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Uhtred: "I gave you glory! I gave you the freedom to worship your God, and still you treat me no better than a hound! I should kill you."
Alfred: "Then do it, like the heathen you are and will always be. Do you think I am afraid?"
Uhtred: "I can smell the shit on your legs."
Alfred: "Heaven awaits me, whereas you shall burn in hell for all eternity! Valhalla is a lie and your gods are a lie!"
Uhtred: "I seem to have broken my oath, Lord. With luck, the whole of Wessex will now burn." [src]

"Episode 18" is the second episode of the third season of The Last Kingdom. It aired on November 19, 2018.

Synopsis[]

Falling afoul of Alfred, Uhtred flees north to his brother, Ragnar. His eye on the throne, Æthelwold begins assembling an alliance to strike Wessex.

Plot[]

Wessex; Hild prays as Uhtred and Finan dig up Gisela and give her a pyre. Uhtred sobs as she goes up in flames with Finan and Hild at his side, unaware they are being watched by Aethelwold.

Winchester, Wessex; Æthelwold wishes to speak with Brother Godwin. Æthelwold doesn’t believe that Uhtred is the right man to guide Edward. Bishop Erkenwald needs to see this and Alfred needs to be reminded of this. Should Godwin does as he is asked, Æthelwold will ensure that he is given a lady to fondle. Æthelwold even makes mention of Uhtred desecrating his wife's grave.

Beocca takes Uhtred to see Alfred, Ælswith, and Edward, who have come to discover that Uhtred desecrated Gisela’s grave. Uhtred insists he meant no disrespect and apologizes; Alfred and Edward are sympathetic to Uhtred's loss and supportive of his reason, though Ælswith continues to complain about his actions. Æthelwold looks over to Brother Godwin, who remarks that Gisela was a pagan whore who never should’ve been buried on blessed grounds to begin with. He continues to insult Gisela even as an enraged Uhtred commands him to stop. When Godwin persists, Uhtred strikes him, unintentionally killing Godwin when he hits his head on the ground. Alfred orders his men to seize Uhtred, but he manages to escape the hall. Alfred orders Steapa to lock Winchester down and bring him Uhtred.

Steapa approaches Uhtred’s home and demands he exit. However, Finan and Sihtric deny him entry. Hild arrives and Finan allows her to pass, much to Steapa's annoyance. Hild tells Uhtred that there cannot be any bloodshed. He agrees and asks Hild to bring the demands of the king. Skade tells Uhtred that he has no other choice but to break his oath to Alfred. He blames her for everything and threatens to end her life should she continue to talk.

Beocca and Æthelwold return to Uhtred with Alfred’s demands. There will be no trial. He wants 100 pieces of wergild, and Uhtred must swear an oath to Edward. Finan replies that the king asks for too much, while Uhtred insists if he swears an oath to Edward, he will be bound to the boy for the rest of his life. Regardless of all else, Beocca reminds Uhtred that it is because of Alfred that he has had a good life in Wessex. He tells Uhtred to make a choice: either accept his punishment or allow his friends to kill each other. Uhtred hands his weapons off to Finan and Sihtric and informs Steapa that he will come peacefully to the king. Steapa assures him that Alfred is merciful.

Uhtred meets with Alfred. While he is willing to pay the wergild, he can’t swear himself to Edward. Such an oath would be for the rest of his life. Alfred wants Steapa at Edward’s left hand and Uhtred at his right. When Alfred refuses to release Uhtred, he pulls a blade from his armor and holds it to Alfred’s neck, ordering Steapa to stay back. Beocca is taken by surprise though he ensures that Ælswith and Edward remain unharmed. Ælswith orders Steapa to kill Uhtred, but Beocca insists that no one move. Alfred informs Uhtred that this can mean nothing but his certain death. Uhtred then exits with Alfred as his hostage.

Uhtred reminds Alfred of the glory and freedom he has given him, and yet still, Alfred treats him no better than a hound. Alfred dares Uhtred to kill him, insisting doing so will send him to Heaven while Uhtred is destined for hell, mocking the latter's belief in Valhalla and the Norse gods. A furious Uhtred kicks Alfred to the ground, expressing his hope his actions will ensure Wessex's destruction, and escapes. The King returns to the hall and orders Uhtred to be killed.

Uhtred attempts to make his escape from Winchester with Steapa and the Wessex guard hunting him down. Uhtred makes it outside the wall, though not without taking a wound from a spear Steapa throws at him, where he reconvenes with Finan and Sihtric and rides off to Dunholm. Afterwards, Alfred sends his court and family away, then sits on his throne and breaks down weeping at the realization he may have turned Wessex's greatest warrior into an implacable enemy.

Æthelwold finds Offa and informs him of his intent to form his own guard. He is willing to employ him and two others. They will be paid in silver.

Unlike Beocca, Thyra sides with Uhtred, reasoning that Alfred didn’t give him much of a choice. Alfred ignored Uhtred’s pain. If Edward is being prepared to take the crown then Uhtred knows that Alfred’s death is near. That is what he will tell the Danes.

