Eric.
Ragnar Lothbrok,
welcome to my house.
You also, Rollo.
I've done as
you asked, Ragnar,
and sought out
these young men
to meet you.
All of them
have sworn upon their rings
to keep this meeting a secret.
You have done well,
my friend,
although I knew
I could trust you.
What are we here for?
You are here, firstly,
because you have
nothing better to do.
See, all you lot live
idle and wasted lives.
Listen to him!
We have built a new boat.
A boat?
And with this boat,
for the first time,
we can go west.
Across the great sea
to a place called England,
where countless
riches await us.
How would we steer
across the open sea?
We have discovered a way.
You want us
to join you
in the boat?
Yes, we do.
And I have Ragnar's word
that we will all be equal
and share equally
the spoils of our raid.
If there are any.
What is your name?
Knut.
I promise you, Knut,
I've heard witnesses.
Just stories.
"Just stories."
"Just stories"?
All things begin
and end as stories.
We have to remember,
though,
that Earl Haraldson
has ordered us
to sail east.
The Earl knows nothing
about our new boat.
He knows nothing
about the new
way of navigating.
This is why he refuses
to let us go west.
He could kill us
for disobeying his orders.
Yes, he could.
We can offer you
a chance to shine in battle
and impress the gods,
and to bring back
such plunder that you
have never seen before.
Have you got
the balls to join us?
I'll go.
And I.
I will go.
I, too!
I will, too!
And I!
I will go!
What about you, Knut?
Are you coming?
Yes, I want a good story
to tell my children.
Ah!
Prepare to leave
in the next few weeks,
and tell no one
that doesn't need to know.
Good throw.
Well played.
Well?
My Lord,
there was a meeting.
Where?
In the house
of Eric Marteinn.
Was Ragnar Lothbrok there?
Yes, Lord.
Shall we
show them the ax?
Nothing would
please me more,
but it's too soon.
We need
to watch and wait.
Only good things
come from watching
and waiting.
Were you looking
at my wife?
Have you slept with her?
No, Lord!
I swear
on all the gods.
If she wants
to sleep with you,
then I give
my permission.
It will all
be arranged.
So when do we sail?
I already told you.
I don't want
you to come.
Why not?
I need to leave
the children and the farm
in the hands
of someone I trust.
What if the Earl finds out
we have gone
without his permission?
He might try
and claim our family home.
This was going to be
the most exciting voyage
of our lives.
To go west!
I have dreamed
of it many times,
and in my dreams,
we are always together.
What if
there is no west?
This is the most dangerous
and stupid voyage ever.
What if we both die, hmm?
Then who would
take care
of the children?
Rollo?
You have no right
to say that!
All right, all right.
You go.
You go
and I shall stay here
and look after the children.
Siggy?
Go away!
It's so cold in here,
but we'll be warm
soon enough.
What do you take me for?
Did you really suppose
that a worm like you
could sleep
with a woman like me?
I'm an earl's wife!
Now I know who to trust
and who not to trust.
Take him.
Yes, Lord.
Get rid of him.
Come.
Go where?
Outside.
Get up!
My love!
Never mind that.
Defend yourself.
How dare you!
Am I not good
enough for you?
Am I not strong
enough for you?
Listen...
You listen.
Don't you remember?
I saved your life.
How could I forget?
You keep reminding me.
I'm so angry with you!
Stop!
Are you mad?
You could have
killed each other!
Is that what you want?
We were just
having an argument.
Well, never argue
like that again.
Go on then!
Back to bed!
Huh.
It's a fine thing
when the little pig
teaches the boar a lesson.
Olafur surprised me.
I didn't think,
out of all of them,
he would behave like that.
A man lives
or dies by his honor.
That's true.
He thought so little
of mine
that he really believed
that I would give you to him?
Honor is a rare
commodity these days.
Yes.
Almost as rare
as those in whom
I can trust.
It's true, my love,
our enemies are everywhere.
"Everywhere"?
They cannot prevail.
Are you still angry with me?
No.
But my heart is in still
such pain that I cannot
be with you.
Rollo.
Nice work, Eric.
Where is my anchor?
It was promised
for today.
Maybe your
blacksmith is a liar.
Oh, I don't think so.
This hair is from
his daughter's head.
I promised him
that if he went
to Earl Haraldson,
I would find
a way to kill her.
I still
don't see Knut.
Well, that's because
he isn't here.
He hasn't
sent word either.
That troubles me.
We live
in a sea of troubles.
But look,
some are ended.
Here,
this is yours.
And this is mine.
Master.
May the gods bless
us with powerful
winds and calm seas.
Come here, slave.
Cover the ravens.
Feel that wind.
That breeze is up.
Ready the oars!
Come.
Well?
They have set sail.
Good. They'll never
be heard from again.
But...
But what?
What if Ragnar
is right?
There are
no lands to the west!
Get out.
It's noon.
Look at the board.
Get the bucket.
Not too far south.
Nor too far north.
The board works.
How do we know?
Ah.
The great sea
is held in place
by Jörmungand,
the serpent,
whose giant body
encircles it,
and who keeps
his tail in his mouth
to complete the circle
and stop
the waves breaking loose.
But one day,
the god Thor,
son of earth,
was fishing in the sea
for the serpent,
using a bull's head for bait.
Jörmungand reared up
and the waves
pummeled the shore
as he twisted
and writhed in a fury.
They were well matched,
serpent and god,
in that furious fight.
The seas boiled around them,
but then the hook
became dislodged,
and the serpent
slithered free
and sank again,
so quickly,
beneath the waves.
