by David Day
The travellers are graciously received by the queen upon a throne all wreathed in silk and gold. She is as beautiful as all the tales have claimed. On her hand she wears an ancient red-gold ring, and about her waist is a girdle adorned with precious gems: a splendid orphrey of fine silk braid from Nineveh.
Gunther’s heart goes out to Brunhild at once, but it is to Siegfried that Brunhild speaks first. For the queen assumes that Siegfried is the most noble of her visitors, and that it is he who has come as suitor. Here is the first of Siegfried’s deceptions. To Brunhild, Siegfried falsely claims that he is a vassal to King Gunther, who is the greatest and strongest of heroes, and it is Gunther who comes to compete for her hand. With some reluctance the queen accepts Gunther’s challenge and agrees to the contest.
Queen Brunhild stands alone in the vast arena, surrounded by an iron ring of seven hundred men-at-arms who will judge the contest. The warrior-queen dresses herself in steel armour adorned with gold and gems. It takes four strong men to lift the queen’s bright shield, and three men to carry her spear: both of these she takes and wields like childish toys. Then into that arena marches her suitor and challenger, King Gunther of the Rhine. However, though he appears to stand alone against the warrior-queen, this is not so. The wily Siegfried has covered himself in Tarnkappe, his magic cloak, which not only makes him invisible, but has a second power, that of increasing the strength of its wearer twelvefold.
Brunhild is amazed when Gunther does not fall. Instead, Gunther appears to lift up her spear and, turning the blunt end to the fore – so as not to slay the maid – throws the weapon with such force as to drive her to the ground. But here Brunhild is deceived by appearance, for it was the invisible hand of Siegfried which hurled the spear.
Then come the next two tests: the casting of a great stone and the long leap. The stone is so heavy it takes 12 men to carry it into the arena. Without hesitation, Queen Brunhild lifts the stone and throws it the length of those 12 men laid end to end; then she makes a mighty leap that overshoots the distance of the stone.
In silent reply, Gunther goes to the stone and appears to lift it effortlessly, but once again it is the invisible Siegfried who does the deed and hurls the stone far beyond Brunhild’s mark. Then, lifting Gunther by his waist, Siegfried leaps, carrying Gunther with him through the air, landing far beyond their stone-cast.
THE NEWLYWEDS AT WORMS
So, by the strength and cunning of Siegfried, Gunther has won a bride, and to the Kingdom of the Rhine comes the proud Queen Brunhild. In Gunther’s court at Worms there is much celebration and joy. There are to be two royal marriages: Gunther to Brunhild and Siegfried to Kriemhild.
Wedding guests are given gifts of bracelets, lockets and rings, while an iron ring of armed knights solemnly stands about the betrothed couples as they swear their holy vows. Joyfully, Gunther and Siegfried march out of the chapel with their brides. As night comes, they retire to their wedding beds, as their guests revel on.
In the morning, Siegfried and Kriemhild are radiant with their mutual love; while Gunther seems distraught and Brunhild distant and aloof. Gunther has none of the bridegroom’s natural joy and pride. Indeed, that very afternoon, Gunther comes to confide in Siegfried and tell him of his humiliation. On their wedding night Brunhild tells Gunther that, although he has won her hand by his skill in the arena, she will not willingly give up her body to him. For to give herself to a man would break the spell of her warrior’s strength, which she wishes to keep all her life. When Gunther tries by force to claim his nuptial rights, Brunhild merely laughs at him. She binds him up with her braided girdle and hangs him like a slaughtered pig from a peg on the wall until dawn. Once again Siegfried is drawn into an intrigue against the warrior-queen.
That night in darkness, using Tarnkappe, his magic cloak of invisibility, Siegfried enters Brunhild’s room. In Gunther’s place he lies in Brunhild’s bridal bed. Thinking it is Gunther in the dark, Brunhild strikes Siegfried with such force that blood leaps from his mouth and he is thrown across the room. Wrestling with the hero, Brunhild grips Siegfried’s hands so tightly that blood spurts from his nails and he is driven against the wall. Yet finally, Siegfried’s huge strength prevails. He lifts her from the ground, throws her down upon the bed, and by main force crushes her in his gathered arms so fiercely that all the joints of her body crack at once. Only then does she submit and cry out to her conqueror to let her live.
