It's cold.
Anything to drink?
EPISODE 11: The Gamble
Yes, it really is autumn now.
The season when everything you eat is delicious.
Especially the fish.
Cod, trout, herring…
Fattened pigs and sheep, are also delicious, commander.
That they are!
Salted sausages and a stout to wash it all down!
Save some for me!
At first I didn't like it, but now I've grown used to English beer.
I like my beer with cheese. That village with the cheddar was great.
I like the women more than the food.
The women here have the goods. Just how I like them!
I know! But aren't they modest?
Maybe, that's because they're Christian.
Must be nice to be Christian.
It's become popular lately. Maybe I should convert.
Not for me.
Christianity's has all those rules about what you can and can't do.
Do you remember the wood figure they prayed to in London?
Didn't he look feeble?
He definitely did.
Yeah!
He was so frail!
Thor's hammer would destroy him easily!
I heard he was a sorcerer.
Walking on water, creating more bread.
What boring sorcery!
Odin and Thor are so much better.
Now.
You mustn't jump to conclusions.
We should ask the opinion of one of the Christians here.
Hey!
Prince!
Between Jesus and the gods of Asgard,
who do you think is greater?
What's this?
What's wrong, kid?
Are you too shy to talk in front of everyone?
Don't get cocky, Thorkell!
You faithless scoundrel!
Do you understand what you're doing?
Are you one to disrespect His Highness Prince Canute!
I'm not one for taking hostages either.
But King Sweyn has been ignoring me.
I figured if I captured the Prince, maybe the king would look my way.
You must sympathize with my hurt feelings.
Commander, you sound like a maiden in love.
Yes! That's exactly how I sound!
I've fallen for my King Sweyn!
You're a gargantuan maiden.
That's our king of the North Sea.
He's fallen completely in love!
What a bunch of lunatics.
All you know is war.
All of you will die!
How do you intend to face the Danish army of 16,000 with only 500 men?
That won't happen.
There's no problem, Ragnar.
Have you been Christian for so long that you've forgot what it's like for us?
The honor
of Norman warriors?!
You mean Valhalla?
That's right.
The Valkyries are always searching for the souls of the brave,
for heroes who will serve as einherjar — the warriors of the gods.
Those who fight and die bravely in battle
will live in the heaven that is Valhalla.
How to fight
and how to die
is all that matters.
The stronger the opponent, the better.
You're beliefs are old.
Really?
A man who runs around seeking only the battlefield…
is a miserable one.
You're a child, Thorkell.
You know nothing.
You know nothing of the royal court, King Sweyn,
or my lord, Prince Canute.
What's that?
I don't get it.
What are you saying?
I see it!
The Lord!
It's you, isn't it?
Oh, no. He ran out of liquor?
-I'm here! -Father!
Please sit!
-Get him something strong! -Reveal yourself!
Please show me your love!
That never gets old.
Goodness! Sure is tough being a Christian.
Hey!
Father!
What do you think?
Who do you think is greater your god or ours?
Whoever created the liquor.
That's true!
Liquor is our savior!
Good one, Christian priest!
What's this? Why have we suddenly stopped?
Commander?
Yeah.
Let's see.
Right about over…
there!
Knew it!
Ambush! On the hill to the right!
Damn it.
Thorkell!
We've got you surrounded!
We are Ragnar's force, 2,000 strong, commanded by Prince Canute!
Are those my men?
2,000?
It must be a bluff if they're declaring themselves.
Hey.
All right. We got it.
We are willing to show mercy one last time to you traitors!
Release His Highness and Ragnar now!
Do so and we will spare you this once!
Think well upon your situation!
You…
are not in the position to…
to …
Your Highness!
Ragnar!
This is going well.
They're more amenable than I thought.
Ragnar's men!
Job well done!
We will certainly return Prince Canute into your protection.
No reason to hold back now, right?
Now.
Show me what you got!
What?
Damn it.
Stop.
Get a grip on yourself.
Withdraw!
But as warriors, we have no reason to retreat.
They won't run and they don't intend to be captured.
If we retreat now,
all of us will be nothing but cowards!
We have a reason to retreat.
The prince's safety takes priority above all else!
Consider the prince's rescue as your victory!
Hey, what's wrong, boys?
You couldn't possibly be scared with 2,000 behind you, right?
Or is it something else?
Are you thinking about using the hostage as
an excuse
for why you couldn't commit to the fight?
How dare you mock us!
Stop!
Did you not hear my order?
Don't let those war-hungry imbeciles manipulate you!
I'm sorry.
Could it be…
that I was right all along?
Bring it on!
We'll send you all to Valhalla!
Yes!
If you're ready, I'm at your service!
There's movement.
They've started.
Right. We can all tell that much.
The wind is good.
All right, you bastards!
Do it just like we planned.
Aye!
You fools!
Protect the prince!
Degenerates.
At this rate, it'll be London all over again.
Retreat!
There's still time!
Where's the 2,000?
