The Barbarian's Bride (2026) s01e09 Episode Script

It came out so cleanly!
Is this edible, too?
There's so much!
Lady Serafina aren't you
fitting in a little too well?
The Warrior Princess and the Barbaric King
U-Um, Lady Serafina, might I have a word?
What is it, Malcius?
You said you intended on returning
to Illdoren someday, so
Should you really have
accepted that necklace?
Probably not. I think I
may have made a mistake.
Even if it has no binding power
under the Order of Commoneras,
agreeing to an engagement
might have been a bit rash.
But with what Resia told me
Even if she was once a princess,
she's the great chief's wife!
You shouldn't have taken her at her word!
Fear not, Malcius.
I-I will never forget
my duty as a n-noble!
That is not very convincing!
I-It's just that
I was giving some thought
to what Resia said
about searching for my own happiness,
or something along those lines.
And that's what made you so indecisive?
I-Indecisive?
I realize that's the case
I do, and yet
When I try to think about
what happiness means to me,
after a life of nothing but
chivalry and swordplay
I'm at a loss! Nothing comes to mind!
That's rather pitiful.
And I have to say
It's bizarre seeing the knight among
knights, Lavillant the Frozen,
act like a naive village girl!
Well, I can see why
you'd view me as such
but it's more like a misunderstanding.
Before all this, all I had in my head
were my duty and the war.
Fulfilling the duty of someone
born into a noble house
blessed with talent for war
For as long as I can remember,
those things have been my focus.
That's
Thinking back, I may have
obsessed with those matters.
Though I can see why you
might have interpreted
that as behaving like the ideal knight.
It's not that I resent
you for it. It's just
Since coming to this land,
meeting its people,
and seeing how they live their lives
I may have been a knight commander
with the Eastern Expedition,
but to them, I was little more
than an invader from the west.
Lady Serafina
I wouldn't say that I regret the
last seven years of my life.
I was doing what I believed,
at the time, was the right thing.
But I could've never imagined that
the people here wouldn't hate me for it.
And you feel guilty because of it?
Could that guilt truly drive
you to abandon your homeland?!
My homeland
The desolate, barren lands of Illdoren.
For all the gains that this expedition
has had over seven years,
so many of our fighting men were slain
That I question whether it was worth it.
Whether I attend to my homeland,
or my guilt either way, I would
be forsaking something I care about.
I'm not sure I like the sound of that.
Cersei? I can see why you would,
considering what you've been through.
But even if the people
here pay it no mind,
I can't simply forget
the things I've done.
I can't forgot how my actions should
have earned me their distrust and hate.
Oh, I'm done talking about that stuff.
But for all your talk about
guilt and obligation,
you're still wearing that
engagement necklace.
Mulling over your misgivings while you're
wearing something that would come off
if you wanted it to
is practically farcical.
Besides, no matter what your worries
are, we all still need to eat.
I'd say that's more pressing than
the things that are on your mind.
Thinking back on it now, the food
in these lands is so abundant.
The woods and waterways
are rich with nourishment.
And the dragons in the forests,
ferocious though they are,
are large enough to feed hundreds
of people after a single hunt.
Yes, the woods.
The woods here are deep,
and the mountains are rugged
It stands to reason that people
would be unable to farm such land.
Without cultivating the land, there's no
room to live or any way to grow grain
But upon cultivating it, they risk losing
the land's bounty in the long term.
It's been nearly 700 years of us trying
to claim their land, every few decades
Compared to our borders
before the expeditions,
it's true that we have
claimed more territory,
which should include fertile lands
But it makes little difference.
Are we simply depleting it too quickly?
Sera.
I understand you're deep in thought,
but it's made you look like a squirrel.
Here, Lady Serafina!
Th-Thank you. What a relief.
Are you all right, Sera?
Were you thinking about the things
you mentioned this afternoon?
No. I was pondering the significance of
the Eastern Expedition to the people,
as both a knight and a noble.
Seizing your lands for
the sake of our people
I cannot say with confidence that
it was a righteous cause anymore.
But were I to say that,
would the knights and soldiers
who fought resent me?
Would the citizens, who were
saved by our expansion?
Sera.
After we finish eating,
why don't we talk outside?
The beauty of the triplet
moons remains the same,
whether in the east or the west.
Indeed. They're beautiful, Sera.
Yes.
My pondering from this afternoon,
and over the past few days
I genuinely don't know what to do anymore.
Part of me thinks I should return
for the sake of my people
and my comrades
While another wants to
consider my own happiness.
And it feels like I'm at a crossroads.
In that case, perhaps
you could use your imagination.
Imagination?
That's not the kind of thing
I'd expect to hear from you.
I don't see why.
I'd say, compared to most,
I give a fair bit more thought
to things like dreams and ideals.