Now most who tell this tale say that at this moment Siegfried is an honourable friend to Gunther and does not rest in the cradle of Brunhild’s long limbs that night. But whatever the truth of the matter, in one way at least, Siegfried does dishonour this proud woman. For in the darkness, Siegfried sees the dull glint of red-gold. It is Brunhild’s ring, and in his pride of conquest, he takes the ring from her hand. Then, as he leaves the marriage bed, he also takes the jewelled girdle of woven Nineveh silk as well.
In stealth, Siegfried flees the dark chamber, and Gunther comes to the bed of the vanquished bride who no longer dares to resist his advance. When the dawn comes, Brunhild is as pale and meek as the mildest bride. For with the loss of maidenhead and her ring, Brunhild’s warrior strength flees her body forever. She becomes a submissive wife to King Gunther.
THE RIVAL QUEENS
Now 12 years pass happily. Siegfried and Kriemhild live and rule over the Netherlands and the Nibelungenland from their palace in Xanten, while Gunther and Brunhild live and rule over the Rhinelands. Then Gunther invites Siegfried and Kriemhild to come to a festival in his court.
Perhaps the ancient power of the ring is at work, or perhaps the fault is in Siegfried’s pride. Whatever the reason, Siegfried makes a tragic error, for in Xanten he gives as a gift to Kriemhild the ring and the silken girdle he took from Brunhild in her wedding bed. And, even more foolishly, he reveals to Kriemhild the secret of winning the ring and the girdle.
So one day, the two queens meet at the cathedral door and a dispute arises among them as to who should enter first. Brunhild is rash and maintains that Kriemhild has displayed unwarranted arrogance toward her, for obviously Siegfried is nothing more than a vassal of Gunther.
Kriemhild will not stand for this insult. She argues that Siegfried is the greater man and no man’s vassal. Filled with exasperation, Kriemhild’s discretion is abandoned. To Brunhild, she holds up the stolen ring of red-gold, and then reveals the jewelled girdle of braided Nineveh silk that Brunhild once wore. Contemptuously, before all who will listen, she claims that Brunhild had been Siegfried’s concubine before she wed Gunther, and that Siegfried had taken these trophies after he had been the first to enjoy her body upon the bridal bed.
The humiliated Brunhild flees to Gunther with this tale and demands that her honour be redeemed. Full of anger, Gunther calls Siegfried to him. Alarmed at this scandalous talk, Siegfried tells Gunther that what his wife has said is untrue and that he had not so used Brunhild that night. With no gentleness, Siegfried chastises his wife, and demands that she apologize for this shameful argument. In his haste to make amends so that Brunhild should not discover the other stratagems by which he deceived and subdued her, Siegfried orders an iron ring of knights to form about him, and swears a sacred oath that all these tales are black lies.
This false oath is the final seal on Siegfried’s fate. His honour is despoiled. For, although it seems that most accept this denial, the proof of the gold ring and the girdle cannot be withdrawn and rumour of the scandal of the marriage bed spreads. To Brunhild comes the steadfast Hagen of Troneck, the queen’s champion and the king’s stoutest vassal. Brunhild inflames Hagen’s heart, and these two persuade Gunther that only blood vengeance can restore their honour.
SIEGFRIED’S DEATH
At this time rumours of war with the Danes arise once again in the Rhine. Siegfried once more makes ready for war, but Kriemhild has dire forebodings. Artfully, Hagen comes to Kriemhild, saying that he too has had evil omens concerning her husband but that he cannot believe these omens as al
l know that Siegfried is protected by the spell of dragon’s blood. It is then that Kriemhild reveals the secret of Siegfried’s mortality. For when Siegfried once bathed in dragon’s blood, a lime leaf covered one place between his shoulder blades. In this place alone, Siegfried can be pierced with sharp steel. On Hagen’s instructions, Kriemhild secretly sews a tiny cross on Siegfried’s doublet over his one mortal place. Then Hagen swears he will always be at Siegfried’s back, and will guard the hero from any unexpected blow.
