AS SIEGFRIED drew nearer, he could hear the crackling of the flames, and
when his horse saw the fire, the animal reared up on its hind legs, and
snorted in terror. But Siegfried knew no fear. Putting spurs to his
horse, he boldly forced it through the flames, and, lo! both horse and
rider passed through unharmed.
Before Siegfried's eyes was a wondrous sight. On the mountain stood a
castle, the strangest ever seen, for it was built entirely of green
marble, as were all the buildings round it; and there, on the grassy
slope before the castle, lay a young warrior, clad in shining armor,
with a helmet on his head.
[Illustration: PUTTING SPURS TO HIS HORSE, HE BOLDLY FORCED IT THROUGH
THE FLAMES]
Siegfried went up to him, to ask him where he might find the maiden. But
the warrior was sunk in slumber, and made no reply when Siegfried spoke.
Siegfried shook him roughly, to waken him, but he still slept on. Then
Siegfried opened the young man's visor and removed his helmet. What
was his surprise to find, within, the long fair hair and rosy face of a
beautiful woman!
This, then, was Brunhilda; it could be no other. Bending over her, he
pressed a kiss lightly on her lips. Immediately Brunhilda awoke, and
thanked the young hero for breaking the magic spell which bound her.
Then, as they sat together in the marble palace, Brunhilda told her
story.
She was one of Wotan's eight daughters who were called Walkyries. They
were beautiful goddesses of immense size and strength, and used to
follow Wotan when he went into battle. Occasionally, when two knights or
two countries battled against each other, they would award the palm of
victory to one or the other. It was also their duty to carry all slain
heroes to Walhalla, the beautiful palace of Wotan.
One day Brunhilda disobeyed her father's orders, and awarded the victory
to the hero whom Wotan wished overthrown. Wotan was very angry, and as
a punishment he forbade her to dwell among the gods and goddesses, and
declared that never again should she set foot in Walhalla. Furthermore,
he would cause her to wed a mortal man, thus becoming a mortal woman,
instead of a goddess.
Brunhilda was overcome with grief, as were all of her sisters. They all
pleaded with Wotan not to punish her in this way. But he had already
pronounced sentence upon her, and could not retract his word. Then
Brunhilda wept piteously, and begged him at least to grant that her
husband might be a hero. This he promised, and then disclosed his plan.
He would sink her in a magic sleep, and would order Loki, the fire-god,
to kindle some magic flames, which were to encircle her. She was to
slumber until awakened by a man brave enough to go through fire for her
sake. "And," continued Wotan, "of course only a hero would show such
courage." Then he assured her that when the hero came he should be
unharmed by the ring of fire.
And so, with streaming eyes, Brunhilda bade her sisters a long farewell.
Never again, so long as she lived, would she behold them. Wotan was
deeply touched when he saw her grief, and with a last tender kiss upon
her beautiful brow, he laid her on the grassy slope, and pronounced the
magic words which bound her.