Olga

*"I am Olga of the Birch Forest, and I too, vow to escape this island."
"Then you must face many foes."
"As do you. Would you face them alone?"
"Your strength breaks mens' bones. I have the cunning to break their minds."*
―Olga and Amleth[src]
**Olga** of the Birch Forest is a Slavic maiden with a knowledge of herbs.

### Raided by Berserkers

Olga is living in a village in Garðaríki, which is raided by Berserkers early one morning. She attempts to fight them off by throwing water on them, but is quickly subdued. Once Bersekers conquer the village, she approaches one of them and kneels, offering him a loaf of bread. She then pulls a dagger and slashes him, but is grabbed by one of his comrades and dragged away.<ref name="Northman">

### Slavery

*"Your sheep's clothing doesn't disguise you, Northman."
"What say you, spell-speaker?"
"You wish to be a slave, hide your cunning. Show the shepherd you are a sheep."
"I'll show the shepherd his death."*
―Olga and Amleth[src]

The next morning, Olga is marked as a slave by the Berserkers. They decide to send her to Fjölnir's post in Iceland and place her on a knörr bound for the country. Onboard the ship, she comforts another woman who is in tears. She takes notice of another occupant of the ship, Amleth, and deduces that he is a Northman posing as a slave. She advises him to hide his cunning and show the shepherd he is a sheep. Amleth replies that he will show the shepherd his death. One night, the ship is struck by a storm and Olga is almost thrown overboard. Amleth urges her to take his hand and he pulls her to safety. Once the storm passes, the sleep huddled together.<ref name="Northman">

### Arrival in Iceland

*"Why would you stow away to such a hellish place? This ground harbours evil."
"My Fate has brought me here, to find what was stolen from me."
"And what is that?"
"A mother, a father, a kingdom."
"This is your kingdom?"
"The traitor who stole my kingdom fled here when another king took it from him. I will leave when I'm done with him."*
―Olga and Amleth[src]

Once they reach Iceland, Olga, Amleth and the other slaves are forced to wade through the water to the shore. Upon reaching the shore, they are picked up by Hallgrímr Half-Troll and Finnr the Nose-Stub, who place them in shackles. As they cross the desolate landscape, Olga asks Amleth why he would stow away to such a hellish place, telling him that the ground harbors evil. He replies that his fate has brought him there to find what was stolen from him. She asks what that is and he states that they are a mother, a father and a kingdom. She wonder why he would want such a kingdom and he tells her that the traitor who stole his kingdom fled there when another king took it from him, and that he will leave when he is done with him. Olga introduces herself to Amleth and vows to escape the island. Acknowledging that they must face many foes, she proposes an alliance between them, affirming that while his strength breaks men's bones, she has the cunning to break their minds.

They reach Freysdalur and are brought before Fjölnir, who concludes that they will not last the winter and orders for them all to be sold. Amleth knocks the slave next to him to the ground and growls like a beast, which convinces Fjölnir to keep him. Fjölnir decides to sell the rest before his young son Gunnar points out that some additional slaves are needed. Fjölnir chooses several more slaves including Olga, ordering that her arms be kept white and her hair be kept long. Olga watches as Amleth is led away by Hallgrímr.<ref name="Northman">

### Servitude

*"Did you find it?"
"Huh?"
"What you lost. In the house today. Was it there?"
"That and more..."
"It is a nightmare."
"Then you must wake up."
"It's their nightmare..."
"If you lose me, will you come and look for me, too?"*
―Olga and Amleth[src]

The next day, Olga is working in the longhouse when she sees Amleth. She approaches him later and asks if he found what he lost in the longhouse. He replies that he found it and more, stating that it is a nightmare. She tells him that he must wake up and he clarifies that it is a nightmare for Fjölnir and his family. They are then interrupted by Hallgrímr and Finnr, who tell her to come with them as Fjölnir wants her close. She asks Amleth if he will come and look for her if he loses her, but he does not answer before the men drag her away.

