Gunther and Brunhilde arrive at Burgundy and are received by Kriemhild
The king went next to Hagen and said: “You have won Brunhilde’s confidence, my uncle. Tell me, therefore, why the queen is silent and unhappy.”
At this Hagen laughed mockingly and whispered: “Ask your noble friend Siegfried whom you love and trust so fully what it is that makes Brunhilde’s heart so heavy with longing, and so full of bitterness. He can tell you far better than I.” But shame and pride forbade Gunther to go again with his troubles to Siegfried, so he kept silent, and waited for time to cure the queen’s grief.
Things went on in this way for some time, for nothing seemed to change the haughty queen, or soften her dislike for all of Gunther’s household except Hagen. He remained her devoted follower, and her one confidant and friend. Toward the gentle Kriemhild she showed both jealousy and aversion, though the sweet, friendly wife of Siegfried was at a loss to understand the reason for her sister-in-law’s behaviour.
On his return to Burgundy, Siegfried had been unwise enough to tell Kriemhild of the stratagem by which he had won Brunhilde for the king, and how later he had wrestled with the mighty queen, and taken from her the magic girdle. He also gave Kriemhild the serpent ring which Brunhilde had prized more than all her possessions, but which she had yielded when—as she supposed—Gunther had outmatched her in strength. All this trickery Brunhilde did not as yet even suspect, so Kriemhild wondered at her ill-concealed hatred of the king.
One day Brunhilde and Kriemhild were walking together in the palace garden, and as they were about to enter the great feasting hall, Kriemhild, being a little in advance of the queen, was just crossing the doorway when Brunhilde called out angrily,—
“Do you presume to enter before me, your queen? you who are the wife of a vassal?”
“I am no vassal,” retorted Kriemhild, quickly, “for Siegfried owns allegiance neither to you nor to any other.”