"Agnar, come on!" "Freya!" "Agnar!" "Agnar!" "Agnar!" "Shut up, Eric." "You're dead." "You were lucky, Sven." "Eric had you before he tripped." "Maybe, but in battle, he'd be dead and I'd live." "A man needs luck, like he needs a wife to make the trials of his life that much easier." "And what about the wife?" "Who makes her life easier?" "Her maid." "I'm going to talk to your father tonight." "I have to go." "Give her time, Sven." "She's had all the time she needs." "Before this fall, she will be my wife." "Come aboard." "Do you have to go?" "I have one last voyage." "Feel the wind in my face, the roll of the ship beneath my feet." " But..." " No." "I grow weak." " No." " Yes." "Each passing day, Odin steals my breath from my lungs." "We must look to the future." "I don't love him." " Is there another?" " No!" "Then why not Sven?" "He's well liked by the clan." "Clever, brave." " But I don't love him!" " Enough, Freya." "Our people need to know where they stand." "Everyone knows I am ill." "Who is to rule when I am gone?" "You are a princess." "I have no son." "Your husband will be king." "I know." "We must do what is right for our people." "Quiet!" "I said quiet!" "A toast." "Odin!" "Odin." "Shut up!" "Quiet!" "Quiet for the king!" "Tomorrow, we set sail." "As the crow flies, 40 leagues due east and two days, our banner will fly over Gunnere." "No!" "It is time." "For too long, our warriors have shunned that dreaded isle." "Feared to tread on land that is theirs." "It's madness!" "Odin's accursed beast dwells in its shadows drinking the blood of all who set foot on its soil." "I take it you offer advice, not utter the ramblings of a fear-ridden hag." "Sven's right!" "Since Ragnar's people were slaughtered by the beast, all fear to set foot on the island." "I fear nothing, and no man can accuse me of such unless he backs it with his sword." "If the king wishes to walk in hell," "I'll set the course and clear his way." "Hear the words of a warrior of this clan." "Shall we let him face the war road alone?" "No!" "Shall we fear to tread on land that is ours?" "No!" "Do we set sail tomorrow?" "Yes!" "And I'll bring the beast's skin back as a bridal gift for my wife." "So be it." "So be it." "I'll come back for you." "I'll come back for you, Freya!" "I'll come back for you." "I'll be married before the next full moon." "Is that really so bad?" "Sven's strong, and the others all listen to him." " He's also spoiled, selfish and..." " And what?" "I don't know." "I don't trust him." "I certainly don't love him, but then I have no say." "Freya, your father is doing what he thinks is right for you and the clan." "I know, but I'm worried." "He's ill." "Why must he make this trip?" "Why now?" "And why to a place we have shunned since Ragnar and his family disappeared?" "I don't know, but..." "You have to forget what happened to Agnar's father." "Agnar's gone and he's not coming back, no matter how many nights you stand vigil staring at the moon." "At least Sven's here, alive, real." "Give him a chance." "Give yourself a chance to feel happy." "I guess we're off." " Sire, Freya." " Is the boat ready?" "Everything's on board and the men have sharpened their swords." "Good." "Kogla." "With a good wind and Odin's will, a week, two at most, and we'll be back." "Don't go." "I must." "I cannot wither and die knowing there was a part of my kingdom in which I feared to tread." "Be strong..." "as I have taught you." "Be careful, Father." "Before the next full moon, you will be my wife." "Whilst I'm gone, think on how you can change your ways, or I will change them for you." "Bring my father back safe, and I'll make you a good wife." "Release the lines!" "Clear the sides!" "Push it off." "Lower the oars!" "We're to claim back what is ours." "But is it ours?" "Whereas Odin claimed this island, he created a beast that dares not let us in elsewhere." "It matters not either way." "I will set my battle on this island, or die trying." "Hoist the sail." "Two weeks." "They'll be back." "Odin's way." "The isle can't be far." "Prepare to slow." " Olaf, get ready to hoist." " Loosen the ropes!" "I have a chill to my bones." "This fog is a bad omen." "Odin's warning us to turn back." "There it is." "At last, our banner will fly over all of our