Indeed, the death of a friend can break someone. So as History's "Vikings" moves forward, fans of the series will see King Ragnar go through some dark changes after his comrade, the Anglo-Saxon monk Athelstan, met his untimely demise. 

In the upcoming episode of "Vikings" titled "To The Gates!" the warrior's hankering to have Paris down on its knees is stronger than ever, and his fearless battalion will do just about everything to reduce the place to rubble. 

The army set to protect the area in harm's way has gone to a lockdown, steeling themselves to foil King Ragnar's plans. It remains to be seen whether or not the warfare will culminate to a Vikings' momentous victory, but the synopsis warns that the warriors "are determined to make it through the gates and of Paris and will stop at nothing to succeed." 

Add to that a seething Ragnar, who is more vindictive and darker than viewers have ever seen. The leader of the Vikings has not been very good at keeping relationships as of late, and Athelstan was the only one he had. Their friendship was the only thing that mattered that actually worked out. 

Now Ragnar is lost, hating his ally for leaving him in the blue or for simply leaving him. As he ominously declares how nothing can raise his spirits anymore, the Viking leader gives a free rein to his darker side and Athelstan's murderer Floki better be running for his life now. 

"It's going to have a huge impact psychologically and in other ways," creator of "Vikings" Michael Hirst told Zap2it about the loss. "We don't necessarily see that immediately but certainly when he gets to France. He becomes a slightly different, slightly darker man."  

Hirst also detailed that Ragnar will eventually "get the man" who murdered his friend but the "Vikings" creator is saving that for the future of the series.

So for now, viewers can follow Ragnar's journey into the dark with episode 8 of "Vikings" season 3 "To The Gates!" airing April 9.