In which you have joined Askeladd’s band…and grow closer to the Son of Thors - though as your future seemed promising, his thirst for revenge devastated all that you had left.
[Headcanons of how it would be like to meet Thorfinn again after he shattered your heart (based on season 2; both platonic and romantic)
Sᴇᴀsᴏɴ ₁ ﹙Wᴀʀ Aʀᴄ﹚ is here
Part 1: - (Thorfinn as a slave and his struggles)
Part 2: - (Thorfinn trying to accept your existence as a slave)
Part 3: - (Thorfinn finds a reason to live, you finally see him)
Part 5: -(Meeting Sverkel and accepting Thorfinn's deal)
[Mentions of murder, death, war, slave trade, harrasment against women and whatever awful things happened in the viking era. Slavery will be a main subject throughout the entire arc. Mostly gender-neutral examples but female-leaning ones are there, too.]
[TW: This part will specifically mention: depressed tension, attempted murder, suicidal thoughts, lots of talking, lotsa dialoge, short but detailed description of strangulation, finding reasons to still keep living including being begged to]
Mighty River, Release My Soul...
Your arms were as warm as they were on that winter day.
You scolded him back then too, though he reckoned it was far more vicious than your prattling now.
The way you looked at him, were so focused on tending him even if it was for a mere moment, was like breathing in fresh, icey cold air that he has been deprived from for weeks. It coursed through him and stung each limb. It only found an end after Pater cleared his throat.
Immediately you let go of Thorfinn, spinning to the man with a confused noise and a gasp. He smiled. "Thorfinn is fine now, you don't need to worry. These two boys just need to take the rest of the day off. Now that you are willing to talk...I believe we'd best have a conversation. Not with Master Ketil, do not worry."
Still, that flustered panic did not leave your face as you meekly nodded and followed him. Pater waved Thorfinn and Einar one last goodbye before motioning you to follow with an easy gait. You looked back to Thorfinn before tailing after Pater.
Einar let go of his baited breath. "How..strange. They...you really know them, don't-" The brunette chocked on his breath as Thorfinn was disappearing into the dense forest. Work had to be done, injured or not. Perplexed and with a huff of irritation, he ran after him.
First he doesn't know how to show gratitude and say 'thank you' and now he is shrugging off - someone who was scared to death for him!
What the hell is this guy's problem?!
The way to the forest was easier than the last few weeks. The both of them were able to cut down quite a lot of trees, clearing the path, but the stumps remained, leaving the woods like a rugged wasteland of dead trees.
Einar didn't even noticed his stomps and the way his bruisened feet dug into the soil. Narrowed blue eyes watched Thorfinn swing down the axe again, again, again. Cut, cut and cut.
His movements were fluid as he observed him, as he wasn't threatened this day at all. As if he wasn't a second from throwing his life away at all.
But he dodged. He sprung out of the way and didn't seem to be aware to have tried to kill Snake. He seemed so...light and out of it. Like a drunken bird.
"Hey, Thorfinn." The blonde barely showed any sign of listening to him, continuing to cut. "Have you ever been to war?"
Thorfinn chopped once, "I have."
Einar's gaze darkened. He answered him clearly and with focus.
"Have you ever killed people?"
Again, he cut. The tree fell down swiftly. "I have."
"How many? A few? Five, ten?"
"Why do you want to know? Don't you hate war?"
His blue eyes snapped up as the blonde halted. If he stalled or wanted to hear his answer, he didn't know. He just knew that each and every day of being with him confused him more, made a tiny flame in him flick, made the gall in his throat come up.
"I'm asking because...if you went to war and killed, then how-"
Einar took a deep breath and swallowed the gall that threatened to spit out, "-How can that person be worried about you? Why do they want you to live if you killed?"
The axe hovered above his head before he slowly lowered it down - and having it fall with a thud to the ground. His dull eyes oversaw the mess he left. "I don't know...", "Why not? They seem to know you. Are they like you?"
