Today, We’re going to explain a movie called “The Vikings.” In the second half of the 9th century, Europe faced a formidable enemy in the Vikings. Every Viking aspired to meet a heroic end, dying with a sword in hand and entering Valhalla, the heavenly abode.
These Vikings were known for their nocturnal raids on the petty kingdoms of England, taking advantage of their inability to mount a strong defense. During one such raid, Viking leader Ragnar killed the king and dishonored his wife. The priests who arrived at the scene found the distraught woman and helped her regain her composure. For two months, everyone mourned the loss of King Edwin.
The Royal Council declared Aella, the king’s cousin, as the successor. Father Goodman sympathizes with the queen, knowing she never bore the king an heir. The queen confides that the true father of her unborn child is none other than Viking Ragnar. The priest presents the new king with a sword, but a stone unexpectedly falls from its hilt, causing concern among the courtiers due to the bad omen.
Sometime later, the queen gives birth to a son and realizes that it is unsafe for the baby to remain in the castle. The child is to be taken to Italy, and to ensure his recognition, the queen places a pendant around his neck made from the same stone found in the sacred sword of the kings. Twenty years pass in England, and the queen has passed away, but rumors of the rightful heir still haunt Aella.
On the day of Morgana’s arrival at her husband’s castle for her marriage to King Aella, he questions Lord Egbert about the rumors surrounding the queen’s trial for the throne. The young man is taken aback, as the queen had spoken of it before her death. Aella grows angry, knowing that Morgana will provide the country with an heir. Accusing Lord Egbert of conspiracy, Aella imprisons him. During the night, Aella and his men go to the prison cell to kill Egbert, only to find it empty. That same night, Egbert’s boat reaches the Vikings. Ragnar welcomes him aboard, and their ship sets sail for their homeland. As they approach their native shores, they lower their sails and row towards land. An observer signals their arrival, and the villagers abandon their activities and rush to the shore. A young man jumps out of bed and hurries to meet them, shouting “Radmer, Thoth Returns!” He extends the same greeting to Einar and introduces him as an English lord and their ally. The young man then introduces Einar to his only son and instructs him to teach the Englishmen about local customs, as he had promised to chart the English coast for them.
The following day, Einar takes Egbert hunting. Egbert praises his bird, but it fails to catch a duck. Egbert points to another hawk that emerges from behind the trees and successfully captures its prey. Enraged, Einar runs into the forest and discovers his slave with a hunting bird. He refuses to believe that the slave caught and tamed the hawk, accusing him of theft. Einar kicks the slave in the chest, prompting the slave to release his hawk on the leader’s son.
Berta confronts the offender face to face. The lord orders the execution of the slave, but Einar objects, claiming that he will decide the slave’s fate. In the evening, Ragnar determines what should be done with the insolent slave. Einar tears the pendant from his chest and throws it at the slave’s feet. However, the sorceress Katella intervenes, stating that Einar cannot execute the slave because Odin’s curse will befall anyone who kills him. Einar decides that it will be the sea, not a man, who will end the slave’s life, and he orders him to be tied to the shore. Lord Egbert picks up the pendant, as it is customary for anyone to claim what remains after the tide recedes. Eric is bound to the shore while the witch, Katella, implores Odin to stop the tide.
Meanwhile, in the banquet hall, a trial takes place involving a woman accused of infidelity. She is placed in wooden blocks with three braids nailed around her head. If she is innocent, her husband will throw an ax to cut off her braids without hitting her. However, if he strikes her, it means she has lied, and he will face punishment. Einar can no longer bear it and grabs an ax, throwing it at the woman. The first throw misses, but the second throw severs one of the braids. The Vikings rejoice. Finally, with the third throw, the woman is proven innocent.
Katella asks Eric to move his legs to prevent them from freezing, and she explains to Egbert that he was captured on an English ship, hence the stones around his neck. Together, the lord and the witch provoke Eric, urging him not to give up. In a moment of surprise, everyone witnesses strange clouds. Odin has answered their call, and a strong wind blows from the shore, driving away the tide. Sensing that something is amiss, Einar hurries to the shore, where Eric has already been untied from the pillar. The tide has receded, and Eric now belongs to them. The collar is removed from the slave. The Englishman reveals information about Morgana, Aella’s bride, who is currently sailing to her groom, and they could obtain a significant ransom for her.
Einar is ready to embark on the journey. The sorceress gives Eric a celestial iron fish, a compass that always points to the Northern Star, even in foggy conditions. Roon suggests that a woman will guide Eric along the way, but he doesn’t believe it, questioning who would love a slave. As Morgana’s ship sails on the sea, she is upset about her impending marriage to Aella, as it is not her desire, but her kingdom necessitates the union. At that moment, everyone spots the Viking ship.
