[horse neighs]
[Leif] That is southeast.
[chanting in Arabic]
You trust that thing?
Yes.
How do you know your marks and sightings are telling you the truth?
Each day I am doubtful of its gifts.
And each day it proves me wrong.
Funny.
I never thought of you as a scholar.
Or you as a fur trader, but here we are.
-The ropes are secure? -Hmm.
You're good to begin.
[Kurya] I am worried.
When the river reaches the Lake of the Mountains we will be halfway.
[low rumbling]
What is that?
[horses whinnying]
[Harald] Easy.
What is that noise?
It is the ice talking.
[rumbling continues]
[ice creaking]
[rumbling stops]
[bell tolling]
Your Highness summoned me.
I'm aware of your relationship with Lady Aelfwynn,
and have been for weeks.
-You wooed her in secret? -That should not surprise you.
What surprises me is that you would embark on such a perilous relationship.
If Your Highness refers to Aelfwynn's position in your household,
I can assure you that she does not spy for me,
for such an arrangement could work both ways.
We kept it a secret until I could obtain your husband's blessing of marriage,
which I have just received, and intended to share.
What do you know of her background?
I know she has three sisters. All older and married.
Her father was displaced, like many,
when King Canute placed Jarl Nori in Northumbria.
Is that all?
If you're asking if I love her,
the answer is yes.
What would you say if I told you
her brother was the man who tried to kill me?
That you're wrong. She doesn't have one. She would've told me.
Half-brother. And she has confirmed it with me.
Are you suggesting that Aelfwynn was involved in the plot against your life?
Actually, no, Earl Godwin. I believe it is you who was behind it.
May I remind Your Highness that it was my hand that saved your life.
Had I wanted you dead, would I not have allowed it to happen?
That is exactly the question I've not been able to answer.
Then take me to the dungeon and ask me there.
It is not you I intend to take there.
You cannot be serious.
If the roles were reversed and it was your life at risk,
would you not do the same thing to learn the truth?
I thought so.
Your Highness, I beg you.
Do not make Aelfwynn the battleground in our differences.
I have my failings, that is true, but she is innocent.
Give me time to prove that to you, and to find the answers you ask for.
You've had time.
It is now up.
-[water splashes] -[chuckles]
-Deep as my elbow. -[Harald] Three hands thick.
We have plenty of time before the thaw.
Maybe in Norway.
What concerns you?
The ice dam breaking.
What is the ice dam?
It is a wall of ice that moves like a wave,
crushing everything in its path.
If we are out here when it appears, we will not have time to escape it.
How much time do we have?
A week? A day?
The river is long. It may already be on its way.
What do you suggest?
That we move this sled off the river and wait until it passes.
We're a day's journey from the lake which is free of ice.
You said so yourself.
For all we know the Pechenegs are all around us.
We take our chances and push on.
Load up!
[woman vocalizing]
Come.
What have you found? Where does she go?
She goes nowhere.
Just the forest to collect herbs and roots.
And does she see the refugees?
[Jorundr sighs]
Sometimes.
They treat her as priestess, with respect, as Harekr wishes--
She should not see them. It is bad.
I work with them, Mother. They're not bad people.
I think Freydis is right.
They should be allowed to come to Jomsborg.
Is there a girl?
What if there was?
Harekr would not approve.
Maybe… it is time for a change.
-[woman] I think it's going to be a boy. -[Freydis] You think so?
[woman] Yes. I think so.
She has told you.
It means nothing to me. I know that you're innocent.
Oh, thank God.
[Aelfwynn sighs and chuckles]
I was worried that when she told you, you would abandon me.
I would never leave you. In the eyes of God, you are my wife.
I've already sent word to Canute
explaining the situation and begging for your release,
but until then, you must be strong
and listen to me carefully.
The queen is going to question you.
I'm not afraid. I've already told her the truth.
This is very different.
She isn't interested in the truth or you.
This is about me.
You?
But you knew nothing of my brother.
-He was not a part of my family. -I believe you, but the queen does not.
She feels that I've manipulated you into joining a crime against her life,
and she intends to prove that.
I have nothing to fear. I will tell the truth.
No. You must tell her that it was me.
Tell her I was behind it.
That would be a lie.
Then she would take you from me and I'd have nothing.
[door opens]
I'm going with her.
No. Queen's orders.
[Aelfwynn] Do not worry.
I will tell the truth. For it is all that I know.
It's beautiful.
Was it a gift form Earl Godwin?
He gave it to me as a symbol of his love… and the future.
You're lucky to have felt real love.
You will too.
Canute wants me to marry a prince or a king.
He does not care if I ever feel love.
God knows your goodness, Gytha.
And will take care of you.
If something should happen to me…
will you give this back to him for me?
And tell him…
that my love never wavered.
