The days started to pass with still no sign of Ragnar Lothbrok. Ingrid hated being this patient, but it was something she had to be and was thus. Unlike her brother who was on the verge of tearing down the walls if something didn't happen soon. The only other person they saw the past few days was the guard who brought their food, no one else. These days were also spent in complete silence – neither sibling talking to the other.

Ingrid was the one to break the silence as she sat cross-legged on the table in their chamber with her hand in the air, tending to the Web. "He's almost here."

It'd been so quiet for so long he wasn't sure if he truly heard her or not. "Who, Ragnar?" When Ingrid nodded and moved off the table, he sighed heavily, "Finally."

Jerrick moved off the cot and saw a worried look on Ingrid's face that made him curious. "What is it, sister?"

Ingrid shook at the door trying to get out but it was locked and the guard on the other side shouted at her to stop it.

Jerrick pulled Ingrid away from the door and demanded to know, "What did you see?"

"He's going to die, brother. He and Aslaug are both going to die." Ingrid never meant for this to happen. Her actions upon the Web were never supposed to lead to this. In all she had seen, and done, and changed, not once did she see any of the threads weaving Ragnar to his death. "Aslaug was the price to pay for Ivar's life. But Ragnar – This was not supposed to be his Destiny."

"I warned you, sister," Jerrick seethed. "But you refused to listen to me. You knew the risks." He scoffed heavily before saying, "You became too proud and Fate intervened." Jerrick threw up his hand towards his sister, "And you are too human to do anything about it."

Ingrid wanted to lash out at him for speaking to her in such a way but she couldn't, not this time – He was right.

Jerrick could see it in her eyes that she was not going to argue with him – that she could not. Perhaps this was what needed to happen in order for her to see that her time in this place was long passed – that it was time to go home. "You must see now? It's time to come home, sister. Fate is taking over where Destiny should reign." He placed his hands on Ingrid's shoulders and looked her square in the eye. "Things will be different this time, sister, I swear it. For as long as I exist no one will ever cause you harm again."

There was a time where Ingrid had wanted to return home to her people but that time passed long ago. Even though her brother presented the opportunity to return again, she couldn't accept – she wouldn't accept. "I cannot return, brother. My place is no longer with our people."

Jerrick scoffed heavily, throwing his hand out towards the door, shouting, "And where is your place? Hmm? With these weak mortals who will never believe you for what you are? – For who you are? You will either be branded a liar, a witch, or used for personal gain. Even with your hindered sight you must be able to see this." He looked at Ingrid, taking deep breaths. "Your place is with our people, sister. Your place is with me. Without you I am lost."

Ingrid placed her hand on the side of Jerrick's face and closed her eyes for a moment when he covered her hand with his. She opened her eyes and spoke clearly, "You will find your way, brother. Of this I am certain. I have made many mistakes since I left our people, I know. Too many Destinies have changed because of this but I must make things right. I must take back what is mine and I will destroy Fate if that is the only way I can get it back."

Jerrick couldn't believe she dared say such a thing. "You would dare take on the Norns? They would kill you before your first step."

"Then I will simply return and try again and again," Ingrid countered, taking her hand away. "I cannot save Ragnar, this I see, but I can assist his sons – something I will do. If Fate dares to intervene I will have their head on a platter."

Jerrick had to make her see reason. "You are but one with hindered power where they are three. How do you intend to kill the three of the Norns."

"Not three," Ingrid confided. "I need but kill only one." She looked at her brother with a scheming look within her eyes. "And then we shall see just how human I am."

With Ragnar captured and sitting in a cage which hung from the ceiling, Prince Aethelwulf questioned him. He wanted to know where the rest of Ragnar's raiding party was. Ragnar insisted that he and Ivar were the only ones because he killed the survivors of the party. Of course, Ragnar did not know that Ingrid and Jerrick had survived.

"Only you and your son, hm?" Aethelwulf waved his hand for the guards to bring Ingrid and Jerrick into the room. They both bore shackles around their wrists. Upon their entrance, Aethelwulf pointed at them. "If there was no one else then explain the presence of these two? Now, where are the others?!"

Ragnar moved his head from side to side, saying, "I was not aware of their survival."

