Strangely, after that night, the courtier's rumors and words about her no longer had any effect on her. She and count Guillaume were now the keepers of a secret which gave both of them the strength to face any rumors. She knew he had her back and would support her in the darkest time. Now that she thought of it, he fully respected one line of the wedding vows. She smiled to herself. They were practically married now.

After that night, they spent more time together, to Geirlaug's brother's surprise. And every time they were apart from each other, they made eye contact and then diverted their sight, smiling. Now that Robert was dead, Guillaume lived his love to its fullest. The courtiers had many interrogations. Why did the seductive count spend his time with only one woman? He was known to have sex with a lot of women, so why did he only looked at one now? And why the daughter of the duke of Normannia? She was in disgrace, her reputation was ruined. It was weird for a man so interested in appearances to be seen with that woman. Rumors said that she had sex with him and that she bewitched him. It made Guillaume laugh. They were right on the bewitchment part, but they had no idea of how wrong they were on the sex part. It was true they almost sinned two times, but she was to be his wife, they had nothing to be blamed about.

Guillaume had the impression that this night was a dream. The most wonderful dream a man ever made. He felt some kind of magic was in the air. But perhaps was it just his imagination. Every sight of his beloved filled his heart with warmth, love and hope. She had kept the braids he made with her hair and when she was asked about it, she didn't say a thing, instead, she smiled mysteriously and stroke her braids. Guillaume was happy she kept them. He knew her braids did not look good, and he loved her for not saying so. Instead, she comforted him and said that those were the most beautiful ones because they had been made with love in a moment she'll forever cherish. Guillaume loved her hair. Often, when they went walking in the gardens, he tried to improve. One day, Geirlaug tried to braid his hair too. As short as his hair was, she still managed to make him look like a viking. He remembered how she had laughed while making it. How she looked at him after that. It was as if she rediscovered him. He liked it, the way she looked at him. She looked at him the way he looked at her.

Their attitude did not go unnoticed. And especially not to Geirlaug's brother. One day he went to find the two of them in the stables. Geirlaug was petting her horse while Guillaume was cleaning his saddle. The duke put his fists on his hips.

- What does it means, he asked brutally.

Geirlaug and count Guillaume turned their heads to him.

- What, Geirlaug asked.

- You two. I thought you hated that man. But it seems that in one night you drastically changed your opinion about him. What could possibly have happened in that night for you to love him? Are the rumors true? Did you have sex with him?

- The simple fact that you believe those stories is deeply offensive, brother. I tought you were not that stupid, but apparently I was wrong, she yelled. How dare you?

She was shaking. Count Guillaume came by her side and stroke her hair gently, putting his hand on hers.

- I will speak to your brother, my love. Trust me.

Geirlaug nodded. She was about to cry and Guillaume couldn't bear this sight. He walked to duke Guillaume and stood straight. The duke was taller and lager than him. He could destroy him in a single blow. But Geirlaug's love seemed to have given him wings.

- Your sister and I spent the night together. That is true. But we didn't lay in bed. We were sitting on the floor. Sometimes we talked, sometimes we slept. I tried to comfort her after she tried to cut her wrists in the Seine.

While saying this last sentence, the count shivered.

- She told me stories. She made me laugh, as did I. We ate an apple pie. That is all.

- Cut you wrists? Why would you do such a thing, Guillaume asked breathing heavily.

He looked pained. Shock could be seen on his face. Geirlaug lowered her head in shame.

- Because I was tired, she muttered. The courtiers' stories about me nearly destroy my will to live. It is a chance count Guillaume was riding by the shore, otherwise, you would be an only child at this hour. He grabbed me, took me on his horse and healed my wounds. When I cried, he remined me of who I am. He gave me courage, she said while looking at her beloved.

The count smiled back to her. Duke Guillaume looked at them both and asked puzzled:

- Why were you riding at such an hour?

The count chuckled.

- Your sister asked me the same question. Ever since you denied her hand in marriage to me, I lost my sleep and apetite. So I went riding to relax.

- Why, count, I did not know my sister had such an impact on yourself.

- I thought I told you I love her, he said smiling.

- And you, he asked to his sister, do you love him?

- Nothing is quite sure yet, she teased her beloved.

Duke Guillaume smiled to himself. Apparently, his sister was feeling better. And all the credit belonged to the count. Perhaps it was a mistake from him to have cancelled the wedding. Or perhaps, things were supposed to happen this way.

- I'll have your head if you try to hurt her, he said to the count. I'll take my leave, now. I have some buisness to discuss with Herbert and Arnoul.

Then, he turned back and left. Count Guillaume turned his head to Geirlaug.

- Train me. I don't want your brother to kill me any soon, he joked.

