After a long day of riding, they stopped at the broken down iron gates of Altenstein Castle.

On a flat plain of grass, lay the ruins of what must have once been a magnificent castle. Now all that was left were broken stone walls, platforms and columns and a large crumbling tower. All covered liberally in dark green moss.

Pepper stared at the ruins, trying to hide her horror.

"Tony... you want us to stay..." she gulped, "here for the night?"

"Yes." He said cheerfully, dismounting and leading Balthazar through the open iron gates. "It is cool but not too cold. Since it is a clear night, we can enjoy the fresh open air as we sleep. And don't worry, Pepper, it is perfectly safe. There aren't any wild animals around. Many travelers have stayed in these ruins."

She decided to stay on her horse and rode through the gates, turning up her nose at the ruins around her.

"If you say so, my lord." She said skeptically, riding in step beside him.

"Ah I forget. My Queen has seen better castles and comes from a majestic one herself. How can the simple rustic appeal of Altenstein stand up to such comparison?" He said theatrically.

She snorted so loudly, that a nearby rabbit was disturbed and rushed away in the grass.

"Alright, my lord. Since you vouch so much for this castle, I shall not complain. Where exactly are we going to stay? Not in that crumbling tower, I hope."

"No, my Queen. The tower is unsafe because it may collapse any moment. But we shall be staying yonder." He pointed behind a wall and she raised herself in her saddle, trying to see what he was pointing at. Then Pepper gasped with awe.

Surrounded by a number of smaller broken down walls, was a large square stone platform, with four semi-intact walls and no roof. She could see it actually had three walls and one side was an ornate stone arc. Each wall had windows carved into the stone. The platform was reachable by a small staircase, covered with grass and daisies.

Tony said, "The platform you see before you, Pepper, was the main banquet hall of the Castle. It is also the only structural part of the entire castle that still stands. And it shall be our abode for tonight."

"Come on, Tony, I want to take a closer look!" she said impatiently.

"Well then, you better dismount and go ahead on foot. Give me Aurora's reins. There is a lot of broken stone hidden in the grass and I do not want the horses to break a shoe."

She slid off Aurora and broke into a wild run, dashing towards the stone structure, feeling the light breeze blow in her face. Pepper took off her hat and let her hair spill free, as she ran, happy to spread her legs after the long day in the saddle.

She reached the steps, panting lightly and waved at Tony, as she watched him lead the horses through the grass.

Pepper climbed the steps and walked under the ragged stone archway, to enter the square hall. She looked up at the endless black starry sky ceiling, the stars twinkling down at her picturesquely. The hall was as large as the entire courtyard and main living hall of Stark Keep.

As Tony had mentioned, the walls were in a pretty decent condition. The hall was bare except for one or two stray pieces of old furniture. A faded banner hung on one wall, the cloth too worn out from time, to make out what had been depicted on it.
She squealed with delight because there was a fire hearth in one corner of the hall, complete with firewood.

"Does this castle please my Queen?" She heard Tony mischievously ask, from behind her.

"Oh Tony! It's so charming! Just right for the two of us!" Pepper turned to see him enter the hall.

He chuckled and came towards her, holding one saddle bag. "I let the horses graze freely, they will return to us when they are done."

Tony stretched his arms out, with a deep sigh. "Anyhow, it is a clear crisp night, so I am not worried. Now..." he rubbed his hands together, "what is for supper? I am starving."

She dug around in the saddle bag, exclaiming with joy as she pulled out a small bag.

"Tonight's dinner menu is..." Pepper held up the bag, "potatoes..." She giggled at Tony's grimace. "And, my lord... chicken!" She pulled out a small chicken, wrapped in cheesecloth.

"Chicken!" shouted Tony with glee. "Why didn't you say so! Let me start the fire!"

A few minutes later, she and Tony sat before the slowly burning hearth, their chicken and potatoes roasting on its grill. Tony had found two intact stools from the other end of the hall for them to sit on.

Pepper took a deep breath and asked, "Tony, how much further do we have to ride?"

He looked at her simply. "Tomorrow we should be at the borders of Cumbria. Then onwards to Lake Trinos and then the backside of Cumbria Castle."

She swallowed hard, realizing their journey was nearly at its end.

There is no telling what is going to happen... no matter how much we train or prepare... we simply do not know what we are up against. The day I face Stane... is nearly upon me... and I am still scared.

Pepper felt a gentle nudge and looked at Tony. He grinned at her and asked casually, "So Pepper, what type of wedding do you want?"

She looked at him in confusion, her melancholy thoughts still with her. "Wedding?"

"Well..." Tony said slowly, "when this is all over... there is going to be a wedding, Potts... and I know that most women plan their wedding as little girls, so do you have any such dreams in mind?"

Pepper said softly, "Tony, I ... I do not know if we should plan a wedding... I mean..." she looked into the fireplace, trying to control her fear, "I do not want to be morbid but... Tony," she whispered, "we do not know if we will survive our fight with Stane. To think about a wedding..." she lowered her head, not knowing how to continue.