The river is narrowing.
It means we are nearing the Lake of the Mountains.
I know you are smiling.
Should I not be? We're nearly there.
When we reach the lake,
I will smile with you.
[Cadlin] Describe Constantinople again.
It's big.
Much larger than Novgorod.
With a massive wall around it and brilliant sunlight.
I'm excited to go back.
You will like it.
I hope.
[all yelling and grunting]
Come here! [laughs]
[sighs]
[Olaf] Stop!
You rely too much on the sword.
The axe is a Viking's weapon of choice.
[all grunting]
[laughs]
[yelling]
[grunting]
[laughing]
Let me try again.
[Hallbjorn] Jarl Olaf!
This is Gutlag.
He's just come from the east with news of your brother.
-Where is he? Jomsborg? -[Gutlag] No.
He's in Rus.
I saw him in Novgorod over a month ago, meeting with Yaroslav "The Wise."
He was with the Greenlander, Leif Eriksson.
And the woman, Freydis?
There was no woman with them.
Are you sure?
Positive.
Prepare the ships.
[Hallbjorn] Of course.
[Olaf sighs]
You're leaving again?
Yes.
If Harald is in Novgorod,
it means he's meeting with our uncle to raise an army against Kattegat.
It is not wise to wait for it to arrive.
Go gather your things. We're going to the Rus.
Here.
[chuckles]
And how long will you be gone?
Do I sense that I will be missed?
Well, I was just getting used to you.
[man shouting indistinctly]
[woman crying]
[man 2 coughing]
[woman 2 whimpers, shouts]
[priest chanting in Latin]
-[whimpering] -[priest continues chanting]
Amen.
[crying]
I've already told you everything.
I did not know my brother was in London.
I did not know he wished to kill you.
-[Emma] Shh. Aelfwynn. -If I did, I would have warned you.
Aelfwynn.
-[Aelfwynn crying] -I do not want to hurt you.
Then believe me.
I have already told you the truth.
It is all I know.
I think you know more about Godwin.
And we must discover what you know together.
Now, what did Godwin tell you about the Bear?
I have never heard that name.
[Aelfwynn gasping]
[whimpering]
It's the truth, it…
I'll ask again.
The Bear.
I know nothing.
-[bones crunch] -[screaming]
I think the Emperor would be interested in my girls.
They are exotic and all pure.
I have my own buyers, of course, in the Valley of Lamentations,
but you look like a man who could put in a good word for me at court.
A word that would be rewarded.
I hope you rot in hell.
What did you say to me, boy?
Do that again!
Stop!
He's only saying what is obvious to all of us.
Now go away and leave us alone.
Control your slave or I will teach him the lessons you have failed to!
Come, come. Go.
"The energy of the mind…
is the essence…
of life."
I never thought of life like that.
That is what learning is about.
A constant movement of ideas.
[ice cracking]
[horses whinnying]
Easy.
[Kaysan exclaims]
No, stop! Save their strength.
Everyone out. We have to lighten the boat.
Kaysan, you and Batu get us logs.
Dorn, Brigtoc, mind the horses.
[Dorn] Yeah, right away.
I'll smile yet.
Lighten the load.
[groans]
Nice try.
I know where you want to put that axe.
[horses snorting]
[Harald] Get ready to push! Now!
[all grunting]
It's rising!
[all panting]
-Again! -Harald, the horses need to rest.
We cannot stop.
Once night falls, the river will freeze again.
The sled will be trapped. Let's try again.
[all grunting]
Kaysan, a new log.
No. We need to rest.
Water the horses.
We will take a break.
[panting]
-[Emma] I'll ask you again. -[Aelfwynn crying]
Why are you protecting him?
I am not protecting him.
I'm telling you the truth.
He has used you.
Or maybe you have misjudged him.
No.
He found a place in court by murder and deceit.
But not with me.
He trusts me. He can tell me things.
Such as?
[Aelfwynn] His youth in Sussex.
His father and his hatred of him.
And me?
He has never spoken a word against Your Highness.
Never!
Search your memory again.
[Aelfwynn whimpering]
There's nothing there to find!
[screaming]
Go ahead.
Say it.
If you're asking me to blame you, I wouldn't start with today.
[Leif sighs]
[Harald sighs]
I cannot help it.
I need to get there. I have so much to prove.
But I should have listened to Kurya.
And stopped.
You think you're the only one who is desperate to get there?
Look at them.
They all want to get to Constantinople.
-You're just the loudest. -[chuckles softly]
Do not stop now.
[speaks Latin]
[in English] What's that?
-More Greek? -[chuckles] No.
No, it's Latin.
It means "fortune favors the bold."
That's you.
We need more wood.
[indistinct chatter]
You're a dangerous man.
I'm a calculating man.
[Olaf sighs]
Do you really have to go?
