Vikings

Previously on Vikings...

They say... The gateway to Paris.

The entrance to Paradise.

This city is impregnable.

They are coming!

Whatever happens, they must not get through the gates.

They must not get into the city.

Show no mercy! Fight on!

Your Highness is to be congratulated

for the brave defense of our city.

Hail the Emperor!

- Has my son died? - I don't know.

Next time, we will not make the same mistakes.

- All of this disaster is my fault. - Athelstan.

Paris is everything you told me it would be.

And I am bound and determined to conquer it.

How is Bjorn?

Better.

I don't understand why we failed, Ragnar.

I did everything to make sure we would succeed.

The others will try again tonight.

Pour the oil!

The anti-Christ and the devils are here.

I pray to God and our Holy Mother that they will not get in.

But if, God forbid, they were to do so,

make sure they do not capture you alive.

Destroy!

Sinric, you're coming with us.

You're our map of the city!

Release!

Retract! Again!

Move!

Retract!

It won't move!

Rollo!

Princess! Princess, please.

Ah!

Your Highness! Your Highness!

You have to come.

Why?

The Northmen are almost inside the city.

What can I do to stop them, that the Holy Mother cannot do?

The men are so hard-pressed. So many killed,

so many wounded, I cannot count them.

But if you were to walk among them, it would renew their courage.

It would restore their strength, just to see you.

Why? Does it not give them courage to see you?

- You are their commander. - You are their emperor.

I beg you. In the name of the Holy Mother, I beg you. Come with me now.

Come with me before it's too late.

You cannot speak for her, Count Odo.

I thought you would come! I thought I would not have to plead.

Not when you heard that our beloved city was in mortal danger.

And why did you think that, pray?

Because I know what your grandfather would have done.

He would have put on his armor and come with us to the bridge.

Alas for you, Count Odo, I am not like my grandfather.

I am not Charlemagne.

Come!

Count Odo! I put my men at your disposal.

- The devils are not attacking the walls! - Thank God. Come quickly!

It may not be too late.

Ah!

Rollo! We can't get through!

Fall back!

Fall back!

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Don't abandon me.

I am told you speak our language,

but you were with our enemies.

I have been here before. I am a wanderer.

I have been to many places. No one is my enemy.

He can, perhaps, be of great help to us.

I would love to be a great help to you. Whatever it is you wish.

I belong to no country, I belong to no people.

I just belong to the wide, wide world.

- Who is that? - Earl Siegfried.

There was someone else. A great warrior.

He spiked our machine and he did it alone.

I have never seen a man of such strength and such violence.

Who is he?

His name is Rollo. He is the brother of King Ragnar,

the leader of the Northmen.

He is a famous warrior.

He fights like a crazy bear.

Your Highness, this man,

Sinric, will be of use to us.

And this earl?

Perhaps he could be bartered, fetch us a good price.

If you care for me at all, Count Odo, you will bring me his head.

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- You wanted to see me, My Lord? - Yes, yes.

How are you? How are my grandsons?

How is Alfred?

- Both are well. - Good.

I have received news that my son and your husband,

Aethelwulf, is even now returning home.

His mission in Mercia was successful,

I'm pleased to say.

- Thank God. - Indeed.

Thank God.

Judith, there are

some things that need to be said,

but other things which only need to be understood.

I've promised you faithfully

that I will protect you and your sons,

especially Alfred,

against anyone who might offer you or him some injury.

You do understand what I'm talking about, don't you?

We both know what my son is capable of.

My protection I freely offer.

But... there must be recompense.

Recompense.

My Lord... Some reward?

Of course...

Some reward.

Who is this young man?

- His name is Ansgar. - What is he accused of?

He is a stranger, a Christian, a missionary, so he claims.

He has been in the marketplace denouncing our gods.

Is it true?

It's true that I begged the people here

to desist from worshipping false gods

and serving the devil.

Your gods are made with human hands

and are deaf, dumb and blind.

What salvation can they bring you?

Who being senseless can save themselves?

I may admit that your Christ is a god.

But even so, our gods are greater,

their signs and wonders mightier.

Is it not true?

No!

God, the Father, the Son

and the Holy Ghost are the one God!

The rest are just false idols!

And will you subject your bold assertions

to the judgment of the gods?

I will.

Let us begin.

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What might have been is an abstraction,

remaining a perpetual possibility

only in the world of speculation.

What might have been and what has been point to one end,

which is always present.

Footsteps echo in the memory...

Is the reward what I think it is?

Down the passage we did not take,

towards the door we never opened.

I don't understand.