. And to free my people."

"But why now? Why all of a sudden?"

Then he had an epiphany. "Does this have to do with the girl who died? The creatures chasing her?"

He knew he was right from the way Pepper tensed, still turned away from him.

"Pepper... she came from Cumbria, didn't she?"

"Her name was Callgenia..." Pepper replied quietly. "And I knew her. As children, we played together. At the age of eighteen, she became one of my mother's ladies-in-waiting. I knew her well enough." she ended on a whisper.

"She told you about Cumbria?"

Pepper turned and came towards him, saying, "Do you know what her last words were? I left my mother and brother behind but I just wanted to get away... to be free... finally I am free..."

"Free from Stane..." he said grimly.

Pepper lowered her head. "Do you know what she told me before dying, Tony?"

He heard her voice tighten and she clenched her fists. "Stane has got all the residents of Cumbria in a mindless state. They cannot control their own bodies. All day long they work as slaves."

He nodded. "Peron told us the same."

"But..." Pepper whispered, "Do you know what Stane has been doing to the women of Cumbria in this mindless state?"

Tony clenched his own fists now. "He's been taking advantage of them."

"Yes. He uses them as his bed slaves until he tires of them and then he disposes of them. That's how she escaped. Callgenia was in his bed and regained consciousness. She left the castle in the same way I did."

Suddenly Tony realized why Pepper wanted to go back to Cumbria. He stretched out his hand. "Pepper..."

"Tony... I had a nightmare after she died. I saw myself in Stane's bed and from the marks on my body, it was obvious he had been using me for some time."

Tony growled low in this throat, angry at the image she had cast into his mind.

Pepper looked at him sadly. "In my dream, I had never escaped Cumbria. So Stane turned me into his bed slave, just like he did with Callgenia and others. Against my will and I am not in my senses."

"It was just a dream for me. But for all those women still in Cumbria, it is a day-to-day reality."

Tony said softly, "You want to stop Stane. You do not want your people to suffer anymore."

Pepper nodded, mouth tense. The she said tightly, "What am I doing here? Hiding away in a far away land... while my people are suffering under the rule of a madman and his demonic master..."

A tear rolled down her cheek as Pepper continued to speak, her voice filled with anguish.

"The price Callgenia was willing to pay for freedom. What horror she has gone through? And for what? Because when she needed a ruler, the ruler wasn't there."

"Pepper..."

Another tear spilled onto Pepper's cheek and she swallowed hard. "Because her ruler was busy getting engaged and living her life to the fullest. I am just like your King Leoric. I am just as petty and selfish. I left my people behind. For Stane to torture."

Tony couldn't stop himself from angrily interjecting, "Really? You are like my former king? Have you made your people starve, so you could throw a massive party? Have you increased the taxes when there was a drought going on? Have you sent your soldiers to fight innocent farmers?"

He huffed angrily as she stared at him, wide-eyed.

"Do not indulge in self-pity and compare yourself to King Leoric. You may have left your kingdom behind, Pepper but you are no selfish monarch."

Pepper said angrily, tears in her eyes, "I am not feeling pity for myself! I am alive! And well! But my people are suffering! It is not fair!"

Tony reacted. "Alright! So what should you have done? Tell me, Pepper! Should you have stayed? To suffer with your people?"

He moved closer, carrying on ruthlessly, "Should you have stayed to become Stane's mindless sex slave? Is that fair?"

Some part of him felt bad for pushing her, especially since she seemed so vulnerable, with tears slowly streaming down her cheeks.

But I have to make her see reason.

Pepper stammered out, "I... I would have fought him... I would have ..."

Then she lowered her head as he said firmly, "You would have been powerless to stop him, Pepper. You cannot counter magic."

Then his voice softened. "Pepper, you escaped from Cumbria, not because you were running away from your people but because you knew you could not fight Stane at that time. Besides, didn't your people turn on you?"

She nodded sadly and whispered, "The Aldermen did... they paid for that, with their lives."

He swore but quickly continued, "You were alone. You had no one. And you had to face a necromancer. Of course you had to preserve yourself, my love. After that, were things easy for you?"

Pepper asked in confusion, "I do not understand."

"Well..." he said slowly, "you were set upon by those damn slavers. That was not an easy experience, right?"

"Right..."

"You escaped from them too and then you met a crazy knight who made you fall through a frozen lake with fright."

