Eighteenth Adventure — How Siegmund Returned Home
Kriemhild’s father-in-law went to her and said, “Let us home to our land. I ween we are unwelcome guests by the Rhine. Kriemhild, dear lady, return to my country with me. That treason has bereft thee here of thy dear husband shall not be avenged on thee. I will stand by thee truly, for love of thy husband and his noble child. Thou shalt also have all the power that Siegfried, the valiant knight, gave thee. The land and the crown are thine, and all Siegfried’s men shall serve thee gladly.”
They told the squires they would away. There was hurrying for the horses, for life was a burden to them among their stark foemen. Women and maidens were bidden seek out their clothes.
But when King Siegmund would have set out, Kriemhild’s mother began to beg that she would remain among her kinsfolk.
The wretched queen said, “That could hardly be. How could I have ever before mine eyes him that hath brought this woe upon me, miserable woman that I am?”
Giselher the youth said, “Dear sister mine, thy duty is here by thy mother. Thou need’st no service from them that have wounded and darkened thy spirit, for thou shalt live at my sole charge.”
But she answered the knight, “It cannot be; I must die of grief but to look on Hagen.”
“Nay, I counsel thee, dear sister, to stay by thy brother Giselher; and I will make good to thee thy husband’s death.”
But the God-forsaken one answered, “Need enow hath Kriemhild of comfort.”
While the youth besought her so kindly, Uta and Gernot began to pray her, and her faithful kinsmen also, that she should tarry, for she had few kinsmen among Siegfried’s men.
“They are all strangers to thee,” said Gernot, “and however strong a friend may be, one day he must die. Consider it, dear sister, and take comfort and stay here by thy kinsfolk. It were better for thee.”
So she promised Giselher she would remain there.
The horses were led out for Siegmund’s men, for they were ready to ride back to the land of the Nibelungs; and their harness was laid on the sumpters.
Then went Siegmund to Kriemhild, and said to her, “Siegfried’s men wait by their horses. Let us away, for it irketh me here by the Burgundians.”
Kriemhild answered, “They that are faithful among my kinsfolk counsel me to abide here with them. I have no kinsmen in the Nibelung land.”
Siegmund was woeful when he heard this from Kriemhild, and he said, “Let none tell thee that. Before all my kinsmen shalt thou wear the crown, and have dominion as aforetime; no man shall avenge on thee the loss of the hero. Come with us for thy little child’s sake. Leave it not an orphan. When thy son is grown to a man he shall comfort thee; and meanwhile many a bold knight and good shall serve thee.”
But she answered, “My lord Siegmund, I cannot go. Whatso come of it, I must tarry here with my kinsfolk, who will help me to mourn.”
The warriors liked not the news, and they said with one accord, “Then might we bewail our wrong indeed, if thou shouldst abide here by our foemen. Heroes never rode to a sorrier hightide.”
“Depart without fear, and in God’s keeping. I will see that ye come well escorted to your land. I commend my dear child to your care.”
When they saw plain that she would not go, Siegmund’s men all fell to weeping. How right piteously Siegmund parted from Kriemhild! His grief was bitter, and he said, “Woe is me for this hightide! Never yet hath such evil befallen a king and his men at a feast. They shall see us no more in Burgundy.”
Siegfried’s men said openly, “Nay, we might well ride hither again if we knew who had murdered our master. Among his kinsmen they have stark foes enow.”
Siegmund kissed Kriemhild, and spake dolefully when he saw she would tarry, “We fare home joyless to our land. Now, for the first time, I know all my sorrows.”
They rode, without an escort, from Worms across the Rhine. Well might the Nibelungs fear nothing from the assault of foemen, with their own strong hand to guard them.
They took leave of none; but Gernot and Giselher went to them lovingly, for they grieved for their loss, and told them so.
Gernot said courteously, “God in Heaven knoweth that I had no blame in Siegfried’s death; neither was it told me, that any here bare him malice. With true heart I sorrow for him.”
Giselher the youth gave them good escort. He brought the king and his knights home to the Netherland without further mischance.
How it fared with them after, I cannot tell. But Kriemhild was ever heard mourning, and none comforted her save Giselher—he was true and good.
Fair Brunhild sat misproud, and recked little how Kriemhild wept. She was never kind to her again. Also to her, afterward, Kriemhild caused bitter heart’s dole.