Tired of life, Ragnar marches to the Wessex royal capital, without resisting arrest of his whole Viking party by crown prince Athelstan, who looks forward to executing his people's 'hereditary foe', but king-philosopher Ecbert stops his son, taking Ragnar prisoner in a cage to reminisce and after the revelation of Ragnar's royal Mercian bastard daughter at the court. Queen Auslag proudly resigns the throne to Lagertha, who still kills her after the arrival of stepsons Ubbe and Sigurd, who are jailed after failing to kill Lagertha. Ecbert refuses to execute Ragnar but decides to send him to his bloodthirsty ally, king Aella of Northumbria while cripple Ivar will be returned safely to Kattegat.
—KGF Vissers