Chapter 21

"And as the sun sets in the west and darkness closes in,

I'll hold you close my darling love,

'Sleep, little one, sleep.'"

Even to her own ears, Imogen's voice sounded dull and lifeless as she sung Shelby's lullaby. It was a song her own mother had sung to her when she was a child, something she'd sung to Shelby when her little girl couldn't sleep.

She wondered if Thor sung it in her absence. What if he didn't? Who would sing to Shelby when she was restless at night?

She had been in this room much too long.

Perched on the edge of her bed, she glared at the door that barred her from freedom. Those guards – who were they to hold her captive? She should not be a prisoner. She should be roaming free, caring for her child. If Thor didn't want to see her until these nonsense accusations were laid to rest then fine, but she should not be punished for them.

It was all ludicrous. Where was Thor in all this? Where were her parents? Had they come to see her, or had Lord Roanull disallowed that also? Imogen wasn't even sure if she was allowed visitors…

Even if not, she had the right to see Thor. Her judge. She had the right to plead her innocence; she'd done nothing.

In the spur of the moment, she leapt to her feet and stormed to the door, her fist pounding on the wood insistently. Impossible to ignore, she thought.

"I demand to see the King." She called out firmly to whichever guard was on duty.

Surely, she had that right? As a prisoner, as a Queen, as a wife – she should have the right to see Thor. If she could just see him, find out what was happening in the court rooms, then she might be able to start planning her way out of there.

Not that she doubted she would get out if she just waited patiently. But she didn't want to stay here any longer than she had to. She wanted to sleep in her own bed again, and cradle her own baby, and prepare for the new one that was growing inside her. She wanted that now, not in a month's time when Thor had finally set these rumours to rest.

Her fist pounded more on the door. She was not going to stop until she was answered. So many times they just ignored her, letting her rot.

Not this time.

"Hey!

The anger was bubbling inside her the longer she had to hit the door, but she wasn't going to let them ignore her like she was just anybody. She was a queen - their queen! She could have them lose their lives, let alone their jobs when she was out of that room. Not that she would.

But she would have strong words with their boss when she was finally allowed to see him. She was not letting Thor off easy for this one.

She'd done nothing to deserve this.

The heels of her hands were just starting to ache and the determined thoughts that she was not going to give up raced through her head.

Then the door opened.

Instinctively, she leapt away as the door sprung open, backing away as a large figure filled the doorway. Her fists were still clenched at her sides as her eyes squinted, the outside corridor brighter than the dark room she was used to. She just about fought down the urge to lift her hand to block the light, blinking furiously to see the blurred face that closed the door to her prison chambers behind them.

Finally, the tall newcomer stepped forward slowly and their features started to settle into place as the darkness returned to the room. A strong jaw, a heavy, frowning brow, thin mouth, dark blue eyes…

She was alone with Thor.

Her fists relaxed as he husband morphed into place in front of her and her eyes drank him in. Not just his face – his strong hands, his tense muscles, the sheen of his armour and the shape of his biceps, the waves of his hair and the vein throbbing slightly at his neck. It had been so long since she'd seen him and she wanted to memorise every detail.

She felt numb as she stood there, the grim room melting away around her. Suddenly, it didn't matter. The anger didn't matter. Suddenly, she was just glad to see him, thankful to see him.

It was in that moment it sunk in just how much she'd actually missed him.

But at the same time, something was wrong.

It wasn't the worried Thor that she'd imagined rushing to her when he came for her, scooping her up in his arms and holding her tight. There was no relief in his face, no joy, no…nothing.

There was the slight hostility in his orbs though. There was the stiffness in his shoulders. There was the way he stood there, rigid and unmoving, just staring at her. What was going through his head?, she wondered. What was he going to do?

She didn't know what to say, so she said nothing. A part of her wanted to throw herself at him, but the look in his eyes warned her back. Every second that passed melted her anger a little bit more, her husband's dark glare nudging her anxiety instead. Before she was aware of it, she numbly backed away a few paces.

He didn't bring good news; she could see that much from him. That frightened her.

"Thor." She finally breathed, barely more than a whisper. Her voice trembled slightly, no longer used to saying his name.

She gulped, her eyes locked on the god in front of her, hanging on his every action, his every inclination until he finally spoke. Every shift of his orbs and flex of his fingers, she noted, drinking the details warily.