"No." Thorfinn quickly and sharply answered. Though his next words fell flat and soft again, "They aren't a dog like me."
Not when you looked at him like that. Not when you were so heavily relieved by seeing him breathing and battered, like his father was back then.
...I Need To See The World...
Waged war since he was a child.
Ever since he was a wee lad, he said, but he couldn't remember the exact age. He is only about eighteen, so how long ago was it that he can't even remember? Could he even recall it?
It sounded...ridicilous as Einar walked back to the little barn they called their home - or beds, he wasn't sure - back hunched and steps sulken, though his face was as dark as thunder.
He pillaged and killed and stole of people's hard work. Their land, wheat and loved ones. And he can't even remember who, when and why?
Let that fool cut away at the last standing trees as roughed up as he is. Einar is allowed to rest and he'd rather drown in his thoughts alone, bundled up in hay than look at Thorfinn for another minute.
Falling asleep alone feels somewhat sad...but at least he'd fall asleep without any screaming waking him into the early night.
It was the sound of spilled water that made him shoot up his gaze up at the person holding a bucket and rags with them. You shuffled awkwardly to the side, standing right in front of the barn.
Einar was quick to wipe the glare off his face. "Oh...good evening."
"...G-Good evening." You struggled to reply, he thought.
Einar couldn't help but make a long and wide face, pursing his lips as his blue eyes took in your uncertain form. You finally met his eyes with your own. "Are you waiting for Thorfinn?" Your brows rose as you nodded. He must've figured it out quick - or you are just that predictable.
"Pater allowed me to go see him quick. For his ear. Just to make sure the wound didn't fester through the day." "He's still back in the forest chopping. If you wait too long, you might get in trouble."
Shuffling a bit, you hesitated. "I'll wait a bit more. He's stubborn."
The brunette's shoulder sank. With a sigh, he swiftly sat down on the boulder next to the barn's entrance and crossed his arms. "I'll wait too, then."
He sat there on the right, while you stood on the left side. You stared at him briefly, confusion written on your face. The sky turned even darker, with the stars shining through their hiding spots. The moon was nowhere to be seen but the lights from the master's estate still offered some solace. It was illuminated enough for both people to see each other and perhaps recognize an possible incomer.
The silence did not feel heavy yet pressuring. As if any moment, something was waiting to happen.
You glanced at the man and took a deep breath. "...Are you hurt somewhere, too?"
"Uh, what?" Einar jumped and whipped his head to you. "You were there too, right? With the guests. They must've hurt you, too." "Oh! Well - I'm fine enough. Just a few bruises," He rolled his shoudler while chuckling dryly, "The real unlucky bastard is Thorfinn."
You hummed and rose the bucket in your hand. "Pater didn't give me any balms or medicines but the water should cool the bruises." "Ah, uh," Einar waved with his arms, laughing as he shook his head, "No, no, I'm okay. Honestly I...got really off scott-free. Really, the one who has it the worst is...Thorfinn."
You pulled a face - Einar could not decipher what it meant - and went back on being on the look out. "I'd figure. He likes getting in trouble."
The man glanced in your direction, taking in your unreadable, narrowed expression briefly, before staring back down the hill as well, though halfheartedly. "You know him?" He dared to glance to you again, "That he's like that?"
The grip on the bucket tightened and your eyes darted around the cool meadow below. For a moment, you shifted aimlessly but decided to give in. "Yes. He...is an old friend."
There was no need to pretend. To act coy and unknowing when you so foolishly started to speak and cradled him in your arms. Not when you were waiting here like an idiot for him to return and see him again just this once for tonight.
As if he was deserving of it. Thorfinn did not return when you ran after him, did not stay as you lead him to Leif's boat and now you are waiting for him again - and the only certainty you had was that he had the order to do so as a slave.
You yourself needed to oblige.
Lying here will bring you nothing but punishments and you had to be on your best behaviour, even if it meant not being with Thorfinn for however long you were allowed to. But for now, you could use Pater as an excuse and do all that you could - even if this whole place, Thorfinn himself and your own actions didn't make any sense to you.