She felt Tony's warm hand hold hers in her lap and squeeze them gently. Pepper lifted her head to look into his soft brown eyes, specks of brightness dancing in their molasses-colored depths, reflecting from the firelight.

"Pepper..." he said gently, "I agree, we do not know what the future might hold... Stane may take our lives... But my love, he cannot take away our dreams, our freedom or our feelings for each other..."

She had to agree with him there. "I know that, Tony. And believe me, I agree to that."

Tony smiled slowly at her. "Then what is the harm in dreaming? As long as I breathe, I dream and I hope. You, Pepper Potts..."

He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it tightly, his eyes not leaving hers, "A love like yours... is something I never even dreamed of having. And for being blessed with it, I will remain eternally grateful. Alas, I am but a man... and I am greedy for more... so I dreamed of a child, our child. And I will do whatever it takes to make that dream a reality. Cheer up, my love, Death may be before us tomorrow but we have tonight and we have each other and our dreams. And that is something it cannot take away from us."

His words touched something deep inside her, pushing aside her fears. Pepper lifted her hand to his jaw and cupped it firmly, rubbing her thumb across his prickly beard. Tony leaned into her caress and she leaned forward, kissing his brow.

She whispered against his skin, "You and me, a small church in the sunshine and a short service, surrounded by a few of our closest friends. That's how I picture us getting married."

As she pulled back, Pepper giggled at the look of shock on Tony's face.

"Why are you so shocked, Tony? Let me guess. You thought I would want to be married in the huge cathedral... with an Archbishop presiding the service and esteemed guests from all corners of the land."

Tony continued for her, "And afterwards, there would be a parade through the streets of the city, where the townspeople can see the newly married couple. And then a lavish feast in a huge hall for all the esteemed guests, drinking and eating till the wee hours of the morning."

She shook her head at him. "Tony, that happens when one monarch weds another monarch."

He nodded. "I see. And here a Queen is marrying a nobody."

Pepper squeezed his jaw and shook him slightly. "A knight is marrying a lady. That's it. No royalty. Me and you getting married in a nice simple ceremony with our close friends."

She touched her forehead to his and closed her eyes, sighing. "Just picture it. A sunny day, flowers and rice streaming down on us as we walk from the church, hand in hand, finally as Lord and Lady Stark."

He whispered back, "And then there will be a dance."

Pepper pulled herself back and smiled at him with delight. "Really, Tony? We can have a dance? I thought you hated dancing."

He smiled at her lovingly. "I hated dancing with fancy court ladies and noblewomen."

"However..." he touched her nose lightly, "I love dancing with you, Pep. In fact..."

Tony stood up and she looked at him. "The chicken and potatoes need to roast. So that leaves with time for ourselves. And we are in an esteemed castle, run down though it is."

He bowed regally at the waist, extending his hand towards her. "May your humble knight have this dance, my Queen?"

Then he said wryly, "Actually, I am not even a knight anymore. Without a sovereign to serve under, I cannot be a knight. I do not why I keep saying it."

Pepper looked at Tony and something in his words jarred her. She took his hand and stood up, saying softly, "You do not serve King Leoric anymore. Neither are you a knight of Patait."

"That is right, I serve no one." He said with a smile.

"But aren't you my knight, Lord Stark?"

Tony's eyes darkened and he said solemnly, "I am. I am ever at your service, my Queen. I swear it."

"Then I am going to do something that I should have done a long time ago."

Pepper let go of his hand and moved towards her saddle bag. From it, she pulled out her new broadsword, the one which Tony had made just for her.

She unsheathed it and went back to Tony, who widened his eyes.

"Pepper..."

"Lord Stark, do you recognize me as the rightful Queen of Cumbria?" She asked him quietly.

"I do." He said with a firm nod.

"Then kneel, Lord Stark."

Tony knelt on one knee before her and bowed his head.

She raised her sword and lightly tapped his right shoulder and then his left with it. "Do you swear, Lord Anthony Stark, to serve me, Queen Virginia Potts of Cumbria?"

"I do, Your Highness." he whispered.

"Do you swear to protect me with your sword?"

"I do."

Pepper sheathed her sword and said, "Rise, Lord Stark, as a Knight of Cumbria."

Tony stood up and looked at her quietly. Then he took her hand and bowed over it, kissing it lightly. "My life and my sword are yours, my Queen. I will restore your throne to you or die trying."

His solemn words scared her and Pepper pulled him hard against her, hugging him. She whispered softly, "Tony, I don't care for my throne. All I want is you and your love."

He hugged her back and she sighed with contentment at the feel of his strong arms around her. Tony kissed her ear and his beard tickled her, making her giggle.


I am so sorry for the lack of updates... and my excuses are horrible, so I will write none.

Two more chapters tomorrow.

Altenstein is a real run down castle in Bavaria, Germany