AN: Welcome to my Rollo-Gisla fanfiction. It's a take on what happens after the final episode of season 3
Not everything in my story will be historically correct, every decission I make is for the sake of my sotry which I write solely to ventilate my obsession about Rollo and Gisla :-) Because I frikkin' love their upcoming 'romance'.

Enjoy!

The treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte had been signed, making Rollo a duke. A rich and important man, finally. Granting him the land between the river Epte and the sea in freehold and good money. It also granted him Brittany. In exchange for the land and title that the emperor had given him, Rollo guaranteed emperor Charles III his loyalty, which meant defending Frankia against attacks from others. Including his own family…

The time had finally come for him to step out of his brothers shadow. But also to let go of these ambivalent feelings towards Ragnar. Those childish and envious emotions were in the past now.

Rollo gazed around the royal dining table with a look of satisfaction. These men, his chieftains, would be the first of his kind to have lands in the country of Frankia. They would start a new life here and he was finally the great man he always wanted to be. The Gods sent him a great blessing.

He looked to his side, his eyes finding Charles' daughter who was glaring darkly at her plate. She had not touched her food at all so far. Obviously the princess was not pleased with this arrangement. He did not care to admit, but seeing her like this, pained him with guilt. He wanted land, power and riches. And what he wanted most, were prospects for his people. But he did not want to ruin a young and brave woman's life in the process.

When he first saw her, on top of that tower and then again in the throne room, he had hoped that she would feel something for him. Even though she did not know him at all. He wanted her to be impressed by his fame and skill in battle. He wanted her to feel what he felt when he saw her on that tower.

He wanted her to want him…

Perhaps he could persuade her. She could change her mind eventually. He would make sure of that. Her hateful speech when he and his men entered the throne room at first, only amused and intrigued him. She was a strong and willful woman obviously. Though he still didn't know what exactly she had said to him. It certainly didn't sound welcoming.

"Frankia has a long and proud history of great rulers like Charlemagne. Under his rule, Frankia has never been greater" Sinric explained to Rollo that night at dinner.

As Rollo and his men sat in the great hall, Sinric made use of the time by teaching his leader some Frankian history. Though Rollo's mind wandered off quite a lot.

"The princess is much like her great-grandfather".

Now he was listening…

"She does not seem to enjoy my company very much" Rollo replied with an amused smirk on his face. For now he found it amusing how angry she was "She has been avoiding my presence since we arrived".

They had been in the Parisian castle for almost a week now and he had maybe seen his future wife twice, accidentally even. She obviously had no desire to get to know him because both times she glared darkly at him and then turned on her heel.

"We trust you know some tricks to warm her up" Eric joked meaningfully as he gave Rollo a playful shove.

Eric was the oldest of Rollo's inner circle of chieftains. He had a long beard and was an absolute disaster with a double edge sword. As in, a disaster for the opposite party at the end of his sword.

Baldur, a slightly younger man who's skills with a sphere were as unmatched as his skill with a beer chalice, felt sorry for his leader. His betrothed was beautiful, but had a sharp and hateful tongue apparently "Don't let it get you down Rollo, her pretty little mouth will soon be too occupied to give you any more hateful speeches".

The men all roared with laughter as did Rollo himself.

Except Sinric, he simply smiled grimly "Say what you want off the Frankian princess" he said "But you will be a much better ruler with her on your side than with her working against you".

"Why?" Rollo asked "I have my title, I have my land, and she has no choice but to squirm underneath me" he attempted to convince himself.

Men roaring with laughter again as they spilled more wine than they managed to drink.

Sinric frowned "You may think that she is hardhearted and vindictive, but she is a strong woman Rollo. Respected. Feared even. The church may dislike her but the commoners and nobility adore her. Everywhere in Frankia".

Now Rollo was paying attention. And so were the rest of his men as Sinric told them more.

"She is not the meek and obedient type" Sinric explained, admiration clearly resounding in his voice "She is much like Charlemagne. She would fight to the death for her beloved country and her people. It's probably the root of her anger towards you. She did not choose to give up and negotiate with us. Her father did. The princess would have never given in".

His leader shrugged it off "It was never her decision. She is not the emperor" Rollo replied simply.

Sinric hesitated "You are wrong there I'm afraid. It is a public secret that princess Gisla is the emperor's most important adviser and closest confidante. She knows everything there is to know of politics and she is not to be tempered with. Many say that not the emperor, but his daughter is the true leader of Frankia".