You are a slave here now on this farm. Why should you even try?
Back with Askeladd you could fight back. But here, your hands are only untied by Ketil's orders.
"There he is." Einar lowly let out and made you snap your head up to see the short blonde march towards you with a hunched back and one arm holding the other bandaged one. His own lidded gaze was focused on the ground before they widened upon your sight.
"Your friend has been waiting." Einar got up with a start, his voice stern and certain, "I'll be just outside. Let's head to bed soon after." Thorfinn barely had the chance to utter a protest as the brunette simply turned around the corner of the barn, staying a few steps away from it. Though his eyes quickly went back to you, wide and unsure, before he walked into the barn and sat down on the hay. You kneeled down next to him, dunking the cloth into the water.
Wordlessly, you got up and went around to his side, pulling his greasy strands away to observe his ear. Thorfinn felt the gentle, almost ghostly tips of your fingers graze his shell as he unblinkingly hung his head, sitting cross-legged. His hands were clutched and the fingers would tense around one another, slightly, as if shivering from the cold.
There was nothing to see. No festering, no tissue. A clean cut that won't affect his hearing at all. You knew, but wanted to see him anyway. Perhaps it was the paranoia, perhaps you didn't trust Pater's word, felt like you couldn't, or you truly just wanted to see him again. This ghost of a man from the past.
You didn't know. But you knew you were a fool for feeling drawn to him after all this time, for wanting to see if he is really alright.
Gaze remained on the wound for a while before you let his hair slip off your hold and kneeled down next to him again. Watching him, Thorfinn didn't meet your eyes, not even when you brought the wet, cold cloth up to pat his face.
His jawline felt thinner. The short stubbles tickled your skin and bent back against the cloth. You couldn't remember him with any stubbles, let alone a sliver of what seems to be a beard ever appear on his grimsome mug. Blonde hair heavy and stringy tickling his shoulders - he used to hate having long hair. It bothered him so that he'd cut it whenever it got too long for his tastes, leaving him with this disheveled, wild look. But here, he was downcast, downtrodden, like nothing he has ever been before or wanted to be. Yet his eyes stayed the same. The sorrow you saw reflected in the deep brown, the same you saw that winter day.
Still, Thorfinn didn't want to look at you.
...To The Unknown, I'll Go Against My Sorrow...
"What are you doing?" Was all he muttered instead, staring holes into the ground. The cloth hung in the hair before you dapped it in water again. "I don't know. I think I wanted to see if you're still...here."
Pressing the water out, you took his limb hands and gently glided the cloth over his course skin. "You shouldn't. You'll get in trouble and..." For a moment, Thorfinn glanced to the side, "...I'll drag you down with me."
You couldnt help the frown as you focused back on his hands and picking out the splinters of wood. Thorfinn dragged you down with him ever since you met him. Drowning together seemed like fate, a curse that befell upon you the moment you so foolishly returned his dagger.
Is it punishment for not being like Askeladd and letting him die? For not being like Canute and letting him be? Are people like you just meant to suffer in this world, all caused by your own actions?
It felt like it. Yet here you were with him again. Was a reunion another form of punishment, prolonging your suffering just a bit more before you die?
Was sitting here and tending to him suffering as well?
"I can't be dragged lower than this. There's nothing else." Finally, Thorfinn looked at you and the action was as painful as he thought it'd be. Your hair was longer, face bearing more and you've grown, too. Lidded eyes were focused on his calloused hand, the shadows of the night consuming you, not even the stars were bright enough. Hesitation would flicker within every minute, every moment, if it's really you - yet then his eyes would unwittingly search for the familiar injuries you had in the past, that one uniquness you wore, a certain pattern of speech and it would ease all doubts he had, eliminate them with the memory from just today. When you embraced him. When you told him he should be back in Iceland.
