They were eating in the great room, a storm raging on the outside of the castle, when a guard entered. He looked panicked and ran litterally to the table screaming:

- THEY ARE COMING! THEY ARE COMING!

- Who, Rollo asked while standing.

- The northmen, my lord.

The man said that last sentence with an extreme fear highlighted by a thunderclap. Knowing what they were able to do to the people of the places they invaded, Rollo's people were terrified of the vikings.

- Well, let's welcome them then, he ordered.

Gisla looked shocked. How could he welcome the very men that violated her city, him who promised the king he would defend Frankia from his kind, she thought.

- Is it very necessary ? They are our ennemies! We must stop them, we must fight them!

- It is. It is called diplomacy. And besides, I don't want to spread the blood of my people again. This time, there won't be any forgiveness.

- So you choose to be weak ?! I thought you were on our side now.

- I am on the side of my people. All of my people.

Gisla pouted. Rollo headed toward the exit of his fortress to welcome Ragnar and his men. He waited by the harbour while Gisla gave her orders in the castle to clean everything for their guests. All of sudden, the fortress became a hive of activity as servants bustled around every room to make beds for the highest ranked northmen. When everything was ready, she went to change in her room and went waiting by the entrance.

When the ship moored by the shore, everyone Rollo brought with him helped the new arrivals to unpack their ship under a heavy rain. He looked around him. Apparently, Ragnar brought an entire army with him. Rollo guessed it was to take Paris and several other lands and cities. As he made this conclusion, he saw several familiar faces. He saw Ragnar, of course, Björn, Lagertha, Kalf and some other warriors he fought with. He knew, when he saw them, that, he actually missed them a lot. Ragnar came closer to him.

- I saw the light, he said. Why would you want us to meet here. Rollo, what happened? Why didn't you stay at the camp?

- I can see you recovered, brother.

Indeed, Ragnar was, as always, in full shape. He even seemed stronger than before, Rollo thought.

- Answer my question!

- Fine. Let's discuss of that in a place more quiet.

He waved at them to follow him. They all walked toward the fortress as Rollo's family's faces were getting more and more confused.

When they entered the great hall, Gisla greeted them and offered her a drink. Ragnar seemed even more puzzeled as before as he asked Rollo:

- What is it ? What is she doing here?

- Sit please. All of you.

- ANSWER MY QUESTION!

- We are married and expecting a child.

- How, Ragnar asked more angry than puzzled.

- After you left, the king made me an offer I couldn't refuse.

- What did he offered to you to made you betray me? Again.

- These lands. Of course I did conquer a large part of other lands, but he gave me a large territory, the title of Duke and the hand of his daughter.

- So that is the price of your treason, Lagertha said.

- I didn't betray you, Rollo said. I followed your plans. You wanted a land where our people could farm? Here it is!

- And how could it be different from what happened in Wessex, Kalf asked suspicious.

- This time, I will follow my word. I will never let my people being killed by christians again.

Gisla witnessed all this exchange, perplexed. She couldn't understand what they said and she didn't like it. Neither did she liked that bald man who once took her hostage during the mess. He was like a snake, she thought. He couldn't be trusted.

Rollo's servants came in the great hall, carriying some cask of beer and cider. They also brought some meat, fruits and pastries. The vikings began to feast, drinking all that passed by their eyes like they haven't drink anything since they left their home. But the most silents of all were Rollo's family. They stared at him accusing sights on their faces. When everybody fell asleep, only Ragnar, Lagertha, Rollo, Gisla, Björn and Kalf remained awake. The duke offered them to sleep in private rooms in the castle and they nodded as a sign of approval. Thus, Rollo led them to their room. But when it was Björn's turn, he held the door and asked:

- You haven't speak since you arrived. Is there something that bothers you ?

- I'm just glad you are well, uncle, he said without looking at him.

- But you don't talk to me.

- I thought you were more loyal to my father. I always admired you for your loyalty toward him and our people.

- I am still loyal to our people. And considering your father, I've always wanted us to be equals. Now, we are.

- Is that what you are ? A greedy man looking for his own brother's belongings?

Rollo remained silent as Björn spat this last sentence to him like he was next to nothing. He was shocked of the violence Björn was talking to him. Him, who always liked him and respected him. Rollo took care of his nephew, and this was the way he rewarded him. Then, he felt all the sorrow of losing Siggy come back. He was heartbroken.

