Chapter 18

The sun was shining high in a glorious day when Imogen walked through the forest again. The sunlight seemed to reflect off the leaves and trees, shimmering beautifully the deeper into the glade she went.

She recognised the path she trod; it was the same journey she'd made to meet with Elga while Thor had been at war, leading her to the oak tree and the river. She figured it was the best place to find her. At least, she hoped it was.

Striding through the forest, she felt like a new person. Her dress floated around her, wearing once again the silky material of the palace. She felt like a Queen again. Although, she had kept it modest: a pale blue flowing material gathered around her neck, leaving her arms bare and secured loosely at he waist. It moved like water around her as she walked and her loose, relaxed curls bounced around her shoulders.

It had been a long time since she'd felt so happy.

Her hand fell over her stomach as she picked her steps through the forest and she couldn't help but smile: Thor didn't care what it was.

They'd held each other in the sheets last night and dreamed of their baby, thinking about names, the ball to throw at its birth, how to rearrange Shelby's room into a room for two…never once had the god's spirits dampened when the mention of the baby possibly being a girl arose.

It felt good to not have to worry again. This pregnancy would be as blissful as Shelby's - that much she was confident of.

Today, she was going to enjoy it. It was Thor's first day back since battle and there were matters he had to attend to that Imogen couldn't be privy to, even with all the extra power Thor had given her. She didn't mind though. She had other things she wanted to do.

The basket swung loosely in her hand as she walked, a thin cloth covering its top. It wasn't much, but it was the least Imogen felt she could do.

Every step looked the same as she remembered it, but she felt different treading this path. When she'd walked last week, she'd been miserable, furious, full of every darkness there was from her slight against Thor. Now, reconciled, she felt like a new woman. She saw beauty in the trees that she'd missed before. She smiled at the flowers. The air seemed light and refreshing, fulfilling her…

Then the sound of gently flowing water hit her ears and she beamed. Scanning the trees ahead, she spotted the big oak tree and quickened her pace slightly.

Perhaps, she'd bring Thor here one day. It was so beautiful and peaceful here, he would like it. They could bring Shelby, take her paddling in the stream.

Of course, she doubt Thor would let them go lightly however. Such a secluded spot would be dangerous to him, so many opportunities for ambush for the king. He probably wouldn't relax unless he had a ring of guards around them, and a handful more skirting the land for intruders.

Imogen didn't feel danger in this place though. She only felt the peace of nature, revelling in the beauty around her that she hadn't noticed before.

When she was just a few steps away from the oak tree, she knew Elga was there; there was a splashing from the water that was out of sync with the trickle of the rest of it. These were harsh, aggressive slaps of water and as Imogen swung around the tree, she could see Elga stood in the faintly running stream, throwing her baby's blanket in the water.

For a moment, she was horrified. She knew the baby only really had the blanket for clothing. But when she saw Elga pull the blanket up from the water and wring it, rinsing out some of the grime from it, she relaxed.

Glancing around, it didn't take her long to find the baby: he was laid out on the small bed of flowers beside the oak tree, basking naked in the thin rays of sunlight that peeked through the tree tops above. She smiled when she saw him, and her heart did little summersaults when his big, round brown eyes found her, his little fist in his mouth.

"I'm surprised to see you here again."

Her eyes flickered back to the river, and found Elga's bitter gaze in a heartbeat. Her smile slipped slightly when she saw it.

All the same, she held her gaze, fighting against a wince as Elga slapped the blanket into the water again. She nudged the basket in her hands forward subtly. "I'm glad you're still here to see me." She replied softly.

Imogen's eyes brushed down to her hands and the basket they held, and she took a small step forward, careful of her footing amongst the mangled tree roots. "I brought you something." She said, lifting her gaze to the woman in the water. "It's nothing much. Just some food, some bread, some meat and berries I thought you might like. To thank you, for this past week."

It was the least she felt she could do. And noting how thin Elga always was, she guessed food wasn't something she often and easily came by.

To her surprise though, Elga's eyes just narrowed at her. "I don't need your pity."

Imogen blinked, slightly taken aback. She tried to keep her face blank though; "I'm not offering any." She replied, perhaps slightly coldly. "I thought you might appreciate a gift for keeping me company." Leaning over across the tree, Imogen set the basket down harshly next to the baby, feeling her patience in check as she felt her temper quickly rise.

