The Last Kingdom (2015) s03e05 Episode Script
Series 3, Episode 5
I am Uhtred, son of Uhtred.
King Alfred grows weaker each day, leaving Wessex vulnerable to enemies within.
- Aethelwold is there? - They will march from north to south as a single army.
I, too, am now seen as a threat.
But I've promised to protect Alfred's daughter, Aethelflaed.
Your husband intends to kill you.
I shall leave now, and you must do the same.
Indeed, both Aethelred and Haesten wish her dead.
Saving her life has come at a high cost to me.
Skade in place of Aethelflaed.
You are cursed once more, Uhtred of Bebbanburg.
I've been thinking about Ragnar and him killing me.
I should kill him first.
My brother has disowned me as a traitor.
And it is true.
You are no longer my brother! I betrayed him by leaving him in the company of my men without honor.
Destiny is all.
He's dead! He's dead! Alfred is dead! He's dead! Alfred's dead! The Saxon cur is no more! He's dead! Alfred is dead! Jackdaw, is this true? How did you hear this? It's all over the country, they say.
He's dead! Alfred shat his precious soul out of his arsehole.
Ragnar, Alfred is dead! The Saxon shit is gone! Ragnar! Ragnar? Ragnar? Ragnar.
Ragnar.
Take it.
Close your hand.
Ragnar.
Ragnar, close your hand and take this.
Ragnar, take this.
Ragnar, take it! No! No! No, Ragnar, no! No! No! No! No! So, he's dead.
This is good news.
No! No! Ragnar! Ragnar! Ragnar, no! Move.
Move! Ragnar, no.
No.
Who? Who did this? His whore? I will ask.
Ragnar Ragnarson, the only man amongst you, is dead! Who did this? Cowards! All of you! You had to kill him while he was sleeping? Brida, it was his woman.
The knife was in her hand.
It was Ragnar's sword in her belly.
Why would he kill a woman he was trying to pup? Why would she kill him? How? Maybe it was you who killed him.
Her husband was ploughing another field, so the crazy bitch killed them both.
Bloodhair, no.
This is not the answer.
He was your leader! He was to give you wealth! Protection! We go on.
- Nothing has changed.
- Everything has changed.
We go on.
You You have no leader.
Then I shall lead.
With Bloodhair.
We will bury Ragnar, and we will march.
Get it done, and keep her quiet.
Release her.
Though I did not know him well, he was a good man.
A brave warrior.
Are you going to behave? You speak to him as if he understands.
He will not understand the words, but he will know I'm a friend.
Someone he can trust.
So, when the time comes to push him into battle, he will not hesitate.
Is that the way you treat your men? You win their trust and expect them to follow? It is not a game, nor a strategy.
It is who you are.
A man who instills trust.
I would like you to kiss me.
And then? Begin with a kiss and see where it leads.
- If you would rather not - It is something I would enjoy and then regret.
Lady, in Erik, you chose someone you could not be with.
And I am the same.
I would not see you hurt again.
Who would have to know? - Who would need to know - Skade.
Skade would know.
She would see everything I care for destroyed.
She must be found, recovered.
I would say, it is impossible for you to recover her.
- I must.
- How? You cannot attack Beamfleot.
To fight Haesten's army, you will need an army.
My Father is to join the Mercians at Aegelesburg.
I will meet him with our guards and Aethelred.
You will be safer there than here.
It is a good decision.
I will tell the king of Haesten's attempt to kill me.
By attacking me, he has made himself an enemy of Wessex.
Come with me.
My father will forgive you, and you will lead his men against Beamfleot.
- I do not want his forgiveness.
- Then use his army.
Use his men, and recover Skade.
I offer you a way to end this curse.
Lord, we are ready for another chapter.
The country is rife with word of my death, I am told.
So what a fright you shall be to the Danes, marching beyond Wessex and into Mercia to stand by the side of Aethelred and look them in the eye.
To look them in the eye.
Yes.
Steapa, when you are ready.
Yes, Lord.
We march! Men of Wessex we march! Leave us.
Some of his men believe this to be a sign.
For Ragnar to die without his sword means the battle can't be won.
They're your men now.
You must convince them otherwise.
I won't prevent any man from returning north.
- They have no leader.
- We can lead.
You and I.
This morning you said you'd lead with Bloodhair, now you choose me? I do not wish to bed Bloodhair.
Already we're divided.
Without Ragnar, we shall become separate tribes.
I will let you grieve.
You'll find us at River Ouse.
One army.
It was either you or Bloodhair who killed Ragnar.
You cannot accept that his last night was spent with a whore and that she killed him.
Who knows what goes on between a man and a woman? Ragnar did not appreciate nor deserve your love.
We have lost a great warrior.
A great man.
I know this better than most.
Ragnar Ragnarson was my cousin.
And I'm angry with him because he deserved a better death! Killed half naked.
Killed without his breeches and his sword! Far from the battlefield.
It is a death I fear most.
It is a death our great warrior Bloodhair fears most.
But we men standing here are fortunate men! - The gods are with us.
- Yes! We have swords in hand and a battle ahead of us.
Land to be won, silver to be shared and Saxons to kill! We are Danes together! Together! Together! Osferth.
Fetch Uhtred.
Tell him we have a guest.
