I have crushed more nations
and killed more kings than history remembers.
To conquer England is nothing to me.
So tell me, Saxon insect,
why should I keep you alive?
What help are you to King Hardrada?
It's not yours. It's not yours, Mother.
You Viking whore.
I saw you with him.
Whispering. Whispering.
You told him.
PRAYING
WHEEZY COUGHING
Earl Godwinson.
- Is he alert? - He was a moment ago.
Not yet, not yet, not yet.
- The danger of the fire. - Your Majesty, I will protect you.
There is nothing to fear. I will keep you safe.
Safe from the fires.
But there is grave news from Normandy, Your Majesty.
A dire response from Duke William.
- Is cousin William here? - Edward, your cousin is burning the face
of God from every duchy he has conquered.
Every church put to the torch.
Duke William has revealed his godless soul to the world.
No Christian is safe from his fire.
We burn for his blasphemies.
Answer me, God.
God is...
God is speaking.
The devil is coming.
Lakes of fire overflowing the land.
England ablaze.
England ablaze!
No matter that this is a warning from God.
He knows our future if William claims the crown.
Your Majesty, what is God's will?
Who is to protect your kingdom?
Your Majesty, what is God's will?
Tell me, what is God's will?
Tell us.
- God's will be done. - His will be done.
WHISPERED PRAYERS
The King has renounced Duke William,
and has named me as his successor to the throne of England.
God's will be done.
Long live the King.
We cannot announce Edward's death
until I have absolute guarantees from Mercia and Northumbria
that they will stand behind Wessex.
This must stay a secret for long enough.
- What do we tell the people? - You tell them nothing.
This does not leave this room. Do you understand?
- Yes, my lord. - Yes, Your Majesty. - Of course.
Your Majesty.
What choice did I have? Just let the King die?
- What choice did I have? - Leave us.
I'll have my spies spread the story that the King's fever continues,
and the Archbishop has been instructed
to let no-one enter the bedchamber.
Have the earls still not responded to my invitation to London?
Morcar has. Still nothing from Tostig.
Still nothing?
No word from Northumbria for weeks.
Not from Tostig or any of the tax collectors.
- Not even any word of the baby? - Nothing. - Hmm.
- Edith, I need you to go to him. - Me? - Well, if the King is ill,
I cannot leave London without raising suspicion.
- What about your mother? - You understand Tostig.
He will talk to you.
You know that Tostig has always admired you, trusted you.
- You want me to fill his head with your lies about the King? - No.
I want you to go there to find out what is really happening.
Help him understand that we need him.
Please, Edith.
We need the Earl of Northumbria to stand strong.
Please.
SWORDS CLASH
- What's that? - What? - That.
It's a metal leg.
- Huh? - What of it? - William.
No-one has seen King Edward since Whitsun Day.
Yes, well, the Queen is saying it's a fever,
but I have friends who tell me he's being cared for
by the Archbishop of Canterbury himself.
- Not his physician. - No. His archbishop.
- He's ill. - I think he's very ill.
And if Edward's weak, then Harold will try to manipulate him.
- That's what I'd do. - Matilda?
We have to be sure.
- Your spies in England? - They can confirm it.
Then do it. Let's find out. Be discreet.
What?
Well, it'd be easier to be discreet
if you hadn't announced your intentions to the whole of Normandy.
Normandy needed to know.
Now they'll be faster to back me.
Summon the barons.
The greater your contribution, the greater your share
but Normandy must stand united.
It's very simple. George, I need your archers.
Montgomery, I need your horses,
- Richard, I need your iron. - What about the Baron of Brittany's ships?
You can have all the swords and horses and archers in the world,
but what use are they if you can't get them across the Channel?
Brittany is not your concern. Leave that to me.
So we have an agreement.
Just getting ready.
For war?
For Harold's inevitable move to take the crown.
And when that happens, we'll discuss it, right? You and I.
William, I will support your decisions,
but I must be a part of them.
- No more surprises like Whitsun Day. - Of course.
I'm being cautious, that's all.
No, you're being the opposite of cautious.
There's no plan to be made until you're sure of a fleet.
Just wait.
What if Harold isn't waiting?
Then he isn't being cautious and you're cleverer than him.
What makes you so sure?
Because I married you.
