You look just like Thors... you really are father and son... Thors had those exact same eyes...— Helga
Homecoming (帰郷 Kikyō?) is the 100th chapter of the Vinland Saga series. It is the last chapter of Volume 14 and the first chapter of the series' third arc, the Eastern Expedition Arc.
Overview[]
In December 1018, Thorfinn arrives in Iceland with Leif, Einar and Bug-Eyes. He has not been home since he ran away at the age of six and knows it has been over a decade, but is surprised to find he does not remember how old he is. Thorfinn meets with Ylva first, who does not recognize him. She believes Leif made up the story of running into a grown-up Thorfinn in York some years prior to cheer her and her mother up. Thorfinn goes to see Helga next, who immediately recognizes him. She remarks he has the same eyes as Thors and Thorfinn tearfully apologizes to her. Thorfinn plays with his nephews and his niece until their father, Ari, arrives home and reunites with Thorfinn. Ylva comes home and is angry to see the "imposter" again, but Helga tells her it is really her brother. Thorfinn reaches for a hug, but Ylva punches him and angrily yells at him for not coming home when he was alive all this time.
Summary[]
Thorfinn gets nervous about how he should greet his mother and sister
In December 1018, Thorfinn arrives in Iceland with Leif, Einar and Bug-Eyes. Einar comments that Iceland is indeed a treacherous place, with the cold, the ice in the sea, short days and a low sun that would prevent raising crops in this "land without fields". Leif notes that the short days are because of the winter, whereas in the summer the days last forever. He then comments that with the right conditions, there are places where wheat can be grown, but not enough to feed everyone on the island. Einar asks if this means everyone on the island is a shepherd or a cowherd, but Leif says there are craftsmen and fishermen as well, like in Thorfinn's village, where everyone got together to fish due to lack of grazing land and pastures. Thorfinn is surprised to hear it. Einar asks him why he is surprised since he lived there, and Thorfinn says he was a kid at the time and didn't know those things. He tells Einar he ran away when he was six and has been gone 10 years or so. He pauses and tries to determine how many years he's been gone exactly, and is then startled to realize he doesn't know how old he is. Bug-Eyes says he sees a village and Thorfinn starts to get nervous, wondering what kind of face he should greet his mother and sister with. Leif chuckles and tells him to grin and bear it.
Ylva does not recognize Thorfinn
On shore, four men greet them. They seem not to recall Thorfinn and ask themselves if Ylva had a brother. One of the men asks Thorfinn to guess who he is, as he should know if he lived there. Thorfinn guesses Faxi, but the man says he got it wrong. Thorfinn laments he can't help it as it's been years. He starts to ask Leif for help, but Leif is laughing. The men decide to bring Thorfinn to Ylva, who's haggling with a Norwegian trader. Ylva looks at Thorfinn and says his name a couple of times. Thorfinn says Ylva's name back and runs towards her with open arms for a hug, but she stops him with a foot to the face and says she doesn't know any Thorfinns. Leif tells her it's her brother, but she reminds him her brother died when he was a little boy. Leif tells Ylva that he survived and reminds her he told her he met Thorfinn, grown-up, when he visited York. Ylva asks why he didn't bring Thorfinn back home then and Leif says there were circumstances. Ylva says it's quite a stretch to ask her to believe a six-year-old survived through battle and war on his own, and assumes Leif just fabricated the story to cheer her and her mother up. She throttles Thorfinn and asks him where he gets off leading on Leif like that.
Thorfinn sits gloomily on the docks. Leif tells him to go see Helga, who will recognize him. Thorfinn is in bad shape but thinks it cannot be helped if they forgot his face, as he'd nearly forgotten his mother's and sister's himself. Bug-Eyes tells Thorfinn it doesn't matter if they've forgotten him and that at least he gets to see his mother alive. He tells Thorfinn he is jealous of him, as he was separated from his parents at a young age and has no idea where they are. He jokingly says his name is Thorfinn too and he can go play the good son, but Thorfinn smiles and says he will go and just wanted to vent a little.
Helga immediately recognizes her son
Helga notes Thorfinn has the same eyes as Thors
Thorfinn tearfully apologizes to his mother
The group goes to see Helga. She opens the door, surrounded by three grandchildren who ask her who "Thorfinn" is. Thorfinn sadly notes his mother has aged. Helga says Thorfinns name and starts walking towards him and Bug-Eyes opens his arms and exclaims "Ma!". Einar pushes him back and tells him not to make the situation messier. Leif apologizes and points out the right Thorfinn, but Helga was already making her way to him. She notes how big he is and takes his face in her hands, crying as she tells him he looks just like Thors and that he had those exact same eyes. Thorfinn takes his mother's hands and starts to cry. He apologizes for everything and says he's been a terrible son. Helga welcomes him home. Leif, Einar and Bug-Eyes cry as they watch the reunion. Helga leads Thorfinn inside.
Some time later, Ari bursts through the door and asks Helga if he heard right and if Thorfinn is back. Thorfinn is playing with his niece and nephews, who greet their father. Thorfinn recognizes Ari immediately and Ari notes Thorfinn is all grown up. Einar starts to leave and Helga asks him where he is going. He tells her that Leif and Bug-Eyes are staying at the Gothi's house and that he will join them for the night, but Helga says he can stay with them and that although it's cramped, they can make room for one more. Einar starts to protest and Helga states that if he is Thorfinn's brother, that makes him her son and this is therefore his home. Ylva arrives home and starts telling Helga about the trader she dealt with earlier. She recognizes Thorfinn and throttles him again, damning him for daring to pretend to be her relative and telling him he should've picked someone richer if he was after their inheritance. Helga tells Ylva to stop, as it's really Thorfinn. She's dubious, as she thought it was a story Leif had made up. Thorfinn once again reaches in for a hug, but Ylva punches him and yells at him to tell them where he's been all this time and why he didn't come home if he was alive all these years. Ari tries to stop her, but Ylva says there's more left in her and asks Thorfinn if he has any idea how much Helga grieved over him. Einar notes he's seen Thorfinn can take punishment, while Ylva's children comment on how strong their mother is.
Supplemental Material[]
The end of Chapter 100 includes a Map of Thorfinn's Travels (including information boxes for "Thorfinn's home village", with images of Ylva and Helga; "Ketil's Farm", with images of Thorfinn, Einar, Snake, Sverkel, Ketil, Thorgil, Olmar and Leif; and "Jelling", with images of Canute, Wulf and Floki).
Supplemental designs of a lineup of Ketil's guests (those not killed by Gardar — Toad, Spider, Rat, Mole, Wild Dog and Sparrow) and of the guests' lodging (fortress) are included.
The Afterword talks about Yukimura's sons and children's tendency to play fight with pretend weapons.
Translation Notes: Jarl, Helheim, Hnefatafl, Hávamál, Gothi.
The U.S. edition of Vinland Saga includes an exclusive Ask Yukimura Q&A, talking about character clothing and hairstyles, historical characters Yukimura would've liked to include but couldn't, and advice for aspiring writers or comic artists looking for inspiration.
The Bonus Comic Thorfinn is Bad at Duels (by Faith Erin Hicks) is included.
Characters in Order of Appearance[]
- Einar
- Leif Ericson
- Thorfinn
- Bug-Eyes
- Mols
- Ylva
- Helga
- Thors Snorresson (Flashback)
- Ari