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ignisdivine · 7 days ago

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With Enemies like These Chapter 3

In Which Prince Canute makes an appearance at Gorm High

It goes about as well as you’d expect

Canute stood in front of his closet, paralyzed with indecision. Today would be his first day at school not as Canute Ragnarson, but Prince Canute. After three years of doing the absolute most to not draw attention to himself, he would have to face his peers, pirates and peasants alike, as a prince. Every little thing he did, from the way he walked to what he wore, all of it would reflect back on the Danish crown.

Which led to his current conundrum, staring at his wardrobe and trying to figure out what to wear. Because after all these years of hiding, he had completely over looked what clothing would make him look like a proper, “hip” prince.

He could try asking Harald, as the firstborn who had not been shoved to the side to live on some backwater planet, he had a much better grasp of what was in “style.” But no, he thought as he glanced at his tablet, open to the sibling group chat that Estrid had set up for them all. Harald had been so busy these days, barely even replying to Estrid, much less him. He had better things to do that help his useless younger brother with fashion.

Which left Canute back at square one. With a sigh, he reached blindly into his closet, his fingers running over the fine fabrics. He stopped at the feeling of soft fur beneath his fingers. He pulled out his cloak, soft white fur lining a brilliant red wool that seemed to light up the room.

It had been a gift from Estrid and Harald at his last birthday. Estrid had been quick to clasp it around his shoulders while Harald had bragged that he’d been the one to catch the ice bear who’s fur lined it. The tale had been as wild as it was untrue. No prince had time to hunt down the monsterous ice bears among the frozen rings of the outer planets for there pure white fur, much less managed to stab them through their three hearts in one stroke, dodging all six of the razor-sharp pincers. Father would never have allowed it. They had people for that.

But hidden in the warmth of his cloak, he’d not corrected his brother. Better to pretend they had the time to love each other like that, rather than focus on the harsh truth that come tommorrow they’d be enemies once again.

Shaking his head to clear the memories, Canute swung the cloak on his shoulders, admiring the way it swished at the motion. The red was dashing, the white trim regal. He stood a little taller underneath it, lifting his chin and giving his best princely stare. It almost looked impressive, until one looked beneath the cloak and saw he was still in his pjs.

Feeling a little embarrassed, he looked back into his closet. Maybe he could use his classmates as an example on what to wear. Unbidden, his mind slipped to Thorfinn and the lurid pink patterned shirt. There was no way he was going to wear something like that. But perhaps pink wasn’t a bad place to start. (And he would match Thorfinn, a threacherous part of his mind whispers.) He held up a pink collared shirt against his chest and frowned. No, the pink and the red clashed horribly, making him look like a washed out monochrome. The perhaps a complimentary color instead? He pulled out a soft blue tunic with fine gold thread embroidery. A little oldfashioned, but some skinny jeans should solve that, they never went out of style. Some soft white fur boots to complete the look and he finally felt ready to face the nightmare that was school.

“Ah, my prince!” Ragnar called as Canute stepped into the cozy kitchen, following the sweet scent of freshly cooked food. “I’m so glad you’re up, I was beginning to get worried you were having a relapse.”

“Its nothing,” Canute waved a hand, then stopped short. “Thorfinn?!”

For there he was, sitting at the table, a steaming cup of tea in his hands which he was eyeing like it was some kind of poison. He was back in practical furs, none of his newly discovered pink monstrosity to be seen. -And wasn’t that a tragedy, that the ever closed off Thorfinn would be forced to give up the one new outlet he’s allowed himself? As much as Canute was glad to see the ugly shirt gone, it hurt that he was the cause of it. - He barely glanced up at Canute’s cry, only scowling harder at his tea.

“He showed up half-an-hour ago!” Ragnar smiled, placing a tray of scrambled eggs and thick sausage, seasoned to perfection in front of both boys.