Until I have my fleet, I will stay cautious.
Let Harold worry about Edward.
You don't need to.
CHILDREN CHATTER
You tell Tostig whatever he thinks he's done,
- there's nothing that cannot be forgiven. - I will.
Magnus, Estrid, come.
It's not like Tostig at all. He knows that we'd worry about him.
DOOR CLOSES
King Edward was dead, wasn't he, when you asked him?
King Edward named me as his successor.
- I heard him say the words. - Why, Harold?
Because I will not make you lie for me, Edith.
King Edward, on his deathbed,
named me as successor to the English crown.
And you want Tostig to know.
I want Tostig to believe that the future of this family
- is safe and secure. - And is it safe and secure?
When I wear that crown, we will all be safe -
you, the children, and Tostig.
I need him, Edith. I need his support.
I'll tell him.
- Did you invite him? - I did not.
Greetings.
I hear you've wooed the barons into joining forces with you.
So I've brought a message from your stubborn friend,
the Baron of Brittany. Brittany owes me favours,
so he has agreed to meet with you -
but only on condition that it takes place on his own territory.
Who does he think he is?
The man with more ships
than the rest of northern Europe put together -
and if you want them,
you're going to have to go to Brittany to get them.
Do you think that will secure the deal with him?
Yes, I think so.
You might offer five times what you offered the other barons,
- but he'll have his price. - We'll leave before dawn.
And, William, a little humility might grease his palm.
- You want me to grovel? - No, I don't want anything.
I'm not after his ships.
He means don't start a war with Brittany.
I'll be cautious, Baldwin.
- He got here quick. - He certainly did.
Do you trust what he says?
Well, I trust he arranged a meeting. He wouldn't lie about that.
And the rest?
Start packing silver. Lots of it.
Morcar, Earl of Mercia.
Earl Morcar.
Thank you for making the journey.
Where is the King?
The King has named Harold as his successor.
May I see the decree?
The King is still too weak to put his name to a decree.
But I witnessed it, as did the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Well, now that we've established that nothing is amiss,
let's discuss why I've been summoned here
with the utmost urgency, shall we?
I need to know that I'll have your backing for the throne
should the Duke of Normandy make a challenge for it.
If William becomes King, he will tear England apart.
Yes.
Yes, I'll back you.
But I want full control of Northumbria.
Tostig is the Earl of Northumbria.
And where is he, little Earl Tostig?
This is the council of the three earls, is it not?
- Was he not summoned accordingly? - You watch your tone.
You need William to believe that Wessex, Mercia and Northumbria
are all united behind the crown.
That means you need Northumbria stable.
You want my help? Northumbria is my price.
Well, it's one half of it.
Margaret?
You recall my sister?
She's grown into such a beautiful young woman,
don't you think?
Such beauty, such grace. Would make a splendid queen.
- I have a wife, Morcar. - In the Danish way, yes,
but not in the eyes of the Church -
and Margaret's always liked you so. Haven't you, Margaret?
Well?
Gunhild, leave us to talk.
Harold!
- This is outrageous! - Leave us to talk.
All of you, leave us.
Please.
I will give you Northumbria. But that is more than enough.
It's not nearly enough.
I want my family's blood on the throne of England,
just like you do.
Mercia's loyalty, secured for longer than both of us shall live.
Now, that is peace.
Then we will betroth my son Magnus to your first-born daughter.
I did not come here to barter.
This marriage is the price I demand for Mercia's loyalty.
- I cannot marry your sister! - Then you'll not be King.
Wait, Morcar, wait.
Do you realise what you are asking of me?
Do you want war, Morcar? Because that's where this ends.
A war between us, and you will lose.
I don't think you've got time for all that, Harold.
William's already massing his forces,
and you can't keep the King's health a secret from him forever.
I've waited my whole life for this moment.
A chance to finally make Wessex dance
to Mercia's tune for once.
Do you really think I'll back down when I know I can't lose?
- I should kill you where you stand. - But you won't.
So choose.
Harold, do you hear what you're saying?
You cannot marry Morcar's sister.
Then Morcar turns against me and we have civil war.
All William would have to do is pick up the pieces.
- Is Morcar really that stupid? - His father was.
He was a disgusting truffle pig who could see nothing but the prize.
