[opening theme music playing]
[gripping instrumental music playing]
[dogs barking]
[man laughing]
[indistinct chatter]
[upbeat folk music playing]
-[music plays louder] -[indistinct chatter, laughter]
Good friends!
-[music stops] -[chatter fades]
Good friends, tonight on Saint Brice's Day,
we say goodbye to my baby brother,
Prince Harald Sigurdsson, the someday King of Norway.
[all cheering]
He thinks he's graced us with his presence
but we know it's him who's been made better by his visit.
[all laugh]
-Skol! -[all] Skol!
[indistinct chatter]
May the Lord guide you back to Norway, brother.
Stay safe till I see you again.
Where are you going?
-I thought you're seeing me to the boat. -I know.
But the King has summoned us. We're off to London.
But I'm sure you'll find a better send-off than me.
Hmm?
Brother.
So, when are you coming back to England, Prince Harald?
I don't know.
Perhaps… when I hear a good reason.
[footsteps approaching]
Prince Harald, the boat's waiting. We must leave.
[woman 1 and man 1] Prince Harald!
-[woman 2] Prince Harald. -[man 2] Travel well.
[man 3] All hail Prince Harald.
[indistinct chatter]
[gripping instrumental music playing]
[indistinct chatter and laughter]
Prince Harald?
[men shouting indistinctly]
Sten. My faithful guards.
Your Highness, we came as soon as we could.
I know it is Saint Brice's Day
and you have undoubtedly left feasts with family.
So, please join me.
You said it was urgent, sire. Is there a threat?
Yes.
[dramatic music playing]
Over a hundred years ago,
in an effort to ensure lasting peace with your people,
my predecessors established the Danelaw.
[Sten] Yes, sire.
We've been here so long, many of us no longer remember our own language.
Exactly. They probably feel they are Saxon.
Yes.
But that's the problem, you see.
They're not.
This is not their home.
When the cockle grows amongst the barley,
there is only one way to purify the field.
Therefore, tonight,
I order that all Vikings living on this island…
be exterminated.
-[groans] -[yells]
-[indistinct shouting] -[men grunting]
[indistinct shouting]
[people screaming]
[dramatic music playing]
-[grunts] -[yells]
[groans]
-[yells] -[sword clangs]
[music intensifies]
[intense music playing]
[waves splashing]
[dramatic music playing]
Pull! Pull!
[effort grunting]
Leif!
The fjord! The fjord!
[wind howling]
[dramatic music playing]
[indistinct shouting]
Reverse!
[effort grunts]
Pull back, now!
[effort grunts]
Push! Push!
[Leif] Row into the wave!
[effort grunts]
[woman] Push!
Harder!
Push!
Freydis, secure yourself!
[indistinct shouting]
Push! Push!
[effort grunting]
Pull! Pull!
[Freydis yells]
-Push! -Row! Come on!
[clamoring]
Push!
[indistinct shouting]
[boat creaking]
Hold on! Hold on!
[men laughing]
[breathing heavily]
[grunts]
[Harald] No. It's not him.
No.
[indistinct chatter]
[horn blows]
[gripping music playing]
[woman] Kattegat…
It is more beautiful than I ever imagined.
[men shouting indistinctly]
And bigger.
[man 1] Here. Bring it across.
-[man 2] The line? -[man 1] Yeah.
How in Odin's name did you avoid the storm?
Did any ships from the west make it in last night?
No, just two ships before the storm.
It's possible.
Toke, Ulf, you stay here with the boats and resupply.
Freydis, check with the captains at the harbor.
Rest of you will come with me to search the town.
-I'm coming too. -No, you'll get your moment.
-[woman] There are so many. -[man 1] There's another one.
[man 2 shouts indistinctly]
[Harald] How many have we lost?
[man 3] Hundreds of them.
[man 4] Help me move these. We need more space here on the right.
[dogs barking]
[man 5] We need more wagons!
[indistinct chatter in foreign language]
[woman in English] Fragrance!
