"The Light of Dawn" (暁光 Gyōkō?) is the fourteenth episode of the Vinland Saga anime, produced by WIT Studio.
Synopsis[]
Enduring the harsh winter weather, Askeladd and crew tread forth in the Welsh lands. They soon reach a small village, there they murder the residents and take refuge there.
Summary[]
Anne admiring a ring
Anne is admiring a ring. She questions God if they have to be pure and notes that her father told her that if you don't follow God's orders, you will be punished. She can't understand his will, but feels Heaven is quite far away. She feels burdened that he sits and watches them. Her mother calls her to help with dinner, and Anne quickly hides the ring in a tree hole, before going to help her mother.
Atli and Torgrim telling about their Bond of Brotherhood
Atli and Torgrim explain that they are brothers have have each other's back since they were little. They would never betray each other as they have the bond of brotherhood. They wonder if they got that "love" thing that Willibald talks about, but Willibald states their bond is completely different that what he imagines love is. He finds what they have amazing, but wonders if they will also protect him if he fights alongside them. Atli states he is only doing that because Torgrim is his brother and Willibald states its exactly that's why its different. Torgrim wonders if he loves alcohol as he is always drinking it, but Atli denies it. Torgrim then tells a story about Thors and how they fought him. He beat like 30 of them with his bare hands, but they ended up killing him. However, after they started counting their losses, they realized that no one had died. Atli recalls he carried a sword, but probably thought he is too good for them. Willibald then jumps up facing Torgrim and wonders about the warriors name and if he said anything else. However Torgrim doesn't remember the warriors name. Atli guesses that weirdos are drawn to each other and explains that the warrior said that a true warrior doesn't need a sword. Willibald gets fascinated and sits back quietly and thinks about it the entire night.
As it starts snowing, Askeladd's army gets caught in it. Ragnar suggest they go back and don't try crossing Marcia. However, Askeladd states that if they are going to walk through the snow, they will have to leave their plunder behind and his men won't like that. Ear informs him that his men are ready. Ragnar tells Askeladd that his luck isn't on his side and will eventually backfire. However, Askeladd states that plundering is a tradition for them as they prepare to attack a village.
Anne's father scaring his kids with the devils
Anne's family are praying before dinner. One of the kids then asks why they do it and their father explains that they will go in hell otherwise and face the devils. Anne states it doesn't make sense as they will soon all die, and wonders why God decided to pass judgment on the world. Her father explains that was predicted thousand of years ago and after 20 years, all evil men will go to Hell. One of the kids states that the Danes are evil and the father agrees, and tells his children to follow God's commandments. He then sees that Anne is going out and she explains she is going to pee. As she goes out, she starts to wonder what to do as she is scared of devils. She checks on the ring and starts admiring him again. Anne then wonders if God will forgive her if she pays for it as she had stolen it from the market. She guesses she will be send to Hell on the Judgement Day and be the only family member that won't go to Heaven. Anne then sees some men in front of her house. Bjorn then enters and seeing them eating, states he found food.
Askeladd telling Anne's father that he will kill them all
Willibald yells, trying to tell the villagers to run as the Danes are attacking, but he gets beat up to shut up. Bjorn tells his men to take anything that looks like a weapon. He checks what they are eating, but finds it quite bad. The mother is annoyed that he wastes food, but he punches her. He then points his sword at the father and tells him in his language to give him all the food or he will kill them. Askeladd's men then gather all the food on one place. Askeladd then notes that if they count two kids as one adult, they have 50 people, so they only have food for 50 people to last the winter, and that isn't enough for 104 soldiers. Askeladd tells Willibald that since he is with Canute he will forgive him this time, but if he gets in their way one more time, he will kill him. Anne's father asks Askeladd if they are Danes and if someone speaks English. He asks him to leave them half the food so they can survive the winter. Askeladd states he thought about it and they don't need to worry about the winter as he is going to kill them. Willibald states they are just civilians, but Askeladd explains that even if they leave them, they will die from hunger. And if they leave one alive, they will tell the enemy that they are here. Askeladd asks his men if they dig the hole and a man confirms that they will be able to fit 62 people in it. Askeladd then orders his men and they start killing the gathered villagers. Meanwhile, Anne is hiding behind a tree, witnessing it all.
Anne escapes. After a while, she stops and asks God if he is watching and if her family arrived safely in Heaven. She guesses he won't take her there as right now she feels elated. Anne can't believe such evil people exist, who are not scared of his punishment.
Characters in order of appearance[]
- Anne (Debut)
- Willibald
- Torgrim
- Atli
- Thors Snorresson (Flashback)
- Thorfinn
- Canute
- Askeladd
- Ragnar
- Bjorn
- Ear
Original Soundtrack[]
| Soundtrack | Starting Point |
|---|---|
| Dark Crow (TV Size) | OP |
| Tenderness | 00:47 |
| The Hero | 07:20 |
| Father and Son | 10:32 |
| Dagger | 13:22 |
| Glory | 20:11 |
| Drown (TV Size) | ED |
Differences from the manga[]
Trivia[]
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