Surprisingly, by the end of August, a sturdy hall had been built with an attached living quarters for the headman’s family, an improvement from the more hastily built community hall that would be at the centre of the village. The quarters for the headman’s family were left unoccupied. Though the assumption was that Rollo and Derelie would eventually take up residence in these lodgings, Derelie and her children were to remain in Long, to live a less conspicuous life with her extended family. Tatha, the village elder of Long was adamant that Derelie and her children should remain in Long.

Rollo walked through the new village, which was coming to life. Halfdan and Brest walked beside Rollo who was nodding with some satisfaction at the progress being made. The priest in Long had spoken to the Abbot about establishing a chapel in the new community. It had been only a matter of weeks before a young priest, Father Philippe was dispatched to ensure that the village got off on the right foot as a Christian community. The small, temporary church had been built in the style of the other thatched buildings in the community.

“Are you pleased with what we have done?” Brest asked Rollo.

“I am, but more importantly, my trusted friend, does it please you? After all, this whole village is your idea.”

Brest nodded with evident satisfaction.

“I am. Your idea to include Franks, especially tradespeople, will ensure that the village will be prosperous. The location is perfect here.”

Rollo, on the advice of Bran, Derelie’s father, had spoken to Father Philippe about finding willing French people to build within the new village, people who would willingly be the tradespeople that every town needs to survive. As well as tradespeople, those willing to farm were also welcome.  If the plan to have this new village become prominent, leaving the village of Long less exposed, the more French people they could get to settle, the sooner that this plan could come to fruition.

Several of the French families from Long had willingly agreed to relocate when given a plot of prime agricultural land along the river. The new village was being built near relatively flat meadows which were not so easily found in Long. Their exodus in Long was quietly appreciated by the Ambiani as they were replaced by a mixture of Pict and Danish families. The French trades people remained in Long along with those who were too established and comfortable to take advantage of pioneering a new village.

Returning to the headman’s hall, Rollo turned to Brest, “Brest this place is now yours. You are to be the headman. One of your sons will inherit this village as its headman when it is his turn. I do hope that you will serve as headman in my name.”

Brest grinned and replied, “I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’ll rule in your name until you decide to claim the role. And I’ll make sure my sons agree to this.”

Rollo clasped Brest’s hand in his in appreciation before asking him, “So what will you call this place?”

“Since we are in truth, an extension of the village of Long, and because these meadows are going to be the real wealth of the village, I suggest the name Long Meadows, or as is it is said in the local French, Longpré.”

* * *

The autumn equinox was ending, and the weather became cooler as rain showers became more frequent. Rollo was surprised at the number of people who appeared in the hamlet. More than a hundred others who hadn’t sailed with Rollo, nor were residents of the new hamlet of Longpré, appeared and joined in the seasonal celebrations. Most of the village residents were a mixture of Picts, Danes, and Franks. A few Flemish people were also visible.

Like the Picts, many of the local people were clothed in as little as possible despite the weather. The exception were those Franks who were tradesmen and landowners who used their clothing to distinguish themselves from the others whom they viewed as socially, and even racially inferior.

Rollo could now see differences between the Ambiani and the Picts, though the differences were minor. There was no doubt that the two peoples shared a common ancestry. He was in Picardy, the land of the Ambiani. And now, a small part of that land was his and would remain his through his son Lugos, and grandsons, who would be half Norse and half Ambiani.

Three days after the feast that had accompanied the blessing of the village, the consecration of the new church, and the installation of Brest as its headman, by the Abbott of Abbéville, Rollo left the village of Long to return downstream to the sea. There were battles to wage. It would be several years before he would be able to return to the village, his village, more years than even he would have ever guessed.