Forbidden Love (IronStrange)

2.5

Summer, The Year Of Our Lord 1628
Stark Castle, Stark Lordship, Isle Of Stone, a province of King Edward I
Stephen

I wake up and blink slowly. There's no sound from the room beside me, but somewhere, people are shouting. I look to the window with bleary eyes and gasp at the sight laid out before me.

All down Stark Hill, people are standing. And they are screaming. I can't pick out anything but "Vampires!" "Wolves!" Some are carrying pitchforks, one man appears to be holding parts of a catapult, and an angry woman with red hair tied up in a bun is holding the severed hand of a werewolf man while screaming at the castle. I run to Tony's room, finding him already awake and watching the people.

"Tony, what do they want?" I ask, touching my locket nervously. It has a small painting of Donna inside, I touch it when I'm nervous.

"Well, that depends. The group trying to storm the bridge wants your head on a stick, the group over there by the stair tower just want a glimpse of the vampire, that's you, and the ones under the library tower want to know if I'm really making peace and if that means they can finally say I'm doing something treasonous and overthrow me." He smirks, turning to me. "I say we gather them all, explain that we're trying to make peace, and tell them to get on with their lives." I stare down at the crowds.

"But the closest group are the ones that want me dead!"

"And? They aren't getting you dead. They're gonna move their sorry rear end back to whatever soggy marsh they crawled out of." The fact that there is a marsh within a day's walk from one side of the hill does not reassure me in the slightest. Tony flashes a smile and walks out of his room, beckoning me to follow behind him.

The minute we walk onto the royal balcony, the screams and shouts seem to be magnified by one thousand. I wince and cover my ears, a gesture that Tony obviously notices.

"Go down a floor. Rhodey and Natasha are in charge of barracks today. They'll wait with you in the study. I will be down in one moment." He pats my back as I go down the stair. I would never admit how much the small gesture means to me. As I go down, I hear him call the people to stand for a peaceful assembly to hear an explanation.

The captain's study is a small room, gray with brown accents. Rhodey, the tall black man, is waiting with me while the fiery red head, Natasha, screeches at soldiers. "So, he finally did it, huh." Rhodey's comment drags me out of my thoughts. "Never thought he would agree that peace could be good. He always was so hung up on the past, he had trouble looking to the future." I listen quietly.

"Really?"

"Heh, eleven years of hunting so many vampires in search of what? Some bright fanged legend of his youth that killed his mother. I've called him an idiot before, I don't even know how many times. He'd never catch that one, if it's smart it's not even on the isle anymore." Rhodey laughs, shaking his head. I smile forcedly and nod, remembering well the look on Victor's face when he'd fled into the trees.

Bright fangs, indeed.

Several long minutes later, Tony comes down the staircase, wiping his forehead. "All the crowds are too wild to listen. Natasha, send out the fifteen best soldiers to herd them toward the royal balcony. Make sure the group that was trying to cross the bridge earlier is nowhere near the front." Natasha nods and walks back into the barracks, followed by yelling, screaming, and fifteen men running out of the room followed by Natasha. Tony sighs and forces a smile.

"Now, let's go try this again." He goes back up the stairs and straightens his outfit before stepping onto the balcony. I follow, brushing a hand through my hair and pulling on the edges of my tunic, sending a quick prayer to Lai. Tony grabs my hand as I step onto the balcony, raising it up for all the people to see. His hand is warm against my own cool skin. It honestly feels really good. The people appear to all be right under us, silence falling at the sight of me. Tony takes a deep breath and begins to speak.

"Good people of the Isle Of Stone, I know you all came for answers to your questions. Yes, I am trying to make peace with the vampires. Yes, this is the first of many vampire representatives. His name is Stephen Strange, and he is the leader of a small mountain clan. No, he is not trying to kill or turn all of you. No, he will not betray us. No, he is not gathering an army. He is here for peace, just like you. Send forth any more questions you have and I will answer them." Tony pauses for a second and the angry woman I saw earlier pushes through the crowd. I scoot closer to Tony, there's something comforting about him.

"If the vampires and humans make peace, will intermarrying be allowed?" She calls.

"Yes, of course. Even as you live in peace with the werewolves, you will be at peace with the vampires." She replies by spitting on the ground and screeching an obscenity about werewolves. A man, weathered and gray, steps up next to her.

"What about the one who killed your mother?" The crowd seems to wait expectantly for Tony's answer. I, too, hold my breath, but for a different reason.

"He will be killed on the spot. All other vampires are fine, but not him." Tony answers the question with chilling finality. I shiver, even in the warmth of the day. Suddenly holding his hand isn't as comforting. Tony smiles down at the crowd.

"Now, my people, go back to your shops and farms. Relax, live calmly. Soon there will be peace." Tony turns from the balcony, pulling me behind him. The minute we're in the hall outside his room, he leans against the wall, sighing. I'm still slightly scared.

"I really hate peasants. They're all so full of conspiracy theories they don't look at the obvious answers." He takes a deep breath and then smiles at me. The smile is of course fake, his deep brown pools lack any sort of emotion. But he forces it. "So, when do you want the rest of your clan to visit?"