Beowulf: Return to the Shieldlands

I am Keela of the Mere.

I agreed to this marriage to strengthen the tribes.

If war lies ahead, then we'll all be thankful for it... even Slean.

I can't think of anything worse than being in love.

Who said anything about love? This is about power.

I don't like this place.

Then go home. Face that lynch mob.

There are two sides to every story.

The Shieldings need a true Jarl.

You could be one and I the other.

Whoever's behind this is a man and a traitor.

A traitor in Herot? I don't think so.

- Who's that? - Abrecan's woman.

Let's go.

- Saray. - Rheda.

I'm so pleased to finally meet you.

How's Abrecan?

- His wound? - That's better.

He asked I stand for him at Slean's union with Keela.

Saray, you are my brother's love.

And so you are my sister.

You must have seen places much grander than this in the Farlands.

None ruled by a woman.

You must each choose a second to be your companion

and look after your interests during the rituals.

And you'll attend your binding of friends and kin.

- I have no kin here. - My mother and others will join you.

Then tomorrow we'll meet at the grey stones for the truth telling.

And after that, it's all over with.

Keela, this is Saray from Bregan.

- You know my son. - Your bride is beautiful.

Thank you. If you'll excuse me.

Rheda, must I be guarded all the time?

Your marriage to my son must go ahead

or your father will revoke his support for me

and the other Thanes will question my right to be Jarl of the Shieldlands.

I don't really understand such things.

But I do know that I must marry Slean.

And I know I will come to love him.

Why are you here, Hane?

For your wedding.

And to see you play the good son.

As your uncle requested.

Perfume for the bride.

Milked from a lake viper.

It only has to touch her skin.

She'll be dead in moments.

This wedding cannot take place.

Abrecan is counting on you.

- Where's the Reeve? - Why?

What's it to you?

- I'm the Reeve. - Then we're looking for work.

- What's your trade? - Carpenters.

Then they can use you on the wall.

I'm going there now, why don't you come?

Maybe tomorrow.

Who are you?

A friend of the Reeve.

Do you have any other friends?

Like I said, I've things to attend to.

That him?

The other one's the Reeve.

Have to re-think how we handle it.

- Elvina. - No, it's me.

Saray.

- I'm meant to give you this. - Oh.

Varr said I can't accept gifts.

It'll be our secret, then.

All brides should smell sweet for their wedding.

But remember... it's our secret.

Sit down.

We'll take what we came for while they're nursing sore heads.

You wanted to talk?

I need a second.

To support me.

You're serious?

Call it building bridges.

All right.

Keela, it's time for your rituals.

Elvina, will you be my second?

I like the dress. Very fetching.

From the bride.

For the game.

We need to meet.

Discuss any reasons the marriage shouldn't go ahead.

If we don't fulfil our duties, their union could be void.

- Go away. - The future of the

Shieldlands depends upon it.

All right.

Later.

Beowulf!

Let's celebrate.

In the old way!

- Ready? - Ready.

Would you put it on for me?

Please?

Oh, the cloth absorbs the smell.

- Use your fingers. - Of course.

- I'm so sorry. - It was a mistake.

That's all.

We help Slean retrieve the token to give to his bride.

Sounds easy enough.

Yaaah!

Argh!

Whoa!

Breca!

Aaaah!

Open the gate!

Come on, you stinking Mudborn.

Argh!

Come on!

Slean.

Slean, the tower!

Come on!

Gimme your arm.

Come on!

Slean.

Quiet, Keela's sleeping.

So are they ready for this marriage?

I see no season why Slean shouldn't marry Keela, do you?

He's still in love with you.

Isn't that a reason?

No, I don't think it is.

He must put his own feelings aside and do what is best for all.

Would you put aside what you want for the sake of others?

It's what we all must do.

If a man or a woman spends their whole life pleasing others,

then they're not living at all.

Be yourself.

Or nothing at all.

It must be very liberating to think like that.

Try it.

Tell a truth at each stone.

Only then can you look upon one another

and light the fire signifying your union.

You will then be man and wife.

Have you ever loved anyone?

No.

Do you really want to marry me?

Yes. With all my heart.

I thought before I came here that you would be...

In Mere, they say that all the men in Herot are filthy

and smell of charcoal.

I wish we'd known each other then.

When we were young.

Do you want to be Thane?

Argh!

Argh!

What are you doing? I have to do this.

This is what you want. If she dies, you'll be Thane.

This was never planned.

She's innocent to all this.

Tell my uncle I am done with him.

Go.

Go!

Get out!

Are you all right?

She tried to kill me.

You let her go.

- We must go back. - No.

We aren't done here.

Don't you understand?

I've betrayed my mother, I've plotted with my uncle.

That woman was sent here to kill you!

But you saved me.

Why?

I don't know.

You have no part in any of this, you're just a piece being moved

in a game of which you have no understanding.

Don't I?

I killed my sister.

She is the one who should have been with you today.

Even as the world turned to dust, Mara had everything.

People loved he because she was kind.

My father loved her because she was first.

And she had Rowan.

And then...

the chance to escape.

To never feel hunger.

Or fear.

To need for nothing.

She died of a fever.

She was recovering.

I poisoned her.

Slean, I will never breathe a word of what you have done,

of what happened here today.

Walk away.

I owe you my life, you owe me nothing.

Or stay.

I can't.

Because you love Elvina?

I know, but she is Beowulf's.

He came to her bed last night.

We don't choose who we love.

Or who loves us.

But we can choose who we make our way through this world with.

Light the fire with me.

You wish to be Thane?

I can help you.

Against whoever stands in your way.