Sven?
Sven!
Come to me!
- Runa. - Shh.. I'm here.
- Don't you want to sleep? - I can not.
- I just keep thinking of Father. - I know.
- Mother! - Yes.
- I have not slept well lately. - Are you ill or troubled?
I'm having bad dreams almost every night.
Are you afraid of going back to sleep?
No. I am now awake, wondering what they mean.
It sounds just like your father had. And grandfather.
They used to dream alot too.
It brought nothing good. This soon will pass.
Ah.. relax.
Remember your breathing, Runa.
Feel the calmness of the forest.
I am.
- I hit it. - I heard you did it.
Father was much better when he was at my age.
- Is that what he told you? - Yes.
When Joar was your age, he loved nothing more than he loved,
his bow and arrow.
He even kept it in bed with him at night. But, uh, did that make him better?
No ... let the bow rest, Runa.
Do something else for a while. Something you truly enjoy.
Well, I enjoy getting better.
You sound just like him.
I can hear you.
Did I tell you about that one time Father scared off an angry moose?
No, not what I can remember.
Father and I were out looking for honey bees..
when a big moose came out of the leaves, right in front of us.
And I think the moose was afraid, too. When he saw us.
But, he got angry and wanted to hit us with his horns.
- Do you know what happened next? - No, what happened next?
Father spread his arms and shouted and my ears almost fell off.
And he walked bravely toward him,
clapping his hands and stared him right in the eye.
Scaring him away!
- Whoa.. ohh.. oh!
Grandfather, do you think father is dead?
- No, no, I do not. - But, many die on raids.
And many come back. Joar is delayed, that is all.
And when he does return, remember he did this for us.
It has been two years.
Maybe we'll not recognize him when he returns.
When I think of him, it's like I'm seeing through water or mist.
I went on two raids when I was young.
All I wanted was to return with a name and some wealth.
And that I did, but it was hard won treasure I brought home.
It didn't last long. I had good eyes then,
and my aim was true.
And when I showed my silver to Joar's mother,
she let your grandmother have me for her husband.
My good eyes gave me that.
Then we settled down and we had Joar and his sisters,
and my eyes started to fade.
The Lord's made my thread that way.
That was the real price for my happiness.
And I would gladly sacrifice it again if I was given a choice.
- Let's go inside. - Yes.
Runa, don't waste your love on the horse.
We have to sell him.
- But, you can't sell Nutbutter. - Go out fishing.
Mother, maybe we all can go fish?
- Come Bothild. - Your sister stays with me.
- What happened? - I fell.
- Into the lake? How? - I just fell.
Nothing more.
Don't worry.
I wonder what Father found on his journey.
He promised to bring back something for me.
If he is able, I know he will bring something back for you, my dear.
- I miss him. - Yes, I know.
We all do.
Well, clearly he is not missing us,
if he did he would've found a way back by now.
- Runa..
Or maybe he is cold in the ground...
and no one wants to talk about it.
Where's mother?
Mother..
You're doing it again.
- What? - Standing there, not doing anything.
Can I not stand in my own home without someone complaining about it?
Do not deny it.
- Stop it. - Yeah, but, it's happening?
You're not alone in this, you know.
We have a right to suffer just as much as you are.
- You can not know about my silence.
- But, you can't shut us out in the fucking dark!
Don't you dare use that tone to me!
- You're thinking of father, aren't you? - Don't you have chores to do?
I don't. How about you?
Get out now. Go to your sister.
- No. - Go away!
- I want to talk about Father. - Go see your sister!
- You don't even care anymore! - What do you want me to say?
That I miss him? That I still love him?
Do you want me to say that I believe he'll come riding on a big black stallion.
Well, he won't. He won't. He has left us.
He has left us here to rot, like a pest.
Don't you see that it is you who has left us?
- I think Father tried, but ... - Maybe it's you who wants to leave?
Then, just go. Take your bow and go.
