Chapter 36

"There are things... to be learned through loss. I'm sure you have already realized this. I am nothing more than a dream. The time has come... for you to wake."

- Ragnar

Two on the Battlefield (戦場のふたり) is the 36th chapter of the Vinland Saga series.

Overview
Thorfinn and Thorkell start their duel. Thorfinn is able to see the blows coming and dodges them. He gets a hit on Thorkell, but is unable to draw blood, as Thorkell is wearing chain mail underneath his coat. Thorkell goads Thorfinn about Thors; Thorfinn asks how Thorkell knew him. Thorkell gives him a bit of information and tells him he'll tell him more if he makes the duel worth his while. Askeladd removes the arrows piercing him and worries that with Thorfinn not protecting the prince, ten pursuers is a lot for even Bjorn to handle alone. Before waking where he lies in the snow, Canute dreams Ragnar is saying his farewells. Ragnar apologizes for raising him like a common farmer would raise his son rather than how a king would. Canute tearfully tells him he never wanted to be a prince and that his life would have been much better if he was born his son. Canute wakes to find a berserker Bjorn fighting the men who had pursued their cart. Sitting nearby, Willibald tells Canute the men are fighting over him and that he will belong to the victor. Canute tells Willibald of his dream and laments that with Ragnar gone, there is no one left in the world who loves him. Willibald asks him what love is and if it was love Ragnar felt for Canute, as he allowed sixty-two innocent villagers to be killed for safety.

Summary
Thorfinn and Thorkell start their duel. Thorkell wields two axes, while Thorfinn wields his two shortswords. Thorfinn stays calm and alert, as he can see the hits coming and can therefore dodge and stay safe. Thorkell's men cheer as they watch the fight, happy to see Thorfinn's good enough to get hits on Thorkell and commenting that it might be the best fight they've seen in ages. One notes that nimble fighters are tough to kill. Thorfinn is frustrated when he realizes his hit on Thorkell's side did not draw blood due to the chain mail he wears under his clothing; Thorkell is disappointed his coat was cut, as he likes it. Thorkell notes Thorfinn does not fear his axe and says he has balls and must've gotten them from Thors. Thorfinn bites and asks Thorkell how he knew his father. Thorkell notes it's cold-hearted that Thors didn't tell Thorfinn anything. Thorfinn, defensive, says he knows Thors was born to a Jarl. Thorkell corrects him and says his wife, Helga, was the one who was from the Jarl's bloodline, while Thors earned his fame fighting. He says if Thorfinn wants to know more about his father, he'll need to make it worth his while. Thorfinn replies that he'll play along, but that it'll be tricky to hold back just enough so that Thorkell can still speak. The men laugh at Thorfinn's statement; one points at him and calls him a fool before getting his head crushed by the back of Thorkell's axe. Thorkell asks if Thorfinn said anything funny and tells them not laugh, as he recognized Thorfinn as a true warrior. The men fall quiet at once. Thorkell says Thors was easily stronger than him and asks Thorfinn to show him beyond all doubt that he has Thors's blood. Steps away from the ongoing duel, Askeladd removes the arrows from his body one by one. He grumbles about Thorfinn being stupid and coming back just to get himself killed, as it means only Bjorn is keeping Prince Canute safe and ten pursuers is quite a task even for a fighter like him. Laying in the snow on a makeshift bed the men made before Bjorn revealed he was still alive, Canute hears the sounds of battle nearby. He thinks they should give it a rest and wonders if there's nothing else for them to do. Refusing to open his eyes, he thinks he'd like to sleep forever. In a dream state, Canute sees Ragnar. He asks him if it's a dream. Ragnar confirms it is and says he's there to bid Canute farewell. Canute asks him if he thinks he can survive in the world on his own. Ragnar says he was not fit to be Canute's instructor, as he raised him like a common farmer would raise his son instead of as a king would, despite knowing King Sweyn did not like it. Crying, Canute asks what's wrong with that, as Ragnar cared for his wishes more than his father ever did. He sobs that he never wanted to be born a prince and tells Ragnar his life would've been much better if he had been born his son. Holding the crying Canute, Ragnar tells the prince his words make him happy. Canute tells Ragnar he loves him and asks him not to go. Crying himself, Ragnar lets go of Canute and stands. He tells Canute he's sure he's already realized that there are things to be learned through loss. He wishes him good health and says he is nothing more than a dream and that it is time for Canute to wake. Canute wakes and wipes away his tears, quickly greeted by the sight of a berserker Bjorn pummeling the men who had come after the cart with his bare hands. Some of the men unsuccessfully try to rush him together. Sitting on a nearby barrel and drinking, Willibald asks Canute if he feels any pain and tells him the men are fighting over the prince and that he will belong to the victor. Canute asks why he doesn't stop the battle, since he is a holy man. Willibald keeps drinking and asks if there would any way to stop them, and notes they should let those who seek death find it. Canute tells the friar he dreamed of Ragnar, a dutiful man even in death, as he came to say his farewells. He laments that with Ragnar gone, there is no one left in the world who loves him. Willibald tells him he has made a great realization, but that he does not quite have it right; he asks Canute if it is love Ragnar felt for him, as for the sake of his safety, he allowed sixty-two innocent villagers to be killed. He asks Canute what love is.

Characters in Order of Appearance

 * Thorfinn
 * Thorkell
 * Askeladd
 * Canute
 * Bjorn
 * Ragnar (dream)
 * Willibald