7 Major Characters In The Last Kingdom Who Aren't Even Real

Much like our hero, his first loyal companion Brida is completely fictional. There's no indication that any such person existed, but given the intermixing of Saxon, Briton and Dane that was occurring in the 9th Century, there's no reason to think that somebody like her might not have existed in some way.

Brida starts with almost the same tale as Uthred. She is captured at York (at the time called Eoferwic) after the massacre by the Great Viking Army. She and Uhtred meet as children, holding hands on the steps of the great hall. Brida is, like Uthred, taken into the household of Ragnar the Fearless to serve as a house slave, but is seemingly treated very well and comes to love her life as a Dane.

When Ragnar the Fearless is set aflame, she sets out with Uhtred on his journey of vengeance as his only companion and lover. While she is steadfast to begin with, she then begins to question Uhtred's hot-headed decisions. She believes that they should their way to Ireland, where Ragnar Ragnarsson is gone Viking. Uhtred instead aligns himself with Alfred of Wessex, leaving Brida feeling alone in a land that despises her.

After a time together, Brida cannot live amongst the Saxons and is offered the chance to travel with Ragnar, a chance she takes. Although she would not be by Uhtred's side any longer, their paths would cross again and again and again.