A woman.
How can you tell it's a woman? You have to ask? Fetch Uhtred.
I knew you'd be with your princess.
Something has happened? You left him.
Ragnar? He had waited years for you to come home and within a matter of days you were gone.
You should've left the Saxon bitch to die.
Where is he? I will go to him.
He's dead! Ragnar is dead! He doesn't feast in Valhalla.
Instead, he lies under a pile of stones at a lake near Loidis! There was no honor in his death.
None.
He will spend eternity in the cold of Niflheim, because of you, Uhtred of Bebbanburg.
You chose her.
You chose Alfred and you left him.
No, Sihtric.
I should kill you but I want you to live with the pain of his death.
He was your brother.
Uhtred, I My brother is dead.
Oh, God.
It is her.
Skade and her curse.
It goes on and on.
Could it not be just life? Death comes to us all.
It is her.
She must be recovered.
We go to Alfred and to Aethelred.
We do? And we beg for an army.
Once the last of Bloodhair's men sail up the Ouse we will march on Mercia and then Wessex.
He will have me send you to him.
Bloodhair.
It is I who choose who I sit with.
Lie with.
Kill.
You have only ever taken women.
They do not give themselves to you.
Whether it is given or taken, I get what I want.
You may take my body, but you will not have my power.
I have 1,000 men.
That is power enough.
The man I choose, he will benefit greatly from Alfred's death.
But I will have to give myself to that man and only when it is earned.
Maybe, I should just hump you now and be done with it.
Prove yourself, Lord.
Prove myself to a woman? And I will allow you inside me and my power inside you.
Uhtred will come for me and if you are to take his place, then you must first kill him.
And then I am yours.
Riders.
Spears to the walls! No man is to pass.
No man.
I ought to kill you where you stand, Lord.
You could try, my friend.
I'm here to see the king.
You ride with outlaws, my dear.
He's an outlaw of Wessex, not Mercia.
We're here to see my father.
What is it you have to say to the king that you cannot say to your husband? I wish to speak of treachery and traitors.
The Dane Haesten did attack the nunnery at Wincelcumb.
It was his purpose to kill me.
Haesten claims to be a friend to Alfred.
He's not.
Let the outlaw pass.
No weapons.
None at all.
Lord Aethelred, like you, we stand against the Danes.
No weapons is the command, Irishman.
None at all.
It is good to see you safe, Lady.
Lord Aldhelm.
I shall advise the king you're here.
My father cannot suspect my husband is the traitor.
We should kill your husband and be done with it.
And begin a war between Wessex and Mercia now? Lady, I'm joking.
We'll kill him tomorrow.
We halt.
Stop! We know what "halt" means, big man.
Steapa, we are both thirsty and hungry.
You may enter the hall, Lady.
The outlaws do not.
Then I choose to remain here with the outlaws.
As you wish.
Um, what if I need to piss? Then take out your cock.
And if you mistake it for a weapon, what then? Steapa, food and ale would be appreciated.
I will arrange it.
And Steapa, good food.
Meat and lots of ale! If Uhtred is no longer with the Danes, that is one matter.
But should he realign himself with Alfred or Edward, that is another.
What has occurred to bring Uhtred from one side to the other? He is Uhtred.
Who called him from north to south? - My wife? - How, Lord? Why? Why did she call him to her aid? What does she know? Is it important? When Danes are marching and we are unsure of which side we stand? Yes, it is important.
Very! She knew of the danger posed by me.
She fled, summoned Uhtred with the promise of her bed, no doubt.
She knew.
Then, Lord, may I suggest, we first establish what business Uhtred has with her father.
I want all of my men at the ready.
For what? If she is here to accuse me, to discredit me, we must be ready.
Yes, Lord.
- Steapa.
- Lord Sigebriht.
An approximation to a witan has gathered.
The outlaws are required.
What is an approximation to a witan? It's almost a witan, but not quite.
We must be without the king.
Apologies for keeping you waiting in the cold, my dear.
Your father is to blame.
After deliberation, he has decided not to attend.
I am here in place of the king.
I'm here to speak for the king.
Our business is with Alfred.
Edward is Alfred.
On this occasion.
We are all curious of what you have to say, my dear.
Speak.
Danes are near.
Yes.
Which is why we are gathered.
This is not some hunting party.
Haesten is with them.
His army is allied with them.
But it was Haesten who first advised the king that the Danes were marching south.
He would do that, Lord.
Haesten also advised the king this Dane army included yourself, Uhtred Ragnarson.
It does not, Father.
Which we can clearly see.
Haesten has betrayed the king.
He rode to Mercia to kill me.
Uhtred saved me.
God is good.
Praise him! Praise him.
I am at a loss.
How is it that Uhtred knew of this danger? How is it that he knew exactly where to find you? An interesting question, Lord.
An irrelevant question.
Uhtred made a plan with this Dane, this Haesten, to save you, to gain your trust, - gain entry to this estate.
- No.
A spy.
An assassin.
No, he saved me.
I should've expected nothing different.
He has risked all for me That's what he wants you to believe, surely.
Seems a rather grand strategy, Lord Aethelred.
- And for what? - He is here, among us.
And under guard.
Then let us get to the truth of the matter.