Thorfinn turned his hand around, grabbing one of yours, while the other one swiped the cloth in your hand off, as if it meant nothing in this, as if his injuries meant nothing at all, and held both of your hands in a tight, suffocating grip. With every passing second, they trembled more.
"You shouldn't be here. You should be somewhere far away, somewhere that isn't here. I'm doing this to you." He glared at your hands with an anguished frown, gripping them as if they could be swept away any second while yours were lying limbly in his. "I thought if I could be here...it'll be fine. But I'm still finding ways of doing this to you. Even after all I did...I'm still managing to hurt someone, and that's you."
Suddenly, he whipped his wide-eyed stare to you, taking in your own frustrated and chagrin-filled face. Your dry, pressed lips, the frown etched onto your visage, your bulging eyes. Thorfinn felt like he needed to continue before you began tearing up. "I'm...still me. But I will be here tomorrow. And the day after that." The blonde hesitated - before deciding to not promise it. He can't tell how much faith you can still put in him and neither can he.
Your watery gaze narrows before looking back over your shoulder. The house's lights are out and you'll need some to find your way back.
Slowly, weakly almost, you got on your feet. Hands still clung to Thorfinn's as they slowly slipped out of his grip. With one last look you offered to him, you hoarsely whispered, "You'll be here."
The man could only nod with wide eyes as you finally let go and went back. The darkness of the night swallowed you whole, only the sound of splashing water letting him know you're still nearby before only the sound of critters were left.
As Einar turned towards the entrance of the barn, he saw Thorfinn lying on his side. He watched him, the blonde almost motionless but the rise of his chest was a relief. He wondered how on earth Thorfinn could've fallen asleep so quickly but he didn't care enough to ponder for a minute more. This...guy. He was another beast, wasn't he?
He killed and pillaged and caused people like him and Arnheid and Pater to end up in places like this. Though Master Ketil was a kind trader, he was an exception to the rule. Anywhere else, and he might have it worse. And you seemed to be just like this guy.
One by one, the brunette took a step closer. How many has he killed? And have you taken lives as well? Can any of you remember?
The hay glided off his legs like snow. Have you caused fires, burned down fields and houses, flung spears and arrows into people?
He stood in front of him. The hay was warm around his knees. This murderer is now cutting down trees to make a field, to plant, to grow, to thrive. To feed people. To still their hunger, use the wood for houses and tools and use the wheat to bargain and trade.
His thick, scarred hands fit around his neck. The anger burning inside him and filling the hole in his chest made it easy to clam them around tightly. Einar could feel his pulse, steady and clear against his skin. Further back was part of his spine, feeling every movement of each inhale. Yet it feels so surprisingly soft when he puts pressure. Soft as his fingers curl around the back of his neck, squeezing the spine in, feeling his pulse quicken and his breath labored. The peaceful snores turned into winces, into pleas for the pain to stop.
Just a bit more. More. The blonde gasps, wiggling around in the hay as his whimpers turned into groans of pain. Somehow he could still breath.
"...Shit."
The throat was warm but Einar could feel his palms getting sweaty. In an blink of an eye, he surprised himself of how quickly he let go. His squatted legs trembled and stumbled back. Thorfinn didn't stop screaming.
Shit. He can't do it. Einar can't kill someone!
It's scary. The feel of someone's neck around your hands is terrifying and daunting, like a weight itself is put on his chest even though he is pretending to be the predator. To be stronger. To be the winner. He can't do it. He doesn't want to do it. He doesn't want to hate. He doesn't want anyone to die.
Suddenly his hands whipped out into the air, wailing around for help. Thorfinn gasped for air, only to screech out more. Even when Einar tried to kill him, he's still throwing a tantrum.
Quivering with hitched gasps, coughing and panting. It's the same every night.
A man like him. It's all nightmares, every night, and he knows it but now - now he wants to live to keep dreaming and live to keep seeing you and live to keep chopping down trees. Yet still, he feels so out of place here.