“H-half an hour?” Canute stuttered, heat flooding his cheeks.Thorfinn had been here, waiting while he’s been dallying in front of the mirror. What must he have thought?

He snuck a glance at Thorfinn, mordified, but Thorfinn wasn’t looking, his eyes were fixed on the food on the tray in front of him. His knuckles were white around his tea cup, and Canutr was reminded of Estrid’s pet pooch, with a treat on his nose.

“You can have some,” Canute whispered to Thorfinn. Thorfinn’s eyes snapped to Canute’s then to Ragnar, Suspision clear.

“You heard the prince,” Ragnar gave Thorfinn an encouraging smile. “Eat.”

Thorfinn hesitated for a second, then fell upon the food like a man starved. He had absolutely no table manners to speak of, shoving as much as he could into his mouth with little care for fork or spoon. It was, objectively, disgusting. So Canute really had no idea why he was smiling, and slipping a bit more onto Thorfinn’s plate.

_________

Grom High was worse than Canute expected. Ragnar and he had predicted some things, like the press swarming Ragnar’s clunky hovercraft as he navigated the streets towards it. They’d gotten permission from the principal himself to drive right into the campus, not stopping at the gate like all the other parents had to. Canute knew from experience the tinted windows were cameraflash proof, but that didn’t stop him from sagging down as low as he could in his seat.

Thorfinn, who was sitting up uncomfortably straight, scoffed at Canute’s cowardice before delibrately turning his back to Canute and looking out the window. Canute sank a little further into his seat. He knew he looked pathetic, but Thorfinn didn’t have to rub it in.

When they arrived, the front of the school was strangely deserted, likely another foresight of Ragnar and the principal’s to allow Canute privacy in the undignity of unloading.

It was there, the problems started.

First, Ragnar insisted that Canute couldn’t just get out of the car, he had to be helped out. Specifically by Thorfinn.

“He’s a prince,” Ragnar argued. “It’s tradition.”

“I don’t care,” Thorfinn snarled. “I’m not his servant!”

“Technically,” Ragnar began, but Canute cut him off.

“It’s fine Ragnar,” he said as he carefully swung his legs over the edge of the hovercraft. Then with far more spite them was warranted he added, “Thorfinn can’t help his height.”

It was mean, and something he would absolutely need to confess to the Shepherd in evening prayer, but the stress was getting to him, and Thorfinn’s judgement from earlier still stung.

“I can hold your stupid hand just fine!” Thorfinn snapped, grabbing Canute’s hand and yanking him down to the ground. “I’ll hold it all the way to class! Happy princess?”

So saying, the boy began marching up the stairs, dragging Canute behind him.

“Thorfinn wait!” Canute cried, desperately trying to catch his footing. It would not do for a prince to be seen stumbling after his bodyguard, much less now, when they all knew!

“Thorfinn!” He’s repeated, tugging hard with the hand still clasped in Thorfinn’s smaller one. Canute was by no means stronger than Thorfinn, but the shock of the sudden tug pulled Thorfinn off balance, stumbling to a stop directly beside Canute when the doors swung open.

Thorfinn’s mouth was open, but Canute couldn’t hear his words because the next few seconds were nothing but roars and flashing lights. As Canute blinked his eyes into focus, he saw the entire student body.

Recording him.

On their phones.

While he’s still holding Thorfinn’s hand.

Oh Shepard Almighty, he’s holding Thorfinn’s hand. He should let go. He needs to let go. Why isn’t he letting go? Everytime he tries, his fingers won’t budge, they just hold Thorfinn’s even tighter. Thorfinn isn’t even holding his anymore, its all Canute’s grip keeping them together.

He needs to let go.

He can’t.

There are to many voices clamoring for his attention, to many faces staring with to many eyes and it’s as if all that is keeping him grounded is the feeling of Thorfinn’s rough palm under his. He can’t let go. He’s trapped.

