Episode 41

"The Road Home" (家路) is the forty-first overall episode of the Vinland Saga anime and the seventeenth episode of Season 2, produced by MAPPA.

Synopsis
Thorfinn decided to fight Snake for the wounded Gardar. However, Gardar is captured. Snake raises his sword to avenge his man. Arnheid talks to Gardar, who is about to die.

Summary
Thorfinn manages barely to dodge all of Snake's attacks and notes that he is the fastest man he had ever fought. At the same time, Snake is surprised at how good Thorfinn is as even though he is unarmed, he still hasn't landed a blow. Recalling that Thorfinn said he didn't have anything good in his life, Snake wonders with what kind of monsters Thorfinn grew up. Thorfinn manages to land a punch, however as he was about to land a second, Snake dodges and manages to inflict a small cut on Thorfinn's face. Thorfinn then wonders how such a skilled warrior ended being a guard on a farm, while Snake wonders how such a skilled man ended up being a slave. Snake decides to refocus and continues with even faster attacks. Thorfinn still manages to dodge them, but a surprise kick moves him aside, leaving the cart and Gardar behind Snake.

As Snake looks at Gardar inside the cart, Arnheid asks him to not kill him. Snake states he can't overlook it, since he killed five of his men. Sverkel states he will do whatever he can to express his condolences and is ready to sell his farm, however Snake stops him, stating it isn't about money. Snake explains that he and his men are stupid scumbags and due to what they did, they can't even use their real names, however that doesn't mean it doesn't matter if they die. He asks Thorfinn and Arnheid to tell him if Gardar's life is worth more than five of his men, however both remain silent. Snake then states that life can only be paid with life, he turns and stabs Gardar.

Snake then asks them if they will keep fighting to avenge Gardar. Snake is sure that Arnheid is the one that freed Gardar and tells her and Thorfinn that they will be punished accordingly. In that moment, Gardar stands up from the cart and grabs Snake. As he holds him and chokes him, Snake manages to stab Gardar's leg a few times, however Gardar doesn't let him go. Snake loses consciousness. Thorfinn tells Gardar to stop or he will kill, but as Gardar is unresponsive, he tries to stop him, but finds Gardar too strong. Arnheid then tells Gardar that it's enough and they should go home. Gardar comes to his senses and releases Snake. He then wonders where Hjalti is right now. Thorfinn notices that Gardar's wound from Snake is deep and is bleeding a lot. Arnheid tells Gardar that Hjalti is with his brother in Birka. Gardar states that he must thank his brother. He asks Thorfinn if this is his cart and if he can borrow it, but Sverkel states it's his and he can have it. Gardar asks Sverkel for his name and thanks him. Arnheid tells Thorfinn that she can't thank him and Einar enough. Thorfinn tries to tell her that Gardar won't live much longer, but Arnheid is fine with it and still leaves with him.

While leaving with the cart, Gardar starts to feel cold and see thinks, seeing many slaves and he is one of them. He then recalls the birth of his son Hjalti and how he promises to fight for him for honor and wealth. He also recalls seeing his first steps and how he was changing his diapers. He then sees himself being beaten by his former master. Gardar then asks Arnheid how old is now Hjalti, wondering if he is eight or nine. Arnheid states he is six and Gardar apologizes, noting that he lost track of time while he was a slave. Gardar then notes that last time he saw him he was one year old, and it seems he missed his cute years. Gardar feels that Hjalti may have forgotten about them, and if he is like him, he is probably quite a prankster, and guesses he is lighting the horses' tails on fire. Arnheid wonders if Gardar did that himself and Gardar confirms, noting it got him in lots of trouble with his father. Gardar guesses that when Hjalti is old enough, he will want to go on a viking adventure, but he won't allow it. Gardar keeps losing blood and feeling tired, he lays on Arnheid's legs to rest a bit. He then has a vision of when the other men called him to come and fight and he agreed, leaving Arnheid and Hjalti behind. Garder then tells Arnheid that he will never leave her and Hjalti's side again.

Gardar have a vision where he heads home and hugs his six-years old son, Hjalti. Taking his last breath, Gardar states he is home. Arnheid holds his dead body, welcoming him home and crying as Snake's men approach them.

Characters in order of appearance

 * Thorfinn
 * Snake
 * Arnheid
 * Sverkel
 * Gardar