And soon,
the sea was calm
once more,
as if nothing
had disturbed it.
Thor.
Storm's coming.
Should we
let down the sail?
Floki, should we
let down the sail?
Yes, we have
to take the sail down,
and then we must row.
If we are not
moving forward,
then we will be soaked
by the waves and sink.
Ready?
Keep her straight!
You heard him!
Tent!
Shove the oars!
Row!
Are you afraid?
Yes, Ragnar Lothbrok,
I am afraid.
But not for me.
I am afraid
for my boat.
Thor is striking
his anvil.
He is angry with us.
He wants to sink us.
It's true!
Thor is beating
his hammer.
The lightning
is the sparks
from his anvil.
But he's not
angry with us.
I understand now.
Why should he
be angry with us?
Why should he want
to sink our boat?
Don't you understand?
He is celebrating.
He is full
of good news.
He wants to show everybody
that he can't sink this boat.
He loves this boat!
Sit down, you idiot!
It's my boat,
and the gods love my boat.
Why should I
not be happy?
Floki, sit down.
Remember,
you can't swim!
Father Cuthbert!
What is it,
Brother Athelstan?
We can all
see the signs.
Signs? What signs?
Of what do you speak?
You know as well as we
that judgment day is at hand.
Jeremiah says so!
"And on that day,
the sun shall be darkened,
"and the moon shall
not give her light,
"and the stars
of heaven shall fall."
In the name of God,
that is enough.
But it's true!
"And I stood upon
the sand of the sea,
"and saw a beast
rise up out of the sea,
"having seven
heads and 10 horns."
I will hear no more!
You will return
to your dormitory
and pray to God
for forgiveness
and humility.
And when the storm
has passed,
all shall be well.
You will do
as I order.
Yes, Father.
There is no west!
We are not sailing
towards any new country,
but just into
an empty ocean,
utterly and completely lost.
Kauko, Leif,
we have been persuaded
by madmen and fools.
The god Loki
is behind this voyage.
That scoundrel,
that sly one.
Trouble and suffering
are meat and drink to him.
Shut up, man!
No!
No.
If anyone is mad,
it is you.
I'm not the one
who convinced
all these good men
to sacrifice their lives
for a dream, an illusion.
It wasn't me
who joined forces
with The Sly One
to get us to sail west
into nothing,
into nowhere.
- He's mad!
- Don't tempt the gods!
Oh, and here we are, lost,
certain to die.
For what?
Sit down and shut up.
You sound
like The Sly One.
Perhaps you are
the god of mischief
who sends men mad
and sends them
to their deaths.
Sit down!
I curse the day I ever
agreed to come with you,
Ragnar Lothbrok.
For this ship is cursed,
and we are...
Release the ravens.
If the birds do not return,
there is land.
But if they do...
Father!
Good day to you, blacksmith.
My Lord, how can I be
of use to you?
You make anchors, don't you?
Yes, Lord.
Have you made any recently?
No, not recently,
Lord Haraldson.
You didn't forge an anchor
for a man called
Ragnar Lothbrok?
I would have remembered.
Don't hurt my daughter.
Why would I hurt
your daughter?
His Lordship just wants
to know the truth.
Did you forge the anchor
for Ragnar Lothbrok's ship?
Yes, I forged it.
Let go of her.
Put down your hammer.
I promise you no harm
will come to your daughter.
Look in the flames.
The sages say that
we can see our future
in the flames.
No!
Please, no!
What do you see?
I see my own death.
No! No!
No!
They've come back.
There's no land.
Seabirds!
Seagulls!
Seagulls?
Listen!
Whoo-hoo!
It works! Yeah!
We made it!
Row! We made it! Row!
Ragnar, you did it!
Tie the sail!
Oars! Drop the oars!
What is it?
Why was the warning
bell rung?
They've come.
They are here.
Who is here?
Hell and all its devils!
Lock the doors
and stay inside,
all of you! Hurry.
The gate!
They know we're here.
No one throw
their lives away
unnecessarily,
even to impress
the gods.
Stay close.
They're here!
Come, Brother!
Quick!
Arne, get to work.
Don't be afraid.
Trust in God,
and let us pray.
This is the end!
The Son of Man cometh!
Get away!
Leif.
Ah!
I don't understand.
Why do they leave
such treasures
unprotected?
Is there some spell,
some magic
which protects them?
It appears not.
Perhaps they think
their god protects them.
If this is their god,
then he's dead.
He is nailed
to a cross.
He cannot protect anyone.
He is not alive,
like Odin, Thor or Freyr.
What use is he then?
You speak our language?
How do you
speak our language?
I've traveled.
We are told to travel,
to take the word of God.
Please, don't kill me.
What is that you
have in your hand?
A book.
The gospel of St. John,
I wanted to save it.
Of all the treasures
I see in this place,
you chose to save this?
Yes.
Hmm.
Why?
Because without
the word of God,
there is only darkness.
This is a strange
place indeed.
We have been everywhere
and we have found no women.
Just these strange men.
I believe
they are the priests
of their god.
Take what you will.
This is what we came for.
Why have you not
killed this one?
He is worth more alive
to sell as a slave.
I will kill him.
We have no room
left on the boat.
I forbid it.
How can you forbid it,
little brother?
We are all equals,
and I say he dies.
Does it really mean
that much to you, brother?
This is what
we care for your god.
So much gold!
Look!
Keep them moving!
Your doing, Floki?
Want to drown, my friend?
Let me help you.