[Uhtred] I am Uhtred, son of Uhtred. Born a Saxon nobleman,
I was robbed of my ancestral lands and raised as a Dane and as a pagan.
I am Uhtred of Bebbanburg and I shall take what is mine.
But I became King Alfred's greatest sword warrior,
defending his kingdom of Wessex and his vision of one united England,
supported by my loyal band of cutthroats, barbarians and a fallen priest.
I pray that, when battle comes, I will not fail you.
[Uhtred] I have found happiness with my wife, Gisela,
who has given me two children.
Alfred has married his own daughter to the weak Aethelred,
who sees himself as king of Mercia.
But taken by the Danes,
she fell for one warrior, Erik, and is coveted by Haesten.
[yelling]
[Uhtred] This Haesten has seemingly allied himself to Alfred.
He can never be trusted.
Now that Alfred's health is failing,
these are dark and dangerous times for all the peoples of this land.
Destiny is all.
[Skade whispering incantation]
[men grunting]
-[horse neighing] -[warrior groaning]
[warrior 1] God save your king!
[warrior 2 groaning]
[gasps]
[yelling]
[Alfred] Father Beocca.
If what we believe is true and heaven awaits us...
Which it does, Lord, no doubt.
I fear that even if I were allowed to pass through the gates,
it'd still feel like purgatory.
It will not. It cannot. It is heaven.
What has changed since I took the crown?
Danes still raid and slaughter continues
and will continue until the day I die and beyond.
What has been my purpose?
Your purpose, Lord, is that you are God's King.
Without you there would be no church,
no Wessex, no laws,
no burhs, no havens of safety...
no idea of an England.
What you have done
is laid the foundations for a great and godly country.
Nothing has changed. No task is complete.
And after I am gone, what then?
What you have begun will continue.
It must.
Yes.
Thank you, Beocca.
It must.
[Skade] Guards!
Turn away now!
No man is to show me his face!
No man is to see me before Bloodhair!
-[Skade grunts] -[groaning]
You'll go and remind the camp
that Earl Sigurd must be the first to see me.
Yes, lady.
[Dane groans]
Once he has my message, they'll be free to gaze.
My lady, I swear, I did not look at you.
I must take your eyes.
Lady, no, be merciful.
And your tongue.
Bitch! I'll kill you!
[groans]
No. No.
[Dane screaming]
[Skade] Turn away!
Only the women may look at me
until I have told my Lord what I have seen.
Sigurd, my love, drink me and make my vision real.
Let me give you all the strength you'll need.
I see the death of a king.
[groaning]
Which king?
I see the death...
of Alfred.
[yelling]
[gasps]
It has been seen.
It has been seen!
The death of Alfred
and the glory of Odin's warriors has been seen!
Our path will not be simple.
The gods will demand that we earn our reward.
But I make you this promise...
-[grunts] -[horse whinnies]
[all cheering]
From the smallest pig,
to the golden crown upon Alfred's head,
Wessex and everything it holds
shall belong to the warriors of Bloodhair!
[all cheering]
[theme music playing]
[Steapa] Yes!
[Edward grunting]
[Steapa] No.
Again!
[Edward grunting]
Uhtred, what is your opinion of Edward's sword skill?
[both grunting]
My opinion, Lord, is that Steapa is wasting his time.
Would you care to explain?
I will, Lady.
Steapa, stop.
Stop this nonsense.
You should not be using swords. Skills are taught with a staff.
-Thank you. -I prefer the weight of a sword.
It is a sign of the atheling's bravery.
Let us watch, my dear.
What have you learned?
He learns by the day.
Mother, please.
Show me.
[Edward grunting]
Lord, that grubby Dane, Haesten, is here.
Uhtred, you must test the boy.
[Edward grunts]
Put the child on his arse.
It is not your place to speak.
[Edward groaning]
Oh, bad luck, Edward.
Uhtred, we have a visitor. An old friend of yours.
[Uhtred] Sacrifices were made so you would live, boy.
From now on you practice only with a staff. You learn from being hit.
There is warrior inside you. We will find him.
