Thórir

*"Know that we will never make you a free man. The stench of a low-born slave cannot escape him."*
―Thórir to Amleth[src]
Prince **Thórir** the Proud is the eldest son of Fjölnir the Brotherless.

## Biography

### Background

Thórir is born to Fjölnir and an unidentified woman.

### Fjölnir's Return

*"Come, Brother, here's one more in need of your safekeeping than myself."
"Thórir. My son!"*
―Aurvandil and Fjölnir[src]

Thórir's father sets out on a season-long conquest alongside his brother King Aurvandil War Raven. During his absence, Thórir was cared for by his nanny, Helga. Upon his return, Fjölnir holds his infant son up to those gathered in the great hall of Hrafnsey and toasts his brother.

### Princehood and Exile

*"Fjölnir fled to that frontier backwater with his wife and son after King Haraldr of Norway, took his kingdom. He killed his brother for nothing, now he's a sheep farmer!"*
―Eiríkr to Amleth[src]
Thórir becomes a prince when his father kills his brother and takes his widow, Gudrún, to wife. However, Fjölnir is later overthrown by King Haraldr of Norway. Thórir flees with his father and stepmother to Iceland, where they set up a farm at Freysdalur. He later gains a half brother, Gunnar.

### Acquiring New Slaves

*"I'm not impressed. His stench! Never look me in the eye, slave."*
―Thórir to Björnulfr[src]

Thórir engages in a sparring session with his friends, Hersveinn Battle Hard and Hjalti Battle Hasty, but is easily overpowered by them and throws a temper tantrum. He then accompanies his father when a new shipment of slaves arrives and inspects them, but he finds them pitiful, declaring that they can't even stand. Fjölnir orders for all of them to be sold, but one slaves catches their attention by displaying his aggression. Thórir declares that he is not impressed, commenting on the slaves's stench, punching him in the stomach and telling him never to looking him in the eye. Nonetheless, Fjölnir chooses to keep the slave, who introduces himself as "Björnulfr". The next day, Thórir examines Björnulfr as he helps to build a fence.

### The Chieftains' Feast

*"When we return to the farm, certain privileges will be granted you."
"Huh?"
"Your work will be less burdensome. You will command others' burden... and, Björnulfr, as a reward for winning us the game, I'll let you choose a woman for yourself, even that Slav bitch I've seen you eyeing. Father found her too ... unyielding."*
―Thórir and Björnulfr[src]

As he and his family prepare to set out for the Chieftains' Feast, Thórir is informed that they are lacking one man for the game of knattleikr. Atop his horse, Freyfaxi, Thórir approaches Björnulfr and asks if he knows how to fight. Björnulfr turns towards him and Thórir orders him to look him in the eye. He repeats his question and Björnulfr nods. Thórir then orders Finnr the Stub Nose to bring him along.

At the feast, Thórir and his family meet with the family of Hákon Iron-Beard. In the game of knattleikr, five of Fjölnir's slaves face five of Hákon's slaves. Eventually, only Björnulfr and a very large, strong, brutish man called Thórfinnr Tooth-Gnasher remain. As they attack each other, Gunnar runs out onto the field and takes the ball, sending everyone into a panic. Thórfinnr attacks Gunnar and is about to kill him when Björnulfr tackles him to the ground and headbutts him to death. To everyone's relief, Gunnar regains consciousness.

During the festivities later that night, Thórir orders Hallgrímr Half-Troll to bring Björnulfr before him. He tells Björnulfr that he has shown himself brave and loyal and informs him that when they return to the farm he will be granted certain priveleges, such as less burdensome work and command over other slaves. He tells him that as a reward for winning them the game, he will allow them to choose a woman, even the "Slav bitch" he has seen him eyeing, stating that Fjölnir found her too unyielding. He then puts Björnulfr in his place by telling him that they will never make him a free man, as the stench of a lowborn slave cannot escape him. Björnulfr thanks him and he returns to the festivities.