Let us hear exactly why Uhtred is here.
What do you have to say to me? I wish to speak to you alone.
This is a witan.
We are one people.
What you have to say affects all of us.
These men are my friends and allies.
I have nothing to hide.
I saved your daughter's life.
It was Haesten's intention to kidnap her.
If that could not be done, he would have killed her.
And you claim that he, too, is your ally.
I've never made that claim.
I have listened to Haesten, but I've never believed him fully.
That you are here with Aethelflaed is the only reason you are alive.
Do not tell me what you have done.
Tell us all what it is you want.
You always want something.
I want 1,000 men.
One thousand men, and I will give you Beamfleot.
I do not need Beamfleot.
I will give you peace.
I will defeat Haesten.
I will prevent him from joining with the Earls Cnut and Bloodhair.
Not forgetting the Earl Ragnar.
My brother is dead, Lord.
That is to your advantage.
With Haesten defeated and Ragnar gone, the Danes will have half the army and no leader.
To prevent a great war, you must attack Haesten.
That seems viable, Lord.
- You wish me to divide my army? - Yes.
- Send 1,000 men east? - Yes.
That is too great a risk to Wessex, Lord.
Haesten sits inside a fortress.
One thousand men could die upon its walls easily.
- And then what? - We are overrun.
We devise a plan.
Why? What is at stake for Uhtred Ragnarson? Is it Mercia you care for? Is it Wessex? There another reason for this attack? Vengeance, Lord.
- Do you require the detail? - You seek vengeance? - I do.
- The man is a fool, who believes all of us to be fools.
You arrived here under the protection of the Lady of Mercia.
I shan't undermine that protection.
You are free to leave when you are ready and rested.
You remain an outlaw of Wessex.
Are you here to join me in prayer, Father Pyrlig? I am not.
My Lord Edward would like to speak with Uhtred.
About what? I would like to give him hope, Father.
- Hope.
- Half the number of men he asked for.
- Or more.
- Ah.
But only if it were to bring a peace, till the spring at least.
Edward needs time.
My father's sickness has cast a shadow.
And I, uh I'm not yet ready to bring light.
Cometh the hour.
I fear a great battle now would have only one outcome, defeat.
But if we were able to weaken the Danes as Uhtred has suggested We need to hear more of his plan.
Forgive me.
There is nothing to forgive, Lord.
You have the wisdom of a king.
Should I bring him to you? Uhtred? We could all at least listen.
He does plan well.
Yes.
Do that.
You are going to fetch him now? Yes, Lord.
I should meet him privately.
Where? Thinking on it, Lord, may I suggest you meet him in clear sight, as though nothing is secret nor hidden? She shames me with every breath that she continues to take.
There are more pressing matters, Lord.
You continue to defend her, Aldhelm.
It has not gone unnoticed.
My concern is Mercia and Aethelred.
Always.
What's this? Who does Edward imagine himself to be? I came to sit with my sister for a while.
My sister, the outlaw.
You grow by the day, Edward.
He grows wiser.
Slowly, but hopefully.
If you would excuse me.
I was sorry to hear of Ragnar's death.
He was a heathen, but a good man.
I shall pray for him.
Amen.
He would not thank you for your prayers, Father.
Well, they are his all the same.
I pray for you, too, Uhtred.
And I will not stop, in spite of your pigheadedness.
And me, Father? Oh, I'm afraid you belong to the devil already.
Hmm.
You could well be right.
Should we get on with the matter, Father Beocca? Sooner we get back, the better.
Yes.
Edward is here because he has something to say, to ask.
For the sake of appearances, you should all try to behave as if you're completely disinterested.
How how many men does Haesten have? Maybe as many as 1,000.
And a fortress.
Beamfleot.
I wish to understand why you believe you can defeat him when it appears impossible.
Laying siege to the fortress would take 3,000 and many would die.
But I would use his hatred of me to draw him out.
We could feint an attack with a small number of men and then retreat.
Haesten will not be able to resist the opportunity of killing me.
On open ground, with an army, we will have a chance.
Men will still die.
It is war.
Men will die at Beamfleot or they will die here, and at Winchester.
But as I said to the king, defeating Haesten could well prevent a greater war.
And that is no false claim, Lord.
Nothing deters a warrior more than the news of defeat.
It's a plan that can work, but Uhtred will need men.
An army.
And I do not wish the devil to take me too easily.
There's a thick forest surrounding Beamfleot.
A good place to hide an army.
Yes, Lord.
A good place to hide 500 men, or more? Then you shall have them.
Is that a promise you can keep, Lord? It is, or I can never be called king.
Edward, you are certain? Set a day for the attack and I will be there.
You shall have the men.
Draw Haesten out of the fort.
Our army will be hidden in the woods, waiting.
You have my word.
I swear.
Open the gates.
You cannot do what you have promised without the approval from the king.
I will speak to him.
Do not leave it too late.
If he denies you, leave time to ask him again and again.
To beg? If needed, yes.
It was cold, so I lit a fire.
I hope you don't mind.
We have servants to light fires.
Come.
Sit.
I do not have an appetite.
When will you return to Wincelcumb? Oh, I have no plans to return.
I have assigned my guard to Uhtred, and will remain here to go with my husband and the men of Mercia into battle.