The table had gone quiet now. His men no longer able to mock the small Frankian woman or talk about how she ought to submit to their commander.

"Well" Rollo sighed eventually "Anything else I should know about the princess?".

"Her skills in archery are unmatched" Sinric replied almost proudly.

Rollo frowned mockingly "She is an archer?" he asked as he imagined the frail woman with a longbow in her hands.

"The very best" Sinric assured him "She wins every tournament. People come from miles away to witness it. Trust me. You've never seen anything like it. And you won't believe it until you do".

A few of his men focused on their food again as they tried not to act too surprised that the princess had some actual skills besides spewing hateful things at their leader.

"So Sinric" Rollo said as he filled his chalice with more wine and everyone was talking among themselves again "You did not want to translate it then, but tell me now please. What did the princess say to me when we first arrived? Was it a warm welcome?".

Rollo was joking. But Sinric looked nervously at some of his comrades nevertheless "Oh Rollo, I… I… I… uhm, you see, It has been a few weeks. I do not really remember".

"I think you do" Rollo stated as he looked at Sinric "Tell me".

Sinric thought about it. None of the Frankians at this table would understand what the North-men were saying among their own people in their own language, that was something at least.

The wanderer Sinric leaned forward over the big table, his voice a little softer "Are you sure? You see, it was a great insult. A truly great and despicable insult to you. And to your country. Perhaps you should just forget about it. It is not the best start of a marriage".

Rollo scoffed out a laugh "I figured it was an insult and not a welcome. Everyone was holding their breath as if Odin himself came riding from Asgard to berate me. I found it amusing. So tell me. I am very curious what her royal highness thinks of me".

All the other Northmen laughed hard when Rollo used the term 'royal highness'.

"Well, if you must know" Sinric said as he cleared his throat "The princess said that despite her father's wishes she will not marry you. She said she is a princess and not a whore. She called you a filthy Pagan and said she would rather be burned alive than have you touch her".

Sinric stopped. Not wanting to translate the rest the princess had said. Though Rollo was still grinning as if it was all one big joke.

"Was that all?" Rollo asked, knowing the answer already.

Sinric exhaled slowly and continued "Then uhm, she also said… that… uhm… She would rather give her virginity to a dog and that you disgust her and make her vomit".

The last few sentences were spoken very quickly by Sinric so even Rollo had trouble hearing him.

Then he started laughing, he roared with laughter. As did his men. He knew she had not given him a warm welcome with her speech, but he had not quite expected her to be this feisty and insult him in front of everyone. It would be an enjoyable challenge to tame the fire inside the body of this small Frankian woman. Though he was not sure if he wanted to tame it.

He leaned back into his chair and looked her over from his spot at the table. She was indeed small. And she carried a lot of anger inside that little body of hers. She caught him staring and gave him a deadly glare. He simply raised his cup and smiled. She narrowed her eyes even more, then she swiftly got up and left. His eyes following her until she was no longer in sight.

This would be fun, Rollo decided.

"So, her virginity hm?" he asked as he turned back to Sinric. "Why is she still a virgin? Is something wrong with her?".

"No, no, no" Sinric explained "The Christian religion forbids sexual intercourse outside, or before, the bond of holy matrimony. It would be a great scandal if the princess would not be a virgin before marrying you".

Rollo looked confused and frowned "What cruel God would deny its people the pleasure of each other's bodies on a cold winter's night? Or any other night?".

"I do not fully understand their religion either Rollo. Maybe you should ask one of their priests".

Rollo nodded. He would do that. He wished to understand more about these people. Otherwise, how would he ever be able to rule them? He needed them to respect him. He needed to understand their ways of living.

Rollo's eyes burning into her, was not the only reason Gisla did no longer wish to attend dinner. There was also Count Odo. She had always loathed this man. There was something about him. Something not right. And now she had a reason to hate him. If it had not been for Odo, her father would've never come up with the plan to marry her off to this animal, this so called famous warrior from the North.

The emperor turned to Sinric to ask him several polite questions about where they came from and what it was like there. Sinric translated everything between Rollo and the emperor. All the while Rollo wondered where his bride to be had stormed off to.

AN: I don't want Gisla to be some kind of Mary Sue who just sits around, looks pretty and needs to be rescued by strong men. So I decided she should have a cool skill which will make Rollo think 'Wow… this chick is tough as hell'. So archery it is! Besides, I don't really see her with an battle axe or sword lol. Especially not a little princess like Gisla :-p