Morcar is not stupid. He knows that we can't risk a war with Mercia.
Not now. And that is why Margaret is the only option.
Harold, I've been married to a man who despises me.
You will curse Margaret's life.
HE SIGHS
I know.
You cannot be seen to be Mercia's puppet.
If William invades, the eyes of all Europe will be on you.
And if they see strings on your back,
you'll be fighting that reputation for the rest of your life.
And if I don't marry Margaret, Mercia turns against us
and William invades.
And all of us die.
All of us.
I made Father a promise to protect us.
And what about Edith?
And your strength, and the strength of the Godwins and Wessex?
For that promise you'd sacrifice your own wife?
Is this marriage worth the risk of that?
Hello?
I'll talk to her.
Tostig?
DOOR CLOSES
Tostig?
Edith, what are you doing here?
- Is Harold with you? - Harold is in London.
We came to see you because we hadn't heard from you in months.
Where is Judith?
Why did Harold send us here?
I don't understand. Harold made you Earl because he has faith in you.
He made me Earl when he needed me and then he abandoned me.
My whole life, I've supported him.
The one time I asked for his help, that I need his help, nothing.
What help? What are you talking about, Tostig?
I sent word to London.
We never received it. We were in Normandy.
My Judith is dead.
She's dead. I tried to keep her warm.
The baby came too early.
He stopped crying.
He just stopped. He wanted to follow her.
I tried to keep her warm.
Oh, Tostig, I'm so, so sorry.
Why did Harold send you here?
What's changed? What? What?
King Edward is dying and he's named Harold as his successor.
CHUCKLES GENTLY
That crown, that fucking crown.
Listen to me. You're not well.
No, I see things clear!
Do you know where Sweyn is?
On his way to the Holy Land.
No, Sweyn is dead. He's dead. He was murdered.
- Why would you say that? - Because I was told. I was told.
My friends in Mercia, they know, Edith.
Read it.
They wrote to me.
Sweyn is dead.
As dead as Judith and my son.
I don't know who I am without her, Edith.
I don't know which pieces of me are alive
and which died by her side.
Is it possible for a man to be alive like this?
You listen to me.
I know exactly who you are.
You are Tostig Godwinson.
You're the man who always had a kind word for me
when I was lost in this family,
and you were there when I needed a friend.
Let's get up. That is who you are.
You're loyal, compassionate and brave in the face of loss.
Sit down there.
I have always known who you are,
and I still see that man in front of me.
No.
Edith, I'm so sorry.
It's all right, Tostig. I know that this isn't you.
- I know you are riven with grief. - I saw you first, Edith.
I loved you first.
Then Harold took you, just like he took Sweyn.
Just like he sent us here to die.
Listen to me. I am loyal to this family.
I can be a good earl. Judith saw it in me.
You can trust me.
But do not trust Harold.
He will betray you.
He will betray us all.
Do you, Harold, Earl of Wessex,
take unto thyself as wife
Lady Margaret of Mercia,
and pledge unto her before God and these witnesses
to be her protector and defender, and to honour and sustain her?
I do.
Do you, Lady Margaret of Mercia, take unto thyself as husband
Harold, Earl of Wessex, and pledge unto him before God
and these witnesses...
HORSE WHINNIES
Tostig believes Sweyn is dead.
Thomas, he's convinced that Harold has betrayed him.
The man's raving. You saw what he's been living on.
- His mind is not his own. - It's more than that.
Whatever poison he's got inside his head,
he's built Harold into this towering villain
responsible for his troubles here in Northumbria.
I think Harold has to come here himself.
Tostig won't believe anything
until he can see the truth in Harold's eyes.
Leave as many men with him as you can.
Give them instruction on how to help Tostig do his job.
We go back to London and we tell Harold what's happened.
Harold will know what to do.
I need to say goodbye to Tostig.
Do you?
I do.
I do believe him.
If he comes here, will you listen?
My men are going to stay with you and they will protect you.
Thank you, Edith.
I wish you didn't have to leave.
I'll be back with Harold.
No-one else. Just us.
You'll be protected.
I give you my promise, you'll be safe.
Morcar?
- What's going on? - We're returning to Mercia.
- All of you? - What did you expect?
I thought someone...
