Vikings

Are you going to proceed with

the execution of Jarl Borg?

I am.

I understand your reasons.

At the same time,

without Jarl Borg's ships and warriors,

we cannot hope to mount a successful raid on Wessex.

We will find another ally.

When?

Soon.

I have sent out word.

Are you suggesting that my brother should reprieve Jarl Borg

as if nothing has happened?

No. lam merely asking you stay your hand

until another ally is found.

The execution of Jarl Borg made public

would surely discourage and deter any possible partners.

Fine. I shall wait.

But at least we are still allies, King Horik.

I want my revenge on King Ecbert

and I shall have it,

come what may.

Sire, forgive me. No, no.

Please, you are about more important things

than greeting a dying king.

You are dying?

We're all dying, Athelstan.

Only these remain.

Fragments.

Undying fragments.

Immortal words.

I have some news.

King Aelle and his family are to pay us a visit from Northumbria.

Is that not where you come from?

Yes, I was born there,

and then sent to the monastery at Lindisfarne.

Then you would call it home?

No.

I can call nowhere home.

Well, I hope that,

someday perhaps,

you will be able to call this place home.

Hold! Hold your advance!

Father, do they know who we are?

King Ecbert, I've traveled many miles to meet you.

So that together, you and I,

Wessex and Northumbria, can save our country.

God save England!

God save England!

God save England.

God save England!

God save England! God save England!

God save England! God save England!

God save England!

I've had dreams of the Priest Athelstan.

He comes to me, but I do not know where he is...

In Valhalla or in Hel?

He is in neither place.

Then he is alive?

He is physically alive, but his spirit is tormented.

He does not know himself. I see that.

You must tell me where he is.

He is with a man you know.

A foreigner. A King.

I have some news for you.

I am carrying our child.

Does it make you sad?

No, Helga.

It fills me with joy.

Unbelievable joy.

You are the vessel which will carry our child to this shore.

And I am the father.

Floki the Carpenter.

Floki the Fisherman.

Floki the Father!

Poor child to have such a father.

No, you will be a wonderful father.

No, Helga, I'll be the worst father!

And my child!

Oh, you gods, what have I done?

Now you're frightening me. Please don't frighten me.

I was so happy.

You're... You're right.

No, I'm a fool.

I always was a fool.

We shall be so happy.

You and I, and our beautiful child.

Let's get married, Helga.

There is no one else for me now.

Let's get married, and may the gods bless us,

as they surely will,

for we are such friends to them.

Yes.

And all of our friends. Torstein and Ragnar and...

No, not Ragnar.

But... But he... No.

I said not Ragnar.

Everything here is for Ragnar.

I've known him a long time.

I helped him rise, I built his ships.

And now he is Earl, Earl Ragnar,

and our little world waits upon him and eats from his hand.

But he cannot have everything.

He cannot have you and me.

Now, Kvasir was a man of great wisdom.

He could answer all the little children's questions.

The story of Kvasir's wisdom

soon reached the ears of two horrible brothers,

the dwarves Galar and Fjalar.

And these dwarves hated Kvasir

for being so clever.

So, they lured him into a gloomy chamber,

and then they snuck up on him,

and then they stabbed him, dead!

And his blood spurted everywhere.

- Bed time. - Aw.

What is troubling you?

What is troubling me is that you do not trust me.

I don't trust you?

That night you captured Jarl Borg,

you told me nothing of what you meant to do.

I sent someone to find you.

They could not find you.

Where were you?

I was with Porunn.

Ah.

So, it was your decision.

You chose to be with her, rather than me.

I only ask to be kept in your confidence as your son.

I will be the judge of how far I take you into my confidence.

But as a father, I will give you some advice.

Think with this...

Not with your...

As agreed.

What do you want?

Have you come here to gloat?

Are you looking forward to my execution?

Have you ever seen anyone being blood-eagled before?

I'm told it is the worst, most painful death of all...

But astonishing.

Truly astonishing to those who watch.

I will take no pleasure in your death.

Once, you would not have said that.

Certain things have changed.

They've changed because Ragnar Lothbrok has humiliated you.

It's only the start of his real ambitions.

Meaning?

Meaning Ragnar Lothbrok wants to be King.

Isn't that obvious to you, King Horik?

Why would he stop at assassinating me?

He's Ragnar Lothbrok.

His fame eclipses even yours.

Let us say I believe you.

What would you have me do?

I would arrange for my escape.

And then I would kill Ragnar Lothbrok and make his brother Earl.

That's what I would do if I were you.

I've brought you something.

What is wrong?

I have never had such a pregnancy.

So much pain.

I am afraid.

Afraid of what?

When Ragnar came to the farmhouse, he wanted to have sex.

I told him if he forced himself on me

in the first three days of his return, I would bear him a monster.

Do you think you are carrying a monster?

I do not know what made me say the things I said to Ragnar.

The words came out of my mouth, but I did not choose them.

I spoke them, but the gods chose them.

What are you going to do about Jarl Borg?

You know exactly what I'm going to do.

Then why haven't you done it? What're you waiting for?

I told the King that I would wait.

I don't understand, brother.

Why do you keep making concessions to Horik?

Because he is the King.

Why won't you talk to me?

There is not much to say.

We have everything to say to each other.

You can tell me about your whole life.

And I can tell you about mine.

There is not much to say about my life. I've always been a servant.

Porunn.

That is your life on the outside, as others would see it.

But your life on the inside is different.

What hopes do you have? What dreams?

I have neither hopes nor dreams.

People like me don't have hopes or dreams.

Wait.

I thought you might be thirsty.

Thank you, Princess Aslaug.

You are kind.

I feel sorry for you.

It is all the same with we women.

We just give birth to the slaughtered.

Poor Bjorn.

You feel the pangs, do you?

Perhaps too early.

Life is something to be experienced later.