And leave me here.
- Where are you going? - Hunting.
♪ Foreign travelers while they slept ♪
♪ While they were sleeping ♪
♪ Viverjar watches over the ash tree ♪
Sometimes I think I can see again.
Then I realize.. it's in my head.
The sounds of the woods.
The smell of the leaves and flowers.
Growing and dropping.
Birth and decay.
It seems so clear to me, so.. close and strong.
I have lived a long time.
Soon I will rot and become soil.
I really hope there will be green moss over me.
Sweet green moss.
Remember to bring some pork to my gravesite and sing to my bones.
Do you see your own death?
No, I can not see a damn thing.
But I refuse to die until I have spoke to my son one more time.
- You are troubled. - I saw something today.
What did you see?
When I fell into the water, I felt like I was dreaming ...
... but I know I was awake.
And that what you think you saw was an omen?
Yes.
Tell me.
I saw mother, you and Bothild.
Anyways it was probably nothing.
It's getting harder to remember, the more I try.
Are you sure it was nothing?
There was something else. After... on the far shore...
I saw alot of dead birds on the ground.
But, I do not understand why.
That don't make sense.. dead birds.
You sure you didn't hit your head when you fell.
Do not try looking for signs in everything you see.
It can only lead to sadness and worries.
Who is there?
I mean no harm.
Did you hear me?
- What's going on? Who's that man? - Go and get mother. Hurry.
Bothild, stay!
- A warrior. Where did you find him? - In the far woods close to Närlunda.
- We must save him. - No.
He can barely move. We must help him.
You should have left him in the forest, Runa.
Take him back before he wakes up.
Father would have been ashamed if he heard you now.
His fever is very high. He may die tonight or in a couple days.
There's not much we can do.
But, there's a chance he might live?
I'm not sure.
Calendula flowers can help.
Thank you.
Hide his weapons. We put him in the goat shelter.
It's empty anyway. I do not want him in the house.
Who is he?
We don't know.
What's he saying?
He said something about gold on the way here.
I hope he will survive, but the fever is a threat damn it.
He's forced to sleep outside.
He looks like a traveling man.
Maybe he knows something about father.
Or he'll cut our throats in our sleep.
Could you please fetch him some water, Bothild?
- No, that's enough. You don't get near him again.
Freja and Odin and Thor together rode the gangster named Sleipner.
The horse had fell and broke its legs.
The gods then stood beside him.
Blood to blood, they sang. Their bones fell.
Sleipner stood up.
- What's up? - That man ...
He's in pain.
[thunder rumbling]
Don't be scared.
But, we should bring him inside.
- Make sure he drinks this. - I will.
- Where are you going? - To the market.
Without us?
You must stay with your sister. She must not know.
Good boy... leaving has started.
- Good to see you, Magnhild. - Same to you, Ketill.
So... here he is.
hmm...
I was not sure you'd come.
I haven't seen much of you at the market lately.
People miss your furs and skins.
I was beginning to believe that the woods had swallowed your family and home.
- We're very busy. - Have you?
It must be tough with your husband gone.
Does Ragnvald still live?
- He does. - He's such an old goat.
Surely he'll survive us all, don't you think?
- I thought your daughters were coming.
- No, not this time.
- It was your husband's horse, was it not?
- That's right.
I know you are sad.
But I sold skins and I bought this for you.
- May I try it? - Yes.
It's beautiful. Thank you mother.
Did you remember my pork, Magnhild?
Anything for you, Ragnvald.
- Sweet man. - Thank you.
Are you Ragnvald?
I am.
- Are you thirsty? - Yes.
Thank you.
Thanks.
I'm Torulf Ulfsson from Gallstadir.
Ragnvald Ingvarsson from this shit hole.
Ragnvald.
I traveled with your son.
- You were with him on the raid? - Yes.
- Does he live?
- The last time I saw him, he was alive.