I didn't realise I was to be left here alone.
You are Harold's wife now, Margaret.
You will become his queen.
You have made him hate me.
You will become queen. That is all that matters.
Do you understand me?
If we do not play our part, what will there be?
What will there be?
There will be consequences.
There will be consequences. Good.
I love you, sister.
Remember that.
What's going on, Baldwin?
I'm creating a masterpiece for you and my grandson.
So I have rosemary,
but I don't see chives and sage.
I think Robert is a little young for your culinary experiments.
Experiments? I had you eating off the bone by the age of three.
Why are you so eager to help William get these ships?
If we could add England to our alliance,
we would be the most powerful family in Europe.
You've never expressed the slightest interest in England.
Did I not marry Judith into their nobility?
Yes. And if William invades,
she'll be married to the brother of his enemy.
Well, then, one way or the other, I'll have backed the winning side.
What do you think?
- Beetroot and celery. - I think you've no business encouraging him.
Isn't that what you're doing?
Why are you waiting for that particular flame to go cold?
I believe William's plan to invade is a good thing.
- I see you at supper. - No onions.
Who raised you?
You want my ships?
I want peace between us, for all our benefit.
You want my ships.
He wants what's not his, doesn't he, Alain?
Yes, Father.
My son was the same. He wanted what wasn't his.
Only, he tried to overthrow me for it.
Show him how successful you were, Alain.
My own son.
Can you imagine?
Now he will become Baron... Alain, when did I say you'll become Baron?
Speak up!
When my hand grows back.
When his hand grows back.
Charming.
Go on, then, Normandy. You came to make an offer.
Make me one.
I brought you silver.
More than twice the value of your entire fleet.
Why on earth would I sell my power to you?
What kind of fool would that make me?
Baldwin of Flanders told me you're ready to discuss terms.
That's why I'm here. Because you agreed to meet.
I don't want your silver.
If I sell you my fleet and you lose in England,
I will make an enemy of Harold. It's a big risk.
So I will give you my fleet for one price only.
And what is that price?
Normandy.
That is my price.
For you to become King of England,
you will have to give me Normandy.
Look at him, Alain.
Just like you, huh?
Because he will only give me Normandy when your hand grows back.
And that's when he'll get my ships.
My advice?
Take the silver.
What's happened?
Sweyn is dead.
How?
He was murdered in France in a tavern brawl.
We got word this morning.
Gytha, I am so sorry.
I never expected Sweyn to return.
So you tell me about Tostig.
Tell me how Tostig is.
Judith is dead.
And the child?
I'm sorry.
- But Tostig is al...alive? - He is.
Then he has to come home, Harold. You bring him home.
I will.
Magnus. Estrid.
Hello!
Estrid.
Mummy!
- Edith? - Missed you so much!
- Edith? - Harold, you have to go to Northumbria.
Tostig is... He's broken.
In order to secure Morcar's support, I had to give him Northumbria.
Morcar is the Earl of Northumbria now.
I've already sent men to bring Tostig home.
Oh, my God, Harold, no, you have to stop them.
You said it yourself. I need to bring him home,
I need to talk to him.
I promised him that no-one but you or I would return.
Tostig is not in his right mind. He could think anything of this.
- Harold, should I take the children? - "Harold"?
Who are you?
I'm Margaret.
I know you.
You're Morcar's sister.
We are married.
The priest joined us a week last Sunday.
Margaret, take the children to see their grandmother.
No, you will take the children nowhere.
Do you want them to be here when we speak like this?
Margaret.
- I was left with no choice. - No choice!
Morcar left me none.
It was marry his sister or make an enemy of Mercia.
I could not take that risk,
so I...I had to come to some arrangement.
An arrangement? Is that what you're calling this?
Yes, it is an arrangement. It is nothing more.
- It makes no difference to us. - Harold... - Listen to me.
I swear there is no-one who matters to me like you.
You are the only woman that I love.
Whatever I had to do, it is outside of us.
It is outside of this. I...
- I had to do it. - You have doomed our children.
Magnus is still my heir.
You have drawn a target on his back. How can you not see it?
Morcar will murder him the first chance he gets
- to put his own blood on the throne. - I will be King. - I - will be King.
I control Morcar now and I am in control of this.
Harold, did you have Sweyn killed?
