The Last Kingdom

I am Uhtred, son of Uhtred.

Edward, King of Wessex, commanded me to raise his bastard son, Aethelstan.

Protect him and take him to safety.

Teach him how to be a warrior and all you know of the Danes.

For Aethelstan has rivals who plot against him.

Edward's father-in-law, Aethelhelm, is determined that his own line will prevail,

and he stops at nothing to see his grandson Aelfweard on the throne.

If the king cannot choose between his sons,

it may be that we need to ensure his ally the queen does not survive.

Mother! Mother!

For many years, my men and I protected the Mercian border,

where we serve at the pleasure of the Lady of Mercia.

Aethelflaed has taken a vow of chastity to rule alone,

although a deep love remains between us.

The price we are paying is great.

I will miss you, Uhtred Ragnarson.

And she takes great comfort in her precious child Aelfwynn.

My own daughter Stiorra has made her bond with Sigtryggr the Dane.

We seek a homeland.

But we do not succumb to anger.

For many years there has been peace between Saxon and Dane.

And of Brida?

Nothing has been heard since she fled Winchester...

My love...

...and gave birth to Cnut's child.

But I fear that her anger towards me still haunts her.

Blood has been shed. More will flow.

I will take revenge on all those who have betrayed me

and I will not rest until they suffer at my hand.

Destiny is all.

Years passed.

And for those years we heard nothing.

No word, no sign.

Just quiet rumors that she had died.

That she was reborn.

I hoped the silence meant that she had found peace.

Most forgot her.

I did not.

And I knew, in time, she would return.

The reckoning approaches.

The gods are speaking.

They guide the seer to choose amongst you.

The seer has chosen.

We make this sacrifice to bring good fortune.

Show us the moment is ripe for our voyage.

The waves...

To the waves!

We sail for battle!

Beloved friends, warriors...

the time has come to save our people!

To war!

Hey, hey! I've told you before, codfish on top of codfish.

Lord? Do you see something?

No.

But something's changed.

The air is rotten.

That could be me eating too much cabbage.

Something feels wrong. I don't like it.

Lord! Lord!

This one says he can't pay.

Sea raiders robbed me.

Let me guess. The Great Rognvaldr seized his silver.

He wants to trade the border, he pays Mercia a toll.

He says you still have to pay!

In coin. No produce.

And no tin from Cornwallum pretending to be coin.

Iron Lord there.

We have soldiers to feed. It could be a lean winter.

All the more reason to celebrate while we can.

It's Blood Month festival.

I need ale and you need to hump the tall girl from Frisia.

The tall girl from Frisia's too tall.

It's border country, Lord. You don't get to be too picky.

Aethelstan!

Why have you left your post?

- His first hunt, Lord. - It's good luck for Blood Month, Uhtred.

You think you're ready to slaughter a beast?

You know I am.

Aethelstan says he's ready.

What do you say?

Yes?

- For Blood Month! - For Blood Month!

Be careful. The animal will fight to the death.

Or try to hump you.

Let's go kill the swine! Kill the beast!

- Blood Month! - Blood Month!

Blood Month! Blood Month! Blood Month!

Blood Month! Blood Month! Blood Month!

Blood Month! Blood Month! Blood Month!

- Away with you! - Blood Month!

Blood Month! Blood Month! Blood Month...

Leave him. He's a man now.

I should like to see it.

Lord, I, uh, need a little help.

I'll kill you!

- Come here! - Swine!

Again?

Come here, bitch!

- Right! Hey, hey! Easy, easy! - He's mine! He's mine!

Split it up. Come on. Come on!

Get off me, you dirty whore!

- Why do they fight over you? - I... I'm...

I've got no idea, Lord.

Finan! Get your arse over here!

It's 'cause all the best men are spoken for.

Keep the peace!

We're here to secure the border, not kick the arses of drunk women!

You can kick my arse anytime.

I'm going hunting with the men.

Go on, then.

Hey!

Here, piggy, piggy!

Here, piggy! Whoa, whoa, whoa!

Woo, woo!

- Ow! - Aethelstan, you madman, you!

Piggy, piggy, piggy!

Aethelstan!

Aethelstan!

Whose men are you?

Finish him!

Come on.

Uhtred!

Uhtred!

Do you hear that?

Uhtred!

Aethelstan!

Bastard?

Aethelstan!

He's here!

Aethelstan!

Uhtred!

Bastard! Where are you?

How many men?

There were three. One escaped.

- No sign this way. - Who were they?

Not from here.

- Are you hurt? - No.

You took three men... alone?

Yes.

What did I say?

I told you!

Let me go downriver and fight the sea raiders.

No. You're not ready.

Take him to the alehouse. Celebrate his victory.

You had us worried there for a second, boy.

Just a scratch. Come on!

- Tonight we dine in Rumcofa. - You're the one not ready.

He's still a virgin though!

He will redeem us all!

You must follow. You must read this.

We will all perish. We will all perish.

God! There is one God!

You, lady, redeem your heathen forebears.

Return Jorvik to its Christian heart!

Restore the name of Eoferwic.

Danes, hear me!

There is only one God.

How long can they do this?

Every day the same sermon.

King Edward pays them well.

King Edward steals your people from you. You are ruler here. Tell them to leave.

And signal that it troubles us?

A worthless fight.

If I am to be provoked, it will take more than an old man trying to extract coin.

They're not just raising coin. They poke at our gods.

Our gods can withstand it.

He's taking your kingdom one convert at a time.

We're supposed to be at peace.

Yes and the peace means that we are breeding at twice their speed.

We grow our town. We build a country for generations.

We ignore old men.

Could we not have them beaten, just for good measure?

Maybe. Once they've collected enough silver.

They hide it in the sewers.

Think we do not know.

You accept too much.

And you too little, my queen.

Come on, Christian, fight me!

Not all Danes want to keep the peace.

Fight me!

Did Jesus cut your cock off, hmm? Fight me!

- Is that my brother Rognvaldr? - Back from the dead. Once again.

King Sigtryggr!

Show yourself!

The Great Raider Rognvaldr! Who have you enraged this time?

No one!

I am completely reformed!

A man of peace.

We heard you drowned off Scotland.

That was last year.

I heard you needed a kick in the arse.

Letting Christians roam your lands?

Ignore them. They are harmless.

Am I welcome?

I will warn the serving women.

You're welcome.

Jesus loves you!

Wolland!

Did you miss me?

- Let's get him to bed. - Prepare the chamber with no fire.