A desperate inhale and he reckoned he wanted to call for someone. His sweaty hand stiffened. In an blink of an eye he could feel it coil to a fist, pressure forcing his fingers down and he snapped his gaze wide open. Einar's hand clung around his.
"...You..." Thorfinn could finally feel the coolness of the air, the way the hay prickled his back as he desperately sucked in deep breaths like a man starved of food.
A good minute passed, at least to Einar, and Thorfinn shuffled around to sit up. He wiped the sweat off his face before glancing towards the brunette's back. Finally he calmed down, and noticed how dry his mouth was while swallowing. "...Why..." The blonde licked his lips, "...Why do you wake me...everytime I have a nightmare?" He took another breath and could clearly hear the crickets, hiding among the high grass, now. "...I...killed people, too." Propping his knee up, he leaned his elbow on it and his face against his hand - scarred and big enough to cover half his downtrodden visage. "I helped pillage and kill in each village I passed by. People like you. For years. I am...I am as despicable as the warriors that killed your family. And I'll just drag you down, too. So why-!"
Suddenly, Einar shot up, like a predator seeing his chance. Swiftly he snapped to him, a steel-tight grip on his tunic and a glare as dark as thunder as tears welled up in his eyes. "So, you wanna die, huh?!" He gave him a good shake and Thorfinn let it happen, "You wanna die here in the woods you chop down?! You and your - listen," His tone turned dark and Thorfinn's eyes widened, "I don't know exactly what happened to you. And I don't wanna know! I can't even imagine it!" Another rock, "But even if we are far down in our lowest point, there are - there are still some things we can be glad about to experience! Even if we just eat, work, sleep and shit all day, it's worth something! Never had anything good happen to me, my ass! When you get cleaned up all nice, even when its with a stinky, worn out rag, it's still something good! By someone...someone that cares about you! And all of that...all of that is only possible because someone let you live!"
Through gritted teeth, he swallowed his snot and fought against his tears. Images and voices of his mother and sister flashed by and Einar bit his lip to focus on the pain. He shook Thorfinn again.
"So be grateful for that at least! Do you hear me?!" He couldn't help but let a shaky sigh escape him. He didn't even have the strength to throw the blonde to the ground - he'd let that happen, too. So his grip grew softer and in defeat, Einar slumped down on his side of the barn. "Besides," He muttered, "It's not like you were the one who killed my family."
His brown eyes observed his hunched back, the way his body curled into a ball. Quiet and steady were his breaths as Thorfinn looked back to his hand. His scarred, calloused hand Einar took to get him back to the waking world, to the cold and dark night, the crisp air as crickets played their songs. It was better. Calmer than any other place he had ever been to.
"...Thank you, Einar." His voice was a mere attempt to utter his gratitude but it made Einar's heart beat faster. "Thank you for always waking me when I have a nightmare."
"...Yeah. Can't get a good night's sleep with you brailing around. Just go to sleep, Thorfinn."
"I will. I'll get up with you tomorrow."
Mighty River, Release My Soul, Out To The Open Gold...
He did wake up first.
Washed his face, stretched, got his axe. Waited for Einar to finish his chatting with Arnheid as you came around the corner.
It seemed like Pater was not angry last night nor did you get in trouble. Thorfinn couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief.
Einar noticed you as well and tried to give his best welcoming smile. "...Good morning!" The brunette noticed the crack in his voice but tried to brush off his embarassment with a wider grin. You blinked and gave a somber reply. "Oh...good morning." Your eyes immediately went to the shorter blonde, seeing him ready with the axe over his shoulder. His locks hid the shine in his gaze. He, too, greeted you. "Good morning."
The sound of your name on his tongue felt foreign. Like a hometown meal he hadn't had in ages, or learning a melody from his long-gone childhood. He saw your eyes widen as you struggled to instantly give a response. "G-Good morning, Thorfinn..."
