Vikings, Season 3

Ragnar:
What do you see?

Bjorn:
Power. The power of a king.

Ragnar:
Power is always dangerous. It attracts the worst. And corrupts the best. I never asked for power. Power is only given to those who are prepared to lower themselves to pick it up.

The Seer:
What is it you wish to ask the gods?

Lagertha:
Will I ever bear another child, o wise one?

The Seer:
I cannot see another child, no matter how far I look.

Lagertha:
Then... what do you see?

The Seer:
I see a harvest celebrated in blood. I see a trickster whose weapon cleaves you. I see a city made of marble. And a burning broiling ocean.

Lagertha:
Not one of your prophecies do I understand.

The Seer:
It is the way of the prophecy. Only to be understood when it has happened and it is too late to change it.

Floki:
A creaking bow, a burning flame,

Rollo:
Tide on the ebb, new ice, a coiled snake,

Floki:
Sons of a king, an ailing calf, a witch's flattery.

Rollo:
No man should be such a fool as to trust these things.

Floki:
No man should trust the word of a woman. The hearts of women were turned on a whirling wheel.

Rollo:
To love a fickle woman is like setting out over ice on a three year old colt or sailing a ship without a rudder.

Rollo:
[to Ragnar and Floki who are arguing about why they fight for the Christians and risk losing their own people] Both of you, save your breath. We have a mountain to climb. Some of us will not see a dawn like this again... not here on Midgard, at any rate. So, let us try and speak well of each other... no matter how much we have been through together.

Floki:
[Grieving over Torstein] This is your fault, Ragnar. Torstein has died for a hill he did not want to own. For something which meant nothing to him. He has died a pointless death. How many more of us must die for your Christians? Or have you, in your heart, already renounced our gods and turned to the Christ God? Is that what your friend Athelstan has persuaded you to do? Look. Here we are... under an English sky... burying our dead... those we have sacrificed for Jesus Christ.

Ragnar:
We are all fated to die on a certain day, yes? But, it is our own choice to do as we please until that day comes. I did not force Torstein, or any of you to come for that matter. You all chose to be here. My heart is as heavy for Torstein as anyone's. But, I am sure that I will bump into him again soon. In the meantime, Floki, shut your face.

Rollo:
[to Bjorn about Porinn who was gravely injured in battle] I do not think she will die. She wants to live. She has a lot to live for. But, if she hears you weeping and lamenting, she will choose to die. Be strong. Be a man. Coax her back from Valhalla. But, make it worth her while. For she is already at the gates.

Ragnar:
Do you think you are a good man?

King Ecbert:
Yes, I think so. Are you... a good man?

Ragnar:
[after a small shrug] Yes. I think so. [pause] Are you corrupt?

King Ecbert:
[With a pleased smile] Oh, yes. Are you?

Ragnar:
Uh huh.

Rollo:
[Viciously rubbing the wrist bearing the bracelet signifying fealty to Ragnar] Ragnar was always chosen over me. By my father. And my mother. And by Lagertha. Why would I not want to betray him? Why would I not want to scream at him saying, I am alive, too! It doesn't matter what I do. Ragnar is my father. He is my mother. He is Lagertha. Siggy. He is everything I cannot do. Everything I cannot be. I love him. He is my brother. He has taken me back. But, I am so angry. Why am I still so angry? You tell me wise one! Or, I will tell you. It is because I am useless. Hollowed out by failed ambitions. By failed loves. Nothing good could ever come from my life now.

[the Seer starts laughing]

Rollo:
What is there to laugh about?

The Seer:
Oh, Rollo, if you truly knew what the gods have in store for you, you would go down now and dance naked on the beach.

Rollo:
I don't understand.

The Seer:
I tell you as I told Ragnar. The bear will marry a princess. And I can tell you that you will be present at the ceremony. Now go and leave me.

Ragnar:
[at Athelstan's grave] What am I to do now? I hate you for leaving me. I ache from your loss. There is nothing that can console me now. I am changed, so are you.

Ragnar:
[while mourning his friend] Forgive me, my friend, not for what I have done. But for what I am about to do.

Ragnar:
I always believed that death is a fate far better than life.

Ragnar:
[Praying to Athelstan] You think I went too far with Floki. Can you actually believe that he thought that I would let him lead without having an agenda? If I was him, I would worry less about the gods and more about the fury of a patient man.

Lagertha:
[to Ragnar, while kneeling over Bjorn who was gravely injured] What happened?

Ragnar:
He was proving that you don't need the title to be a leader.

Ragnar:
I have something to say. I did not become Earl because I aspired to be one. It came about because of other people's actions. And I did not become king out of ambition, but once again I had no choice as a result of other people's actions. But nonetheless, I am king. King Ragnar, that is my name. King Ragnar! What does a king do, Bjorn?

Bjorn:
He rules.

Ragnar:
Yes, good... He rules. And as a ruler, I have the last say. Me! Not you, not you and not you.

Lagertha:
[At Ragnar's coffin] We don't always know what the gods have in store for us. But this? I could never imagine. If you've gone to heaven, then we will never meet again. [Going to her knees, whispering] And yet, I think Odin will rise like the wind to rescue you and take you to Valhalla where you belong, my own sweet Ragnar. And there... there we shall meet again. And fight and to drink and... love one another.

Rollo:
[Seated with his back at Ragnar's coffin] I have always resented you. It's true. I'm not denying it. I'm sorry you're dead, but it happens to all of us, sooner or later. It's just funny that the gods took you first. I always thought they favored you. You thought so, too. [a small laugh] It seems we were both mistaken.

Floki:
[At Ragnar's coffin] So then. I made you the boat that took you to fame. I made the boat that will take you to your heaven [Sarcastically] Give my regards to Athelstan, by the way. You betrayed us. You betrayed your heritage. You betrayed our future. You betrayed me! I loved you more than anyone. I loved you more than that priest ever loved you. But, it made no difference. You always thought, oh, it's just Floki! No need to bother about Floki. He's just a fool. [Pounding the coffin, then falling to his knees] I hated you, Ragnar Lothbrok! [His voice softens] And I love you with all my heart. Why did you turn me away from myself?