[Uhtred] I am Uhtred, son of Uhtred.
Brida told me of my brother's murder.
Ragnar is dead!
He doesn't feast in Valhalla!
Instead, he lies under a pile of stones at the lake near Loidis!
[Uhtred] He died because I remain cursed by Skade.
[Finan] Death comes to us all.
It is her.
[Uhtred] To help him cross the bridge from Hel to Valhalla,
I must first be rid of her.
To fight Haesten's army, you will need an army.
My father is to join the Mercians at Aegelesburg.
[Uhtred] So, with Aethelflaed, I journeyed to King Alfred, to plead for help.
One thousand men and I will give you Beamfleot.
I do not need Beamfleot.
[Uhtred] When Alfred denied me,
his son, the aetheling Edward, promised soldiers.
Set a day for the attack and I will be there.
You shall have the men.
[Uhtred] With that assurance, I drew Haesten to the battlefield...
Run!
...and into our trap, where we expected
the king and his men, who lay in wait, to strike.
We wait.
-Lord, where is Alfred's army? -[men shouting]
They're being slaughtered!
We hold our position.
[all grunting]
We cannot just stand by and watch them die!
-I gave him my word! -Then what will you do, boy?
You can either bleat or you can make a decision!
What will you do?
[Uhtred] Destiny is all!
[sighs]
Lord King, we cannot wait any longer!
Lord King!
[exhales deeply]
[grunting]
[men shouting]
Father! We cannot wait!
We cannot!
For Wessex!
And for the king!
For the king!
[soldiers yelling]
[yelling]
Edward! It's Edward and his army!
[screams]
Stand! Every man is to stand!
Dagfinn! Every man is to stand!
[Skade] It's Alfred.
He lives.
Stand! Every man is to stand!
Stand!
She's why we're here, Lord! Take her!
[screams]
[all grunting]
-[horse neighs] -No!
No!
[yelling]
[theme music playing]
[caws]
[men grunting]
[Sihtric] Lord!
It's Osferth.
[coughing]
Osferth?
He's alive, Lord. Maybe next time we'll be lucky, eh?
-Did you see me fighting, Lord? -I did.
It was a sight to behold.
I hope I killed no man. [grunts]
You gave many a sore head.
I feel cold.
Because it's winter, you fool.
You were a warrior today, Osferth.
Am I to die, Lord?
I do not fear it.
I forbid it.
You dare die, baby monk, and I'll kill you myself.
Right. I'll try not to, then.
We will return to Aethelflaed's estate. You will recover there.
Yes, Lord.
What of Skade?
She's been taken by Haesten.
Then nothing has changed. We remain cursed still.
I am cursed.
It touches us all, Lord.
It continues.
[door opens]
[Steapa] Uhtred, Lord. As you ordered.
[Alfred] Thank you, Steapa.
I assume your vengeance included reclaiming the seer, Skade?
She is why you are here?
Instead, I reclaimed your fortress, Lord.
The victory was decisive. You have my thanks.
I feared you would not join the battle.
I was tempted to wait a little longer.
I would've seen victory without you. It would have been all you deserved.
It was Edward who ordered the attack. It needed to be Edward.
You owe him your thanks.
He fought with courage.
If I were his father, I would be proud.
When I spoke with Skade, she foretold I should not live to see another summer.
Skade preys on men's fears, Lord.
Nevertheless, I know it to be true.
I know how my body weakens daily.
In a matter of months, weeks even, I shall be gone,
and Edward shall be king.
He has proven himself.
He has proven that he has courage...
but also that he can be manipulated.
You used him to serve your own purpose.
No, Lord, he saw a way to weaken an enemy.
The Danes' march was halted. They will not attack this winter.
You do your son a disservice, all to accuse me of manipulation!
For one reason or another, you have, it seems, earned Edward's favor.
He kept his word.
Yes.
All that I ask is that you do not forget what he has done.
Oh, I will not forget.
Nor will I forget that his father has taken from me everything that was mine.
You are free to go anywhere but Wessex, Bebbanburg should you choose,
but those lands are as distant as ever.
As is England, Lord.
The Danes will never leave these shores.
Never.
I will go to the Lady Aethelflaed's estate.
She remains in danger, I believe.
Lord King.
