Ring Legends of Tolkien by David Day;

Author:David Day;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Published: 2020-11-10T00:00:00+00:00

SIEGFRIED’S DEATH

At this time rumours of war with the Danes arise once again in the Rhine. Siegfried once more makes ready for war, but Kriemhild has dire forebodings. Artfully, Hagen comes to Kriemhild, saying that he too has had evil omens concerning her husband but that he cannot believe these omens as all know that Siegfried is protected by the spell of dragon’s blood. It is then that Kriemhild reveals the secret of Siegfried’s mortality. For when Siegfried once bathed in dragon’s blood, a lime leaf covered one place between his shoulder blades. In this place alone, Siegfried can be pierced with sharp steel. On Hagen’s instructions, Kriemhild secretly sews a tiny cross on Siegfried’s doublet over his one mortal place. Then Hagen swears he will always be at Siegfried’s back, and will guard the hero from any unexpected blow.

The very next day, Hagen, Gunther and Siegfried go hunting in the royal forest. When Siegfried lies down to drink from a stream after a long chase, Hagen drives his spear into the cross and through Siegfried’s back to his heart. Mortally wounded, Siegfried is like a wild, dying beast flailing the air. But, after Hagen strikes, Gunther seizes Siegfried’s weapons and flees, so the hero might not wreak vengeance with his final breath. When at last Siegfried’s life’s blood spills out upon the forest floor and he breathes no more, the assassins return. They take up his body and carry it to the court, proclaiming that Siegfried has been treacherously murdered by lawless highwaymen.

With Siegfried’s death, Brunhild believes her honour has been upheld by her husband Gunther and her champion Hagen. Not only has she brought death to the man who deceived her, but the proud rival queen who had humiliated her is now brought to despair. Further, because Kriemhild is without a husband, Gunther takes her under his protection, and by this pretext plunders her inheritance, the Nibelung treasure.

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