Chapter 19

Thor's head was only half in the war council meeting as the nobles and generals around the table bickered. His thoughts were elsewhere, somewhere much happier.

Imogen.

Her lovely face swam in his head, her body imaginatively draped in various beautifully coloured gowns flowing gloriously around her luscious figure. Her bright violet eyes blinked at him through his thoughts, sultry and seductive one moment, and innocent and bright the next. She was so perfect, the most beautiful woman Thor had ever seen.

And with child again…gods, he was so excited. He hadn't told anyone yet, keeping it their secret for just a little while longer. They wanted some time to celebrate privately before the overwhelming support of the kingdom swept them away.

Things had been perfect since he'd returned, nothing short of miraculous. When he'd left, he'd feared the end of his marriage, that his wife was beyond salvation.

Looking back now though, he couldn't have been more wrong.

They went for afternoon walks through the orchards with Shelby. They slept soundly in each others arms at night. Imogen rose late and slept early, eating heartily and being as healthy as could be.

As well as that though, her temperament was changing. Before, she had been bold and brash and daring. Now, she was kind and gentle. Now, she cooed to Shelby sweetly. Now, she sang softly to the tiny child in her womb, so tiny her pregnancy didn't even yet show…she was a changed woman.

She was more supportive of Thor too. In the evenings, she listened to his burdens without interruption, but with calm attentiveness. She held him when he was weary. Brought him food when he was so busy he'd forgotten about his appetite altogether. She'd even started coming to official business with him, holding his hand united through every word and public meeting, supporting him.

And he was grateful and glad of it. He was nothing short of amazed at what this pregnancy had done to his wife. It had transformed her.

He couldn't wait to see their child, to see what beautiful creature could melt cold hearts and soothe fiery spirits by simply existing. What a glorious child it would be, girl or boy. It was the best thing that could have happened to the royal couple.

Nothing would go wrong this time; nothing could go wrong.

"My King?"

Thor blinked and around the table, four sets of eyes were honed in on him, waiting. Clearing his throat, he shook his head clear of thoughts of his wife. "Yes?"

The grey bearded general just stared at him, the patience visible depleting in his gaze. "The unrest in Jotunheim – should we intervene?"

In a heartbeat, the god's heart sank as he drank in the depressing thoughts, steering away from his beautiful wife. War. Governing. Much less interesting than revelling in the way Imogen looked in her silk lace nightdress…

His brow furrowed as thoughts of soldiers, risk, casualty and outcome ran in a whirlwind through Thor's head, weighing up his decision carefully. He considered most of all how much it might put Imogen in danger.

Not that she would care, he thought with a proud smile.

He knew that if the Frost Giants tried to storm the palace and threatened Shelby, they would have one hell of a fight on their hands taking down his wife, pregnant or not. He didn't doubt her for an instant. Gods, he wouldn't be surprised if she donned armour and stole a sword to defend their chambers.

But at the same time, he knew Imogen wouldn't want war. She knew the dangers, knew the risks. The death and recklessness usually involved.

She wouldn't expose the kingdom and her family to that sort of danger unless it was already at their doorstep and she had no other choice. As it was, they still had a choice.

It was times like these that he resented not being able to have Imogen join them in the war council rooms. This was where he would value her opinion the most. Unfortunately, he'd had to humour the lords with some leeway in his involvement of his wife in official matters.

Leaning forward, he braced both palms on the table and prepared his words, scouring his gaze amongst the generals. "I think-"

A loud knock from the door echoed around the room, halting him and his eyes shot to the hard, stone door. For a moment, all he did was stare. A knock. A knock. This was a war council. Nobody interrupted a war council unless the city was under attack usually or a member of the immediate royal family was dead.

For a brief second, his heart skipped a beat but he quashed it down quickly. Imogen was fine, he told himself. When she had last been in danger, she'd been giving birth; she wasn't even showing this pregnancy yet. She had to be fine.

All the same, his voice felt a little raspy as he called out. "You may enter."

The stone grated against the floor as the heavy door opened into the private meeting and all eyes watched to see who had disturbed them.

Thor almost felt like rolling his eyes when the fair haired figure of Lord Roanull strode through the door, his brow furrowed and his mouth a thin line on his tanned face. His eyes found Thor's instantly.