And that was just about.. a week ago, give or take.
If you're done with water now? - Thank you.
I suppose the ale is gone.
You must be Runa.
It was Runa who brought you here and mended your wounds.
I'm in your debt.
- Who did that to you? - My former shipmates.
But I shook them off.
Where are your shipmates?
There was 24 of them when we left Akru, two years ago.
First we sailed along the eastern coast to Kurland.
But, we had no luck there.
We went far on the river to Garda.
Traded with the locals.
They had strong defenses, so we kept the peace.
When winter came, I served the lord, as a guard.
He paid in silver, but it was not enough.
We decided to go and try our luck down south, in the Slavic lands.
But others had been there before us.
We went further down south ... and we came upon a Frankish market.
We fell over it like hungry wolves.
We were foolish men, poor.
We've never seen such riches before. So, we lost our heads.
We forgot to keep watch.
The French attacked us. They were three times as many, as we were
and heavily armed.
We fought for our life there on the Frankish shore.
When we got away, we barely had enough men to man the oars.
We lost all of our men and all of our riches.
Surely, we would all have died if it wasn't for Joar and his bow.
Then we set sail...
and the next thing we got back to familiar shores.
I buried those who had died from their wounds at sea.
That night, one of the crews found this overturned tree,
roots sticking up into the air, like fingers grasping for the sky.
On those roots were big fat golden rings.
It was like a gift from the gods.
We dug under the tree and found an old burial site.
A mound full of treasure.
Joar told us.. to leave it all in the ground.
It was a foul thing to steal from the dead.
But we did not listen.
We divided the treasure amongst ourselves.
In the end not even Joar could resist taking his share..
We slept that night dreaming we were kings.
Then in the morning, everything changed.
So.. What happened?
Some of the men started attacking one another.
Wanting the gold for themselves.
Joar and I ran away.
I was still wounded from the fight, so he told me to run ahead. And I did.
Bastards caught up with me anyways.
So, I took all my gold and silver and threw it into the mud.
It made them forget about me for a while.
And.. What happened to father?
Later I saw Joar. He was still unharmed.
He was keeping his pursuers at bay.
Before we got separated, he shouted at me and told me to meet him here.
He and I were the only ones who knew how to get here.
Well, he has not returned yet.
- Runa, what are you doing? - Going to take a look for him.
- No, you're not going anywhere. - Runa, your father knows these woods.
I think he wants to make sure he is not being followed...
before coming home.
Fine.
How do we know you're telling the truth?
That you won't betray us as soon as Joar comes back with the gold?
- You already lost your own share? - You're right.
It's wise to be asking these things... but when Joar arrives,
he will tell you I am a friend. He will tell you I can be trusted.
There is one thing you can say.
Swear it. On your ring.
In the name of Thor... I swear, that my words bare truth.
Now it seems the two of you should get some sleep.
And leave these two broken men do what we do best.
Brag about yesterday, joke about today and forget about tomorrow.
- What did he do? - He ate the porridge.
With his helmet, you know.
That man was a moron.
- I need a break. - Yeah.. Why?
I need to go outside and find a tree.
But, I don't want to risk tripping over any of the sleepers.
I can't see a damn thing in here.
I need to find a tree.
If you get to my age,
you'll find that old men need to pee quite often during the night.
So this blind man would not go tripping or..
falling on the sleeping women, so he built himself a piss door.
Come on. Follow me.
Ragnvald?
Ragnvald...
Oh, ... shit!
[both men laughing]
- Ragnvald, you alright?
[both laughing hysterically]
Good morning.
Feeling better?
Yes, thank you. Thank you and your family.
We have very little supplies.
If you can walk, you can work for your food.
- I will. Be happy to.
- Good. Go grab some more firewood, pronto.
You work hard for your family.
You're strong. Joar knows that.
Your mother..
Magnhild does her best.
She tries to keep you all safe and sound. I can tell.