The silence was tense. Both of them just stared, locked in deadlock with each others gaze, waiting for the other to make the first move. For some reason, Imogen got the impression Thor was putting something off, stalling. That didn't encourage her. He wasn't exactly offering for her to leave like she'd expected when she finally saw him again…

"Imogen." He murmured back, voice deep and raspy.

He looked tired, Imogen noted. He hadn't been sleeping properly. Chances were he wasn't eating well either; he never did when he was troubled. He just stayed awake and stared constantly, brooding on the issue.

That gave her a smidge of hope – he cared enough about her to lose sleep over her imprisonment. That had to be a good sign, right?

Finally, Thor moved and tipped his chin up a little, his eyes swirling, changing. A touch of hurt softened his hard gaze, blue orbs glistening ever so slightly. His fists clenched tight and held.

"Is it true?" he asked, knuckles white from clenching so hard. His voice was quiet and very different to before. This was cautious, tentative. Almost afraid. Thor wasn't afraid. He wasn't afraid of anything.. or so Imogen had believed.

Seeing her husband now, she was starting to question.

Her brow furrowed as the words left his lips, for a moment struggling to think of what he meant. Just before she opened her mouth to ask though, she realised – the accusation. Obviously.

The moment starting to sink in, her stance relaxed in a heartbeat with a sigh, her gaze melting. She didn't try and fight the way they began to shimmer; this was the moment she'd been waiting for for weeks, for Thor to just ask her what had happened.

And she could see just how much this tore him apart. The longer he stood there, the more hurt and pain crept into his gaze, the sternness quickly replaced. His mouth softened and his lips parted as Imogen didn't answer immediately, his whole expression near pleading with her. She was breaking his heart. It was plain to see.

A sharp pain in her chest, Imogen gulped. "I did not do this." She shook her head. "I could never do this."

Thor just blinked, eyes now gleaming as his fists flexed. "What proof do you have?"

Imogen's mouth shot open in a heartbeat to defend herself – this was her chance! "I-"

She stopped.

She stopped herself.

Then she frowned as she remembered: "I…" her eyes lifted anxiously to her husbands. "I don't."

She had no proof. She had nothing. No witnesses, no proof, no anything. She had nothing to support her claim that she had not slept with Koli or plotted with him, nothing to prove she was innocent.

The moment the words left her mouth, her heart plummeted. And when Thor sighed a regretful breath, eyes shutting in horror, Imogen felt like she was going to be sick. She stepped forward instantly. "I didn't do this." She insisted desperately. "You know me. You know I would never do this to you. What incentive do I have?"

Thor's eyes snapped open and suddenly they had changed. The hurt had taken a backbench – the fire was back. She watched with dread as Thor tensed again and stepped forward towards her, his eyes blazing. "You would have power."

Imogen's head shook. "I don't want power."

"You would have him."

"I don't want him."

"Then what, pray tell, do you want?!" the god suddenly yelled, furiously.

Imogen blinked at his sudden outburst, fighting the instinct to back away from him. She met his thunderous gaze boldly, something she knew he valued.

And she knew what she wanted, her eyes shamelessly glistening as she admitted it: "I want to go home."

In that moment, there was nothing more she wanted. Whether home was back with Thor or back with her mother, she didn't care at that point. She just wanted out, to have her freedom. She did not want this accusation hanging over her.

And she watched as those simple words just broke her husband. His orbs cracked once more and she watched him grit his jaw, tearing himself away from her as he ran his hands through his hair.

Walking towards the wall, he paused, his back to her. His fingers stayed meshed in his hair. "Where did you go?" he asked quietly, "The night you left me, where did you go?"

Imogen's spirits sank like a stone – she was going to have to be honest now, pride aside. She swallowed hard, lowering her eyes to the floor.

"To the forest." She admitted shamefully, knowing this was only going to make things worse. But it was the truth. And Thor needed the truth now. "I went to the forest and met Elga. I slept against a tree."

For a moment, Thor was silent.

"And him?" he finally growled.

Again, Imogen gulped. "He was not there. We were alone."

"Is Elga a conspirator too?"

Imogen frowned, her gaze flickering up and chilling. "I was not conspiring against you." She barked. "I was upset and did not want to see you. So I left."

"And why did you not want to see me?"

