"He is the peer of Gunther," returned Kriemhild. "And not only his peer,but more; for he stands as high above him in kingly power and worth asin bodily stature."
"How can that be?" asked Brunhild, growing angry. "For, when Gunther sogallantly won me at Isenstein, he told me that Siegfried was his vassal;and often since that time I have heard the same. And even your husbandtold me that Gunther was his liege lord."
Queen Kriemhild laughed at these words, and answered, "I tell you againthat Siegfried is a king far nobler and richer and higher than any otherking on earth. Think you that my brothers would have given me to a merevassal to be his wife?"
Then Brunhild, full of wrath, replied, "Your husband is Gunther's vassaland my own, and he shall do homage to us as the humblest and meanest ofour underlings. He shall not go from this place until he has paid allthe tribute that has so long been due from him. Then we shall see who isthe vassal, and who is the lord."
"Nay," answered Kriemhild. "It shall not be. No tribute was ever due;and, if homage is to be paid, it is rather Gunther who must pay it."
"It shall be settled once for all!" cried Brunhild, now boiling overwith rage. "I will know the truth. If Siegfried is not our vassal, thenI have been duped; and I will have revenge."
"It is well," was the mild answer. "Let it be settled, once for all;and then, mayhap, we shall know who it was who really won the games atIsenstein, and you for Gunther's wife."
And the two queens parted in wrath.[EN#31]
Kriemhild's anger was as fleeting as an April cloud, which does butthreaten, and then passes away in tears and sunshine. But Brunhild's waslike the dread winter storm that sweeps down from Niflheim, and bringsruin and death in its wake. She felt that she had been cruelly wrongedin some way, and that her life had been wrecked, and she rested notuntil she had learned the truth.
It was Hagen who at last told her the story of the cruel deceit thathad made her Gunther's wife; and then her wrath and her shame knew nobounds.
"Woe betide the day!" she cried,--"woe betide the day that brought me toRhineland, and made me the wife of a weakling and coward, and the jestof him who might have done nobler things!"
Hagen smiled. He had long waited for this day.
"It was Siegfried, and Siegfried alone, who plotted to deceive you,"he said. "Had it not been for him, you might still have been the happymaiden-queen of Isenland. And now he laughs at you, and urges his queen,Kriemhild, to scorn you as she would an underling."
"I know it, I know it," returned the queen in distress. "And yet howgrandly noble is the man! How he rushed through the flames to awaken me,when no one else could save! How brave, how handsome,--and yet he hasbeen my bane. I can have no peace while he lives."
Hagen smiled again, and a strange light gleamed from his dark eye. Thenhe said, "Truly handsome and brave is he, but a viler traitor was neverborn. He even now plots to seize this kingdom, and to add it to hisdomain. Why else should he bring so great a retinue of Nibelungenwarriors to Burgundy? I will see King Gunther at once, and we will putan end to his wicked projects."
"Do even so, good Hagen," said Brunhild. "Take him from my path, andbring low the haughty pride of his wife, and I shall be content."
"That I will do!" cried Hagen. "That I will do! Gunther is and shall bethe king without a peer; and no one shall dare dispute the worth and thequeenly beauty of his wife."
Then the wily chief sought Gunther, and with cunning words poisoned hisweak mind. The feeble old king was easily made to believe that Siegfriedwas plotting against his life, and seeking to wrest the kingdom fromhim. And he forgot the many kind favors he had received at the hero'shand. He no longer remembered how Siegfried had slain the terror of theGlittering Heath, and freed the Burgundians from many a fear; and howhe had routed the warlike hosts of the North-land, and made prisonersof their kings; and how he had brought his voyage to Isenland to a happyand successful ending. He forgot, also, that Siegfried was his sister'shusband. He had ears and mind only for Hagen's wily words.
"While this man lives," said the dark-browed chief, "none of us aresafe. See how the people follow him! Hear how they shout at his coming!They look upon him as a god, and upon Gunther as a nobody. If we arewise, we shall rid ourselves of so dangerous a man."
