Gunnhild is loosely based on the historical Gunnhild Gormsdóttir, also known as Gunnhild, Mother of Kings. It is a testament to Gunnhild that she is willing to provide a guiding hand to Ingrid, despite her being "the other woman." Gunnhild has always been aware of all of Bjorn's faults and his strengths, and she loves him for it all. Gunnhild naturally takes on the leadership role as Queen of Kattegat. Even though she feels a great love and respect for Bjorn, she does not hesitate to challenge him, even hitting him two times. She tried to make Harald feel better about his bad luck in love, consoled Bjorn when he was depressed by the disappearance of his mother, and made Bjorn show his feelings for her. She is also a kind, affectionate, and humble. She is strong enough to hurt Bjorn on the battlefield. Gunnhild is a strong, fierce, unique, and loyal shield-maiden. She then jumps into the water and drowns herself to be reunited with her beloved in Valhalla. At the wedding, Gunnhild tells them she won’t be joining them in matrimony as in her heart she is still married to Bjorn. He announces he will marry Ingrid as well and have the same two wives that Bjorn once had. Upon learning that Ingrid is pregnant, he believes that the child is his because he raped Ingrid. When Harald returns to reclaim Bjorn’s throne, he decides to take Gunnhild as his queen. He even manages to convince Gunnhild to sleep with him, despite her grief over Bjorn's death. Ingrid disagrees, saying she was pregnant before she was raped by him, and thus the baby is Bjorn's. When Ingrid reveals to Gunnhild that she is pregnant, Gunnhild tells her that the baby is Harald's. Unbeknownst to her, he is also convincing Ingrid that she should become queen. Erik the Red convinces Gunnhild that she should stand to be elected. Upon Bjorn's death, Kattegat needs a new ruler. This is a sly move on her part as this would make her the "Queen of all Norway." She states that Bjorn is "the King of all Norway" even though King Harald technically was the one ordained as such. Her eulogy for Bjorn is a heartfelt and slyly political speech. Upon Bjorn's death, Gunnhild tells the story of Bjorn to keep her husband's name and exploits alive in the people's hearts. She takes him to speak with Bjorn who is bedridden and dying. When King Hakon arrives in Kattegat to offer his support in the fight against the Rus, Gunnhild is sitting on Bjorn's throne. Gunnhild acts tough, but when Bjorn leaves, a tear slides down her cheek. He made a decision and now he needs to follow through with it. He lingers, obviously guilty over the pain he's caused her. Gunnhild puts on a brave face, telling Bjorn to go to Ingrid on their wedding night. When Erik the Red comments on her apparent lack of jealousy, she rebukes him by telling him that he does not know her or her feelings. Gunnhild claims she is not jealous of Ingrid, but during the celebration feast, she taunts Ingrid, clearly not nearly as comfortable with this new arrangement as she pretends. Once he's "made his conquest" he tires quickly and moved on to another woman. It's an interesting solution to a problem Bjorn has always had with his women. When Bjorn once again struggles with being faithful to his wife, Gunnhild solves the problem by suggesting her take Ingrid as a second wife. When Lagertha crowns with Sword of Kings Bjorn, new King of Kattegat, Gunnhild becomes Queen of Kattegat. She participates at the Siege of Kattegat and survives. Later she becomes Bjorn's wife and the ultimate love of his life. She falls in love with Bjorn, soon after. Her and Bjorn both shared a connection and quickly fell in love, despite King Harald having an interest in her. She is captured by the Saxons after the Battle of Marton, where she eventually meets Bjorn. She later faced Bjorn Ironside during the fight, slicing him on the forehead in the process before being knocked to the floor, forced to surrender to him as the Viking army retreated. In the battle against King Alfred’s Army, Gunnhild stabbed and killed Bishop Heahmund through the back, while he was wounded. She then comforts him and confidently tells him that he will be happily married one day and this causes Harald to be immediatley smitten with her. While he was discussing his ambitions with her and her husband, he also talks about his desire to kill Lagertha for kiiling his wife Astrid. When Gunnhild is first introduced, she is with her husband, Jarl Olavsonn and also with King Harald on a ship.
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