Aurvandil

*"Should I fall by an enemy sword, you must avenge me or forever live in shame."*
―Aurvandil to Amleth[src]
King **Aurvandil** War Raven is the king of the Scottish kingdom of Hrafnsey.

## Biography

### Background

*"His affections were only for silver and rutting his whores. I know not if he had a heart enough to love you."
"Silence!"
"He was a coward feigning to be a king. He was a nothing! Just another proud, lust-stained slaver!"*
―Gudrún and Amleth[src]
Aurvandil is the son of a king of Hrafnsey and has a bastard brother named Fjölnir. He rapes a slave named Gudrún and is forced to marry her when she gives birth to a son. He endures Gudrún, believing her unfit to be his wife, but loves his son, whom he names Amleth.

### Conquest and Return

*"Like a battle-dog returning to his master, I've come back to be fettered by my queen's fair locks."
"Ever are we bound, my lord."
"Prince Amleth, you have grown too old to be greeted as a child."
"Hail, lord king."
"But a father never grows too old for a good smothering ... How I've missed you my son."*
―Aurvandil, Gudrún and Amleth[src]

In 895 AD, Aurvandil and Fjölnir set out on a season-long conquest. They plunder a lot of riches and slaves, including an amulet that he takes from a prince to give as a gift to Amleth. However, he suffers a wound that almost proves fatal.

Upon returning to Hrafnsey, Aurvandil is hailed by his subjects as he rides through the gate and climbs towards the keep. He orders Fjölnir to deliver the slaves before joining the feast.

Aurvandil rides into the throne room, where Gudrún and Amleth await him. He dismounts and approaches Gudrún, telling her that like a battle dog returning to its master, he has come to be fettered by his queen's fair locks. She replies that they are bound together and kisses his hand. Aurvandil addresses Amleth and Gudrún pushes the prince towards him. He states that Amleth has grown too old to be greeted as a child and Amleth greets him as his lord and king. Aurvandil declares that a father never grows too old for a good smothering and gathers the giggling Amleth up in his arms. He tells Amleth that she has missed him and they make their way to their seats. Gudrún asks him if Fjölnir will grace them with his presence and he replies that he will be with them soon.

As they dine, Aurvandil fills his plate with difficulty. Gudrún offers to help him and asks him what he wrong, to which he replies that it is nothing. Aurvandil then stands and orders Heimir the Fool to stop his crude antics, stating that they have seen more of him than even his own mother wished to see, earning a laugh from his subjects. He then addresses those present, declaring that he and his men have returned with prosperous hands from wild, untamed lands. He begins telling of their fearsome blood battles against savage men and dragons foul, but decides that it is a tale better fit for a poet. He then announces that they have made merry that night, but that after war silver is the only thing finer that good cheer as the slaves carry in the plunder.

Aurvandil gifts Amleth the amulet and tells him to wear it always with his love. Fjölnir enters the hall, hailing Aurvandil. Gudrún offers her cup to him and Heimir makes a crude remark about her cup growing wet for more men than her king. Fjölnir angrily orders him to be silent, accusing him of slandering his lord and mistress. Aurvandil calms his brother, declaring it a jest. He states that Heimir keeps a foul tongue, but he keeps him as a deep-sworn friend. He tells Fjölnir that his infant son Thórir is more in need of his protection than himself. Fjölnir holds up his son and toasts Aurvandil, while Amleth toasts the kingdom of Hrafnsey.

Later that evening, Aurvandil approaches Gudrún as she weaves fine threads. He informs her that the enemy has had a taste of his liver. She asks if he is hurt and he tells her that he is almost wounded enough for Amleth to be named his successor. She dismisses the servants as Aurvandil tells her that Amleth must be prepared for what awaits him. Gudrún rejects the idea, stating that Amleth is still a puppy. Aurvandil points out that he is the same age that his grandfather was when he took the throne, to which Gudrún replies that he had to kill uncle first. She attempts to seduce him, but he refuses, stating that he will defeat the wound and die by the sword, refusing to let sickness or old age claim his life. She assures him that he will die in battle and the gates of Valhöll await him.

### Sacred Vows

*"This is the same path I walked with my father, and he with his. Now it is our path to walk."*
―Aurvandil to Amleth[src]

Later that night, Aurvandil takes Amleth to a nearby temple, telling that it is the same path that he walked with his father, and he with his. As they enter the temple, Aurvandil takes a gold arm ring and dips it in a bowl of blood. At the back of the temple, the Hofgythja opens a door for them and they discard their clothing and climb down a ladder. At the bottom, Aurvandil urges Amleth not to be afraid and to do as he does. Aurvandil begins growling and crawling on all fours like a dog, with Amleth following suit as they enter the chamber.

Within the chamber, Heimir fulfils his duties as a high priest of the cult of Loki. He asks them who barks; the wolves of the High One or the village dogs? He places bowls before them and orders them to drink the Vision Mead of Knowledge. He tells them that it will teach them what it means to live and die and honor, be slain in battle and in death by rewarded by the embrace of the Valkyrja, who will carry them to the shimmering gates of Valhöll. He kneels before Aurvandil and tells him to prove he is not a dog. Aurvandil belches in his face and Heimir then urges Amleth to prove himself, to which Amleth farts. Aurvandail commends his son as a clever pupil.