The very next day, Hagen, Gunther and Siegfried go hunting in the royal forest. When Siegfried lies down to drink from a stream after a long chase, Hagen drives his spear into the cross and through Siegfried’s back to his heart. Mortally wounded, Siegfried is like a wild, dying beast flailing the air. But, after Hagen strikes, Gunther seizes Siegfried’s weapons and flees, so the hero might not wreak vengeance with his final breath. When at last Siegfried’s life’s blood spills out upon the forest floor and he breathes no more, the assassins return. They take up his body and carry it to the court, proclaiming that Siegfried has been treacherously murdered by lawless highwaymen.
With Siegfried’s death, Brunhild believes her honour has been upheld by her husband Gunther and her champion Hagen. Not only has she brought death to the man who deceived her, but the proud rival queen who had humiliated her is now brought to despair. Further, because Kriemhild is without a husband, Gunther takes her under his protection, and by this pretext plunders her inheritance, the Nibelung treasure.
THE NIBELUNG TREASURE
In this treacherous way, the Burgundians make the Nibelung treasure their own. For days and nights an endless caravan of wagons filled with gold and jewels carries the vast treasure into the great walled city of Worms, where Gunther and Brunhild rule. This treasure entirely fills the city’s greatest tower. Yet so rich is this hoard that King Gunther mistrusts its keepers and others who might steal it. Stealthily over the years, under the cover of night, Gunther and Hagen pillage all that huge treasure and take it to a secret place on the Rhine. There Gunther and Hagen find a deep river cavern and sink all that vast treasure of gold and gemstones, so only these two in all the world knows where it is hidden.
For a time the power and strength of Gunther’s people are without parallel. With the Nibelung hoard in their possession, they are renowned as the wealthiest of nations. Indeed, because that famous treasure now rests in their land, the Burgundians of the Rhine soon become known by all people as the Nibelungs: possessors of the Nibelungen treasure; the luckiest of men.
Not all within the kingdom are content. The grieving Kriemhild for one is not deceived by the tale of Siegfried’s death. She guesses well enough the truth of his murder. Gradually her despair is replaced by a desire for revenge. Daily she stares at the gold ring on her hand, which reminds her of the dispute that was the reason for her hero’s treacherous murder.
KRIEMHILD AND ETZEL
At last Brunhild decides she can no longer have Kriemhild within the royal court, for she rightly fears that Siegfried’s widow might ferment revolt. As chance would have it, Etzel the emperor of the Huns of the Danube has sent word to the Nibelung court. The noble and elderly ruler of the Huns wishes to make the fair Kriemhild his queen. He has often heard of her beauty, and further he would be honoured to marry and protect the widowed queen of Siegfried the Dragonslayer. To this proposal Gunther gives his blessing. He gives the hand of his sister to the emperor Etzel and sends her to the Hun city of Gram on the banks of the Danube. Now Gunther believes that he and Brunhild might live forever, secure from retribution for the slaying of Siegfried.
This is not to be. For although Kriemhild is taken to the mighty Huns’ royal city of Gram and the palace of Etzel on the banks of the Danube, her desire for vengeance is never forgotten. Although the generous Etzel gives to her every luxury and she feigns happiness in his presence, Kriemhild works always toward one end.
The emperor Etzel is quite unaware of Kriemhild’s intrigues and seems little concerned as his queen comes to command greater and greater power among the Huns. She gains the sworn allegiance and obedience of great numbers of Etzel’s vassals. Many knights out of compassion, love or greed swear loyalty to Kriemhild above all others. After many years, when Kriemhild believes that her power is great enough, she persuades Etzel to invite all her kinsmen on a midsummer visit to the city of the Huns. So open-handed and fair has Etzel always been with the Nibelungs that they suspect no evil intent. So to Gram come the three Nibelung kings: Gunther, Gernot and Giselher; there also come the dauntless Hagen and his brother Dancwart; the mighty warriors Volker and Ortwine; and a thousand more heroic men as well. No nobleman is left within the walls of Worms, and from her tower Brunhild and her servants watch them go.
KRIEMHILD’S REVENGE
In the emperor’s city the midsummer celebrations are filled with pageantry and pomp. There are tournaments, games and festivals of song and dance. Yet the Nibelungs do not take part in the celebrations, for Gunther and Hagen see the fierce light of hatred that is in Kriemhild’s eyes. Well they know its source, although they had hoped she had long ago laid her hatred to rest. They realize they had received ill omens on their long journey to the land of the Huns.