- Goodnight uncle, Björn said.

Then he closed the door without any look toward Rollo who standed there for a couple more minutes before getting back to his own room with his wife.

When the castle woke up the day after the northmen arrived, it was already time for supper. Of course, everyone got a terrible hangover which leaded to headaches, vomit and dizzy heads. Everyone was sick except for Rollo, Gisla, Ragnar, Björn and Lagertha. While Gisla and her maids of honor were occupied making some tapestries and other noble arts, and Lagertha and her son were training and checking on their mens, Rollo and Ragnar visited the castle. Ragnar looked unimpressed, just as usual, when Rollo made everything he could to show his brother how great it could be if there was a settlement in his lands. Every servants in the castle bowed before the duke and his king of a brother, which, led to Ragnar's frustration. They finally arrived on the highest of the four towers, and both leant on the small wall. They both stayed, looking at the view for a few minutes, before Rollo decides to speak.

- Björn called me greedy last night, he said as a fact.

- Are you, the king asked suspicious.

- Maybe. Well … I was … before. You know it didn't end well.

- I know.

The silence came back only broken by birds's tweets and the bustle of the army of northmen who were setting a camp. It was not very long before Ragnar strikes back.

- You betrayed me. How could you do that to me? After everything we've been trough.

- I said it before, he said looking at Ragnar, I didn't betray you, nor the gods.

- I didn't mentionned the gods, he sighed. I only talked about me.

- I didn't betray you.

- And how can I trust you, Ragnar screamed. You married this princess, you gave her a child and you bowed before the king of Frankia! How can I be sure you are still the Rollo I know?! How can I be sure you won't stab me in the back!

- I didn't bow to the king, Rollo muttered. And besides, the gods granted me a gift. How fool would I be if I didn't accepted their offer?!

- Ha! You didn't bow to him! What a relief, he screamed.

Rollo could feel all the irony and the sarcasm in the voice of his brother which made him in such a fury he stroke the wall and broke a few stones. He turned his sight straight to Ragnar's eyes and his fury was so intense Ragnar thought he was going to rip his head and his heart off. But instead, he just said in a cold voice:

- You're not gonna lecture me Ragnar. I won't accept it coming from you.

- What do you mean by that?

- Your baptism. You bowed in front of a god and for what? For a man?

- For victory! And what about you? You bowed for a mere woman.

- I didn't bow before the king. I mad him fall and took his daughter away from him.

- You think I'm gonna believe that ?!

- Try me.

Rollo said it with a menacing tone and it took a few moments of realization to Ragnar to accept the truth. They both got back to staring at the landscape in silence before talking again.

- How can I prove to you that I am not betraying you, Rollo asked.

Ragnar gave it a thought and shooked his beard a little before he gave his answer to his brother.

- A compromise.

- Tell me.

- We will not attack Paris...

- Fine.

- … But you have to promise nothing will happen to us while we are here and find us a city to attack. It has to be rich.

- Is that all you want brother?

- Yes.

- Then, we have an agreement.

They shook hands and got back to their staring. The wind was strong in this part of the castle and it made Rollo's hair were straming in the wind whereas Ragnar's beard was just moving a little. It was just as if the gods were giving them a sign of approval.

- Do you love her, Ragnar asked him all of sudden.

Rollo looked at him for a few moments.

- Yes, he said. With all my heart.

- Good. I'm happy you found love again, Ragnar said not looking.

- And I'm happy to see you again.

Ragnar stared at Rollo, his eyes full of what seemed to be brotherly love and they huged for a brief moment. Suddenly, it started raining and Rollo suggested they came back inside, at what Ragnar agreed and, arm in arm, they headed toward the great hall to discuss with the other members of the family of the compromise.