Later that night as dawn approaches, Olga sleeps in the bire and is woken by the housekeeper, Halldóra the Pict. She finds Fjölnir standing there and he takes hold of her hair, stating that she has the hair of a Valkyrja, despite being a savage Slav bitch. She pulls free of him and lifts up her shift, exposing her menstrual blood. She advances on her and she rubs it on her hand before striking him in the face with it. He calls her an unclean whore and pushes her away before warning Halldóra that if she does not teach Olga her place, he will kill them both.<ref name="Northman">

### The Chieftain's Feast

*"What do you do?"
"Here, where the threads of Fate have bound us together, embraced beneath the trees. Here, I speak with the earth."
"What does she tell you?"
"How to reach your mother. My Earth magic will stoke the flames of your sword."
"Tomorrow night you and I will begin this nightmare and bring Fjölnir's life to chaos."*
―Amleth and Olga[src]

The next morning, Olga meets with Amleth and tells him that they will be taken to the Chieftain's Feast later that day. He tells her that he saw Fjölnir with her the previous night, commending her for marking him well. Amleth informs her that he has found the weapon that he will use to kill Fjölnir. Olga asks him when he will do it and he tells her that he will do it when he must and will haunt the farm in the meantime. She asks what he plans to do about his mother, Gudrún, and Amleth replies that she only feigns love for Fjölnir to protect Gunnar and that when he frees her, he will bring the boy if he must. Olga informs him that she has been moved back into the kitchen, but he tells her that their plan must wait as they are interrupted by a foreman.

Olga is present at the feast, where five of Fjölnir's slave engage five of Hákon Iron-Beard's slaves in a game of knattleikr. Eventually, only Amleth and Thórfinnr Tooth-Gnasher, a very large, strong and brutish man, remain. As they attack each other, Gunnar runs out onto the field and takes the ball, causing everyone to panic. Thórfinnr attacks Gunnar and is about to kill him when Amleth tackles him to the ground and headbutts him to death. To everyone's relief, Gunnar regains consciousness.

Later that night, the slaves have a rare moment of revelry as they dance around a bonfire. Olga dances with another woman as Melkorka and Eysteinn perform a song, its ribald lyrics driving the slaves into an erotic frenzy. An orgy commences and Olga locates Amleth, telling him that he has found her. He asks if she was lost and she replies that she was only lost if she was searching for her. They make love in a secluded clearing and afterwards she prays to Mother Soil to show her how do destroy her enslavers and free Amleth from his fire and sorrow. Amleth asks her what the earth has told her and Olga replies that she has been told how to reach Gudrún. She hands him some red mushrooms and tells him that her earth magic will stoke the flames of his sword. He tells her that the next night, they will begin the nightmare and bring Fjölnir's life to chaos.<ref name="Northman">

### Striking Back

*"Where is your mother? Tell me. Where?"
"She is as evil as Fjölnir. I will destroy him and all that she loved. I will become a hailstorm of iron and steel...I'll have my vengeance...and more."
"Then what must we do now?"
"I must take to the hills. My mother discovered who I am, soon everyone will."
"I'll come with you."
"No, they cannot know you are a part of this. Come morning, they will hunt for me."
"Why?"
"You killed her?"
"I will not kill a woman. Not even her. Thórir met his end by my fury."
"Good riddance. Tomorrow night you will return and kill Fjölnir?"
"If the Norns of Fate allow it. And whatever happens tomorrow … be ready to run."*
―Olga and Amleth[src]

Two mornings later, Olga is present when the remains of Thórir's friends, Hersveinn Battle Hard and Hjalti Battle Hasty are found dismembered and nailed to a barn in the shape of Sleipnir. Thórir vows revenge and accuses the Christian slaves, but Fjölnir and Gudrún calm and dismiss him. The temple priestess, Áshildur Hofgythja, examines their wounds and concludes that they were left by supernatural means and that the spirit must be sated with a sacrifice. As the slaves return to their duties, Olga approaches Amleth and informs him that the mushrooms are ready, but he tell her that they cannot go through with their plan that night, for more blood must be spilled first.

