01x03 - The Marshes

[bunniefuu]

[opening theme music playing]

[intense music playing]

[panting]

[roars]

[all grunting]

[clamoring]

- [grunts]
- [Kn*fe slices]

[yelling]

[grunts]

[panting]

[gasps]

[object clatters]

- [soldier] Hey!
- [Njal grunting]

[body thuds]

[panting]

[Njal yells]

[clamoring continues]

[hens clucking]

Leave this place in the name
of the one true God, Jesus Christ!

- [grunts]
- [groans]

Too slow, Pagan.

[all grunting]

[groans]

[yells]

[Olaf yells]

[panting]

[grunts]

[hollow thud]

[rattles]

[grunts]

[all breathing heavily]

[chuckles softly]

[women whimpering]

- [grunts]
- [lively chatter]

[door opens]

- Allow me to introduce the Lady Kent.
- [groans]

Mistress of this house.

[chatter stops]

Tell them.

[breath trembling]

Tell them!

[gasps and whimpers]

Your w*r is pointless.

King Æthelred is already dead.

- She's lying.
- Why would she lie, brother?

To fool us. To protect him.

When did he die?

Ten days ago.

His son Edmund is now
on the throne. [sobs]

[object clatters]

[indistinct chatter]

Where is your husband?

He fled to London.

He meets with the other nobles.

And left you behind.

[indistinct murmurs]

What a brave man.

[chuckles softly]

This is a good thing.

Edmund is a boy,

and the nobles will not back him
to defend London.

It waits for us.

I didn't come here for London.

- [cup clatters]
- I came for Æthelred's head.

Then I promise you... the head of his son.

- [bells tolling]
- [indistinct shouting]

[praying in Latin]

[in English] The sword of my father.

The sword of a king.

Now mine and my son's son's.

Thank you. You did well.

Your Highness. But I barely did a thing.

It was King Edmund
who brought Streona around.

Your father would be proud.

When Streona arrives,
I will send him to the south,

behind Canute and trap him in the marshes.

And what about me?

You wish me to cower behind these walls
until the battle is over?

You may cower if you wish,

but you're far too valuable
to England to risk it in battle.

Streona will weaken the Norse
and you will accept their surrender.

No.

When Streona arrives,
I intend to join him on the b*ttlefield.

Your Highness is still a king-in-waiting.

Then all the more reason to be crowned.

Taking the crown only amplifies the risk.

What risk?

Once crowned, your fate
and England's are forever entwined.

If you fall, so does England.

It is better to let Streona take the risk.

And the glory.

Is that not a risk as well?

With success,
will the nobles not look to him

as a more suitable option to be king?

I will deal with that.

[door closes]

He seems to have found his voice.

He's hunting for it.

Now we have raided, we are Vikings.

[all exclaim]

We are lucky.

[indistinct chatter]

Odin was with us today.

Odin took our measure for Valhalla,
and he saw that we were good.

- [Njal] Mm.
- [Liv chuckles]

- What's this?
- For you.

You deserve it more than my wife.

[chuckles] Oh.

[Ulf chuckles]

One battle and Njal became
the richest man in all Greenland.

[all laughing]

[soldier grunts]

- [Harald grunts]
- [soldier groans]

You fought well for your first battle.

Raiding becomes you.

[man ] You go that way.

- Now I see why my father was so good...
- [soldier groans]

...at k*lling.

He had practice.

[indistinct chatter]

- [soldier groans]
- [Harald grunts]

I thought Christians
were supposed to be merciful.

We are.

[woman] You're alive.

But I am Viking first.

Do you have a problem with that?

I see little difference.

[soldier groans]

Not true.

As a Viking, my goal is revenge.

But as a Christian,

I employ the virtues my Savior taught me,

- forgiveness...
- [grunts and coughs]

...mercy and love.

I forgive this Saxon
for following his king into an unholy w*r.

- I show him mercy...
- [soldier groans]

[Harald exhales]

...by ending his pain.

And what about love?

I love doing it.

I didn't come here
to become more like my father.

You came here to make the world
forget about him and remember you.

You think that is a secret?

You couldn't hide it if you tried.

[man ] Need more water.

Well, if this is the glory you promised,

so far it looks a lot like his.

You will know glory
when you reach it, Leif Eriksson.

Trust me.

This is just the path to get there.

[exhales]

[Edmund yells]

[grunting]

[sword ringing]

[panting]

[chuckles]

- [grunting continues]
- [swords clashing]

[Edmund] More.

[man] Yes, my lord.

[soldier groans]

- Good, my liege.
- I am ready! [chuckles]

Bring on the Vikings!

With all due respect, Your Highness,

you're not ready.

Even your father suffered many failures
before he learned how to defeat them.

I have nothing against learning, Godwin.

But I'd rather learn from my victories
instead of defeats.

More.

Do you wish to fight me?

Leave us!

[indistinct chatter]

You do not wish
to be embarrassed in front of...

