Thorkell takes Canute hostage and follows after the main army of Denmark. Ragnar objects to Thorkell’s plan to take on the entire army of Denmark, boasting 16,000 soldiers, with only 500 men. Thorkell then begins to tell Ragnar the story of Valhalla, the pride of Normans, a place where only those who die in battle can go.

Askeladd and his men continue their march to escape from Thorkell. However, their march comes to a halt at the Severn River. Askeladd hands a letter to an old man operating a ferry across the river and tells him to deliver the letter to the other side immediately. As soon as he hears the addressee’s name, the old man sets off in his boat.

Askeladd crosses the river and escapes from Thorkell into Wales with Canute. However, Askeladd’s men are ambushed by a group of soldiers hiding behind the boulders at the border of the kingdom of Brycheiniog. Askeladd attempts to negotiate with their messenger and reveals his plan.

Askeladd and his men change course and decide to return to Gainsborough, by crossing through the Earldom of Mercia in the midst of a harsh snowstorm, where the main army of Denmark awaits. The men spot a small village in the blizzard and make their move.

After losing Canute, Thorkell decides to halt his advance in central England. Thorkell hears that the end of the war between Denmark and England is near, and bemoans the end of the war. However, he later gets wind of an interesting piece of news.

Thorfinn suffers a serious injury in his fight against Thorkell. Thorfinn is told to think about what he has to do to beat Thorkell. Askeladd treats Thorfinn’s wounds so that he may fight again someday, and proposes a joint strategy to help the two of them survive longer.

Thorfinn suffers a serious injury in his fight against Thorkell. Thorfinn is told to think about what he has to do to beat Thorkell. Askeladd treats Thorfinn’s wounds so that he may fight again someday, and proposes a joint strategy to help the two of them survive longer.

Canute’s party arrives in York to attend the Imperial Council. Although Canute had wanted to strike out against King Sweyn, the King was being guarded by the most powerful Jomsviking unit in the Northern Sea while keeping a close eye on Canute. With the situation strained to the breaking point, Askeladd comes up with a plan. Meanwhile, Thorfinn is reunited with a person who knew his former self.

Askeladd comes forth before King Sweyn and implores him to halt his invasion of Wales. Meanwhile, Thorfinn decides to return home at Leif’s urging. However, the moment before he boards the ship, Thorfinn catches a glimpse of a single tern taking off into the sky...

After everything that happened, Einar asks Thorfinn if he's ever fought in a war — and if he's ever killed a man.

After the sudden turn of events, young Canute must rise up to claim the throne to a kingdom much reduced and under attack.

Thorfinn and Einar are working themselves to the bone to clear the forest, but there's only so much they can do without the help of horses.

Thieves have been stealing food from Ketil's farm. Meanwhile, Ketil's eldest son Thorgil returns home.

Thorfinn has nightmares almost every night, but he can never remember what he dreamed about — and that bothers him.

Finally, after three long years, Einar and Thorfinn chop down the final tree in the forest. With hope in their hearts, they talk about the future.

A runaway slave appears on Ketil's farm, claiming to be Arnheid's husband. But before he can free her, he's confronted by Snake.

Arnheid comes to the fortress where Gardar is imprisoned. She wants to see her husband and treat his injuries.

Amidst the confusion of a peasant uprising, Thorfinn and the others try to escape, carrying a severely injured and pregnant Arnheid.

At long last, Thorfinn returns to Iceland and finds a moment of happiness, reunited with his loved ones. But soon, he opens up about his next journey.