"It is but a week until he takes his leave of us, and goes back to hisown home in Nibelungen Land. Watch him carefully until that time, but dohim no harm. When he is once gone, he shall never come back again," saidthe king. But he spoke thus, not because of any kind feelings towardsSiegfried, but rather because he feared the Nibelungen hero.
"He has no thought of going at that time," answered Hagen. "He speaks ofit, only to hide his wicked and traitorous plots. Instead of going home,his plans will then be ready for action, and it will be too late forus to save ourselves. Still, if you will not believe me, take your owncourse. You have been warned."
The cunning chief arose to leave the room; but Gunther, now thoroughlyfrightened, stopped him.
"Hagen," he said, "you have always been my friend, and the words whichyou say are wise. Save us and our kingdom now, in whatsoever way you maydeem best. I know not what to do."
Then the weak king and the warrior-chief talked long together in low,hoarse whispers. And, when they parted, shame and guilt were stamped inplain lines on Gunther's face, from which they were nevermore erased;and he dared not lift his gaze from the floor, fearing that his eyeswould betray him, if seen by any more pure-hearted than he. But a smileof triumph played under the lurking gleams of Hagen's eye; and he walkederect and bold, as if he had done a praiseworthy deed.
That night a storm came sweeping down from the North, and the cold rainfell in torrents; and great hailstones pattered on the roofs and towersof the castle, and cruelly pelted the cattle in the fields, and thebirds in the friendly shelter of the trees. And old Thor foughtbravely with the Storm-giants; and all night long the rattle of hischariot-wheels, and the heavy strokes of his dread hammer, were heardresounding through the heavens. In his lonely chamber Hagen sat andrubbed his hands together, and grimly smiled.
"The time so long waited for has come at last," he said.
But the guilty king, unable to sleep, walked restlessly to and fro, andtrembled with fear at every sound of the storm-gust without.
When day dawned at last, a sad scene met the eyes of all beholders. Theearth was covered with the broken branches of leafy trees; the flowersand shrubs were beaten pitilessly to the ground; and here and there laythe dead bodies of little feathered songsters, who, the day before, hadmade the woods glad with their music.
The sun had scarcely risen above this sorrowful scene, gilding the graytowers and turrets and the drooping trees with the promise ofbetter things, than a strange confusion was noticed outside of thecastle-gates. Thirty and two horsemen wearing the livery of theNorth-lands stood there, and asked to be led to the Burgundian kings.
"Who are you? and what is your errand?" asked the gate-keeper.
"We come as heralds and messengers from Leudiger and Leudigast, themighty kings of the North," they answered. "But our errand we can tellto no man save to Gunther your king, or to his brothers Gernot andGiselher."
Then they were led by the king's command into the council-hall, wheresat Gunther, Gernot, and the noble Giselher; and behind them stood theiruncle and chief, brave old Hagen.
"What message bring you from our old friends Leudiger and Leudigast?"asked Gunther of the strangers.
"Call them not your friends," answered the chief of the company. "Webring you this message from our liege lords, whom you may well count asenemies. Many years ago they were sorely beaten in battle, and sufferedmuch hurt at your hands. And they vowed then to avenge the injury, andto wipe out the disgrace you had caused them, just so soon as they werestrong enough to do so. Now they are ready, with fifty thousand men, tomarch into your country. And they swear to lay waste your lands, and toburn your towns and villages and all your castles, unless you at onceacknowledge yourselves their vassals, and agre
e to pay them tribute.This is the kings' message. And we were further ordered not to wait foran answer, but to carry back to them without delay your reply, whetheryou will agree to their terms or no."
King Gunther, as was his wont, turned to Hagen for advice.
"Send for Siegfried," whispered the chief.
It was done. And soon the hero came into the hall. His kingly grace andwarlike bearing were such that Gunther dared not raise his guilty eyesfrom the ground; and Hagen's furtive glances were, for the moment,freighted with fear and shame. The message of the heralds was repeatedto Siegfried; and Gunther said,--
"Most noble friend, you hear what word these traitorous kings dare sendus. Now, we remember, that, long years ago, you led us against them,and gave us a glorious victory. We remember, too, how, by your counsel,their lives were spared, and they were sent home with costly gifts. Itis thus they repay our kindness. What answer shall we send them?"