lands." "Well, I hope it will ease your soul and kill the beasts that Ragnar's death gave birth to." "You think I wallow in the past?" "It was against your advice that Ragnar made his choice." "Yes." "But did we help him?" "No." "Did we avenge his death?" "No." "Did we protect his son?" "No." " It was Odin's will." " Odin!" "The weaker I get, the less I worry about Odin and his likes and dislikes." "Lower the sails." "Ragnar's." "Lower the oars." "Am I right to force Freya into this marriage?" "Well, Sven is the best the clan has to offer." "Is that enough?" "To arms!" "Form a semicircle." "Every other man, a torch." "Olaf, hold the boat." "Heindall, meet me on the boat!" "Over here!" "What have you got?" "It was Algar's." "It's all I found... except this." "I like this place less with every step." "Something disturbed the birds." "Stay alert." "What is that?" "Jarl, cut him down." "The hunt is on." "Odin's beast is the quarry." "I swear, I'll not leave this accursed island until it's dead." "Sven, take Eric, Jarl, Gang, skirt the walls." "I'll take Kogla, Raine... go through the gates into the open arena to draw him out." "We leave when the beast is dead." "He's close." "Aye, but not in here." "We need to find a way into the arena." "Gang." "This way quickly!" " What is that?" " The beast!" "Eric, don't!" "This way." " Go get the rest." " Later!" " Thorsson!" "Where's Thorsson?" " Hell, for all I know!" " Kogla?" "Jarl?" " Dead." "Thorsson might still be alive!" "That thing is chewing on his bones as we speak!" "Trust me, the beast's faster than he planned." "We should go back." "No." "We've lost enough." " Thorsson deserves a king's passing." " Deserves?" "Maybe he does, but I'll not waste more lives giving it to him." "Since when do we ever run away from a fight?" "We don't on Midgard, but what's on that island is not from this world." "Odin has cursed it and set a demon to guard it." "It is not a place for men." "Well, let's just burn it." "Send Odin's pet back to where he came from." "No." " Says who?" " I say!" "Thorsson's named heir, your king." "Thorsson's dead." "Let Odin keep his island." "A ship." "Maybe." "Must be." "It's Thorsson." "They're back." "The banners... they're down." "Oh, Freya." "Three strokes aft." "Ease off to the right." "You're gonna have some explaining to do." "No... it can't be." "Sven, my father... is he all right?" "Where is my father?" "Dead." "Dead?" "I'm sorry." "I tried to tell him, but he was adamant about staking his claim on the island." "He died a Viking, sword in hand, sacrificing his life so Eric and I could survive." "But you still live." "Your king is dead and you still live?" "Gang, Jarl, Kogla, Raine all fell with the king." "But you still live!" "Yes." "And so do the others and so will our people because they know not to meddle in the affairs of the gods." "If Odin wants the cursed island, then let him have it." "Coward!" "Why do you eat alone?" "I said, why do you eat alone?" "So I won't be called on to tell the tale of Thorsson's death." "And how he traveled the road to Valhalla to save me." "What was I supposed to say... that I was forced to watch the king die so my best friend could live?" "Don't lay this at my door!" "You did what you did for your own reasons and they had nothing to do with me!" "Be very careful, Eric." "The king's dead and we both had a hand in it." "If you wish to have an easy life," "I'd keep my mouth shut." "Who's there?" "Show yourself." "Why are you afraid of a sick old man in a locked cage?" "Calm down, old man." "Here." "I brought you some water." "Why?" "So you can drink." "So I can drink?" "I never knew the devil had a sense of humor." "Suit yourself then." "I care little either way." "Your king has fallen." "Which of his warriors will avenge him?" "Are you all cowards?" "You were my father's friend." "Will you leave his death unpunished?" "What can I do against Odin's will?" "The beast that took Thorsson was of Odin's world, not ours." "You do your father proud to call for revenge, and if you were his son to lead us, then maybe." "The beast is too strong." "We fear nothing in this world, but we cannot meddle in the world of the gods." "Eric, please." "I beg of you to help me." "I will marry the man that takes up the sword and brings