[indistinct chatter]
Fetch me Cnut. He needs to see this.
Haesten looks a broken man.
[Bloodhair] He looks like shit.
He brings my woman.
[Skade grunting]
-Lord Haesten, my friend. -[Haesten] Cnut.
[sighs]
[Haesten] Point your cock somewhere else, Bloodhair.
The woman is mine, make no mistake.
What has happened?
[sighs] I have lost everything, bar what you see.
You've lost more than half your men.
-And my man, Dagfinn. -How?
Alfred lives, that is how. They came at night in their thousands.
-He lives? -And Uhtred is with him.
Who says Alfred lives?
I say.
I saw him on horseback, as strong as he has ever been.
That is a nonsense. It must be.
He lives!
And half my men do not!
If Uhtred is with Alfred, then it is over before it has begun.
Nothing is over. Nothing is over! We are strong still!
-How'd you come by Skade? -Skade's not important.
Haesten spared Uhtred.
You will shut your mouth!
It's true.
We do not care.
He could've easily killed Uhtred and the princess,
but instead, he desired me.
He thinks with his cock.
-[chuckles] -You find that amusing?
I've missed her sharp tongue.
She is mine. I will lose nothing more!
We are meant to be one army.
Haesten, rest.
Then the three of us shall sit and decide how we are to proceed.
A war council.
You mean four of us?
Aethelwold, another word from you and I shall take your head.
Very well.
[softly] Not another word.
[Osferth coughing]
[indistinct chatter and laughter]
You have no appetite?
No appetite for celebration.
What is it you are holding?
Thor's hammer.
Yes.
From Ragnar the Fearless.
I have told you?
Once or twice.
They will be together now...
father and son, in Valhalla.
That is what you believe, isn't it?
I must go to him.
My men will remain here.
Uhtred, I know what you have sacrificed to come to my aid.
I know how much it has cost you.
It was my choice, Lady.
It is what I wanted to do.
I would like you to have Mercia as your home,
to live here with your men.
I can identify land--
Thank you, Lady, but say nothing more. Please.
[man shouting]
Where are the prisoners being taken?
To the hall, to be fed upon my orders.
Come join us, Lady Aethelflaed--
Hold your tongue, Dagfinn, or I will cut it out!
I do not like my enemies within my walls.
I will leave you to your peace.
[door opens]
How's Osferth?
Sleeping. As we should all be.
Just as soon as he's recovered, we should attempt to recover Skade.
Once again.
So long as she is free, Lord, you are cursed.
Skade is with the Danes. We cannot reach her.
We will not chase her to our deaths.
Death will find us regardless.
-Do you have something to say, Sihtric? -He does not.
Except that enough of us have died already.
[Finan] You are a warrior. Death is a hazard.
I've decided to go to Ragnar. I must help him find peace.
All you will find at Ragnar's graveside is ghosts.
You will keep watch of Aethelflaed and you will rest.
No man who serves Uhtred can rest, not until Skade is reclaimed.
[Finan] Sihtric, you are drunk and tired.
Yes, I am tired...
of marching north and then south, being called a traitor,
of abandoning my wife!
For what?
-Then leave. -[Finan] You don't mean that.
If you are unhappy in my service, leave!
I have fought for you!
You fight because you enjoy it.
You'd dismiss me this easily?
Stay or go, I do not care.
He does not mean that. He does care. Now, let us all sit.
Stay or go, Sihtric Kjartanson. It is your choice.
Make it!
If you wish to make the square, Uhtred of Bebbanburg, let us do it.
No, there'll be no squares made, no fighting, just sleep!
Sleep!
Jesus!
Get the prisoners back with the pigs, bound.
Sihtric!
I will leave first light...
but I will return.
And if you are here still...
then I will kill you.
Why?
-[grunts] -[clatters]
He has cursed us all!
She has cursed you all and Uhtred allows it.
Shut your mouth.
Abandon him, boy. It's your only chance.
You're a Dane first and last.
-[soldier] Quiet! -[grunts]
[groans]
You abandoned your fortress and your men abandoned you.
Some.
You fell into Alfred's trap.
I was told that Alfred was dead.
By your messenger.
The trap was Uhtred's.
Alfred brought his armies to Beamfleot because that is what Uhtred asked of him.