Smell!
Fragrance! Perfume!
Njal…
You, Yrsa and… Liv!
Spread out and search the market.
I'll check the great hall and see if they paid homage.
I'll meet you back at the boat.
-Where are you from? -Greenland.
What kind of journey was it?
Long. Five weeks. No stops.
Five weeks across open ocean in this?
I'm impressed.
Then you are easily impressed.
Not true. My standards are quite high.
So are mine.
Are you from Kattegat?
No, from Ringerike.
I'm Harald Sigurdsson.
Who are you?
My name is Freydis.
After a long voyage on such a small boat,
I would think a hot bath would sound good to someone with high standards.
[both chuckle]
After a long voyage on a small boat, a lot of things would sound good.
[indistinct chatter]
[men shouting indistinctly]
[gripping instrumental music playing]
Greetings, brother. Did you just arrive?
[Leif] I did.
Through that storm? Where did you shelter?
We didn't. It caught us at sea.
Join us.
And tell us your name.
Leif. Leif Eriksson.
Ah.
First time in Kattegat?
-First time in Norway. -From Iceland?
No, Greenland.
To have come that far,
you must have had family killed in the slaughter like us.
No, I don't know what you mean.
The massacre on Saint Brice's Day.
The murder of our people by the English king.
That is what this is.
Calling of all Vikings for revenge.
If you're not here for the gathering, Greenlander,
what has brought you to Kattegat?
I'm looking for a Viking who wears this cross.
Hey, where did you get this coat?
I want it.
I'll double what it cost you.
This… is what it cost me.
-Double would have killed me. -[all chuckling]
You know who I am?
I'm Alfrun from Trundelike,
and if I say I want your coat,
your answer is, "Yes, Alfrun. Right away, Alfrun."
Do you understand?
No… Alfrun.
Go away.
[yells]
[both grunting]
[screaming]
[woman] Stop!
Do you not know where you are? This is sacred ground.
I'm sorry.
I meant no disrespect.
You fight like that, but you're not here for the gathering.
What does this man and his cross mean to you?
It is my business.
It is an English cross, Greenlander. You can tell by the detail.
Only a Viking who has spent time there would wear a cross like this.
[horn blowing in distance]
[both panting and moaning]
Are you always like this when you come off a boat?
Are you complaining?
Not at all.
Just… curious.
-Something wrong? -[Freydis] No.
Just wondering how it is you're not from Kattegat but have a tub.
[chuckles softly]
I am the great-grandson of Harald Finehair.
I don't know who that is.
Is this his tub?
[water splashing]
Why are you in Kattegat, Freydis from Greenland?
[intense music playing]
I've come to find someone.
Who did that to you?
The person I'm looking for.
What happened?
When I was younger,
a man came to our home when my father and brothers were away.
He told me he was a Christian Viking.
I had never heard of such a thing before.
When he learned I was alone,
he attacked me and knocked me unconscious.
When I woke, I was naked on my stomach,
tied to a bed and he was on top of me.
He raped me many times and beat me and called me a Pagan whore.
I didn't even know what a Pagan was.
When he finally finished,
he took out his knife,
carved it on my back,
saying he was converting me.
I've never seen it, but I know it's a cross.
What is this criminal's name?
-Perhaps I can help you find him. -[door opens]
There's a ship coming.
[horn blowing]
[dramatic music playing]
[men shouting indistinctly]
[people cheering]
[Harald] Olaf!
Harald.
-[Harald] Olaf. -It's him.
-[Harald] And Gunnar Magnusson. -[Olaf grunts]
Brother.
[Harald] Brother.
-Welcome. -[Leif] Isn't that the man--
Yes. It was.
[Harald] I thought the storm had claimed you.
Well, we were spared by the grace of Christ.
We saw the early signs and waited it out in Riska.
Not now.
[Harald] Come.
Uh, it's not a far journey. Eat something.
-[Olaf] We should go before we lose light. -Toke, Yrsa.
