“The Greenlanders”

In the Danelaw, a Viking settlement in England, it is Saint Brice’s Day and Harald Sigurdsson leaves for Norway. Meanwhile, King Aethelred II, the ruler of England, orders all Danish settlers in England to be killed, including Harald’s brother Sten Sigurdsson. King Canute, the ruler of Denmark, calls all Viking warriors to meet in Kattegat to form an army to exact revenge. Greenlanders Leif Erikson and Freydís Eiríksdóttir travel to Kattegat through a great storm, unaware of the massacre, as Freydís seeks revenge on the man who raped and scarred her years earlier. She soon discovers the man responsible, Gunnar Magnússon, a follower of Harald’s older half-brother Olaf Haraldsson, a devout Christian, who doesn’t trust the pagans. Leif later defends himself due to the reputation of his infamous father Erik the Red and Harald promises glory if Leif was to join him in England. Later that night, Freydís sneaks into the great hall where she kills Gunnar. Before an enraged Olaf can kill Freydís, Jarl Haakon, the ruler of Kattegat, stops him. Harald informs everyone that Gunnar’s death was justified as Freydís reveals a cruciform scar on her back. Haakon states that she will render judgement in the morning.

“Viking”

In Kattegat, Freydís suggests a trial by combat with Olaf but is denied. Instead, Harald has Leif join him in England to help exact revenge on the Saxons. Freydís bids farewell to Leif before he and the majority of the Greenlanders leave Kattegat with the Viking army. Haakon sends Freydís to Uppsala, so that she may seek her destiny. During the journey to England, Jarl Gorm, one of the Viking leaders, and his son Arne Gormsson grow distrustful of Leif. Gorm later attacks him, killing the Greenlander Birger, which results in Leif killing Gorm just as they arrive on England’s shores. In England, Aethelred and his advisor Godwin discuss the Viking’s plans for an invasion as Aethelred’s health deteriorates. The Queen of England Emma of Normandy later visits her husband, now bedridden, who warns her that London needs to be defended. Emma sends her step-son and heir to the throne of England, Prince Edmund, to seek help from the Ealdorman of Mercia, Eadric Streona. Edmund is successful in convincing Streona to supply Mercian soldiers but on his return to London, bells toll, signalling Aethelred’s death.

“The Marshes”

The Viking army sack Kent, where they learn that Aethelred has died so they now set their sights on his son. The army later makes camp near London, as Harald and Leif lead a scouting party into the nearby marshes. They are soon ambushed by Mercian soldiers and are forced to retreat, whilst the Greenlander Ulf is killed, and Leif is left behind. Harald later returns and saves Leif before they make their way onto London’s bridge, where they discover that it has a drawbridge in its centre. In London, Edmund practices his fighting skills whilst Godwin teaches him that he must be more ruthless to win a real battle. Edmund successfully gets the full support of the other Ealdorman who wish to move forward his coronation and Edmund is officially crowned King of England. In Sweden, Freydís and several other pilgrims are attacked by a Berserker who kills the Greenlander Toke and seriously wounds Yrsa. Freydís kills the attacker and brings Yrsa to a healer before continuing her journey to Uppsala. Later, the Christian zealot Jarl Kåre finds the body of the Berserker and begins to follow a blood trail left by Yrsa.

“The Bridge”

The Viking leaders discuss their impending assault on London by using the bridge to their advantage and drawing out King Edmund. Meanwhile, Edmund discusses his plans for the defence of London with Streona, who will outflank the Vikings and trap them on the bridge. Whilst impressed by the King’s strategy, Streona states that the Mercians will suffer heavy losses, but Edmund promises him that Mercia will have all the glory. As the Viking army arrives outside London, Canute taunts Edmund into charging into battle alongside his soldiers, against the advice of Emma and Godwin. Vikings and Saxons fight until Canute leads the Saxons into an ambush on the far side of the bridge. Meanwhile, Harald, Leif and several others successfully weaken the bridge, attach ropes to the supports, and use Olaf’s longboats to pull it down. Emma soon notices this and commands Saxon archers to kill the saboteurs, who manage to kill the Vikings Johan and Tomas, and the Greenlanders Skarde and Njal. Godwin informs Edmund of the bridge’s impending collapse, but Edmund fails to cross in time and is trapped as the Viking army defeats the Saxons. Streona arrives to witness the Saxon defeat and decides to abandon Edmund.

