Witichis looked after him anxiously.
"Let him go," said Duke Guntharis; "we two, united, have nothing to fear. Let us now reconcile the troops, since the leaders are friends."
While Guntharis first led the King through his lines of troops, and called upon them at once to do him homage, which they did with joy, and afterwards Witichis took the Wölfung and his leaders with him into his camp, where the victory so peacefully gained was looked upon as miraculous, Arahad collected together a small troop of about a hundred horsemen, who were faithfully attached to him, and galloped back with them to his camp.
He soon reached the tent of Mataswintha, who indignantly rose at his entrance.
"Be not angry. Princess. This time thou hast no right to be so. Arahad comes to fulfil his last duty. Fly! thou must follow me!" And, in the impetuosity of his excitement, he grasped her small white hand.
Mataswintha receded a step, and laid her hand upon the broad golden girdle which confined her white under-garment.
"Fly?" she asked. "Fly whither?"
"Over the sea! over the Alps! Anywhere for liberty; for thy liberty is endangered."
"Only by thee!"
"By me no longer; and I can protect thee no more. So long as only my happiness was at stake, I could be cruel to myself and honour thy will. But now----"