Geirlaug didn't pick up what he said. Instead, she was staring the stable's exit worried. Those counts, again. She had to do something against them. It was clear now that her brother trusted them too much. Whatever she might say against them, now he wouldn't believe her. They had to be dealt with. She had to call Sprota back. And maybe ask for a little reinforcement.

- Geirlaug, are you okay?

- What? Oh yes, sure, she said getting out of her thoughts. Now, do you want to mount on Sleipnir?

Geirlaug had to speak with duke Hugues. It began to become an emergency. He had to drag her brother out of those men's influence. She knew they were up to no good. She wrote Sprota of course and she hoped that she and the reinforcement would arrive soon. She slowly recovered from what happened to her, but it was not enough yet for her to fight them face to face. She was sick of playing it nice and it was time she expressed some rage. Count Robert, dead, she had bigger fishes to fry.

A week passed since her attempt to cut her wrists in the Seine. Today, after what seemed hours of begging, she finally granted count Guillaume a training session. She asked her brother to come and continue his training in swordsmanship. If the count wanted to succeed in war, he had to be prepared. Who better than her and her brother to teach him some things?

She stood near the shore of the river and adjusted her shield on her arm. Her wooer was standing in a fighting stance in front of her. He smiled joyfully. One of his dreams was about to come true. Geirlaug, on the contrary was showing nothing but a straight face. Fighting was serious. It was kill or be killed.

- Fight, she shouted.

Guillaume rushed to her. She dodged him easily.

- Don't run in a fight so stupidly. This will only get you killed, she sternly said.

To demonstrate what she was saying, she took advantage of his distability to make him fall on his knees.

- If I had a sword, you'd be dead already. Let's do it again. This time, study your opponent. And keep your feets on the ground. Let's try again.

She held her shield tight on her arm and slowly walked to him. She studied every moves he made, even the tiniest ones. Then, she attacked. She was swift and strong. She pushed her opponent with her shield, trying to make him fall. She hit harder and harder, until his knees bended under her strength. Then, she stopped and nodded.

- Fine, you understood. Now, attack again. And show no mercy.

He did as she said and soon began a dance rythmed with the sound of the shields crashing into one another. Often, he almost dropped his, but he managed to keep in in his hand. Her blows were powerful enough to make him step back. Two times she managed to make him drop his shield. And two times, he took it back and began to dance with her again. Both gave up enventually, exhausted by their efforts. Guillaume's muscles ached and so did Geirlaug's. She came beside him.

- Not bad, count. Perhaps one day you will be able to beat a woman, she teased him.

- If I can reach the same level as you, then I am sure I can compete against your brother and anyone in Frankia.

She humbly lowered her head, not breaking eye contact, and smiled.

- If you'll excuse me, I have to take this shirt off. I think I oversweat, and now I am cold.

Geirlaug blushed. The only men she ever saw bare chested were her father and her brother. She quickly turned away, to Guillaume's own amusement.

While he was doing so, duke Guillaume came by his side.

- Now, if you want, I would like to begin our training. I am aware that my sister must have exhausted you, but this will be good for you to improve on stamina.

The count nodded and took his blunt sword in his hand. Duke Guillaume did as his homonym. He took his shirt off despite the obvious danger of being wounded. Maybe it was to impress the count, Geirlaug didn't know. But what she knew for sure was that she particularly enjoyed the count's body. She could only see his back, but it was enough to bring her old fantasies back. Of course, he wasn't as muscular as her brother, but he still was finely shaped.

They began their fight, protected by their shields. This time, duke Guillaume showed no restraint. Every single blows was enough to make his opponent bend on his knees and step back. At first, the count only dodged the duke's sword, not being able to counter-attack. As he learned with Geirlaug, he diverted the sword with his shield. But the duke was too fast. As soon as his sword went in another direction he waved it back, trying to cut the count.

Count Guillaume never experienced such blows and such a fight. He was grateful duke Guillaume agreed to train him. He knew how to recognize a valuable training session, and the duke was a fine opponent. He had no doubt that he would progress more with him as a teacher than with anyone at court or in Aquitaine. He was tempted to look at Geirlaug for a moment, hoping that she would like what she was seeing, but the fight was so intense he couldn't help but focus on it.

Geirlaug was sitting under a tree. There, she could stare all she wanted. The count fought good. She even witnessed him attacking with his sword. She was sure her brother took pleasure in torturing the man a little. The two men's fight produced some loud sounds she was sure could be heard in Paris. She saw his body move, his muscles flexing under the weight of his sword. She bit her lips repressing a little moan. She knew it before, but she realized it now: the count was handsome. She loved how the fabric of his pants squeezed his butt, how his sweat made his muscles glisten, how his hair was moving and how strongly his hands were gripping the pommel of the sword. She desired him so much this instant. She felt like her desire would consume her. She knew that she could take pleasure to ride him. After all, two people in love had a chemistry that could make even the most disatrous sex formidable. She felt like he healed her. She loved him for that.

