Every nine years,
we travel to
the temple at Uppsala
to give thanks to
the gods and to offer
them sacrifices for
all they do for...
For protecting us,
for the success in battle,
for the rains that they bring
that grow our crops
and, of course,
for our children.
This year I was
not going to go,
for there is too
much to do around here.
Then my unborn son
was cruelly taken from me,
and it made me wonder
what I had done
to anger the gods.
What do Christians
do about such pain?
In the Bible, it says
that all sorrows will pass.
In any case,
I've decided to go.
I'm going to take the children
for the first time,
for it's important
that they go.
What about you?
Me?
What about me?
Will you come with us?
Or perhaps you would
prefer to stay here
and worship your own god?
No, I'll gladly come with you.
Good.
I would have
taken you anyway.
A gift for the gods,
for the children.
I pray for my
daughter's recovery.
A gift for the gods.
Pray for health
and prosperity.
My gift for the gods.
I ask their
blessings for my son.
Gyda, you take
the offerings.
For the gods in
thanks for my new baby.
Thank you.
Ragnar,
are you not happy
that we're going to Uppsala?
Of course I'm happy.
Why should I not be happy?
When we reach Uppsala,
we shall ask the gods
why they give with one hand,
but take away with the other?
Why did they make me Earl,
yet kill my son?
We can have more sons.
Have we not tried?
Arne.
Gyda, step up.
Careful.
Ragnar.
Uppsala!
Floki!
Ah!
Here's the sacred grove.
Go and hang all the people's
offerings from the spouse.
Does he know?
No.
Hail to the Aesir
and the Vanir.
Hail to
the gods and goddesses.
Hail to Odin, Thor and Freyr.
Hail to Vali,
Sif and Heimdall.
Hail to Balder, Bragi and Eir.
Hail to Freyr, Loki and Frigg.
Hail to Hlín and Mimir.
Hail to Njord,
Ran and Tyr.
Hail to Odin's spear,
Thor's hammer.
Hail to
the mighty fecund earth.
All...
All hail.
You know who
that is, don't you?
Of course.
This is Thor holding
his hammer, Mjollnir.
Who hasn't heard him
beating his
anvil in the storm?
Who doesn't
believe in mighty Thor,
slayer of frost and fire?
Freyr, Loki and Frigg.
Hail to Hlín and Mimir.
Hail to Njord, Ran and Tyr.
Hail to Odin...
Freyr, Lord,
fill me with seed
and give me a son.
Do as you will with me,
make me blind or
deaf if you want to,
but give me a son.
Accept the sacrifices
of blood we make to you,
the honor we offer you.
My lord,
make me conceive again
before it's too late.
Hail to...
All hail.
Hail to Freyr,
Loki and Frigg.
Odin, Father.
I have come to
ask for your love.
I want to grow and to prosper,
to be quicken and to be wise.
Hear me, Lord.
All hail.
Hail to the Aesir
and the Vanir.
Hail to the gods
and goddesses.
Lord of lords,
Father,
hear my prayer.
Let me understand your will.
Is it true that I
shall have more sons
like the Seer says?
Accept the sacrifice
I plan to offer you,
and then answer me.
Hail to the Aesir
and the Vanir.
Hail to the gods
and goddesses.
Hail to Odin, Thor...
Who will bear me my son?
...Sif and Heimdall.
Hail to Balder...
Hail to Freyr, Loki and Frigg.
How good is this, Rollo?
Especially because
we're here together.
Yes,
while we're here in Uppsala,
let us enjoy and revel
in every moment.
Have you been
here before, Helga?
No.
Do you know
what happens here?
I've heard some stories.
And they're all true.
But they still don't
prepare you for
what really happens here.
I can't wait to find out.
When is the food
ready, Helga?
I'm hungry.
You're always hungry.
Of course I am,
but not always for food.
Can you feel it, Gyda?
Can you sense the presence
of the gods gathering here?
They have left their
bright halls to see us.
They are here for sure.
They walk among us.
And make their
judgments on us.
So when do we
offer our sacrifices?
At the end of the festival.
And in the meantime,
we celebrate the gods
and enjoy their presence
in any way we can.
Give Athelstan a drink.
Priest, your cup.
Mother,
you came here before?
Once.
And did you ask
the gods for anything?
Yes.
And they granted
my every desire.
What is this?
These will all be
killed as sacrifices.
Six, seven, eight, nine.
Seven, eight, nine.
And nine goats and nine pigs.
There's nine of everything!
Yes,
nine of every kind.
And this?
It's for all the humans
that have been chosen.
Come join us, priest.
Drink.
Drink to the nights
and to the gods.
And
eat these.
I heard a rumor today that
King Horik himself may
attend the festival.
It is not a rumor.
I desire to meet him.
There are great stories
and legends told about him.
Thank you.
You want to go out there,
don't you?
Please stay.
Why can't you stay?
Priest...
You are surely
not tired, Athelstan.
Not on this great
journey you have begun
and must finish.
Leif,
if you let me go,
I will fall again.
No, the gods will hold you.
Priest,
I have been waiting for you.
Gyda, what is it, child?
I am bleeding.
Then you are
no longer a child.
Forgive me.
