EPISODE 13: SON OF A LEGEND
My mother
will die soon.
She wished to return
home.
I've brought her back.
Our primary force defeated the resistance in Wessex.
It is only a matter of time before we control that region.
If things go smoothly, we will have it before winter.
What happened
after London?
Canute.
Where is he now?
Yes.
Since the siege army under the command of Prince Canute
was defeated by Thorkell's contingent,
His Highness's location has been unknown.
We've received news of a battle in Marlborough,
and he may have joined the soldiers there.
Today, his well-being is uncertain.
He is my precious son.
Notify me as soon as you hear anything about his status.
Understood!
-What the hell is this? -We're surrounded!
Unbelievable!
What did I say? I knew this would happen!
Damn it.
Calm down, you bastards!
Listen to me.
Do not shoot back.
Do not engage them.
Messengers of Brycheiniog!
Your welcoming party is bit severe, wouldn't you say?
So you can speak our language, barbarian?
I was told the Danes were such brutes they didn't know how to speak.
Pull back your men!
Asser!
Antagonizing the Danes will not benefit the Welsh!
Gratianus!
I respect your concern for the future of all the kingdoms of Wales.
But our position is not the same as yours.
What agreement have you made with the Danish prince?
They're nothing but barbarians! We cannot reason with them!
What's that bastard screaming about?
I wish they'd decide if we're fighting or not.
No.
There won't be a battle.
You know what he's saying, Bjorn?
Not a word.
However,
those arrows would have killed someone if they wanted to fight.
They're trying to sway negotiations in their favor with intimidation.
So that's what's happening.
We've paid closed attention to your war with England.
In the last ten years, you've agreed to a cease-fire three times
and each time broken that pact.
We will not repeat the mistakes of England!
We will capture the prince and use him as a shield.
Even the king of demons should have some regard for his child.
Sorry, Askeladd.
No, it's all a charade.
They're putting on a show to see how we'll respond.
Even the sheep must don a wolf's coat to graze these days.
They have my sympathy.
Are you going to share your plan with them?
That could work.
But if they want a show,
it may be interesting to play along for a bit.
Men, look closely!
This lord before you
is the son of King Sweyn of Denmark!
Prince Canute!
The prince will now announce what he wants you all to hear.
Heed his words with respect!
Now, Your Highness,
say something with fervor.
Say anything at all.
Like, "We'll boil you alive!"
Give these impudent bastards something to fear.
With your words, their balls will shrink and we'll pass without hindrance.
Your Highness!
His Highness prefers not to speak in front of others.
Here, I am--
No, Ragnar.
What?
No matter his young age, as prince of Denmark,
he has a duty to fulfill.
All the men you see here
have come for the sake of His Highness.
He is of clement heart.
He is averse to needless quarrels.
That's what I'm saying!
To stop us from entering a needless quarrel,
I'm asking him to placate them.
If he never speaks up, how can he hope to someday take the Danish throne?
Silence!
What do you know…
about the prince?
The palace is a den of wolves where parents and kin devour each other.
The prince was of poor health and had to endure tremendous trials.
He's remained quiet and unassuming,
never drawing attention to himself to keep from getting killed.
Yet men like you, one after the other,
come crawling to use His Highness in your schemes.
Know your place.
Try as you might to manipulate the prince,
I won't allow the likes of you exploit him!
What's going on?
What's the disagreement?
What did Prince Canute say?
Gratianus.
I'm letting them in on the plan.
All right.
I will go with you.
Men, wait here.
I'm going to speak with the leader.
-As you say. -All right.
Ragnar.
You're in the right.
I overstepped my bounds in my concern for the prince.
Your Highness, I hope you can forgive me.
Pathetic.
How can we be the same age?
Did you say that man's name is Ragnar?
Yes.
Does he not know that fledglings must eventually leave their nest?
His actions are clearly harming that fledgling.
For this plan to succeed, you have your work cut out for you.
You'll need to make the baby bird fly his nest.
Yes.
I am aware.
Stop. I don't require an escort.
But…
Must I repeat myself?
It would disgrace the king if I couldn't even negotiate without a guard.
Of course.
Keep walking!
Five times that distance!
Tell the others too!
Now then.
So you're Askeladd.
I understand your position, but this puts a burden on me.
I thought we'd reached an agreement.
If you suddenly send letters asking for both provisions and free passage,
you can't expect us to agree to everything.
Our king is also young, and it's important to keep up appearances.
I must weigh our options, and decide how this can benefit us
and ensure that this transaction is made on equal standing.
My king doesn't want his subjects
to think he can be intimidated by 100 Danes.
Certainly.
It doesn't look good for you if you agree to all our demands.
I apologize for our imprudence.
I sent the request to your country.
I believe I said that the details of your reward
wouldn't be explicit for the sake of confidentiality.
Yes, I read it.
Then let me ask now,
why all the secrecy?
Before that…
depending on the details of the reward,
what is the chance you will enter the war, Asser?
Please, don't mock me.
I know full well that our small country
wouldn't stand a chance if we angered the Danish king.