"Does it please you to see that they lived?" Aethelwulf asked to which Ragnar answered, after looking at Ingrid, "I believe my son will be pleased."

Aethelwulf walked up behind Jerrick and said, "Well, your son will have to be disappointed." He drew his dagger and sliced open Jerrick's throat.

"Brother!" Ingrid shouted and tried to lunge at Aethelwulf but the guards held her back. "By the Gods, my brother will punish you, Aethelwulf!"

"I fear not of your non-existent Gods, Pagan!" Aethelwulf shouted back as he grabbed Ingrid by her hair and yanked her head back. He turned to Ragnar and made himself clear. "Tell me where the others are or I will slice her throat as well!"

"There is no one else," Ragnar reiterated. "I did not know Ingrid had survived. We believed her dead at sea."

Aethelwulf looked at Ingrid before seething, "Take her back to the chamber. I will deal with her later."

Ingrid went off with the guards feeling nothing but fury because she could not change Ragnar's Fate – yes, his Fate. It was out of Destiny's hands now, a bitter feeling that Ingrid would not soon get over nor soon forgive. Where her brother's death was concerned, she felt no sorrow and for good reason – He's survived deaths far worse than this.

Ingrid paced back and forth in the empty chamber she'd been locked in. She had not seen Ivar with her own eyes but his Web made it clear he was still alive. Knowing that was a comfort but seeing him for herself would have been even better.

The days were lost upon Ingrid now. There was only so much she could do and that strength must be conserved. She spent most of her time sitting upon the table in the center of the room viewing all the threads the Web would show her. Ingrid witnessed Aslaug's demise upon the Web, seeing how the threads unraveled while still leaving an impact upon the others. Lagertha's Web was certainly one which had been altered greatly by the turn of events. That woman's Destiny had been altered with every breath of the wind, it seemed. In a way, it was true. It was Destiny's way of making an attempt to mend the Destiny Lagertha was meant to have but never could because Ingrid left her people.

Ingrid lowered her hands, ceasing her weaves upon the Web, when she heard noises coming from the door. It soon opened and King Ecbert entered. Ingrid did not say a word to him and awaited for him to break the silence in the air between them.

Finally, Ecbert did speak. "I am sorry for my son's actions towards your brother. It is a loss I cannot make up for."

"I will see my brother again soon," Ingrid replied, having complete faith in that.

"Ah, yes, in Valhalla," Ecbert replied, walking further into the chamber. The door was left open with several guards standing at the ready. "I know of your beliefs."

"You know nothing," Ingrid retorted with a heavy scoff.

"Perhaps," was all Ecbert would say to that before changing the subject. "You and Ragnar's son are being released. You are both allowed safe passage back to your homeland."

"I am not to be killed as my brother was?" Ingrid inquired, finding it a bit hard to believe.

"When I was a boy there was a beautiful maiden who burned for being a witch. I see that woman's face in yours. Perhaps by sparing your life, I will no longer be haunted by the image of hers." It was a silly notion, but that was Ecbert's reason for letting her go.

"She was no witch," Ingrid countered. "She was a woman of the North who left her people, loved a Saxon man of royal blood, and was murdered for it."

Ecbert believed they must be of the same bloodline in order for her to know of whom he spoke of. "You know of the lady Freya's story?"

Ingrid answered with the complete and utter truth, "As well as I know my own."

Ingrid was brought back to see Ragnar before she and Ivar were to go upon the and set sail for home. She sat down in the floor in front of him in his cell. He was still chained up but at least he wasn't in the cage any longer.

Ragnar looked up from his bowl of water and tilted his head to look at Ingrid. "I am sorry for the loss of your brother."

Ingrid pulled at her skirt, saying without worry, "I will see him again."

"Ah, yes," Ragnar sighed, "in Valhalla."

"If not before." Ingrid lifted her eyes to look into Ragnar's. "This was never meant to be your Destiny, Ragnar. If there was anything I could do, I would do it. Fate has intervened but I swear to you I will make them pay."

"Is that why you asked to see me before you left with my son?" Ragnar looked at her with a 'hmm' expression upon his face. "To tell me this?"