[Edmund breathing heavily]

[Edmund grunting]

Can you even remember
the last time you were defeated?

[both grunting]

What are you doing?

Your soldiers wouldn't dare hurt you,
and I don't have that problem.

[coughing and panting]

[Edmund grunts]

[groans]

[pants and groans]

Do you think
the Vikings will give you a reprieve?

I am not your enemy, Your Highness.

Your arrogance is.

How dare you lecture me on arrogance,

when you are its definition?

I control mine.

And if you want to be a successful heir
to your father's throne,

you must learn to do the same.

On the road to Mercia,

you counselled me
to listen to my instincts.

That advice served me well with Streona.

My instincts now say
I should not wait to be crowned king.

The Vikings came here
to punish your father.

His head is no longer
an attainable trophy, but yours is.

Delaying your coronation
is a hedge against that possibility.

[gripping instrumental music playing]

[squawking]

[indistinct chatter]

It's beautiful here.

[Freydis] Mm.

[suspenseful music playing]

[horse huffs]

[intense music playing]

[Yrsa gasps]

[breathing heavily]

[yells]

[all grunting]

[yells]

[groans]

[Freydis grunts] Ahhh!

- [Yrsa yells]
- [man groans]

[Freydis yells]

[groans]

[man groans]

- [Yrsa gasps]
- No!

[groans]

[Toke] No!

[both grunting]

[Freydis panting]

[Freydis yells]

- [man groans]
- [Freydis yells]

Toke, hold on!

Hold on, Toke!

Toke, hold on!

Come on!

[Freydis yelling]

[Freydis gasping]

[Yrsa groaning]

Toke.

[sobbing]

[panting]

[melancholy music playing]

Toke's gone.

[Yrsa gasping]

[shushes]

[both sobbing]

It's all right.

- [indistinct chatter]
- Hyah!

They overwhelmed my army
in less than an hour.

Hundreds of boats.

To have any chance against them,
we need Mercia.

Streona may not agree
to fight London's battle.

Then we must send emissaries
to the Norsemen

and offer Danegeld to end this raid.

This is not a raid. It is a w*r.

A w*r that you brought upon yourselves
by the murders of their people.

Yes, they will take your gold,

but that will not stop them
from k*lling all of you as well.

That is what Viking revenge looks like.

[intense music playing]

This... is your strategy?

How do you intend
to get an army across that?

There are roads through.

And on the other side is the bridge
and the south entrance to London.

Tonight, we will send scouts
to see what's changed.

And who will lead them? You?

No. I was thinking of someone else.

Me?

We need to know the enemy's strength
around the bridge.

It is an honor to lead such a mission.

If it is such an honor,
why didn't your brother pick you?

Maybe he thinks Greenland is a swamp?

[Njal and Ulf laugh]

Or maybe he wants you dead.

I will be going as well.

I came here to repay a debt.

I'll do what is ordered.

Then we... will be with you.

[insects trilling]

[Liv grunts]

[sighs] Give me a boat
and the stars any day.

Me too.

Who is he?

Our guide. He's local.

Don't worry.

His mother was a Dane.
m*rder*d on Saint Brice's Day.

[man] Prince Harald.

Why do we need torches?

The tide and fog are coming in.

You will need them to see the path.

[indistinct chatter]

[mystical music playing]

[Yrsa groans softly]

[owl hooting]

[Freydis] Oh, Freya.

You have seen me through much.

I know you hear me now.

I don't know why I am here.

Or what this strange land
means for my future.

But give me courage.

[Yrsa groans softly]

Guide my friends to Valhalla.

And if it is your wish...

guide me.

[wings flapping]

[bird caws]

[chuckles softly]

- [ominous music playing]
- [nocturnal chirping]

Keep them low.

How close are we?

You'll know you're near the bridge
when you can hear the bells of London.

[footsteps splashing]

We need to keep going.

- [arrow whooshes]
- [groans]

Get down. It's a trap!

- [Liv] Where are they?
- On the water.

Get rid of your torches.
It's how they see you.

[Harald grunts]

- [soldier ] The light!
- [Harald] Move!

- [arrows swoosh]
- [soldier ] Targets!

- Stay low!
- [Ulf gasps]

- [Harald] Move!
- [Liv screams] Ulf!

[both grunting]

Fall back!

[dramatic music playing]

- [Liv crying] No! No!
- Liv, help me.

Fall back!

- [Skarde] We have to leave him.
- No!

Fall back!

[man] Retreat!

- [Liv] Don't leave him!
- [Skarde] We have to go!

- [Liv] No!
- [Njal] Liv, he's gone.

[Liv] No! No!

[muffled grunting]

[indistinct shouting]

- Leif!
- No! We have to go!

[muffled screaming]

[grunting]

[man panting and grunting]

[Harald] Keep going.

[all panting]

Come on, Liv!

- [indistinct chatter]
- [Harald panting]

What happened?

We were ambushed.

