Retribution
A general assault was now begun on the castle. The knights whom Hartmut
had left behind defended it bravely, sending down showers of bolts and
flinging huge beams and stones upon the besiegers, but Wate was not to
be driven back. With their battle-axes his men hewed the massive bolts
from the walls, and the gates at last fell crashing inward. At the same
time Horant with the Queen's banner forced the walls in another place
and Ortwin had also gained them by means of a siege ladder. The conflict
soon spread to the courtyard and thence to the halls and passages, till
the whole castle was filled with the din of battle. Chests and presses
were broken open in the search for the treasures Ludwig had once carried
off from Hegelingen, and enough gold and silver, silks and fine linens,
were gathered together to fill two ships.
Ortrun took refuge in Gudrun's chamber. "Alas! dear friend," she cried,
"thy people are slaying all they meet within the castle. In pity protect
me, or I too must die."
Gudrun took her by the hand, saying tenderly: "Never shalt thou lack aid
from me, dear Ortrun. Indeed, from my heart I wish thee peace and
happiness. Remain here with my maidens."
Soon Gerlinda came flying in. Forgetful of her pride and arrogance she
fell on her knees before Gudrun, crying: "Mercy, mercy, most noble
Queen! Save me from Wate and his warriors, I implore thee!"
Gudrun answered sternly: "How dost thou ask me to protect thee? Didst
thou ever listen to my prayers for mercy? Methinks 'tis little cause I
have to show thee favor!"
Therewith Wate himself burst into the hall, blood streaming from his
great beard and staining his armor. Much as Gudrun was attached to the
old hero, it displeased her that he should force his way into the
women's apartments like a raging wild boar; yet she approached and
greeted him, while the maidens shrank back, terror-stricken.
Wate bowed before her, saying: "Tell me who are these women here with
thee?"
"This is my friend Ortrun," replied Gudrun, "good and kind hath she ever
been to me, and with her are her maids. The rest are those poor damsels
who were stolen with me from Hegelingen."
As Wate was about to approach them to seek for Gerlinda, she cried:
"Nay--look how thou dost drip with blood! Surely 'tis not thus that thou
shouldst appear before fair dames!" Whereat Wate turned away angry and
went back to his comrades who were still fighting in the hall.
Scarcely had he departed when the unfaithful Heregart rushed in with
pallid cheeks and streaming hair, and falling at Gudrun's feet begged
for mercy. But Gudrun said sharply: "Get thee from my sight, thou false
one! What troubles didst thou ever share with me? Rather hast thou added
to them!"
Still Heregart pleaded so piteously that at last she said: "Conceal
thyself then among Ortrun's damsels, if thou wilt; no longer art thou
worthy of a place with those thou hast so faithlessly abandoned."
Wate meanwhile was searching everywhere for Queen Gerlinda and presently
came once more to the hall, shouting wrathfully: "Lady Gudrun, deliver
up to me that infamous woman who did force thee to wash her garments,
whose vile deeds have caused thee so much woe!"
Gerlinda was hidden behind the maidens, but Gudrun would not betray her.
"She is not here," was her only reply.
This only added to the hero's fury. "Then will I slay every woman here!"
he shouted, "so that she shall not escape me."
Whereupon Gudrun's women turning pale with fright drew apart and exposed
the fugitive.
"Ha!" he cried, dragging the trembling Queen forth by the hand, "hast
thou aught else to be washed by the daughter of my Queen?"
Therewith he seized his victim by the hair and struck off her head. The
maidens shrieked aloud at this sight, but Wate turned to them once more
and said: "Now would I fain see her who was false to you, for she too
must die!"
Gudrun was silent, but a glance from her eyes showed him which was the
guilty one. Heregart prostrated herself before him and besought him to
spare her life, but he cried: "Well do I know how to deal with women.
'Tis for that I am chamberlain!" And so saying, he swung his sword, and
the head of the unfaithful maiden rolled upon the floor.
[Illustration: _Gudrun's Deliverance_]
The fighting was now over; and soon Herwig and Ortwin entered the hall,
followed by their comrades. The two Kings had laid aside their
blood-stained armor, and Gudrun greeted them tenderly, embracing them
with tears of joy. Then she gave her hand to her companions, saying:
"Never will I be unmindful of your devotion, so long as I do live!" And
all felt how true were her words.
Wate, whose fury had not yet subsided, wished to fire the castle, but
Frute opposed it, saying: "What, then, would the women do for shelter
till the time of our return? Moreover, the castle doth afford us safe
and ample lodgment. But let us make way with the dead who lie about the
halls and passages, and cleanse the walls from blood, that our dear
lady's eyes be not offended with the sight thereof."
So the bodies were all borne to the shore and, with their armor, cast
into the sea. Hartmut was taken to the ships in chains. Gudrun had saved
his life, but she had not been able to obtain further concession from
her brother and betrothed. Ortrun, however, was allowed to remain with
her. Some of the knights with their followers went farther into the
kingdom and stormed twenty-six castles, returning to Gudrun laden with
treasure and bringing many captives.
After a joyous meeting, Ortwin cried: "Well hath our journey ended.
Beyond our dearest hopes have we succeeded; and never will I forget, my
gallant comrades, how loyally you have striven in our cause."
"Time passes," said Wate, "let us hasten to restore Queen Hilda's
daughter to her."
Preparations for departure were soon made. The booty was placed on the
ships, and all hearts beat high with joy at the thought of home. Ortrun
followed Gudrun, weeping bitterly, but Hartmut was taken on another
vessel with five hundred of his knights. He offered to pledge his life
in token of loyalty if they would leave him in the land of his fathers.
But Wate answered: "'Tis thyself we would have. In truth, I know not why
Ortwin bears with him to his own land one who even yet would gladly have
his life; yet so it is. Were it for me to say, forsooth, thou shouldst
have speedy deliverance from all thy troubles."