“If I cannot win Brunhilde’s love except by Siegfried’s death, then he had better die,” cried the king; “for there is ever raging in my ears the queen’s words: ‘Never will I live to be mocked by Kriemhild. This thing must be ended by Siegfried’s death, or my death, or yours. Would that I were again in Odin’s hall—a shield-maiden starting for battle or returning with my weapons stained with red blood.’ Do what you will then, my uncle, for I would lay down my life to win Brunhilde’s love.”
Having won over the king, Hagen went away, determined to avenge Brunhilde’s wrongs and rid the kingdom of one whom he had long feared and hated. His plans were then quickly made. He remembered that he had often heard it whispered about the palace that some magic charm kept Siegfried from ever being wounded in battle, since no weapon had the power to harm him. So before he could carry out his plans, he must learn with certainty whether the report was true or false. There was but one person who would be likely to know this; and accordingly on a certain day when Siegfried had gone hunting with the king, Hagen went to Kriemhild, and seating himself beside her he inquired kindly if she were very happy as the wife of Siegfried.
Kriemhild looked surprised at this unexpected visit from her uncle, for he seldom took any notice of her; but she thought that he was prompted to a show of interest in her by his fondness for Siegfried. So she welcomed him gladly and answered his question in a way to settle all doubts concerning her happiness, had her uncle really felt any friendly interest. Hagen smiled at her reply, and said,—
“Then what will you do if Siegfried is wounded in battle, and brought home dead upon his shield?”
“That cannot happen,” answered Kriemhild, betrayed into further confidence by Hagen’s seemingly affectionate concern.
“But such things do happen, even to the bravest warrior,” persisted Hagen, “unless it be true, as I have sometimes heard, that Siegfried is invulnerable.”
Not dreaming of his purpose in asking this question, Kriemhild proudly replied, “It is indeed true, and that is why I have no fears when my lord goes to battle.”
“Was this great gift from Odin?” asked Hagen.
Now Kriemhild knew that Siegfried had forbidden her to speak of this matter to any one, but she thought there could surely be no harm in revealing the secret to one so devoted and loyal as her uncle, so she told Hagen all about the slaying of Fafnir. She said also that Siegfried had been bathed in the dragon’s blood, and that this was supposed to render him invulnerable.