Go get our things.
[indistinct chatter]
[horse neighs]
[gripping instrumental music playing]
[thrilling instrumental music playing]
By the Gods. It's an army.
Your Highness, may I present,
Olaf Haraldsson and Gunnar Magnusson.
King Canute of Denmark.
Jarl Olaf, I've heard much about you.
Thank you, Your Highness. As have I.
Please, you must be hungry after your trip.
Harald tells me that you are related.
We share the same mother.
He's my younger, ambitious brother.
We are both ambitious.
[chuckles]
Well, Harald has told me of your plan to attack England
and avenge King Æthelred's murder of our people.
How may we be of service?
I understand that you have knowledge of the English defenses,
especially around London.
Not just knowledge, we built them for King Æthelred.
Gunnar placed them himself.
Then your skills are invaluable to our cause.
Our plan is to surprise the English, send the sea force up the Thames.
That won't work.
The Thames is fortified from the estuary to the city.
And the English have a string of lookouts along the coast.
Let us hear your strategy then.
[Olaf] Not yet.
I have a problem that must be resolved first.
Then, by all means, voice it.
You have gathered many tribes here, King Canute.
I must admit, I am impressed by the number of men under your flag.
A great many of those tribes, however, are Pagans.
Jarl Olaf, this invasion is to avenge the murder of our people.
All Viking people.
I draw no distinction between Pagan or Christian.
But I do.
And I refuse to fight with them.
My God and Savior Jesus Christ
would not sanction such a union,
as it would be a sacrilege and doomed to failure.
And yet here you are.
Therefore, you must have considered the remedy.
I have.
-A mass conversion. -[Harald] Are you insane?
[Olaf] What better time than now,
when the leaders of all the Pagan tribes are gathered together?
What you suggest would start a civil war.
King Æthelred would not have attacked the Danelaw
if he didn't believe in the superiority of his defenses.
Defenses we built.
And without that knowledge, any attack you make is blind.
That is my offer.
Then I am sorry for you, Jarl Olaf.
You have come all this way for nothing.
[Njal] He must be important.
He hasn't come out of the main tent.
-This changes things. -It changes nothing.
[man] Really?
What is your plan then?
Go down there and simply take your revenge?
If I have to, yes.
I won't be a part of such a plan.
Then you break your oath to my father, mm?
[sighs] I didn't promise your father to be a part of foolishness.
What do we know of this place?
Trees, cities, and giant armies?
These Norse are not our people.
They are Viking… just like you.
No.
We are Greenlanders,
as are you.
Until this morning, no one among us
had seen more than 40 people together in one place.
Now, I look at more men than in Iceland and Greenland together.
We must be able to admit that what we came here for is now hopeless.
[solemn instrumental music playing]
[sighs]
[horses neighing in distance]
[sighs]
[Leif sighs]
You shouldn't have stopped me in the harbor.
It would be done.
And you would be dead.
Then I'd be in Valhalla with the other Einherjar,
feasting with Odin and the Gods.
And Father would be proud.
I didn't come all the way from Greenland to make Father proud.
I came here for you.
So, what are you trying to tell me?
That it's hopeless?
Because I will not stop until I get my revenge and you know that.
No.
I'm asking you to trust me.
[Leif sighs]
-[excited chatter] -[upbeat folk music playing]
How are you, brother?
[indistinct conversation]
[Harald] May I come in?
Have you come to tell me Canute has changed his mind?
No.
Then what do we have to talk about?
Our brother, Sten.
Half-brother, like you.
Do not tell me you're not close to him.
You served together in the Kingsguard.
You're godfather to his children,
both of whom were killed in the slaughter.
Yes.
And I pray for their souls every night.
But do you not feel even the slightest obligation
to avenge their murders?
Revenge is the motive of the heathen.
My Savior, Christ, forbids it.
Your Savior has no problem with English gold, however.
[scoffs]
You know more about the English than just their defenses.