May I say you did not appear concerned nor surprised, Lord, at Haesten's attempt to kill your wife.
Does my reaction now meet with your approval? It does.
Thank you.
My dear I assure you that I will not rest until I find the truth of what happened.
And those responsible shall pay with their lives.
Haesten, for one, is directly responsible for the attack.
Why do you not seek to punish him? Because I'm required here.
My father, too, will seek retribution and justice.
I am sure.
Should he live that long.
I pray that he does.
I've found my appetite after all.
I killed this hare myself with an arrow.
You are pleased with more than the hunting of a hare.
I am.
Alfred is dead and I sit opposite a vision of beauty.
I belong to another.
He will come.
Soon, I hope.
And like this hare will fall by my arrows.
And then he will avenge me, Lord.
All of me.
Who else was witness to this promise? Is that important? All that matters is that I gave my word.
Lord, I was there with the Lady Aethelflaed, Finan, uh, the boy Sihtric, Osferth.
Some others may have over-heard possibly.
Father, it is a worthy plan.
- I gave my word to Uhtred - What you gave was not yours to give! - Father - Say nothing.
Father Beocca, inform Uhtred that Edward has withdrawn his support.
- But I have not.
- Lord Uhtred has already left camp.
- Then send a messenger.
- Lord King, Haesten's our enemy.
Attacking is to our advantage - Send a messenger! - It's to my advantage! I beg you to listen to me! If Haesten is allowed to join Cnut and Bloodhair, there will be a great battle.
I'm not ready for such a battle, nor what will follow.
I am not a king.
Not yet.
And I fear the aftermath of a great battle will be a challenge too far.
Lord, I am no warrior, nor strategist.
But if we can defeat one-third of a great army before it has the opportunity to gather, surely that is a good thing.
We would not be marching to Beamfleot in support of Uhtred, but to protect the kingdom.
And to delay a greater battle, and give me time.
Time to become worthy of your crown.
You should have approached me.
But you speak the truth.
You are not yet ready.
Far from it.
You gave your word without the means nor ability to keep it.
Perhaps you will never be ready.
Leave me.
- Father - I said leave me.
Is it possible to be both proud and feverish with anger? It is often the way, Lord, with children.
He is his father's son, of that I have no doubt.
He can become a man to follow, Lord.
Given the opportunity.
Gather your weapons! Off your arses now and gather your weapons! - Gather your weapons! - Steapa? We march, Lord, to Beamfleot.
Come on! Make ready.
We march! Come on! Move yourselves! It has grown heavier these past weeks.
I will manage.
God willing, this will be the last of both Alfred and Edward.
You disagree, Aldhelm? They know my God, Lord.
The Danes do not.
Long live the king! Long live the king! Long live the king! Long live the king! Long live the king! Long live the king! Long live the king! Long live the king! Long live the king! Are you not going with them, my dear? My place is in Mercia, Lord.
You are a lucky man.
You will go back to Haesten and tell him exactly what you have seen here.
- Agreed? - Yes.
Yes.
Uhtred has finally arrived to claim you.
As you said he would.
With how many men? Not more than 30.
That is all? Thirty, fifty.
All he can do is try to creep over the walls.
So when he moves, I will have his balls.
- Thirty men is nothing.
- He's no longer a lord.
He has no men, no silver, no land.
Then be sure to win me, Lord.
And be sure to gift me prisoners.
I have not seen a man beg for mercy for some time.
The great Lord Uhtred and his army.
Ready the archers and prepare every last man.
The Dane-slayer shall die this very morning.
Yes, Lord.
Lord Uhtred! Such a frightening sight.
You are a coward, Haesten.
Hiding inside your fortress.
When the priests of Eoferwic did rise, you fled? When Sigefrid attacked Alfred, you fled.
And at the nunnery, once again, you fled.
I took your woman! And as long as I live and breathe, she still is my woman.
Fight me! I'll wait for you in the clearing there.
Bring a guard and no more.
Let us make the square and let the two of us fight.
That is what you want, Uhtred, to die? What I want is an end to this.
What is most likely to happen is you will remain a coward.
You will remain inside your fortress.
Songs will be sung about your cowardice.
I shall pay for them to be written.
I am no coward, Dane-slayer! If death is what you want, then you shall have it! Lord, the job is done.
It's been half a day.
Maybe he's scared of the priest.
We leave! Lord.
Lord! Lord! Lord! Run! Halt! Two lines! Shields up! Surround them! Give them no escape! And then we'll kill every last one of the bastards! Turn! Circle! May the good Lord protect me.
Protect us all.
We wait.
We hold! - We give them no ground! - We've no ground to give, Lord.
Give up Uhtred, and the rest of you will live.
All I want is the Dane-slayer! What you will get, Haesten, is my sword up your hairy arse.
As you wish.
You will die on your knees! Lord, where is Alfred's army? Why are they waiting? I want the head of Uhtred Ragnarson! Stand fast! Sihtric! No! Not one man is to live! Turn the field red with Saxon blood and flesh! Lord? We hold our position.
They're being slaughtered.
Lord King, I gave him my word.
We hold our position.
We cannot just stand by - and watch them die! - What would Uhtred do? He'd allow his enemies to destroy one another.