Skade tells Uhtred that she would like to ride alongside him as his woman. He now has his freedom and he should embrace it along with her. She saw what would occur to his wife, though she was not the cause of it. She adds that Bloodhair isn’t the warrior that Uhtred has proven himself to be. She’d rather be lovers than enemies. Should he continue to deny her, he will remain cursed.

Finan questions why Skade isn’t dead yet. Uhtred replies that she had a gift and she has taken hold of his path. Sihtric adds that in killing her, the curse will live on.

Aegelesburg, Mercia; Æthelwold, Offa and two others arrive in Aegelesburg to see Æthelred. Aldhelm demands to know what he wants. Æthelwold wants their disloyalty towards Alfred. He adds that Uhtred has left Alfred’s side, making him vulnerable. Æthelwold claims that the crown of Wessex is his and unlike Alfred, he doesn’t want to control Mercia. He’d rather leave that to Æthelred. He’s proposing they form an alliance. Æthelwold even suggests harming Æthelflæd, who is away at her own estate.

Northumbria (?); Uhtred is growing weaker by the moment. He vomits while riding his horse and his skin is pale. He falls off his horse and Finan, Sihtric, and Osferth come to his aid. He explains that Skade is squeezing the life from him. He orders Finan to put him in a cart and haul him to Brida in Dunholm. She will know what to do.

Æthelwold and Offa meet with Bloodhair and Hæsten. They bring word of Alfred, Uhtred, and Skade. He claims that Uhtred humps her, but he has been banished from Wessex, likely headed to Dunholm. Æthelwold presents them with an alliance. He wishes to join them as well as Ragnar and Uhtred. Right now, Wessex has never been more vulnerable. Uhtred is gone and Alfred is weak.

While in a hallucinative state, Uhtred dreams of Leofric, who demands that he fight him. He calls Uhtred a Dane traitor. Uhtred awakens from this hallucination and grabs his sword tight.

Word of Uhtred’s abandonment and Alfred’s weakening has spread. Alfred wishes to put an end to the rumors. Beocca suggests a party of sorts. Perhaps a betrothal for Edward. Ælswith assures Alfred that he will see the birth of England, but they both know he won’t see another year, so they must move forward and find Edward a suitable match. Ælswith assures him that their children will build an England for him to be proud of.

Æthelred has considered Æthelwold’s proposal. He tells Aldhelm that he wants Æthelflæd killed, as well as her child.

Brida and Cnut, spot a group of Saxons and Danes traveling. They’re protecting the cart and the man that rides on it. Cnut then remarks how fortunate his cousin Ragnar is to have a woman to both love and fight. He wonders why she allows him to shame her. Brida doesn't answer, she simply orders Cnut to allow the men to continue on their path undisturbed.

Osferth brings Uhtred broth to eat so that he may regain his strength. Leofric reappears and tells Uhtred that now he knows how Alfred feels. Belly and bones aching. But everyday he got on his feet and built Wessex. Uhtred replies that Alfred built Wessex with his sword. Leofric then questions why his nephew Osferth with Uhtred when he is no warrior. Uhtred replies it’s because of Gisela that he allowed Osferth to join him. She was fond of him. Leofric claims that Uhtred has made all the men traitors and that Alfred is their king, to which a furious Uhtred snarls back that Alfred had already forgotten Leofric's sacrifice at Ethandun, so why does the latter defend him? Brida arrives at their camp and takes them to Dunholm.

Jackdaw stands guard outside Skade’s cell. When asked if she was any trouble, Jackdaw claims that Skade showed him her breasts. Skade claims to be a seer, but Brida doesn’t see any runes. Skade demands to see Uhtred or else she will curse Brida, who stakes a Nithstong in the ground to block Skade’s power. Skade swears that she will kill Brida for this.

Uhtred has recovered from his sickness. Cnut confronts Uhtred, who he’s come to know as the Dane-Slayer. He questions just how many Danes Uhtred has killed. Ragnar tells Uhtred that he’s back where he belongs, to which Uhtred replies that he’s a Dane for life as Brida and the other Danes cheer him on.

Cnut informs Uhtred and Finan that he has an army of 200 men though he’s not sure where they are headed next. Though, if Wessex is undefended, Cnut is considering heading south. Uhtred is not fond of the name Dane-Slayer and tells Cnut to stop referring to him as such. Ragnar remarks that the prospect of Alfred without Uhtred will bring many Danes, Ragnar included. Finan tells Uhtred that he came to Dunholm to hunt, rest, and find a woman, not wage war against Alfred. Brida rejoins them and informs Uhtred of Skade’s power. She believes that Uhtred could wield it. Either he takes her as his woman or kill her. Brida will ask a seer more powerful than Skade on how to kill her. Uhtred takes Brida’s hand and remembers the very first time they met, on the steps of the great hall of Eoferwic. Brida tells Uhtred that much like him, she has been cursed and cannot have children. Uhtred tells Brida that he is sorry for her. Brida dismisses his condolences, insisting she's happy enough with Ragnar, but urges that if Uhtred is to truly be a Dane, he must undo the past and destroy Alfred.

Appearances[]

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Cast[]

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