She smiled weakly through her tears and he said gently, "Things haven't been easy for you either, Pepper. You haven't enjoyed yourself, living off riches. You learned how to defend yourself, you became a skilled warrior and you have fought evil many a time."

He took her hands in his and she looked up at him. "You learned how to accept your powers. Now you are ready to face Stane as an equal. You cannot feel guilty about strengthening yourself."

"Yes." Pepper said firmly, "I am strong enough. I have to do this, Tony. Please... please try and understand."

He touched his forehead to hers and she sighed softly. "Pepper, I never objected to you going to Cumbria. I understand you must do this and I completely support you."

He saw her smile faintly and Tony raised his head. "So we need to make preparations for leaving. When do you want to leave?"

Pepper stepped back and shook her head mulishly. "I am going alone. Tonight. You do not need to come with me, just because we are getting married."

Tony caught her hand as she turned. "Pepper Potts, do you think I want to accompany you out of a sense of duty?" He asked coldly, wounded by her insinuation.

She looked back at him, wide-eyed and whispered, "I cannot ask you to come with me, Tony. You do not have to."

"Pepper, I asked you to come with me to Patait to help my people. You didn't have to either. We weren't even together then."

He squeezed her hand. "I put you in horrible danger. I owe you for that. I will come with you to Cumbria to repay my debt."

Pepper said firmly, "Your debt has been repaid in full, my lord."

"When?" He countered.

"When you flew after me, on the Palace rooftop. You saved my life. There is no debt to repay."

Tony was stunned. Why doesn't she want me to come with her?

He pushed on. "I took an oath. When you told me of your powers and the grief Stane had wrought upon you, I swore you wouldn't have to fight alone, Pepper. I swore we would make Stane pay for hurting you! You told me... you said we were partners! That we were a team! That one couldn't go running off to danger without the other! Have you forgotten that?"

I must make Pepper lose her temper, then she will truly reveal what is bothering her...

Sure enough, Pepper was clenching her fists in anguish. She said quietly, "Tony, I haven't forgotten but... that doesn't mean you need to come with me to Cumbria... please...please do not..."

Tony asked sadly, "Do you doubt my ability to fight? Do you feel I will fail to protect your back or..."

He stopped when he saw tears spill onto her cheeks. Pepper rubbed at them in a very child-like manner, using her palms. She hiccuped softly and sniffed into her palm.

"Pepper..." he whispered, saddened terribly by her tears and feeling guilty that he had pushed her. "Pepper, don't cry, please."

He reached for her but Pepper moved back and sat down abruptly on the roof. She sat there sadly, hiccuping with grief.

Tony sat down next to her and rubbed her back. Pepper said in a tearful voice, "I don't want to lose you, Tony... not you too..."

He kept quiet, knowing she had to let it all out, to gain some peace. So Tony kept absolutely quiet, stroking her hair.

She looked up at the moon, lashes spiky with tears and said, voice breaking. "Everyone I have known and loved is either dead or enslaved in Cumbria... my mother... my friends... Stane has taken so much away from me... what if he takes you too?"

Then she suddenly moved her arms around him sideways and leaned on his shoulder, crying quietly. He kept stroking her hair and kissed the top of her head.

She was muttering tearfully against his shoulder, "I do not want anything to happen to you, Tony... I do not want to lose you... I ..."

He moved one arm around her and whispered, "Pepper, nothing is going to happen to me... you know why?"

He felt her shake her head against his shoulder.

"Because you are going to save me... you always have... don't you see? You are going to protect me and I am going to protect you. No one is going to get hurt."

She lifted her face and looked at him sadly. "Stane is a very powerful wizard, Tony."

"You are a very powerful pyrokinetic. Set him on fire." Tony said firmly.

Pepper whispered, "It is not that simply. And he has this... this Witch... the Master helping him... how do we face that?"

He nuzzled her head and whispered back, "Like how we have faced every foe... together. Pepper, together you and me are going to put a stop to this. Once and for all."

She sighed loudly and looked at him searchingly, her tear-moist blue eyes shimmering in the darkness. Then she whispered, "We could be marching to our deaths."

"If that is so, then my dear...", he kissed her cheek gently, "then to die by your side, will be such a heavenly way to die. But, Pepper..." Tony took her hand and said, "No one is going to die except for Stane and his whatever Master. We are going to stop them, restore peace and happiness to Cumbria and get married and live happily ever after."

"Happily ever after..." she repeated softly.