- I gave him my word! - Then what will you do, boy? You can either bleat or you can make a decision! What will you do?
King Alfred grows weaker each day, leaving Wessex vulnerable to enemies within.
- Aethelwold is there? - They will march from north to south as a single army.
I, too, am now seen as a threat.
But I've promised to protect Alfred's daughter, Aethelflaed.
Your husband intends to kill you.
I shall leave now, and you must do the same.
Indeed, both Aethelred and Haesten wish her dead.
Saving her life has come at a high cost to me.
Skade in place of Aethelflaed.
You are cursed once more, Uhtred of Bebbanburg.
I've been thinking about Ragnar and him killing me.
I should kill him first.
My brother has disowned me as a traitor.
And it is true.
You are no longer my brother! I betrayed him by leaving him in the company of my men without honor.
Destiny is all.
He's dead! He's dead! Alfred is dead! He's dead! Alfred's dead! The Saxon cur is no more! He's dead! Alfred is dead! Jackdaw, is this true? How did you hear this? It's all over the country, they say.
He's dead! Alfred shat his precious soul out of his arsehole.
Ragnar, Alfred is dead! The Saxon shit is gone! Ragnar! Ragnar? Ragnar? Ragnar.
Ragnar.
Take it.
Close your hand.
Ragnar.
Ragnar, close your hand and take this.
Ragnar, take this.
Ragnar, take it! No! No! No, Ragnar, no! No! No! No! No! So, he's dead.
This is good news.
No! No! Ragnar! Ragnar! Ragnar, no! Move.
Move! Ragnar, no.
No.
Who? Who did this? His whore? I will ask.
Ragnar Ragnarson, the only man amongst you, is dead! Who did this? Cowards! All of you! You had to kill him while he was sleeping? Brida, it was his woman.
The knife was in her hand.
It was Ragnar's sword in her belly.
Why would he kill a woman he was trying to pup? Why would she kill him? How? Maybe it was you who killed him.
Her husband was ploughing another field, so the crazy bitch killed them both.
Bloodhair, no.
This is not the answer.
He was your leader! He was to give you wealth! Protection! We go on.
- Nothing has changed.
- Everything has changed.
We go on.
You You have no leader.
Then I shall lead.
With Bloodhair.
We will bury Ragnar, and we will march.
Get it done, and keep her quiet.
Release her.
Though I did not know him well, he was a good man.
A brave warrior.
Are you going to behave? You speak to him as if he understands.
He will not understand the words, but he will know I'm a friend.
Someone he can trust.
So, when the time comes to push him into battle, he will not hesitate.
Is that the way you treat your men? You win their trust and expect them to follow? It is not a game, nor a strategy.
It is who you are.
A man who instills trust.
I would like you to kiss me.
And then? Begin with a kiss and see where it leads.
- If you would rather not - It is something I would enjoy and then regret.
Lady, in Erik, you chose someone you could not be with.
And I am the same.
I would not see you hurt again.
Who would have to know? - Who would need to know - Skade.
Skade would know.
She would see everything I care for destroyed.
She must be found, recovered.
I would say, it is impossible for you to recover her.
- I must.
- How? You cannot attack Beamfleot.
To fight Haesten's army, you will need an army.
My Father is to join the Mercians at Aegelesburg.
I will meet him with our guards and Aethelred.
You will be safer there than here.
It is a good decision.
I will tell the king of Haesten's attempt to kill me.
By attacking me, he has made himself an enemy of Wessex.
Come with me.
My father will forgive you, and you will lead his men against Beamfleot.
- I do not want his forgiveness.
- Then use his army.
Use his men, and recover Skade.
I offer you a way to end this curse.
Lord, we are ready for another chapter.
The country is rife with word of my death, I am told.
So what a fright you shall be to the Danes, marching beyond Wessex and into Mercia to stand by the side of Aethelred and look them in the eye.
To look them in the eye.
Yes.
Steapa, when you are ready.
Yes, Lord.
We march! Men of Wessex we march! Leave us.
Some of his men believe this to be a sign.
For Ragnar to die without his sword means the battle can't be won.
They're your men now.
You must convince them otherwise.
I won't prevent any man from returning north.
- They have no leader.
- We can lead.
You and I.
This morning you said you'd lead with Bloodhair, now you choose me? I do not wish to bed Bloodhair.
Already we're divided.
Without Ragnar, we shall become separate tribes.
I will let you grieve.
You'll find us at River Ouse.
One army.
It was either you or Bloodhair who killed Ragnar.
You cannot accept that his last night was spent with a whore and that she killed him.
Who knows what goes on between a man and a woman? Ragnar did not appreciate nor deserve your love.
We have lost a great warrior.
A great man.
I know this better than most.
Ragnar Ragnarson was my cousin.
And I'm angry with him because he deserved a better death! Killed half naked.
Killed without his breeches and his sword! Far from the battlefield.
It is a death I fear most.
It is a death our great warrior Bloodhair fears most.
But we men standing here are fortunate men! - The gods are with us.
- Yes! We have swords in hand and a battle ahead of us.
Land to be won, silver to be shared and Saxons to kill! We are Danes together! Together! Together! Osferth.
Fetch Uhtred.
Tell him we have a guest.
A woman.
How can you tell it's a woman? You have to ask? Fetch Uhtred.