Yeah, she's a good image for me and my sister.
Kind-hearted, polite, generous. That's what I think of her.
Sometimes I feel like an orphan.
Bothild, she's playing and singing, but...
she is just as lonely in this world as I am.
Only she doesn't say nothing.
Mother lost the spark when father left.
Sometimes though it seems she just drifts away.
Saying nothing. Hearing nothing.
- Do you think she stopped caring about you?
No.
No, she's just sad and worried.
And, she fears she can't give a good life for us.
And, she fears that I'll leave her.
Do you want to?
Have you said anything to her?
She knows I need her to be a mother.
You know your father spoke a lot about you.
He also told me that you are very good with a bow.
You're good.
Would you care to teach me some of your tricks a bit later,
I'll teach you how to use this.
Maybe, it's too soon.
I mean you were in bed until a few days ago.
But I am not too weak to work for you?
I get rusty like an old tool if I refrain from practice.
Long grip. Like this.
You don't want to get hit on your fingers.
For now. Ready.
Right. There.
You have the right mind for this.
Teach me more.
Come on. Come on.
- You need to be faster. - I will. Again.
Come on.
Mother! Grandfather! Mother!
What's wrong?
What?
- Runa!
- Come here! - Runa!
What is happening?
- What is it? - Will someone say something?
- What's up?
- Speak!
- It's Joar.
Joar!
- Your son has come home.
My son. I feared the worse.
But, I always knew that you would come back.
Good job, brother, you did it.
Torulf, build us a fire?
Joar ... come. Get some food.
Joar is back!
- My dear ... we are rich.
Will him.
Take him out.
Joar.
Don't feel ashamed. We did what we had to do.
And you're a rich man. You've earned it.
It feels more like a burden than a reward.
It should feel like a relief to you and your family.
And you saved my life.
When those arrows flew...
I've never seen archering like that before, you should...
Torulf.
I think Joar should take time to rest.
- Alright.
Hey? You look pale.
♪ Foreign travelers while they slept ♪
♪ While they are sleeping ♪
♪ Viverjar watches over the grove of old ash trees ♪
Whoo ... ohh!
Whooh!
Alright?
Something seems to have scared away the animals.
Father seems different.
- You think so? - Yes. Something's bothering him.
He just got home.
He's been through a lot. He is very tired.
- No, it's something else. - What do you mean?
I don't know yet.
What happened?
Joar ...
You need to speak now.
We can not have peace if you don't tell me what's wrong.
Why do you want to be alone when your family longs for you so?
Then show me.
No no no.
Now go to bed.
The best defense should not be where you're enemy's weapon is.
Now it's your turn. Hit my leg.
See, you've been exposed. You need to be faster.
It's not over yet.
- Come on! Defense.
- Alright. Come on now. - You're making it harder, Torulf.
Come on.
Torulf.
How is your wound doing?
It's getting better for each day.
Good.
We would like you to leave us now.
I think you understand we need to come together as a family.
And Joar needs to get some rest and put his adventures behind him.
I hope you understand, brother.
I understand.
You lost your share of the treasure, but you did not lose your friend.
Brother.
Here, Torulf, you have a safe journey.
So long, Torulf Ulfsson, my friend.
You are welcome back in winter for more good ale and fun times and old stories.
I do not have no doubts about that, Ragnvald...my friend.
I can't believe they're sending you away
You have some to heal yet.
Don't worry about me. Goodbye, Runa.
I hope we meet again soon.
- You still need to teach me how to master the bow.
- Then you need two healthy arms for that.
I'm fine.
[thunder rumbling]
Joar, brother, you're back.
Come visit our home.
Hello.
- Welcome. - Thank you.
- Runa?
- Is it now? - It's me.
I could barely recognize you.
- Is your family with you? - Yes, there are here.
I haven't heard a single word from those who left on their journey.
And your father? Did he return? Is he well?