His back was straighter, you weren't sure if he even noticed that himself, and his steps were heavy. The deep rise and fall of his chest was...relieving in a way, but before you could glance at him again, Einar sucked in a baited breath and stepped forward. "Well, we'd best get going, haha!" His laughter was too forced and so was his goofy grin, "Trees don't chop themselves! Uh, have a good, productive day, you two! See you later!" He marched away with a comedic wave towards Arnheid, and with Thorfinn in tow.
The woman chuckled before looking at you. "We're lucky to have such sweet and funny guys as our neighbors, don't we?"
The sun slowly went her way down across the sky but Thorfinn was more eager than ever to drop his axe, rope and knife to walk towards the edge of the decreasing forest. Einar rose a brow but brushed his confusion off, believing the blonde wanted to greet the master. "You're up and about, you lads, aren't you? Very good work ethics, I must say."
"Thank you, Master Ketil." Einar noted Thorfinn's quick and serious reply but kept his mouth shut. As fair as Ketil was, here on his high horse, it wasn't like Thorfinn to be so eager for conversations with him. "I do plan to turn this place into a field in about three years," Thorfinn added with an determined tone, his words cut and clear. Ketil, too, rose a brow. "Oh? Have you planned for that exact time?" The shorter man shook his head. "No. But I will get it done by then."
Look at that guy. Talking all high and mighty, confident like a carpenter as if Einar isn't doing half the work, too!
"And when it is done, Master...I'd like to ask you for a favor." The elder straightened his back and took a sharp inhale. Thorfinn making any suggestions piqued his interest - yet rather in puzzlement. "What did you have in mind, boy?"
Now, he, too, straightened his back, widened his eyes as if trying to pierce through Ketil's soul, wanting dearly for him to understand the utter necessity that bore in his words, that tore apart his heart. He had to say it and the man had to understand. Please.
"If you would so kindly allow, I'd like to work as much as I need to till this soil and grow its crops here. But instead of buying myself, I'd like to sell you the produce in order to buy their freedom back."
"What?!"
Both Einar and Ketil jumped at the boldness of his words. Thorfinn didn't blink an eye as he kept his expectant stare on the master. "Thorfinn...do you know what you're saying? Three years, at the least, all for this...one, one person? You don't mean the shy, new one?"
"I do." Thorfinn did not falter, "I want to work to buy their freedom back. To get somewhere else, far away from here. I want them to be free."
I Can't Stay Here Forever In This Hollow...
----
okay, so, this took too long-
first of all, I noticed way too late that Einar is, in fact, not a brunette;;;;his hair is rather dark reddish...oops. i'll pay more attention to that in the next
also, i read a few posts of manga-onlys/those who read the manga first that they didn't like Einar's confrontation with Thorfinn in the barn after their drama with Snake. That he's too violent, put in a bad light and I do get that - considering how incredibly kind and open-minded the guy actually is and even called Thorfinn his friend in that very chapter (in the anime it happened way later).
this is...complete bias on my part but I don't mind the scene in the anime. its scary, almost unnecessarily so in some regards considering how long the strangle goes on, like wtf - but I do like that it allowed Einar to be angry and grief in a rather negative way and realise in the midst of the action that what he is doing is wrong and that he physically does not have the guts nor want to kill someone. Imo not even giving into the thought of hurting Finny (like in the manga) shows more maturity but I don't mind both scenes. Plus, I like his speech of finding even the smallest things worthwhile and letting go of his anger in the moment to wake up Finn, cause he knows its wrong - that he isnt doing anything helpful or good, despite not liking Finn during that time at all.
ngl, I didn't get his speech at first - but pondering it about it more, Einar had already gone through a tragedy as a child with his father fighting off warriors/vikings to defend their village and not being sold off as slaves. After the huge amount of damage vikings have done (I imagine), there was prbly a lot of things to recover and rebuild again where all he, as a child, could do was work to rebuild, eat what they had, sleep as much as he could, and shit all day until their village recovered and they could enjoy their peace again - aka Einar being rather hopeful and ready to do that all over again as a slave and buy his freedom back.