Straitening up, she brushed her hair over her shoulders and met Elga's gaze head on, eyes hard. "Perhaps I was mistaken."

She wasn't sure what had happened to Elga over the last few days to turn her so cold all of a sudden, but she didn't really care. If she wanted to starve then she could. Imogen had paid her debts. She could go back to her life now, with no cloud hanging over her head.

A part of her was mad; she'd felt sorry for this woman, had actually wanted to do something nice for her for once, but the way Elga just treated her with hostility… there was gratitude, Imogen thought bitterly in her head. Perhaps she shouldn't have bothered, but she had. She would be sure not to make the same mistake again though if this was how Elga was going to react.

Her eyes flickered down to the baby one last time, fully aware that she would probably never see him again. She wouldn't forget him though. She would always wonder what became of him.

There was nothing more she could do though, and she knew it. She was more than happy to leave Elga behind from now on.

Hands pushing lightly against the tree truck, she stepped back and turned mid step, intending to stride off proudly.

She bounced off Koli's chest instead.

Her hands clambered for the bark of the tree as she staggered backwards, fingers clawing to stop her from falling. She held her breath, fingertips stinging as they just about stopped her from tumbling gracelessly into the roots and probably the water beyond too.

For a moment that was all she was aware of. Suspended – she hang suspended in the air, clinging on with burning hands, almost unable to believe she hadn't fallen, gotten drenched and hurt.

Then, as she blinked, she started to realise what had happened. She'd run into Koli.

She'd run into Koli.

And Thor wasn't here this time.

Her horror must have shown on her face as her eyes slowly lifted out of their daze and watched the way his lips mischievously curved in a dark smirk. She couldn't take her eyes off him, feeling her heart plummet with dread.

Her father's words echoed in her head from months and months ago; how he thanks the gods that Thor had saved her from a fate with Koli. She knew her father didn't just distrust Koli for his poor morality, and she agreed with him. Koli was dangerous. One look at his eyes told anyone that, swirling with cunning behind the seductive temptation.

He'd abandoned the woman he 'loved' and their child. He'd sought many a woman across the kingdom, even Imogen once upon a time. He had no heart.

Thor wasn't here to fend off his advances this time.

Imogen's mind lingered on her husband for a few blissful minutes. He'd been asleep when she'd woken up that morning, spread out across the bed on his front, hair rustled up in a tangle and snoring softly. He'd been adorable for a strong, fearsome warrior.

Her heart ached when she thought of him how she'd left him this morning and wished that he was here now, by her side. Now she understood why he'd always insisted accompanying her when she ventured beyond the palace.

She was starting to wish she hadn't stopped him…

Straightening up, she tried to compose herself – mentally. Thor was not here. She would have to fend Koli off herself.

Any why couldn't she? She'd resisted Thor's advances when they'd first met – surely she could do the same for some lowly construction worker! Her back straightened and she automatically narrowed her eyes slightly in the same lofty look she remembered casting over Thor when they'd first met.

Glancing over Koli's slack, muddy attire, she was significantly less impressed than she had been when confronted with the Thunder God.

When her eyes reached his face again, she found him measuring her up in a similar way she had done him. His eager eyes grazed over her body, dressed graciously like a Queen. Probably the finest gown he'd ever laid eyes on, Imogen couldn't help but quip in her head.

"Imogen." He drawled in a way he obviously thought was cool as his eyes found her face at last and he leaned forward, resting his elbow on the bark of the tree Imogen had just straightened up from.

Effectively trapping her between him and the river.

Trying not to let that fact sway her resolve, Imogen nodded curtly. "Koli."

All she could think of was how to get past him and get back to the palace as soon as possible, back to Thor's safe, loving arms.

Unfortunately, Koli looked pretty comfortable where he was leaning.

Chills ran up and down Imogen's back and she swore in her head again as she heard the unmistakable trickle of water announcing Elga getting out of the stream. She could feel the woman's eyes on her back, watching her closely.

Tipping her chin up slightly, she gathered her resolve. "I have business to attend to." She said firmly, stepping forward.

She hoped that Koli would let her go. That he would move aside and just stare at her as she leave. Call after her as she made her escape back home and to Thor…

At the very worst, she thought he would just stand there and she would bounce off him a second time.

She didn't bargain on him grabbing her.

The world span again briefly as Koli whirled her round as the break was knocked out of her as her back thudded hard into the bark of a tree. Eyes spinning, all she could focus on was replacing the air in her empty lungs, gulping in oxygen.