“Miracle”

The Viking army successfully conquers London, taking Emma and the other nobles captive. Harald attempts to exact his revenge by executing Edmund but is stopped by Canute. He later promises to make Harald the King of Norway and reveals that Olaf has a secret son named Magnus. Leif discovers that Liv had survived the battle. He mourns the deaths of his fellow Greenlanders, giving them a Viking funeral, but has a crisis of faith. During a celebratory feast, Canute awards his warriors the spoils of war and releases Leif from his sister’s debt, calling him a hero. Canute then executes Streona for breaking his oath to Edmund and claims that he will become the first Norse King of England. He also takes a liking to Emma and successfully rescues her children who had been taken captive by Olaf. In Uppsala, Freydís takes part in a pagan ceremony that provides a glimpse into her past. During a vision, she is visited by The Seer who gives her a cryptic warning to stop looking into the past and to move forward. Kåre arrives at the healer’s hut seeking vengeance and kills Yrsa. Freydís then awakens from her vision and leaves Uppsala.

“The Last Daughter of Uppsala”

Freydís reaches the healer’s hut and confronts Kåre who tells her to warn Haakon that he is coming. Freydís later trains in Kattegat to become a shieldmaiden with Altöra, Haakon’s second-in-command. Haakon recounts her own vision of The Seer and claims that Freydís is the “Last Daughter of Uppsala”. Meanwhile, Kåre reaches Uppsala and receives a mysterious vision from The Seer. Olaf leaves England with his forces and heads to Denmark whilst Harald and Leif return to Kattegat. In Denmark, Olaf asks Canute’s Mercian wife, Queen Ælfgifu, for her support in becoming the ruler of Norway. Harald’s forces soon arrive in Kattegat, with Freydís, Leif, and Liv reuniting, now the only remaining Greenlanders. Freydís later beats Altöra in single combat and officially becomes a shieldmaiden, pledging herself to protect Kattegat. In London, Canute makes Godwin and Emma his advisors, with the latter informing him that the Ealdorman are close to rebellion. Canute reveals to the captive Ealdorman that he will restore their titles in return for their loyalty. Canute and Emma later become romantically involved but Canute becomes concerned after receiving a letter from Denmark.

“Choices”

Kåre sends the corpses of the priests of Uppsala to Kattegat as a warning. Harald, Leif, and Freydís head to Uppsala and witness the aftermath of Kåre’s massacre with the survivors claiming that Kåre’s God ordered him to destroy all pagans. Olaf meets with Kåre and forges an alliance to take Kattegat in an effort to unite Norway. Harald learns of this, and his forces help Haakon prepare for Olaf and Kåre’s arrival. In London, Edmund discovers that Canute has left to fight the Vends in Denmark, but not before secretly marrying Emma. Canute’s father, King Sweyn Forkbeard, arrives to rule in his place with Forkbeard’s granddaughter Gytha serving as Emma’s new lady-in-waiting. Edmund and Forkbeard are confronted by Sigeferth, the Ealdorman of Wessex, who is later killed by Forkbeard after insulting him, and Godwin is made the first Jarl of Wessex. Angered by Forkbeard’s presence, Edmund attempts to form a resistance, but Godwin betrays him by setting a trap and stabs him in the heart, leaving Canute as the sole King of England. Ælfgifu arrives in London, bringing with her Canute’s fleet, and threatens Forkbeard that she will order it to aid Olaf and his conquest.

“The End of the Beginning”

To prevent Ælfgifu from sending Canute’s fleet to Olaf, Forkbeard banishes Emma to Normandy. Ælfgifu and Godwin then travel to Mercia and convince the Mercians to give Forkbeard their support. However, in Ælfgifu’s absence, Forkbeard locates Canute’s fleet and Emma retakes the throne of England. In Norway, Harald meets with Olaf and chooses to side with him. However, he secretly tells Leif Olaf’s attack plan, allowing Kattegat to better prepare. The Battle for Kattegat begins, as Kåre’s forces attack the city walls. Haakon is hit with a volley of arrows and succumbs to her wounds whilst Altöra and Arne are killed by Kåre’s followers. Obsessed with killing Freydís, Kåre hunts her down to the great hall but she beheads him. Olaf’s plan is revealed to be a ruse in order to split Kattegat’s forces. As Olaf’s forces arrive in Kattegat, Olaf mortally wounds Liv and she dies in Leif’s arms. Harald is wounded during the battle, but Freydís comes to his aide. Olaf claims victory, but Forkbeard arrives with Canute’s fleet and Olaf’s forces quickly abandon Kattegat. Forkbeard’s grandson Harald Harefoot discovers several of Kåre’s followers slaughtered and an enraged Leif covered in blood.