He hears the soft brush of Thorfinn’s hair on fur and out of the corner of his eye he can tell the other boy has turned his head to look at him. But Canute can’t look back at him, can’t even speak, frozen in a fear greater even than when they stood against Thorkell. And Thorfinn must find him such a coward for that but he can’t help it. Thorkell was scary and loud, but he never held any expectations for Canute outside of being his kidnapping victim. Unhinged, but unjudgmental.

His classmates would not be so merciful.

Thorfinn is still watching him. Then his whole body tightens beside Canute, a ripple of muscle he feels through the slight squeeze of his hand.

“What in Hel are you looking at?” He snarls to the crowd. Gotta problem?”

The crowd goes silent. No one so much as breathes.

“That’s what i thought.” Thorfinn grumbles. “Now SCRAM.”

Their classmates scatter. Some even running into each other in their haste to get away from Thorfinn. It seems their fear of him outweighed their curiosity over Canute.

Canute feels light headed. Was it really that easy? All those times with the press and the pushy nobles…Did he just need a grumpy Space pup to scare then away?

“C’mon.” Thorfinn said, pulling Canute forward once again. “Just because I gotta babysit your ass doesn’t mean im gonna ruin my perfect attendance.”

A hysterical giggle forces his way through Canutes lips. “No. We wouldn’t want that.”

Thorfinn scowls at him, trying to work out why he laughed, before tugging him forward once again. Canute lets him, feeling oddly light.

Neither of them let go the whole walk to class.

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ignisdivine · 8 days ago

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My personal analysis on Thorfinn and Canute's relationship in Vinland Saga (manga spoilers)

Alright so, new year is here and Thorfinn x Canute is still one of my OTPs; it's almost two years now since I'm on this ship. Now, I know that even if Yukimura endorses it it's still frowned upon, in a way that us shippers are believed to simply see two men breathing in each other's direction and want them to f—. Now, while I'm not saying that's never the case, I believe Thorfinn's and Canute's relationship is much more than that; even if it's not that fleshed out, only mostly implied in the series, it grants an analysis not from the standpoint of a delulu fangirl (which I proudly identify as) but simply a canon dissection. Welcome to my shower thoughts!

Their bond definitely carries a lot of potential. When I first watched the series after Berserk, I expected them to be pretty much like Golden Age!Guts and Golden Age!Griffith, because of the inspiration which the mangaka admitted to have drawn from Miura. The tropes were there, as well as the parallels: a friendship which starts at odds and becomes life-changing for both people.

The grounds, at least, were set up: they start bickering inside the cart, which isn't a scene thrown out there only for comedic effects, but carries a subtextual meaning, in that Canute lets his thoughts and feelings out and talks freely to someone else other than Ragnar. That amazes the man and rightfully so, as he sees their interaction in a positive light, apt to develop Canute as a person (also, interesting to note that this moment connects to the one on Ketil's farm where 'Sweyn's head' criticizes Canute for 'showing his true heart to that lowly man'; once again, Thorfinn's naturalness and straightforwardness brings that out in him).

So far, it looked like a promising start, but moving on.

One of the most infamous scenes between them is the rabbit stew dinner. Even if Thorfinn is reluctant to join them, after he tastes Canute's stew he experiences a moment of pure joy, probably the first one since he joined Askeladd's band. His facial expression might be fleeting and easy to miss, but for someone like him it's a huge deal; he's usually reserved, guarded and distrusting, which is understandable given his environment. However, for a short while he lets his guard down and experiences life in a way other than a mercenary, and all thanks to Canute and Ragnar.

That could be said for Canute as well, who we learn that for the first time in a while he's able to do something he genuinely enjoys but was always forbidden by his father. Moreover, he confides in Thorfinn out of all, to reveal this intimate thing about himself and asks him to keep this a secret (and once again, he's revealing his true self in front of Thorfinn, something which we don't see him do very often throughout the series).

This is a moment of trust and vulnerability between both, and definitely apt to develop into something more; to bring positivity into their lives and recover faith in humanity.