me the head of my father's killer." "No!" "You are betrothed and not free to offer yourself." "I said I would marry you if you brought my father back to me!" "What you say is of little concern." "Thorsson gave a pledge to name me his heir." "All in this room are witness." "Will you see me married to this coward?" "Sven speaks the truth." "Thorsson named him his heir." "You have your answer." "Come the light of the next full moon, we will be married, and I will be king." "Go on." "Leave him alone." "Children." "All children." "There's somebody here to see you." "What do you want?" "Listen to him, Freya." "He has some things that he has to tell you." "Things that could not be said in the company of others?" "Things that you should hear first." "When Sven and I..." "Freya, it was madness." "The thing was upon us faster than you can think and in seconds, Kogla, Raine and Jarl were dead and I was unconscious." "When I came to, Gang and Thorsson were fighting for their lives." "Then what happened?" "Tell me." "Eric, you owe it to my father." "I swear to you, Freya, I tried to help him." "I would have helped him, but I was dazed and confused, and Sven led me away." "Last time I saw your father, he was alive." "In the clutches of the beast, but alive." "Freya, I don't know why, but I sensed he was not going to kill him." "I could be wrong." "Odin knows, I was not thinking straight." "Freya, forgive me, but my conscience tells me Thorsson lives." " I'm coming with you." " No way." "I'm going, Freya." "I won't let you go alone." "Forget it." "One scream and half the warriors in the village will be down here." "Please, Ingrid." "At best, I'll get lost at sea." "At worst, I'll be eaten by Odin's cursed beast." "Stay here." "No." "I won't let you go alone." "All of our lives we've been friends." "I can't turn my back on that now, not when you need my help." "Quickly!" "Where's Eric?" "He's drunk." "He won't thank you for that." "At least he'll still be alive." "If I'd let him come with us, I would have lost him." "Get the line." "Cut him down..." "if the sight offends you." "You don't understand." "I don't." "Why decorate your house with such unsavory trinkets if the sight is unpleasing?" "To scare away the foolhardy and stop them from coming back." "And the women... and children you threw in here and left to rot?" "What reasons does your conscience give you for them?" "The same." "They were safer in there than out here with me." "So..." "So I'm not locked in, you're locked out." "I know you, Thorsson." "You seek to test me, to bring out the animal within." "If you succeed, you will thank your Odin that you're behind these bars." "You know me?" "How can you know me?" "The high and mighty king struggles to find his answers." "Answer me, damn you!" "How can you know me?" "Damn me?" "You're too late for that." "Your petty god got me first." "Aye, Odin." "He giggles his amusement as he curses the boy to walk this earth bearing the guise of a beast, and to fall upon his family and his friends, ripping their flesh and smashing their bones, with no way or will to stop the terror" "from happening again and again." "What are you to Ragnar?" "Answer me!" "What do you know of Ragnar?" " Where is she?" "Freya... where is she?" " I don't know where she..." " You told her, didn't you?" " What if I did?" "She had a right to know." "I should kill you." "Go ahead." "Try." "No matter." "I don't need her now anyhow." "Your days are numbered." "We're here." "I don't like it." "We search by day." "At night, we take the boat back out to sea and wait for fresh dawn." "Agreed?" "Over here." "Your father's not with them." " Eric was right." " Yeah." "Let's go." "Over here!" "Up here!" "In the cage!" "Father!" "Father!" "Father!" "What are you doing here?" "Where's Olaf, Sven?" "The lock..." "Where's the key?" " Do you see him?" " No." "Try and get Father out." "Ingrid, quickly!" "Hurry, Ingrid!" "I can't open it." "Keep firing, coward." "When you run out, you will have to face me like a man." "Leave me." "Take Ingrid and go." "Hurry, Ingrid." " I can't open it!" " Leave me." "Put down the bow and I'll let the woman go free." "And I'm supposed to believe you?" "He's bad, Freya." "Yes, more than that of the warriors he rules." "Sir?" "I'll put the