Erik the Conqueror (Gli invasori)

ERIK THE CONQUEROR

In the year 786 of the Christian era,

on the rocky shores of England, in the county of Dorset,

there appeared for the first time three great long vessels.

Blond giants, thirsty for blood,

eager for conquest, overwhelmed the island.

Destroying every fortification, and spreading terror and death.

The Vikings were invading Britain.

Many others followed that first landing,

and the sight of their huge bowed, square sailed vessels

came to mean disaster.

The long iron lance was their fearful weapon.

And from their icy land,

those fierce, invincible, pitiless pagans

established themselves solidly on those shores.

And so were born small kingdoms

whose strength came out of blood and slavery.

The only Viking king

desirous of peace and justice was Harald of the Order.

Thus King Lotar of Scotland had charged Sir Rutford

to negotiate with him for peace.

Lower your heads, my sons. Get down!

Here he is. It's King Harald. Down with him.

Ragnar, take Erik and Eron to safety.

My sons will avenge me one day.

It's a massacre.

Your plan was successful, Rutford.

- Now, sir? - Yes.

Erik!

Eron!

Eron!

The filthy plight of the Vikings is at last extirpated.

Never more to foul our glorious Britain.

Harald the King has been killed.

Never more will he come with his accursed Viking flag.

Enough, Rutford.

We give you credit for your triumph.

But we don't approve of your cruel ways.

You are guilty of a great massacre

that is not worthy of a British knight.

It is necessary in a war with barbarians.

Nothing justifies the betrayal

through which you conquered the country.

I gave you specific orders to negotiate with the king of the Vikings.

To negotiate without arms.

You were to persuade him to leave our soil

in exchange for sole sovereignty of the North Sea.

No pact with those barbarians, only war.

You will answer to God and man for disobeying your Sovereign.

Rutford, give me your sword.

From this moment on,

you are relieved of the command of the northern land and sea forces.

You will prepare to appear before the Tribunal

to answer for your conduct.

I hope your repentance is as sincere and deep as my regret.

Murderers!

It was him. He shot the arrow.

He pretended to be dead, this vile man. Burn him!

The King has passed away.

- Long live the Queen! - Long live the Queen!

Look. A child.

Don't cry, my little boy.

It's trembling with cold.

Look, Your Highness.

The mark of a Viking king.

What does it matter? He's just a boy.

God is very kind.

He sent this child to me

because he took away my beloved King.

This is the son I longed for.

No one will ever know who he is.

- Do you swear? - I swear, Your Majesty.

Don't look at him. They'll get suspicious.

Hear me, Odin. Our God and master.

This woman who sinned, breaking the vows of chastity

that made her your bride must die.

And the man who dared possess her and defy you must also die.

Oh, mighty Odin. We are heavy with their guilt.

Their bodies are offered to you to placate your anger.

Sire, this judgment... this judgment is monstrous.

Love is not a guilt.

Harald, my father,

would have understood and forgiven them.

Eron is wrong. Betrayal cannot be pardoned.

A vestal virgin has a vow to remain pure.

She is married only to Odin. When he is betrayed,

is not his terrible wrath unleashed on all of us?

I don't understand why you defend them so strongly.

Eron, your plea shows great generosity.

It moves my heart.

I would rather be buried than see my daughter suffer.

But die she shall.

I have asked no mercy. She has broken her vow.

She succumbed to earthly passion.

She wanted to love.

Garian is right.

She and her lover must die together.

All right. To the vultures.

Eron.

I thought I'd never see you again.

Nothing could keep me from you. Nothing.

But I'm so afraid for you. My love.

I won't let you risk your life for me.

Daya, when you were born, you were consecrated to the gods.

Now for our love, Odin will be... jealous.

- But we're stronger than him. - No, don't defy him, Eron.

I don't want to lose you.

What's that?

I'm scared of everything.

Don't be...

Only a king... by making you his wife

could release you from your vows.

- And I will be king. - You'll have to fight!

Yes, Daya.

I must be king.

And I Will.

Death.

Crush Queen Alice and all her kingdom.

Let us join forces with Norway, Sweden and Iceland.

Let us amass our power and crush these British

under the stones of their own fortresses.

The Vikings will dominate the North Sea.

We are with you, Olaf. You can count on our allegiance.

Iceland will follow you.

They owe me one eye. I will gladly join with you.

Now hear me, Olaf.

Each of us who has answered your appeal

is contributing all of his armies and men and vessels.

We can count on the blind obedience

of our faithful and brave soldiers.

And all of us have had the chance to show our courage in war.

But none of us has your wisdom or your knowledge.

Many years ago, one of your kings planted his banner on British soil

and was defeated only by treacherous betrayal.

We embark now on a path that will be long and dangerous.

There is one thing we need, Olaf.

- We want you for our leader. - Olaf!

I thank you, Garian.

I thank you all.

You have proven your faith in me

and that is the greatest prize a warrior can win.

But I'm too old, too tired.

In war, youth and courage count more than wisdom.

Therefore, I shall appoint a leader for you.

The son of my brother Harald.

Eron has his father's bravery and valor.

Oh no, Olaf. He is young and lacks experience.

If you refuse to command, I will lead the armies myself.

No, Garian. I have a far more important reason.

To avenge the death of my father and my brother.

- And to make yourself King? - It belongs to me.

Do you see this sign?

It was in the Viking flags that were planted in Britain.

This was the symbol of Harald. He covered it with glory and his blood.

That's enough!

The soldiers will decide this by putting it to a vote.

Each tribal chief will choose between them.

Garian!

Garian!

Garian!

Garian!

Eron!

Garian!

Garian!

Eron!

Eron!

Eron!

- One. - One.

- Two. - Two.

- Three. - Three.

Four.

Daya! What's wrong?

I'm frightened, Rama. Help me.

I would gladly help you if I could.

We were born from the same womb, at the same time.

Who understands you better than me?

Eron should never have set eyes on you.

Sacrilege.

And you. Why have you broken the vows that bind us to the gods?

Because I love him. I love him madly.

And you're afraid for him because he goes to war.

Don't you see, Daya? If he dies, you're absolved.

No, Rama. Don't say that.

Eron will be King.

With the power to free me from all of this.

Then this loves means so much that you risk your life

hoping that somehow he can keep such a promise.

Forty-eight.

Forty-nine.

50 for Garian!

50 for Eron!

So this then is the will of all men

as helpless as a boy with a rud of his boat.

I must then call upon the supreme God's help.

You must fight a duel with arms you will forge yourselves.

Odin will give the victory to whom he has appointed.

Rama, they're all shouting.

- I must go see. - No!

You'll betray yourself. They'll kill you along with him.

Daya! Rama!