There's only about 400 of them.
We'll finish this in less than half an hour.
What is it, commander?
Yes, but do you smell that?
It's something other than blood.
Oh, you're right.
I don't smell anything.
It's not the smell of guts?
No, this is a different smell.
Like we're upwind of fire.
Fire?
All right, next one!
Don't waste time!
All right, that's it!
Light it!
This is not good.
Commander! Where are you?
Hey.
I'm right here.
We're in trouble!
We're in a sea of flames.
We can't see our enemy in this smoke.
This isn't the place for a battle.
The downwind is still good. Let's go.
We can't go to Valhalla if we die in a wildfire.
A wildfire?
Someone lit this fire.
Huh?
This isn't their doing.
They wouldn't burn themselves to save the prince.
Which means?
Yeah.
There's a third party
at work here.
It's burning well.
Rain hasn't fallen here for a few days.
How atrocious.
There are many ways to die, but I hope this isn't how I go.
I'm with you on that. It's a painful and boring death.
Though it will be a big help if it kills Thorkell.
Something like this won't kill that monster.
It just a distraction.
Thorfinn!
All right. Douse him with water.
You saw the prince from afar, right?
He has a red cape and a helmet with wings.
Remember.
All right. Go.
Hey, Askeladd.
Yeah?
I think we should have joined Ragnar's 400 men.
Togther with our force, we would have equaled Thorkell's army.
We can't win by being equal.
Even if we won,
Ragnar's force would claim the victory.
It's sink or swim either way.
Even if this strategy burns Prince Canute to death,
we can come from behind and feign ignorance.
No one can prove we started the fire.
You say that.
But you think Thorfinn can retrieve the prince?
No matter what you say,
you believe in
that kid.
I'm just good at using fools who don't know when to be scared.
What is this?
I don't think this is Thorkell's doing.
Either way, we must go now.
Your Highness! Quickly!
Ragnar!
Fool!
Who thrusts his spear without checking who he's attacking?
I'm sorry!
I was just frightened.
What would it mean if you had lanced the prince?
You idiot!
Your Highness!
Ragnar!
Where are you?
See?
People with common sense check first.
My apologies.
Hey!
His Highness is over here!
Hey!
We're friendly!
Please. Make no sudden--
We found Canute!
We won the prize.
We've found the prince!
Over here!
Damn it! Thorkell's men.
Looks like I was the fool.
Don't kill the prince.
I know. Be gentle, right?
Come over here, dear prince.
We'll take good care of you.
That was close!
A horse?
Who's this twirp?
What's with those glaring eyes?
You're raring to go, aren't you?
Can we kill him?
Probably. He doesn't look important.
All right, it's settled.
Die, pipsqueak!
Where'd he go?
You are Prince Canute if I'm not mistaken?
I've come to rescue you.
Wait there.
Unbelievable.
Someone's come to save the prince?
But…
Why?
Why is it always that His Highness is never given a choice?
Thorfinn! Hey!
It's Thorfinn, isn't it?
Well, I'll be. It is you, Thorfinn.
I knew we would meet again.
Thorkell.
Commander!
Do you know who you're dealing with here?
Is he giving you trouble?
That's because Thorfinn here
is a warrior who gave me this heavy injury.
Look at this.
Disrespect him and he'll cause you pain.
But wait, Thorfinn.
I must ask you two things.
First, your group started this fire, right?
Last question.
You said you are the son of Thors, did you not?
Your father's name is Thors.
Your mother's name is…
Helga.
Am I wrong?
How do you know?
I knew it!
So you're the Troll of Jom's son!
I can see why you're so strong.
The Troll of Jom?
The son of the great Thors?
He doesn't look like him.
You know my father?
Of course I do!
He's the only man in the world stronger than me.
A true warrior.
No!
Damn! That's hot!
It seems this is not the time for reminiscing, Thorfinn.
I'll let you have the prince for now. We'll do this again later.
We're both headed for King Sweyn's home base anyway.
If you can evade our pursuit,
then you win!
Don't disappoint me,
son of Thors, Thorfinn!
Hell.
Where is Commander Thorkell?
Commander!
Your Highness! Ragnar!
Huh?
You're the enemy!
Bastard! You're with Thorkell, aren't you?
That Thorfinn of yours is late.
Seems like you put too much faith in him this time.
That's fine.
No skin off our backs.
More are coming.
Quickly, move the dead!
Don't shoot!
It's me.
I've brought the prince.
Askeladd.
Because of your reckless strategy, my force has been dispersed.
This is a high crime.
They would have been annihilated by Thorkell anyway.
Keep your voice down!
However, since we can do nothing about this situation,
we have no choice but to place His Highness under your protection.
Protect the prince and take him back to the army's home base.
I, Askeladd, son of Olaf,
humbly accept this appointment.
As such, Your Highness…
as his protector, I wish to look upon the face of His Highness.
Your Highness.
Prince?
Are you sure he's not a princess?
Subtitle translation by Astrid Oliver