[chuckles] Thank you, Uhtred.
[Erkenwald] You do as the Lord Uhtred says, Prince Edward.
He has your safety and welfare in mind.
Bishop Erkenwald. Thank you.
-I trust your wife is well? -She is.
[Erkenwald] Pretty girl. Her name escapes me.
She's called Gisela, Lord, a pagan.
She is once again with child.
A boy.
Your child shall be a boy.
Brother Godwin has a gift.
God-given.
If you will excuse me, Lord.
Of course.
Edward, you are late for your lessons.
Come.
[sighs]
I hear there are ealdormen who wish you dead.
You made a whore of a young girl and left her pupped.
She is no whore.
Bad Edward.
She is no whore.
Say it again, I dare you.
Bad Edward.
His name is Sigurd.
His men call him Bloodhair.
[Aelswith] I don't wish to know why. Something depraved, I'm sure.
[Uhtred] I have a man watching Bloodhair's camp,
but I'm curious...
He didn't ask you to join, Haesten?
He has.
I declined.
Like you, I have given my word.
Unlike you, I've accepted the King's missionary.
[Uhtred] Your word means nothing.
[Haesten] Does the peace among us not hold?
Do my wife and children not wish to become Christian?
[Aelswith] They do?
[Haesten] They do, Lady. I've asked the priest to arrange it.
That is good news.
It is certainly news.
It should be an occasion, Lord.
[Alfred] I will consider it
as soon as we are done with Earl Sigurd, Bloodhair.
Will he attack or raid?
[Uhtred] He will raid to assess your strength and readiness.
It is you who must attack.
Destroy his army and send a message to all Northmen.
[exhales sharply]
[vomits]
My Lord has eaten something that does not agree?
Too much wine, Lord?
[exhales]
Uhtred, you are right.
Sigurd landing his ships on Wessex soil is unacceptable.
-We will attack before the winter bites. -Soonest, Lord.
Then we march.
Beocca, send word to Aethelred of Mercia.
This is a threat to both our lands.
Our allies must join with the Wessex guard.
Yes, Lord. I will draft the letter at once.
Inform him, we shall join him at the Burh of Aescengum.
I will now, um...
take some air.
How is the Lady Aethelflaed these days and the child?
Who does the girl resemble--
One more word against her,
I'll shove that food so far down that you'll be shitting it out.
I have seen him do it. It's a miracle.
I am saying nothing her husband Aethelred is not saying.
And I would say you are in Aethelflaed's debt.
You have men and ships not because you earned them,
but solely because she did kill your lord, Sigefrid.
I remember what the bitch did.
I will never forget.
That is enough.
Tell her, I pray our paths will meet once again.
[Uhtred] Haesten.
No more.
Bloodhair has a woman you would like, Uhtred.
Skade.
Her beauty blinds you like the sun, yet she has all the darkness of the night.
She's a seer.
She's of the devil, Father.
I'd say it was a pleasure to see you, Uhtred...
but it never is.
Likewise.
May God forgive me, but I'd like to remove that man's head with a blunt ax.
The King's health, Beocca, it worsens.
From time to time, yes.
That is why the time you spend
with the aetheling, Edward, is so important.
Alfred's work must continue, and you can ensure that it does.
Tell the King I'll meet him on the road to Aescengum or at the burh.
-Where are you going? -To my wife.
Then on to see Bloodhair for myself.
You should seek the King's permission.
For once.
[people screaming]
A good morning, Lord?
[Uhtred] Ready yourselves and the horses. We leave before nightfall.
-For where? -For battle.
And not before time.
I'm a warrior.
[boy] I'll take this.
What's this, Gisela?
We have servants to prepare food. You should be resting.
I have said this to her.
How can I rest with this wild boy inside of me?
A priest has just told me the same, that you are carrying a boy.
Of course it's a boy. He will not keep still.
Thankfully, he will be the last.
You can't prevent that.
I know how to prevent it.
He will be the last.
You are marching?
Yes, I will join Finan and then we are marching.
Thyra will be here.
And I have sent word home, to Coccham, to Hild.