The next morning, Fjölnir arms the male slaves so that they may aid in the defence of the farm. Olga observes this from a distance and spikes the pot of svid with fly agaric. Along with the other female slaves, she goes outside and serves it to the soldiers. Once they return to the kitchen, Halldóra leaves and Olga tells the others to leave, insisting that she will finish there. The fly agaric takes effect and the soldiers are sent into a panic as they experience horrific hallucinations. Amidst the confusion, Amleth enters the longhouse and tells Olga that he will meet her before dawn. She leaves to allow him to locate Gudrún.

Amleth later emerges from the longhouse alone. Olga asks him where Gudrún is and Amleth replies that she is as evil as Fjölnir and vows to destroy him and all that she loves. Olga asks what they must do and Amleth tells her that he must take to the hills, as Gudrún has discovered who he is and soon everyone will know. She offers to come with him, but he refuses, stating that he will be hunted and will not put her in danger. She asks why they will hunt him and he shows her his bloodstained hand. She asks if he has killed Gudrún and he replies that he will not kill a woman, not even her, but he has killed Thórir. Olga is pleased to hear that Thórir is dead and asks if he will return to kill Fjölnir the next night. He says that he will if the Norns of Fate allow it and tells her to be ready to run whatever happens the next day. She kisses him and he retreats into the hills.<ref name="Northman">

### Escape

*"I see you're no longer afraid of a woman's blood."
"Of course, of course it is you!"*
―Olga and Fjölnir[src]

The next morning, Thórir's body is discovered and Fjölnir discovers that his heart has been taken. At Gudrún's urging, Fjölnir begins killing slaves and demands to know which of them aided Amleth. He concludes that it was Olga was the one and holds his dagger to her throat. She mockingly states that he is no longer afraid of a woman's blood and laughs at him. Amleth appears on a nearby hill and offers to return Thórir's heart if Olga is spared. As Fjölnir men attack Amleth, Olga escapes in the confusion, but Amleth is captured. She later returns, finds him in the barn and carries him to safety.

Olga takes Amleth to a hidden valley and places him in a hot spring. He wakes and is surprised to find that he is not in Valhöll. She tells him that she did not carry him that for, for she is no Valkyrja. She states that the dreams of his afterlife must wait, for she is not done with him yet. She undresses and cilmbs into the spring with him.

Later, they sit around a fire and Amleth tells her that he came to Iceland to carry out his quest for vengeance, but that his fate did not prepare him for finding her. She tells him that she thought she must always shield her heart in stone and did not think she would open it to a Northman. They acknowldge having saved each other's lives and Amleth admits that he has not felt close to another person since he was a child. Olga curses Gudrún's evil and suggests that the Norns of Fate have spun another thread for him to follow. He asks what her Earth Gods tell her and she says that wherever she goes, she must take him with her. He tells her that he has kinsmen in Orkney and that they could find safe passage there together. Olga states that she cannot truly believe that he has extinguished his fire for vengeance. He tells her that hate is all he has ever known and he wishes he could be free of it, to which she replies that it is for him to choose and that they can now find their future.

### Amleth's Visions

*"My family's blood ... my own blood is inside you ... you are the well our dynasty will spring from."
"I did not wish you to know until I could trust that our child would be safe."
"While Fjölnir lives, our children will never be safe. If he but knew of this he would hunt you with all the fire of the gods. It cannot wait!"
"Stop this – there is now a living thread that binds us."
" I was a fool. I wish to flee with you from my fate. My vision shows me you will have two. My sword will save them."
"But you must come with us. You must!"
"It was prophesied that I must choose...between kindness for my kin and hate for my enemies..."
"And see what hope we have before us..."
" I choose both."*
―Amleth and Olga[src]

Olga and Amleth ride to the coast and board a Rus ship captained by Volodymyr. He welcomes them and tells him that the journey will last twenty-one days if the luck-spirits smile upon them. He states that he was expecting more of Fjölnir's men , including Thórir. Olga tells him that Thórir departed early on his own ship. As the ship sets sail, Amleth examines the wound on her neck and she tells him that it is nothing compared to what they have endured and that she has forgotten it already. Amleth kisses it and has a vision of the Tree of Kings, in which he sees their daughter and son. He realizes that Olga is pregnant and she tells him that she did not wish him to know until she could trust their child would be safe.

