Vikings

I was told he was dead.

Killed at York.

It seems the sons of Ragnar fought among themselves.

Heahmund was forced to fight with them.

He has lived among pagans.

Do you suppose he has changed?

Bring him here.

Bring Bishop Heahmund!

My Lady.

Your Grace.

Rise, Bishop Heahmund.

You were taken captive.

Yes, I fought in the great war between the sons of Ragnar.

The son Ivar, the Boneless was triumphant.

I know Ivar.

He came here with Ragnar Lothbrok.

I played games with him when I was a boy.

And so, you have returned with the sons who were defeated?

Yes.

Why?

Sire?

Why have they come here?

I offered them safe passage.

How easy it proves to fool people, hmm?

Look at us!

I have no fear of death. I will embrace it.

But it is too early for my children to die.

We sailed right into a trap.

Bishop Heahmund has betrayed us.

I can't believe that.

How else was he going to get home, hmm?

He needed a ship.

He needed a crew.

We just gave him both.

Imagine how famous King Alfred will be

when he shows the Saxons our heads.

And the best part about it is we gave it to him on a plate!

I still cannot believe that he has betrayed us.

And I cannot believe the famous Lagertha

has proved to be a fool for love.

Well, you have never been a fool for love,

have you, Bjorn?

This is where Ragnar was imprisoned and betrayed.

And now we will all die here, too.

I propose a toast to Bishop Heahmund,

scourge of the Vikings, and man of God.

Bishop Heahmund.

You gods,

why did you decide to spare me again?

I don't understand.

Is it a joke?

Does it amuse you to see me suffer?

What good can I do for these people?

I've tried so hard to make them see,

but they are blind.

Why don't you answer me?

Why don't you show yourselves to me as you used to?

Perhaps you never did.

Perhaps you never did.

Get up!

Move!

Move!

I'm aware of who you are.

I am not foolish enough not to recognize

your potential for my kingdom,

if you were willing to fight with us

against the armies of your countrymen.

We may.

On the condition that you allow us to settle

in the part of East Anglia King Ecbert gave to us.

I have every intention of honoring

my grandfather's pledges.

But first you must demonstrate your worth and your loyalty

to our cause, in battle.

We have a legal right to that land.

We accept your offer.

I am glad.

It was Bishop Heahmund who proposed this solution,

which seemed to me wise.

So, as long as we are allies and friends,

you are free to use the royal villa as you wish.

My servants are also your servants.

My kitchens and cellars are there for your use.

I believe you have two young children with you.

Let us have a care for them also.

Thank you, Lord King.

Mmm.

We have fought against you

and now we shall fight together, with you.

I know my grandfather, King Ecbert, would approve,

for I know the love he bore King Ragnar.

Can I trust them?

You can trust Lagertha.

Sire, one small matter.

Yes?

I would like my bishopric back.

I wish to be Bishop Heahmund of Sherborne once more.

My Lord, because we thought you were dead,

the King felt obliged

to appoint a replacement as Bishop.

And who did you appoint?

Your noble friend, Lord Cuthred.

Lord Cuthred is no churchman.

But he is a supporter of our regime.

Therefore, entitled to preferment!

And yet I am not dead!

So, you can pronounce his appointment invalid.

In some ways, I wish I could.

Lord Cuthred has already shown an appetite

for fighting for clerical power.

But, unfortunately, I am not yet strong enough

to remove him, especially in your favor.

Why "especially"?

Everyone knows by now

that you did not die fighting the pagans,

rather, you joined them.

I did not have much choice.

The great defender of Christendom fighting,

not in the name of our Lord, but in the name of pagan gods.

I am what I have always been...

Christ's warrior on Earth,

and I fight for Him,

wherever and for whomever He chooses.

I believe you.

But, alas, there are many who don't.

And to them you must prove yourself

before I can make you again prince of our Holy Church.

My people! My dear people!

I have chosen this woman to be my new wife.

Her name is Freydis and soon you will all know her

as your new Queen of Kattegat!

This is all about the kingship.

He takes a wife, produces an heir,

and then, in his eyes, Kattegat is his forever.

A good plan.

Except for one thing.

What thing?

He can't produce children.

He is boneless.

Yes.

May the gods smile on your happiness.

I think it's your bedtime, Hvitserk.

You know what?

You insult the gods!

What?

The gods love me! You know that.

I want you.

Mmm-mmm.

No.

Don't.

You know I can't.

You can do anything.

Trust me.

- Freydis... - Ivar.

Ivar, listen to me.

To me you are a god.

Above all men.

Above all others.

The gods made you.

Ivar.

Ivar.

Love me as I love you.

And I will have your child.

I will have your child.

The gods never had children with humans.

You are wrong.

Odin conceived a son with Rind.

That son was Vala,

who killed Hod in the revenge for the murder of Baldur.

You are a god.

A god.

All you have to do is believe.

By your blood I will bear you a child,

a son.

And he too will be a god...

like you.

And he, the embodiment of my love,

will always be by your side

in times of peace, of war

and in time of treachery.

My Lord Heahmund.

Brother in Christ.

Let us embrace and thank God for your return.

My Lord Cuthred,

how strange it is to find you set upon such a...

Sacred stage.

I never thought your ambitions

were fixed upon our Holy Church.

God does indeed work in a mysterious way,

my dear Heahmund.

But, like Saint Paul on the road to Damascus,

I too was struck by lightning,

and saw that my past life was the way to hell,

that I needed redemption and the Lord's grace,

before it was too late.

I still wonder...

if you would lie down on a burning griddle,

or castrate yourself, or pluck out your eyes

if our Lord requested it,

as I would.