She'll be with you for the birth should I not return in time.
But I promise, I will return.
Mmm-hmm.
And when you do, you will be sleeping alone.
You would do that to me?
Oh, yes, I will do that to you...
for a time.
We move!
[panting]
Good evening to you.
Though I'm pointing a sword at your heart...
I am a friend.
Habit.
With me.
Then you can tell me all about your village.
[villagers screaming]
[woman groaning]
[shakily] Holy Father, spare me from this ordeal.
Stop my heart from beating and take me now.
I beg of all the saints in heaven to strike me down.
Take my soul and hide. Spare me, Lord.
It is not death I fear, it is the path. Lord, I beg you.
Stop my heart from beating and take me now.
Please, please.
Where is the silver?
There is none.
Where is the silver?
I'm begging you to believe me. I do not lie.
If you wish to be cooked alive, then I will cook you alive.
[monk] There is no silver! I swear!
Lady...
[whimpering]
[Skade] The silver!
[monk sobbing]
You will answer her.
[monk] I have answered her, Lord. There is no wealth here!
[sobbing continues]
Put him into the fire.
No, please! Please, I beg you!
The silver!
Can any of you holy men answer for him?
God in heaven, help me!
[screaming]
[monk] Help me!
You have no right, Lord. He was mine to question and to kill.
You have no right!
This is a church, and a church holds silver.
You.
What's your name?
I am called Brother Hubert, Lord.
My Lord, I swear, we are a poor church. We have food and ale, but we have no more.
Brother Hubert...
if you speak the truth, you'll take your own life.
You will do it now and save your friends.
But, Lord, my soul will be damned.
Take your life like a warrior! And we'll ask for only food and ale.
Lord, I swear, there is no silver.
They're yours to do with as you please.
[monks whimpering]
[muttering indistinctly]
Are you certain you will not use the carriage?
I'm certain. We ride to Aescengum.
Steapa.
[grunts]
[villagers screaming]
[Dane] Lady, Bloodhair is heading on to the next village in search of silver.
-Did you hear me? He's ready to leave. -Then let him!
We will remain here until I've finished my work with the priests.
Tell him we will follow. But he is to leave my guard.
Yes.
[Hubert groaning softly]
Good morning, Hubert.
I believe you now.
There is no silver.
So, what else can you give me?
[Hubert sobbing]
[Aldhelm] We are ready to march.
Then you should march.
But with half of the guard, no more.
You will follow?
Yes, we are allies with Wessex.
There is talk of Danes raiding on our northern border.
There are forever Danes there.
I shall remain here for the good of Mercia.
We cannot neglect our own lands.
Lord, it makes sense to remain close to Wessex.
Alfred will not live forever and the aetheling, Edward, is a boy.
He seems to be doing his very best at living forever.
He's constantly ill, but he will not die.
If you see him, tell him I am busy with Vikings.
I'll inform my father that you'll join us as soon as you are able, Lord.
Thank you, lady.
You are riding to battle? Is that not forbidden?
I wish to see the King.
He is a king. He is not the King.
There are kings and kingdoms all over.
Aldhelm, are we ready?
-Lord, you are certain you will not ride? -Go!
In God's name, go. Leave me in peace.
Yes, Lord.
Good luck at the northern border. Return safely.
You should be leading your men.
I do not wish to hear the whining voice of the so-called Lady of Mercia.
Which is why I prefer you to spend time at your own estate.
Then I shall leave you in your peace.
How is your daughter?
Our daughter is well,
though I pray she does not inherit her father's temperament.
Nor the morals of her mother.
Whore!
You have diminished me.
[bird squawks]
We march into Wessex...
to the aid of Wessex,
but be in no doubt, what we fight for is the freedom and the glory of Mercia.
And once again, we will show the King Alfred
how a warrior should be.
[all cheering]
We will show the bastard heathen how a warrior should be!
[all cheering]
[men speaking indistinctly]
She's in there, inside the church. Am I still needed?
Go find your family.
[breathes deeply]
[guard laughs]
Who are you? What do you want?
I would like you all to surrender.
Or I will smite you.