Einar orders his men not to harm Morgana, as it would diminish her value. The Vikings board the English ship, engaging in a fierce battle. They transfer Morgana to their own ship. Einar, captivated by her, embraces the girl, determined not to give her to Aella. Morgana breaks free and spits in Einar’s face, but he remains unfazed. Einar’s ships arrive in his native land, where the youth’s arrival is met with delight. Onlookers watch as the Vikings, with great agility, run on the oars to avoid falling. Ragnar wants to see the princess, and his son demonstrates her presence. Morgana vows to kill herself if anyone touches her, but her statement is met with laughter. Einar attempts to embrace her, but Morgana bites his arm. Ragnar laughs, and Eric leaps up, ready to come to her defense, but Einar strikes him. Everyone departs, leaving Morgana under guard on the ship.
In the hall, a feast ensues. Ragnar notices that his son is upset and eventually agrees to let him have the girl since he is so fond of her. A jubilant Einar heads towards the ship and enters the cabin, but Morgana threatens to kill herself. Undeterred, Einar persists, and Morgana changes her approach, attempting to be submissive. Einar is not pleased, and Eric bursts in, striking Einar on the head, causing him to lose consciousness. Eric wishes to save Morgana, and she is willing to flee with him. They steal a boat and sail in an unknown direction. To move faster, they decide to row together, but Morgana cannot decide as her dress is too tight. Eric finds a solution, and suddenly they spot the heads of Viking ships in the distance. Eric tries to hide in the fog as the Viking ships pursue them.
Unexpectedly, one of the Viking ships collides with a rock, causing people to fall into the water and drown. Eric swims to Ragnar and takes him as a prisoner. Einar, distraught, orders his men to resume rowing, but he is warned that it is unsafe to row in such foggy conditions. After finally washing ashore, Eric confesses his love to Morgana. However, she is saddened by the fact that she must return to Aella. They cannot be together because he is a pagan and she is a Christian. Furthermore, she is the bride of the king, and if the king rejects her, she is prepared to be with Eric. Eric gives her his talisman. Aella is grateful to Eric for capturing Ragnar and requests Morgana to be released, but the king orders her to be taken to the chapel to rest and reflect.
In the meantime, he invites everyone to celebrate. Father Goodman notices a stone on Morgana’s chest, and she reveals the entire story to him. Ragnar is brought to a stone well where hungry wolves await. Aella hands Eric a sword and allows him to throw Ragnar down the well. Ragnar pleads for a chance to hold the sword in his hands, looking at Eric to see if he will deny him entry into Valhalla. Eric cuts the ropes in his hands and hands the sword to Ragnar, who then hurls himself into the well. Meanwhile, in the chapel, Morgana realizes with horror that Einar and Eric are brothers and that Eric has betrayed his own father. She knows she must intervene to stop them.
Aella is furious and questions how Eric dares to give the sword to Ragnar. He is ready to execute Eric, but Morgana intervenes and promises to marry Aella if he spares Eric’s life. Aella demands that Eric extend the hand that offered the sword and proceeds to cut it off. He then orders Eric to be placed in a boat and sent away from the shore. Einar, enraged, decides to embark on a campaign. They must take Morgana and avenge Ragnar, but the war becomes uncertain as they struggle to navigate through the dense fog. Frustrated, Einar heads to the shore and discovers Eric there, who has returned to seek assistance. Eric knows how to reach the castle where Aella resides and offers to guide them to the open sea. The Viking ships sail through the mist, guided by Eric’s sorceress pointer. Finally, they reach the shores of England.
The Vikings unload their weapons and a large ram on wooden wheels, which they use to attack the castle. The villagers in the surrounding area have taken refuge within the castle walls. The bridges are raised, and the castle is prepared for a siege. The Viking army approaches the castle while Aella anxiously observes from a window. The defenders gather on the walls, ready for battle. The ram gains momentum, and stones are hurled towards the castle, but this doesn’t prevent the gates from being breached. The Vikings successfully enter the fortress, and the battle commences. However, there is another gate ahead. Under a rain of arrows and stones, Einar climbs the wall and enters the room where Morgana is located. He is determined to marry her, but Morgana declares her love for Eric and challenges Einar to witness how he will kill him. Morgana shows Einar the stone and reveals that they are brothers, but Einar refuses to believe her. Eric catches sight of Morgana and rushes toward them, resulting in a fierce confrontation between the brothers. They fight fiercely, but neither can gain the upper hand as their strength is evenly matched. Eventually, Eric’s sword breaks, and Einar prepares to strike him down. However, he hesitates when he gazes into his brother’s face. This momentary hesitation proves to be fatal for Einar, as Eric strikes him with debris. Eric questions why Einar didn’t deliver the final blow and offers him the sword, but Einar dies as a true Viking.
During the night, Morgana is placed on a boat and pushed away from the shore. Eric sets the boat on fire, honoring her as a hero, and he proceeds to Valhalla. Eric and Morgana will finally be together and become the new king and queen of England. And with that, the movie comes to an end.
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