Lagertha
She knew it was over the day Bjorn told her of Ragnar's deceit. It had been coming a long time. She was now rendered useless, her body failing her. Her desire and all her efforts to hold on to her husband were to no avail. She had tried ignoring it at first—choosing to believe him when he said it was over, that it had only happened once, that he didn't love the woman, and that it wouldn't happen again. But the illusion was shattered when she walked through the door. The evidence was there, and Lagertha could no longer stay in denial.
She was stunned into silence as her husband told her that such arrangements were done all over the country, and that he wanted two wives. She was humiliated.
While she had given her all to him-her heart, her body, even her soul- he had not done the same. She could feel the losses acutely. Her daughter. Her husband, and now her home and her future slipping away. It was then she knew she could no longer stay here—to pretend there was love when there was none. She had to leave, start over elsewhere. Love was a deceit of the gods. Her only comfort now was her son who chose his mother over his father. This was the end of their love.
It had been real...once.
Ragnar
He loved his wife. No. He loves his wife. And as she rides away into the distance, with their son, he can only stare behind them. His eyes swell with tears, and he feels as if his heart will beat until its death.
How could he have thought she would stay? Losing her had never been part of the plan.
The colors are swimming as he walks slowly back to his horse, each step heavier than the last. Until his legs give out and he falls to the Earth. His anguished wail and heavy sobs carrying far on the wind.
It is good to get this over with now. He is grateful there is no one around to hear him cry.