"Say that we will fight," answered Siegfried at once. "I will lead mybrave Nibelungens against them, and they shall learn how serious a thingit is to break an oath, or to return treason for kindness."
The news soon spread through all the town and through the country-side,that Leudiger and Leudigast, with fifty thousand men, were marching intoBurgundy, and destroying every thing in their way. And great flight andconfusion prevailed. Men and women hurried hither and thither in dismay.Soldiers busily sharpened their weapons, and burnished their armor,ready for the fray. Little children were seen cowering at every sound,and anxious faces were found everywhere.
When Queen Kriemhild saw the busy tumult, and heard the shouts and criesin the street and the courtyard, and learned the cause of it all, shewas greatly troubled, and went at once to seek Siegfried. When she foundhim, she drew him aside, and besought him not to take part in the warwhich threatened, but to hasten with all speed back to their own lovedNibelungen Land.
"And why would my noble queen wish me thus to play the part of a coward,and to leave my friends when they most need my help?" asked Siegfried insurprise.
"I would not have you play the coward," answered Kriemhild, and hottears stood in her eyes. "But some unseen danger overhangs. There areother traitors than Leudiger and Leudigast, and men to be more fearedthan they. Last night I dreamed a fearful dream, and it follows mestill. I dreamed that you hunted in the forest, and that two wild boarsattacked you. The grass and the flowers were stained with your gore,and the cruel tusks of the beasts tore you in pieces, and no one cameto your help. And I cried out in my distress, and awoke; and thestorm-clouds roared and threatened, and the hail pattered on the roof,and the wind and rain beat against the windowpanes. Then I slept again,and another dream, as fearful as the first, came to me. I dreamed thatyou rode in the forest, and that music sprang up in your footsteps, andall things living called you blessed, but that suddenly two mountainsrose up from the ground, and their high granite crags toppled over, andfell upon you, and buried you from my sight forever. Then I awoke again,and my heart has ever since been heavy with fearful forebodings. I knowthat some dread evil threatens us; yet, what it is, I cannot tell. Butgo not out against the North-kings. Our Nibelungen-folk wait too longfor your coming."
Siegfried gayly laughed at his queen's fears, and said, "The woof ofevery man's fate has been woven by the Norns, and neither he nor hisfoes can change it. When his hour comes, then he must go to meet hisdestiny."
Then he led her gently back to her room in the castle, and bade her aloving farewell, saying, "When the foes of our Burgundian hosts are putto flight, and there is no longer need for us here, then will we hastenback to Nibelungen Land. Have patience and hope for a few days only, andall will yet be well. Forget your foolish dreams, and think only of myglad return."
It was arranged, that, in the march against the North-kings, Siegfriedwith his Nibelungens should take the lead; while Hagen, with a pickedcompany of fighting-men, should bring up the rear. Every one was eagerto join in the undertaking; and no one, save King Gunther and hiscunning counsellor, and Ortwin and Dankwart, knew that the pretendedheralds from the North-kings were not heralds at all, but merely thefalse tools of wicked Hagen. For the whole was but a well-planned plot,as we shall see, to entrap unwary, trusting Siegfried.
Soon all things were in readiness for the march; but, as the day was nowwell spent, it was agreed, that, at early dawn of the morrow, the littlearmy should set out. And every one went home to put his affairs inorder, and to rest for the night.
Late that evening old Hagen went to bid Siegfried's queen good-by.Kriemhild had tried hard to drown her gloomy fears, and to forget hersad, foreboding dreams; but it was all in vain, for deep anxiety stillrested heavily upon her mind. Yet she welcomed her dark-browed unclewith the kindest words.
"How glad I am," she said, "that my husband is here to help my kinsfolkin this their time of need! I know right well, that, with him to lead,you shall win. But, dear uncle, remember, when you are in the battle,that we have always loved you, and that Siegfried has done manykindnesses to the Burgundians; and, if any danger threaten him, turnit aside, I pray you, for Kriemhild's sake. I know that I merit QueenBrunhild's anger, because of the sharp words I lately spoke to her; butlet not my husband suffer blame for that which is my fault alone."
