Come on, move faster!
HORSES NEIGH
SOLDIERS SHOUT
The men are starting to tire.
We should give them some rest.
Not yet.
We take the fight north as fast as we can.
We defeat Hardrada
and then we return to defeat William in the south.
William will use this opportunity to invade England.
Speed is the key.
We could camp a detachment here.
Fresh to fight in the south on our return.
Leaving a single man
could mean the difference between victory and defeat.
We go on with everyone.
When we reach York, we attack immediately.
My Lord. Three shipments of grain have gone missing
in the last two days alone.
Two from Evreaux.
One coming in from Alencon.
We need to stop these bandits from stealing our food.
Send more men to fortify the supply lines.
Cut the daily rations in the camp by a third. Start tomorrow.
- Go. - Cut the rations again?
That will reflect poorly in the eyes of the other Barons,
the very ones you still wish to recruit to our cause.
Without secure supply lines and Brittany's ships,
they will loose faith.
SWORDS CLASH, GRUNTING
- Who said this? - It's being whispered all around court. Everywhere.
That William's invasion is cursed by God?
That it's blasphemy.
That the Duke is campaigning against God's own chosen successor.
Harold's claim to the throne is a lie.
That's not what's being said.
Someone's trying to undermine us.
Find out who's been speaking these rumours the loudest
and bring the traitor straight to me.
- Be discreet. - Yes, My Lady.
THEY GRUNT
Pitiful!
This is a Duke you're supposed to protect,
not some passing washer-woman.
You have to be better than that!
You see? Like that.
Next! But like that...
FOOTSTEPS
Wait.
What's all this, Odo? Are you not coming to camp with us?
No.
I always knew you would be the first to run.
Well, you can think what you like, Fitz.
Just tell William I've left.
- You can tell him yourself. - There's no chance.
The rats have begun to flee.
Sinking already?
Well, the church seems to think so.
Oh, well, what's the church ever done for us?
Is that Morcar?
Here he is. King Harold.
Out for a ride with his men while his country burns.
- Where have you seen battle? - York.
When you promised me Northumbria
I didn't realise I'd have to fight to the death for it.
You've seen Hardrada's forces? How many of them?
- Impossible to tell. - Why? Because you rode south too fast to see them?
No, because they're everywhere.
They're putting out their fires with blood.
Any mercenaries with them? Any cavalry?
What are Hardrada's forces?
Is there anyone with him? Does he have any allies?
- You haven't heard, have you? - Heard what?
Hardrada's riding with an adviser. A local expert.
Who?
Your brother, Tostig.
- That can't be true. - I saw him with my own eyes.
Is he a hostage?
Are the Vikings trying to lever advantage?
He didn't look like a hostage to me.
He was riding right beside King Hardrada himself.
Well, then you weren't close enough to tell, were you?
Because if you were close enough to see Hardrada,
you would be dead by now.
Tostig must be a hostage, that is the only explanation.
Go, raise a new army.
- Return to Northumbria. - Fuck Northumbria!
He's your brother.
You go and die for him.
Your Majesty.
We're wasting time.
THUMPING, GRUNTING
LOUD GRUNT
Is your nerve holding?
- It is. - Good.
This one is yours.
For your brother's head.
My gift.
It will take Harold weeks
to move his army from London.
We will be ready for him.
Sir.
COINS CLINK
- Sir. - Thank you.
A delivery from Brittany.
He did that to every sack before he sent them back.
Must have taken ages.
Can't wait for his ships forever.
The other Barons will see it as a sign of weakness
if we don't have them. Run for the hills just like Odo did.
SHOUTING OUTSIDE
I'll kill you for that.
Hey, hey!
That's enough! Pull yourself together.
Something must be done.
DOOR OPENS
Baron Richard.
I appreciate you taking the time.
My Lady.
Sit, please.
I heard that you'd been casting aspersions
against the legitimacy of the Duke's cause.
I simply voiced a concern.
A... A concern about when I heard...
Heard that Duke William's entire campaign was a blasphemy.
That's what you said.
I discussed a matter of legitimate concern.
That's all.
- And there are others who believe it too. - Others?
Well, that is most informative.
If it can reassure you,
I think I already know the name you're protecting.
So you may speak it without fear of reprisal.
Your ear or your eye?
It's Baldwin. It's your father.
Your father is the one trying to undermine the Duke.
Trying to undermine you.
