Beware the berserker
How old is Ragnar Lothbrok?
Now he is older.
Perhaps he is just old.
Credit: Jonathan Hession/History
I cannot stop thinking about death, he muses.
He has lost a child.
He has lost friends.
But my own death continues to elude me.
Who can Ragnar speak to, now?
His son Bjorn is far away, in the Interior.
His first wife, Lagertha, is in Hedeby, an Earl abed with an Earl.
His second wife, Aslaug, regards him as a nemesis.
One of his best friends killed his other best friend.
I am constantly torn, he says, between killing myself or everyone around me.
His wifes new slave, Yidu, listens to him.
A king and a slave, Ragnar says.
It is both our duties to serve others, whether we like it or not.
The problem of Mercia weighs heavy on Aelle.
Shall the combined might of Northumbria and Wessex march to Mercia?
And shall Kwenthrith once again be established as lord of that land?
Kwenthriths heir, Magnus, is the bastard son of Ragnar Lothbrok.
Years have passed, but Aelles enmity toward the Northmen hasnt dimmed.
They dine together, the English royals.
Northumbria can sense the affairs all about him.
Aethelwulf cozies up to Kwenthrith; Judith giggles with Ecbert.
He takes his daughter aside and accuses her.
You are a bad wife and a bad mother, he says.
The very worst example of womanhood.
But this is not the shy Judith he long ago married off.
You dont own me, father, says Judith.
Nor does any man own me.
Though encumbered everywhere, I amfree.
In Frankia
Princess Gisla has prepared well for this divorce.
The Cardinal has arrived.
The papers of annulment are ready.
But Rollo has a surprise for her.
I have learned your language!
Princess Gisla, I beg you not to do this.
I know my destiny is to be with you.
And I swear that I, like you, am prepared to defend Paris to the death.
A surprise: Duke Rollo actually paid attention during those language lessons!
What is more important to you, she asks her husband.
Our marriage, your appointment by the Emperor, or your Viking soul?
Rollo is confused; did he not slay his own warriors for the greater glory of Paris?
But Gisla knows that that, too, is a very Viking thing to do.
Rollo offers her his arm band.
That is personal, he explains.
That, it seems, is good enough for Gisla.
They make wild love, loud enough for everyone in attendance at the royal feast to hear them.
He sets off wearing the pelt of the slain bear.
A new threat awaits him: The berserker assassin sent by Kalf and Erlendur.
The battle is brutal.
The berserker slashes into Bjorns face and breaks Bjorns ax asunder.
Bjorn takes a ring off the mans finger.
(We know the lord of that ring is Erlendur.)
Bjorn Ironside asks his attacker.
The man does not respond.
Bjorn doesnt ask a second time.
NEXT: Ancient Chinese medicine
In Hedeby
An unexpected visitor appears in the hall of Hedeby.
It is Bjorn Ironside.
Lagertha hugs him always nice for a visit!
and Kalf tries to play it cool.
Bjorn has an announcement to make.
I have come to take Torvi with me back to Kattegat, he says.
The wife of Erlendur looks on, shocked.
Shes your wife, yet you treat her like a slave, Bjorn spits at Erlendur.
Torvi is free to make up her mind, and she has: I want to go with Bjorn.
But Erlendur refuses to release her son.
But Lagertha advises her to follow her heart.
We have one life, Torvi, says the Earl.
Go and live it.
Ragnar tries to teach his son, Ivar, about mistletoe.
(Centuries later, the Christian celebrations will fuse with the pagans traditions.)
You cant make him like you, his wife tells him, angry.
The Seer has never treated anyone the way he treats Floki.
I have waited a long time, says the creature.
The Seer licks Flokis hand, not the other way around.
Aslaug has seen how Ragnar looks at Yidu.
She asks him: Would you like to spend some time with her?
He takes Yidu to a special place: A house on a lake.
No one else has ever been here, says Ragnar.
It is the only place I do not feel alone.
Yidu doesnt quite understand; she can come and go as she pleases?
Only if you desire to, says Ragnar reflecting the words of King Ecbert to Judith.
They seem to want more than anything an equal companion.
(Or perhaps they just dont want to feel so alone.)
Yidu gives Ragnar something for his pain.
An ancient Chinese medicine.
He dances with Yidu.
While he lingers with the woman, his wife takes little Ivar to see Floki.
A new lord arrives in Kattegat.
He is Harald, though his men call him King Finehair.
(Its a name for the history books; look him up, if spoilers you seek.)
Harald wants to meet the famous King Ragnar, but he is nowhere to be found.
Instead, he meets Aslaug and Ragnars family.
In the middle of a wild party, he suggests they play a game.
He tells Aslaug a story.
I made someone a promise, he said.
I wanted to marry her, but she turned me down.
I wasnt important enough.
She had other offers.
Aslaug teases him: Why didnt you just take her?
I dont know, he smiles.
I liked her spirit.
I decided I had to be worthy of her.
How could he do that?
By making himself King of all Norway.
But for become King of all Norway, Aslaug says, You would have to overthrow my husband.
Ragnars son declares, winning their little game.
Perhaps he can feel a change in the wind.
Hes played his share of games, too.