(I was a bit disappointed in Thorfinn that later on he pushes Canute away and betrays him, but anyways. I get the artistic direction of him and their relationship, as it makes sense in the context of the story.)

From Canute's side, the intention is definitely there. Later on, on Ketil's farm, 'Sweyn's head' asks him if he truly expected to rekindle an 'old friendship'. This serves to prove that Canute, all this time, has indeed seen Thorfinn as a friend.

As for Thorfinn, while during his slavery times he thinks of Einar as his 'first friend', perhaps he hasn't been able previously to tell whenever someone genuinely cared for him, resulting in him shutting Canute out.

All in all, Canute's overview on prologue Thorfinn lets on that there might have been more off-screen interactions between them, for him to come to see Thorfinn as the closest semblance to a friend that he used to have. I understand though, that for the sake of Thorfinn becoming a hollow shell with nothing good happening to him, he was blind to other's good treatments and never let Canute in.

Another moment between them which is grossly underrated is the aftermath of Thorfinn and Askeladd's last duel. Canute jumps in to stop them from killing each other for obvious reasons, as they're both valuable assets to him that he can't bare to lose; that doesn't rule out the possibility that at this point, he might also be genuinely concerned for Thorfinn. He treats him with care and is relieved when Thorfinn regains consciousness, and is nothing but kind to him when Thorfinn goes full crisis mode and spits insults at him.

A very important aspect which, again, is underrated, is when Canute asks him to heal his wounds first and only then resume his duels. Even if Canute doesn't get his dueling obsession and is even against it, he doesn't deny Thorfinn his wishes (even if Thorfinn is practically his subordinate and he'd have the power to—through Askeladd, that is). He simply shows empathy for Thorfinn's cause, and only steps in out of concern for his safety, not to overstep boundaries or manipulate him into doing his bidding. That's the ultimate form of respect and support.

—I also loved the anime-only scene where Canute stops Thorfinn from going after Askeladd, it added nothing new, but I would still like to ask the directors what they were trying to highlight here🤭—

Askeladd's death is another noteworthy moment to point out. When Thorfinn viciously attacks Canute, and we learn that it terrifies and downright traumatizes him (he still reminisces about it on Ketil's farm and even refuses to speak to him because of his trauma), it doesn't stop him from feeling enraged at his men for trying to execute Thorfinn, and ordering them to cease and leave him alone, with all the respect he's trying to impose due.

Even if this moment isn't about Thorfinn, and Canute has his own cross to carry and very good reasons for killing Askeladd (something which broke him for several reasons), it doesn't prevent him from showing once again empathy to Thorfinn. He says 'this cut is a meager price to pay' because he understands the damage it did to Thorfinn and feels regretful, even if Thorfinn doesn't reciprocate and might even resent him at that point. This is very important to keep in mind, because afterwards Canute would go ahead and do stuff which he's aware are wrong, but he'll never show again that kind of remorse.

The fact that he sends Thorfinn into slavery is the most merciful thing he could do; as far as he's concerned, Thorfinn is capable enough to murder his way out of slavery and go do whatever (and yet, Canute doesn't come on a moral high ground on Ketil's farm because of this, but he's once again apologetic/understanding).

And now onto the climax: the confrontation on Ketil's farm. They both had legitimate reasons to clash heads, it was after all a battle of two wills between the Vikings, who wanted power and to support Canute's ideals, and the farmers who were oppressed, represented by Einar. However, I'm here to analyze solely Canute and Thorfinn's points of view, and it's interesting to note that in the middle of all this conflict, they still manage to show understanding for each other. While Einar calls the king out on his hypocrisy and tyranny, Thorfinn struggles to understand his overarching motive and ultimately finds him fascinating.