The Tefyu say that having
a strong enough desire
can make a wish reality.
If they're right, then I imagine
doubts can only give rise to regrets.
Which is why, Sera, it may help you
to imagine what the outcomes might be,
in order to decide what you want.
Imagination Imagining things, eh?
Supposing I return home with some
sort of positive accomplishment
More than anything,
I'd want our people to not starve,
and enjoy great bounty. Enough to
put an end to the expeditions
But even should that happen,
I'll likely meet a dour fate as a noble
after being taken captive.
Locked away in some chamber
for the rest of my days
The more I think about it,
the more grim it seems.
Granted, I knew that was a possibility
But now, suppose, hypothetically,
I abandon my duties as a knight
and choose Veor instead
Rustic as he is, I wouldn't
say he's vulgar or anything.
And his skill with a sword,
while not a match for mine,
is a near contest thanks
to his strength and size
Then again, he's only 18
with experience, he may yet
become stronger than me.
And as Resia's son, his heritage
is without question
Hard as it is to imagine,
suppose we had a child?
A child?! Could Veor and
I have a child together?!
I suppose we could.
Huh, that might not be so bad
Wait, this is more like fantasizing!
And I'm no closer to making a decision!
I see. You're unsure of what to do, then.
I had honestly expected that
you'd be more keen to reject me.
Which is why I'm pleased
to see your indecision.
It means that your feelings for me are
comparable to your previous way of life,
your beliefs, and your pride, does it not?
Which is plenty for me, at the moment.
Do you realize
that you're contradicting
what you said before?
First you tell me not to hesitate,
and then to ponder more
Well, the problem is yours to solve, Sera.
All I can really do is be by your side.
That said it may be wise for
you to broaden your perspective
if you wish to resolve your problem.
How's that?
Perhaps it's time you
consider taking a journey.
Lord Sidius.
Your humble servant, Hilbane,
has returned from
the expedition with news.
I beg your pardon for coming unannounced,
as it is of an urgent nature.
Enter.
Yes, sir.
First, let me to praise you
for returning with this news.
The fact that you're here
makes the nature
of this information somewhat obvious.
Has Serafina fallen in battle?
N-No, sir. Her remains were never found.
It's likely that, while battling
an enemy general as our rear guard,
she was taken captive.
A distinction without a difference.
Yes, sir.
The matter of my sister can wait.
What of the remaining strength
of the expedition's forces?
Sir! Thanks to the princess' efforts,
our losses were light.
Light losses. It won't take long before
another expedition is organized, then.
A genuinely perplexing problem.
Did she not realize that
sacrificing her own life would
not suffice to save the people?
My poor Serafina.
A trip a journey to
a distant place, eh?
I can't deny it's a perfect opportunity
to expand my perspective.
But where will we be going?
Perhaps the elegant
capital of the elves
Or the paradise where the fairies frolic?
The dryads or rather,
those living plants
It's odd how easily my mind comes
up with these bizarre images.
I wonder if the dwarves have an
expansive, subterranean kingdom.
Oh, that can't be!
This isn't some fantasy novel!
Sera.
You're interested in the
Quefto's settlement?
Veor! Don't scare me like that!
You're liable to give me a heart attack.
Forgive me, forgive me.
But their settlement is actually
close to what you described.
While the underground buildings
leave an impression,
the most striking thing is
that they have hot springs!
And what is that?
I suppose it's not clear
from the words alone
And someone born in a land of only
plains would have know way of knowing.
So, what exactly is a hot spring?
How to describe it let's see
Think of it as a natural hot bath.
A hot bath? In nature?
Come now! Hot baths are a luxury
for those with the time and money
for a great deal of firewood.
According to the Quefto,
this water is hot to begin with.
Something to do with heat from the ground.
They just have hot water from out of
nowhere?! Does that seem fair to you?!
The lakeside village is has
plenty of water and dragon meat,
to say nothing of lumber!
And now I find out the
dwarves have mythril
and an infinite source of hot water!
How in the blazes are these
lands so bloody rich?!
I'm glad to see this sort of
thing still surprises you.
Granted, the hot springs
came as a shock to me, too.
I can only remember my time
from the frontier village
But the memories I have of
bathing in the river in winter
make it clear to me how
valuable fuel for fire can be.
The outskirts of the wilderness
that the west have colonized
aren't that much better than the relative
best parts of Illdoren territory.
The lack of dragons and
fairies is proof of that.
True enough.
Not that I'd want to live
any place with those things.
I honestly still can't understand how
it doesn't bother you barbarians.
Do you really think it's that simple?
The warriors here have no real option
but to hunt dragons in order to survive.
Those incapable of that kind
of lifestyle end up dying.
