‘Vikings’: How Did Ragnar Lothbrok Meet Aslaug?
In the hit series Vikings, Aslaug (Alyssa Sutherland), a princess, meets Earl Ragnar Lothbrok (Travis Fimmel), her future husband, in season 1, episode 9. Both of their lives become intertwined, and nothing will ever be the same for either of them.
Who is Aslaug?
Aslaug is a princess from Götaland who’s extremely smart and cunning. She’s can also see things and is considered a völva or a seeress. She has premonitions of the future, and it happens throughout the series.
Aslaug comes from very famous parents, as her mother was the famous shield maiden Brunhilde, and her father was Sigurd, who supposedly killed the dragon Fafnir. They are both talked about by the Vikings.
How did Ragnar Lothbrok meet Aslaug in ‘Vikings’?
Ragnar has been promised by the Seer (John Kavanagh), someone who is believed to be able to see the future and talk to the gods, that he will have many sons. His wife, Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick), has a miscarriage in season 1, which prompts Ragnar to wonder who will have the sons he was promised.
Ragnar was on business for King Horik (Donal Logue) in Götaland over some disputed land with Jarl Borg (Thorbjørn Harr) when he first met Aslaug in season 1, episode 9. While awaiting the return of his friend Floki (Gustaf Skarsgård), who left to speak to Horik about Borg’s suggestions for negotiations, Ragnar travels to see a famous great ash tree in the area at the suggestion of Borg. On his way there though, his friends Arne (Tadhg Murphy) and Torstein (Jefferson Hall), who are hunting at the time, come upon Aslaug bathing in some water. Her warriors stop them, and Aslaug learns they are with Ragnar Lothbrok. She mentions that he owes her an apology.
When Ragnar learns about what happened, he asks for her to come and join them “neither dressed nor undressed.” He also adds for her to be “neither hungry nor full, neither in company nor alone.” Aslaug shows up dressed in a fishing net with a half-eaten apple and a dog.
Ragnar is immediately taken with her, and he apologizes to her for his friends staring at her. They travel to see the ash tree together, and things go too far between them.
Aslaug becomes pregnant and comes to Kattegat
The Seer’s prophecy was probably on Ragnar’s mind when he crossed paths with Aslaug, and he makes it all happen at the first chance he gets. He is extremely attracted to her, and it goes both ways. They end up sleeping together, and she tells him that she’s pregnant. But the two eventually part ways. However, it won’t be for long.
When Ragnar’s wife, Lagertha, learns that something happened from her son, Bjorn (Nathan O’Toole), who accompanied his father, she’s furious. But Ragnar promises never to see Aslaug again. She has no idea Aslaug is pregnant yet.
Time passes, and Aslaug travels to Kattegat with her warriors in season 2, episode 1. She’s heavily pregnant and doesn’t say exactly why she’s come, although it’s obvious. She’s come to be with Ragnar, and Lagertha acts like everything is fine, although she now knows Aslaug is carrying Ragnar’s child.
During her visit in Kattegat, Aslaug picks out ingredients and has people prepare a dinner for Ragnar and Lagertha. Ragnar discusses the idea of being married to both Lagertha and Aslaug, to which Lagertha clearly isn’t feeling. Although Aslaug pretends that she is OK with it and has heard of circumstances like it before, she obviously doesn’t want that either. Aslaug’s presence is enough to push Lagertha out of the picture, which she probably planned on, and it works.
Ragnar tells Lagertha that he can’t turn her away as she’s carrying his child, and that she must “accept” her, which she can’t do. Lagertha divorces Ragnar, and Bjorn chooses to go with her. Although Ragnar doesn’t want her to go, she does, and Aslaug becomes his wife, giving him four sons named Ubbe, Hvitserk, Sigurd, and Ivar.
It turns into an unhappy marriage
Although Ragnar and Aslaug end up married, they don’t have a happy marriage for long. Their relationship sours pretty quickly in the end despite them staying together and having children.
There is jealousy, and feelings seem to disappear over the years. Aslaug accuses her husband of trying to sleep with another woman, and things get nasty at times. Aslaug thinks her husband doesn’t desire her anymore, and they both cheat on each other and grow out of love for one another.
Aslaug seems to like power and ruling more than Ragnar as the years go by, and she gets a taste for it. She’d rather him be preoccupied with other things so she can be left alone to rule.
One thing is certain, things changed for both Ragnar and Aslaug after they met.
