Pepper gawked at Tony's chambers. She had never seen anything so ostentatious in all her life and yet it suited Tony so well. The room had ceiling to floor tapetries covering the rock walls depicting Dwarven Battles from long ago, there were weapons of all sorts adorning the walls. Large chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, which upon better inspection were adorned in diamonds, rubies, and gold. There was a large fire already burning in the fire place adding a homey feeling to it. A large four post bed in the middle of the room, with piles of furs on it. But what really caught Pepper's eyes was the fact that everything was in red and gold, literally rubies and gold.
Pepper turned slowly to face Tony, she stared at him for a minute.
"What?" Tony asks.
"Are those actual rubies decorating your room?"
"Oh, yeah, Alina told them that I like red and gold and Thorin doesn't mind. This is like a fraction of what's in the treasury."
"That ruby is the size of my fist!" Pepper pointed out.
"Yeah it's a small one."
"My fist, Tony!"
"What can I say you have small hands."
"Tony!
"Pepper!"
"Anyway, this was their way of saying thank you for my help with the battle and what not." Tony tells her.
"You know what I want to know is why haven't you teched this place out?" Pepper asks.
"I have enough tech at home this is like a vacation from it, I like how rustic it is, besides I'm not completely without tech, there are two Iron Man suits in here on stand by, so that means JARVIS is here as well. Besides I always brings some gadgets with me, I just don't want to change the room around."
"Well, it's a beautiful room, Tony, I love it. It's you in a weird way."
"I'm glad you like our room. Now it's almost lunch time, let's go have lunch then we'll go explore and maybe go to Dale."
At that moment JARVIS informed Tony that lunch would be held in the private dining room of the king and queen. Due to the fact that the Great Hall was being prepared for tonight's feast. Tony thanked JARVIS, then he and Pepper left their room to head to the royal suite.
Pepper looks around in awe at the sheer size of Erebor. She couldn't believe that the Dwarves could accomplish so much and on such a grand scale. Granted some of it was still under reconstruction due to the damage from the dragon, but still it was an impressive undertaking. Everything only proved the craftsmanship of the Dwarves and how hard working they are.
Tony smiles at the wonder in Pepper's eyes, he has a firm grip on her hand so that she won't wander off in some other direction to inspect something. When they reach the enormous double door that lead to the King and Queen's suites, they are greeted by JARVIS and he pushes the door open for them.
Inside was warm and homey and brightly lit, Pepper instantly felt at home in the room. It was decorated in royal blue, the signature color of House Durin. It had accents of gold and silver, a large fire place burned brightly adding warmth and light. There was a balcony that looked out over Dale. Off to the side were several extra bedrooms and offices and the private dining room.
Pepper looked around in awe as Tony led her to the private dining hall, they were the last to arrive. When they entered, everyone rose from their chairs. Pepper blushed at the attention.
"Welcome, Tony, Pepper to our home." Thorin says.
"Sorry we're late, I couldn't get this one to walk fast enough she kept gawking around." Tony says as Pepper elbows him in the ribs.
"Nonsense, you are just in time, please take your seat." Thorin says.
As usual Alina sits at Thorin's right and Tony sits across from his sister. So Thorin has Pepper sit on the other side of Tony, then Dis and his nephews. On the other side Logan sits next to Alina followed by Dwalin, Natasha, and Bruce. Then the rest of the Company follows.
Once everyone is seated, Doriel and several other servant begin to serve lunch which consisted of roast wild boar that Dwalin had killed that morning. With roast potatoes, carrots, wild rice and for dessert a berry pie. Bombur made sure not to include strawberries having learned of Pepper's allergies from the Queen.
This was to be the first time that Pepper had eat fresh game before, she found the taste quite exotic and very tasty, she loved everything that was served to her. Pepper got a good laugh at the expense of of watching Alina have piles and piles of food put on her plate. The poor woman looked like she was ready to burst but Thorin was undeterred.
"Remember, My Love, you are eating for three. You must eat hearty at all times." Thorin says as he practically shoves a piece of pie in her mouth.
"Oh come, Thorin, Honey Bunny isn't a turkey you don't have to keep stuffing her with food, I think the kid has had enough."
"Nonsense, have you had enough, Amrâlimê?"
"Yes, Love, I have and if you try to force another piece, I'll vomit on you."
Thorin grimaced and everyone at the table laughs.
After lunch, Thorin, Dis, and the Company excuse themselves as they have a council meeting to attend to. Leaving Alina, Logan, Tony, Pepper, Natasha and Bruce to explore Erebor and Dale.
Tony gets this mischievous look on his face and turns to Pepper, "Do you want to see the treasury?"
"Are you nuts, we can't go down there." Pepper says.
"Sure we can, the Queen is with us and it's not like we're going to steal anything I just want you to see why Thorin went mad." Tony says.
Pepper looked at Alina to help her talk her brother out of it, but she had the same glint in her eye. Oh no, she was going to have to deal with both Stark children.
"Yeah let's go down to the treasury, it's been a long time since I've been there. We'll just take a quick peak from the balcony and then leave. As a matter of fact, JARVIS, inform the king that we're going to show Pepper the treasury room, we won't go in just look from the balcony.
JARVIS' helmet flickered for a moment and when he came back he informed them that Thorin said it was fine as long as they did not enter, Gloin was down there with a team doing the counting.
So they made their down into the bowels of he mountain to the treasury room. As they got closer, Pepper noticed it got brighter almost like daylight
Why are there more torches down here?" She asks.
Tony smirks, There isn't, it's the reflection off the gold."
Pepper gasps, "No way!"
"Yep."
They rounded the corner and there from the balcony they saw the sea of gold that was in the treasury room. Though now it was in neat piles as dozens and dozens of Dwarves were in the middle of counting it, and assessing the jewels.
Pepper turns to Tony, "And this is where you got me that diamond?"
"Yep, Thorin had no problem handing it over to me, he was thoroughly over the Dragon Sickness."
They looked around for several minutes then made their way back upstairs, "Now I can totally see why Thorin got sick in the first place, anyone would go mad with so much gold." Pepper comments.
Once they get to the top they see that there is plenty of time to go down to the local market place, Tony stops off in his room and grabs a small sack of gold just in case Pepper wants to buy anything. They wander around the Market some getting suspicious looks from the Dwarves but most have recognised the soon to be Queen and the heroes of the Battle of the Five Armies and are treated with dignity. Those that recognise them, smile and bow to them causing the others to feel a bit awkward, especially Bruce.
"What's with all the attention," Natasha asks,
"These are merchants from the Iron Hills who have been here since the beginning, they know about us and are just being respectful," Alina informs her.
"So then the suspicious one are from Ered Luin?" Bruce asks.
"More than likely and they don't know enough about us yet. And as you know Dwarves are naturally suspicious." Alina tells Bruce.
Bruce only nods his head. That was understandable, arriving in their beloved city and seeing a bunch of humans around, they had a right to be suspicious.
"Thorin, says they'll eventually come around." Logan adds, "But until they do I'm not taking my eyes off the Munchkin."
"Thanks, Pincushion, that makes me feel a whole lot better." Tony says in a relieved tone.
They continue to walk around and Pepper buys several trinkets and jewels that she swears would go great with some of her outfits back home. After a while though, they decide to head back to the Royal suites and for them all to take a nap to rest up for that night's feast. Once they reach the Royal wing everyone goes their seperate way.