I knew you'd be with your princess.
Something has happened? You left him.
Ragnar? He had waited years for you to come home and within a matter of days you were gone.
You should've left the Saxon bitch to die.
Where is he? I will go to him.
He's dead! Ragnar is dead! He doesn't feast in Valhalla.
Instead, he lies under a pile of stones at a lake near Loidis! There was no honor in his death.
None.
He will spend eternity in the cold of Niflheim, because of you, Uhtred of Bebbanburg.
You chose her.
You chose Alfred and you left him.
No, Sihtric.
I should kill you but I want you to live with the pain of his death.
He was your brother.
Uhtred, I My brother is dead.
Oh, God.
It is her.
Skade and her curse.
It goes on and on.
Could it not be just life? Death comes to us all.
It is her.
She must be recovered.
We go to Alfred and to Aethelred.
We do? And we beg for an army.
Once the last of Bloodhair's men sail up the Ouse we will march on Mercia and then Wessex.
He will have me send you to him.
Bloodhair.
It is I who choose who I sit with.
Lie with.
Kill.
You have only ever taken women.
They do not give themselves to you.
Whether it is given or taken, I get what I want.
You may take my body, but you will not have my power.
I have 1,000 men.
That is power enough.
The man I choose, he will benefit greatly from Alfred's death.
But I will have to give myself to that man and only when it is earned.
Maybe, I should just hump you now and be done with it.
Prove yourself, Lord.
Prove myself to a woman? And I will allow you inside me and my power inside you.
Uhtred will come for me and if you are to take his place, then you must first kill him.
And then I am yours.
Riders.
Spears to the walls! No man is to pass.
No man.
I ought to kill you where you stand, Lord.
You could try, my friend.
I'm here to see the king.
You ride with outlaws, my dear.
He's an outlaw of Wessex, not Mercia.
We're here to see my father.
What is it you have to say to the king that you cannot say to your husband? I wish to speak of treachery and traitors.
The Dane Haesten did attack the nunnery at Wincelcumb.
It was his purpose to kill me.
Haesten claims to be a friend to Alfred.
He's not.
Let the outlaw pass.
No weapons.
None at all.
Lord Aethelred, like you, we stand against the Danes.
No weapons is the command, Irishman.
None at all.
It is good to see you safe, Lady.
Lord Aldhelm.
I shall advise the king you're here.
My father cannot suspect my husband is the traitor.
We should kill your husband and be done with it.
And begin a war between Wessex and Mercia now? Lady, I'm joking.
We'll kill him tomorrow.
We halt.
Stop! We know what "halt" means, big man.
Steapa, we are both thirsty and hungry.
You may enter the hall, Lady.
The outlaws do not.
Then I choose to remain here with the outlaws.
As you wish.
Um, what if I need to piss? Then take out your cock.
And if you mistake it for a weapon, what then? Steapa, food and ale would be appreciated.
I will arrange it.
And Steapa, good food.
Meat and lots of ale! If Uhtred is no longer with the Danes, that is one matter.
But should he realign himself with Alfred or Edward, that is another.
What has occurred to bring Uhtred from one side to the other? He is Uhtred.
Who called him from north to south? - My wife? - How, Lord? Why? Why did she call him to her aid? What does she know? Is it important? When Danes are marching and we are unsure of which side we stand? Yes, it is important.
Very! She knew of the danger posed by me.
She fled, summoned Uhtred with the promise of her bed, no doubt.
She knew.
Then, Lord, may I suggest, we first establish what business Uhtred has with her father.
I want all of my men at the ready.
For what? If she is here to accuse me, to discredit me, we must be ready.
Yes, Lord.
- Steapa.
- Lord Sigebriht.
An approximation to a witan has gathered.
The outlaws are required.
What is an approximation to a witan? It's almost a witan, but not quite.
We must be without the king.
Apologies for keeping you waiting in the cold, my dear.
Your father is to blame.
After deliberation, he has decided not to attend.
I am here in place of the king.
I'm here to speak for the king.
Our business is with Alfred.
Edward is Alfred.
On this occasion.
We are all curious of what you have to say, my dear.
Speak.
Danes are near.
Yes.
Which is why we are gathered.
This is not some hunting party.
Haesten is with them.
His army is allied with them.
But it was Haesten who first advised the king that the Danes were marching south.
He would do that, Lord.
Haesten also advised the king this Dane army included yourself, Uhtred Ragnarson.
It does not, Father.
Which we can clearly see.
Haesten has betrayed the king.
He rode to Mercia to kill me.
Uhtred saved me.
God is good.
Praise him! Praise him.
I am at a loss.
How is it that Uhtred knew of this danger? How is it that he knew exactly where to find you? An interesting question, Lord.
An irrelevant question.
Uhtred made a plan with this Dane, this Haesten, to save you, to gain your trust, - gain entry to this estate.
- No.
A spy.
An assassin.
No, he saved me.
I should've expected nothing different.
He has risked all for me That's what he wants you to believe, surely.
Seems a rather grand strategy, Lord Aethelred.
- And for what? - He is here, among us.
And under guard.
Then let us get to the truth of the matter.
Let us hear exactly why Uhtred is here.
What do you have to say to me? I wish to speak to you alone.
