Plot

Olaf makes a pact with Kåre as Kattegat prepares for its defense. In Canute's absence, his father, Sweyn Forkbeard, shares England's throne with Edmund.

Kåre sends the corpses of the priests of Uppsala to Kattegat as a warning. Leif, Freydís and Harald head to Uppsala and witness the aftermath of Kåre's massacre with the survivors claiming that Kåre's God ordered him to destroy all pagans. Olaf meets with Kåre and forges an alliance to take Kattegat in an effort to unite Norway. Harald learns of this, and his forces help Haakon prepare for Olaf and Kåre's arrival. In London, Edmund discovers that Canute has left England to fight the Wends in Denmark, but not before marrying Emma in secret. Canute's father, King Sweyn Forkbeard, arrives to rule in his place with Forkbeard's granddaughter Gytha serving as Emma's lady-in-waiting. Edmund and Forkbeard are confronted by Sigeferth, the ealdorman of Wessex, who is later killed by Forkbeard after insulting him, and Godwin is made the first earl of Wessex. Angered by Forkbeard's presence, Edmund attempts to form a resistance, but Godwin betrays him by setting a trap and stabs him in the heart, leaving Canute as the sole King of England. Ælfgifu arrives in London, bringing with her Canute's fleet, and threatens Forkbeard that she will order it to aid Olaf and his conquest.

Harald and Freydis declare their love for one another.

Kare sends the corpses of the priests of Uppsala to Kattegat as a warning. The only survivor on the macabre ship is the healer's infant who has been baptized.

Leif, Freydis, and Harald head to Uppsala and witness the aftermath of Kare's massacre with the survivors claiming that Kare's God ordered him to destroy Kattegat and kill Freydis. The temple of Uppsala was burned to the ground and the entire Holy ground desecrated. Harald realizes that Kare is cleansing the land and removing all signs of their Pagan past. Leif and Liv are sent to track Kare and find that he is not headed to Kattegat.

Olaf meets with Kare, and they forge an alliance to take Kattegat in an effort to unite Norway. Kattegat is the real seat of Norway's power. Kare demands that a great church be built in Kattegat after the conquest is over. Kare claims that he is the cross that carries the sword and not the heathen named Freydis. Kare has a unknown person in his captivity that he keeps in a cage. Harald learns of this from Leif, and his forces help Haakon prepare for Olaf and Kare's arrival.

Arne approaches Leif and says that he wants to defend Kattegat, but cannot fight alongside Lief, who killed his father. Leif says that he was within his rights to defend himself and encourages Arne to not rely on the tainted reputation of his father Gorm. In the dead of night, with an invasion looming at Kattegat, Harald leaves the city to meet Olaf.

In London, Edmund discovers that Canute has left England to fight the Wends in Denmark, but not before marrying Emma in secret. Canute's father, King Sweyn Forkbeard (Soren Pilmark), arrives to rule in his place with Forkbeard's granddaughter Princess Gytha (Henessi Schmidt) serving as Emma's lady-in-waiting. Forkbeard is not patient and fair like Canute and warns Edmund to realize his place in court.

Forkbeard admits to Emma that Canute is ambitious to forge a Northern Empire, uniting England, Denmark, Norway, Greenland and Iceland, but he believes that he is extending himself far too thin. Emma offers to manage England for Canute.

Edmund and Forkbeard are confronted by Sigeferth, the Ealdorman of Wessex. Sigeferth demanded exemption from taxes based on a promise made by Aethelred for saving Sigeferth's father in battle against the Vikings at York. Forkbeard dismisses him, but then Sigeferth makes the same appeal to Edmund in front of Forkbeard. Edmund refuses to help as Wessex army was not supporting London at the time of the Viking invasion.

Sigeferth is later killed by Forkbeard after insulting him, and Godwin is made the first earl of Wessex. Angered by Forkbeard's presence, Edmund attempts to form a resistance. Edmund meets the nobles and says that Canute has married Emma. So, if Canute dies, the throne returns to England and if Edmund dies, Canute and his kids will have future reign over England for generations to come. The nobles promise to support Edmund.

Godwin betrays Edmund by setting a trap on their way back from the meeting and stabs him in the heart, leaving Canute as the sole King of England. The nobles declare Edmund's death as an accident, but Emma visits Edmund's body and finds sign of murder. Emma confronts Godwin in front of Forkbeard and accuses him of murdering Edmund as he was the first to reach Edmund, who was still alive. Emma found a tiny cut below Edmund's left breast that pierced his heart and filled his body with blood.

Aelfgifu arrives in London, bringing with her Canute's fleet, and threatens Forkbeard that she will order it to aid Olaf and his conquest of Norway and the invasion of Kattegat. Aelfgifu demands that she be made the Queen of England. Aelfgifu has hidden the fleet somewhere in England and says that they will sail for Kattegat unless they hear fresh orders from her. Emma promises to help Forkbeard if he allows her to.

Godwin approaches Aelfgifu and offers to help her against Emma.