Alfred will die soon enough, but Uhtred we want dead.
He should have died at Dunholm, but Ragnar was weak.
If we are to make Wessex ours, we must rid it of its talisman.
Uhtred of Bebbanburg must die.
The days are short.
We've been weakened, and Ragnar's death is an omen.
Wessex must wait.
Aethelwold, you will return to Winchester.
I cannot.
I will not.
For what reason?
It's time to deliver us your long-promised Saxon army.
Once Alfred is dead, yes.
Aethelred is ripe for betrayal, as are many men of Wessex,
but as a corpse, I can do nothing.
Alfred would kill me.
-Ask for forgiveness. -I would be ignored.
Then you will beg!
You will deliver me a Saxon army,
and if Uhtred has joined Alfred at Winchester,
you will kill him.
I will kill him, how?
As you killed Ragnar.
Lord... [chuckles]
[Haesten] He wouldn't have the balls.
Lord Cnut, you must learn to hold your tongue.
This fool killed Ragnar?
Cnut is joking with you.
While he slept.
He was not sleeping.
It was either he died or I died.
I am no fool.
This fact goes no further than this table.
Are you part of this?
I'm no longer concerned by his death.
You wish to lead?
Ragnar should never have allowed Uhtred to live.
He should never have allowed him to leave with your woman.
Who is now my woman.
Who will take Ragnar's men?
Ragnar's men belong to Brida.
They merely await her return.
Aethelwold, you will leave tomorrow.
So, I am journeying to Wessex to become a corpse,
and from my grave, I am to raise an army and kill the greatest warrior in the land.
Hmm.
[Haesten chuckles]
Ale, Lord?
Always.
And thank you for reminding me I am a lord, Offa...
my faithful servant.
You and I are to make a journey.
I shall return to Winchester, whereas, you will travel from peasant to lord.
I do not understand.
Of course you don't. You're stupid.
As I have been stupid.
However...
complete this next task,
and your reward will be land and title, Ealdorman Offa.
[snoring]
I will get you out of here, but you will take me to your camp.
You're no longer sworn to Uhtred, boy?
Uhtred is cursed and has lost his mind.
I am at the mercy of gods and this is their will.
Are you with me or not?
[horse whinnies]
[Brida] I knew you would come.
He calls to me in my dreams.
From Niflheim.
Asking me to help him cross from Hel into Valhalla.
If there is one thing I could do, it would be that.
You're here for forgiveness.
You abandoned him three times over.
That was through fate, not choice.
[scoffs]
What are you doing? We will freeze!
Niflheim is much colder than you will ever be.
If Ragnar suffers, then so shall we.
There will be no comfort for you here.
I'm going to sleep.
Wrapped in fur?
Give me your strength...
your heart and your wisdom.
Give me your love, brother.
[inhales deeply]
[sighs]
[softly] You shall always have mine.
Edward.
You look very clean today, apart from this mark here.
Mother, please.
-She teases you. -Stop.
Lord, I do not mean to disturb.
There was a matter I thought we might discuss.
Speak your mind, Edward. The king appreciates honesty.
I do not regret what was done,
giving my word to Uhtred,
honoring my word and the battle that followed, the victory...
but I acknowledge I went beyond what is my right.
I went against you, even.
I shall accept any punishment you think necessary.
Without my permission, you swore my men to a traitor.
You led my armies into a battle I did not sanction.
Your actions were not worthy of an aetheling.
They were worthy of a king.
Wessex shall soon be yours.
For now, it is strong, but England remains fragile.
Its future will not only be secured with battles and with men,
but with unions.
We should like you to meet the Lady Aelflaed.
It is time.
It is a match that will strengthen Wessex and the crown.
Your crown.
I will do my utmost, Lord...
for Wessex and for my king.
[horse snorts]
[Uhtred] Do you know them?
[Brida] They look like Danes.
-Yes, but do you know them? -No.
[Uhtred] We should leave. We can eat later.
And go where?
To a shithole village on the road to Legaceaster.
I do not know how we can help Ragnar escape Niflheim,
but I will not return to my own life until I've tried.
What is at this village?
A seer.
Do you remember Storri?
-Storri is a piece of shit. -He is, but he was Ubba's seer...
a Sword Dane's seer.
If any man will know how to reach a lost warrior, it is him.