They fought for an hour before they fell out of exhaustion. Guillaume threw a piece of cloth to Guillaume. He wiped the sweat off his body and put it around his neck. He came to sit beside Geirlaug.

- I hope you enjoyed the scene. Your brother really went hard on me.

- I enjoyed it... Very much. And I am glad he was hard with you. Otherwise, I wouldn't have had the occasion to see you like that, she said blushing.

Guillaume smiled. He was glad she reconnected with her sexuality. That only meant she was getting better.

- How are the negociations with the king? Didn't you say that you asked to have your old title back? You know, to be called "duke of Aquitaine".

- Ah yes. It was delayed due to Robert's crime and since then I had no news of the king. I asked for an audience with him, but he won't answer. I suppose I can sit on that hope. But the thing is, I promised my father to gain that title back. I cannot fail him.

- You seems to have a strong sense of duty, my lord.

- Especially toward my family and those I love. As do you. That is why, no matter what could ever happen to you, or your family, I will be there to help.

Geirlaug stopped smiling. Instead, she was brushing her hair nervously and looked down. Guillaume noticed her worried face and asked softly:

- My love? What's wrong?

- Oh nothing. There is just a problem I have to take care of.

- Whatever it is, you can confide in me. You can trust me. I hope you know that.

- This is... this is a delicate matter... I don't know if I can... this could lead to a political disaster.

- Try me.

She explained everything. The counts' scheme, the threat upon her parents and their plan to marry her away to one of their sons. Fortunately, her brother was washing himself in the Seine, otherwise, he surely would have heard what she said. Guillaume's face went to surprise to disgust and finally, admiration.

- So you are saying that this past month, you stopped an invasion on your own, discovered a scheme against your family, made alliances to prevent any further threats and kept spying on the counts? All of that while hanging out with me, being part of the court's life and fighting against Robert?

- Pretty much, yes, she confessed.

Guillaume laid back on the trunk, impressed.

- You are... truly amazing. Any man would be wise to have you as his wife.

- I... I think... maybe. Thank you.

- Thanks to you. Thank you for trusting me. If I can be of any help, tell me. My fiefdom is rich and large. If any harm had to come to your family and duchy, then I would do what is necessary to help.

- What if you marry and it goes against your wife's family's interests?

- Who said so? I am bound and determined to marry you. Your interests will be my interests.

- So much determination in such a small body. Be careful, my love, too much emotions would make you explode, she teased him.

- Did you jut call me "my love"?

- What? no. I said "my lord".

- You said "love".

- I know what I said! I said "lord".

- Sure, he chuckled.

Guillaume came back to them, smiling happily from seeing them so happy and said they had to come back to the palace for the midday feast. With a knowing smile, Geirlaug and Guillaume followed, happy to ride alongside each other.

After the feast, Geirlaug dragged her brother to find duke Hugues. It was time she did something about those two men. Of course, she knew Guillaume was defiant toward the man. After all he often talked about it with her. But Geirlaug trusted him. She thought he was less threatening and of better company than duke Herbert and Arnoul. At least, she didn't discover he wanted to invade and conquer Normannia. She didn't discover any clue of this and she knew how to uncover them. She trusted Hugues's wish to keep Frankia stable. After all, it was in his own interests as the duke of the Franks. A man's interests could always be trusted.

- Duke Hugues, she called in the hallway.

The man turned around, puzzled.

- Yes? What is it my lady?

- I want to thank you again for what you did for me last week. I really appreciated your support.

- This is nothing, my lady. You would have done the same for me, I am sure of that.

- How is your wife? I hope she didn't believe what the courtiers said.

- Do not worry, she stayed away from all of this. She tends to consider courtiers and rumors as stupid things.

- A bright woman, your wife.

- She is. What can I do for you… both?

- My brother, here, doesn't trust you as much as I do...

- Geirlaug, Guillaume objected.

- Shut up! You know it's true, she said to her brother. That is why I've come to you, determined to build an prosperous alliance between our families. And to do that, I need my brother to be assured of your good intentions, she said to Hugues. Not that I put them in doubt, you can be sure of that.

- I would never doubt you my lady. But I am saddened to hear that your brother mistrust me.

Guillaume looked away, frustrated and angry at his sister. She, who was so clever, she forgot that in court, keeping secrets could save some lives.

