I see.
So Canute has died?
No, to be precise, he is missing.
Ragnar's troop intended to rescue Prince Canute
and crossed swords with Thorkell's army at Marlborough.
Amidst the chaos
the prince disappeared.
Then are they still surrounded by Thorkell's army?
Yes.
However,
two days later,
His Highness was not found among the enemy army.
It may be that he has survived and is awaiting rescue.
But even if we send help,
we would have to wait until spring.
I cannot fathom the worry you must be feeling, Your Majesty.
If only
Canute had exceeded his older brother Harald's abilities,
then perhaps he wouldn't have disappeared.
Oh, it's snowing.
The war will end soon.
Winter,
do you intend on freezing even the hearts of warriors?
Oh Winter!
Commander!
Would you rather eat roasted or stewed pork?
Both!
Swallow first. I can't understand you.
No matter what anyone says,
it was painful watching the prince get away.
No, you handed him over.
That prince was a coward, but he could have been useful.
He could've been elevated to bring about a new dynasty.
He'd be effective for consolidating the soldiers.
And, if you were to help elevate him, you'd gain some influence.
Right?
Hey! You English maiden!
Yes?
Bring me a cask of beer!
Excuse me!
One more cask of beer!
Not again, damn it!
Are these fiends trying to eat the whole village?
At this rate, they might as well have raided us!
Stop your whining!
If he was to be captured either way, I should have handed him to the English.
Huh? What's so funny?
You're troubled, aren't you?
When the fires of war burn low, you look for another spark.
Of course I do, bastard.
We're warriors, are we not?
We're only warriors if we're on a battlefield.
But you know, I've heard a bad rumor.
At the next Witenagemot assembly in Wessex,
the title of Bretwalda will be bestowed on King Sweyn.
That would be a total surrender!
Right.
Denmark will swallow England whole.
The nobility wish to end the war even if it means relinquishing the throne.
Why must all my worst fears come to pass?
What will you do?
Will you die honorably fighting King Sweyn's army?
Fool!
I love a good battle, but I hate losing!
When I fight, I expect to win!
How dull.
If only the world would just keep fighting forever.
I have a message! Is the feudal lord here?
Is something wrong, Ear?
Yeah, it's too damn cold.
The snow is absorbing the sound,
so even my range of hearing is limited.
It's better than sending out watchmen.
This way no one will know we're here.
Then do something about them.
Nobody would mistake them for farmers.
The monk and the prince? Keep your ear on them.
He's saying,
"Forgive us."
Are they going to beg for forgiveness every time something happens?
What a nuisance.
Oh Lord above…
our Father who art in Heaven,
please summon the souls of these villagers
to be by to your side.
Please save the souls of those who killed these people.
Please, forgive us our sins.
Is this really the time to be praying for strangers? Fools.
Lord…
are my words reaching your ears?
Our Lord,
you
created us in thine divine image.
But your power was not shared with us.
Lord…
if the good and the evil are loved with equal measure,
for what purpose are the helpless being tested so?
Lord…
is my voice
being heard by your ears?
Our Lord.
I am doubting…
your love.
Stop!
You doubt
the Lord?
You still call yourself a believer of Christ?
Fear and tremble!
We cannot doubt the Lord's love!
There is…
There is no father who does not love
his own child.
Your Highness…
Please wait!
Father.
A troop of Danes?
Are you serious?
Yes, that's what the messenger said.
They're occupying a village further up the River Severn.
A local lord has requested help.
According to a survivor's story,
there were 100 to 200 enemy soldiers.
Soldiers from surrounding areas are already on their way.
If you, the great warrior Thorkell, would be willing to help, then please…
What do you think?
Regardless of what I think,
there aren't many Danish troops who'd act on their own
in this season in that position.
They feigned for the sea, but headed for Gainsborough by land.
So they're trapped in the snow and are resting?
That is the most likely scenario.
It's Thorfinn and Canute.
All right!
Wake everyone up! Prepare to march!
Yes, sir.
You two.
-Yeah, you. -Yes?
Prepare food for our journey.
I want 500 servings for five days.
What? 500 servings?
So it begins.
Things are getting interesting.
If this battle goes my way…
I may still have some fun.
How many, Ear?
Not sure.
It could be 50 or 100.
They're extending their line along the woods in the east.
They sniffed us out quickly.
Did we miss someone?
Who knows?
But this revelation can't be helped.
We're leaving?
It's impossible to leave tonight.
I've only finished two sleds.
I started the third only yesterday.
Really? Well done.
Finish it by nightfall.
Drop whatever can't be finished by then.
I'm telling you, it's impossible.
There are only two carpenters.
The English army has found us.
What? They found us?
Yes. They're pushing their way through the snow now.
They seem to have an intense aversion to Danes.
It can't be.
This is our only chance to escape.
If you understand, get moving.
Yes. All right.
Bjorn, get the men prepared for a counter-attack.
