Trama

Ragnar tells Floki he has to pay a heavy price for his actions. Rollo finds an ally in Count Odo. Bjorn Ironside finds more than he bargained for in the wilderness.

Bjorn continues his wilderness endurance brilliantly, killing a bear inc lose combat and ice-diving naked, unaware vindictive Erlendur and Kalf hired a berserker to kill him. Rollo almost grow desperate when wife Gisla publicly demands a divorce form the 'barabaric savage', yet is semi-appeased by the count with a monk as language teacher, but seems a nightmare pupil. Kings Ecbert and Ragnar both have dream apparitions of dead Athelstan. Judith is delighted with monk-illuminator Prudentius's lessons to mix pigments, gets Ecbert to agree to treat her 'as equal' when they become lovers again and welcomes Aethelwulf, who freed deposed Mercian queen Kwenthrith and her 'heir', Ragnar's bastard Magnus, confiding into her Alfred's biological father is Athelstan. A while after making Helga tell Floki their daughter died to complete his cave agony, Ragnar cuts him loose.—KGF Vissers

Kalf and Erlendur hire a Berserker to assassinate Bjorn, who is surviving alone in the wilderness after killing a bear. The Duke Rollo hires a teacher to learn the language of the Frank while Gisla can not bear him and mistreats him in public. Ragnar and King Ecbert have visions of Athelstan during the night, who say the word "mercy" three times. On the next morning, Ragnar releases Floki while King Ecbert hires a monk to teach art to Judith. Aethelwulf and his soldiers bring Queen Kwenthrith and her son Magnus to Wessex.—Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Ragnar and King Ecbert experience separate visions of Athelstan, who relays the words "mercy".

Floki is kept captive and tied to the walls inside a damp cave, where drops of water slowly drip on his head and torture him. Helga tries to protect Floki by holding a bowl on top of his head to protect him from the water drops, but she eventually gets tired and falls asleep and the torture for Floki starts all over again.

Gisla believes that Rollo wants to harm her like Roman Pagan Emperor's of the past had burned and killed Christian women who refused to renounce their faith. Gisla continues to publicly humiliate Rollo in the court for considering her as his wife. Gisla declares that she wants a divorce from Rollo. Charles (Lothaire Bluteau) cannot afford to have Rollo leave as it would be catastrophic for the Frank efforts to stop the Viking raid. Odo (Owen Roe) is sent by Charles to counsel Rollo and appease him. Rollo starts to learn the language of Francia after Odo assigns a teacher.

Kalf hires a Berserker to assassinate Bjorn, on behalf of Erlendur. Erlendur gives the Berserker his own ring for protection. Bjorn kills a bear that escaped his trap. Bjorn had followed the blood trail of the bear for several days and the bear had also come close to Bjorn on several occasions, but neither wanted a confrontation. Bjorn decides that he needs to pass this test to convince himself that he is ready to face the world. He seeks out the bear and challenges it for a fight. Despite taking some blows, Bjorn manages to kill the bear with a fatal blow to its head. After the fight, Bjorn has to cauterize his own wounds to survive.

Floki and Helga struggle with the death of their daughter. Helga had not told Floki, but Ragnar says that Floki has a right to know. Ragnar approaches the cave and frees Floki.

Lagertha sleeps with Kalf and he tells her he loves her.

Aethelwulf returns with the rescued Queen Kwenthrith and her son Magnus. Aethelwulf & Kwenthrith had to endure harsh winter conditions, where they could not even light a fire due to the fear of being discovered by Mercian soldiers. Kwenthrith has to survive on frozen meat given to her by Aethelwulf. Kwenthrith and Aethelwulf connect and bond during this period of misery and deprivation. Kwenthrith introduces Magnus to Ecbert as the son of Ragnar and heir to the throne of Mercia. Back in Wessex, Aethelwulf has sex with Kwenthrith.

Judith's obsession with Athelstan continues. Prudentius tells Judith about the Viking attack on Paris and how the Frankians triumphed as God was on their side. Prudentius says that he did not hear of any Athelstan fighting in Ragnar's army. Judith starts working on the sacred texts and translating them from Latin into English.

Wessex continues preparing its soldiers. Judith gives herself to Ecbert freely and of her own will, if he promises to treat her as an equal in bed, and with respect. After the vision of Athelstan, Ecbert informs Judith that he believes Athelstan is dead.

In Francia, Count Odo prepares to defend Paris.