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"Episode 7" is the seventh episode of the first season of The Last Kingdom. It aired on November 21, 2015.

Synopsis[]

Driven to hiding in the marshes after the Vikings invade Wessex, Uhtred and Alfred finally make amends and devise a plan for retaking the kingdom.

Plot[]

Winchester, Wessex; Leofric and Uhtred share an ale the night before their duel, admitting respect and friendship for one another. Uhtred insists he doesn't want to fight Leofric but insists he can't back down.

The next morning, Alfred offers Uhtred one last chance for redemption, but Uhtred refuses to give Iseult up knowing she would be killed should she return to Cornwalum in Wealas. A furious Alfred washes his hands of Uhtred and insists the duel will go ahead. As crowds gathers for the impending duel, Brida walks among them, observing, before taking off on horseback and signalling along the forest's edge. An army of Danes slowly emerges from the trees, ready to invade Winchester in the Siege of Winchester (878).

Meanwhile, the fight between the two warriors rages on, an even match at best. Alfred, who does not wish to see bloodshed on the feast day of Saint Chad, walks away. Leofric and Uhtred have discarded their weapons at this point, throwing punches at each other, when the cry goes up that Danes have entered the city walls. Leofric is quick to declare the end of their fight as they flee in the ensuing panic. Odda the Younger and his men are amongst the first to flee Winchester in the chaos. Ragnar, Brida, Guthrum and their warriors run rampant through the city, killing all in their path.

Guthrum gains entry into the palace but Alfred is nowhere to be found. Æthelwold has remained behind and seizes this opportunity to confront Guthrum as the real king of Wessex. Guthrum is less than impressed and strikes Æthelwold down. However, what Guthrum is impressed by is the "magic" of Alfred's scrolls. "Words without sound, voices without people", Guthrum wants to use this knowledge to his advantage like Alfred has.

Uhtred, Leofric, and Iseult hide in the rafters of a mill house, intending to lie low and try to escape once night falls, when Vikings burst in and begin raping a nun. Iseult, unable to look away, hops down from above to stab the Dane and save the nun's life.

The group's number is now four, and they must make their way out of the city by pretending to be two Danes and two hostages. They are almost out until Brida recognises Uhtred and confronts him. She is not friendly, but allows them to escape.

Marshlands, Wessex; They make their way to the marshlands when a small party of Danes chases after a group of priests. Uhtred and Leofric fend off the attackers and help everyone escape by boat. The priest they manage to save is none other than Alfred, to Uhtred's chagrin. Uhtred then takes the time to berate Alfred for wasting his time and resources on appeasing priests and building churches instead of actually paying attention to what his enemies like Guthrum were doing. Although Hild and Alfred protest at his lack of respect, Uhtred retorts that like every other kingdom before it, Wessex has fallen and Alfred is now king of nothing.

Athelney Marshes, Wessex; In the safe haven of the Athelney marshes, both Alfred and his infant son, Edward, grow sicker. Alfred reveals to Uhtred that to save Wessex from crumbling bit to bit at the hands of the Danes, there must be a single, defining battle that will determine the fateful outcome of either nation. To do this, Alfred dispatches his priests in every direction to inform his Generals of his current whereabouts.

Iseult prepares herbal tonics for Alfred's haemorrhoids which work well enough that he can eat meat again. But another way must be found for Edward - a pagan way which Ælswith is not keen on. Iseult predicts the child only has one night left and Alfred, whose fate as a king is tied to fate as a father, is desperate to save him. Iseult warns Uhtred that to save one life, another must be taken.

When they awake the next morning, the baby is magically healed. Alfred, overcome with joy, is deaf to Father Beocca's exaltation's that their prayers were answered by God. Yet Iseult weeps for the stranger's baby.

Marshlands, Wessex; Uhtred excursions and devises a plan: kill all Skorpa's men who are currently water-bound and force the remainder to join forces with Guthrum, leading to the penultimate battle of Fight of Athelney. They goad Skorpa's men into the deep marshes, letting the wetlands trap them before they attack. In the sunset, they look on at the burning long ships with renewed hope for a Wessex retaliation.

Appearances[]

First[]

Deaths[]

  • Several unnamed English soldiers.
  • Several unnamed Winchester residents and priests.
  • Several unnamed Danish soldiers (including Lead Dane).

Cast[]

Starring[]

Supporting[]

Guest Starring[]

Uncredited[]

  • Yuri Ribeiro as Viking Warrior
  • Balázs Veres as Viking Warrior
  • Unknown as baby Edward
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