So this chapter was written based on long-time reader, Amstspp's great idea:
"As Tony's dreams are always so vivid in this story, would love to see you do a play on the scene from IW from the park. Tony, his dream of their child, etc."
This is the dream and in a later chapter, Tony and Pepper are going to discuss this dream.
Why does the eye see a thing more clearly in dreams than the imagination when awake?
- Leonardo da Vinci
He was walking on green crisp grass. Grass warmed by the summer sun. He looked up at the sky, marveling at its bright blue canopy.
What a glorious day.
There was a spring in his step as he walked towards the training field behind the Keep. He smiled to himself.
Our old training ground, Pepper and I sparring together ... with fire, sword and shield...
At the thought of Pepper, he quickened his steps. It is early afternoon. I wonder what she is doing. Can I catch her unawares and persuade her to have a quick cuddle?
Then he heard the sound of a child crying loudly.
What the hell! Where is it coming from?
He started to run as the crying grew louder and more desperate.
He rounded the thicket of trees at the end of the meadow and then came to a grinding halt at the sight before him.
There in a gentle dip of grass, was his training field. All was quiet and normal except for the fact that Dummy was on fire. Blazing with fire, to be exact.
He rubbed his eyes with disbelief and exclaimed, "How on Earth?" And ran towards it.
Sure enough, the entire straw dummy had been set alight with a bright orange flame that crackled and burned with a vengeance.
He could still hear the crying but decided to ignore it for the moment because he needed to put out the fire.
If the wind takes a stray spark and sets the grass alight... God forbid!
He ran towards the back gate of the Keep and jumped it quickly.
He exclaimed with relief, "The barrel of stable water! Yes!"
Then he dipped a nearby bucket into the barrel and ran back to the meadow, huffing with the effort.
He got as close as he could to the dummy and threw the water on it. The fire fizzled out in spurts, but Dummy was still smoking, so he took off his coat and wrapped it around his hands, so he could beat out the weak flame. Finally the fire was vanquished and he took a deep breath.
Then he heard a soft fearful voice say, "Father?" hesitatingly and he turned.
Standing a little distance away, was a little girl. With riotous flame-red hair, big blue eyes filled with tears and chubby cheeks. She couldn't have been more than 8 or 9 years old.
He shook his head to clear it because words and thoughts were buzzing loudly in his head. Time stood still and quiet. He took two steps towards her but she didn't back away, she just stood her ground, moist eyes blinking up at him.
Then she swallowed hard, a look of fear filling her eyes and whispered tearfully, "Father, I didn't mean to. I am sorry. I didn't mean to set it on fire. I just lost control. I am sorry."
She swiped her hand across her cheek to wipe away her tears and looked down at her bare feet, dragging them in the grass. She didn't meet his gaze and was babbling to herself quietly. So he knelt down on the grass and patted her head. He did not know why but it seemed so natural to do so.
She still looked down and he cupped her chin gently, tilting her face upwards.
Moist eyes, as dark blue as sapphires, looked up at him, filled with fear and sadness. The face was so familiar and yet different with its delicate button nose and chubby cheeks. She drew her quivering pink bottom lip into her mouth and nibbled on it cutely.
The very familiar gesture made his heart thump loudly in his chest. Something deep within him, whispered a name and he asked automatically, "Pumpkin? What happened? Are you alright?"
The girl whispered back, tearfully, "I did this, Father. I was playing with the girls and I got angry with Gregory because he pushed me in the mud. See?"
She held up her dress, which was generously stained with mud at the bottom.
"And then I ran away and I came back home and found this meadow and..." she gulped hard, "And I was so angry and my palms started to itch and I didn't know what was happening to me. I felt warm and flush, like I was burning up from inside. And I could feel something flying in my chest, pleading to come out and I had to listen to it and I just raised my palms and then..."
She swallowed hard and he said gently, "And fire burst out and set Dummy alight?"
"Yes, Father! Yes! Bolts of fire just sprung from me and I couldn't stop them and I didn't know what to do. I was scared, I was scared of the fire. I'm sorry, I really am, I didn't mean to. Please don't be angry."