You know about their wealth.
Canute will not change his plans to accommodate your piety.
And when he conquers England,
he will use those riches to expand his empire.
And what will all your saintliness have achieved for you?
I urge you to take a broader view of your Christian mission, half-brother.
It may better serve you and your Savior in the long run.
He knows you well.
[intense music playing]
-[horse neighing] -[indistinct chatter]
[Leif grunts]
[indistinct conversation]
[hammering]
[priest speaking foreign language]
[man gasps]
[in English] What you doing over here?
Come with me before one of these damn Christians spots you.
[Leif grunts]
Go.
If that Jesus bunch caught you prowling around over there,
you'll be lucky to get back.
Here, help me with these.
[drums beating in distance]
[priest speaking foreign language]
[men in English] Amen.
-[indistinct chatter] -[drums beating]
[drum beats stop]
[men coughing]
Welcome, friends!
[indistinct chatter]
Over a hundred years ago,
a great Viking army set off for England to avenge the death of Ragnar Lothbrok.
It achieved its goal.
And after many great victories,
our people were invited to settle into communities there.
With time, we sent our loved ones to live and work there.
The Danelaw became their home.
[crowd murmuring]
A year ago,
all that changed.
And a slaughter began.
A massacre.
Unknown in the long history of our people.
An attack.
Not warrior to warrior.
But waged on innocent women and children.
[crowd murmuring]
Waged for only one reason.
To cleanse England of our people.
You have been summoned here for a purpose,
to avenge the death of our people
and to show the English that they cannot murder Vikings
and expect us to do nothing!
[crowd cheering]
Our ancestors would not.
Ivar "the Boneless" and Bjorn "Ironside" would not.
I will not.
Will you?
[all] No!
You are here for your families!
You are here for your honor!
You are here because you are Vikings!
[cheering]
Ah! [chuckles]
We will fight the English,
but not with Christians!
-[men clamoring] -Christians killed my family.
They are my true enemy.
And you are mine, Pagan.
These men are nothing but idolaters.
[men] Yeah!
Worshippers of Satan.
Worship this! [yells]
[men shouting]
Yes! Come on!
Gorm!
[grunting]
[yells]
Enough!
[all panting]
Jarl Gorm!
You say you'll never fight with Christians.
But what am I?
Did I not spend every summer of my youth with your family?
Did you not love me like a son?
[solemn instrumental music playing]
Jarl Nori, a pious Christian.
I saw your sister the night of the massacre.
What would she say about your refusal to fight with your brothers here?
Would she not call you a coward?
That your God is Odin or Christ
means nothing to me!
Only your honor does! Only your courage does!
This blood…
It's not my blood.
It is our blood, it is Viking blood!
-[men cheering] -And it will always be!
We are with you, Harald Sigurdsson.
As are we.
[cheering continues]
Oh!
[breathing heavily]
[solemn instrumental music playing]
[indistinct chatter in distance]
[chanting in foreign language]
[horse snorting]
-[in English] What is your name? -Freydis.
Freydis Eriksdotter.
Erik… from Jaren?
Do not worry. I was a friend.
Where is he now?
With the army on the plain below?
No.
In Greenland, where we live.
You're a long way from home, Freydis.
What is your business here?
I am on a mission.
I can say no more.
This is no longer a land safe for believers in the old ways.
Only Kattegat is safe.
When you see your father again, tell him hello from Estrid Haakon.
He will remember me.
[grunts]
[gasps]
[Freydis panting]
[Freydis] Is Leif back?
[man] No.
The army is moving.
What do we do? Should we wait for Leif?
No. He already told me what to do.
We go to Kattegat.
[men singing in Nordic]
[indistinct chatter]
[men continue singing in Nordic]
[in English] It's him, all right. It's Eriksson.
Your father is Erik Thorvaldson, yes? Erik the Red?
And what is that to you?
Our name is Becken.
Your father killed our brother Sven.
My father's history has nothing to do with me.
Your father is a killer.