As the Vision Mead kicks in, Heimir tells Amleth that each man must be wise in measure, yet wise enough to be the fool. Aurvandil asks him how Ódinn lost his eye and Amleth replies that it was to learn the secret magic of women. He urges Amleth never to seek the secrets of women, but to heed them always. He then tells him to live in honor, safeguard his familial blood and avenge him if she falls by an enemy's sword or forever live in shame. Amleth vows to do so, declaring that his blade will not rest until it has drank the blood from his enemy's open neck. Heimir tells Amleth to live always without fear, for his fate is set and he cannot escape it. Amleth swears to uphold his vows.

Aurvandil unwraps the bandages covering his stomach, exposing a deep and bloody wound. Amleth sheds a single teardrop and Heimir takes it, telling him that it is the last tear he will shed in weakness and will be given back to him when he needs it most. Aurvandil then orders Amleth to approach him and behold the Tree of Kings in their blood. He takes the distressed Amleth's hand and presses it against the wound, creating a vision in which Amleth sees the skeletons of his ancestors, all the way through to Aurvandil and ending with himself.

### Death

*"Strike, brother, strike. But know that bearing a stolen ring makes no half-breed a king. Soaked in my blood, it will soon be sliding off your arm like a serpent. Your kingdom will not last. Let this misdeed haunt all your living nights till a flaming vengeance gorges on your death. Strike. Strike! To Valhöll!"*
―Aurvandil's last words[src]

The next morning, Amleth and Aurvandil leave the temple. The prince attempts to catch snowflakes on his tongue when Aurvandil suddenly is shot by an arrow. Aurvandil draws his sword, but drops it as more arrows strike him. Aurvandil reclaims his sword and Amleth attempts to defend him as horsemen surround them, but Aurvandil tells him to run. As Amleth flees, Aurvandil swings at his attackers, calling them mongrels and urging them to come for their carcass. He cries out in pain as they stab him and bring him to his knees.

Their leader dismounts and approaches Aurvandil. He removes his helmet, revealing himself to be Fjölnir. Aurvandil looks up at his brother in shock and Fjölnir states that he knew he would, declaring it a pity that he never paid a bastard's eyes heed. Fjölnir tells Aurvandil to behold how swiftly his brother swings his sword. Aurvandil urges him to strike, but warns him that bearing a stolen ring makes no half-breed a king and that his kingdom will not last. He expresses hope that Fjölnir's murder of him will haunt him for the rest of his days until a flaming vengeance gorges upon his death. He shouts at his brother to strike and declares that Valhöll awaits him. Fjölnir decapitates Aurvandil with three swings of his sword.

### Post-Mortem

*"I am Amleth the Bear-Wolf, son of King Aurvandil War-Raven, and I am his vengeance!"*
―Amleth[src]

Amleth escapes from Hrafnsey and swears to avenge Aurvandil, save Gudrún and kill Fjölnir. He joins the Berserkers and grows into a battle-hardened warrior. Fjölnir takes Gudrún as his wife and becomes the new king of Hrafnsey. Aurvandil's final warning is proven true, as Fjölnir is later overthrown by King Haraldr of Norway. He flees to Iceland with Gudrún and Thórir, where they set up a farm at Freysdalur and welcome a new son, Gunnar. Amleth later returns to Iceland and attempts to rescue Gudrún, only for her to reveal the truth of his birth and her marriage to Aurvandil. Consumed by rage, Amleth kills Thórir, Gudrún and Gunnar. He finally kills Fjölnir at the peak of Mount Hekla, but dies himself in the process. However, having impregnated Olga of the Birch Forest, Amleth ensures that while Fjölnir's bloodline has been wiped out, Aurvandil's will live on through his grandchildren.

## Personality

*"This was worn round a prince's neck when I found it. But it was destined for this prince. Wear it always, with my love."
"Thank you, father ... my King."*
―Aurvandil and Amleth[src]
As a viking, Aurvandil takes pride in his way of life, raiding and plundering to acquire slaves and riches. His rape and impregnation of the slave Gudrún forces him to marry her, though he endures her as he sees her as unfit to be his bride. Despite this, as well as Gudrún's claim that he only loved silver and rutting his whores, Aurvandil adores his son Amleth and is confident that he will make a fine successor to him. During his final moments, he faces death with dignity and uses his remaining energy to curse his traitorous brother Fjölnir.

## Religion

*"Tell me, how did Ódinn lose his eye?"
"To learn the secret magic of women."
"Never seek the secrets of women – but heed them always."*
―Aurvandil and Amleth[src]
Aurvandil is a devout worshipper of Ódinn the All-Father, passing this worship on to his son Amleth.

## Trivia

* In Saxo Grammaticus' legend, Amleth's father is named Horwendil. He marries Gurutha, the daughter of Rørik Slyngebond, the king of Denmark, after an expedition in which he kills Koll, the king of Norway. He is murdered by his brother Feng out of jealousy, after which Feng takes Horwendil's widow Gurutha to wife and falsely claims that Horwendil was abusive to justify the murder. He is the basis for King Hamlet from William Shakespeare's *Hamlet*.

## Behind the Scenes

* Martin White was a stunt double for Ethan Hawke in the role of Aurvandil.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Eggers, Robert; Sjón, *The Northman*, Focus Features, USA, April 22, 2022
2. ↑ Eggers, Robert; Sjón, *The Northman* Deleted Scene: "Yule Mummer Dance and Aurvandil's Speech", Focus Features, USA, April 22, 2022