They have gone.
We can be at the village in two days.
Yeah.
One more arrow and I will take your eyes!
I know who sent you!
You do?
Tell Cnut I will return when I'm ready!
Cnut will want the Dane-Slayer dead.
He's with me!
He has my protection!
His head will be worth its weight in silver.
I have a very small head.
Come out!
Uhtred is mine to kill... when I'm ready.
Now go, while you still have your balls.
Cnut will hear that you are protecting him.
Tell Cnut I will return, and when I do, he will have my men.
He will know what that means.
Now, go.
Go!
You do not change, woman.
I spared you for Ragnar.
I am told that Uhtred has ridden north to Ragnar's grave.
Alone or with his men?
Alone.
His men remain with Aethelflaed.
I see.
He is a man in great need of the guidance of God.
Lord, I could place Uhtred in the waters a thousand times
and he would not find God, only fish. [chuckles]
My son will need him.
It pains me greatly to say it, but it is true.
Edward will need Uhtred.
But he is an outlaw. He must remain an outlaw until I am gone.
That is your wish, Lord?
That is what I wish, but I can say it only to you.
It cannot become a command.
My wife is sure to oppose any bond between Edward and Uhtred.
But Edward must make his own decision...
with your counsel, Father Beocca.
Yes, Lord.
You plan to give your men to Cnut?
They're my men.
Will you become Cnut's woman?
It's none of your business.
Will you?
I must survive.
Men won't follow a woman for long. They're too stupid.
But Cnut?
He's a weasel.
Well, what do you suggest?
That I give my men to you, we attack Bebbanburg?
Because that's something you'll never do because you're a Saxon.
He's a weasel.
You deserve better than Cnut is what I'm saying.
It's your turn to shit.
I do not need to shit.
Then let's go and find this turd, Storri.
This is the second time we have gone in search of Storri.
The last time, you dispatched him with a stick up his arse.
I remember.
Never forgotten.
We were so young then.
We were Danes then.
Race you over the hill?
-Why? -Why not?
Child.
Afraid of losing?
Child.
[Uhtred laughs]
[sighs]
I think of Gisela every morning I wake and every night before I sleep.
I understand.
I should despise Ragnar for whoring...
but I can't.
You loved him.
More than he knew.
The thought of him in Hel is not one I can bear.
[Uhtred sniffles]
I swear I will not leave your side until we have found a way to help him.
Or until you have killed me.
[sniffles] Then we must find a way quickly
because I'm sure to kill you soon.
I can't forgive you, Uhtred...
for failing him.
-One time. -Three times.
Once.
I made one mistake. I gave one year's service to Alfred.
You gave your life.
I swore an oath to Alfred for a second time
because I had no choice.
A man always has a choice.
After the Battle of Ethandun, when Ragnar became Alfred's hostage,
he was sent north by Alfred to free me from my slavers.
I was there.
Ragnar saved me...
and then we rode to save Gisela...
whereupon I killed a priest.
Good.
And because Ragnar did not prevent it...
because...
I was in Ragnar's charge, Alfred did blame Ragnar.
He was going to have him put on trial and then killed.
The options given to me were to swear a second oath to Alfred,
or my brother's life.
You didn't tell Ragnar.
From Ragnar...
and from me.
I have always loved you.
[sobbing]
Not as a wife.
[laughing]
No longer as a wife.
[sighs]
But you will always be half my life.
And all of your madness, is what you said.
[both laugh]
It's true.
This is it?
This is where we find Storri?
-I see him. -Huh?
The gods are with us.
[indistinct chatter]
And this is from your wife?
[sighs]
What is it?
It's bad.
The ale?
Your wife, she will bear many children...
but none shall be born living.
I'm sorry, the gods can be cruel.
There must be something you can do.
I suggest you find a new wife.
[men laughing]
I despise him.
We need him.
[wind howling]
[chickens clucking]
[gasps]
Come no closer.
I have skill!
Storri, you have chickens, a goat and a bad smell.
That is all.
Uhtred Ragnarson.
And you, I know you, too.
Oh, I remember.
All we want is your knowledge.
In exchange for your life.
She shamed me.
You shamed me, with a branch!
I shat blood for days!
Storri! We will pay.
We will not!