Tostig was right.
All that I'm doing, it is for us, for this family.
To protect this family. You have to understand that.
- Please. Please, Edith. Ed... - You've destroyed everything!
- What choice did I have? - You are a man.
You always have a choice. I am the one who has no choice -
and your daughter, she has no choice. But you?
You get to choose whatever you want and whoever you want.
You, Harold. You do not touch me!
Out of everything that you could have chosen,
you chose the crown. God help us all, Harold,
because God only knows what the crown is turning you into.
KNOCK AT DOOR
Enter.
My lord. This man arrived from London.
- Are Harold and Edith with him? - No, my lord, they're alone.
Let's hear them.
- My lord, Tostig, I have a word from your brother. - Wait.
We are alone.
Harold sent you?
My lord,
your brother regrets to inform you that you must be relieved
of your duties as the Earl of Northumbria.
He no longer requires your services here.
- For what reason? - Earl Morcar is now the Earl of Northumbria.
I'm to escort you back to London and to the safety of your brother.
- When? - Immediately.
GRUNTS
HE CRIES OUT
BANGING ON DOOR
Tostig!
Tostig, what's going on in there?
BANGING ON DOOR CONTINUES
Tostig!
Open the door! Come on, help me. Open the door!
Tostig, talk to me! Open the door!
No, my spies have already confirmed this.
And I think you knew this.
Why did you keep it a secret from William?
- Well, I didn't know for sure. - No. You, Father, do not keep secrets
simply because you're "unsure".
- Why didn't you tell William? - Tell William what?
King Edward is on his deathbed.
Harold has already been in counsel with the other earls,
so he's strengthening his position even as we speak.
By the time he takes the crown,
he'll have the whole of the country behind him.
Odo, it's as we thought. Summon the barons,
have them bring their forces and supplies.
Yes. I'll see to it.
I'll order my troops to start building a camp on the beach.
Enough to support four armies.
- William, do you have Brittany's ships? - Not yet.
Then Harold has the advantage.
Did Harold crown himself King?
- Did your spies tell you that? - No, he's not their king yet.
Then time is his enemy as much as mine.
And you're in the right, William.
This Saxon bastard has no business in taking your crown.
I'll bring you those ships.
I'll ride tonight.
He has no intention of getting you those ships.
- Then why is he here? - Because he doesn't want you to win.
Can't you see that?
This isn't about your father.
William, please do not build a force that reveals our strength
- and our intentions to our enemies. - All of Europe knows my intentions.
There's no backing away from this.
We must prepare as fast as we can.
William, please listen to me. I'm trying to help you.
Your father's the one trying to help me.
- Ask yourself why. - Well, because he wants something, clearly.
Yes. And if he doesn't want to tell you what it is,
it's because it's something we do not want to give him.
Why are you trying to undermine my every turn?
- I'm not trying to undermine you. - Yes, you are.
- You think I'm not listening to you. - You're not.
I am. I just disagree with what you're saying.
William, you made a public claim to England's throne,
and now you're fuelling it with pride.
Why do you refuse to see this invasion
- from my point of view? - But I do. Of course I do.
- Who knows you better than I? - Then, for the love of God,
- why won't you back me? - Because I don't want you to die!
Do you really believe that?
My father does. It's enough to scare me.
Nothing scares you.
I can help you.
We can plan this together.
But you must wait.
I can't.
You know me, I can't.
Not if Harold takes my crown.
Then if you get your ships,
I want you to order all those who remain behind
to swear their allegiance to Robert as Regent Duke
and to me as Normandy's protector.
Give you the power?
The power to protect us.
If you get your ships, the whole world will change.
Will your mind be turned?
No more than yours.
Do you swear to forbid robbery and all unrighteous deeds,
promising to enjoin justice and mercy
in all cases brought before you?
I swear to Almighty God.
Witness now in God's sight, King Harold,
your undoubted King, and Queen Margaret.
- His will... - Your Majesty, there's been an invasion.
Where on the coast? Where has William landed?
It's not William.
The invasion is in the north.
Long live the King! Long live the King!
I have crushed more nations
and killed more kings than history remembers.
So tell me, Saxon insect,
why should I keep you alive?
What help are you to King Hardrada?
I am Harold's brother.