bow down and fight you if you let them both go." "Why should I?" "If you had any honor, you would let them go..." "a sick old man and a woman." "I have honor." "Then let them go!" "Put the bow down." "No, don't do it." "What choice have I got?" "I'll have to fight him when I run out of arrows anyway." "This way there's a chance that he'll keep his word and let you go." "Win or lose, they go free!" "Yes." "When you get a clear shot." " And if I miss?" " Don't." "You're a fool, warrior." "You've stepped down here to die." "I don't fear death." "I'm a warrior." "It is part of my trade." "Ha!" "Your trade." "You're barely more than a boy." "If you kill me, then so be it." "My comrades will go free." "And my death will eat away at your soul, even after the flesh has been torn from the corpse you string up." "Coward!" "You gave me your word." "I gave my word to fight, and I said nothing." "No!" "Where did you get this?" "Tell me!" "It was a gift from... a friend." "Will you keep your word and let my father go?" "You tricked me and broke our agreement." "It was me that shot you." "Let Freya and Thorsson leave and I'll stay." "No." "She stays." "Look after him." "Sail west with the sun on your face." "I'll come back, Freya." "Your father will bring an army and we'll free you." "I love you." "I'll bring help." "I'll be back, Freya!" "I'll be back!" "I'll come back for you, Freya!" "I'll come back!" "I'll be back, Freya!" "I'll come back for you, Freyal I'll come backl" "You should keep the door locked." "It's your cage, you lock it." "Once the door's locked... it can only be unlocked from the inside." "I recommend you keep it so at night." "It's cold." "I brought you this." "If you'd showed my father such kindness, he would not have got so sick." "I spared your father's life which was all I owed him." "The rest, he brought on himself." "Wait!" "Wait, what do you want from..." "Let me help you with your wound." "Could you stomach it to be so close to me?" "I don't believe it." "You're almost healed." "I am a creature of myth and magic." "And the moon gives me strength." "Such wounds are of little importance." "How long have you been here?" "Years." "Forever." "I cannot remember." "Did you..." "Did you slay all the people who came?" "Most." "All the warriors." "The children got sick and I tried, but I could not help them." "Why do you ask?" "Was there someone on board you cared for?" "Many." "They were from my village." "But one in particular who said he would come back to me." "He gave this to me." "You recognize it, don't you?" "Why?" "Did you talk with Agnar before he died?" "Was he your prisoner for a while?" "Please, tell me." "I need to know." "Is he dead?" "The warrior Agnar that you knew... is dead." "Wait!" "Please!" "How do you know about the pendant?" "Did you talk with Agnar?" "Did he remember me?" "Yes." "He remembers you." "How could he ever forget?" "Hungry?" "Do not worry." "You are safe as long as I stay calm and the sun stays in the sky." "And at night?" "Stay in the cage, especially when the moon is full." "I've less control." "How did you become like this?" "I was cursed by Odin." "It is a dark story." "When I think back on it, my mind grows confused, not knowing whether I remember as the beast or the man." "Tell me." "Think back whilst you're calm and the sun is shining." "I remember a hunt." "There were many warriors." "And I remember the fear as they tracked me." "Or the beast remembers." "I was tracking the beast." "Things are so blurred." "It was me who cornered Odin's pet, and I that drove my spear into its heart." "Then, in a fit of rage, Odin's wrath descended on me." "And I blacked out." "When I came to," "I was as you see me now... forced to wear the skin of the beast I killed and made to take the place of Odin's monster." "Now as the seasons creep by," "I am becoming more beast and less man as this accursed skin grows into my flesh." "There must be something we can do to stop this." "Do you think I haven't tried?" "There's nothing we can do!" "I live by Odin's rules." "I killed the beast, so I became the beast." "Blood washes blood." "A soul for a life." "And an innocent heart given to the beast." "What does it mean?" "It makes no sense." "I should go now." "Wait!" "You said he was