Blood falls
into the water as Princess Aslaug prepares to bear yet another baby. She
struggles with the birth, Ragnar watches in horror. Siggy and Ragnar worry over
her. Siggy whispers to her, trying to convince to push the baby out and chose
life. Aslaug bears down, and pushes the baby out. It lives, but she doesn’t
look happy to see him. The midwifes look concerned as well.
King Horik
wants to go west soon, but Lagertha tells him that she must return to her
lands, to prepare her ships when Porunn comes and tells them that Aslaug has
had another son. Bjorn thinks that he should go congradulate his father, and
Lagertha wonders who Porunn is to her son. Bjorn says that she is a servant,
slave and that he is in love with her.
Aslaug and
Ragnar look at their new child. Something is wrong with him, his intestines
look to be on the outside. Another prophecy has come to pass.
Lagertha prepares
to leave. King Horik tells her to not be too long, and reminds her that they
are equals, and that Ragnar must come to understand that they are all equals.
Lagertha agrees. Siggy comes with a cloak to keep Lagertha warn, and she
questions what is wrong with Ragnar’s child. Siggy claims nothing, but it
raises questions in King Horik.
Rollo trains
intensely with Bjorn. He warns him not to die stupidly, and with youthful zeal
he pounces. Rollo reminds him that he could if he wished. He slashes Bjorn
across the stomach, and arm, advising him to always finish his opponents. Rollo
remarks that Lagertha is a remarkable woman, and Bjorn remembers that his uncle
was once in love with her. Rollo knows that it was a futile emotion, and Bjorn
tells him that the Gods love man too, and it is not futile. So philosophical all
of a sudden.
Ragnar
ponders killing the child, reasoning that he will die soon anyways. He doesn’t
see the point of pretending. Animals would discard a weak child, but Aslaug
tells him that they are not animals. Ragnar knows that a baby such as him would
not live a good life, and although she knows that, she doesn’t care.
In the
Kingdom of Wessex, Athelstan and the others await Princess Kwenthrith, the leader
of Mercia. She killed her brother, the rightful heir for a chance at the
throne. The kingdom is beset by the nasty squabble. Athelstan hopes that King
Ecbert plans to avoid the kingdom, but being that it’s the largest and richest
kingdom, Aethelwulf doesn’t see that happening. Athelstan looks upon the
murderess as King Ecbert welcomes her to the kingdom.
Ragnar sits
in a small boat alone with his thoughts. In the dead of night he creeps back
into his home and takes his new babe. Ragnar thinks that there is no other way,
his heart breaking as he holds the child. Ragnar places the baby upon the
ground, and axe in hand prepares to do his duty. He walks away, leaving the
child behind. Aslaug finds the baby unharmed.
Lagertha
rides through the woods and returns home. She is welcomed by her people, happy
to see her return. She tells them that they will have to do without her
presence longer. She tells her people to be ready by the next full moon to raid
with King Horik and Ragnar.
There is a
celebration for the arrival of Princess Kwenthrith, who remarks that she does
not eat meat, that it’ll kill you. She notices Athelstan, and asks who he is.
King Ecbert tells her that he was once held captive by the Northmen, and she is
fascinated by him, and the Vikings. She asks about the human sacrifices. He
tells her that they do, every nine years. She asks about their ideas of
fidelity. He thinks it to be different than their own, she asks if it is more
natural. He has naughty visions of the princess, but repeats that it is
different than their own. King Ecbert brings up the princess’ brother, and she
tells him that her less than virtuous brother has already been sainted. She
cuts to the chase, she knows why King Ecbert has invited her here, and she’s
sure that her faction will win the throne in the end. Ecbert would like to send
his son as an advisor to her, which she is keen on for more than just advice,
and he’d like to hire some Northmen muscle. The mention of the Vikings again
gets a rise out of the Princess, she would very much like to meet a few of
them.
Lagertha
soaks in her bath. She’s being watched, and she knows it. She invites her
peeper to come in. He’d like to speak to her, but she makes him wait until she
is out of the tub. He thought that they had an agreement, he’d help her become
earl, and then they would wed. She did not make any such arrangements with him
or anyone else. He wanted to be rid of Sigvard because he was crazy, and she
killed him. He seizes her, pulling out her blade. He tells her that if he
cannot enjoy her then he will open up her pretty face, but he doesn’t freighten
her. If he was as powerful as he thought then his family would have made him
Earl rather than her. He cannot and will not hurt her.
