'Vikings' Season 4B Spoilers: Why Did Ragnar Resurface Years After Leaving Kattegat?

(Photo : Bernard Walsh/HISTORY) "Vikings" creator Michael Hirst revealed why Ragnar (Travis Fimmel) resurfaced at the end of the mid-season 4 finale after several years of disappearance.

Following the Northmen's defeat against the Franks in the mid-season 4 finale of "Vikings," Ragnar (Travis Fimmel) left Kattegat and abandoned his family. Several years later, his sons were shocked to see him home. While a lot of fans are curious to find out where he has been, there are some who are more interested in knowing the reason behind his return.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter last month, series creator Michael Hirst said that one of the reasons why Ragnar resurfaced is his desire to make things right in Wessex.

"He feels there is unfinished business in Wessex," Hirst said. "It is also fair to say he has some unfinished business with King Ecbert (Linus Roache). One of the reasons Ragnar comes out of his private space is because he feels as a Viking the need to address what he sees as a great injustice that was done and to avenge it."

Hirst also suggested that Ragnar's return to Kattegat has something to do with every Viking's wish: to please the gods and die in battle.

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"Ragnar is very motivated by what often motivated Vikings; to avenge something, to justify his life by doing something significant that the gods would applaud," he said. "The one thing you can say about Ragnar is that he's not afraid of any death."

Does this mean Ragnar is going to die this season? Probably, but less likely.

"Ragnar's story is nowhere near the end," Hirst told The Hollywood Reporter last April. "Nowhere near the end, and it's just an amazing, onward story. It may be the story of the rise and fall of a hero."

Hirst added that fans should look forward to Fimmel's performance in the back 10 episodes of the season.

"Some of my best work and Travis' work comes in the next half of the season. If you think you've seen stuff from Travis yet, you haven't," Hirst teased.

"Vikings" season 4B premieres this fall on History.