What did he say?
Smite?
What is "smite"?
It's a word, isn't it?
A word from the Holy Book.
It means slay or kill.
I will kill you.
[guards laughing]
Smite.
-You will smite all of us? -Yeah, most.
Some might run away, hopefully.
I've got... I've got a sword.
A very sharp sword.
But I prefer your surrender.
-[guard] Kill him. -Now!
[groans]
[men grunting]
Haesten says she is of the devil.
Then it might be an idea to bar the door and burn the place down.
-Why not? -To Bloodhair, she will be priceless.
[Uhtred] You are Skade?
You! You will do nothing except go to your lord.
You will tell him that Uhtred of Bebbanburg has his witch.
I knew it was you.
There will be a ransom.
No. You will go to my lord
and you will tell him that from this moment forth,
Uhtred of Bebbanburg is cursed.
The witch holds his heart in her hands
and she will squeeze it...
and break it.
Go.
It is you who are my prisoner now, Uhtred.
Seize her.
I said seize her, Sihtric. Now, bind her hands.
I have aligned myself with the three spinners of fate
and seized your life.
-You belong to me. -And her mouth.
Your path is the path I choose for you, Uhtred Ragnarson.
And your spirit is mine to torment.
Cover her eyes.
We'll take her to Aescengum.
I think she may have got herself inside his head.
He should kill her and be done with it.
That will not kill the curse.
There is no curse.
And if I say there is no Christian God, does that make it so?
There is no curse, Sihtric.
I have seen women throw a curse and the next day a man is dead.
Right, that is enough talking.
To speak of it makes it stronger.
[Alfred] Uhtred, we're discussing strategy and I have decided we shall remain here,
within the burh, and wait.
[Uhtred] For what?
-[Alfred] Bloodhair to attack. -Why will he attack?
Is that not what Danes do, Uhtred? They cannot help themselves.
Why should he not? I am here.
You are here, and so too is your guard.
Why throw men against the walls of a burh when Winchester's riches are unprotected?
Would he do that?
He doesn't have a large army to hold Winchester.
-What if Haesten joined him? -You're saying we should've stayed home?
If you believe the burh's advantage dismissed,
you must have an alternative.
-[Uhtred] I don't know you. -I am Sigebriht, son of Sigelf.
It is my villages that the heathen burn. My father built these walls.
He built them well, Sigebriht, which is why Bloodhair will not attack.
-He will not want to lose men. -Not even to kill a king?
He will wait for us to starve or he will pass, Lord. He will not attack.
But we must. That is still my advice.
If Winchester is vulnerable, Lord--
This woman that you have taken, why is she here?
She has value.
And Sigurd will want her back. I refuse to call him Bloodhair.
-He will. -[Aethelwold] She is what to him?
A wife?
A lover?
She's a... a seer...
sorceress.
[Alfred] Hmm.
The simple mind of a Dane believes in signs, Edward.
If a bird flew from their camp to ours, they would see it as a sign and follow.
They would march into battle
all because a seer caught sight of a bird.
Yes, Lord, it can happen that way.
Then it follows that without his seer, there can be no signs.
-Sigurd is blind. There can be no battle. -You are both right and wrong.
We wait, Uhtred.
Now...
I wish to look at her.
Skade.
Father, you do not need to trouble yourself.
No, Lord?
[Uhtred] Unlock the door.
-[Sihtric] What are they doing? -Alfred said he'd like to hump the witch.
No word of a lie.
[Skade whispering incantation]
[whispering continues]
Uhtred, you will leave us.
Is that wise, Lord?
She is secured by chains and I will not venture too close.
You will leave.
[exhales]
You left him alone?
It's his wish.
You believe that Bloodhair will go directly to Winchester?
Our families are there unprotected.
That is why we cannot wait for an attack that will not come.
Uhtred, you must...
make him see the danger...
for those we love.
You reek of death, Lord.
I do. Sadly, I do.
Why sadly?
You have a rich life and reputation.
There is more to be done. I must see that it is done.
Ask your question.
How long...
before I am taken? Do you know?
Is that something that you can see?