Thor just stared back, equally as hard. In the end, he decided not to play with the Lord: "What is important enough to interrupt this meeting?"

His voice was blunt and stiff, but he hardly cared. If Roanull had interrupted them to give him new scandalous news about Imogen (as was his favourite pastime, it seemed) then Thor would be hardly very impressed.

The Lord didn't even blink, never doubting himself for a moment. "Treason, my Lord."

Thor blinked, surprised. Roanull had actually found an issue worth his time, at last. The King pushed himself up from his position leaning on the table, taking interest in Lord Roanull at last.

"Treason.." he pondered quietly. Who? He had thought his reign to be good and just so far – who would plot against him? "Who?"

The Lord paused for a fraction of a second.

"Your wife."

For a moment, the room was silent and a pin drop could have rung out like a bomb. After a second to take it in though, Thor let out a bark of laughter. "Surely, you jest." The god chuckled genuinely.

Had the Lord's dislike for his wife truly sank so low? And such a serious charge as well! It was humorous and terrible all at the same time. Thor didn't doubt that Imogen would enjoy this tale however.

Lord Roanull's face didn't even flinch.

Thor kept on chuckling for a few more moments. Until he realised he was the only one enjoying the joke. Laughter dying in his throat, his heart beat started to pick up a notch. "You shouldn't interrupt these meetings for such trivia." He scolded, suddenly harshening.

Again, Lord Roanull didn't blink. "It's not trivia, my Lord." He said quietly, severely. "I have information."

"Then speak."

Thor was losing his patience now as well as his confidence. With every passing second, he felt his heartbeat rise with anxiety. Surely, the Lord was mistaken…

For the first time, the Lord broke his gaze with the King. "I do believe it should be disclosed in private, my King."

Barely a second passed before Thor barked a dismissal at the generals. He ignored their insulted glares as they reluctantly evacuated the room, Thor only having eyes for Lord Roanull. When the room was finally empty and the door groaned shut behind the generals, Thor's heart really began to race.

"Now…" he said, gulping subtly. "Tell me what you know."

The god barely heard Lord Roanull; all he remembered was seeing his mouth move, not hearing the words. He knew what was said though.

And seconds later, he had his head in his hands.

XXX

Imogen sighed blissfully as she drank in the warm rays of sunshine, leaning over the balcony of her and Thor's chambers. Her palms ran along the rail, thinking quietly to herself.

The city was beautiful, she thought to herself, watching the way the golden buildings shone in the sun. That was where she stayed now, sticking to the sanctuary of the richer areas of Asgard where it was safer. And always with company now, with a guard or Thor.

And she was safe.

Shelby was asleep in the other room, but as soon as she woke Imogen wanted to take her to see the sun, to play on the grass…

Perhaps Thor would come and join them if he didn't get out of his meeting too late. Even if he didn't, she would probably bring some flowers back for them to decorate Shelby in when he did return. He would like that. He hadn't had a chance to see much of his little girl the last week or so.

Just as she was imagining which colour flower would look the prettiest, she heard the door from inside her chambers open and glanced over her shoulder.

Was Thor back already?

She'd thought his meeting was likely to last longer than this, from what little information he'd made her privy to. And he was the only one who entered their chambers without warning. Everybody else had to at least knock, even Thor's mother and father, the former king and queen.

She frowned though when she heard more than one set of boots stomping through her chambers and heard more doors opening. When she heard Shelby start screaming though, she was storming back inside.

Her fury was already high, prepared to scream herself at whoever had upset her child so thoughtlessly and abruptly. Who would dare? Who would dare storm into her chambers like this? Thor would hardly do it – he knew better than that, even when he was in a bad mood.

The moment she stepped back through the balcony doors however, she had her answer. She walked in just in time to see handfuls of soldiers file into her bathroom and the nursery, while their Captain, flanked by two guards stood in the main area of her and Thor's bedroom. His eyes locked on her the instant she stepped into the room.

"What are you doing?" Imogen couldn't keep the furious tremble out of her voice, her fists clenched at her side as she confronted her intruders.

She didn't recognise the Captain – they all looked the same to her – but she resented him now for what his men were doing. Invading her and Thor's space like this… Thor would be furious.

The guard strode forward though, not at all fazed at being caught. "My Queen." He said stiffly, eyes hard.