Tears spilled down her chubby cheeks and she began to hiccup, staring at him pleadingly.
The urge to comfort her, was so overwhelming that he pulled her into his arms and hugged her tightly. She nestled her head in his neck and he felt her tears on his skin.
He stroked her hair softly and then it all came to him in a blinding flash. Memories assailed his senses.
My daughter. My first child.
A baby in a bassinet... she has her mother's eyes and hair and firm grip.
She has my mother's face. Pepper is so tired after the long birth but she's alright.
A precocious little flame haired toddler...
I call her Pumpkin because she has the chubbiest cheeks ever and the sweetest kisses.
She was very sick when she was four and I went mad with worry. But luckily Pepper knew what to do.
Now a young girl. She has the gift of gab and the will to fight and charge into situations bravely.
Pepper wants her to be a lady. I want her to be a warrior queen. Why can't she be both?
He rubbed her back, cooing to her, "It was an accident, Pumpkin, don't be upset. No harm, no foul. I put out the fire in time. I'm just happy you weren't hurt."
She pulled back in his arms and whispered slowly, "Is there something wrong with me, Father?"
Her real name came to his lips so naturally. "Elysande Maria Stark, from where ever did you get that idea?" He said incredulously.
His daughter looked down at her feet and whispered, "It is not normal to shoot fire from your palms. What if I am a witch? An evil one?"
He bent his head and peered at her. "Pumpkin, you aren't a witch. You have a rare and special gift, that has been passed down to select women of your mother's family, from time immemorial. Sweetheart, you are the newest member of the Daughters of Summac. An honor reserved for the brightest and best of the Potts line."
He reached for her hands but she hid them behind her, shaking her head mutinously. "I might hurt you, Father."
"No, you won't." He said firmly. "You just need to learn how to use your gift."
He took her hands and kissed her palms reverently. "We will teach you how to use it, how to accept it. It lives within you and you can do so much good with it."
"Fire burns and destroys, Father." His little girl said clearly to him. "How can I do good if all I can do, is burn things down?"
He grinned at her and ruffled her hair. "That's a good question, Pumpkin. Always question things. Don't just accept what is told to you."
She nodded and looked at him with rapt attention.
He said softly, "There is good and bad in everyone, Elysande. You can use your sword to wreck vengeance or be merciful and stay your hand. The same is with your gift, your fire. You can use it to destroy and burn or..." he placed her hand on his Arc, "or you can use it to create."
Elysande's eyes widened and she exclaimed with awe, "Father! What force, what a fire! I can feel it moving underneath my fingertips! This lives within you?"
He smiled at her excitement. "Let's make a deal, Pumpkin. I will show you my fire and you show me yours."
"Whatever do you mean, Father?"
"You said there is something flying in your chest. Let it out. Don't try to control it. Trust me. Trust it."
Her eyes went wide with horror. "No, Father! What if I hurt you?"
He said softly, "Pumpkin, do not worry, you will not hurt me. Don't be afraid, sweetheart, I am here with you."
He slid the lid of the Arc open and saw the blue wispy form of the Dragon emerge, puffing smoke from its nostrils.
Any other girl would have shrieked in fear. Elysande clapped her hands with glee and said, "Such a beautiful dragon! I want to touch it!"
His fire rushed towards her with a roar and moved around her, like a bright blue ribbon of flame and smoke. It nudged her gently and she giggled and then laughed as it puffed smoke all over her in a loud whoosh.
He watched, transfixed, as his girl twirled on the spot, arms outstretched, giggling loudly as his fire seemed to dance with her, swirling and whirling around her, roaring loudly.
It seems to like her even more than it does Pepper. She has the gift... my daughter has my Queen's gift. Oh Pepper, I wish you hadn't missed this beautiful sight!
Then he gasped as a bright orange being began to rise from Elysande's hands. It began to take shape and he saw it was a small bird with a thick feathery tail. The tail flared into a fan of flames as it glided around the twirling girl and the blue spirit.
