Original subtitles

Previously on "Runes."

Hugo!

No, ah! Hugo!

The Nine Pillars,

just like in the Legend of the Nine Shards.

Then I was attacked by a stag, but I managed to escape,

and I brought this back.

Huh?

This pathetic human body is too weak for me!

Find me a body that's more powerful!

(horse whinnies) What?

(Fenrir snarling)

The beast is real?

(Hugo speaks foreign language)

(wolves snarling)

I know of your recent failure.

I can bring you a villager, ah!

I have no other choice.

(Fenrir snarling)

Excellent, I can finally complete the ritual!

What about the antler, did you discover anything?

I managed to translate some of the inscriptions,

but others I still cannot comprehend.

We've gotta go see the Grand Goblin, now!

(gentle folk music)

(energy whooshes)

(Hugo groaning)

Hugo, you okay?

I've been getting these weird feelings

since I came back from the other world.

Welcome, Hugo, welcome all!

I've been waiting for you.

Grand Goblin, we are in need of your wisdom.

Wace had a vision when he touched the deer antler.

He wanted us to show it to you.

Hm, this is incredible.

Heh. Ha!

(ominous music)

(energy whirring)

(Fenrir whines)

Easy now, Fenrir.

Try and rest, my brother.

Father took almost all of our energy.

(energy whirring)

I feel a strong concentration of energy approaching.

Huh, who could it be?

(intense music) (hooves clopping)

Huh, Sleipnir!

What is he doing here?

(Sleipnir whinnies)

(electricity crackling)

(Loki groans)

(electricity crackling)

(Sleipnir whinnies)

(electricity crackles)

(Loki laughs)

(Loki grunting)

What, your old father's spells too powerful for you,

are they, my son?

I'm going to make you regret your betrayal.

(Loki laughs)

(Sleipnir whinnies)

(electricity crackling)

Take cover!

(Hela grunting)

(thunder booms)

No!

(energy whirring)

Where did he go?

He almost succeeded in stopping the ritual.

The spell held, but how did Sleipnir know?

Your brother has a special connection with Mother Nature.

She must have felt threatened by my return.

Doesn't surprise me, she speaks to those who'll listen.

(birds chirping)

(Hela gasping)

Yeah, oh yes, I see, hmm.

These runes are written in an ancient form of Futhark.

It's an incredibly difficult language to master.

Ah, that's why only certain runes look familiar to me.

Look here, this group seems to be repeated numerous times.

Yes, yes it is, I noticed that too,

but I don't know how to interpret it.

If we work together, maybe the two of us

will be able to decipher it.

Hm, we'll have to isolate them to find their meaning.

Wace!

(Lil Goles giggling)

Oh, looks like I'm in for another long sermon.

Come closer.

You're going to help us

find the hidden message in these runes.

What?

You want me to help you decipher runes?

Yes.

Ah, are you sure you're not mistaking me

for some other goblin?

Absolutely not, I know that behind that comical facade,

you're destined to do great things.

Taking my place, notably.

(Wace gasps)

My friend Wace is the future Grand Goblin?

Ha!

Sorry, but I have no idea how to read this.

I mean, this Futhark's really primitive.

Ha, how do you know this alphabet then, Wace?

(Grand Goblin laughs)

He's always been gifted.

Not the most attentive, but gifted.

No really, I don't understand any of this,

and why would we look for a bear here, anyway?

There aren't any in Baligan.

Huh?

A bear, what do you mean, a bear?

Where is that written?

Right there.

Of course, that's what it is.

But bear, are you sure it does not mean war, or warrior?

No, not at all, it means a bear in armor.

He's right.

(Lil Goles chuckles)

The trees talk to you?

Yes, actually not just the trees, all of nature.

And it's ever since you passed through the cave wall?

Yeah, it's strange.

You know how, thanks to rune magic,

I was able to connect with the spirits of the animals?

Mm-hmm.

Well now, it's like all of nature can communicate with me.

I feel them, I understand them.

Uh, and are they saying something in particular to you?

It's more like a feeling, but long story short,

they're begging me to defeat Loki.

And also, they're saying they'll help me.

Huh.

Hey, what are you talking about?

Uh, look, you should know,

nature communicates with Hugo.

It speaks to him, and apparently, it'll help us defeat Loki.

Seriously?

Hugo, you really are something special.

Now come on, what does it say to you?

Does it talk in your right ear, or your left?

Uh, no, that's not really how it works.

Let's go over what we have.

We've got a bear in armor, a great height,

and a missing eye, and the repeating combination of runes

talks of thumps and music.

How did you manage to figure out

what Algythe and even the Grand Goblin couldn't decipher,

huh, you little sneak?

(Wace giggles)

I dunno, it's, it's like it just spoke to me.

You should be proud, young goblin.

It's not every day one goes around saving Normandy.

I'm listening.

Go ahead, tell her what you saw.

Did you see William of Normandy, where is he hiding?

Oh no, Dame Neel.