Gisla already finished her tapestry and she began to get bored. Her maids of honor were doing other tings and seemed to have fun, but she was bored. She came to the small window and looked at the barbarians she hated so much. She saw the woman who ate with her and her husband and what seemed to be her son train together in the yard, in the middle of cows, horses, sheeps and servants. The woman's sword swung in the air as the boy was defending hiself with an axe. He stroke back, but she anticipated his move and rose her shield to her face. They fought like that for a few minutes, giving and receiving swift blows with an extreme violence. But it was nothing compared to what Rollo could do, she thought. He was clearly stronger and had more stamina than they seemed to have. Still, she couldn't help but to be impressed by that blonde haired woman who fought as well as the most skilled men. She was kind of envious. They made a little break and got back to it soon after. That was at this moment she decided to stand up from her chair near the window and to leave the room. She had trouble walking as her belly slowed her down,but she still managed to get to the yard. As she paced toward the two warriors, a few of the northmen who were also training there noticed her and stand back respectfully. She stopped about halfway between the door and the fighters and she watched them. She couldn't tell how long it had been as she was hypnotized by their wide moves, but they eventually noticed her and stopped their training with some suspicious looks on their faces. The woman came straight to her with his son behing her and stopped just in front of her.

- Why did you come here, Lagertha asked.

Gisla tried to understand what she said but could barely recognize some of the words she learned by hearing Rollo talk to his men. She still managed to babble some words with a terrible accent.

- You good fight.

- What, Lagertha asked as if she was offended.

- You fight good, she said as she was measuring every words.

- Thanks, Lagertha replied.

Then, came an awkward silence as the two women were sizing each other up with vikings warriors behind Lagertha and a few of Rollo's men behind Gisla. The silence was so loud and everyone were so motionless, you could merely hear a fly flying. This was the kind of tension you could feel in the battlefield before a great battle. Then, Björn moved forward to his mother's side and raised his sword toward Gisla's heart. As he was doing it, the two guards Gisla brought with her from her father's castle rushed to her side unsheathing their swords.

- What do you want, Björn asked angrily.

Gisla standed right were she was as Björn came closer, still menacing her with his sword. She didn't step back at her husband's body, nor to any vikings, and she definitely wasn't going to do it any time soon. The boy had to move first.

- You came to spy on us, huh? Is that what my uncle wants you to do? Spy? Is that his ultimate sign of betrayal? Tell me, woman, how are you living the fact being a traitor's wife? What sorcery did you do to him for him to betray his own family?!

- Björn! That's enough, the woman said firmly.

- But mother! This woman is the reason why my uncle betrayed us! She is responsible for turning him into something he is not!

- Your uncle loves this woman. He is founding a family and she bears your cousin, you should show her some respect. Besides, if your uncle is happy that way, then, so be it. He earned it.

Gisla couldn't understand a word they said, but she knew the boy was not saying good things about her. She gave them her fierce stare as they were talking about her and the woman seemed to like that. But Björn raised his sword and brought it closer to her chest. The tension was now so dense, everyone began to fidget nervously. The vikings and the knights seemed to start a fight in any moment when Rollo and Ragnar showed up in the yard.

- What's going on here, Rollo roared as he saw the crowd ready to fight.

Ragnar was walking behind him and seemed to be very upset about the situation as he gave his son a disappointed glance. Rollo moved Björn's sword away from Gisla's chest and standed between her and his nephew. He backed up as Rollo's menacing and imposing stature came closer to him, while Ragnar came by his side.

- How dare you threaten my wife in my castle, Rollo said menacingly.

- And how dare you betray your own brother, uncle, Björn said provoking Rollo.

Rollo let a long sigh out of his chest and shook his head exasperated by his nephew's attitude.

Gisla could only see her husband's back but she felt quite relieved he was here to protect her. With her round belly, she doubted she could do anything to defend herself and she couldn't have endured it much longer considering her state. The woman named Lagertha came to Rollo and said:

- How can we trust you after everything you've done in the past?

- We worked this trough earlier with Ragnar, Rollo said. We have made an agreement.

Lagertha looked at Ragnar as she was in great shock.

- You did WHAT ?

Ragnar seemed exasperated too as he rolled his eyes and shook his beard in a sign of anger. He stepped forward Lagertha and Björn and said, his mouth close to Lagertha's face.

- I made a deal.

- And can we know why?

- I won't shed the blood of my family for a mere city where there are plenty others to conquer! Rollo is my brother and I want to keep a bond with him.

- Why didn't you asked us FIRST ?!

- I didn't judge it necessary as I am and ALWAYS BE the KING!

Lagertha gave him a death stare as Ragnar turned back on her to put his hand on Rollo's shoulder. He patted it and went back inside quickly followed by Rollo who, protectively moved his arm around her back, leaving two angry vikings behind them; Björn, toward his uncle and Lagertha toward Ragnar.