- Yes, he's come back. - Well, that's good news.
It must be great not feeling alone in the woods anymore.
But I hear that you are a good surviving family.
Maybe things will change now? Did Joar have any luck on his trip?
No, not really.
At least he's back. Well, I know someone you should meet.
Do you remember my son, Ari? He's grown up to be a beautiful young man.
He's here somewhere.
You should go get him before some other unmarried woman does.
Here, drink some more.
Birds, lay dead, all over the crops.
But the worst part of it was the stench.
It smelled of intestines and vomiting, dropped in death.
I almost puked.
My sister saw something strange, too. Further north.
Said, there was someone else in the trees watching her.
She had her husband with her, armed with a good spear.
But, it didn't scare the stranger away.
He didn't say nothing. He just stood there, watching.
It was surely one of those Christian priests.
They're very strange indeed.
- And they sometimes fuck, I've heard. - It was no priest.
Both my sister and her husband were scared.
And they didn't scare easily.
Suddenly her husband ran toward the man spear point first, to scare him off
but he slowly turns his back on them, waiting.
- What happened? - The arsedigger just stood there.
He's a mad man ... and he smelled, my sister said.
Smelled?
- As if he was rotting. - As he was rotting?
Is someone there?
Who goes there?
Go away!
- Did you like dancing? - Yeah.
The fire is down.
Someone was here.
- Who is there? - Grandpa, it's us. Open the door.
- Get in. It still might be very close. - What are you talking about, Ragnvald?
Could it be the outlaws or thieves trying to steal the gold?
I heard a noise and a stench. I almost threw up.
And it was dead silent. Then it tried to break in.
Fortunately, I wasn't drunk or already done for or...
I'd have wet my pants.
Was he alone?
I don't even know if he was a he. - What?
- He may not have been human at all.
- Don't speak like that, Ragnvald. It brings bad luck.
- It must have been an animal. - No, look at the marks.
It would be nice if Torulf were here.
We should look around.
Ragnvald.
Why are you not eating?
I must get the bow.
Father?
What?
- My strong, brave daughter. - Oh, stop.
I know there's something you're not telling me.
I wish you would have stayed with us.
I want my father back, not a stupid bag of gold.
That gold. It's life.
I needed to take this risk, Runa.
There's no future here for you or your sister.
Living in these woods like wolves and bear.
Now we have this bag of gold and yet you stand there as if the sun is dead.
I know you.
I know there's something you're not telling me.
It was wrong,
stealing from that mound and then now we suffer for it.
Maybe it's just in my head. Nightmare, guilt ...
I will probably feel better with time.
But, we have time.
♪ Foreign travelers while they slept ♪
♪ While they are sleeping ♪
♪ [choir humming]
You know the words, but do you know what they mean?
♪ Foreign travelers slept ♪
♪ While they are sleeping ♪
♪ Viverjar watches over the old ash tree ♪
♪ Now you have to wonder while you awake ♪
♪ From under the sunrise ♪
♪ And all it's splendor ♪
♪ Viverjar watches over the grove of the willows ♪
He's gone.
Father gave it to me.
Don't lose it.
He's going to come back.
Where's Bothild?
I don't know.
Bothild?
Quiet.
[Torulf whispering] We have to get out of here.
Run!
Run home!
- When was Runa here? - I don't know.
Where's Runa! Are you hurt?
What happened?
- What happened? - The Vikings are close.
- What was that smell? - Are those your Shipmates?
- Shipmates, no.
- We have to leave. - Leave?
- Where's Joar? - Joar left us.
- He left? - With the gold.
He went to give it to the Vikings so that they might leave us alone.
I gave them my gold. They didn't care.
They'll have no trouble of finding us in the woods.
They will slaughter us like cattle.
Leave me here. You go. - Huh?
No.
We stick together and fight. I almost killed one of them.
They are warriors, Runa.
Experienced killers.
But now, they scatter.
