Vikings S03E04 Recap: Scarred
Aslaug tries to comfort Ivar, with no
luck. She asks Siggy where Harbard is, but she has no clue where he
is. Harbard suddenly appears, and he offers Ivar comfort. Cooing to
the child, lulling him into slumber. Siggy remains skeptical of
Harbard, asking who he is. He tells her that she already knows, but
she isn't sure she does. He has too much power.
Bjorn transfers his beloved Porunn via
cart as he and the other Vikings return to camp. He tries to comfort
her as best he can. He moves to look under her bloodied bandage, but
she awakens and moves his hand away. Aethelwulf goes to sit with
Rollo and Floki. He tells them that they are enemies no more, but
friends. They fight together, they win. Rollo agrees, but Floki just
looks at him with disgust. Aethelwulf leaves them, and Floki
questions Rollo and his soul. Rollo sees the alliance as the future.
Floki wonders at the magic of Rollo's Christian Baptism. Rollo
insists that it was no more than a joke, but the only joke that Floki
sees is Rollo.
Ragnar lies in pain over his wound.
Princess Kwenthrith notices, and tells him to lie back. She squats
over him, and pees to save his life. Ragnar is surprised, and thinks
that he should thank her, kind of. He tells her that her brother is
weak. He did not fight for him, but for his people and for her. She
asks if his side is better. It still hurts. She tells him to lie back
down, and she straddles him again. I wonder how Aslaug will feel if
Ragnar decides to bring Kwenthrith home as another wife.
Aslaug prepares to leave, and Siggy
stops her, wanting to know who she is off to meet. Aslaug claims it
is none of her business, but Siggy insists that it is. She is leaving
her children with Siggy, and her safety is the concern of everyone,
especially with Ragnar away. She reminds Aslaug of her
responsibilities, but Aslaug is adamant on leaving.
Aslaug goes to walk with the
storyteller, Harbard. He tells her a tale of a lost King, and a
lonely Queen. He was forced to sleep with the Queen, and when he left
she bore his child, and now that child is the grand duke of Kiev.
Aslaug thanks him for what he has done for Ivar. Harbard sees that
she is suffering too, and wishes to ease that pain. He takes her
inside of a home, and undresses. Aslaug follows suit. Was this a part
of her vision of him too? She seems less than conformable being
topless with him, as he appoarches her. He pulls her into his arms,
placing her on a nearby table.
Siggy sits alone in Aslaug's home
surrounded by her children.
Athestan and Judith have sex, its all
by the light of candles, which is either really romantic, or because
there's no electricity. Athelwulf is gonna be angry.
On the ship, Kwenthrith's brother
wonders what Ragnar will do with him. She tells him that Ragnar will
protect her, and therefore him, but he will not allow him to be king.
Kwenthrith has a dream of them being united, of Mercia under their
rule. Bjorn watches over Porunn still. He does not blame his father,
but there is plenty of blame that Floki feels should be given. Rollo
rows and tells Ragnar of Floki's belief. Floki feels that they have
betrayed their Gods, to serve the Christian God. Ragnar does not
think Floki can speak for the Gods. Ragnar feels vastly different, he
continues to seek out new things.
Ecbert wonders what Lagertha will do
when Ragnar returns. He hopes that Lagertha will stay, even if her
King leaves. Lagertha is an Earl in her own right, and she can do as
she wishes. Ecbert wonders if he asks her to stay personally.
Lagertha sees the truth, and he's not looking out for her. The only
person he truly cares for is himself.
Too bad she couldn't see the same truth
about Kalf. The usuper receives news. When Lagertha returns she will
bring with her their warriors, their youthful warriors who will have
allegiance with her. Kalf has planned for this though. He has invited
a very significant person and he will be there soon.
In Kattegat, Siggy continues to tend to
the children. Two of them ask where their mother is. She tells them
that their mother is with Harbard, and she needs him to help comfort
Ivar. Ivar begins to cry, and the pair run off out the door. Helga
calls after them, but they're gone. When Siggy returns with Ivar and
sees the boys gone, she knows that she has to go after them. She
gives Ivar to Helga and races after the boys, over rocks, and up
hills in the cold. Siggy slips on the hill as she sees the two boys
going across the frozen river. She calls for them to stop, but they
pay her no heed. She steps out onto the ice and it cracks beneath her
feet. She calls out further to the children, but they continue
onward. The children fall beneath the ice. Siggy rushes out after
them, takes off her cloak, and jumps in. She finds one of the
children beneath the ice, but she can't lift him. She sees a young
woman at the opening, and is happy to see her. She goes back under,
and brings one child to safety. When she resurfaces Harbard is there
to grab the child. He nods, and Siggy slinks back into the water,
lost beneath its icy depths.
Aethelwulf returns with much fanfare.