"Look Father!" She exclaimed happily. "It came out! It is the being from inside me! It is so glad to be free!"
He couldn't believe his eyes but his heart was filled with joy and wonder at the sight before him. The fiery bird began to emit a piercing cry and his dragon roared back in answer.
He said loudly, trying to be heard over the din, "You see, Pumpkin, there is something wondrous in you! You shouldn't fear it!"
She squealed with delight and he saw she was beginning to tire. "Alright, call your beast back and I will call mine."
He willed his fire to come back to him and he saw Elysande's bird gently nuzzle her before fading into the air.
His daughter ran towards him, whooping with joy, "Father, that was amazing!"
He made her lean on him as she caught her breath.
"Father, that was so much fun!" She caught his cheeks with her soft hands. "We must do that again!"
"We will, Pumpkin, but aren't you tired now?"
Elysande nodded and he heard a low growling noise. He looked around, thinking it was Tigliath but then she giggled and said, "It is me, Father, I am feeling hungry."
He stood up and took her hand. "Let's get something to eat then."
They walked back to the Keep, through the back gate, her tiny soft hand in his.
"Father," she said softly, "I am sorry about Dummy. Will it be alright?"
He let go of her hand and put his arm around her shoulders, drawing her to his side.
"It is alright, Pumpkin, as long as you are safe, nothing else matters. Besides, your mother has burnt Dummy many a time, poor thing. And it always seems to recover."
She smiled and asked curiously, "Was Mother a mighty warrior? Like you?"
"Even mightier and so fierce. She could shoot down foes with her bow and arrow and shoot giants fireballs from her hands. That's why I try not to get on her bad side."
He mock shuddered and Elysande laughed loudly, her blue eyes crinkling with mirth.
"Father!"
"It is true, your mother is a force to be reckoned with." He said with a smile. "And someday you are going to be even mightier than the two of us. You can do anything you put your mind to, Pumpkin. The world is yours for the taking."
They entered the courtyard and then he heard the loud sound of women cackling and talking all at once.
Uh oh...
Elysande gasped. "Oh no Father! Aunt Maggie's cooking club is in session!"
He looked around and quickly pulled her to the Stables. "Quick! Let's hide in here!"
They hid behind the stable door, listening carefully as the women seemed to be moving between the main living room and the kitchen.
He did not want to get caught by the cooking club, so he peered out cautiously.
"Well, Pumpkin, I do not see how we will get to eat anything now... unless we want to go inside and get bombarded by the ladies."
He didn't hear her response, so he looked around him. His daughter was busy saying hello to his horse, who was in his stall. The big Balthazar was softly nickering and nudging her with his giant head as she petted him enthusiastically.
"Father, Balthazar is so pretty!"
He snorted. "Pretty ugly, if you ask me."
Balthazar whinnied loudly at this insult and he said, "Shush you! We are trying to hide."
Elysande stroked his horse's nose and cooed to it gently. He rolled his eyes because Balthazar was shamelessly enjoying the attention, nuzzling her even more and blowing air all over her head.
"Father," his daughter asked innocently, "Can I ride Balthazar please?"
"Absolutely not, Pumpkin!"
"Why not? He's so gentle and beautiful." She said guilelessly, making big blue eyes at him.
Just like her mother, my daughter has designs on my horse. I know that look. And it is not going to work.
He said cajolingly, "Pumpkin, Balthazar is many things but he is not gentle. Besides, you are too small. You need to be taller to control him."
"Well, then... can I have my own horse? One that I am tall enough to control."
He opened his mouth and then shut it at that, confused as to what to say.
Pepper distinctly warned me that Elysande gets a horse, only when she's thirteen. And not before that. Or the consequences will be dire. For me.
"Ermmmm Pumpkin..."
Elysande came towards him, batting her big blue eyes. "Please Father, please, I will take care of him. Please Father. I want a horse ever so much."
He was in a real tight spot and then he had an idea. Let me put this on Pepper.