Pardon me.
I just wanted to make certain.
That man is full of mystery.
Who is?
Our Askeladd.
I had no idea he spoke Welsh.
You're the closest to him and even you don't know everything.
Don't be ridiculous. I know anything about him.
All I know is that he's from Denmark.
He keeps his distance.
Over ten years together, and he's never talked about himself.
Are you pouting in that giant body of yours?
Shut up. You picking a fight?
Come one. Don't get worked up.
It's fine.
He's a good leader.
And he's lucky.
As long as he gets us the money,
I'll follow him no matter what his story is.
That's very hard to believe.
But even if it were a lie…
He is the son of Lydia, a direct descendant.
The man standing before you
has the blood of our great Roman-Celtic leaders running through him.
So you're saying, you're not a Dane?
I am both Welsh and Danish.
My father, Olaf, once plundered the coasts of Wales,
and there, took a mistress, Lydia.
I was born as a result.
I thought the Old Britannia line of war heroes had died out.
You're saying…
you're the descendant of Artorius?
Artorius.
Between the 5th and 6th centuries,
he commanded the armies of Britannia, nation of the indigenous Celts of Britain.
In the year 516 AD,
he fought the Saxons, who became the English,
and fought back the invaders at the Battle of Badon Hill,
bringing peace to Britannia.
He became the source
of the legend of King Arthur, retold by generations ever since.
What reliable proof
do you have to support your claim?
Myself.
When he was 14 years old,
I met him and Lady Lydia for the first time when he came to Wales.
She was an unlucky woman.
She was imprisoned in my father's bedroom.
When she fell ill, she was moved to a horse stable.
That is tragic.
Considering…
that the last scion of a great bloodline
is also part Danish…
That is the point, Asser.
As a result of my dual heritage…
I can pass for one of the Danes.
In other words, there is a Welsh a spy in the Danish army.
If I ensure the fledgling prince is the next king of Denmark,
I will gain political influence.
Once I have that,
I can convince them to sign a non-aggression pact with Wales.
I will prevent them
form stepping one foot onto this land.
I mean no offense, but that is quite ambitious!
How can you make such a bold promise?
Asser is laughing.
He is truly a brave man.
I have one concern.
Having been born and raised among the Danes,
how do we know the blood of Lord Artorius is stronger than your Danish blood?
You'll have to take my word for it.
But, despite my heritage…
I hate
the Danes.
-Swords over here. -Is nothing left?
Make sure you give it back.
Not this one.
There's no way I'm giving up my sword.
While we pass through this country, we must act like we're their prisoners.
Once we're out of the country, the weapons will be returned.
That way, they can save face.
I can't help wondering.
Why are your men so eager to carry out your orders?
Amazing, isn't it?
Just goes to show how much my men trust me.
Hey, Thorfinn, you too.
Not a chance, geezer.
Trust, huh?
This one is different.
Damn punk.
Make no mistake, conehead.
I'm not one of this geezer's men.
I'm his enemy.
Enemy?
All right, fine. You can keep your weapons.
Surely, they can overlook two people.
All right!
Resume marching!
Are those the Danes?
It looks like Asser has captured them!
-My god. -Aren't they cannibals?
-Their faces… -Are those horns?
I knew Asser could do it!
I'm throwing a rock.
Don't, you fool!
They're pissing me off.
Do they take us for fantastic beasts?
Don't stare at us, you bastards!
We'll devour you!
Quit gawking at me, Princess.
Use your mouth to say what you want.
Or have you lost your tongue?
I am…
I keep silent not because I am
a coward.
I'm just being cautious.
I have… to be.
I am a prince.
I'm…
not like you.
The words I say have great political bearing…
all the more in this foreign land.
Without my father's sanction…
I cannot enter non-aggression pacts or make dangerous statements.
Of course I can't!
I am
merely prudent.
That's not a bad excuse.
But you seem to lack the brains, Princess.
You insolent swine!
This is the first time anyone has shown me such disrespect!
Then it's a learning experience.
Take back your words!
I'm silent for good reason!
You've no idea what it means to be a royal!
Stop whining and sit down.
I am not whining!
I'm making sure my words are understood.
Yeah, loud and clear.
How dare you act with such impudence!
His Highness
is speaking to someone other than me!
Snow.
Askeladd!
Can we go no faster?
At this rate, we'll be snowed in!
For pity's sake.
Does he ever shut up?
We'll cross northern Mercia, then reunite with the main force in Gainsborough.
We'll arrive in about a week.
We're passing through enemy land.
If we're snowed in among the Welsh mountains,
we'll be trapped.
Calm down.
There's no need to worry.
We're far from the enemy stronghold.
But how will we procure provisions?
I doubt these feudal lords will show much hospitality to Danes.
It'll be fine.
I've taken that into account.
Men, we're changing course!
Don't fall behind!
What?
Seriously?
-We're changing routes? -Are you sure?
Do not doubt!
Askeladd's judgment is not wrong.
Subtitle translation by Astrid Oliver