Heartwarming / The Northman

• The War Raven's return. For all the faults inherent to men of the time, Aurvandil is trying to do right by his family now and grow their prosperity and security by raiding. This was how war lords survived.
  King Aurvandil War-Raven: Like a battle-dog returning to its master, I've come to be fettered by my queen's fair locks.
  Queen Gudrun: Ever are we bound, my lord.
  Aurvandil: (sternly) Prince Amleth, you have grown too old to be greeted as a child.
  Amleth Aurvandilson: Hail, Lord King.
  Aurvandil: But... (sweeps his son up in a big hug) a father never grows too old for a good smothering!
• In the only interactions we see of Aurvandil with Gudrun and Fjölnir he's being utterly sincere and considerate of both of them. Perhaps acting as The Atoner for past slights? It makes their plotting against him seem all the more petty and treasonous.
• "This is the same path I walked with my father and he with his. Now it is our path to walk. Be not afraid, Amleth. Do as I do."
• Fjölnir, at least trying to raise his second son with some humility and tact, even remaining gentle and not admonishing Gunnar for acting like a Royal Brat, but advising him to be introspective and reflect on his words.
• Amleth and Olga's burgeoning relationship is the one flickering flame that keeps a majority of the film's darkness away. With the white witch first tending to the Northman when he's hurt during the storm protecting her from the rampaging elements.
• Olga imploring Amleth: "If you lose me, will you come and look for me, too? Will you?" As she's dragged off. They're already bound.
• "Kind friend. Know that I will avenge you, too." says Amleth of Heimir's unjust murder, his Parental Substitute most likely when his father was away.
• This utterly poignant and quite profound exchange between Amleth and Olga during the Pagan merriment in the woods.
  Olga of the Birch Forest: You found me.
  Amleth Aurvandilson: ... Were you lost?
  Olga: Only if you were searching for me.
• Cue steamy passionate intercourse in a moonlit glade.
  Olga: Mother Soil, hear your daughter's prayer. Show me the way to destroy our enslavers, and free my love from his fire and sorrow.
  Amleth: What do you do?
  Olga: Here, where the threads of fate have bound us together, embraced beneath the trees, here I speak with the earth.
• Amleth putting his mission of vengeance in jeopardy as soon as Fjölnir dares put a knife to Olga's throat. With him marching down the hills, announcing his true identity and taking on his uncle's entire contingent of guards with a sword he can't even draw from its sheath. All to give his love a chance to escape.
• Olga just has this great big grin of pure joy when her man shows up and draws all the fire. Before Fjölnir flings her aside.
• "My fate brought me to Iceland to carry out my pledge of vengeance. But my fate did not ready me for finding you. I thought I must always shield my heart in stone."
  • "I could not think I would open it to a Northman."
• "Could it not be that your Norns of Fate have spun another thread for you to follow?"
  • "What do your earth gods tell you?"
    • "That wherever I go, I must take you with me."
• Even as Amleth lies dying in the caldera, the last tear he once shed in weakness is given back to him as a triumphant single droplet as he beholds Olga and her twins healthy and prosperous. And he in turn is accepted as Einheri by the feminine spirit that watches over every Norse warrior and spirited to the Hall of the All-Father to await the Final Battle. In the culture and context of the time it is nothing more or less than a resounding victory.

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