This is a witan.
We are one people.
What you have to say affects all of us.
These men are my friends and allies.
I have nothing to hide.
I saved your daughter's life.
It was Haesten's intention to kidnap her.
If that could not be done, he would have killed her.
And you claim that he, too, is your ally.
I've never made that claim.
I have listened to Haesten, but I've never believed him fully.
That you are here with Aethelflaed is the only reason you are alive.
Do not tell me what you have done.
Tell us all what it is you want.
You always want something.
I want 1,000 men.
One thousand men, and I will give you Beamfleot.
I do not need Beamfleot.
I will give you peace.
I will defeat Haesten.
I will prevent him from joining with the Earls Cnut and Bloodhair.
Not forgetting the Earl Ragnar.
My brother is dead, Lord.
That is to your advantage.
With Haesten defeated and Ragnar gone, the Danes will have half the army and no leader.
To prevent a great war, you must attack Haesten.
That seems viable, Lord.
- You wish me to divide my army? - Yes.
- Send 1,000 men east? - Yes.
That is too great a risk to Wessex, Lord.
Haesten sits inside a fortress.
One thousand men could die upon its walls easily.
- And then what? - We are overrun.
We devise a plan.
Why? What is at stake for Uhtred Ragnarson? Is it Mercia you care for? Is it Wessex? There another reason for this attack? Vengeance, Lord.
- Do you require the detail? - You seek vengeance? - I do.
- The man is a fool, who believes all of us to be fools.
You arrived here under the protection of the Lady of Mercia.
I shan't undermine that protection.
You are free to leave when you are ready and rested.
You remain an outlaw of Wessex.
Are you here to join me in prayer, Father Pyrlig? I am not.
My Lord Edward would like to speak with Uhtred.
About what? I would like to give him hope, Father.
- Hope.
- Half the number of men he asked for.
- Or more.
- Ah.
But only if it were to bring a peace, till the spring at least.
Edward needs time.
My father's sickness has cast a shadow.
And I, uh I'm not yet ready to bring light.
Cometh the hour.
I fear a great battle now would have only one outcome, defeat.
But if we were able to weaken the Danes as Uhtred has suggested We need to hear more of his plan.
Forgive me.
There is nothing to forgive, Lord.
You have the wisdom of a king.
Should I bring him to you? Uhtred? We could all at least listen.
He does plan well.
Yes.
Do that.
You are going to fetch him now? Yes, Lord.
I should meet him privately.
Where? Thinking on it, Lord, may I suggest you meet him in clear sight, as though nothing is secret nor hidden? She shames me with every breath that she continues to take.
There are more pressing matters, Lord.
You continue to defend her, Aldhelm.
It has not gone unnoticed.
My concern is Mercia and Aethelred.
Always.
What's this? Who does Edward imagine himself to be? I came to sit with my sister for a while.
My sister, the outlaw.
You grow by the day, Edward.
He grows wiser.
Slowly, but hopefully.
If you would excuse me.
I was sorry to hear of Ragnar's death.
He was a heathen, but a good man.
I shall pray for him.
Amen.
He would not thank you for your prayers, Father.
Well, they are his all the same.
I pray for you, too, Uhtred.
And I will not stop, in spite of your pigheadedness.
And me, Father? Oh, I'm afraid you belong to the devil already.
Hmm.
You could well be right.
Should we get on with the matter, Father Beocca? Sooner we get back, the better.
Yes.
Edward is here because he has something to say, to ask.
For the sake of appearances, you should all try to behave as if you're completely disinterested.
How how many men does Haesten have? Maybe as many as 1,000.
And a fortress.
Beamfleot.
I wish to understand why you believe you can defeat him when it appears impossible.
Laying siege to the fortress would take 3,000 and many would die.
But I would use his hatred of me to draw him out.
We could feint an attack with a small number of men and then retreat.
Haesten will not be able to resist the opportunity of killing me.
On open ground, with an army, we will have a chance.
Men will still die.
It is war.
Men will die at Beamfleot or they will die here, and at Winchester.
But as I said to the king, defeating Haesten could well prevent a greater war.
And that is no false claim, Lord.
Nothing deters a warrior more than the news of defeat.
It's a plan that can work, but Uhtred will need men.
An army.
And I do not wish the devil to take me too easily.
There's a thick forest surrounding Beamfleot.
A good place to hide an army.
Yes, Lord.
A good place to hide 500 men, or more? Then you shall have them.
Is that a promise you can keep, Lord? It is, or I can never be called king.
Edward, you are certain? Set a day for the attack and I will be there.
You shall have the men.
Draw Haesten out of the fort.
Our army will be hidden in the woods, waiting.
You have my word.
I swear.
Open the gates.
You cannot do what you have promised without the approval from the king.
I will speak to him.
Do not leave it too late.
If he denies you, leave time to ask him again and again.
To beg? If needed, yes.
It was cold, so I lit a fire.
I hope you don't mind.
We have servants to light fires.
Come.
Sit.
I do not have an appetite.
When will you return to Wincelcumb? Oh, I have no plans to return.
I have assigned my guard to Uhtred, and will remain here to go with my husband and the men of Mercia into battle.
May I say you did not appear concerned nor surprised, Lord, at Haesten's attempt to kill your wife.