Ingrid's posture straightened for she was about to do something she did not do very often. "I came here to apologize to you, Ragnar. It is my fault your thread comes to and end such as this. For that, I am sorry."

Ragnar chuckled at her words. "Now how could you possibly have any control over my Web? Not even Weavers can alter a man's Destiny."

"But Gods can," Ingrid countered. She moved to her knees and leaned forward to kiss Ragnar's head to share with him a secret she hadn't shared with any other mortal.

Ragnar's eyes widened in awe as she pulled away from him. He cleared his throat, at a loss for words, but finally he spoke, "It is an honor…"

Ingrid gently pressed her hands to his lips to keep him from saying anything further. "The honor – and regret – is mine, Ragnar Lothbrok."

The guards came in presently to escort Ingrid out. She stood and left without word or fight, nor did she look back. Looking back would do neither of them any good – That part of her Web and his was over. All there was to do now was to look forward.

Ingrid climbed into the wagon and closed her eyes, listening to the wind for its guidance. The breeze she could hear but they carried no whispers, she found this disheartening. Ingrid opened her eyes when she heard the sound of approaching footsteps. One of the guards was bringing Ivar to the wagon and all but threw him aboard.

"I heard you were alive," was Ivar's greeting to her. "I also heard your brother has died."

"Is that all you wish to say to me, Ivar?" Ingrid asked, moving closer to him.

"What else is there?" Ivar scoffed, looking away from her.

"I thought, perhaps, you would wish to speak of your father?" Ingrid suggested, but clearly she was wrong.

"You do not want to hear what I have to say to you, Weaver," Ivar shot back. He believed that somehow Ingrid managed to trade his life for Ragnar's and because of this, he was beyond enraged towards her. Even so, he was managing to keep from lashing out at her.

Ingrid's face hardened at his words. "Fine," she seethed and moved as far away from Ivar as she could.

The air hung heavy between them as they sat in the wagon that would bring them to the boat. Once they arrived at the dock, the men helped Ivar out first and Ingrid soon followed. She stepped onto the boat and tilted her head to the side as the wind blew hard, shuffling the cloak of a hooded man sitting at the back.

"Who is that?" Ingrid asked one of the boat's crew members.

"Don't care," the man replied. "He paid good money to board. If you have a problem, don't come crying to me."

Ingrid narrowed her eyes at him and looked down at Ivar to see if he knew, but he didn't seem to so she went over to the cloaked man and threw back his hood. "You."

Jerrick crossed his arms in amusement as he looked over the shock on Ivar's face and the 'I knew it' expression on his sister's. "Hello, sister," he smirked, "did you miss me?"

Ivar couldn't explain this if his life depended on it. When Ingrid asked his help in killing this man, he did – or at least he thought he did – but the next day he saw him walking around Kattegat. And now, here he is again – alive and well. As the strong wind sent the boat on its way, Ivar asked the first thing which came to mind, "What are you?"

Jerrick pulled Ingrid to sit beside him and chuckled as he wrapped his arm around her. With a bit of an impish smirk he answered, "Her brother." His expression slowly hardened as he turned Ivar's question back on him. "What are you?"

Ivar seemed to be at a loss for words so Ingrid spoke in his place, "Ruthless," she said with daggers in her eyes. "A ruthless Viking."

Ivar appeared to be asleep, so Ingrid took this time to speak with Jerrick. "You shouldn't have come back so soon."

"Did you think I would leave you, sister?" Jerrick asked with a 'hmm' tone to his voice. "I gave you my word that I would keep anyone from causing you harm again." Jerrick gently placed his hand on the side of the face. "I don't have enough clout with our people to keep you safe when I'm among them. So, sister, did you think I would leave you?"

Ingrid closed her eyes and leaned into hand as she placed her own over his. When she opened them again, she asked, "What if the one who's capable of causing me harm is you?"

Jerrick answered this by taking a Runed dagger from his belt and handing it over to her. "If I am ever the cause, then use this on me and send me to Valhalla."

Ingrid reached out and took the dagger from him. "Why do you have this?" When Jerrick didn't answer, she had it. "You were to use this on me if I didn't go back to our people, weren't you?"

