14. In the Uncertain Hour Before the Morning

Complete story — includes the ending

In Kattegat, Aslaug renounces herself as Queen, promising Lagertha that her sons will not seek revenge. In exchange, she wants safe passage to leave. Lagertha initially agrees, but then kills Aslaug. Ubbe and Sigurd arrive to find Lagertha in the great hall. Ubbe challenges Lagertha's warriors in an attempt to kill her but fails. Astrid tells Ubbe and Sigurd that they will die if they harm Lagertha. In Wessex, Ragnar and Ivar are seized by Aethelwulf. Ecbert arrives and promises no harm will come to Ivar, then introduces Ragnar to Magnus. Ragnar states he and Kwenthrith never had sex and Magnus is expelled. Ecbert admits to ordering Aethelwulf to kill the Norse settlers, expresses regret, and frees Ragnar from his cage. The two drunkenly discuss the afterlife and the death of Athelstan, which Ragnar says weighs on his conscience. Ragnar asks Ecbert to kill him, but Ecbert refuses. Instead, Ecbert agrees to hand Ragnar over to King Aelle and arrange a safe passage for Ivar to go home. Ragnar promises that his sons will seek vengeance against Northumbria, not Wessex.