Vikings

Previously on Vikings...

Bjorn's death has left a hole in all our lives.

Kattegat has no ruler.

We cannot wait for your child to become ruler of Kattegat.

- I would like to be queen. - I know.

Is this really what you want to do, Ketill?

Of course it is. We did a terrible thing.

I need redemption.

So we commit our bodies to the deep.

Prince Dir.

You will receive a dagger.

That will be the signal for you to flee from Kiev.

I entrust you to safely convey the Prince to Novgorod.

Why did you want to talk to me?

I would like to have a bodyguard of Vikings.

I would trust you more than my own guards.

Except, perhaps, for Ivar.

I know that Dir is still alive.

We're waiting for his signal.

I have decided to call a meeting of the Althing.

- And you will support me? - Of course.

- What is it you really want? - I think you know.

King Ivar.

What is it you want?

I request an audience with Prince Oleg.

Unfortunately, the prince is otherwise engaged.

He is having a meeting with Prince Igor

and your brother, Hvitserk.

May I not join them?

I have no orders to permit that.

Hvitserk.

Ivar. What do you want?

How strange.

Everyone has been asking me today, "What do you want?"

Well...

I'll tell you what I want.

I want access to Prince Igor and Prince Oleg.

But it seems, my brother,

as if you are suddenly standing in the way.

What do you want to talk to Igor about, huh?

There are things he ought to know. Important things.

Tell me, then. I'll make sure he knows.

See. You don't trust me, Ivar.

You've never trusted me.

- You think I'm a fool. - It's Oleg who thinks you're a fool.

What does he give you, huh?

He must give you something.

Oleg treats me well. He values me.

Not like you, Ivar. You've always treated me like shit.

You are my brother.

My own flesh and blood.

What in Odin's name does Oleg mean to you, huh?

Huh?

I'll tell you what he means to me.

He is the future ruler of Constantinople.

The future ruler of the world.

What are you, huh?

Sad, poor Ivar.

You're just a cripple.

I'll kill you.

Fight me, then. Fight me.

Fight me.

I want to tell you

that I am summoning a meeting of the Althing,

so we can elect a new ruler.

The time of mourning and grieving is over.

Any person in Kattegat is naturally free to stand.

I want to tell you now that I intend to stand.

I do so in honor of my late husband.

If elected,

I will do my best to defend Kattegat against the Rus

or any other aggressor.

I will continue with the work that Bjorn and I did

to build our defenses

and shape our future.

I am not Bjorn's only widow.

Let Ingrid tell you her intentions.

I too intend to stand.

You see, I am carrying Bjorn's child.

For me, I will simply be nurturing

the only legitimate heir of Kattegat.

The true descendant of Bjorn Ironside,

Ragnar Lothbrok, and our god Odin,

the All-father.

I too will fight for Kattegat.

Erik,

you were a staunch supporter of my husband.

You saved his life, and all of us are grateful.

Can I ask you who do you mean to support in this election?

Frankly and honestly, I have not yet made up my mind.

I will decide in due course, having weighed everything up,

knowing the debt I owe to Bjorn to make the right decision.

Why don't you stand yourself?

I am Skogarmaor.

I have no ambition or desire to rule.

We've lost sight of land.

This was you, all those years ago.

Which way did you steer?

West-northwest.

Why?

God told me to.

Your God told you to?

Yes.

He spoke to me in the silence.

And I listened.

Why doesn't the water in the sea just run away?

It's because of the serpent Jormungandr,

the enemy of the gods.

Have you heard of the time the mighty Thor went fishing?

No.

He baited his hook with the head of an ox,

and cast his line down into the dark water.

Jormungandr took the bait.

The serpent lashed the sea into a frenzy

but the thunder god did not loosen his grip. No.

He dragged the monster up under the keel

and began to haul it over the gunwale.

He took out his hammer

and it sung a grisly song

on the hairy head of that terrible monster.

Jormungandr roared. Midgard shuddered.

And, at last, with a great tearing of flesh,

it set itself free.

The serpent sunk once more

to the bottom of the sea.

I wish you hadn't told me that story.

You see?

What?

The way that Othere always whispers into Ubbe's ear.

It makes me think they are planning something.

Against you?

Why, why not against me?

Of course, against me.

I still wish we hadn't come.

I worry about you, my dear.

About me?

Why do you worry about me?

I didn't mean to say that.

I don't worry about you. It's Othere I worry about.

You have a woman's intuition.

Othere is dangerous.

Brother, I have to talk to you about Igor.

It's important. You have to listen...

Prince Oleg wants to see you.

I said, you have to listen to me.

He wants to see you. Now.

- Hvitserk. - I told you.

Now.

We have been neglecting you.

My dear Ivar.

After the defeat, I lost my faith...

I God, in you, in everyone.

I was suspicious.

I saw betrayal everywhere.

I neglected you.

I thought harsh thoughts about you.

For which, my friend, I ask your forgiveness.

My darling wife interceded on your behalf.

She said I was so cruel,

that I had no cause to be suspicious of you.

Your brother, Hvitserk, wasn't always so kind.

I believe that he loves and hates you in equal measure.

He's no real use to me.

If you like, I will have him killed.

No.

If anyone kills him, it should be me.

A brother's privilege.

Ghosts of the dead, return to help me.

Hail to the Aesir and Vanir.

Hail to the goddesses!

Hail to the mighty fecund earth.

Summon us by magic.

Let the dead and the living praise you

as I praise you!

As I praise you.

Frey and Freya, summon us by magic!

Halt!

Tie it down. Get the tent.

Tie it. Quickly.

What's that?

Just a storm.

Come here, sweetheart. Don't be afraid.

Round the back.

Just a moment.

I don't recognize you. Who are you?

We're not Rus.

You're looking out for the Rus, aren't you?

I'm glad you're so alert.

I still don't know who you are.

Of course not.

When you're looking for something else,

you don't even see what's happening right under your nose.

There are no other candidates.

Only you and Ingrid.

Why has no one else come forward?

Isn't it obvious?

This election is still about Bjorn and his legacy.

How could it be about anything else?