[chains rattling]
You will not see another summer.
But your name will live on.
You will be remembered
as the first, the last and only king of all Saxons.
I do enjoy the summertime.
[whispers] Sigurd, my Lord, Bloodhair, my lover,
hear me, free me, avenge me.
Come for me, die for me, want me, desire me.
Sigurd, free me!
Bloodhair, come to me!
Die for me, avenge me!
Free me!
There's a king in this camp!
Come to me! Desire me!
If she insists upon calling, we should make use of her.
[Skade] Free me!
Bloodhair!
Come for me, avenge me, free me, I demand it!
Bloodhair!
-When can we bind her mouth? -[Skade] Die for me, desire me!
-Let her sing. -[Skade] There is a king in this town!
That is not singing.
[Skade] Bloodhair!
-[Sigebriht] Lord Uhtred. -[Skade] Come for me!
Are you allowing that woman to wail all night?
-[Skade] Free me! -For a little while longer, yes.
[Skade] Bloodhair!
There's a king for you to kill!
-[guard] Shut her up! -[Skade] Come for me, avenge me, free me!
I demand it!
Die for me! Desire me!
[sighs] Here is a bit of loose talk for you.
[Skade] Bloodhair!
Sigebriht there, son of whoever,
would like to rip the innards from young Edward's belly.
-Would you like to know why? -[Skade] Bloodhair!
Um...
-No. -I'll tell you.
Edward, the non-bastard son of Alfred,
has whelped twins on the girl whom Sigebriht did love.
And does Sigebriht still love this girl?
[Skade] Die for me, desire me! Bloodhair!
Can someone not just cut her throat?
Why are you telling me this? It's of no concern to me.
They will make it your concern, Uhtred.
They will find a way and Edward shall become your charge.
You're a kingmaker, my friend.
And Alfred knows it.
[Skade] I am undecided.
I could take the place of your woman, Uhtred Ragnarson.
Together we could rule from north to south.
Hear it.
You men there, take her down and return her to the cell.
Let her rest.
[Skade] Good night, Lord.
Why have you not killed me?
What is it you want?
I'm worth more than just silver.
Put the food into your mouth and chew.
If it is me that you want...
then have me.
I will not object.
I have no need of a whore.
You will soon have need of a woman.
You have not killed me, Lord, because that will leave you cursed still.
Until the end and beyond,
our paths are entwined
and our fate is shared.
[bell ringing]
He is here.
[ringing continues]
[door closes]
Lord, it is Bloodhair! He has hostages!
Every man to the walls! Every sword and spear must be ready!
[woman whimpers]
[women screaming]
Osferth, prepare to open the gates. Finan, with me.
-[Beocca] What is it? -[Alfred] Who is it?
-Bloodhair, Lord, with hostages. -He wishes to negotiate?
[Uhtred] Possibly.
[women yelping]
[Bloodhair] Uhtred Ragnarson.
What depravity is this?
[Bloodhair] Alfred of Wessex, you have my woman.
Return her now or your people will die.
Lord, I know each of those wretches.
Does he wish to negotiate or not?
If it is your woman that you want, then let us negotiate!
We don't wish to see the death of another innocent!
-I've said all I will say. -[woman] I beg you, not the young.
Spare the young!
[women screaming]
[woman] I beg you, Lord, not the young, please.
Spare the young, Lord. They can serve you. Please, Lord.
[women screaming]
Osferth, the gates. Steapa, be ready.
-They are killing women, Lord. -The gates!
Earl Sigurd!
Kill one more hostage
and I shall let every man here see her nakedness
and then I shall spill her guts. Just one more!
Do it, Lord. I'll see you in the next life.
Kill them all! Attack!
[groans]
-[Skade] Kill them! Attack! -She is an angry woman.
[Uhtred] What's your answer?
I have a mind to kill her. She tires me.
He cannot do it. He's cursed.
Kill them all!
You will not harm her again!
[Skade groaning]
The price has risen.
You will spare the hostages,
free them and send them across to the burh.
What I'll do is feed you your own cock. Release her.