We mean you no harm and we will pay.
She is to come nowhere near my arse. You understand?
[chuckles]
You swear it!
She will come nowhere near your arse.
[Storri exhales] I liked Young Ragnar and his father, the Fearless.
[chuckles]
For him to be lost in the cold of Niflheim,
no true warrior deserves such a fate.
Then you will help us?
I would like to.
But that would mean walking with the gods,
asking for a solution, perhaps time and time again.
And each time would require payment.
We're not here to be robbed.
No.
You're here to save Young Ragnar.
Right?
You will give us the answer tonight. Or you will die tonight.
Is she allowed to speak to me like that?
Help us and you will be paid, but it must be tonight.
Well, then, you should allow me to prepare.
You're in luck, though.
I have everything I need and Young Ragnar will share in that good luck.
We need to kill a chicken.
But not the small one. She has a name.
What is she called?
-I wouldn't be surprised if he humps it. -[clucking]
Storri?
[Brida] Uhtred?
[Uhtred] He's gone. He's gone!
I swear I did not mean to run.
Just habit.
My curse,
I'm assuming it worked.
It did.
It cost me a family and my husband.
I... I can make amends.
I can help you reach Ragnar.
-I liked him. -[scoffs]
Please, don't kill me.
Don't let her kill me.
I can see she'd like to.
-He says he can help us. -I heard.
You might think I'm afraid of death. I'm not.
I think there are times I would even welcome it.
Almost finished.
What is it you are using?
Don't you need mushrooms to walk with the gods?
Oh, yes, mushrooms are vital.
This is a mixture for something else.
What?
This is to help me... shit.
You are playing with us.
No.
[groans]
[coughs]
Perhaps I am.
And perhaps this was poison to help me end my life.
[retching]
[laughing]
I am playing with you.
But it does help me shit.
You will tell us how to help Ragnar or I swear I will cut you cock to throat.
I know exactly how to help him.
-Then say it! -And nothing more.
Very well.
[Storri breathing heavily]
The Goddess Hel...
will surrender your brother's soul,
but only in return for another.
You must kill the man who killed Ragnar.
The man who denied him.
You will wet the blade with the blood of Ragnar,
and with that blade only must you kill the man who sent him to Hel.
Only that way will he be free to enter the feast halls of Valhalla.
[exhales sharply]
Ragnar is dead.
His blood is black. It's dust, almost.
Might his blood be in others?
Thyra.
Who's Thyra?
Ragnar's sister. Blood sister.
Then, you have it.
Now, pay me well and leave me in peace.
Thank you.
I have one more thing to ask.
I will pay.
Ask.
How do you kill a curse?
I knew it.
I saw the darkness on your shoulder.
It's yours.
[Storri] Do you have something for me, Uhtred?
-[Brida grunting] -[Storri choking]
[Uhtred] Brida, no!
Yes! Trust me! Don't touch him! Don't touch him!
Trust me! Don't do anything!
Don't!
-[Brida screaming] -[Storri choking]
[Brida panting]
[crying]
Brida?
[stuttering] I just did what one has to do to break a curse.
You have to kill the sorcerer without breaking the skin
and without shedding one drop of blood.
You've got to do the same to Skade.
If you can't, you can make her your woman.
He cursed you when?
A long time ago. We were young. [chuckles]
He threw a curse,
I stuck a branch up his arse. It was that day.
I've been a barren bitch ever since.
You have lifted your own curse.
Yes. For what it's worth.
Why not sooner?
Because I was a warrior first.
Because I'm a fool.
You are no fool.
But you are the bravest warrior.
I knew how to kill a curse since before you arrived at Dunholm.
I chose not to tell you...
because I knew you wouldn't stay.
So, I wanted to see you suffer.
I did love you, Uhtred, but that has passed.
I do not believe you.
We are one, you and I.
From the moment I took your hand on the steps of the great hall of Eoferwic,
we were bound as one.
You may dislike me,
hate me if you wish, despise me at times.
[laughs]
But love is immortal.
It goes on.
I will find Skade and I must kill this curse.
Then I will go to Thyra.
I will discover who killed Ragnar.
We send him on his way to Valhalla?
At some point, I'll see you on the battlefield.
I won't hesitate to kill you.
That does not mean you do not love me.
[laughs]