Before starting, Wittich said that he could not go to Rimstein without
his sword, and Heime refused to give it up, alleging that it was his by
right of war; but the king smoothed matters for the time by desiring
Heime to lend it to his comrade during the campaign.
The warriors set out. The rebel yarl proved himself a tougher foe than
had been expected, and even after weeks and months had passed, his
castle seemed as impregnable as ever.
One moonlight night when Wittich was out alone, he met six warriors
whom he knew, by the device upon their shields, to belong to the enemy.
They fought, and Wittich slew their chief, his sword Mimung cutting him
in two from the neck to the waist. The other five fled in terror, lest
a like fate should befall them. On examining the dead man, Wittich
found it was the yarl himself that he had slain, so he returned to the
camp well pleased. Next morning he told Dietrich and his comrades what
had chanced, and how the war was now at an end.
“He is indeed a bold warrior,” said Heime sarcastically; “he has slain
a weak old man, who could not defend himself a bit better than a woman.
But now, I must have Mimung back again, for I only lent it for this
enterprise.”
“Let me first try it on your head, false comrade,” answered Wittich
indignantly. “You left your brother-in-arms to die in a strange land,
and were traitor enough to rob him of his weapon of defence as well.
You shall now pay the penalty of your meanness.”
Heime drew his sword Nagelring, and a fight was imminent; but Dietrich
thrust himself between the angry men, and commanded them on their
allegiance to keep the peace.
Ermenrich rejoiced to hear of Wittich’s deed, and that the war was at
an end. He gave rich presents to Dietrich and his men, and asked the
royal hero to give Wittich leave of absence, that he might marry fair
Bolfriana, the emperor’s ward, and undertake the government of her rich
fief of Drachenfels (the “Trekanfil” of Norse legend). Dietrich was
pleased at his comrade’s good fortune, and at parting, he merely
reminded him of his oath of fidelity, which the hero at once renewed.
Not long afterwards Wittich was married to Bolfriana, and was endowed
by the emperor with the great fief of Drachenfels, which extends to
Fritilaburg (Friedburg?), and far beyond the eastern mountains. So
Wittich became a mighty chief, as he had told his father that he would.
Heime also, when his father Studas died, went to Ermenrich’s court to
take the oath of allegiance. He received other lands from his imperial
master, and, what he liked still better, much red gold besides.
[Illustration: RANDWER GIVES SWANHILD A NOSEGAY.]