Siggy comes
to see what is wrong with Aslaug’s baby. She tells her that everyone talks, but
no one knows, that sooner or later she will have to present the baby, that she
cannot keep him covered up forever. Aslaug shows Siggy the baby’s legs, they
are twisted. The baby will never walk. Siggy agrees with Ragnar, she must leave
the baby to die, but Aslaug would rather die herself than to do that to her
baby.
King Ecbert
beds Princess Kwenthrith and she thinks that she nearly killed him. He’s merely
spent, but she is clearly not. He cannot play anymore though, and she inquires
after the priest. Sure he’s a priest, but he spent time with the Pagans, and
surely knows how to please a woman. King Ecbert thinks him to be a man of God.
She has never met a man of God who didn’t like to rut like animals. King Ecbert
asks if she would like to sleep, but sleep is the last thing on her mind. King
Ecbert leaves her chambers with the promise of sending in some warriors to
fulfill her needs.
Lagertha has
returned with her ships, and she’s welcomed back by her son. She somberly
embraces him before heading in. Ragna sits with Aslaug as she looks upon her
son. He tells her that the child should have a name, and she tells her that his
name Ivard. He calls him Ivard the Boneless. The people prepare for the
upcoming raid. Bjorn goes to Porunn. He tells her that he should not talk to
her, many wishes that he does not, but that it does not matter as he believes
that he will die in battle. He kisses her, and he returns the kisses. Siggy
watches the preparations. Floki tells Helga that there is something wrong with
him, that he plans to travel with King Horik, because he understands the dark
gods that haunt him. Siggy goes to Rollo, assuring him that she will be there
for him when he returns if that is what he wishes. Goodbyes are made all
around, some more saddening than others. The horn sounds, it is time. The ships
set out while the women and children watch from above.
Dolphins
swim among the Viking ships. Something is bothering Ragnar. He was told by the
seer that Athelstan is alive, though King Horik told him otherwise. This raises
Lagertha’s concern, and moreso when he tells her that King Horik said that
Athelstan betrayed them. King Horik continues to spin his webs with Loki,
asking how Ragnar is treating him. He tries to entice him to come build boats
for him. He tells him that he needs his ideas, that they come from the Gods.
Rollo asks Bjorn where his thoughts are. His thoughts are on battle, but Rollo
assures him that he has nothing to fear,
that he will be by his side the whole time. Land is spotted.
Athelstan
continues his writing. King Ecbert tells him that his friends have returned,
that one of the ships bears the flag of Ragnar. He hopes that he can strike a
bargain with Ragnar, and Athelstan tells him that he will listen to reason.
King Ecbert makes it clear that if Ragnar will not play nice he will wipe him
out. Athelstan goes back to his text, but cannot concentrate.
Ragnar and
his people set up their camp. Ragnar paces, and King Horik watches him. Ragnar
tries to look nonchalant, but he’s watching everyone. King Horik asks where Torstein
is headed, Ragnar tells him that he is headed to King Ecbert, to tell him that
they are there to speak, not fight. King Horik is upset that Ragnar took it
upon himself to do that without consulting with the rest of them, and even
Lagertha admits that it was a bad move. King Horik knows that King Ecbert will
resort to trickery. Ragnar knows that the meeting didn’t go well, and Rollo
keeps an eye on Floki who’s acting odder than usual.
King Ecbert
prays. The Northmen prepare for attack as a group of riders approach. King Ecbert
has sent his own son to meet with them. King Ecbert scatters sand. The Vikings
wait to see what the envoy has to say. Aethelwulf tells him that his father
wishes to speak with him, and Ragnar is ready to do so if they do a hostage
exchange. Aethelwulf agrees, and gives Ragnar’s Athelstan’s bracelet. It was a
gift that Ragnar gave to him personally, proving that he still leaves.
Aethelwulf tells him that Athelstan is awaiting at King Ecbert’s villa, and
Ragnar informs him that all of them will come to the Villa. The Riders head
back when they’re ambushed. They’re slaughtered by a group of Northmen, lead by
King Horik’s son. Only Aethelwulf survives the slaughter. He goes after the
boy, but he’s far ahead.
Hope you have recovered from last week’s major shock! Saying goodbye is never easy, thank goodness there's still a few episodes to console you..jpg)
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