The Last Kingdom

I am Uhtred, son of Uhtred.

I was born a Saxon Lord,

but raised as a Dane, until the eve of my sister's wedding,

when my family were murdered.

I am a warrior,

but when the Danes attacked

Alfred's stronghold of Winchester,

all a man could do was run.

Some faster than others, including my enemy, Young Odda.

And so, Guthrum took Winchester.

Aethelwold pledged his allegiance to the Danes.

Though Guthrum still feared Alfred's God.

I could only hope my now distant wife and child would be safe.

We had no choice but to hide, and pray for a miracle.

Iseult, my virgin queen, saved the King's son,

but at a cost only she could see.

She gave Alfred strength.

With the King alive and well, there is hope for Wessex.

Destiny is all.

-Agreed, we've fired a good number of ships... -Fleet.

A fleet.

But in the meantime,

we've left hundreds of Danes stranded in Wessex, with no means of leaving.

Wulfhere, I do not believe their intention was to ever leave.

And in a few months, there will be more ships,

more men. Now is the time to fight.

To fight with what?

We're without an army and the Danes will number thousands.

Men are out there, Wulfhere, and they are waiting.

- What they need is the call. - Indeed. But...

Lord,

what if I suggest, we escort you to Frankia...

That will not happen, I will not hide.

Not here, nor in Frankia.

But my... I have prayed daily for guidance.

The only way I see to save Wessex is with what we have begun.

One defining battle.

We shall be leaving the marshes.

Courage and faith.

Amen.

Amen.

It will not be recorded that King Alfred was a weak,

frail man,

in mind, body and soul,

unfit to be called king.

-Nothing of what you say is true. -But it would become true.

Never.

And you, my love, will remain here.

If I fail, you must go to Frankia.

Not without you...

You must save and protect our children.

For me.

There can be no other country but England.

No other wife but Aelswith.

Father Beocca.

Father, I'm not saying that I know everything.

But the King must continue to trust me.

The arrival of Asser may change him.

The arrival of Brother Asser has given him strength.

Brother's not a warrior. Now is the time for warriors.

I never thought I'd say it, we need Odda the Younger.

He commands the largest fyrd.

He's the beginning of our army.

That is where we are headed.

Uhtred, I will do everything I can to help.

I will be at your side.

I'll be a flea in Alfred's ear.

Thank you.

Your father would be a proud man.

As am I.

I shall ready my men and by tomorrow have horses waiting.

Uhtred.

Do you believe the Danes can be defeated?

I'll see you across the water, Ealdorman Wulfhere.

You will.

- Why don't you take it? - What do you mean? It's mine.

Aethelcod, Aethelcod, my friend.

A man who would be King of Wessex.

Thank you. Thank you for coming to see me.

-It is Aethelwold, my Lord. -Yes, please, sit down, sit down.

So, I want you

to tell me everything you know

about Alfred.

I've told you, Lord, he thinks with his dick.

He can barely keep his britches on.

- Hear the question, boy. - Not everybody enjoys a fool.

Alfred,

though he may be afflicted by pain, he's as strong a man as you will find.

He's also as clever a man as you will find.

I was ready to have him as my advisor until he stole my crown.

His strength, Lord, I believe comes from his faith.

His... From God.

Do you believe

in this God?

I believe in myself.

Why did Alfred steal the crown?

For silver or to be a stronger king to the people?

No. Um...

Yes, in part.

Which is it?

Unfairly, I was not seen as a man to follow, by some.

I was not a man to fight Danes, it was said.

And which is true because I know the Danes will win.

Yeah, whereas Alfred, Alfred believes that he can win.

- Even now? - Yes.

Yeah, he is wrong, of course. But, but, but his faith, you know,

that God will not desert him,

will make him believe that he will win.

Then you have to kill him.

I must kill him?

Who else?

The King Aethelcod, can walk into Alfred's camp

and be welcomed as a friend.

Shh-shh.

Wulfhere and his men.

God! Stay... Stay away!

I have skills.

Put that piece of tin away, boy.

Oh, thank Christ, you're English.

I thought you're one of them.

What with the hair.

Where's the Ealdorman Wulfhere?

Gone, Lord.

I'm Halig.

- I take care of the horses. - Gone where?

I'm thinking on it, Lord, he did not say.

- I thought you would know. - Wulfhere, where is he?

He's gone, Lord.

My Lord.

He has gone where?

He didn't say.

- He's left you horses, Lord. - We keep moving.

Without Wulfhere?

Our plan doesn't change. We make our way to Odda's estate.

We cannot use the Roman roads.

We can make our way to my farmstead.

And from there, across covered ground to Odda's.

And that is the safest path.

- Leofric. - It is, Lord.

Let's return to the others.

There is pain here for you, my love.

- Do you know them? - Tenants.

No.

We shall bury the dead.

And pray for their souls.

When you are ready, I would like to say a prayer for Uhtred, son of Uhtred.

I will search for Mildrith.

She may be dead and unburied.

Uhtred? No, no...

She has buried your son with care.

And she has left this place.

It's no longer home for her any more.

Believe me.

- Your tears on the earth will show him that you loved him.

Lord, may I ask what you're writing?

The first of many letters.

Each will say the same.

The men of Wessex and beyond shall gather at Egbert's Stone,

and together we will fight.

When you send out your messengers, Lord,

might I suggest that you hand them the letters personally.

Perhaps place a hand on their shoulder.

I will embolden them, I'm sure.

Thank you, Beocca.

I will do that.

You know I did this to you?

When I saved the King's son.

- You did not. - I knew an innocent would die.

I'm tired of being like this.

I've seen too much.

I know too much.

I want to see no more.

Mildrith?

Mildrith!

Mildrith!

Lord! You should be resting.

- You should all be resting. - I'm tired of resting.

I spent too many days doing nothing.

Then at least sit before you become unsteady.

- Where's my wife? - She's resting, Lord.

My son?

- He is away, Lord. - Still?

Important business, demands time.

It is not a betrayal?

No, it is not, Lord.

Look what I've done to you, child.

-I'm content enough, Lord. -Look what God has done to you.

You deserve so much more than...

Than the clothes of a nun.

I have purpose, Lord.

My child is with God.

- Hmm... - And I'm close to God.

There is joy in my days, at times.

Do not fear the Danes.

You will be protected.

My son will ensure that.

You are Earl Skorpa.

You are here to surrender and not waste my time.

- I'm here to negotiate. - Surrender and you will live.

Talk too much and I will kill you.