On the twelfth day of the journey, they came to the wide banks of the Danube. There Hagen came upon the swan maidens, those fatal river women whom some call Nixies, and others call water sprites. From them Hagen won a prophetic vision: all the Nibelungs by fire and sword would perish, and none would live to return to the Rhinelands.
So, although all the Nibelungs had hoped that the Nixies had delivered to Hagen a false vision, the dreadful look of Kriemhild forewarns them of their doom. Thereafter, they go about fully armed among the revellers. They do not have long to wait. That very night Kriemhild acts while all the Nibelung knights sit in the feast hall. Secretly, without Etzel’s knowledge, Kriemhild sends a force of armed men to the quarters of the Nibelung squires, and all those valiant youths are slaughtered. When news of the slayings reaches the feast hall, Hagen leaps to his feet at the feasting table. With relentless savagery, he draws his sword and strikes off the infant head of Ortlieb, Etzel’s only child, as he plays upon his father’s lap.
Then Hagen calls out to the Nibelungs, telling them they have fallen into a trap, that like the squires they too would all be slain. The Nibelung knights leap into battle and the hall becomes a slaughterhouse. Though Etzel and Kriemhild escape, two thousand Huns fall in that battle in the hall.
Much to Etzel’s distress, Kriemhild urges on more of the Hunnish legions and allies. The feast hall is transformed: the tables are covered with severed limbs and heads, silver dishes are filled with human entrails, and gold cups brim with human blood. Kriemhild too is transformed; once the gentlest of women, she is now an avenging angel of death. Relentlessly, she urges the Huns into battle, and although more than half the Nibelungs have been slain, they hold the doors to the hall until a wall of bodies blocks the entrance, and the Huns have to clear their own dead to renew the fight.
Etzel the Emperor of the Huns
Filled with fury, Kriemhild calls for torches and has the hall set ablaze to drive the Nibelungs into the open. But the fire does not drive the Nibelungs out, though many perish by flame, heat and smoke. They fight on through the blazing night. Taking refuge beneath the stone arches of the hall while the wooden structures burn about them, they battle on and drink the blood of the dead to slake their thirst.
Through the horror of that night a number of the Nibelungs survive, but with the dawn the queen calls forth many more grim Hunnish men-at-arms. These vengefully attack the Nibelungs in the burned wreckage of the feast hall. Yet these warriors find even the remnants of the Nibelung knights a terrible foe, and many fall before their pitiless weapons.
INTERVENTION OF DIETRICH
Some of the Nibelungs might yet have lived had not that mighty hero, Dietrich, the king of Verona, come to the aid of the Huns. Dietrich has no great desire to stand against t
he valiant Nibelungs; however, too many friends and kinsmen have now died at their hands. He knows he must act, so he sends his noble lieutenant Hildebrand with his men before him into the ruined hall. He asks Hildebrand to make some treaty between the Nibelungs and the Huns, so he himself need not be drawn into this feud.
But this act of reconciliation fails; the truce erupts at once in a bloody dispute that entirely eclipses both Dietrich’s army and the ragged remainder of the Nibelungs. Only the wounded Hildebrand lives to return with the disastrous news. Grimly, Dietrich arms himself and comes to the ruined hall to find that only the exhausted but defiant Gunther and Hagen remain alive of all the Nibelungs. In a rage of despair, Dietrich uses his mighty strength to drive the exhausted Gunther and Hagen to the wall. It might have been the ghost of Siegfried himself that had come, so great is his might. The weapons of the Nibelungs – even the sword Balmung, which Hagen usurped – are struck from their hands, and they are subdued and bound by the fierce Dietrich.
Still, Dietrich is a man of compassion, for he implores Kriemhild to have pity on these brave knights. For a moment, it seems that Kriemhild will hold back her wrath. In truth, Kriemhild has now become an avenging fiend gone far beyond redemption. In the throne room she declares that there is yet the matter of her rightful inheritance to be resolved: the Nibelung treasure must be brought to Etzel’s court.
THE DEATH OF KRIEMHILD
