Original subtitles

I knew I should have made that rogue of a trader prove

they were songbirds before we left the port.

Didn�t that Greek tell you they were bred by a Delphic priestess

near the temple of Aphrodite?

Perhaps they only sing for women.

Perhaps I should have bought a woman with them.

Heeelp!

Help! Help me!

Whoever they were,

thank your god they were more interested

in what you�ve carried than your lives.

We lost a man.

Goraidh.

Died in a fall from his horse.

That arm best stay tied for a day or two.

So... you leave the village to do trade in Cornwall,

and return empty-handed.

Almost the whole winter�s work.

Pots, skins, jewellery.

And what to show for it? Nothing!

We�re lucky we have our lives.

But not your horses.

In Saxon hands they�ll be eaten by now.

How do you know he was a Saxon?

Your battle-horses are being whittled down.

Two destroyed with a fever. One last week with a broken leg.

And now, four more gone.

We should have bred them. As the Romans did.

But how do you stop to breed, when every day you need those horses for battle?

We�ll have to cross to Gaul for new stock.

There�s a man to the north who breeds strong horses.

Yorath...

Traitor! Peddler of flesh!

Yours was the promise, not mine!

Yes, but you agreed!

You go!

Just because you sired me,

I will not be treated like one of your dumb mares!

Make yourself ready!

I�m not leaving!

What d�you want?

I come in peace. � Ah.

Then you are welcome.

But for a purpose.

I need horses.

Your journey has been wasted.

I need them.

For the protection of my people, and yours.

You�re well-placed here.

But the Saxons trouble you, too. � Ah!

When the Saxons come,

they find more trouble than they need.

For now, yes.

But if they break through my lines, they�ll be on you like a winter flood.

I�ll give you no horses.

Come with me.

Yeah! You see the spirit of that mare?

And it�s only half-tamed.

Daughters are not brought to heel so easily, eh?

I�ve no experience to judge.

You will have.

Not as a father. As an escort.

Escort?

That is the price of your horses.

Do you know a chieftain called Hecla?

By name, yes.

He rules a small kingdom to the south.

Two years ago we made a treaty with him.

Part of that bargain was that Hecla...

would have my daughter as a wife when she came of age.

So you see, I have to give her away.

You will escort her to Hecla�s encampment.

Yes, but... � Hey, Arthur, look!

If you want my horses, you must take my place. Understood?

It does you no good. � What?

Not to move your face muscles.

The face will set forever in that scowl.

Did you not consent to this marriage to Hecla?

Only to give my father his treaty.

I thought the arrangement would be forgotten.

You�ll have a much easier life.

You�ll be taken care of. � By Hecla?

I detest him.

I need no man to take care of me.

I don�t doubt it.

From what people say,

Hecla doesn�t sound such a bad prospect for a husband.

A good strong warrior.

And handsome! � Some may find him so.

To me he is oily, cunning, and treacherous.

The crossing is easy.

You have your horses.

That�s all that matters to you.

I struck a bargain with your father.

And I simply took to the hills.

This way, together.

What�s this for? Safe-keeping?

This would buy... twice as many horses.

You need gold to pay for your wars, don�t you?

If it isn�t enough, have this, too.

Now, I go.

Be ready to move on.

Whoa. Whoa, boy.

That�s a woman�s work.

Undo these bonds and let me help.

If you knew Hecla, you could not wish any woman on him!

When I last met him, I thought he was a coward.

Perhaps he was made timid by your presence.

Aren�t you going to untie me now?

Bite.

Hey! Hey!

Hey! Hey!

The horses! The horses!

Whoa!

Hah!

Rowena?

Rowena?

What will they do to us?

Kill us.

The wonder is, they haven�t slain us already.

It isn�t like them to keep their axes clean with Celtic blood about.

Or Jutish blood.

She�s as good as hit him.

Horses. Eight of them.

Seven of them are strung together, beasts of burden.

Something valuable, was it?

Something heavy you had to collect. What was it?

Arms?

I�ll tell you!

We were on our way... to collect a store of... silver.

Ooh-ooh! Silver!

Monastery silver!

When your people took the nearby land,

it was buried in an earth barrow not far from here.

Where?

I will show you. If you can ride.

But you will not kill me. � No.

Watch him!

Yaaar!

I have my freedom now.

Freedom?

I saved your life.

Because of your stupidity you nearly cost me my life!

Eh! Huh! You pig! You... eh... you... you...

I gave my word to your father,

that I would take you to Hecla.

Of all the vilest creatures! Eh! Ow!

And I�m a man of my word.

I should have let them kill you!

I wish they�d killed us both!

There now, look at that!

Isn�t that a fine woman, eh?

What do you think of that, eh?

Good, eh?

Just let me show you off!

There we are!

There now, look at that! � Right!

How would you like a slice of that, eh?

She�s got more meat than your last one!

I like it! I like it!

Oh, she is shy!

No, here.

Well, this is a great day!

I�m indebted to you, Arthur.

You�ve done me a real service.

It was a pleasure to accompany such a sweet-tempered lady.

I was beginning to wonder whether I�d ever see my bride again.

And here she is...

looking even more beautiful than on the day we were betrothed.

Ah. I thank you.

A mountain butterfly, flown down from the peak.

A butterfly with subservience shining in its eye, no?

No. Never mind. It will be.

Now! I give you... Rowena!

Well... at last we meet, Arthur.

I welcome it. There�s... much to discuss.

It�s a pity you won�t be here for our wedding, the day after tomorrow.

So soon?

Well, there�s no sense in delaying matters.

I�ve wasted two years already!

Zack. Zack. Zack! How many boars do we have?

You see what I mean? He�s a repulsive lout.

Proclaims his love of you and shows himself the perfect host.

Take me away! Tonight!

I cannot.

Please! Arthur!

And make an enemy of Hecla for a spitting cat?

That�s all you care about!

You want him to fight for you!

My happiness is of no concern!

Believe me, I wish you well.

Then help me to escape from here. Tonight!

I fulfilled my obligation to your father.

Now you must keep your promise to Hecla.

Useless! Heh!

Meant to be songbirds!

May as well set them free.

As they have just freed the mountain butterfly.

Butterfly?

Given her back her wings.

Are you ready?

Priest is waiting.

Get out.

Nervous? Oh, you mustn�t be nervous of me.

Come.

As soon as the priest has concluded the ceremony, w...

Wait.

It seems as if we shall not be needing a priest after all.

You did more than steal my goods, Hecla.

In your ambush one of my men was killed.

You still have need of a priest.