Ran away to escape justice. It has everything to do with you.
You're making a mistake.
No, Eriksson.
The mistake was yours. [grunts]
[both grunting]
[man] Get him!
[grunting]
[groaning]
[grunting]
[crowd clamoring]
[man] Get him!
[man breathing heavily]
You heathen bastard. You're just like your father.
[Leif] You're wrong.
[Leif grunts]
If I was like my father, you would all be dead.
[groans softly]
[slurps]
[sighs]
[Harald] Eriksson!
From Greenland.
Not the son of Viking warrior, Erik Thorvaldson,
banished from Norway and Iceland for murder?
The same.
I suppose when you have a father like Erik the Red,
you learn to fight like that.
My name is Leif.
I'm Harald Sigurdsson.
We met yesterday.
Yes, I remember.
And I heard you last night.
You're a good speaker. You moved many.
Did I move you?
Freydis said you captained your boat all the way from Greenland.
Could use good ship captains who can fight.
I can promise great glory if you join us in England.
Glory?
I thought you were going to England for revenge.
We are.
But true Vikings always reach for glory.
It's what defines us.
Like I said, you're a good speaker.
I'll think about it.
By the way…
Your sister.
An amazing woman.
I want to learn more about her.
I think once she learns that you're a Christian,
you'll find out all you need to know.
We'll see.
[chuckles softly]
Keep an eye on him.
[gripping instrumental music playing]
[man] Open the gates.
Jarl Haakon.
King Canute.
I have come to request that my army may camp outside your walls
and depart for England from your harbor.
You have my word that your laws will be obeyed.
Then your army is welcome.
You and your men will be my guests.
Forward.
-[excited chatter] -[upbeat folk music playing]
[hissing]
Mm.
[indistinct conversation]
I knew your husband, Jarl Haakon.
He was a good man.
It takes a strong person to keep your city opened
after what happened to him.
Do not confuse tolerance with forgiveness, King Canute.
My eyes are always open.
-[guard] Greenlander. -What is this?
You are not allowed in.
[Njal and Liv grunting]
[guard] Stay out!
Out! Get out of here.
[Canute] Friends!
This is a historic occasion.
Our thanks to Jarl Haakon
for opening her city to our righteous cause.
[all cheering]
It is an honor to be here in Kattegat,
in the great hall of Ragnar Lothbrok and his sons.
[crowd cheering]
To eat from the same table as Lagertha
and all the heroes who came before.
[all cheer]
We are humbled and inspired by their legacy.
But now is our time to make history.
To show the cowards in England
that the Vikings, despite our differences,
are still one people.
[Gorm] Yes!
One heart.
[all] Yes!
One soul.
[all cheering]
[suspenseful music playing]
Good.
I don't agree with all of it.
That's close enough, Greenlander.
Whatever you are planning, do not act on it.
I'll kill you if I must.
I'm not the one you should be worried about.
[intense music playing]
Hello, Christian.
[Freydis grunts]
[groans]
Now it's my turn to give you a cross.
[woman screams]
[Gunnar groaning]
[panting]
Get her!
[people clamoring]
-No! No! -[chuckles softly]
[grunts]
This is not your house, Jarl Olaf!
Only I render judgment here.
Do you allow murder?
You all witnessed it.
-[men shout in agreement] -I demand justice!
As do I!
As do I.
That man raped me. He was judged guilty of his crimes in Greenland.
I am within my right to take revenge.
Lies!
[man] She deserves to die!
Punish her now or we burn this city to the ground!
[clamoring]
[breathing heavily]
Tell me again what I must do.
I believe her! I believe her!
You must show them.
Let her up.
He did this to her!
If he were alive, he would be forced to admit it.
[man 1] Good riddance to him I say!
-Silence! -[man 2] Should be punished!
I will render judgment in the morning.
I stand with Jarl Haakon.
We will await her ruling. Take them away.
[people clamoring]
[dramatic music playing]
[theme music playing]