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.
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.”