As Freya and Bjorn ride back toward Grindill, Bjorn stops her and urges her to flee south by ship, escaping Snorri's control entirely. Freya refuses, unwilling to condemn her family to execution. Bjorn then reveals a second prophecy his mother received from Odin: that the shield maiden would unite Skaland but leave tens of thousands dead, turning friend against friend, feared by all. He confesses he initially believed she'd be a monster but changed his mind upon meeting her—yet fears Snorri will turn her into one. He admits he orchestrated opportunities for her to choose to leave. Freya is shaken but recalls Hlin's words to her mother about avarice versus altruism, concluding that choosing others over herself is the path to a different destiny. She decides to return, even though it means giving up a life with Bjorn. Bjorn declares his love for her, and she silently reciprocates but cannot say it aloud, knowing she hasn't chosen him over duty.

Their moment is interrupted when they spot a large drakkar with a blue-striped sail—belonging to Skade, Harald's hunter and a child of Ullr whose magical arrows never miss. Bjorn explains Skade has been sent to find Freya. Freya races toward Selvegr to warn the villagers, but Bjorn forcibly stops her. They observe from a ridge as Skade's warriors disembark peacefully and a villager leads them toward Kelda's farm. Freya and Bjorn suspect someone betrayed their location, and Freya accuses Ylva, the only person who knew their destination, though Bjorn argues it doesn't make sense.

They sneak through the woods to Kelda's farm, arriving in time to witness Skade's archer kill Birger, one of Snorri's men, with a magical arrow through the skull. Skade interrogates Kelda, who cooperates, telling Skade that Freya left an hour ago on horseback with Bjorn and was likely heading to Grindill. Skade appears satisfied and turns to leave—but at the tree line, she calls Kelda a cowardly bitch for betraying her child and shoots her through the heart with a glowing arrow.

Freya rushes to her dying mother, devastated by guilt over their earlier argument and the harsh words she spoke. Kelda dies in Freya's arms. Bjorn urges Freya to flee, arguing that people who seek to use her cause death around her. But Freya, consumed by rage—her eyes turning red—vows vengeance against Ylva, Skade, and Harald. Bjorn warns that she has no proof against Ylva and that acting in rage will bring punishment from Snorri. He begs her to calm down and think clearly.

Freya feigns agreement, asking Bjorn to burn her mother's home as a funeral pyre. While he sets the house ablaze with his divine axe, Freya seizes both horses and gallops away, taking Bjorn's mount to prevent him from following. A dark inner voice encourages her, and despite Bjorn's desperate shout, she does not look back.