No sooner had Sabene returned than he began to scheme again. He spread
amongst the people his silly tales about the origin of Wolfdieterich.
He said that the empress had been secretly wedded to an elf while she
lived in that solitary tower; and that it was elfish spells that had
prevented the wolves from tearing the child in pieces. The populace
believed the story the more easily from its utter incredibility, and
demanded that Wolfdieterich should remain at Meran. Sabene even
succeeded in making the royal brothers, Waxmuth and Bogen, believe his
tale, and give him the power for which he hungered. Sure of his own
position, he acted with the utmost harshness. He bade the empress leave
the palace and go to her son at Meran. He only allowed her to take with
her a maid-servant, a horse, and her clothes. Everything else that she
possessed, whether through her father or her husband, had to be left
behind. The two young kings did not interfere on her behalf, for Sabene
had shown them that her treasures would be very useful to them in
equipping an army, supposing Wolfdieterich and the Duke of Meran
attacked them.
When Hildburg arrived at Hugelwarte, an outwork of Lilienporte, she was
travel-stained and sorely spent. At first Duke Berchtung refused to
admit her, because she had recalled Sabene contrary to his advice. But
at last, filled with pity for the unhappy woman, he led her into the
castle, and treated her there with royal honours. The duchess received
her surrounded by seventeen young men, who all called her mother. The
empress did not at once recognise her son, who was the tallest and
stateliest amongst them; but as soon as each knew the other,
Wolfdieterich, throwing himself into her arms, tried to comfort her by
promising to restore her to her former rank and splendour.
Duke Berchtung at first counselled peace, because the position of the
two kings seemed to him so strong and unassailable; but at length,
carried away by his foster-son’s enthusiasm, he not only gave his
consent, but placed his sixteen sons and their sixteen thousand
followers at the disposal of the prince. It was settled, while the men
were being called together, that the duke and Wolfdieterich should set
out for Constantinople, and see whether they might not attain their end
by peaceful means.
The day after their arrival, they met Sabene and the kings in council.
Berchtung was received with all honour, while nobody seemed even to see
his companion. When Wolfdieterich rose, and demanded his rightful share
of the royal heritage, Bogen answered that a changeling had no right to
any share; and Sabene added that he ought to apply to the alraun, his
father, for a kingdom in the realms of hell. Wolfdieterich laid his
hand on his sword; but his foster-father’s words and looks of entreaty
sufficed to calm him down and prevent any open expression of anger. The
kings and Sabene did their utmost to persuade the duke to join their
party, but in vain; and when the council broke up, the old man went
away, hiding his displeasure as best he could. He and Wolfdieterich
mounted their horses and returned to Lilienporte without loss of time.
After a few days’ rest they set out again for Constantinople, but this
time in battle array. On reaching the borders of Meran, they found the
royal forces drawn up to meet them. As evening was closing in, they
encamped in a wide valley surrounded on all sides by a forest. Next
morning the troops rose refreshed, and each side made sure of victory.
The battle-song was now raised, and echoed amongst the mountains like
rolling thunder. Next instant the armies met. Wolfdieterich was always
to be seen in front. All at once he turned to Berchtung, and said:
“Do you see Sabene and my brothers on yonder hill? I will go and see
whether they or the alraun’s son are the better men.”
With these words, he set spurs to his horse and dashed through the
enemy’s ranks. Old Berchtung, who had vainly tried to restrain him, now
followed with his sons and a small body of his men-at-arms.
As they neared the hill, they found themselves surrounded by the Greeks
on every side. The carnage was terrible. Six of Berchtung’s sixteen
sons fell at his side, while a stone struck Wolfdieterich on the
helmet, and stretched him senseless on the ground. But the old duke and
his other sons picked him up, and brought him safely off the field. All
night long they fled, and after resting only a few hours during the
day, resumed their journey. On their arrival at Lilienporte, they found
that many of their men had got there before them.
“We will await the traitors here,” said Berchtung. “They may break
their teeth on our stone walls, and then go away worse than they came.
We have supplies enough to last four years, and can bid them defiance.”
Soon after this, the enemy appeared before the fortress. Sabene
demanded that the prince should be delivered up to them, and threatened
that if this were refused he would burn the castle and all within it.
The only answer made by the besieged was a sortie, led by Wolfdieterich
in person. He still was hopeful of victory, but numbers prevailed. He
had to retreat, and with difficulty regained the fortress. From that
day he lost the confidence and gaiety of youth, and became grave and
silent; his trust in the sure success of a righteous cause was gone. He
lost his faith in Divine justice, and said he had fallen a victim to
the resistless power that men call Fate.