How different characters in Vinland Saga reacted to Thorfinn and Canute's coming out - part 1 (s1 & s2 characters)
Ragnar: takes both on a serious talk, scares them that he will not accept their relationship, but at the end only Thorfinn left to be scared that Ragnar will kill him if Canute ever shed a tear.
Thors: wish them happiness and congratulates Thorfinn
Helga: tell Canute to call her "mom" and adopts him instantly
Ylva: "put my brother on a chain or he will disappear suddenly for years"
Einar: congratulates them and later telling Thorfinn that if Canute hurt him, he will kick his ass
Arnheid: declares that she will prepare flower decorations on their wedding if they decide to have one
Leif: "okay, so who is a woman?"
Bug-Eyes: "uuuu having a king as boyfriend gonna be so expensive. Do you want to teach you how to quickly earn money?"
Askeladd: "why you tell me obvious thing, Thorfinn?"
Bjørn: prepares mushroom soup
Thorkell: "WHEN IS WEDDING"
Wulf: declares to be bodyguard also for Thorfinn
Estrid: "i hope my brother don't force you to call him majesty"
Harald: "I will give you Denmark too, Thorfinn"
Olmar: freaks out at first, but congratulates both and declares to be still their friend
Thorgil: he didn't react, because he disappeared and Wulf looking for him
A tragic one, wrapped in a beautiful bouquet, with blood shed all over the flowers.
The flowers wilt over time. But no one cares about that. The blood over them is the only focus. Call it tainted, or honor, it's subjective.
The blood though, is the only thing seen.
A bloody bouquet of wilting flowers.
A tragedy wrapped in melancholy.
Vinland Saga has left me with no words.
The way this story is written, the way everything is shown. From the perceptions of different people
It's absolutely amazing.
The war, the warmongers, the people being made to seek war as children, the honor, the anger, the wrath, the realisation, the horror, the injustice, the bloodshed, the politics, the dead, the dead, the dead, the blood, the people, the children, the slavery, the bloodshed, the injustice. The injustice.
I'm at episode 17
Yet to complete watching it
But the story of gardar was too much for me to not write anything about it.
The story of gardar. The man, i really truly admire. And respect. A little bit.
He realised his wrongs, he killed, yes, which was also wrong. But in order to seek his freedom, he killed, he burned away everything, and he came for his wife and his child.
Blinded by the things he had lost, he had come back to them. To want the life they had in the past, he had come, all bloody, hands tainted, he had come.
The way he just never gave up, and if anyone dare put a hand or say a word to Arnheid, the way he just stood up. The way he literally just stood up.
A love that wants to protect, even if death grazes your hand.
The man, and his story, and his realisation and perception, the way it's delivered.
I have no words.
I'm in awe of how much shook I am.
I can't smile, my lips form a certain melancholy that seems to just not pass by as easily.
The feeling of having watched it lingers.
The lingering feelings are important.
They impact you.
And I'm grateful for such a piece of work that has impacted me. That has made me sit, and feel.
For people wanting war so much.
I wish they would just watch Vinland Saga.
Maybe they'll understand atleast somewhat the weight of that word they throw around so easily.
The last time I felt a show was so brilliantly written, in the sense of perception, connection and story was when I had watched Attack on Titan.
I didn't agree with the end of AOT for personal reasons, I really had wanted to know what Eren's definition of freedom was.
However, Aot was the show that made me feel like it's written absolutely brilliantly, every character and scene was thought out thoroughly. Every piece of it was brilliant. If you would re-watch it, you would still end up finding something new.
That's how I feel for this show as well.
It's written in such a profound sense.
Starting from Thors, to showing us how Thorfinn lived.
Perspective of thorfinn in anger, and agony.
Perspective of Askeladd.
Askeladd's honor and his own story.
His mind. His actions against king sweyn.
Askeladd's relation to Thorfinn, how Thorfinn perceived him.