"Kriemhild," answered Hagen, "no one shall suffer blame,--neitherSiegfried nor yourself. We are all forgetful, and sometimes speak hastywords; but that which we say in angry thoughtlessness should not becherished up against us. There is no one who thinks more highly ofSiegfried than I, and there is nothing I would not do to serve him."
"I should not fear for him," said she, "if he were not so bold andreckless. When he is in the battle, he never thinks of his own safety.And I tremble lest at some time he may dare too much, and meet hisdeath. If you knew every thing, as I do, you would fear for him too."
"What is it?" asked Hagen, trying to hide his eagerness,--"what is itthat gives you cause for fear? Tell me all about it, and then I willknow the better how to shield him from danger. I will lay down my lifefor his sake."
Then Kriemhild, trusting in her uncle's word, and forgetful of everycaution, told him the secret of the dragon's blood, and of Siegfried'sstrange bath, and of the mischief-working lime-leaf.
"And now," she added, "since I know that there is one spot which adeadly weapon might reach, I am in constant fear that the spear ofan enemy may, perchance, strike him there. Is there not some way ofshielding that spot?"
"There is," answered Hagen. "Make some mark, or put some sign, upon hiscoat, that I may know where that spot is. And, when the battle rages, Iwill ride close behind him, and ward off every threatened stroke."
And Kriemhild joyfully promised that she would at once embroider asilken lime-leaf on the hero's coat, just over the fatal spot. AndHagen, well pleased, bade her farewell, and went away.
Without delay the chief sought the weak-minded Gunther, and to him herelated all that the trustful Kriemhild had told him. And, until themidnight hour, the two plotters sat in the king's bed-chamber, and laidtheir cunning plans. Both thought it best, now they had learned thefatal secret, to give up the sham march against the North-kings, and toseek by other and easier means to lure Siegfried to his death.
"The chiefs will be much displeased," said Gunther. "For all will come,ready to march at the rising of the sun. What shall we do to pleasethem, and make them more ready to change their plans?"
Hagen thought a moment, and then the grim smile that was wont to breakthe dark lines of his face when he was pleased spread over his features.
"We will have a grand hunt in the Odenwald to-morrow," he hoarselywhispered.
Adventure XIX. How They Hunted in the Odenwald.
Next morning, at earliest daybreak, while yet the stars were bright, andthe trees hung heavy with dew-drops, and the clouds were light and high,King Siegfried stood with his warriors before the castle-gate. Theywaited but for the sunrise, and a word from Gunther the king, to rideforth over dale and woodland, and through forest and brake
and field, tomeet, as they believed, the hosts of the North-land kings. And Siegfriedmoved among them, calm-faced and bright as a war-god, upon the radiantGreyfell. And men said, long years afterward, that never had the shininghero seemed so glorious to their sight. Within the spacious courtyard athousand Burgundian braves stood waiting, too, for the signal, and theking's word of command. And at their head stood Hagen, dark as a cloudin summer, guilefully hiding his vile plots, and giving out orders forthe marching. There, too, were honest Gernot, fearless and upright, andGiselher, true as gold; and neither of them dreamed of evil, or of thedark deed that day was doomed to see. Close by the gate was Ortwin,bearing aloft the blood-red dragon-banner, which the Burgundians werewont to carry in honor of Siegfried's famous fight with Fafnir. Andthere was Dankwart, also, ever ready to boast when no danger threatened,and ever willing to do chief Hagen's bidding. And next came Volker theFiddler good, with the famed sword Fiddle-bow by him, on which, itis said, he could make the sweetest music while fighting his foes inbattle.
At length the sun began to peep over the eastern hills, and his beamsfell upon the castle-walls, and shot away through the trees, and overthe meadows, and made the dewdrops glisten like myriads of diamondsamong the dripping leaves and blossoms. And a glad shout went up fromthe throats of the waiting heroes; for they thought that the looked-formoment had come, and the march would soon begin. And the shout wasechoed from walls to turrets, and from turrets to trees, and from treesto hills, and from the hills to the vaulted sky above. And nothing waswanting now but King Gunther's word of command.