Yes.
But I will return.
Make sure you do.
[chuckles softly]
What were you doing in my mother's chambers?
I was simply saying goodbye.
When my father leaves for battle, he never spends so long saying goodbye.
[Olaf] Yes, well…
Your father is a king.
He's much more efficient in his goodbyes than I am.
Are you ready?
I am.
-[exclaiming] -[horses whinnying]
Now!
[all grunting]
Move! [exclaiming]
[straining]
[boat creaking]
[Harald] Push!
[all grunting]
It worked! We did it!
Yes!
[all laughing]
All right! Let's go!
What is this?
It's coming.
The ice dam has broken.
Release the horses. Cut the boat free now!
[Leif] Kaysan. The mallets!
[horses whinnying]
Go, go!
-My coat! -I've got it.
[exclaims] Move!
[screams]
-[Kaysan] Go. -[Batu] Move!
[Vitomir] Hold the coat.
Help!
[exclaiming]
You have to hold on. You have to hold! Pull!
[Harald grunting]
[rumbling]
Everyone onboard!
Get back!
Father!
Harald!
Run!
[gasping]
[Elena] No!
Father!
Get me in!
Brace yourselves!
[water gushing]
[Leif] Oars in!
Here.
I'm sorry.
[moaning softly]
[weakly] He lost everything, but his ring.
[Emma] His ring?
He gave it away, he told me.
What else did he tell you?
[labored breathing]
[Emma] What do you talk about…
in the quiet moments?
In the happy moments.
Love.
Our future.
What did that look like?
Children.
He wanted many.
And a son to be king.
King?
Revive her.
You knew she was his daughter?
Vitomir confided in me before we left.
He was scared for her to travel as a girl.
Now she has no choice.
So, your name is Elena.
Yes.
I couldn't save your father and you.
I promised him I would deliver his treasure to Constantinople.
I have moved his chest with my belongings.
I will protect it with my life.
Thank you.
[bell tolling]
She is gone.
And did you learn what you wanted?
No.
But I have no regrets.
"No regrets."
You are a murderer.
-Silence. -No.
You have taken the one decent thing from my life,
when I gave you everything.
-My loyalty… -Silence!
…my faithfulness.
You took my wife!
God may forgive you. But I never will.
[door opens]
I'm sorry.
I did not mean to interrupt.
Please, princess.
Go away.
She wanted you to have this.
-Were you close to her? -Yes.
I knew she was in love.
But she never spoke of you by name.
She would only tell me that she had never been happier in her entire life.
[Godwin] Princess Gytha.
Thank you.
[horn blowing]
What happened to the other ships?
[Jomsviking] After we left here, there was a great storm.
It divided the fleet.
We sailed for weeks
without finding signs of Harekr and the others. We fear they are lost.
[women sobbing]
We should offer a sacrifice for their safe return.
Yes, we will do so.
[Freydis] Friends.
Before we beseech the gods for their help,
let us remind them of our faith.
The refugees built this temple to the old gods.
Freya.
This time of year, we worship you as the bringer of fertility.
And Iduna.
[sighs] The goddess of the blossoms.
How we have missed you.
And Gefjon, goddess of the fields. And Gná, the rider of winds.
We promise to never again forget.
And especially Njrd.
God of the seas.
Please guide Harekr and our families back to us safely.
Here are the builders of this temple.
Come.
Join us in our offering.
Come.
Let us all worship together.
Hrefna.
[chuckles]
Believers in the same gods cannot be two people.
We are all the same in our hearts.
[goat bleating]
[woman singing in native tongue]
[horn blows]
Brother.
[laughs]
Where is everyone? Why aren't they here to greet us?
They are in the forest.
With Freydis.
Forest?
You must not be angry.
The people were anxious for your safety.
They turned to Freydis for guidance,
she took them to the woods where the refugees pray.
They prayed for your return.
Where is Jorundr?
[indistinct chatter]
[grunting]
[grunts in frustration]
You… have betrayed me.
-What are you talking about? -I left you here in charge.
-I come back to chaos. -[Jorundr] Chaos?
You returned to peace. Isn't that what you wanted?
I don't want them worshiping with our people.
I want them working for our people.
They are a filthy mix of Norse tribes. Not like us.
We are the superior people.
What about Freydis? She's our priestess.
She is only a priestess because I made her one.
What are you doing? No--
[grunting]
What you should have done.
[woman singing in native tongue]
It is beautiful.
-[arrows whooshing] -[grunts]
Run! Run!
[yells]
[people shouting]
[grunting]
You…
You are a murderer.
You are no better than the Christians they came here to escape.
I brought them here.
[grunts]
They live because I grant them life. Not you.
You have angered the gods!
You have angered me!
Take her to the temple. Lock her up.
No! No! [panting]