Imogen didn't back down either, Shelby still screaming in her room. She would tend to her as soon as she got these men out of her chambers. "When my husband finds out about this-"

"We are here under his orders."

That held Imogen's tongue.

On Thor's orders?

Why?

The question must have shown on her face, left absolutely speechless. The Captain stepped forward another step and Imogen was rendered positively mortified as he clasped her upper arm firmly. "You are under arrest for treason."

Imogen's face paled in a heartbeat, numbness sweeping over her. She could barely feel her own body as the Captain guided her forward by her upper arm and the rest of her body followed, stepping forward with him as if in a dream. She was just so shocked; she couldn't believe this was real. This had to be some sort of joke.

Arrested? Her? And by Thor's orders…how…no, he wouldn't, she told herself firmly, blinking and suddenly finding herself walking through a corridor with the soldiers.

She didn't know where she was.

Glancing around her briefly, she saw all the other soldiers that she had seen barging through her chambers flanking her and the Captain from all angles as they escorted her. To where?

She felt cold and lightheaded, and her heart fluttered uncomfortably in her chest as fear unwillingly started to set in. She forced it down though, steeling herself.

Where were they taking her? She didn't know the corridor around her. She'd never been to this area of the palace before. That made her anxious. Men she didn't know were taking her to somewhere she didn't know, for treason, under Thor's orders. The whole thing was horrifically wrong.

Wrong, but real.

Her eyes were guarded but frowned as they fell on the Captain beside her, her hand moving over her belly protectively. "What's happening?" she snapped sharply, starting to feel genuinely afraid. "Where are you taking me?"

The guard didn't even glance at her. "I'm not at liberty to answer your questions, my Lady."

Imogen's sharp gaze slowly morphed into a slightly softer expression as they walked, a smidge of her inner anxiety creeping through her stern exterior. She said nothing more. What could she say? What could she do? How could this be happening, whatever was happening…

She let the guards lead her in silence until they finally came to a set of doors lined with two soldiers either side. When they saw Imogen approaching with her armed escort, they immediately unblocked the entrance. Imogen and her soldiers strode through flawlessly.

Her eyes scoured the chambers as they walked in, still feeling numb. It was a nice room. Much smaller than she was used to, with the walls a pale grey instead of the flawless cream colour she was used to. Instead of the multiple rooms of her own chambers, the room led directly to the bedroom, with a single bed with a red curtained canopy hanging overhead. A single door led to the bathroom (she assumed), and there was a tiny circular window high up in the far wall. The room was dark and grim, but it was clean at least.

Coming from her simple background, Imogen was hardly going to complain. She had been used to much more basic living standards while they'd scrounged to find money while her mother had been sick.

The Captain stopped in the middle of the room and released her, but Imogen didn't move. Her eyes fell to the floor dully and she just stood there, not sure what to do, jaw tense.

This was far too real.

"I want to see my husband." She said quietly.

The Captain said nothing.

She hadn't expected an answer, but as the soldiers started to file out of the room, one by one, the loneliness started to sink in. She was being left in this strange room. Alone. For how long?

Suddenly, she blinked back to life, just as the Captain stepped out of the chambers and she darted after him. "Hey!" she yelled, rushing to catch him before he was gone. "Hey, where is-"

Slam.

The doors slammed shut in her face and her palms shot up to stop her from running face first into them. She froze.

Then the lock turned and she felt sick.

Her eyes were wide as she slowly turned and pressed her back against the doors, facing the room that sealed her. What was this? Treason – what had she done? She had done nothing, let alone threaten her own husband! How could Thor even consider it…

How long would she be in here? There were so many questions she had, but there was nobody to ask. Nobody to help her.

Where was Thor?

Why hadn't he come to her himself?

With numb, slow steps, she made her way to the bed and sat down cautiously on the stiff mattress. She didn't know what to do. She just felt cold and tense, waiting for…what? She wasn't even sure.

She didn't know how long she just sat there, staring into nothing as the thought the same thoughts over and over again. It felt like hours, but with the solitude and the silence it could have been twenty minutes and she wouldn't have known the difference.

She hoped Thor would come for her, tell her it was a mistake and would take her back to their chambers. It had to happen. And then the next morning she would find that Captain and scream herself hoarse until he was dismissed from the palace. The more she thought about it, the more her eyes started to narrow and she felt the anger bubbling up inside, reviving her - it had to have been his mistake, and he would pay for it.

