Chapter 1

How did it come to this?, Thor wondered numbly in his head as his lips moved against Imogen's. How had the God of Thunder been so seduced by a servant girl?

Then her keen fingers tapped at the secrets of his armour, peeling in away in the most alluring way possible and Thor had his answer. His mouth mashed demandingly against hers as his arms crushed her small, perfect body to his. She moaned into his mouth and Thor felt something inside him growl with animalistic possession.

They fell back onto the sheets of his bed.

God, she was perfect, he thought breathlessly as he kissed down her neck. Her fingers wove in his locks of hair, urging him on in his caresses. Thor obliged willingly. Everything about her was stunning, from the sheen in her raven hair right down to the shape of her fingernails. She was an absolute goddess, more and more of her revealed to him as they lost themselves in the throes of passion.

Thor's teeth nipped at her soft skin as her body moulded with his, and suddenly he didn't care what had brought them there.

She was here. And she was his...

It was safe to say Thor was not enjoying his 'kingship' lessons. He understood they were important and on most days they were enjoyable: visiting the people, managing business concerning the realm, and so on...yeah, he liked that!

But then there were these days, where Thor wished he were anyone else but the Prince of Asgard.

He stood with Odin at the head of the Great Hall, alone - save for the two guards that held the girl down on her knees. She stared up at the two royals through her somewhat straggled hair. Her arms were held out to the sides, the guards holding her by her wrists and shoulders, forcing her to kneel before her superiors.

She looked unnervingly calm, Thor thought, his inner brow furrowing. In reality though, he could betray no emotion.

"You have been accused of stealing from the house of Odin." he said in as might a voice as he could muster, though he felt a part of him shrivel inside. He'd give anything to be spared the task of dealing with criminals and their punishments, especially when they were women. "What say yo to this crime?"

A smile flickered at her lips.

Odd, Thor thought, unable to supress his frown a second time. Surely one accused of theft, dismissal from her employers and a month's time in jail would have nothing to smile about.

"Guilty." she said clearly. Almost proudly.

Thor felt his gut twist.

The girl was a servant of the palace, recognisable by her white, pristine gown and the gold broach at its shoulder. And she'd stolen. There was no question of her guilt, but Thor had to admit he'd never expected her to admit it so readily! Still, just looking over this girl, he knew there was something wrong about her..

"Thor." Odin's deep voice interrupted his thoughts. Thor glanced over his shoulder at his father, stood by his throne. "What say you to this plea?"

The prince gulped and turned forward again. "Guilty." he finally forced out. His eyes bore down (albeit somewhat hesitantly due to the sentence he knew he must deliver) into the girl's. She met them squarely, with a glint. "What is your name?"

Her lips pricked again at the corners. "Imogen." she said. "Of the blacksmith's household."

"Then you have brought shame upon your mother and father." Thor went on in a booming voice. He tried to see her as a cold hearted thief rather than a young girl with her whole life ahead of her. The cold hearted bit wasn't hard. "Your name will be carved in stone for all to see, so all of Asgard will know what you have done-"

"NO!"

There was an almighty crash as the wooden doors of the great hall swung wide open and a new girl filled the gap, dressed in the same white dress and pin as the accused. Thor's serious look melted in surprise. Even the guards slackened their hold, they and the prisoner turning to see the new comer.

Thor noted the flash of panic in the accused's eyes, before he turned his own back to the girl.

Her hair was raven black, and splayed around her face. Her cheeks were pink, breath heaving slightly from running, though the colour suited her against her porcelain skin. She had a small face, with high cheek bones with round, gleaming violet eyes that blazed with anger.

Then the guards rushed through the open doors and seized her arms too.

"No!" she shrieked as she squirmed against their hold, her tiny strength doing nothing to stop the guards dragging her back the way she came. "You have to listen to me! She's not the real - umph!"

Her shouts were muffled as a hand closed over her mouth, words too unclear to make out. She was half way out the door already.

Thor couldn't explain his thudding heart, fuelling from the adrenaline of the situation, nor could he explain what he did next: his hand shot out in command. "Stop!" he thundered around the hall.

Everyone froze, all eyes turning to the prince in question. It took everything Thor had not to blush. He dropped his hand and motioned for the new girl to move closer before anybody - most importantly, his father behind him - could ask. She slipped forwards instantly, shedding the guard's hands like a garment.