But yesterday, I went into the wilder part

of the forest, you see?

'Cause I was hoping to find willis to make baskets,

but I didn't have time.

I was attacked by a monstrous creature

with these huge fangs, almost the size of my fist, and-

The great wolf.

Well, it weren't natural, my lady.

It had to be sorcery.

With all due respect, Dame Neel,

my cousin was forced to go deeper into the forest

to pay for the new taxes.

Your ladyship- Enough!

But?

You are clearly wasting Dame Neel's time here.

Take them away.

Dame Neel, I beg of you.

(Dame Neel scoffs)

Dame Neel! No!

The announcement of the new taxes didn't work.

It has been four days, and no one has brought me

any leads on where to find William of Normandy.

Instead, I'm forced to sit through a parade of idiots.

Mother, I heard what that scared villager said.

He confirmed that there's a beast in the forest.

Give me your leave to capture it.

No, I'll have no more talk about this magical wolf.

Superstitious nonsense.

What I need is to ensure that our house

takes the place it deserves.

That is what your father wanted.

My father, my father would have done better-

Maybe you would do best to come back later, my lord.

But I'm telling you, this creature is real, Hadvar.

Mother, we must rid this land of the danger it poses.

It is our duty as overlords

to guarantee the safety of the villagers,

as they go about their business in Baligan.

Come with me, my lord.

I'm sure that Dame Neel has a lot-

I did not give you leave to go.

Very well, hunt down this wolf, if you wish.

We should be seen to be doing something, I suppose.

(Neel laughs) Is that prudent?

I hear the beast is quite savage,

if we're to believe the villagers,

and my lord is still very young.

And we will not ridicule him,

like the time you supposedly caught a giant wild boar.

No, Mother.

You'll be proud of me, I give you my word.

And this is how the Nine Pillars work.

Help me place the stones.

(gentle music)

(Alice grunting)

You need to tell us more

about what you saw behind the cave wall.

Yes, every detail counts.

Maybe then we'll understand

where your sudden connection to nature came from.

(Hugo sighs)

The other world was familiar, but different.

It was spooky at first, but then I saw Yggdrasil,

and I calmed down.

There were nine pillars, like in the legend,

and sound like the beating of drums,

and I saw Loki with his dragon eyes.

And the drawings on the pillars?

A shooting star, a wolf, a horse,

a bear, two crows, a dragon, a bow,

a stone without any inscriptions,

and on the central pillar, there was a sword.

I was looking at it when a stag

came out of nowhere and attacked me.

Huh?

(plucky music)

There.

Um. Hello!

Huh?

What is that supposed to be?

A bear.

We drew what Hugo said he saw

in the other world on the nine pillars.

Hey, come and see!

Quickly, quickly!

Stay on your guard!

What's going on?

Well, the area's now under surveillance.

Only the comings and goings

authorized by Dame Neel are permitted.

This'll be because of the famous

William of Normandy, I suppose.

Guess she's desperate to find him.

Well, she's persistent.

Hm, this is not just a coincidence.

I see, yes, okay.

Are there any others that are the same

as the ones on the antler?

This one could be the deer, right?

Of course, and look, it's the two crows.

Oh yes, yes, that's right, I should have-

Listen, I know a place in the forest

where there's a drawing of a bear on a stone column.

Really, where?

Deep in the forest.

We should go and take a look.

Yes, go with Lil Goles.

It might remind you of something you saw

or heard in the other world.

Okay.

Alice, Turstin, you coming too?

You bet. I wouldn't miss it.

Go on, little buddy.

Be quick, and be careful.

Loki's children might be lurking about.

Don't worry.

(Wace giggles)

The first time I saw the stone,

I was trying to get away from some guards

who were chasing me.

I thought I'd finally succeeded in losing them

when I found myself in a part of the forest

I'd never been in before,

and those guards almost caught me that time,

but it was my lucky day,

because it was also the first time I met Wace!

Between the two of us, we had them going around in circles.

(Lil Goles laughs)

Since then, the two of us have never been apart.

Look, are you gonna tell me what's on your mind,

or do I have to beg you like when you were six?

(Alice giggles)

No, it's, it's just that sometimes,

I feel a bit useless, that's all.

Huh, but why?

Well, you know, Hugo can do rune magic.

He communicates with nature.

Yeah?

And you, you'll soon be the best blacksmith in the region.

And Lil Goles knows all the trails

in the forest, inside out.

Then there's Wace,

who's destined to be the next Grand Goblin.

Lil Goles told me.

Wait, I don't understand what you-

It's just that I'm not exceptional.

I feel like I'm no use to anyone in this adventure.

What are you talking about?

You're-

And don't tell me that I know how to work a farm,

that's not true.

No, that isn't what I was going to say.

You're the best of all of us, at least that's what I think.

Stop it, I'm being serious.

(Turstin grumbles)

Huh?

Alice, you are the one everyone turns to

when they need a solution.

You're always there to lend a hand,

and get us out of trouble.