Amleth concludes that while Fjölnir lives, their children will never be safe. Olga urges him to stop, as there is now a living thread that binds them. Amleth declares that he cannot escape his fate and Olga begins to cry as he promises that his sword will save their children. She urges him to come with her and he tells her that it was prophesied that he would have to choose between kindness for his kin and hate for his enemies. She tells him to see what hope they have before them and kisses him, but he declares and that he chooses both.

Amleth tells Volodymyr to take Olga to Orkney and hands him his father's ring, tells him that his kinsmen will pay him ninefold its worth. Volodymyr holds Olga still as she begs Amleth not to go. He stands on the edge of the ship and tells her that she will be mother to a king and that they cannot escape their fate. He jumps overboard as she sobs. She then prays to the daughters of the North wind to ride with her, asking them to carry her to the shores of her children's forebears, promising to grow a forest of birch, fathomless branches to dance their tempest with, raptured by their most righteous breath.

Amleth succeeds in killing Fjölnir at the peak of Mount Hekla, but is fatally wounded in the process. As he lies dying, he has a vision in which he sees Olga with their babies. She tells him that the thread that binds them can never break and that she and their children are safe and encourages him to make his passage.

## Personality

*"My Fate brought me to Iceland to carry out my pledge of vengeance...but my Fate...it did not ready me for finding...you."
"And I thought I must shield my heart always in stone. I could not think I would open it to a Northman. You sacrificed yourself, that I could flee."
"And you came back for me. I ... I have never felt close to another person. Not since I was a child."*
―Amleth and Olga[src]
Olga has a deep knowledge of herbs and their hallucinogenic properties, which she often uses to gain advantage over her foes. Upon being enslaved, she grows close to Amleth and forms an alliance with him, advising him to hide his cunning to make a convincing slave. During her time as a slave at Freysdalur, Fjölnir attempts to rape her, but she repels him by smearing his face with her menstrual blood. Despite having spent her life shielding her heart in stone, Olga falls in love with Amleth and they create a plan to turn Fjölnir's life to chaos with fly agaric. She and Amleth later save each other's lives once they are discovered and they escape the farmstead, she suggests that they attempt to make a new life for themselves. She is devastated when Amleth abandons her and their unborn children to kill Fjölnir.

## Religion

*"Could it not be your Norns of Fate have spun another thread for you to follow?"
"What do your Earth Gods tell you?"
"That wherever I go, I must take you with me."*
―Olga and Amleth[src]
Olga is a devout worshipper of the Earth Gods and often turns to them for wisdom. Amleth consults her for guidance during his quest to rescue his mother Gudrún and kill his uncle Fjölnir. Once Amleth learns that she is pregnant and abandons her to kill Fjölnir and ensure their children, she prays to her gods to transport her to the home of her childrens' forebears, promising to grow a forest of birch.

## Trivia

* In Saxo Grammaticus' legend, Amleth has three love interests. The first is his foster-sister whom his uncle Feng uses in an attempt to prove Amleth's madness if feigned (the basis for Ophelia from William Shakespeare's *Hamlet*). The second is the daughter of the king of Britain, whom Amleth marries through trickery after fooling the king into killing the attendants who brought him there on Feng's orders. The third is Hermuthruda, whom Amleth marries when she falls for him after the king had set him up to be killed by her in an attempt to avenge Feng (however, she later marries Wiglek after he kills Amleth).

## Behind the Scenes

* Jessica Hooker was a stunt double for Anya Taylor-Joy in the role of Olga.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Eggers, Robert; Sjón, *The Northman*, Focus Features, USA, April 22, 2022