Nibelungenlied

Brunhild still believes Siegfried is a vassal and cannot fathom Kriemhild’s pride in her husband. She asks Gunther to invite Siegfried and Kriemhild to visit them since she admires “Kriemhild’s elegant ways and courteous nature” (100). Gunther sends out 30 messengers, who make their way to Norway where Siegfried resides. Kriemhild recognizes Gere, one of Gunther’s men, among the messengers, and his arrival comes as “glad news to Kriemhild’s homesick heart” (101). Siegfried welcomes the messengers and lodges them.

Gere extends Gunther’s invitation to Siegfried, but Siegfried considers Burgundy too far for travel. He summons his friends for advice, and they tell him to ride to Worms with 1,000 warriors. Siegmund wishes to join Siegfried and brings 100 knights “and so swell the ranks of your party” (103). Siegfried agrees to his father’s request and announces that he will leave in 12 days. He and Kriemhild “[bestow] so many gifts on the envoys that their mounts could not carry it all home” (104). Gere alerts Gunther and Brunhild that Siegfried’s party is on the way. The messengers mention Siegfried and Kriemhild’s gifts, and Hagen muses about the Nibelung treasure.

The poet turns away from the Burgundians’ “bustle” (106) and recounts Kriemhild and her maidens’ journey. Siegfried and Kriemhild express excitement about the journey and the upcoming feast—though the poet insists this will become “the great sorrow of them all” (106). Kriemhild leaves her son in the Netherlands, never to see him again.

Uote, her friends, and Gunther’s vassals greet Siegfried and Kriemhild warmly. Brunhild broods until Gunther reminds her of how Kriemhild greeted her years ago and asks her to receive her in a similar fashion. Gunther and Brunhild ride out to meet their guests, and Gunther welcomes Siegmund; Brunhild and Kriemhild treat each other with courtesy.

The festival begins, and knights begin jousting. Hagen and Ortwin prove themselves skilled jousters. Brunhild watches Kriemhild and takes note of her beauty. She also takes notice of Siegfried and thinks “no liege man could ever be mightier” since “her feelings towards him were still friendly enough for her to let him live” (108). She acts corrigibly towards both royals for 11 days, even allowing them to enter the cathedral at the same time as Gunther and herself.

Brunhild and Kriemhild watch the knights joust, and Kriemhild declares that she has “a husband of such merit that he might rule over all the kingdoms of this region” (111). Kriemhild’s statement bewilders Brunhild, who asks how Siegfried could possibly be better than Gunther when he is Gunther’s vassal. Kriemhild does not take kindly to hearing her husband called a vassal and tells Brunhild to stop talking. Brunhild says she will not renounce her claim to Siegfried and his services, and Kriemhild angrily tells her that Siegfried outranks Gunther.

Brunhild asserts that Kriemhild forgets her place in the hierarchy—only for Kriemhild to challenge her to enter the cathedral before her. Empowered, Kriemhild decrees, “I claim to be of higher station than ever was heard of concerning any queen that wore a crown” (112-13).

The two queens arrive at church with their maidens—with Kriemhild and her company outshining Brunhild’s own. Brunhild aggressively forbids Kriemhild from entering the church before her, but Kriemhild calls her “a vassal’s paramour” (113) as she believes Siegfried stole her virginity. Kriemhild enters the church and leaves Brunhild crying.

After mass, Brunhild asks for proof that Siegfried defiled her, and Kriemhild shows her the stolen girdle and ring. Brunhild demands that Gunther “clear [Brunhild] of this monstrous infamy” (115). He immediately sends for Siegfried and implores him to clarify the validity of Kriemhild’s claims. Siegfried denies that he took Brunhild’s virginity and threatens to punish Kriemhild for saying he did. He prepares to swear an oath, but Gunther pronounces him innocent.

Hagen promises to defend Brunhild’s honor by killing Siegfried—but Gunther tries to dissuade him as he believes it futile. The vassal proposes that the Burgundians send envoys to declare war on themselves; he knows Siegfried will swear allegiance to Gunther and help fight off the imaginary enemy. The chapter ends with Hagen planning to ask Kriemhild if Siegfried has any weak spots.