She screwed her eyes shut and forced her pride down, feeling her heart shatter as she remembered that night. "Because I saw you with Linda and I thought…" her voice cracked and her eyes opened, blinking furiously as Thor blurred before her. "I thought-"

Her voice cracked again and she snapped her hand over her mouth, unable to finish the sentence. She couldn't and she wouldn't. The heartbreak of that night, even as just a memory…

Still, Thor kept his back to her. "So you lay with him for vengeance?" he accused bluntly, his voice cold and emotionless.

Imogen gasped behind her fingers. "No!" she burst, fingers curling into a fist away from her face. "I did not lie with Koli! I did not let it go that far!"

In a heartbeat, Thor spun around and whatever she was expecting on his face – whatever anger or hate or cold indifference she'd been expecting – was not was she got in the god's purely stunned face. He paled before her eyes, lips hovering apart.

Imogen swore in her head; had those words just condemned her? Looking at Thor's horrified expression.

"Not that far?" he breathed, eyes wide. "So you did not lie with him, but you did have relations with him?"

"No, I-"

"What happened?" he demanded before Imogen could get her words out, cutting her off. When Imogen just stared at him, blinking imploringly, his shocked expression hardened. Fists clenching, he stepped forward. "What happened?" he snarled, face suddenly morphing into that of absolute fury.

Imogen prayed for courage. "He kissed me." She said simply without a moment's hesitation. "He kissed me and touched me, but I did not reciprocate. I pushed him away."

She watched Thor's face instantly twist, his eyes blazing with rage and fury as his teeth gritted. Imogen swore in her head. "When?!"

Her chest was tight, as if she couldn't breathe properly. Seeing Thor's reaction… "The day after you came back." She gasped.

She knew that must kill him, how it must sound… but he had to believe she was not willing. It was Koli, not her. She had done nothing. She had just walked into a trap.

"Thor, you must believe me. I didn't-"

Imogen didn't get a chance to finish her plea as Thor strode forward and crossed the room, his strong hands grasping her upper arms. Fear shot through her as his grip tightened and he shook her roughly, making her bones rattle.

"Have I not been a good husband to you?" he hissed, only just holding back his strength from crushing her. "I gave you everything a woman could possibly want. I practically took you from the street! You were nothing when I married you, and this is how you repay my sacrifice? By wishing me dead with your lover, sneaking off to see him behind my back?!"

Imogen started to feel afraid that Thor would break her arms in his grasp, but she was sure that would hurt far less than the way he was breaking her heart. When had he become so cruel?

Fighting down the tears building in her eyes, Imogen steeled herself. "You don't believe me."

It wasn't a question. It didn't need to be a question. She could see it – he didn't believe her. He thought she had lain with Koli and wanted him dead. In his eyes though, deep beyond the hate and anger, she saw his betrayal. She saw how much he was begging for the accusation not to be true.

His angry brow softened a touch, the tiniest of pained gleams breaking into his gaze.

He threw his hands down from her arms and turned from her, raking his fingers through his hair instead. "I don't know what to believe." He gasped, hands fisting in his locks.

Imogen couldn't take her eyes off him. It amazed her how the most furious, deadly creature in existence and this fragile, broken hearted soul resided in the same vessel. A part of her told her it was impossible, but she could see him so conflicted before her. And as a consequence it stirred similarly conflicting emotions inside her too.

Her eyes hovered on her husband, waiting tentatively. She didn't know what to say to him. What more could she say?

Spirits sinking, she lowered her gaze to the floor. "How are my parents?" she asked quietly. "They won't let me write letters."

Across the room, Thor chuckled humourlessly, hands falling to his sides. "They are distraught." He sighed, head shaking lightly at the wall. "Your mother has cried for weeks, from what I am told. Your father will not speak…least of all to me."

Imogen's eyes lifted, her heart heavy. "You tried to speak to my father?"

"Yes." Thor sighed, shaking his head. "Such kind people do not deserve such unhappiness…but your father slammed the door in my face."

A small smile flickered across Imogen's face hearing that; she could imagine her father doing that. No matter who Thor was, he had wronged his daughter and that was the most important thing to him. Her father, refusing to see the King…

"And Shelby?"

Her heart was in her mouth as she waited for news on her daughter. Surely, Thor would let no harm come to her while her mother was locked away?

Finally, Thor turned from the wall slightly, his eyes glancing back over at her over his shoulder. Soft, gentle, caring… the husband she knew and loved. "She misses you." He confessed sadly. "For as tiny as she is…" The god blinked and blinked as he trailed off. "I see you in her every day."