You have until sunset to free the hostages.
Or each man in this fortress will take his turn.
Until sunset!
I believe negotiations are over, Lord.
You will not see Valhalla, Uhtred Ragnarson, I swear it!
-[Skade] Bloodhair! -Uhtred Ragnarson!
-[Skade] Kill them! -[Bloodhair] Uhtred Ragnarson!
Do not harm one hair from her head. She's mine!
Lord, we need to change our plan.
We cannot wait for him to attack because he will not.
Her value is even greater than I first thought.
He will wait for as long as it takes.
Aethelred and the Mercians will be close.
They will be seen.
We must stop them on the road.
I can send Finan to do just that, and then we must join them.
We must choose the place of battle,
but we must act quickly, while his blood burns.
Join Aethelred where?
I am thinking Fearnham. There's a hill.
I know it. It gives us an advantage.
How do we join Aethelred here,
and how do we ensure Earl Sigurd will follow?
Finan will find the Mercians and we will ensure Bloodhair follows.
You and I, Lord, will draw him.
And if Aethelred cannot be found?
[Uhtred] We fight alone.
But we must act quickly. It must be today.
I'm ready, Lords.
It won't take me long to find the Mercians.
To Fearnham. Go.
[wind blowing]
[Saxon guard] Open the gates!
Psst.
The gates.
We go and we do not stop.
They cannot overtake us! They must not overtake us!
For the freedom of Wessex!
[all cheering]
They're escaping.
Lord! Lord, they are running!
Lord, the Saxon army is fleeing the fortress.
-Who did you see? -I saw them all.
I saw the Lady Skade. I saw Uhtred Ragnarson.
The whole army.
Every man and every sword with me. It's time!
Horses!
[Saxon guard] Close the gates!
[yelling]
[Danes yelling]
[Sigebriht] Lord!
They're giving chase.
[Alfred] We wait...
long enough for them not to see they are being followed.
And we pray.
[horse neighs]
[driver] Lord, the cart is stuck.
Release the horse from its harness and ride.
Sihtric, your ax.
They've been after silver, so let's give them some.
Keep going! Ride!
[Steapa] We must not be seen!
We track them.
And then we kill the bastards!
[all cheering]
[Bloodhair] May be a trap.
[Osferth] Is this the place?
-Is this Fearnham? -It is.
Maybe Finan didn't make the journey.
Do we wait for the Danes to catch us?
It's silver, Lord.
They must have been too afraid to fix the cart.
Wrap it in cloth. Keep it safe. Let's move on.
I want every Saxon dead by nightfall.
[Dane] Move on!
Your man is here. I know it.
[horses neighing]
[Uhtred] It is Finan.
And the Mercians.
We are an army!
-Glory shall be ours! -[all cheering]
[all yelling]
[Gisela straining]
[breathes heavily]
Shield wall!
[Uhtred] Ready!
They have the hill. We have the numbers and will of the gods!
Odin's warriors!
[all cheering]
[Uhtred] We stand our ground! They will come onto us,
and we will take their heads from their shoulders!
No Saxon leaves this field alive!
[all yelling]
Hold firm!
We do not break! We stand our ground!
For Mercia!
[all yelling]
Fight for your women and your children!
[groans]
Hold the line!
-Get me up, man! -[Uhtred] Close the gap!
Hold!
[horn sounding]
Who sounds the horn?
[Uhtred] It is Alfred.
It is Alfred and the men of Wessex!
-Steapa! -Shield wall!
Hold the line!
[Steapa] Advance!
[all yelling]
[Uhtred] Advance!
[Dane] We're trapped!
[grunting]
[Dane] Lord, do we fight?
Bloodhair, you do not yield.
Do not yield.
[Uhtred] Give them no ground!
Give them nothing but your sword!
[Aldhelm] They are running scared!
They are beaten!
[groaning]
[all cheering]
Uhtred...
she's gone.
She's given you a son.
But she's gone.
[sniffles]
-I must go to her. -Uhtred, no!
-No, I must go to her! -Uhtred, she's gone!
She's in the ground.
It was days ago.
She's gone.