Ecbert greets his son, telling him that his wife has missed him
greatly, that she's spent much time in the chapel. She embraces him,
though her eyes are only for Athelstan in the shadows. Kwenthrith
introduces her cowardly brother. She insists that the campaign that
he was involved with against them was not his doing, and that he
looks for their council in all things. Ecbert invites him to sit at
his table, greeting him with open arms. Ecbert puts on a happy front
about only wanting a happy future for Mercia. Ragnar enters next, but
he does not do the embracing thing. Ragnar wants to know only about
their settlement. Lagertha is concerned over his wound, but he
insists that he's fine. Lagertha tells him about their first crops,
and the success that she's found. Ragnar notices how cozy Lagertha
seems. He thinks that she made sacrifices for the common good, she
points out that the same could be said about him. The castle
celebrates, and Aethelwulf looks to get friendly with Ragnar, but he
will have none of it.
Bjorn watches over Porunn still, and
she awakens bitter, asking if he's enjoying himself. She's missing
half her face, and feeling more than a little sorry for herself. She
thinks that Bjorn won't want to marry her any longer, but that's just
not true.
Lagertha goes to sit with Athelstan.
Ecbert tells them that the battle for Mercia has been run, but their
settlement is not completed. He wants them to both stay. Lagertha
cannot, but she wonders if Athelstan can. Athelstan has not spoken
with Ragnar about this yet he confesses. Ecbert tells Athelstan that
if he were to leave he would miss him, as would Judith. Athelstan
goes to see Ragnar. He's disappointed to hear that Athelstan wants to
stay, but he's free to do as he wishes. Does Athelstan not remember
his last time here without Ragnar? His crucifixion? Judith finds
Athelstan in a dark hall, and she too begs him to stay. Athelstan
points out that her husband is back. Judith gave herself to
Athelstan, and she doesn't want to lose him. They kiss, and
Aethelwulf sees the pair from the shadows.
Ragnar asks what Ecbert will do with
Mercia. He tells him that he will crown the siblings as joint rulers.
Ragnar sees through his ploy. Neither of them will rule, Ecbert will.
Ecbert claims to only want stability in the area, but Ragnar knows
that it will give him power there too. Ecbert changes the subject
telling him that what he really wants is for the Vikings settlement
to be successful. Ragnar has helped him in his conquest for Mercia,
and he has helped him start a settlement in the heart of his kingdom.
They understand eachother, which is why they are allies and will
remain so. Ragnar asks Ecbert if he thinks he is a good man. He
thinks so. Ragnar gives the same answer. He then asks Ecbert if he is
corrupt. He most assuredly is, as is Ragnar.
Rollo approaches Floki wondering what
he is doing outside alone. Floki is talking to the Gods, and they are
angry with them. Floki hopes that the day does not come when they
have to choose between the Gods and Ragnar. For Rollo that day will
never come, but it doesn't look to be the same for Floki.
Athelstan sits in contemplation on the
stairs. Ecbert tells him that he has a choice to make once more, to
stay with Ecbert, or go back with Ragnar. Athelstan has come to a
decision. He will go back with Ragnar, his future lies with him.
Ecbert believes that he has made a grave mistake.
Rollo asks Lagertha if she is worried
about leaving her Earldom for so long. She tells him that she has a
good man who looks after it for her. Rollo smiles, all men are
ambitious, but Lagertha thinks that Kalf is different.
Kalf lies entwined with a pair of
ladies when his guest has arrived. He pulls himself from bed. The son
of Horik has returned. The boy is happy to have returned, and he sees
himself as a natural ally against the Lothbroks. And he has a further
ally. When Ragnar killed Yarl Borg he let his wife go free, and that
wife has born a child, and is now his wife. Kalf greets the wife, and
legitimate heir of Yarl Borg.
Kwenthrith makes an announcement before
the royalty. She has made peace with her past, and she wishes to
celebrate their alliance, and victory over their abusers. Her bother
accepts the toast, he loves his sister, he has always loved her. He
drinks deeply from his cup, but Kwenthrith does not. The group
applauds, and Kwenthrith pours out her wine as her brother begins to
choke. The crazy broad poisoned her brother. He looks around shocked
before falling over dead. Ragnar paces like a caged cat, and
Kwenthrith looks shocked for a moment before rising. She asks them to
rise and raise their cups to the sole ruler of Mercia. Rollo and
Lagertha rise reluctantly, and take part in the toast, but no one
drinks from the cups, pouring them out and tossing them aside.
Rain falls upon Kattegat. Harbard
notices the quiet, and the ever fertile Aslaug holds Ivar in her
arms. Harbard seems to have worn out his welcome, no one comes
rushing forward in greeting, asking for a story. He figures that it
is time for him to leave. Aslaug is now weary of him. Harbard knows
that Ivar will no longer suffer as he once did. He took some of his
pain away. Siggy too is now happy, reunited with her family in
Valhalla. He tells them that if they do not believe him to ask the
seer. As Harbard turns to leave, Aslaug asks who he is. Harbard tells
her that he is just a wanderer, before he heads out into the rain.
Helga rises to watch him leave, and he disappears in a curtain of
mist.
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