Without you, we wouldn't be here today.

I don't know what's going to happen

in the next few days, or hours,

but without your ability to bring us all together,

and unite us, we'll never be able to beat Loki.

Now come on, stop dawdling, would ya?

(Alice giggles)

(rooster crows)

(gentle music)

Okay, that's it, I'm going to look for them.

What about Dame Neel's guards?

You know very well they're watching the trails.

Do you want to lead them to Hugo?

Then I'll only take the back trails.

Understood, but we're coming with you, right Hilda?

Yes, we're going to see the troll!

(Cecile sighs)

(guard yawns) (birds chirping)

(suspenseful music)

All right, come on.

Ah!

(Lil Goles laughs)

What?

A bear!

There's also a moon, and stars.

Is this what we were looking for?

Um. I think so.

But the bear in this drawing doesn't have any armor.

What do you mean?

Well, according to Wace,

the deer's antler mentions something about a bear in armor.

A bear in, oh!

How does that song Hilda's always singing go again?

"On each shoulder of the armored bear-"

"Whose left eye one had to take."

The antler also mentions a missing eye!

Yes, and the opening lines of the song are, uh.

Oh, I know, I know!

So, the beginning is, uh,

"From two crows was whispered something rare.

Do you hear the drum beat in the air?

On each shoulder of the armored bear,

whose left eye one had to take

in the land of the frozen lakes."

And after that, the rest I don't remember.

But I know at the end it goes,

"In the darkest void the language of the gods I'll spy."

Hm, this can't be a coincidence.

Hugo, come see this!

(Hugo gasps)

(eerie music)

(leaves rustling)

Whoa, "It is from the moon it arises, called by the hand.

Perish or conquer, uncertain is your fate.

But whoever wants the stone

without the language of the gods

will have to decide my end."

It said the language of the gods, like in the song!

Do you understand what it means?

Um. (all sigh)

Well, it makes me think of night,

because it mentions the moon.

That makes sense.

We don't have much time until Loki turns back into a dragon.

Guess we'll just wait until the sun sets,

then we'll see what happens.

(gentle music)

If we're staying for a few hours,

I'll go get us something to eat.

Uh.

(birds chirping)

(flames crackling)

Osbern, it's us.

Ah, everything all right?

Where are Alice and Hugo?

Some truly incredible things have happened here.

The children are fine, Cecile, they're with Algythe.

They promised to be back soon.

Look at all the drawings on the walls, Mommy.

(ethereal music)

So this is where they spend all their time.

With all those guards around, we've got no choice.

We'll have to wait for them here.

(Algythe gasps)

The group of runes

that repeats a number of times is a refrain!

Oh, what we have here is some runic poetry,

otherwise known as a prophecy! A prophecy!

By Great Odin's beard, I think you're right.

Do you think Hugo will be back soon?

Hm, I don't doubt it for a moment,

but they had better hurry up.

Indeed, time is of the essence.

(Wace groans)

After I'm gone, you will have to make a lot of decisions.

Oh no, no, no, don't talk like that,

you're all better now.

And you'll be with us for many more years.

Come, let's go get you

some of that fermented juice you like.

Oh, Wace.

He will have to face many challenges.

(owl hooting)

It's really good, Lil Goles.

Ah, thanks.

Never gives you any gas, or almost never.

All right, thanks for pointing that out.

(leaves rustling) (coyotes yipping)

(birds chirping)

It's time.

Let's go to the stone.

(suspenseful music)

(twigs snapping) (all gasping)

Nothing.

Maybe we should read the inscription again.

You're right.

(eerie music)

(chimes tinkling)

Huh, Turstin, over there, look!

(all gasping)

It is from the moon it arises,

called by the hand.

(thunder rumbles) (all gasp)

(twigs snapping)

(Lil Goles gasps)

(bear panting)

(all whimpering)

(bear roars)

(dramatic music)

(all whimpering)

(bear roars)

Let's split up!

(Turstin groaning)

(bear growls)

(Hugo panting)

We need reinforcements. (bird chirping)

Huh?

(birds chirping)

(Hugo speaks foreign language)

(wolves snarling)

(bear roaring)

Run!

(all gasping)

(bear roars)

(intense music)

(bear roars)

Get out of the way!

Whoa, thanks Alice.

Boy, that sure was a close one.

(Turstin screams)

Turstin!

(Turstin panting)

(bear roaring) (Turstin screaming)

Over here, you filthy beast!

(bear growling)

Alice!

(Alice gasping)

(bear roars)

(Alice yelps)

(Hugo grunts)

(electricity crackles) (dramatic music)

(Hugo groaning)

(both panting)

Huh, wha?

Are you okay?

Where did the giant bear go?

I have no idea, he was right there,

and then all of a sudden, this.

Huh? Huh?

This stone must have something to do

with the language of the gods, and the song.

We don't have much time, let's go and show it to Algythe.

Come on.

(ominous music)

(chimes tinkling)

(somber music)