Spoilers for this episode.
Alfred mourns Aethelred until Judith admits that she poisoned him to protect the crown. Her explanation provokes his anger, but she insists that a king cannot respond to danger like an ordinary man. News of an approaching Viking fleet interrupts the household's grief. Ubbe argues that Alfred should put him in command of the English army, asking the king to trust his ability rather than rely on reassuring words.
In Kattegat, Ivar increases the pressure on his subjects to identify anyone opposing him. Freydis questions whether he wants love or fear, and discourages him from killing Hvitserk. Ivar instead sends his brother away on a diplomatic mission, threatening to burn Thora if he refuses. In York, Bjorn and Harald plan their attack despite their rivalry over Gunnhild. Bjorn negotiates an agreement under which Harald would inherit Kattegat after him, and proposes sailing in difficult weather to surprise Ivar.
The rescue in Iceland becomes an ambush. Kjetill and his family slaughter the people they supposedly came to save, taking revenge on Eyvind's household. Floki asks that Helgi be spared, but Kjetill kills him as well as Eyvind. The survivors return carrying the knowledge of the massacre into the settlement. Aud is devastated by her father's actions and by the collapse of Floki's hopes for peace. Floki tries to stop her, but she goes over the cliff into the water below.