The Last Kingdom Season 5 has finally been concluded on Netflix. Based on ‘The Saxon Stories by Bernard Cornwell, The Last Kingdom ending has left many fans asking questions such as what happens to the Lady of Mercia Aethelflead? Is she dead or alive?
If you are also looking for an answer to that question, you have managed to land on the right page. As in this article, we will explain what happened to Aethelflead.
What happens to Aethelflead in The Last Kingdom Season 5?
In The Last Kingdom Season 5, one of the most tragic endings was the death of The Lady of Mercia Aethelflead. Yes! Lady Aethelflead died of canker (old English term for cancer)
In the previous season, we had seen that Uthred and Aethelflead both loved each other. But, as Aethelflead had to take the responsibility as The Lady of Mercia, she and Uthred had to part ways with one another. But their loved ones stayed strong even after all these years.
In The Last Kingdom Season 5, we saw Aethelflead coming to Rumcofa for the blood month festival to meet with Uthred and the others. Here, Aethelflead consulted with Edith, a healer on the canker developed near her breast.
After analysing the canker, Edith informed Aethelflead that the canker now is beyond cure, and she didn’t have much time left. Edith said she wouldn’t see the following summer when Aethelflead asked how much time she had left.
“Lady, I believe it is too late to save you from this canker says, Edith. Aethelflead replies, you have seen this before? Edith nods her head and says only on…Aethelflead replies, you mean only on the dead? Edith replies, yes, my lady.”
Aethelflead and Uthred in The Last Kingdom Season 5 (Image Credit: Netflix)Lady Aethelflead decides she will handle the urgent matters as she has very little time left. Uthred during this time was going through a lot as Brida has attacked Eoferwic, and her daughter Stiorra was in danger. Uthred wanted to speak to Lady Aethelflead to raise an army to save her daughter from Brida.
But Lady Aethelflead couldn’t do that as she was ill, and if she had helped Uthred, there would have been trouble in Mercia because of that. But Uthred, this time, was unaware of Lady Aethelflead’s condition as she didn’t want to break the news to Uthred now because he had the priority to save his daughter Stiorria first, and by telling this news to Uthred could have affected his morale.
However, before leaving, Edith informs Finnan about Lady Aethelflead’s condition. She tells him that when Uthred secures her daughter, he wins back Eoferwic that time informs Uthred about Aethelflead’s condition but not before that.
Then after Uthred had saved her daughter and won the battle in Eoferwic, Finnan disclosed the news to Uthred.
Uthred was devastated after hearing about Aethelflead when asked why Finn had kept it concealed from him. Finn said he was told not to inform Uthred anything unless he saved his daughter Stiorra.
Uthred after hearing this news, he went back to Aethelflead to meet her one last time before she died. Uthred managed to reach on time and had one last conversation with one another, after which Aergelflead died in the arms of Uthred.
Before dying, both Uthred and Aethelflead shared an emotional moment where Leady Aethelflead said she never stopped wondering what she gave up with Uthred to become what she is now.
Uthred asked her if she regretted it? Aethelflead replies, “On Occasions and when I did it is every part of my being, what of you? Would you have begged a different path after all these years?”
What happens to Aethelflead in The Last Kingdom Season 5? (Image Credit: Netflix)Uthred, in reply, told her that he had always dreamt of Aethelflead and him as a family and a happy one even though the happiness was on his dreams never ceased to worry that they made a wrong choice. It is of life to think what they have been. Aethelflead’s path was to bring peace to Mercia and protect its people. So she did what was required.
Aethelflead asked who would protect you, Uthred of Bebbunbarg? Uthred said he doesn’t need protection. But Aethelfled replies, you do you are carrying so much pain, and she ends up crying and leaning on Uthred’s hand where she breathed her last and died in her lover’s arms.