How Thorfinn really really perceived him.
Canute, Canute talking to the decapitated head of king sweyn.
Canute poisoning his own brother who was kind to him.
The crown, the weight and the curse of such.
Thorkell and his craving for war.
Valhalla, the concept of it. The definition of living world in the nightmare Thorfinn had.
Perspective of Einar, Einar's perception of Thorfinn, Einar's friendship with Thorfinn.
The connections of slavery, discrimination.
Thorfinn and his view of the new world, Thorfinn and his repentance, his way of finally understanding his father's words.
"No one is your enemy. You have no enemies. No one has any enemies...."
And the words
A true warrior does not need a sword.
I hold them to my heart, but these words are so difficult to weild.
These words, are so difficult to weild.
Vinland Saga, is a poetry.
A tragedy wrapped in a bouquet of flowers.
The blood has dried up.
Yet, the wilting flowers will never be free of it.
The flowers, will never be free of it.
Call it honor, call it tainted.
They'll never be free of it.
The bouquet of flowers
With blood splashed on it.
Dries up.
And wilts away.
Stories that wrap your soul in melancholy, the kind that makes you sit and contemplate, Vinland Saga is quite like that.
....
I've completed watching the whole show
And all I can say is
It's so brilliantly written
I'm in awe.
I couldn't take my eyes off the whole time
Not once i felt like
I'll watch it later
The way of showing all points of view. The way it has humor and war and wisdom and every miniscule thing.
Sheesh.
Loved the show.
It's brilliant.
Special mentions
Roald, son of grim🥺🤌🤌🤌
Gardar🥺🤌🤌🤌
Thors🥺🥺🥺🤌🤌🤌🤌
Wulf because THAT WAS CRAZY LOYALTY, you eye has been gouged out and yet you persist, fuckkkk.
Leif san for keeping his vow
Pater san because 🌻
The old master of the house, swerkel san🌻
I know the show was all about not choosing war, but choosing peace. To not weild arms, but rather okay a game of chess or something to decide on decisions and not easily throw blood everywhere, but a part of me really wished Floki to meet an end. Not death but rather atleast an understanding of some sense.
Canute and the way he speaks to the decapitated head of the king sweyn, it's one of the most brilliant portrayal throughout.
Canute, choosing to save the Vikings.
That laughter at the end.
That scene. I was i n v e s t e d. Hardcore invested. Because woah dude.
There are a lot many names I wish to write.
And a lot of stuff I wish to speak of.
But for now
I'll write as much as I can remember.
But from the depth of my hearts, I wish all of the characters warmth.
And this show has my respect.
Brilliant. Brilliant show.
Thorfinn.
Einaar.
Arnheid (heartbreaking. History.)
Gardar (I know i mentioned him above, but I wanted to still mention him here, next to Arnheid)
Askeladd.
Bjorn.
Thorkell
Anne. (That scene was gruesome. And yet one of my most favourites because it was so poetic and so beautifully portrayed. The girl who steals something and then wonders if she will go to hell)
Ragnar (helicopter mom)
Helga (honestly, the last part where she just looks at Thorfinn and recognizes him, and all of that stuff. It just makes me realise that in front of moms, this vulnerability comes up, and it's just really sweet and beautiful. To cry your heart out, to lay it down bare. And to know it won't be trampled upon.)
....
Somehow, it also feels like a paradox to Aot.
One created war knowing the future. Not war, rather it was genocide.
One wanted to save the world.
Well, situations were ofcourse different.
Somehow.
But it still feels like a paradox to Aot.
The bouquet of flowers that had blood on them, someone finally saw them.
The flowers were wilting.
Someone finally saw them.
The honor or disdain of the blood needed no categorisation.
The person who saw the flowers, remarked to themselves, of how they didn't deserve to be tainted.
....
I wonder. In the end. Did he find the Vinland.
Did he make it.
Did he choose to make iceland the Vinland.
The country far away from slave traders and flames of war.