She didn't stop until she was level with the thief. Her eyes flickered darkly to the girl. Thor noted with interest how passionately it was returned.

"What were you saying?" he asked, knowing his pride depended on what the girl would reveal.

She took in a deep breath before she rolled her fiery orbs to the prince. Her hand pointed to the kneeling girl. "She's not the real Imogen." she said slowly and clearly, so there was no mistaking her words. "I am. She's trying to frame me." her eyes roamed back to the girl in distaste. "She is Elga of the Innkeeper's family. "

Thor's frowning orbs flickered between the two glowering girls, mind working furiously. "You are the blacksmith's daughter?" he asked, for absolute clarification. Imogen nodded. "And did you commit this crime?"

Stupid question, his mind scolded. The imposter already confessed! He cleared his throat, with an embarrassment no one - mercifully - pointed out.

"No." Imogen said firmly. "She has been trying to have me dismissed from the palace for many a week, trying to blemish my reputation with dishonour."

Thor cocked his head to the side. "You defend your name?"

"I defend my job." A smile flickered through her gasp. "My pride comes second."

Thor shifted where he stood. Now this was interesting - someone who valued their mediocre job as a servant over the pride of theirs family's name ... Thor doubted he'd ever met such a being before. Or ever would again! This Imogen was most definitely intriguing.

And most importantly, her eyes did not lie.

"Why would this maiden seek vengeance upon you?" he asked her, losing himself in her steady fast determined orbs. Quite the same look his often held. "Have you offended her?"

Imogen opened her mouth to speak -

"She's a harlot!" the girl on her knees shrieked. Imogen's jaw clamped shut and she glared venomously. Elga wasn't deterred, turning her wild eyes to the prince. "She stole my betrothed from me, leading him on with poisonous promises that only a whore would deliver-"

"How dare you!" Imogen's voice was no more than a hissing whisper but it cut through the hall like a sword.

"She's a vixen to this realm and all around her, and should be thrown out on the streets where she and all her wretched family belong -"

"Enough!"

Thor cut off the girls maddening rant with a booming order, silence following swiftly in its wake. His eyes pierced through the imposter, glad when she whimpered under his gaze. Cold hearted indeed, he thought.

Imogen's head shook slowly at Elga and Thor watched her carefully. Her eyes were solid and proud - he didn't believe this girl was guilty of anything. Her composure just seemed above that when put beside the mad hysterics of the Innkeeper's daughter! No, there was no doubt in Thor's mind; if Elga's betrothed had indeed left her, it was through no advances on Imogen's behalf.

"You have brought upon yourself a greater shame than what you already faced." he said in a dark voice to the estranged girl. "To commit a crime in its own is despicable, but to then blame your misdoings on an innocent another out of spite..." words failed him as to explain the rush of rage and disgust towards the being on her knees before him. "You will face six months in the prisons and be removed from your post. Your true name shall be carved in stone, so your treachery will be known to all and not just those present this day." he glowered over the girl's pitiful form one last time before he gave the guards command to begin to remove her. "I hope in that time you discover a shred of honesty and decency within yourself."

He watched, satisfied, as the Innkeepers daughter was dragged from the Hall, her eyes wide with shock and horror.

Had he gone too far?, he wondered. No, he quickly abashed. Her actions proved her to be a danger to the palace and her companions, driven on by such maddening reasoning. Thor was certain the punishment would be harsh for her, but he hoped that would only drill the lesson in deeper.

His eyes lowered down to the real Imogen, still flaring slightly from the ordeal. Her orbs were a touch calmer than before though.

She nodded to the prince, and curtseyed as was fit, bowing her head.

"Well done, Thor." Odin's hand clamped down on Thor's shoulder. He couldn't tear Thor's eyes from Imogen though, as she straightened up and her piercing gaze shone up at him. "You handled your first task with great wisdom."

Imogen bowed her head again. "My Prince."

Thor watched helplessly as she turned and started to walk to the door. He wanted to go after her. To speak to her. There were more matters on his mind he wished to resolve.

But his father's hand on his shoulder reminded him of his place: he wouldn't allow the Prince of Asgard to run after a servant girl, no matter how unique and beautiful she may be. Thor longed to reach out his hand to stop her. He watched her own petit hands as she walked. Everything about her was sweet and delicate.

Not as a servant.

His brain swam with wonder, and he cursed his title more than ever as it trapped him.