"The Knight and his Queen... the Queen of his heart... in this very Keep, with our cat and our horse and our cranky cook."

She giggled at that and Tony smiled. Then he took out his kerchief and gently wiped her cheeks.

He said solemnly, "Pepper, you have got my back, I trust you like I've never trusted anyone before. Do you feel the same about me?"

"Of course." she said, equally serious. "I know you have my back too."

"Then I trust you with my life, sweetheart." He placed her hand on his Arc. "I know you will not let anything happen to me."

She closed her eyes and kissed him softly and slowly, one hand stroking his jaw.

He returned the kiss in tenderness and whispered against her lips, "And I am not going to let anything happen to you, Pepper. We will defeat this evil, my Queen. Together."

She whispered back, "Together...".

Tony pushed Pepper's hair back from her face. "It is very late, my love and you have had a very tiring day. Shall we go back inside and go to sleep?"

Pepper nodded and he stood up, helping her to her feet.

Then Tony climbed down first. "Pep, throw your sack down, I shall catch it."

She did so and he caught it easily. Pepper climbed down as well and he lifted the sack, feeling its weight.

"Pep, exactly what were you taking with you? This sack is so light!"

She smiled at him and said, "Clothes, some food and an extra pair of shoes. Oh and a coat."

"What about Aurora? Why didn't you ride out on her?"

Pepper looked away and said, "I wanted you to have something of mine. Something to remember me by. She is a very distinctive horse. You and I were both there when King John gifted her to me."

Tony tightened his jaw as she looked down at her feet.

"You are a right idiot, Pepper Potts. Something to remember me by... really? What about the gauntlets? Did you take them?"

She nodded without looking at him.

Then he noticed the Arc engagement ring shining on her finger. Tony took her hand in his and gently rubbed the ring.

"Why didn't you leave this behind?" He asked quietly and Pepper bit her lip. "Because I wanted something of yours... and the ring is very precious to me... Tony, I am sorry for trying to run away, I a-"

He didn't wait to hear the end of her apologies, he dropped the sack and kissed her, his fear of nearly losing her, making his kiss desperate and hard. Pepper sighed into his mouth and he moved his arms around her, never wanting to let her go.

"Pepper..." he growled against her lips, "you little fool, if you had gone," he nibbled on her bottom lip, "I would have followed you. I would have followed you to the ends of the earth, just to be with you. Don't you ever do that again. I have a good mind to put you over my knee and spank you till you can't sit down for a week."

She touched her tongue to his lips and he groaned loudly.

Then they heard the kitchen window open and a loud cantankerous voice shouted, "For heavens sake, love-birds, it is very late! Will you stop making such a din and go to bed, the both of you!"

The window shut itself with a slam and Pepper giggled. Tony smiled at her joy and kissed her nose. "Before Maggie throws us out of my own Keep, let us go to bed."

They walked back to their rooms, arms around each other, trying to be as quiet as possible. Tony saw Pepper to her room and gently pushed her inside it. Pepper looked at him for a moment and whispered, "Good night, Tony..."

He stepped into his own room and placed the sack down on the floor. He thought back over what he and Pepper discussed and sighed loudly with relief. Thank god I was in the workshop.

Then Tony realized something and smacked himself loudly. "I am such a fool!" he muttered as he quickly shrugged out of his coat and went to Pepper's room.

He knocked on her door, only to find her sitting on the bed, still clothed, looking at her feet. Pepper looked at him as he entered and plopped down on her bed.

He felt his heart clench at the look of relief and gladness in her eyes. She is scared of having another nightmare, but she won't admit it. Never mind, Pepper, I am here for you.

He casually said, "It is too cold in my room. Do you mind if I stay with you, tonight?" He looked at her from beneath his lashes.

Pepper bit her lip, then nodded happily.

He stood up and kissed her forehead. "Come on, Pep, the hour is late, we need to sleep. Stand up, let me..."

She stood up and Tony gently took off her clothes. He cut away the binding at her breasts, tsking at its tightness. Like a child, Pepper just stood quietly and let him do so.

Then she lay down and he tucked her in. Tony quickly pulled off his own clothes and slipped into the bed behind her. He spooned her and held her to him tenderly.

He kissed the back of her head and Pepper whispered softly, "Tony, I love you... and I will always love you."

He whispered the same to her and they both fell asleep.


One more chapter tomorrow. To end this angst.