Eric's Human Family
A thousand years ago, Eric’s father was a Nordic king and Eric was a passionate youth, more interested in pleasure than learning how to rule. Despite his disinterest in settling down and becoming king, he was obviously devoted to his parents and his infant sister. One night, while Eric was otherwise engaged, Russell Edgington (who was nearly 2,000 years old at the time and several hundred years from turning Talbot) had his werewolves attack the family’s home, presumably to add Eric’s father’s gold crown to his collection of beautiful and unique things. All three were killed, and Eric swore to avenge their deaths.
Eric and His Men
When Godric happened upon Eric, obviously some time after this tragic event, Eric was on the road with his men. We can assume he was a king without a kingdom, on his quest to destroy the werewolves and their master. Eric was mortally wounded, and his men carried him as Eric begged them to save themselves and leave him behind. Even when still human, Eric was unfailingly loyal, a powerful warrior, and a good leader. His men refused to abandon him, attributing him for their lives, and Godric (who had witnessed Eric on the battlefield) quickly killed them before turning Eric.
Though centuries have passed, Eric’s human friends and family are fresh in his mind. Now that he has taken from Russel Edgington what was taken from him, may they all rest in peace.
thanks latbfan! poor eric, even before he started making them himself, his past was strewn with dead bodies.
actually, I’m not sure if Eric did not inherit the throne upon his father’s death and was fighting for his kingdom when Godric saved him to better things in the undead life.
Wow, Latbfan, this RIP is actually way too good for this royal family . Nice bling, but the picnic table al fresco dining – hmmm, some kingdom. Loyalty obviously a HUGE thing with these Norsemen, and blood honour. As I recall it was the king who with his dying breath swears Eric to vengeance. How fortuitous for everyone (except RE and Talbot) that Godric turned Eric, and gave him another 1000 years to find the culprit.
Gattopardo, was it ever made clerar exactly what Eric and his band were fighting for? I somehow go the impression that they were a roving group of warriors, doing what warriors do, not to gain or regain a kingdom (or that fun campsite)
I am pretty sure that when his men were carrying him about, one of them said that they “wouldn’t leave him to be eaten by wolves” so they might have been hunting the weres.
Its true they were probably a poor Northern kingdom but the dark, rustic setting was not out of place for that historical period, in Europe. Nor do I think that their lack of glamour makes them less worthy of a nice eulogy.
You are right of course that loyalty was a big thing in those days, and not just among Norsemen either.
It is true it was never clear what they were fighting for. But as a new king or surviving prince, it would make sense that he would take charge of matters such as warfare for his kingdom. Also, from the way his companions spoke of the other times Eric had saved them, and their unflinching loyalty, I just thought “army”.
It hadnt occurred to me he would be on his revenge mission but it makes sense considering what we now know of his promise.
Another reason why I didnt connect the sounds of battle in the background to Russell and his wolves was that, as a vampire leading a pack of ultra-strong weres in the night, they’d probably make short work of a group of mere men, swords or no swords.
Another thing was, Russell attacked the royal family in the middle of the night, crash and grab raid style. Its quick, its swift, its fuss free. A battle field full on confrontation doesnt seem to fall into the pattern.
But hey, I’m just guessing here.
Thank you Gattopardo for “Its true they were probably a poor Northern kingdom but the dark, rustic setting was not out of place for that historical period, in Europe. Nor do I think that their lack of glamour makes them less worthy of a nice eulogy. ”
Everytime I read something from Acanthus – there’s always something negative as if he could do so much better than what’s been done on the show. I don’t see him directing any films and having millions of fans. And apparently he needs a good visual history lesson… and also a lesson in understanding Vikings. In some countries today, it’s still custom to avenge your family or loved ones.
And also, we only got to see a small portion of the family’s “estate.” There were other rooms, not just the kitchen where they were eating. There would have been rooms for the King, Queen, and kids and servants.
Acanthus – Wow. That’s not a very nice thing to say about a Viking family. What did you think? they had huge castles? I think they could have made it look more like the big throne room in Rohan from LOTR, but back in those days, Vikings travelled alot and would settle from one place to another.
I think also that Russell was after more than just a pretty crown, as he mentioned a few episodes ago that he had been systematically taking out human leaders and royalty for centuries so as to (hopefully) weaken the population.
I agree that Eric’s subsequent meeting with Godric was during his initial vengeance quest, but exactly how long he’d been pillaging away in memory of his father is unclear.
Eric Northman began his revenge on Sunday Night.
He even said it~ “I take from Russell what he took from ME~ I take his Family”
Then he plunged the Japanese porn scroll into Talbot’s back and Russell felt the death.
I’ve always lived by this addage~”Keep your friends close~ BUT your Enimies Closer”
That’s exactly, what Eric Northman has been doing.
When this is all over I would love for Eric to take his rightful place as King Eric.
And make Sookie his Queen..
Eric’s family and friends certainly seem to indicate that he was well-loved, if not a little spoiled. His attitude with his father the King seemed to indicate a level of parental indulgence, and I’m not sure if that is realistic for that time. Life was harsh and you had to be tough to survive.
However, Eric’s 1,000 year old vendetta either makes him crazy or amazingly loyal, perhaps both. (With hesitation, I raise the question of his intellience as well, but really, it took you 1,000 years to find Russell? 1,000 years?)
If Russell had spared Eric’s family, they would all be long dead. The death of his family, while unforgivable and abhorrent, set him on the path that led him to Godric and immortality. I wonder how he feels about that now. Given the choice to do it all over again, would he have died on that battlefield? Preferred to stay home and live a “normal” life, becoming King and dying before he was 60?
Anyway, nicely done latbfan, as always.
It’s an interesting point your rise. Eric was an over-indulged, cocky youth, probably relishing on the fact he was a stropping young prince with a good future ahead of himself. The death of his parents, apart from unexpected, violent and gratuitous, signified for him a total upheaval of his notions of life, of right and wrong. His father didnt die in battle, he was not killed defending or conquering… he was murdered in his home for no apparent reason.
Also, I believe guilt and shame must have compounded to make this traumatic event even more scaring for him.
I think it is tragically beautiful that he would hold himself to the promise he made his dying father and that, centuries of hard vampire living later, he still cherish the memory of his family so dearly that he would seek retribution for their death.
It’s curious that what was on his mind upon murdering Talbot was the idea of loss “Russell took my family, and now I’m taking his”.
It is clear that life has a vampire agrees with Eric- he came to terms with his new nature well enough, he makes no apologies for what he is or does. however, I think that if he had the opportunity to go back, he’d choose to save his family.
I think you’re right… or he’d die trying. To die in battle for a Viking was the ultimate “good” death. Eric felt guilty bec he was messing around with the help and couldn’t be there for his family… but how could he have foreseen what was to come?
Eric came in when the alarm was raised about the raid. He tried but failed to safe them. His promise to his father was made on that failure and he was going to make it right, no matter what. His promise would never be broken until he finished it or died, that is the Norse way.Eric does not handle failure well, we’ve seen that over time.
His was a tribal kingdom like so many up there, uniform “nations” were centuries away yet. Tribes fought each other when they weren’t going off to raid outside their areas.
What he did to Talbot was the only way he saw that he could get Russel’s undivided attention. I think he succeeded.