I can prove it.
I have a letter from your father that proves everything.
- I can send for it. - Do so.
- Gunhild. - Hmm?
Has it never crossed your mind how you get out of the country?
I can't think of an outcome where I even need to consider it.
Yes, but what if you had to?
Just...concentrate on your strategy.
What if Harold...
..dies?
Some things are better kept in your mind than on your tongue.
If it's not the Vikings, it could be William or Morcar.
And what if Harold lives?
What would he do if he found you gone?
I understand why you're thinking this, but...
Edith, I fought Harold about marrying her.
We both know Harold would never survive without you.
Harold has chosen England.
I am choosing my children.
All right.
So how would you get out of England
should some obscure, unlikely eventuality arise
where you had no choice but to try?
Your mother, doesn't she have kin in Europe?
Denmark.
Ruled by Hardrada.
Then what about Ireland?
There are outposts there, stockades built by Wessex hands.
I know they're still lived in today.
My mother might try to stop you.
They are her grandchildren.
Hmm.
Good timing.
How did you know the stream was here?
You don't remember?
We were here with Sweyn,
when we came to petition Earl Siward.
We made camp just over there in that gully.
Your brother was raising an army against you
and if he'd succeeded, if it was Sweyn standing here right now,
instead of you, facing Hardrada, facing William...
..what chance would any of us have?
What chance would England have?
Your Majesty.
I never asked you.
The last time you saw him, what did he say to you?
He said he'd be waiting for you in hell.
Maybe he knew something we didn't.
Do you think Morcar was right about Tostig?
I just can't believe that...
Within our family I... I've always been his ally,
I protected him against Sweyn.
Tostig and I have always been friends.
Your Majesty, with respect,
it doesn't matter what Tostig has done.
If the men find out your brother rides with the Vikings...
That's what Hardrada wants him for.
Hardrada doesn't know that we've travelled so fast.
He is not aware of our attack, not yet -
but as soon as he is aware of our position,
he will have Tostig killed.
That's why I have to find him first.
Victory will be ours.
MUFFLED THUMP
I've been meaning to honour you with a gift, brother.
I will have your back in battle.
But I cannot protect your front.
It is beautiful, no?
It is.
It's just that I already have one.
HE GRUNTS
See, this shield would have done more harm than good in battle.
Thank you.
FOOTSTEPS APPROACH
You don't stand in a throne room like that!
Sit down.
Good boy.
Haven't you thought about trying it?
Seeing what all the fuss is about?
No, I think I've had enough, all the fuss.
Gunhild told me of your doubts.
Well?
I'm too old to run away from Vikings, Edith.
But you're still young.
You have more cause than I to take flight.
I like that you still wear that.
It's something you and I have always had in common.
I understand you more than you think, Edith.
Can you tell me what Ireland is like?
I know someone with a boat
who's crossed the Irish Sea more than once.
If I introduced you to him,
perhaps he could answer that question for you himself.
Perhaps he could.
Ah!
Fitz?
Did you hear the rumours about King Hardrada?
I've heard. Harold has no chance against that madman.
Doesn't matter. Both armies will be destroyed.
England will be in chaos.
Ripe for the picking - but I have to act now.
If Harold does triumph, he'll become a legend.
Within weeks, every man in England
will be standing beside him to fight.
Then you must act now.
I have to have Brittany's ships.
Well, he'll never give them to you, you know that.
His son would. If Alain was Baron, he'd give me those ships.
He's committed to an alliance once his father is gone.
To remove his father would take a war.
One man could get inside.
If he got close enough...
..it could be done.
I'm a lucky man.
You've given me something most men only dream of.
A purpose.
They'll disarm you at the entrance.
Then you'd better look after this for me.
Father's dagger.
You keep it until we meet again.
HE EXHALES SHARPLY
You remember when I was a boy...
..you swore to protect me.
Swore to both our fathers.
Hmm, like it was yesterday.
You have never wavered.
My Lord.
# I find my world so beaten and badly thorned... #
OTHERS CHEER
So my father offers the might of the France King's military
to protect Normandy...
..in exchange for a piece of your land?
Is that my understanding of this?
My Duchess, you must realise there's fear.
If the Duke were to lose and English were to invade Normandy...
Is that what he's been filling your head with?
That the English will invade Normandy?
Count Baldwin has offered us this alternative, yes.
- He told us that you won't have the strength to prevent it. - Us?