- I can assure you, duke Guillaume that I only desire to be your friend and build a strong alliance between us. My only wish is Frankia's stability. I have no interest to have your duchy gone. After all, it is quite a rich and prosperous land that benefits to us all in Frankia. A civil war would only weaken the kingdom and thus, my power. Our interests converge. I also have a deep admiration toward your mother. She is a Frankish princess and a true heir to Charlemagne. My father pleadged loyalty to her and her father, as did I. I am very loyal to my friends and the king's family, family which you are part of. So, again, I am offended by what I just heard.

- I am sorry I offended you, duke Hugues. Perhaps that prejudice from me was created by the words of some of my good friends here. The count Arnoul of Flanders and the count Herbert of Vermandois.

- I've heard of them. I advise you to be careful, my lord. From their reputation, those men seems to have some shady plans for Frankia. There might be one day when those men would seek to take Normannia.

- They are my friends. Like you, I am loyal to my friends. I will always give them the benefit of the doubt.

- Very well, then. I am glad we had that discussion. Lady Geirlaug, I hope that when the time will come, we would get to unite our families with a wedding.

- When the time will come, your grace, when the time will come, she smiled.

- I will take my leave then, good day to you, your grace, your grace.

He bowed before them and then left in the hallways of the palace.

- What were you thinking?

- I was thinking about your interests, brother. And don't scold me when Sprota agrees with me! Ask her, she will tell you I am right to trust Hugues. He helped me when the courtiers pretended I had sex with him. You should be grateful. As am I.

Guillaume shook his head. But if Sprota, his beloved Sprota, was on Geirlaug's side, then maybe he should give a chance to Hugues. He trusted her more than anyone on this earth. He missed her. He missed her body, the scent of her hair, the shade of her eyes. She was his life and he couldn't find any woman better than her – and he reminded himself no to tell Geirlaug a word of this out of fear of her fury.

Perhaps Hugues was of good faith. Perhaps he did thought of his interests. But he had trouble believing that Count Arnoul and count Herbert might scheme against him. He did not want to.

Guillaume entered his bedchambers exhausted and tired. Every of his muscles ached from the afternoon training. Never had he trained like that. Of course, he was grateful toward the two children of duke Rollo to have help him progress and improve his fighting skills, but he felt he could use at least one hundred years of sleep and a large bath.

He walked to his chair with difficulties. His legs were heavier than his father's armor. He sat by the window, smelled the dry bouquet of wild flowers which never left his bed table and finally relaxed. He ordered a bath to be brought to him. He didn't very much like sweating.

In the meantime, he undertook to write a letter to Robert's mother. He owed her some condoleances. After all, she was almost as a second mother to him.

My lady, he began

It is my unfortunate duty to inform you of the death of your son, Robert, following a trial by combat against Guillaume of Normannia. I am pained to add to your sorrow the reason he died. Robert tried to rape the very woman I was going to marry, Guillaume's sister. As you may have known, from your husband's attitude and the way he raised your son up to his death, Robert did not held a high opinion on women. To him they were only whores to put a dick in or hostages to bargain and ways to make political alliances. Adding to this the fact that he hated everything not truly Frankish. But despite his sins, a mass had been said and he had been buried outside the city. Though I doubt he will ever reach Heaven.

I strongly recommend you not to weep him too much. I know enough of his behavior toward you and your daughter to know he made you suffer. I wish to assure you that I shall find your daughter a suitable husband, from noble descent, kind and loving. And certainly not as violent as your late husband and your traitor of a son. As you may see, Robert is no longer my friend. But I pity you and in regard of all the affection I have for you and once had for him, I shall meet your expenses and provide for your needs until your daughter is married.

You will forever be welcomed at my court, be assured of that. My mother could need a new lady-in-waiting in my father's sickness. That is why, by this letter, I recommend you to her. May God be with you, my lady, and with your daughter.

With all my affection,

Count Guillaume of Poitiers.

He, then, sealed the letter and gave it to his errand boy. Then, he sat back on his chair and looked at the sky darkening. He watched as the summer sky took some orange, pink and red shading. It was beautiful. He wished Geirlaug was there with him to witness that. She would only add more beauty to the scene, if not outshadow it with hers. But Guillaume knew it would not be long until she knocked on his door and enter the room to spend the first part of the night with him. And truthfully, he couldn't wait.

I wrote the last part very recently. I hope it blended well in the chapter. Basically, I thought Robert and Guillaume's relationship lacked development, so I wrote a small excerpt. Robert's father was abusive to his wife and raised his son in the idea he was superior to all women and he raised him to hate women. Robert beat his mother and little sister, just like his father did. So yeah, he basically is a very very bad guy. Guillaume of Poitiers sure have poor tastes in friends. Childhood friends especially.
I hope you liked this chapter ^^ Leaving a review would make me really happy ;)