Chapter 7
The lark called early that morning and Rollo woke with a start. He had been lulled to sleep by the soft breathing of Gisla and had stayed longer than he intended to. He sat up and began to get out of bed when he felt a small hand on his arm. He turned to see Gisla looking at him with sleep filled eyes.
"Must you leave just yet?" She asked.
Rollo let out a soft chuckle, "Yes, but do not fret I will return tonight."
"There was something I wished to ask you." She mumbled as Rollo watched the first whispers of dawn appear in the sky. He did not have much time left.
"You may ask me tonight, I must be away," he said and then dipped his head down to place a kiss on her cheek. She lifted her hand up to trace her fingers over the spot he had kissed and gave a sleepy smile. "Sleep a little longer." He whispered to her before he departed.
He slipped over the railing of the balcony and into the tree limbs below. On the way down he nearly lost his footing from lack of focus. The loss of sleep was beginning to take a toll on him.
He had once warned Bjorn the dangers of a woman's love, and that it was not worth the risk. Perhaps he was right then, but now he had gone too far to turn back now. Whether it be fate, or destiny, or madness, he loved Gisla and he wished for her to return the feeling. He was so close now; he knew it. She had asked him to stay.
Perhaps he should have stayed with her. He could have watched the sun creep over the buildings of Paris as she was tucked sleeping under his arm. The women who attended her would have entered the room and been shocked. He could not help but smile as he thought of how terrified she would be if she found out that he was the one visiting her in the night.
It was true that he had hoped she would realize sooner, but after stopping by the garden bench where she was sitting yesterday it was clear that her opinion of him was still low. He was sure he could find a way to bring her around. She seemed to like him well enough at night. It would just take a little time, that was all.
Gisla missed the warmth of the stranger as soon as he was gone. She curled up on the spot he had been as soon as he left the bed and fell back asleep between the still warm sheets. She would hate to admit to anyone, but she was becoming accustom to having him in her bed and when he was gone she missed him.
A maid gently shaking her arm woke her up for her morning routine. She was tired of morning coming. She no longer longed for the day, but rather the night. She wanted to linger in bed as if somehow not leaving would bring him back to her.
Her strange behavior did not go unnoticed. "Did you sleep well, princess?" A maid asked her.
"Well enough, I think." Gisla answered between a yawn.
Once again the matron in charge of the girls seemed to caste her eye about for some sign of indiscretion, and Gisla wondered if she should not behave so openly in front of them.
The events of the morning passed in a blur and soon Gisla found herself seated at the breakfast table again with her father and the pagan.
She noticed the Northman looked exhausted as he sat at the table and Gisla felt a small smile cross her face. She realized he must not be having a happy stay in the palace and it pleased here. Perhaps soon he would understand that he would find no happiness in Paris and leave on his own accord and she could go back to the way life was before.
"Your heathen seems tired." Gisla commented to her father between a sip of wine.
"Perhaps he is not sleeping well without the company of his wife, daughter." Charles answered and gave her a pointed look.
"…these lands have been gifted to me and I am now a very great and important man." Rollo repeated finishing with confidence.
"Very good, Rollo." Abbot Lupus said slapping him on the back in congratulations. "You now speak those words with such fluency I could confuse you with a native speaker."
Rollo nodded in gratitude. It had taken him months to memorize the short speech, and even longer for him to work his mouth around all the strange sounds. But he was pleased to know that now when he visited his lands he would be able to tell the people there who he was and why they should listen to him.
"You know those words so well I do not think we need to practice them any more. What would you like to learn next?"
Rollo gave his question a moment of thought and then asked, "Is saying 'This is my wife Gisla' correct?"
"Yes that is right, but tell me do you think you will need to know those words."
Rollo's head snapped up in shock, "Yes. Why do you ask? Have you any news?" Rollo hated that a slight sign of fear had crept into his voice. But that could not be helped, he was afraid that she would leave him.
"Peace, peace Rollo. I have heard nothing. It was simply my understanding that nothing has changed between you and your wife."
Rollo nodded in agreement. He decided to play along because he did not want anyone interfering with his nightly visits. He felt like he was doing well enough on his own. "Yes that is true, nothing has changed."
"Then do you truly think it is necessary to learn those words? She is planning on divorcing you."
Rollo considered his words for a moment and then answered, "Yes, I know. But just the same I would like to know how to say these things."
Author's Note: Sorry it's short guys, life has been a little hectic. But I should be posting another chapter some time this week. Reviews are always read and appreciated.