Does my reaction now meet with your approval? It does.
Thank you.
My dear I assure you that I will not rest until I find the truth of what happened.
And those responsible shall pay with their lives.
Haesten, for one, is directly responsible for the attack.
Why do you not seek to punish him? Because I'm required here.
My father, too, will seek retribution and justice.
I am sure.
Should he live that long.
I pray that he does.
I've found my appetite after all.
I killed this hare myself with an arrow.
You are pleased with more than the hunting of a hare.
I am.
Alfred is dead and I sit opposite a vision of beauty.
I belong to another.
He will come.
Soon, I hope.
And like this hare will fall by my arrows.
And then he will avenge me, Lord.
All of me.
Who else was witness to this promise? Is that important? All that matters is that I gave my word.
Lord, I was there with the Lady Aethelflaed, Finan, uh, the boy Sihtric, Osferth.
Some others may have over-heard possibly.
Father, it is a worthy plan.
- I gave my word to Uhtred - What you gave was not yours to give! - Father - Say nothing.
Father Beocca, inform Uhtred that Edward has withdrawn his support.
- But I have not.
- Lord Uhtred has already left camp.
- Then send a messenger.
- Lord King, Haesten's our enemy.
Attacking is to our advantage - Send a messenger! - It's to my advantage! I beg you to listen to me! If Haesten is allowed to join Cnut and Bloodhair, there will be a great battle.
I'm not ready for such a battle, nor what will follow.
I am not a king.
Not yet.
And I fear the aftermath of a great battle will be a challenge too far.
Lord, I am no warrior, nor strategist.
But if we can defeat one-third of a great army before it has the opportunity to gather, surely that is a good thing.
We would not be marching to Beamfleot in support of Uhtred, but to protect the kingdom.
And to delay a greater battle, and give me time.
Time to become worthy of your crown.
You should have approached me.
But you speak the truth.
You are not yet ready.
Far from it.
You gave your word without the means nor ability to keep it.
Perhaps you will never be ready.
Leave me.
- Father - I said leave me.
Is it possible to be both proud and feverish with anger? It is often the way, Lord, with children.
He is his father's son, of that I have no doubt.
He can become a man to follow, Lord.
Given the opportunity.
Gather your weapons! Off your arses now and gather your weapons! - Gather your weapons! - Steapa? We march, Lord, to Beamfleot.
Come on! Make ready.
We march! Come on! Move yourselves! It has grown heavier these past weeks.
I will manage.
God willing, this will be the last of both Alfred and Edward.
You disagree, Aldhelm? They know my God, Lord.
The Danes do not.
Long live the king! Long live the king! Long live the king! Long live the king! Long live the king! Long live the king! Long live the king! Long live the king! Long live the king! Are you not going with them, my dear? My place is in Mercia, Lord.
You are a lucky man.
You will go back to Haesten and tell him exactly what you have seen here.
- Agreed? - Yes.
Yes.
Uhtred has finally arrived to claim you.
As you said he would.
With how many men? Not more than 30.
That is all? Thirty, fifty.
All he can do is try to creep over the walls.
So when he moves, I will have his balls.
- Thirty men is nothing.
- He's no longer a lord.
He has no men, no silver, no land.
Then be sure to win me, Lord.
And be sure to gift me prisoners.
I have not seen a man beg for mercy for some time.
The great Lord Uhtred and his army.
Ready the archers and prepare every last man.
The Dane-slayer shall die this very morning.
Yes, Lord.
Lord Uhtred! Such a frightening sight.
You are a coward, Haesten.
Hiding inside your fortress.
When the priests of Eoferwic did rise, you fled? When Sigefrid attacked Alfred, you fled.
And at the nunnery, once again, you fled.
I took your woman! And as long as I live and breathe, she still is my woman.
Fight me! I'll wait for you in the clearing there.
Bring a guard and no more.
Let us make the square and let the two of us fight.
That is what you want, Uhtred, to die? What I want is an end to this.
What is most likely to happen is you will remain a coward.
You will remain inside your fortress.
Songs will be sung about your cowardice.
I shall pay for them to be written.
I am no coward, Dane-slayer! If death is what you want, then you shall have it! Lord, the job is done.
It's been half a day.
Maybe he's scared of the priest.
We leave! Lord.
Lord! Lord! Lord! Run! Halt! Two lines! Shields up! Surround them! Give them no escape! And then we'll kill every last one of the bastards! Turn! Circle! May the good Lord protect me.
Protect us all.
We wait.
We hold! - We give them no ground! - We've no ground to give, Lord.
Give up Uhtred, and the rest of you will live.
All I want is the Dane-slayer! What you will get, Haesten, is my sword up your hairy arse.
As you wish.
You will die on your knees! Lord, where is Alfred's army? Why are they waiting? I want the head of Uhtred Ragnarson! Stand fast! Sihtric! No! Not one man is to live! Turn the field red with Saxon blood and flesh! Lord? We hold our position.
They're being slaughtered.
Lord King, I gave him my word.
We hold our position.
We cannot just stand by - and watch them die! - What would Uhtred do? He'd allow his enemies to destroy one another.
- I gave him my word! - Then what will you do, boy? You can either bleat or you can make a decision! What will you do?