Only then did she taste the grainy-ness to her breath, the masculine tang to the air she sucked in.

Seconds after that she became aware of the pressure on her front of Koli's body pressed up against hers.

Her heart stopped.

She held her recently recovered breath and stayed still, half terrified, half completely offended and furious.

She was the Queen and he had the nerve to grab her like that?! She didn't doubt he'd torn the back of her dress somewhat on the bark too, knowing how thin and delicate the material was. That pissed her off. How dare he!

But then she remembered who she was. She was a Queen – but she was a small, light queen, with little strength and no hope against a man Koli's size. Her titles were the most important thing she had – back at the palace. Here, they meant nothing. Here, she was at Koli's mercy if she wanted out of this. Fighting her way out would be ludicrous.

Didn't mean she wasn't going to try though…

Her mind flashed with warning though, gasping subtly as she remembered: her baby. If Koli did anything…

"You think you're so high and mighty since you met that guy." Koli drawled, his foul breath washing over Imogen's face.

Imogen's eyes narrowed, and she forced herself to focus. "That guy is your king." She seethed through gritted teeth. Maybe that would deter him, she though, if he remembered just who he was dealing with. Surely, he remembered Thor from their first intimidating meeting. "You think you have a chance against him?"

Thor would kill him if he knew what Koli was doing. He probably wouldn't be so pleased with Imogen for waltzing into the forest on her own with no protection either, but…

Koli's lips curved in a sickening smirk. "He's not here though, is he?"

Imogen's heart was now racing in her chest as Koli pointed out the one thing she had hoped he would not use against her. That was the information that put her in danger.

All she was aware of was Koli – his body pressed firmly up against the length of hers. She didn't like it one bit. His face was inches from hers and hands on the bark of the tree either side of her body, trapping her in place. There was no where for her to go. He had her boxed in.

"You think you're so much better, but really you're just like the rest of us…" Koli murmured, as a hand slipped off the bark and onto her hip.

Imogen felt her stomach turn in horror. She did not want to do this. She didn't want his hands anywhere near her. But as Koli's palm ran greedily and groping up her side, she was reminded that she might not have much of a choice.

She could feel herself almost trembling – with fury. How dare he! She was not just some girl on the street or that he'd met at a drunken party.

She was a Queen. Nobody did anything to her that she didn't like. She was the one with armies behind her shoulder, with a strong husband to defend her and everything she could ever want. A lowly construction worker was puny in comparison.

She was a Queen. She would not be defeated.

Koli's body was flush against hers and Imogen could feel the hardness in his groin that sickened her. Plan forming in her head, she shifted herself ever so slightly, so that Koli's leg slipped in between hers.

His ghastly grin widened. "See, Imogen." He near slurred as his hand roamed further over her body and his thumb stroked at the side of her breast. Imogen's stomach turned sickeningly. "You're nothing special. You're just Thor's little whore."

At just that moment, Koli's thigh pushed against her between her legs, rubbing the soft material of Imogen's dress against her clit. In an instant, Imogen's mouth fell open and she jerked forward, deeper into Koli's embrace. She cursed herself in a heartbeat, but she couldn't deny the zing that ran through her body as Koli pressed up against that sensitive place.

Her hand shot automatically to his bicep as she hung on, anchoring herself to reality, to remind herself where she was. Her body didn't know how wrong what was happening was, but her mind sure as hell did.

Her inner thighs tingled, longing to be touched again and Koli's thigh was unrelenting, nudging her where her body called to be tended to. Forcing herself to breathe deep, she tried to resist, to think of Thor instead …

That just made her body remember how good he'd made her feel last night, tangled in the sheets together. Her core spasmed in excitement at the thought.

And a moan left her lips.

She hated her body for its reaction and her hand clawed into Koli's bicep in frustration, wishing she could just push him off.

Numbness was spreading through her hips, a blissful tingling of desire that was becoming harder to ignore. She fought to lower her heart rate, to calm herself down and she fluttered her eyes shut to focus…

And while her guard was down, Koli clasped her jaw between his thumb and forefinger and forced his mouth over hers.

Imogen snapped.

The former pleasure flushed through her system was forgotten as her eyes shot open in horror. In the blink of an eye, her knee pitched up between Koli's legs and her elbows pushed back against his chest before she drew her hand back and slapped him across the face.