Villages without healthy warriors
often end up becoming feeding
grounds for dragons.
That's
It is what it is.
Either cultivate a barren land where
your meager harvests are taken as taxes
and risk freezing and starvation
or live someplace where
you can eat your fill
but will die without the
protection of strong fighters.
All I can say for certain is
that we will die someday.
And I would personally rather be eaten
by a dragon than starve to death.
Doesn't being part of the
circle of life at least
feel like a death with a purpose?
I can't understand what
you're saying at all.
That makes sense. Chalk it
up to a difference in values.
I-I mean, if you're eaten, there's no
last rites or burial! It's so uncivilized!
That's just not as much
of a concern here.
You actually asked the dwarf
craftsmen to make me a helmet?!
Yes.
But how am I to pay?
I can't access my assets from here.
There's no need to worry about that.
The Morisuberi we hunted the other day
was more than enough to pay for it.
Since you struck the killing blow,
the biggest portion of it was yours.
Add to that my portion, as well as your
reward for striking down the Fiend.
Elder Balhath said he was going
to make you something in mythril.
Look forward to it.
That sounds amazing!
She seems thrilled.
I've never seen Lady Serafina so happy
When shall we go, then?
When will it be ready?
I'll have to ask. Could the
three of you cover your ears?
Lady Vyufmec!
"Thundering Voice" never stops
being an apt description.
That was a nice bit of Thundering Voice,
Orkfiem! Plenty of willpower!
And it's good to see you again, Illdoren!
So energetic
Sorry to call upon you so
suddenly, Lady Vyufmec.
Don't be! Any request from Orkfiem
is a top priority for us.
So, you've got a message
you need delivered?
To the Kurogane Mountains, in the
settlement with the most Quefto.
From Orkfiem to Elder Balhath:
I'd like to know when the
item I ordered will be ready.
Got it! And I'm off!
She vanished again.
Wind Tefyu exist in all places at once.
Call upon them with
willpower in your voice,
and they'll come to your aid.
Granted, only Father and I
can manage that these days.
Huh, it occurs to me that
as the next great chief,
do you mediate negotiations
between the other clans?
That I do.
I'd even say that's the majority
of the alliance's leader's duties.
Along with hunting Fiends, acting as
the linchpin of the great cleansing,
and dividing various gains between
the clans so everyone is happy
That last bit is particularly tough.
For all your wild looks,
you've got no shortage of
responsibility, do you?
That I don't.
But I only intend to do what I can.
That's all any of us can do,
ultimately, as we live out our lives.
It might be a heavy burden,
but I take pride in inheriting
it from my forefathers, Sera.
Veor
I thought you so uncivilized
when we first met,
but your royal blood has
never been more obvious.
Have you fallen in
love with me all over again?
Wh-What?! What do you mean again?!
Come now, it's just a turn of phrase!
A-As a noble, it does make me see
you in a different light, though
I'm back!
Huh? Why're you so red, Illdoren?
I-It's nothing! Now what was
the reply to the message?
Oh, that! Right, right.
"Balhath to Orkfiem: It'll be
ready tomorrow morning!" he says.
That is excellent!
And it settles things, Sera.
Your journey to expand
your horizons will begin
with a trip to a Quefto settlement!
Right!
What a refreshing morning!
Still, leaving while fully armored
how likely is it we'll have
to fight once we get there?
More that we can't let our guard down
until we reach the Quefto settlement.
Take a half step out of human
territory, and the dragons reign.
Better safe than sorry, no?
Now then, our destination
is the Kurogane Mountains.
Near the foot of that biggest peak,
hidden by the closer one.
The biggest mountain,
behind the other?
I had wondered where
exactly we were going,
but we can't possibly cover
that distance in one day!
Who's to say how long it might take?
And I'd say you're worried about nothing.
Now, bear witness!
Among the many Cornem settlements,
this secret is only taught to
those of the Lakeside Village!
The symbol of our esteem
for the dragons that soar!
What is this?!
It is the dream of us warriors
who don the armor of dragons!
The reverence of our ancestors
takes the form of a beast,
growing until it takes spirit form
Becoming an Echo Dragon!
We're flying!
Sera. Does this demonstrate our
reverence for the dragons sufficiently?
You won't find much that is as
thrilling as flying through the sky!
Y-Yeah! How could it not?!
I see!
You two seem more and more like newlyweds.
C-Cersei! Veor and I are
Do we really seem that way?!
Why? Does it bother you?
No, it does not.
Are you that fond of him?!
Hold on tight, everyone!
Are we under attack?
But where did that flame come from?
We've caught the ire of a troublesome foe.
There is only one type of
dragon that breathes fire.
The masters of the Kurogane Mountains
The fire dragons—a strain of
true dragons—the Guren Nairi!