dead." "No, I said the beast had him." "Eric was hurt and the others were all dead." "How was I supposed to know the creature would spare him?" "I should never have listened to you." "I should have gone back for him." "But you didn't." "Because I trusted your word!" "Our king lives." "We should be thankful and not squabble over his sick bed like women." "When the king wakes, he will hear the truth." "If he wakes." "Hey." "Oh." "Freya." "We have to help Freya." "Shh, shh, shh." "Be still." "All right?" "You're safe." "Thorsson, how is he?" "He's very weak." "He's still unconscious." "We have to go back for Freya." "You're going nowhere." "I'm going back for Freya." "You're gonna get some rest." "Come on." "You're gonna stay here and rest." "Be careful." "I will." "Tomorrow on the morn at tide," "I sail for Gunnere." "I'll free the king's daughter, or die trying." "My honor has been tainted." "My courage questioned!" "It's shown for what it's worth by two of our womenfolk who brought us back our king." "And I'd as soon throw myself on my sword than sit here knowing that when the king wakes his daughter lies prisoner" "and at the mercy of the beast." "Do you call us cowards?" "Yes!" "Every last one of you!" " I'll have your blood for that!" " No!" "Eric is right." "We sit, afraid of our own shadows." "I sail with Eric." "As do I!" "As do I!" "As do I!" "As do I!" "I, too, will sail and claim my bride." "And I will kill the beast and hang his carcass from his own gateway." "But from this day on, any man who questions my courage" "I will kill." "Stay." "We can talk." "You should have locked your door." "I don't think you would harm me." "Deliberately, no." "Maybe when I'm less in control." "All the same, it would not be wise to put me to the test." "Please stay a while." "You are worried about your father." "Why do you care?" "You almost killed him." "He's a warrior." "I was outnumbered 4-to-1." "It was hardly murder." "Then why keep him prisoner, disrespect the bodies of those you have killed?" "The bodies are just discouragement to stop the foolhardy from coming and landing on this island." "To help build the myth of the beast." "To keep away the brave." "And my father?" "I get lonely." "The time passes, and with every season I grow more beast-like." "The company of others helps to slow the process." "Helps me to fight the curse." "At the cost of their freedom?" "It's a choice better than death." "But if Ingrid and my father make it back to my home, then my father would bring an army to kill you." "Yes, I know." "That's what you want." "The beast in me won't let me destroy myself." "I need others to do it for me." " Where am I?" " Shh." "Lie still." "You're home." " Freya!" "Where's Freya?" " Calm down." "Eric, Olaf and the others have gone for her." "Eric will bring her home." "You must rest, Sire." "Sleep." "Do you think she still lives?" "Yes." "This creature, whatever he is, does not kill for fun." "We fled this island last time." "We won't do it again." "I don't think the beast is a match for us all." "Something tells me he knows that." " Lower the sail!" " Lower the sail." "This place needs cleaning." "Are you all right?" "Here!" "No, here." " Don't be afraid." "I'll get off." " Wait." "I'm not afraid." "Oh, Freya, I'm..." "I'm confused." "You should run screaming from me." "I know how you would be, but there is something that not even Odin's curse can change in you." "A gentleness, an honesty that reminds me of my father, of Agnar." "I am not afraid of you." "Wait." "We must talk to them." "They can help you!" "Let me help you." " Ingrid, did she..." " She's fine." "Your father's very weak, but he was alive when we left." "Come." "We're going home." "No!" "We kill the beast, then we leave." "No, Sven, leave, please." " We're leaving." " No!" "We made a pledge to kill this monster once and for all." "He is not a monster!" "How he appears is not what he's really like." "He's just a man who has been cursed by the gods." "He doesn't mean to kill or harm anyone." "But the beast that possesses him takes control and he can't hold it back." "Then all the more reason to put an end to him." "No, Sven, don't!" "Olaf, don't you see?" "All I see are my comrades hanging from poles." "Their bodies rotting and their souls in