As soon as Thor came for her. He would make everything right again.

Whenever that would be…

Time seemed endless. The same thoughts rolled over and over again in Imogen's mind: would Thor come or wouldn't he? She hovered between determination for her husband and fear that he really had done this.

The emotions rose and fell rhythmically and she felt them wearing her down, fighting with herself internally. She was so unsure. She didn't know what to believe. The more she wrestled with herself, the more it felt like time was slipping through her fingers but that at the same time was passing torturously slowly. She was nervous and twitchy and then so lost in thought she wouldn't move a muscle, her eyes distant.

She was in the latter phase when the door finally creaked open.

Imogen's head shot up, her heart soaring with hope as she expected Thor to come sweeping through the door to take her in his arms.

The stern face of Lord Roanull greeted her instead.

Her shoulders slumped and she let her face fall, too emotionally drained to pretend for his sake. It was only seconds after she'd done it, that she regretted it – she straightened her back smoothly and steeled her gaze calmly before she looked back to the lord.

"Yes?" she said stiffly, not trusting herself to say much more than that, as fragile as she felt. She couldn't let him know though. She would not let this man see her vulnerable.

He was as resolute as could be as he stepped forward with a calm but intimidating presence. Imogen rose from her perch on the bed slowly.

Her eyes hovered on the scroll of paper in the Lord's hand, and her heart beat madly in her chest. She knew what that was. She didn't know what it said but that paper had her fate written on it, and if it was true that Thor had ordered this, it was signed by her husband with his approval.

What paper would he sign, yet wouldn't come to see her? Her stomach turned with a sickening feeling…

"I've brought your charges." The Lord said solemnly, confirming Imogen's worst fears in those few words.

Slowly, he unrolled the paper in front of him and Imogen could see the words through the thin paper. Such delicate writing, but she couldn't make out what they said. It was enough though. More than enough. What had they managed to fabricate against her to fill such a document.

Right at the bottom though, she saw Thor's unmistakable stamp, in red ink. The stamp of the King.

"You are accused of committing adultery and thereon treason against the King of Asgard." Load Roanull read out. "A witness reported your crimes, claiming she saw you commit adulterous acts with Koli Oveson on multiple occasions and that she overheard the two of you conspiring to assassinate the king when he returned from battle. The King has found the evidence sufficient enough to authorise your incarceration until such time you are found either guilty or innocent. Your fellow accused has also been arrested."

For a moment, Imogen just stared at the Lord, her eyes wide and her heart still in her chest. Gods, she felt like she was going to be sick.

This was real.

She had charges.

Fuck…

Thor had arrested her.

Adultery with Koli and conspiracy to kill Thor? No. Gods, no! How could Thor even consider it?! What evidence must he have to give some belief to this rumour.

A witness, that was what he had. A witness that claimed they had seen her lie with another and heard her talk of killing her husband. Who? Who would make up such accusations? It was simply untrue! She had done no such thing! Yet here she was, being arrested for it all the same…

"How do you plead to these crimes?"

Imogen blinked and as soon as that question left the Lord's lips, she felt winded, like she'd been punched. "Not guilty!" She gasped, horrified. "I am innocent."

How could this be happening…

A touch of a smirk touched the Lord's lips and Imogen almost felt like she was going to faint. Shit. Her hand found the bed post and held on to it as the world span slightly and she gulped down the sick taste rising in her mouth.

"If you are found guilty of these crimes, then you will be executed. If you are found to be innocent, you will be released with immediate effect." The Lord said smoothly.

Executed…Imogen fluttered her eyes shut and couldn't hold back a shudder. Swearing erupted in her head.

"The king will decide."

Imogen felt like she was going to pass out by the time that the sound of rustling paper reached her ears and the Lord's boot falls as he strode to leave. Her mind was still racing though. How? Why? Who?

Who?

"The witness." She forced out in as firm a voice as she could muster peeling her eyes open and praying they didn't look as watery as they felt. "Who are they?"

Who was trying to kill her? Who was trying to ruin her life? Who had she slighted? Lots of people, but who hated enough to want her dead? The court had plenty of reason sure, but would they really go so far, so close under the king's nose…

Lord Roanull paused, but he didn't turn around. "Elga, formerly of the Innkeeper's household."