You are a woman.
But let me cradle you
in my arms a last time,
as I always used to do.
It is hard for me
to let go of you.
Why do you do this, Thyri?
Don't you understand?
I have to.
Priests, stir yourselves!
You ignorant peasant!
Wake up!
How dare you disturb us!
Wake up!
Get out!
Get out of the temple!
Priests!
If you value your lives,
stop this at once.
Fools! This is King Horik.
Athelstan, I want
you to meet someone.
You must be Ragnar Lothbrok!
I must tell you it is
my privilege and pleasure
to clap eyes on you.
Your reputation
goes ahead of you,
Ragnar Lothbrok.
I know this because
so many have told me
how you killed Earl Haraldson,
and then built
a new kind of ship,
were the first to sail west,
and defeated
a king of England!
In fact,
I can hardly
believe my eyes
that you are
standing right here
in front of me.
Please, please.
Travelers and
storytellers have described
how you came to your throne
by defeating, one by one,
the six uncles that
killed your father.
And my mother,
and all my sisters
and brothers.
I also know how you
favor the poets at your court,
and your people
respect your law making,
your justice and your rule.
And as a consequence, here,
on this site,
in the living presence
of the gods,
I offer you my fealty
and my service.
I accept your pledge
with a glad heart.
What can I do
for you in return?
Hmm.
You could join
forces with me.
I am not satisfied
with what I have
achieved so far.
I want to send
bigger raiding
parties to the west.
Yes, to plunder,
but also to explore
new lands.
There are other
lands to the west?
There is
a kingdom called Francia.
A kingdom far larger,
far richer
and far more
powerful than England.
Athelstan, come.
Come.
This man has seen it.
I was a Christian
monk in England.
I traveled to other
lands as a missionary.
I have heard of Christians
and of their god.
And are you
still a Christian?
No.
Of course not!
How could you be a Christian
and walk among our gods?
I share your appetite
for new adventure,
Ragnar Lothbrok,
and I will gladly
join forces with you,
since, as king, I am
naturally not in favor of
individual enterprise
by my earls or anyone else.
But, believe me, I will be
happy enough just to have
my name linked with yours
when the poets tell the story
of how we Norsemen sailed west
and discovered new worlds.
Please, come. Eat, eat.
Why did you bother
to come back?
I was hungry.
How many women
have you been with?
I don't suppose you know.
I do what I want here.
I thought we
came here together.
We came here with Earl Ragnar.
I thought we came
here together, but...
We did come here together.
We are together.
Why do you keep pestering me?
I am who I am
and I won't change,
not for you,
not for my brother,
not for anyone.
So leave if you want to.
But one day
I will be a great man
and you'll regret leaving me
just because I sleep
with other women.
If you really want
to be a great man,
should you not be meeting
with King Horik now?
What do you mean?
Well, that's where
your brother is now,
and no doubt he's already
boasting about how
he sailed west, alone,
and all he has
achieved alone.
If you weren't so
stubborn and so drunk,
you would be there, too,
but you weren't invited.
You didn't even know about it.
I could have told you.
You see, Rollo,
you need me as
much as I need you.
That is, if you really
want to be something.
Ragnar Lothbrok,
I drink to your good fortune.
May the gods
continue to favor you
and increase your fame.
May they do the same
to you, King Horik.
You have done me the honor
of pledging your
fealty as earl to me.
Forgive me, then,
if I seem anxious
to make use of your
skills and reputation
as soon as possible.
To do what?
There is a Jarl in Götland,
Jarl Borg.
He is an important fellow,
but he continues to claim
he has legal rights
over some of my land.
He threatens me.
He nearly invaded
my territory a year ago,
but at the last moment,
he drew back.
And now, once again,
he is making
threatening noises.
And how can I be of
help in such a matter?
Would you be prepared
to travel to Götland
as my emissary?
I can think of no one
who I would rather
represent my case,
for your fame is widespread.
If the issue is settled,
I shall be forever
in your debt.
What do you say?
Come.
Have you come here
of your own free will?
Yes.
At first,
I was suspicious of you.
I sensed something,
so I spoke
to Lord Ragnar.
He told me your story.
That you were a priest,
that you were a Christian
and worshipped a god
called Jesus Christ.
Is that true?
Yes.
And do you still
worship this god?
Are you still,
in your heart,
a Christian?
No.
Say again.
No.
And a third time,
say it.
No.
You know why you're here,
don't you?
You have been brought here
as a sacrifice to the gods.
I have come to tell you
that the sacrifice of this man
will not please the gods.
He is neither willing
nor is his faith
acceptable to Odin.
His heart is corrupt.
He has not renounced
his false god.
Looks like your god
finally came through for you.
Instead,
one amongst you must agree
to take his place
tomorrow at the sacrifice.
If not, then all shall fail.
The gods, in their anger,
will punish everyone
and withdraw their protection
from all of us.
No, not you.
Before anyone else
can claim this honor,
I desire to be sacrificed.
For the sake of my family,
for the sake of all of you,
my friends.
But even more, for the sake
of all humans in Midgard.
I trust that
the gods will find
my sacrifice acceptable.
In which case, I look
forward to it joyfully.