19. On the Eve

Complete story — includes the ending

Kattegat is attacked by Egil and his men, but they are repulsed and Egil is captured. Torvi is severely injured. Under torture, Egil confesses to Lagertha that he had been paid by King Harald to attack her. Meanwhile, in Mercia, terrified villagers flee before the advancing heathen army. Harald pretends to forgive Ellisif, then kills her husband Vik. Ellisif later pretends to forgive Harald, seduces him, and is about to kill him but is instead killed by Halfdan. Tanaruz runs away from Helga, but Floki manages to find her and convince her to return. Prince Aethelwulf gathers a large army in Wessex and moves to intercept the advancing Vikings in Repton. Before they meet, Ivar persuades Bjorn to scout a potential battlefield and plan to use the terrain to defeat the Saxons. The Vikings then harass the Saxons on the battlefield with archers hidden in the surrounding woods. Prince Aethelwulf decides to move his forces toward the Vikings' ships, but the Vikings then ambush them in a tight valley. In panic and frustration, Aethelwulf orders a charge.