More likely you ran
across a rearguard. [laughs]

These were not guards.
They were waiting for us.

I think you're exaggerating.

Am I, brother?

Let's go ask the dead,
see what they think.

Stop.

Did you make it to the bridge?

No. We learned nothing.

Except perhaps
that they are smarter than us.

[horn blowing]

[intense music playing]

[gripping instrumental music playing]

Come on!

[effort grunts]

[grunts] Hyah!

What is that?

It's the King's banner.

It's more than that.

It's a dare.

The Vikings are going nowhere.

I beg your pardon?

I want them to remain
right where they are.

[man ] But why?

[Edmund] Because that is my plan.

It is time for me to speak.

[man clears throat]

On my trip to Mercia,

I convinced Streona not to come to London

and to trap them in the marshes.

And you have secured Streona's promise?

[Edmund] I have.

But as you know, inviting Mercia
into our fight comes with risks.

And after we have defeated the Vikings,

I will need your support
to help mitigate those risks.

Long live King Edmund.

Unifier of England.

- [man ] Hear, hear.
- [man ] I agree.

[all] The Bretwalda!

With Your Highness' permission,
I ask to bring forward your coronation.

- To the Bretwalda!
- [all] To the Bretwalda!

[Emma] You have made a grave mistake.

By giving Edmund the crown,
you risk the lives of all of us.

You have saddled yourself
to an impulsive child.

I disagree.

I have saddled myself
to the future King of England.

It will be up to us to make this work.

Us?

You expect me to help you?

I'm afraid you have
very little choice, Your Highness.

You have much to gain by Edmund's success,
but even more to lose if he fails.

Excuse me, I have much to do
to prepare for the coronation.

[indistinct chatter]

No sign of him?

You should get that seen to by a healer.

You aren't good to anyone
if it gets worse.

We are going back for him.

No.

If he was alive, he would be out.

If he's not, you'll be risking
your lives for a dead man.

He wouldn't want that.

If he's dead, we have no reason
to be in this stinking country.

You are free to leave whenever you want.

I will pay Freydis' debt.

[solemn instrumental music playing]

[Skarde sniffles]

[Yrsa groaning]

[indistinct chatter]

[Freydis] Come on. Almost there.

[Yrsa groaning]

I need help.

You're a healer?

[baby fussing]

- Where are you hurt?
- Not me. My friend.

I think she's dying.

- [baby crying]
- Watch her.

Easy.

That's it.

[mystical music playing]

[grunts softly]

[intense music playing]

I thought I d*ed.

But you didn't.

The Gods must have a plan for you.

[gripping instrumental music playing]

How many did we lose?

Six.

Including one of your friends, Ulf.

Canute thinks the Saxons are daring us
to att*ck London from the south.

And what do you think?

I don't know.

But I want to find out.

[indistinct chatter]

[indistinct chatter]

- [breathing deeply]
- [footsteps approaching]

[baby cooing]

Yrsa.

There's a chance.

Thank you.

- Now you.
- I'm fine.

I'll be the judge of that.

Turn around.

You are a Christian.

No.

A man put it there against my will.

A Christian man. A long while ago.

[intense music playing]

Who att*cked you and your friend?

A man on the road to Uppsala.

A warrior with a mark on his forehead?

Yes.

He att*cked us without warning.

Who is he?

He hunts pilgrims.

Where is he now? Did he follow you?

No. I k*lled him.

Go to Uppsala now.

And the priests will help you.

I will wait for my friend.

Leave your horse behind
and take the steep path.

The main road is not safe,
and a horse is easily spotted.

What are you afraid of?

Believe me. Go.

And I'll watch your friend
till you return.

God crown you with a crown
of glory and righteousness.

[choral music playing]

And may you obtain the crown
of an everlasting kingdom

by the gift of Him
whose kingdom endureth forever.

Stand firm and hold fast from henceforth.

[continues in Latin]

[in English] Amen.

[all] Amen.

[indistinct chatter]

[man ] This way!

[man ] Unload the food,
it must be shared.

Look at all the food.

They're preparing for a siege.

[in Anglo-Saxon] What happened to you?

What happened to you?

Why are you covered in mud?

What's wrong with your friend?

Doesn't he speak?

Not since the Vikings
b*rned down his village,

k*lled his children,

stole his animals,

- and took his wife.
- Oh.

[in English] What did she say?

- She said you need a bath.
- [chuckles]

[man ] This way to the bridge.

[man ] Incoming!

[gripping instrumental music playing]

[man ] Keep moving!

[man ] Move that cart!

You. Hold right there.

Lift!

[rattling]

- [gears cranking]
- [deep creaking]

[indistinct shouting]

[man ] Release!

[man ] Right. Straight on.

No pushing!

[mystical music playing]

[bird cawing]

[indistinct chatter]

[huffing]

[intense music playing]

[sighs]

Pagan.

There are two trails of blood.
They lead this way.

Find them.

[theme music playing]