'Vikings' season 4 episode 14 spoilers: Will Lagertha and Ragnar get their just revenge?

The previous episode of "Vikings" may have ended in a cliffhanger, but it leaves little doubt about the fates of its two key players. In the next episode titled "In the Uncertain Hour Before the Morning," Ragnar (Travis Fimmel) and Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick) will, in effect, be facing the fruits of their labor.

According to the official synopsis, Lagertha will be attempting to fulfill a long-held ambition. If this ambition is to capture Kattegat and reign as its queen once more, then she has all but regained it. But will her homecoming be as fulfilling as she hopes it will be? If and when she does defeat Aslaug (Alyssa Sutherland), will her victory be absolute? Or will the current queen of Kattegat's own sly character rob her of the glory that she has hoped to gain?

The trailer for the next episode shows the two women facing off and Aslaug throwing down her sword at Lagertha's feet, telling the former wife of Ragnar that she can have her "hearth and home" back. But Aslaug's confidence does not seem to wane, which may indicate that she could be planning some form of attack on Lagertha, one that does not require swords and brutality. Who will win this impending standoff? Who will the people of Kattegat choose to support as their queen?

On the other hand, Ragnar's trip to Wessex has been doomed to fail from the very beginning. But will the unexpected concession he will be negotiating with King Ecbert (Linus Roache) in the upcoming episode reverse his fortune?

In the trailer, a caged Ragnar tells King Ecbert that the reason why he has waited so long to get back at the king for attacking the Viking village all those years ago is that everything is a part of a much larger and bolder strategy. Has Ragnar really been planning a major retaliation, or is this all a bluff so as not to appear weak before his adversary?

King Ecbert eventually opens the cage, which some have speculated may well lead to the "two epic episodes" that actors Fimmel and Roache have previously hinted at in an interview with AOL Build.

"Vikings" season 4 episode 14 will air on Wednesday, Dec. 21, at 9 p.m. EST on History.