He crouched down and took her hands. "Pumpkin, if it were up to me, you can have a horse tomorrow."
"Really! Father!"
He quickly raised his finger to her lips. "Hey! We are supposed to be hiding, remember!"
Elysande nodded with a giggle.
"But, my sweet, it is not up to me. Your mother does all the purchasing and money handling, remember. So you are going to have to convince her."
He turned out his pockets. "See... I simply do not have any money."
Her little face crumpled and he kissed her forehead. "There, there, now, till then, we can go riding together, alright, on Balthazar."
She looped her arms around his neck and kissed his nose softly, whispering, "I love you so much Father.", her bright blue eyes looking into his.
He felt a tight lump in his throat at her nearness, her warmth and unwavering love shining in her eyes. "I love you too, Pumpkin, don't you ever forget that."
Then he rubbed his beard against her face and she shrieked with laughter. "That tickles! Father! Your beard tickles!"
He shushed her again, hugging her to him. "We have got to get out of here. What do you say to a ride together, now?"
Elysande hopped on the spot with excitement. "Yes! Please! Now!"
Then he heard the low growl again and she said cutely, "But I am still hungry, Father."
He was hungry too and was going to suggest they go to the Village, when a wonderful aroma filled his nostrils.
He took a deep appreciative whiff and Elysande did too, saying, "Father, what is that heavenly smell?"
"Smells like meat... and bread and fruit..."
They both looked at each other and said in tandem, "Mince pies!"
He and her quickly peered around the stable door. The women could still be heard talking but the delicious smell was even thicker and stronger outside.
"The pies are on the windowsill, Father. I know it!"
"I know, Pumpkin but unless we go inside, we can't get any."
"What if..." she looked at him innocently, "what if we borrow a few?"
He raised his eyebrows at her. "Elysande, are you suggesting we steal mince pies from Maggie's windowsill?"
She said reasonably, "Well, if we went inside, we would eat those pies straight up, so we aren't really stealing, we are just borrowing them as per our convenience."
He looked at her appreciatively. "I like your justification and I agree to it but... we simply cannot get caught."
"Oh no, Father, we won't."
"Well, since you are so sure of that... what's the plan, Pumpkin?"
"We creep to the windowsill, I climb on your back, Father, extract the pies and we slowly creep back here."
He patted her head. "Excellent plan, young lady. You shall make a fine strategist."
Elysande grinned at him widely and he pulled on her chubby cheek.
"Come Father, come, let's hurry before they leave the kitchen."
They both bent low and quietly snuck out of the stable. As they approached the kitchen window, he crouched to his knees and began to slowly move forward, Elysande right beside him. She was bending low. He moved ahead of her and placed his hands on the ground. She gently placed one knee on his back and hoisted herself up slightly.
He held his breath and stayed absolutely still as he felt Elysande balance herself and then reach for something up above. He could hear Magdalene lecturing loudly on the virtues of honey over suet and he prayed she wouldn't notice his daughter.
Finally Elysande removed her knee and whispered, "I've got them! Let's go Father!"
They beat a hasty retreat back to the stables, she giggling and clutching a little pile in the front of her dress. They sat down on two upturned crates and Elysande gently let go of her dress. Four pretty pies spilled out, still hot and fragrant.
For five minutes, there was silence as he and her ate the pies voraciously. He offered her three, knowing she was hungry but his daughter, being the considerate girl that she was, ate only her share.
Once they were done, they dusted themselves off and he asked, "So... how about that ride?" She shrieked with glee, then they both shushed each other and he helped her onto Balthazar.
"Father..." she asked softly as he mounted the horse behind her and took the reins.
"Yes, Pumpkin." He said, trying to kick open Balthazar's stall with his foot.
"If Balthazar has a baby, the baby would be our horse too, so at that time, can I have one of the babies as a horse ? It wouldn't cost anything, so Mother would be pleased."
He opened his mouth and shut it.
Now how do I explain that Balthazar isn't going to get babies any time soon?