We'll seize their commanding officer.
I want to know how they discovered us.
Understood.
Wait a moment, Bjorn.
One more thing.
This is an opportunity
to do that other thing.
We've been found?
This is bad.
It'll be fine.
The English are weak.
No, that's not what I mean.
I'm talking about Askeladd's luck.
His luck?
First, the heavy snowfall and now this.
This is the first time his plans haven't gone smoothly.
That's a delicious-looking rabbit.
Did you catch it, Thorfinn?
What?
Are you going to eat that alone? Will you roast it?
What's your point?
Eating only meat isn't good for you.
Simmer it with some vegetables.
Make that rabbit into a soup.
Shut up.
I'll eat my food however I want.
You'll need a stove either way.
Come on in.
Your Highness! We have fava beans, cabbage, and rabbit.
Rabbit?
Yes.
Thorfinn caught it.
Will you contribute it to the soup?
Good job.
Drain the blood and clean the innards.
Not bad for some crude ingredients.
It's the rabbit.
I was tired of eating salted meat.
Thank you.
What's wrong? No need to hold back.
It's your rabbit.
It's good, isn't it?
Next time, bring us a deer!
I thought royalty didn't cook their own food.
It's a hobby.
I normally don't cook,
and only Ragnar knows about it.
Please don't tell anyone.
It's not a bad thing.
A long time ago,
I once cooked a cod.
I thought it turned out well, so I brought it to my father.
But before tasting it, he flew into a rage.
He said, "The son of a king does not cook like a lowly slave."
After that, I was forbidden to cook.
There is no need for a prince have this skill.
That was a time when His Majesty was busy with many things.
When the war is over, we'll cook some fowl and bring it to him.
Surely, the king will be overjoyed.
What kind of fowl?
I've never cooked fowl before.
It could be chicken or duck.
Remember the duck you ate for Yule?
Yes, that was delicious.
I asked the cook for his secret recipe.
He said he made good use of the broth.
The broth? I see.
Ragnar!
You idiot! I've got a message!
What is it? What happened?
We've been found by the enemy.
They're already fighting in the eastern forest.
What?
Their numbers seem low, but we must still take precautions.
What do you mean?
We've only been hiding here for ten days!
How were we found?
How should I know!
What a disaster.
They killed all those villagers.
In any case,
if we can hold off the English, be prepared to move.
This is why I've been saying we should return to Wales!
No, we'll be going to Derby.
We're venturing further into enemy territory?
Bring Askeladd here!
Right now!
He's commanding the front line.
If you want to talk, you're free to go yourself.
I'll take you.
Damn it!
Subordinates are only as good as their leader!
You even speak informally!
He can't even command his own luck! He calls himself a Norse warrior?
Today, by my sword, he'll know the cost of his foolishness.
Hey!
The battle cries are over there.
You finally noticed?
You sure are slow.
What? What are you bastards suggesting?
Black guard.
Sorry, conehead.
It's Askeladd's orders.
You want to fight?
It doesn't matter to us.
You're dead either way.
Call Askeladd here.
There's something he must know.
If it's your last testament, you can tell me. I'll hear it.
Just call him!
It's regarding the prince!
I must tell him directly.
Quickly!
I will hear your last testament.
Shall I dismiss the others?
The voices stopped.
The battle is over.
Goodness.
The soup has gone cold.
I am grateful to you.
You've done well protecting that coward of a prince for so long.
And your death will surely further his prosperity.
I will inherit your duties as of today.
After your death in battle,
I will take over.
Vow to your gods.
Vow that after I'm gone, no matter what happens…
you will protect Prince Canute.
No matter what happens, I will protect Prince Canute
so that the death of the warrior Ragnar was not in vain.
Satisfied?
How tormenting
that I must entrust the prince to someone like you.
You should hurry.
You're losing quite a lot of blood.
Before Gainsborough…
you should prepare…
you should prepare yourself.
Right now, the courtiers of Jelling
are fighting over the Danish throne
and have split into two factions.
Prince Canute is being made the leader of one faction,
and the other faction is being led by his elder brother Harald.
Both princes have no say in the matter.
It is a power struggle among self-interested traitors.
And His Majesty fears the Kingdom of Denmark will be divided.
He may have already made the decision in his heart…
to kill
one of the princes.
King Sweyn would kill a prince?
The reason the king has now sent the prince to war
was to have him killed in battle.
Be careful.
At this time
Prince Canute's
true enemy
is none other than his father, King Sweyn.
Go into exile.
That's all you can do now.
In Gainsborough,
my younger brother
will make the necessary
arrangements.
What a mess.
You should've told me that earlier!
Please.
For the last time.
Just one last look.
Let me see the prince…
to say goodbye.
No.
Your Highness.
When the war is over…
we'll cook some fowl.
Surely,
the king
will be…
overjoyed.
Subtitle translation by Astrid Oliver