He cried out as her knee made contact with his groin, but barely had time to bend over in pain before Imogen slapped him away, stumbling off to the side as he lost his balance.

Imogen didn't hesitate.

The moment there was a gap, before Koli had even hit the floor, she was running, hands grabbing her skirt out of the way of her legs. She didn't look behind her; she just ran as fast as she could.

Her ears pricked for noise behind her as she fled, leaping and running. Branches and plants snagged at her legs and ankles, but she didn't dare stop or slow down, running to the beat of her own hyperventilating breath. All she could hear was the brush of leaves and the sharp snap of twigs.

No voices.

No running.

No shouting.

All the same, she didn't relent her speed. She ran like a wild thing, until she could barely breathe her chest was so painful.

Slowing down didn't even cross her mind though, until the trees started to thin around her and the world lightened, sunlight streaming through the widening gaps in the trees. Imogen ran towards it like it was her lifeline.

Finally, when the undergrowth had thinned out and she could run without leaping over tree roots, Imogen stopped. She clung to a tree on the edge of the forest and sank to her knees, trying to breathe. Her chest felt like someone was squeezing her tight and refusing to let go, struggling to pull enough oxygen to ease her burning lungs.

Her eyes were wide and distant as she knelt, feeling shocked and shaky. What the hell…why had he been there? Why, of all places and of all people, did it have to be him there?

And what he did…

She felt like she could still feel his hands on her waist, the taste of his mouth lingering on her lips...she rubbed the back of her hand over her mouth, trying to get all trace of him off her. It was foul.

And she could hardly return to Thor like that. What would he think? What would she tell him? To tell him about Koli would mean to tell him about Elga and her recklessness…not to mention the tales of what she'd been up to while he had been away fighting. And that was a part of her life she did not want to share. She wanted that to be hers only.

She couldn't tell Thor about what happened. She couldn't tell Thor where she'd been. She couldn't tell Thor anything.

Her throat burned from rasping in oxygen so rapidly, but as she started to calm down, her hand fell to her stomach. Her baby. She was safe now, and her baby was safe.

She didn't want her child to be tainted with the likes of Koli. That was the last time she did anything like that. She would let Thor accompany her into town. She wouldn't go off on her own again. She certainly would never seek Elga out again. She would stay in the palace, accompany Thor to meetings, be a good wife, and focus on growing the child inside her healthily.

Nothing could go wrong this time. Nothing could happen. She couldn't let history repeat itself. She needed this child. They needed this child.

When her breaths were finally at a normal pace again, she leaned her head against the tree and sighed.

She didn't want to mess up again…

XXX

Hours later, she walked calmly into the Grand Hall and took her place beside her husband at the throne, the plum purple drapes of her dress flowing around her graciously. A chain of silver circlets fastened the gown around her neck and waist, the material gathered at the back of neck and flowing down her spine in a thin line before widening at her hips, defending her modesty.

She kept her gaze forward as she sat down, her fingers automatically linking with Thor's on the joint arm rest between the two thrones. She smiled as the farmed before them gave Thor thanks for whatever he'd agreed to do.

Her heart was thumping hard still from earlier, but she was determined to force it out of her mind. It was proving difficult though, forgetting Koli's advances…

Thor's fingers squeezed hers and she snapped her head to the side, instantly forcing the memories out of her head.

Her husband's soft, untroubled frown had her heart racing all over again though. The gentle curve of his lips did nothing to reassure her. "Are you alright?" he asked in a quiet voice. "I thought you were wearing something different today.."

Imogen tried to keep her face calm as she smiled back, trying to make it look natural. Nothing inside her felt like smiling, heart stilling as Thor noticed her outfit change.

She gulped subtly, praying Thor didn't notice that too. "I changed my mind." She said as casually as she could muster.

When she'd gotten back, she'd passed Thor on his way to the Grand Hall, promising him she would join him soon. It took her an hour of washing, redressing and restarting the day before she had however.

Thor's eyes gleamed with slight concern as they roamed her face; Imogen knew something must show. "Are you well?" he asked. "The baby?"

"The baby is fine." Imogen smiled quickly, the only thing she felt sure and honest in saying so far that day. "I am fine."

Her hand moved to her stomach and gently rested over their unborn child, glad it was back in the safety of the palace again. As far as she was concerned though, the morning had never happened. She would never speak of it again.

Turning her head front ways, she thought about it for the last time.