"Erm well..." he walked the horse out of the stables and out of the Keep in a slow canter.
Then his daughter said smartly, "Of course I know that Balthazar will not get babies himself."
She patted the side of his horse's head.
"But if you put him to stud, then he should get babies with a suitable mare. In that case, in the first or second turn, you get to keep one baby and the mare's owner-"
He interrupted her because he was horrified.
"Elysande!" he said sternly and she looked back at him, eyes wide and innocent. "How do you know about putting Balthazar to... to..." he didn't want to complete his sentence.
"Well Father... I asked Uncle Happy, how do his cows get babies, when he doesn't have a bull and he explained how stud services operate."
He mistakenly jerked the reins hard and Balthazar neighed loudly as his daughter laughed.
Tony slowly opened his eyes. He looked around, trying to clear his mind and focus on reality, the hazy but believable realness of the dream still lingering in his senses.
He was in his bedroom, it was dark and quiet and a warm, soft Pepper was curled up tightly against him, nestled into his shoulder.
He absently kissed the top of her hair as he replayed the dream in his mind.
I had a daughter. Elysande. Pumpkin. I loved her. She was ... perfect And so real...
He sighed and looked up at the ceiling.
A child... I know Pepper and I have discussed having one but... I do not know... if I can be a father...
The Dragon calmly whispered in his mind, You are scared of being a father because of how your father treated you.
Yes, Dragon. I am my father's child. What if I do the same to my child?
Anthony, huffed the Dragon softly, Would you separate your son from his mother and send him to be a squire, to a knight in a foreign land?
No! I wouldn't do that to him! Or Pepper! She would be devastated! I couldn't do to that to another, knowing how I suffered! Being a knight or soldier, is not the future I want for my child!
Okay... hissed the Dragon, would you ignore your child because it is a girl and hence, cannot carry your name or title and cannot be trained to fight?
Tony was so outraged by that statement, that he sat up abruptly. He quickly caught Pepper before she was jostled, scared that she would wake up. But she didn't, she just burrowed herself even more into him.
Dragon! How could you even think that! Never! I would love her! I do not care about my name or title! And there is more to life than war! Besides, if she wants to learn how to fight, then I wouldn't stop her just because she is a girl! Pepper is a woman and she fights! And she is one of the best fighters I have ever seen!
The Dragon chuckled. Anthony, I am only mentioning the standard behavior of most knights towards their children. Look within you and ask yourself: would you repeat the mistakes of your father? I think not. I feel you are a much better man that your father ever was, may his soul rest in peace.
He lay back down, the Dragon's words calming him. I would look to my mother as an example for how to raise my children. Her kindness, her benevolence, her unwavering faith in me, even though, she hated that I was to become a knight.
Exactly, Anthony! And you will not be alone. Virginia will be there too and together, you will be the best parents you can be. Do not fear the future because of impressions from the past. Denying yourself the right to be a father, just because you had a cold, distant father, is not fair to you or Virginia.
Tony yawned, suddenly relaxed. You are right, Dragon... I would love my child or children... and do my best by them... and Pepper... A little Lady Stark... I can hardly wait now...
Then he heard the Dragon whisper, I wonder, what would happen when the little Lady Stark grows into a beautiful woman... would you be so calm, Anthony, when young swains come around, asking for her hand in marriage.
Tony opened his eyes wide at that. Oh Good Lord! I completely forgot about courtship! I am going to surround this Keep with bramble and thorns!
The Dragon guffawed joyously, Anthony... I was only jesting, there is time for that... besides, that is a phase of life as well and you will accept it as it comes. Go back to sleep. You have to wake up soon, to leave...
He closed his eyes and held Pepper even tighter, breathing in her lily fragrance, a smile on his face as he drifted off to sleep.
I know that in Infinity War, Tony mentioned the name "Morgan" and I wanted to use the medieval name, "Morganna"
BUT unfortunately, I have used that very name for the female villain in the 2nd Iron Knight adventure: City of Carinthia.
So I had to pick a new name.
One more chapter tomorrow.
