Episode 3 of "King & Conqueror" unfolds with Harold harboring an earnest resolve to return to England and rescue Edith from impending danger. However, the heavens conspired against him as an ominous storm brewed on the horizon, grounding his fleet and temporarily dashing his hopes.
In this pivotal moment, Sweyn stepped forward, offering his assistance to Harold, who then unburdened his heart, revealing that Lady Emma harbored a sinister plot to annihilate their entire family. Harold was convinced that Lady Emma would cunningly use Edith as bait to ensnare them all. Tostig, eager to lend his strength to his brother's endeavor, eagerly volunteered to accompany him.
Harnessing this newfound alliance, Harold tasked Tostig with procuring a vessel from Count Baldwin. Upon arriving at Baldwin's domain, Tostig was reunited with Judith, his niece, whom Baldwin introduced with warmth. The count graciously agreed to lend them a ship, contingency upon a future favor. Baldwin then subtly encouraged Judith to consider the suitors from France, albeit it seemed her affections were already fixed upon Tostig.
Elsewhere, by the river that delineates Flounders from France, William and Henry confronted each other. Henry boldly claimed responsibility for Robert's demise, asserting that the latter's impending alliance with England posed a grave threat. With a chillingly regal demeanor, the king issued an ultimatum: accept defeat and remain confined in Flounders, or face the dire consequences, including the death of William's own son.
Meanwhile, Godwin received word of his sons' daring plan to reclaim Edith. Though he granted Sweyn permission to embark on this perilous journey, he steadfastly refused to sanction Tostig's participation. In a moment of solemn revelation, Godwin imparted to Sweyn that while he had once been destined for command, it was Harold who must now spearhead this battle, for Edith was his cherished wife.
In the realm of Mercia, Edith valiantly endures the Mercian torment, her burgeoning pregnancy concealed beneath her garments as she bears the brunt of their cruelty. Meanwhile, across the lands in Flanders, Judith reconvenes with her cousin Matilda, engaging in a heartfelt discourse about Godwin and his kin. During their conversation, Judith inquires into Matilda's union with William, uncovering from Baldwin's whispers that Henry once courted her with suitors in mind.
Matilda confides in William that her father maintained correspondence with Henry, a revelation William seizes upon with strategic cunning. He devises a plan to exploit Baldwin as a pawn to distract and disorient Henry, ultimately aiming to eliminate him. That fateful evening, William and Harold find themselves unwittingly sharing a communal bath. Their conversation drifts to Edith's plight and her captivity, prompting Harold to implore William for assistance. William responds by painting a picture of Edward's erratic behavior, emphasizing his unpredictability.
Their introspective dialogue is abruptly interrupted by an assault launched by unseen assailants, though both men narrowly escape harm. As dawn breaks, Sweyn marshals his troops for the English shores, leaving Tostig morose over his exclusion. Judith, however, expresses relief at his stay, unaware that their bond is blossoming into romance. Unbeknownst to them, Godwin and Baldwin silently sanction their marriage, Godwin cleverly fostering the illusion that Tostig's union with Judith stems from his own free will.
In Wessex, Harold encounters the grim sight of fallen soldiers, their bodies left unburied as a mark of defiance. He orders the Mercians to retreat and decides to infiltrate Mercia through a hidden entrance to ascertain Edith's wellbeing. Yet, Sweyn, disregarding his commands, storms in headlong. Harold finds himself engulfed in battle, facing Sweyn and his fellow soldiers. Morcar, in a moment of revelation, confesses that he has sent Edith to London, placing her fate in Emma's hands....
Desperate, Harold urges Morcar to forge an alliance with Wessex, aiming to depose Edward. Morcar, eager to escape Emma's oppressive rule, readily concurs. The stage is set for a tumultuous upheaval, where alliances shift, hearts intertwine, and the fate of kingdoms hangs in the balance.
Harold steadfastly declines to revert to Flanders, instead winning over Earl Siward of Northumbria with a solemn pledge to shield his descendants from Lady Emma's machinations. In the bustling metropolis of London, Gunhild unearths Emma's clandestine schemes, orchestrated without Edward's consent, leading to a fiery confrontation between the two women. Emma, desperate to regain control, implores Edward to exile Gunhild, yet he stands firm in his refusal.
Concurrently, William devises a treacherous plot to eliminate Henry, manipulating Baldwin into serving as his pawn in this deadly scheme. With silvered tongue, William persuades the other Dukes of France to align with him in their collective endeavor to bring Henry to his knees.
Elsewhere, Edith's captivity is further complicated by the advancing stages of her pregnancy, her struggle palpable amidst her confinement. Realizing the gravity of his alliances, Harold journeys back to Flanders to enlighten Godwin about his pact with Mercia and Northumbria. With persuasive eloquence, he also urges Godwin to bestow the title of Earl of Wessex upon the next generation.
The episode draws to a close with Godwin making a solemn vow to anoint Sweyn as the Earl of Northumbria once the tempestuous times have subsided, leaving a hint of what lies ahead in this intricate web of power and intrigue.