limbo." "And my wife-to-be trapped, enchanted by this creature, caught in his power." "But fear not." "For I will break this spell when I hang his carcass from his own gateway." "You'll do as I say." "Take her to the boat." " Now!" " No, Heindall, stop." "Eric!" "No!" "Fire!" "I think he's finished." "No, not yet." "Finish it." "No!" "Please, no!" "Hold her!" "No!" "Get a rope." "He's free from Odin's curse now." "Is he?" "How do you know?" "He's dead." "His spirit is free." "He told me once that he was a creature of myth and magic... a creature of the night." "Can you kill such a one?" "Yes." "Shh." "I'm here." "Are you all right?" "Did he hurt you?" "No." "You shouldn't have, Freya, risked yourself for me." "I had to, Father." "I could never have left you there." "I could not be more proud had I had a son." "You have your mother's spirit and her beauty." "I love you." "Sire." "The beast?" "He's dead." "Sven hung its carcass from the arena gate." "Kogla, Raine, and the others?" "They rest in peace." "We set fire to the village." "Odin's curse is lifted." "Your flag flies over the island." "What?" "What is it?" "I betrayed you." "I left you prisoner in the hands of the monster." "Olaf is right." "Your warriors were found wanton, ran from the beast and left you to his mercy." "No." "You left him." "It was your order which our warriors followed." "You left the king to die." "I thought the king was dead already, as were Raine, Kogla and Jarl." "To waste more lives would have served no purpose." "Since Thorsson named me his heir, I acted for the good of the clan." " You liar!" " Sven was right." "He is my heir." "Will be king." "He thought me dead." "His duty lay with the living." "The beast was not of this world." "Neither Sven nor I nor anyone knew if it could be killed." "Sven was right." "It would be wrong to have wasted more lives to find out." "Through you and Sven our line will live on." "Our people will have a future." "We must put the beast and Odin's curse behind us." " What's wrong?" "What is it?" " I dreamed of the beast." "Oh, shh." "It's okay." "He's gone." "He can't hurt you." "You don't understand." "He would never hurt me." "He's not as he seems." "He can be gentle, kind." " There's something about..." " He's dead." "Is he?" "You can't love that abomination." "And even if you do, it doesn't matter." "Tomorrow night, you marry Sven." "I know." "I know." "Shh." "It's okay." "Yeah, it's okay." "She doesn't look too pleased." "Can't we do something?" "Thorsson's her father and the king." "Quiet!" "Quiet for the king!" "Tonight, by Odin's grace and the bravery of our warriors, my daughter gained a husband," "and our people a new king." "To Sven and Freya." "To Sven and Freya." "Sire, friends," "Thorsson's right." "Our future is set and our people will prosper." "And I vow to you that I will try to be as just and strong as Thorsson." "And I also vow that Freya will give him many grandchildren." "I've come to challenge for the leadership of the clan and for your daughter's hand." "You can't." "Only those of the clan may challenge." "I am of this clan." "I am Agnar, Ragnar's son." "And I have the right to challenge and to ask for your daughter's hand." "So, Agnar, son of Ragnar." "The beast of Gunnere Island has come to claim his wife." "You were always a fool, Agnar." "You passed all those that would have you when you passed the pigs in their sties." " I want you to get out of here." " No." "Halt!" " Agnar was my friend." " Agnar's dead." "This thing has slain more of our people than we've lost while raiding." "You cannot expect me to give you my daughter's hand." "He has challenged." "He was born of the clan." "Our laws give him the right to ask for my hand." "If he wins, I will stand by those laws." "Freya's still under this monster's spell." "But no matter, I'll fight him and make a rug out of his skin." "Please, Father." "Give Agnar another chance." "So be it." "Agnar, no!" "Heindall, help Sven." "Shh, Freya." "I'm here." "Lie still." "I'm sorry." "I didn't know." "Your face." "You're free now." "Odin has lifted his curse." "Blood to wash away blood." "My soul for your life." "You always had my heart." "I love you, Freya." "I've always loved you." "I know." "Farewell, my love." "She is at peace." "Fire."