The dream of England is crumbling, but there is one sacrifice that can stem the tide.

The Thurgilsons' plan to take Aethelflaed of Mercia prisoner has succeeded and now all that remains is to extort the ransom from her father and husband. But as so often happens with the best-laid plans, fate intervenes... This is an AU story - my take on what might have happened. Note: The Last Kingdom is copyright to Carnival Television. No infringement intended.