### Murders at Freysdalur

*"O, I will find who did this. I will find them ... And I will tear out their eyes ... And I will tear out their tongues. They will all sup in Hel! Look, Father, look what has been done to my brave friends! Lack-beard, Christian Monsters! Monsters! Monsters! Did you do this? Answer me! Answer Me!"*
―Thórir[src]

Two mornings later, Hersveinn and Hjalti's dismembered corpses are discovered nailed to the barn in the shape of Sleipnir. Upon seeing the grisly fate of his friends, Thórir swears vengeance on those responsible and accuses the Christian slaves. He begins throwing them to the ground and demands to know which of them did it, at which point Hallgrímr and Finnr subdue him. Gudrún slaps him and tells him to stop and Fjölnir tells him to regain his calm, promising that his friends will be avenged. He orders the guards to take him away and Thórir leaves in tears.

Later that night, Thórir inspects the farm the farm with his father and find the dogs attacking their masters, having been driven mad by a distant howling. They enter the temple and find the priestess, Áshildur Hofgythja, bound and gagged and her assistant, Hallur Freymundur, castrated and disemboweled. Gudrún joins them and declares that it seems that Freyr has decided for himself who is deemed for for sacrifice and hopes that his hunger has been sated. Fjölnir replies that this is not the work of his god, but trollish sorcery.

The next morning, Fjölnir arms the male slaves so that they may protect the farm. Thórir expresses scepticism to Gudrún, wondering how they can expect the slaves to protect them. She tells him that his father is attempting to prevent an uprising by emboldened slaves and orders him not to doubt his wisdom.

### Death

*"Die!"*
―Amleth kills Thórir[src]

Later that night, Thórir is plagued by horrific visions, as are the soldiers. He falls to his knees and vomits as his father attempts to drive out the Dísir. He later returns to his bed to sleep and is killed when Björnulfr enters his bedchamber and runs him through with his sword.

### Post-Mortem

*"His heart! What evil is this? What kind of evil eats the hearts of brave young men? Freyr, do you hear me?"*
―Fjölnir[src]

Björnulfr, who is secretly Thórir's cousin Amleth, steals his heart. The next morning, Thórir's corpse is discovered. Fjölnir is devastated by the death of his firstborn and horrified to find his heart missing. Amleth then appears and offers to return Thórir's heart in exchange for the life of Olga, whom Fjölnir was about to kill. Once his men have overpowered and subdued Amleth, Fjölnir takes the heart, but Amleth suggests that it may in fact by the heart of a rabid dog killed two nights ago. Fjölnir tortures Amleth, but he does not reveal what he has done with Thórir's heart.

Later that evening, a funeral is held for Thórir, in which his body is placed on a funeral boat his horse, Freyfaxi, and a slave, Kormlöth, are sacrificed. Amleth and Olga board a ship captained by Volodymyr, who states that he was expected more of Fjölnir's men, including Thórir. Olga tells him that Thórir departed early on a his own ship. Fjölnir later avenges Thórir by killing Amleth at the peak of Mount Hekla, though he dies in the process.

## Personality

*"How can we trust them to protect us?"
"Your father does not want an uprising by emboldened slaves. Do not doubt his wisdom."*
―**Thórir** and Gudrún[src]
Thórir grew up as a prince of Hrafnsey, which has made him arrogant and entitled. He sees himself as being above his family's slaves, forbidding them to look him in the eye and talking down to them. He also does not trust them to protect him and his family, expressing scepticism over his father's plan to have them do so. However, he is also insecure, as seen when he throws a temper tantrum when Hersveinn and Hjalti best him at sparring. Despite his negative qualities, Thórir loves his family and friends, swearing to avenge Hersveinn and Hjalti and being driven to tears over their deaths.

## Religion

Nothing is known of Thórir's religious beliefs, though he is presumably a worshipper of Freyr like his father. However, he despises Christians, as he is quick to accuse the Christian slaves of murdering Hersveinn and Hjalti when he discovers their corpses.

## Behind the Scenes

* Bill Skarsgård was originally cast as Thórir, but dropped out due to scheduling conflicts caused by COVID-19.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Eggers, Robert; Sjón, *The Northman*, Focus Features, USA, April 22, 2022
2. ↑ ‘The Northman’: Why Bill Skarsgård ‘Burst into Tears’ Over the Movie (cheatsheet.com)