Imogen's chest tightened painfully hearing that; she missed her daughter too. She wanted that little girl back in her arms so much. Just to hold her, to feel her tiny heart beat against her again.

She wondered what the little girl looked like now. She grew so fast, Imogen bet she looked completely different to when she'd last seen her. Did she look more like her or more like Thor, Imogen wondered. As always, she hoped it was Thor.

Hot tears pricked at the back of her eyes as she thought of the precious little girl and she blinked to keep them at bay. "Please let me see her." She couldn't hide the tremble in her voice.

Again, Thor eyes couldn't hold her gaze and he sighed heavily, turning back to the wall. "You know I cannot."

In the back of her head, Imogen knew – but it didn't stop her heart yearning for the young child. An imprisoned Queen queried for plotting murder and a helpless infant…of course, she would not be allowed to see her. But as a mother, she needed to hold her baby. And her baby needed her, she was sure.

Thor was withholding their baby from her, while he got to go back to their chambers every night and cradle her.

That made her angry.

Imogen's jaw set the longer Thor kept his back to her and she felt her anger bubble up inside her. Her fists clenched at her sides. "She needs me." She spat out, stepping forward. "She's a baby."

Slowly, Thor turned around, eyes scouring over Imogen as he noted her advancing. His gaze was firmer now. Set. "Which is exactly why I cannot bring her to you." He stated solidly, his own fists clenched resolutely at his sides. "Do you not understand what is happening?" he hissed.

Furiously, Imogen's eyes narrowed. "I understand this is your doing." She accused quietly, glaring as her husband rolled his eyes, running a hand through his hair as his head shook bitterly. "You and that accursed council conspiring against me-"

"This is your fault!" The god finally yelled, wrenching his hand from his hair, eyes ablaze. Imogen held her tongue as his enraged expression bore into hers. "This is down to you and your actions, and yours alone!" Gods, she was an infuriating woman, Thor thought as he glared at her and her stubborn face. Breathing heavily, he forced himself to lower his voice though. "You will forgive me if it is you that must bear the consequences." He finished darkly.

To that, Imogen had no words; just the plummeting feeling of her heart losing hope. She swore in her head bitterly.

Glaring at her husband, she didn't even blink. She refused to even flicker away from those flaring crystal blue orbs. It was like a wildfire in his eyes, raging through, flames licking dangerously.

She knew she would be even more of a fool than she already was if that look didn't fill her with fear. She bottled it though, storing it away for when the vengeful god was not here to see it. She couldn't bow to fear now, when she needed to prove how strong she was in her innocence.

Judging by the look in Thor's eyes though, he didn't seem that interested in acknowledging her innocence however. To her, it looked more like revenge was what he was after.

"Guards!" Thor yelled, eyes lingering on his wife one last time. "I'm leaving."

Imogen didn't move as she heard the door open in a heartbeat, guard quick to attention outside. Her skin tingled though as she felt the warmth of the outside air wash into her cold room, calling her almost.

She itched to see, but her pride wouldn't let her break gaze with Thor. She just wanted to be reminded what the outside looked like though, to remind her somewhat of home. What did the walls outside this room look like? What did endless streams of sunlight beaming through the windows look like? The armour of the guards even – what did that look like?

So open and tempting, that door… she knew she wouldn't get two steps through before was caught though.

For Thor though, it was all his.

He snapped his face away from his wife and his stride quickly matched as he turned to the door. Light flooded in from the open windowed palace into her dark room, creating an illuminated path for the angered King. It was brighter than anything Imogen had seen in weeks, her eyes squinting as she looked through the doorway and her husband quickly disappearing through it.

Along with all her chances of appeal, she remembered with a sinking heart. It felt like there was a chasm in her chest, a gaping hole where her heart used to be, aching with every sharp breath she took and every angry step Thor took.

If that door closed now, when might it open again? When would she see Thor, Shelby – anybody, even?! She had no idea…

Her heart pounded anxiously and she bit down her pride as her fears came forth. Soon, she would be alone again. Who would help her then? Nobody. The further Thor stepped away, the more that sunk in poignantly.

Imogen's legs pulled her forward instinctively as her chance slipped further and further away. "You must let me see Shelby!" burst from her lips, calling after her husband in a final desperate plea.

Thor didn't even turn. "No," he growled, moments before the door thudded shut. "I must not."

A/N

This story does have a happy ending, I promise.