In fact, he proves an understanding for Canute which he doesn't really let on during the prologue. But if we look in retrospect: first, apart from his complaints about watching the trio (Canute, Ragnar and Willibald) pray, he pays attention to Canute's speech about fathers and he's visibly affected by his own memories. Second, before he decides to confront him on Ketil's farm, he remembers his speech in Gainsborough. So, he DID pay attention to Canute and wasn't just a brooding jerk who didn't give a damn about anything. Canute's presence probably impacted him as well, just that he never realized to what extent.

And now onto Thorfinn's own influence on Canute during the confrontation, it's too obvious to even dispute; once again Canute finds himself drawn to his genuiness and straightforwardness, he's watching him through lenses which no one else in that world, at that point, could. I want to emphasize the unique understanding they both have of each other because they've seen each other at their lowest, even if they didn't get to spend much time together; we could say it's a sort of bond that transcends physics. I saw some people call them soulmates and I do believe they're not far from the reality.

In the end, Canute not only feels relieved that he found hope and support for his project, but on a personal level I believe he's also relieved that this friendship is finally reciprocated, as we see Thorfinn also calls him a friend later on.

They don't have much interaction afterwards, sadly, but there were still some noteworthy moments.

One of them is Vargr's flashback. It was funny when I first read that Canute himself shows up with a fleet of thirteen ships to escort Thorfinn's small boat. Employing such a fleet requires resources, and besides, I imagine that Canute, as the king of 2+ kingdoms and the head of 2 royal families, has a busy schedule, yet he finds the time to pay a visit to practically a 'nobody'. Nothing stops him from sending a representative in his stead, as we've seen him send Wulf as a spokesman along with Thorkell to the Jomsvikings, which I'd say was much more important business. I like to joke that Yukimura unintentionally turned Canute into a simp, but on a serious note, that goes to show just how much he values and respects Thorfinn. And let's not mention him sparing Vargr just because Thorfinn said so. As the chief of an army he needs to assert dominance in front of his men, instill fear and prove that he's the supreme force - hence all the beheading business. Yet, he has no trouble humouring Thorfinn, and his change in demeanor when Thorfinn makes him laugh proves once again that Thorfinn brings his true self out, is able to change him much to everyone's surprise (and funny how that comes right after Vargr calls him a black-hearted man, what a contrast!).

Another scene is when Thorfinn starts talking about Canute out of the blue while making a comparison to Bug-Eyes. He says that he has a friend which starts wars, yet he hates these wars the most, which is an interesting point to make. Once again it proves the deep understanding Thorfinn has of him, even if he doesn't agree with his actions. In the bigger picture, just how many people could afford speaking of the king so freely and intimately, and making such gross statements? But it's Thorfinn, and he sees him for the human being he is, and not a warmonger overlord.

Lastly, to round up my analysis on an end note, the part where Canute thinks of Thorfinn amidst the pandemic is interesting. Usually, when people suddenly remember about an old acquaintance, they say "Hey, remember Thorfinn? I wonder what...", yet Canute simply goes like "I wonder what HE would do if he were here", to which Wulf rightfully asks who's he. That conveys to me that Canute spoke his mind out loud without realizing, and/or Thorfinn is constantly on his mind and doesn't realize that the others wouldn't have a clue what the hell he's talking about. There's a certain familiarity in the way he's addressing Thorfinn even after all these years.

All in all, my analysis wasn't meant to prove my shipping, but only to draw the conclusion that their bond is unique in Vinland Saga and much more than what's visible to the bare eye; it definitely carried potential for more. Now, wherever that's friendship or something beyond, it doesn't really matter, as that doesn't change the canon events. However, it's important to note that friendship during those times is a luxury that's not widely accessible, which makes such a relationship precious in itself, so it's easy for us the audience to feel immersed into it, no matter in which way. Now, it's only my personal choice to see them as star-crossed lovers. Yap over—

#thorfinn #canute #thornute #canufinn #vinland saga #vinlandsaga #relationship analysis #friends to more #Spoilers #vinland saga spoilers

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