Well, the letter was distributed to every Baron
he believed amenable to his offer.
So he's using the Barons to steal Normandy from me?
Show me which Barons.
Which Barons?
All bordering Flanders.
Your father offers his friendship
and protection in return for a payment of land.
His friendship?
Would a true friend ask you to risk this much,
while risking nothing himself?
I...I worry only for my family.
Tell no-one you gave this to me.
- Of course not, my Lady. Never. - It's a secret.
Between friends.
I want you to express your doubts about my father to the other Barons,
or our friendship will suffer a painful blow.
Thank you.
WIND GENTLY RUSTLES
HE GRUNTS
GURGLING
SOLDIERS SHOUT
Attack!
With me!
LOUD GRUNTING
Tostig! Tostig!
LOUD GRUNTING
Tostig!
Harold.
Come to hand over your crown?
LOUD GRUNTING
HE SPLUTTERS
GRUNTING
It's Harold with King Hardrada.
Kill the Saxon dog!
GRUNTING
Harold is down. Kill him!
LOUD GRUNTING
Tostig? Tostig?
Tostig! Tostig! Tostig!
No. No, no, no, no, no, no!
No. No, no. No, Tostig!
Tostig, look at me.
No!
Tostig!
No, no, no!
No, no, no, no, Tostig!
Tostig!
Hey, Tostig, Tostig, look at me.
Look at me. Tostig, look at me.
Look at me, look at me.
Look at me, Look at me! I'm sorry.
I'm sorry, Tostig, I'm sorry.
I'm sorry, Tostig.
HE PANTS
Hardrada is dead!
Long live King Harold!
Victory!
Long live Harold.
Victory to England.
SOLDIERS SHOUT AND CHEER
The bastard has another offer, does he?
What is it this time?
Let's hear it.
What's on William's mind?
Well, speak.
Duke William's offer is for your ears only.
He was very insistent about who should hear and who should not.
HE EXHALES SHARPLY
Duke William offers his thanks for giving him your ships.
What?
HE GRUNTS AND GROANS
HE STRAINS
FOOTSTEPS APPROACH
My Lord.
Duke William.
Do you know who I am, my Lord?
You're the smithy who bows the fiddle.
But do you know?
I know.
You're Fitz's friend.
I've heard what happened in Brittany.
- Is he coming back? - No.
Did he ever speak my name?
No. Never.
He did it to protect you.
And his death protects you?
You as well.
No, my Lord.
I already walk with the dead.
My Lord, you have to see!
Out there. I don't see it.
We got his fleet.
CHEERING
It's the fleet. We've secured the fleet.
My Lord.
On Fitzosbern's orders, my Lord, swore an oath to him before he left.
We are in your service until death.
- Until death? - Yes, my Lord.
Our sworn oath.
William!
Matilda, you're here.
- Hey, Robert, come. - Daddy.
Hey.
Here, this way.
Hey, here.
All right, Robert.
My father intends to take Normandy from us when you're abroad.
I have the proof.
Which is why I'm going to order the Barons to swear loyalty
to Robert as the Duke.
He'll be their Duke.
You will rule Normandy until I return.
Everything I have, Matilda, I trust you with it all.
You have Brittany's ships?
What was his price?
More than I thought.
Then this is it.
Even if you live, we're not together in this any more.
You cannot rule England from Normandy,
and I can't rule Normandy from England.
There's the price.
- If we never see each other again... - We will.
- But if we don't... - We will.
- But if we don't, I... - I know.
We will.
LIGHT SCRAPING
CLAPPING AND CHEERING
Hi, everyone. Can you take it?
Your Grace.
Brother, I bring you good news from Rome.
I have what you need now.
- You came back. - Of course I came back.
Your Majesty.
I stand before you today... as God's vessel.
All of us...
..we are all God's vessels.
Because God himself points our way now.
See this mark.
See the Pope's mark.
The Papal banner of Rome now rides with us!
Yes!
- Rome is with us! - Yes!
Right...is with us!
CROWD CHEERS
And anyone who stands against us
stands against God himself!
CROWD CHEERS
Are you with me?
CROWD CHEERS
Are you with me?
CROWD CHEERS
- Your Majesty. - What is that?
That's not a good omen.
We need to ride now.
Now!
Look!
Look at the sky!
So it's an emphatic order!
God points the way!
God is with us!
CROWD CHEER