They will take everything we have.
- They will not stop there.
We have to leave, before, they round up together.
There's that foul stench again.
The two of you, go inside, fast.
I think they can hear us.
- This is nuts.
I know when to stand and fight and that might be wiser.
But right now we have to be smart.
Go get the ax and spear, hurry.
Stay near by me.
Get in! Now!
Go! Go!
Close the door!
Now, we're caught like a goose in a trap.
We should all get drunk.
- How many are there? - I don't know.
Shit!
A lot more than there should be.
- What do you mean?
They are mad men.
We can't win this.
We can survive this!
We have to make them believe that we are willing to fight.
That we have nothing left to give!
I think they already know that we don't have any more treasure.
- They want revenge. - Revenge for what?
I saw Sven there.
He sat next to me, quietly for almost two years.
- He was a friend. - Well then.. talk to him.
- Maybe, he can get them to stop. - I don't think he can hear me.
- Why? Speak ...! - No, don't say it.
I saw him die, Runa.
On that evening, right after we had found the treasure.
He was cut and could not have lived.
They are walking again.
They're Draugers. The living dead.
I can't hear them. Have they left?
- Father? - He did not know.
Maybe, he's still alive.
- Maybe he saw what they were and ran away.
[pounding on door]
How did they manage to find their way here?
Because, they're spirits. They felt it!
Joar, he'll only save us. He did it for us.
Move it!
If they were human, they would have set the house aflame by now.
They don't want us to get away so easily.
Don't say that in front of Bothild.
- They're gathering outside the door.
Close your eyes and stay close to me.
Soon we will wake up with the gods and Father will wait for us there.
[pounding]
Go to your grandfather.
Valhalla! Sitting at Odin's table.
They will meet with Freja's people.
There will be meadows and branches of plenty and nothing to fear.
It will be over soon.
Those who die in battle, end up in the halls of the gods.
You know, Bothild.
In the halls of the gods there is music and song,
and beautiful art and friendly faces.
And there's pork.
Sweet pork.
You all know I love you.
You have to go out through the back door.
Now.
- I can't leave you, brother. - Go with them.
Instead concede.
Come on, Bothild. Stay close to me.
The gods love those who die in battle!
YA..awhh.. !!
- Grandfather!
- He wanted to do it. Now we have to survive.
Registration.
Pearl, where's the pearl? What did you do with it? Where is it?
I'm sorry.
You swallowed it, didn't you?
- What did you do that? - Father gave it to me.
Run!
Save yourself, Bothild!
Run, Run, Bothild! Run! Bothild! Run! Save yourself !
Runa!
Hakon, what happened to you?
- Bothild, Run!
- Runa!
Save Bothild. We won't be far behind.
- I can not loose you. - I'm fine.
Bothild!
No!
No! Oh.. oh.. ohh!
NO..!!
No!
Mother, we will face them... and we will fall.
We'll meet Bothild, Ragnvald and Father.
And we'll be a family again, together.
- Take the spear. - Cover my left side.
Cover my left side. They're coming for us.
What happened?
This is it.
Joar.
Joar!
No, Joar!
Runa, Runa! No!
- Runa.
You know the words, but do you know what they mean?
[Runa singing] ♪ Foreign travelers while they slept ♪
♪ While they were sleeping ♪
♪ Viverjar watches over the willows and old ash tree ♪
[music choir humming]
♪
Can you hear me?
♪ Foreign travelers while they slept ♪
♪ While they are sleeping ♪
♪ Viverjar watches over the grove of willow trees ♪
♪ From under the sunrise ♪
♪ And all it's splendor ♪
♪ Viverjar watches over the grove of willows ♪
♪ Now you have to wonder while you wake up ♪
♪ Viverjar, why are you standing deep in the shadows ♪
♪ Then you will hear it from the forest ♪
♪ Viverjar will sing: we are here ♪
♪ keeping our promise ♪