"It doesn't matter now, does it?" Jerrick replied, pulling his cloak tighter around him. "You have it now." He saw the gleam in Ingrid's eyes and began to worry. "Sister, what are you planning?"

A wicked gleam spread across Ingrid's lips as her grip tightened around the dagger. "Death."

Unlike the trip to England, the trip back to Kattegat was smooth sailing. Ivar did not speak to either Ingrid or Jerrick the entire trip. He had far too much on his mind and he was not ready to bring Ingrid into it – especially when he thought she was somehow responsible for Ragnar's demise. Perhaps she wove a thread wrong upon the Web – that was all he could think to make sense of what happened. Whether or not this was true, he doubted things would ever be the same between them.

Finally, they arrived in Kattegat. The guards all aimed their bows at those who greeted them at the docks. Jerrick was the first to depart the boat and helped Ingrid onto the deck. He was going to say something to her but she hurried off before he could.

Ingrid sprinted down the dock when she saw Ubbe and Sigurd approach. "Ubbe…" She didn't get a chance to say anything further because he wrapped his arms around her and held her close.

Ubbe knew what Ingrid said about nothing happening between them, but seeing her there stirred something in him and he had to greet her in this manner. "It is good to see you, Ingrid."

Ingrid reached up to kiss Ubbe on the cheek before stepping aside to let them pass and get to Ivar.

Jerrick passed the brothers and stood next to his sister. "Is there something more between you and Ubbe, hm?"

"Why?" Ingrid asked, turning to face him. "Are you jealous?"

Jerrick saw the expression on Ivar's face when Ingrid went to Ubbe and answered with, "I believe Ivar is." Across on the other dock he saw Lagertha standing in the center of group of Shield Maidens. "Is the new Queen going to make you her charge as well?"

Ingrid took a deep breath as she walked down the dock with her brother. "I do hope not. Lagertha and Ragnar's sons will soon enter something I do not wish to be in the middle of."

Jerrick scoffed a chuckle at that. "Oh, sister," he sighed, "can you not see…you are already in the middle of it."

"Perhaps I am blind to more than I care to admit." Ingrid eyes seemed to darken as a plot formed within her mind. "It is time for me to see clearly again."

Jerrick paused and groaned a bit because he had a feeling he knew what she was talking about. "The Norns?"

Ingrid nodded. "The Norns."

Jerrick was instantly regretting giving her the Runed dagger now. "I never should have given you that dagger."

"But you did, and I intend to use it." Ingrid placed her hand on Jerrick's shoulder. "And you will help me. Do not fight me on this, brother. I will make it worth your while."

A crooked smirk spread across Jerrick's expression. "Well, now, how could I ever argue with that?"

Perhaps there was a mistake made in sending Jerrick to retrieve Ingrid and bring her back to her people because history was repeating itself – He was being wrapped around his sister's finger all over again. Or so it seems...

Ingrid was laying back on her bed, relaxing with her eyes closed that night when suddenly she was taken by surprise by a hand being pressed over her mouth to keep her from screaming.

Ivar held a blade to Ingrid's throat – his eyes filled with fury. "My mother is dead. Did you know this would happen? Did you know Lagertha was going to kill my mother?!" He moved his hand to let her speak.

"Her life for yours," Ingrid whispered. "That was the arrangement. She knew she would die for your survival. Yes, I knew of Aslaug's death but I swear, I did not know your father would meet the same fate. My eyes were blind and if you wish to kill for that, do it." She lifted her head to press her neck into the blade. "Do it, Ivar!"

Ivar wanted to, he badly did, but something held him back. He removed the dagger from her neck with a huff and left her room without another word.

Jerrick stepped out of the shadows and moved to his sister. He knelt down and moved his thumb over the small cut on her throat then licked the blood from his skin. "You asked if I was jealous before – I am not." Jerrick leaned closer to Ingrid, who was catching her breath, and whispered into her ear, "I'm territorial."

Ingrid didn't say a word to Jerrick as he kissed her head and bid her goodnight before leaving her quarters. Everything felt so out of control and she knew the Web would suffer because of it. Ingrid would need to do something – and soon – to get control back before losing it forever.

End Episode 4