But the son of Siegmund made answer, when he had heard their honourable
intent. "Blest be your heritage to you evermore, and also the people
thereof. The share you would give to my dear wife she may well forego,
for when she will wear the crown, she will be, if she live long enough,
the richest woman on earth. Command me in aught else, and I will obey."

But Kriemhild said, "Though thou scorn my land, not so lightly shalt thou
treat Burgundian warriors. These any king might be proud to take with
him, and them, at the least, shall my brothers' hand share with me."

Gunther answered, "Take whom thou wilt. Thou wilt find many ready to
ride with thee. Of three thousand knights, choose thou one thousand for
thy following."

Then Kriemhild sent for Hagen of Trony and for Ortwin, and asked them if
they and their kinsmen would ride with her. But Hagen fell in a fury and
cried, "To no man in this world shall Gunther give us. Others can ride
with thee. Thou knowest the men of Trony and their way. By the king at
the court will we bide, to serve him and follow him as heretofore."

So she let the matter rest, and made ready for the journey; for her
followers she won two and thirty maidens and five hundred men, among the
which was Eckewart the Margrave. And they took their leave, as was meet:
knights and squires, damsels and dames. They parted thence with kisses,
and set out from Gunther's land joyfully.

Her kinsmen brought her far on her way, and had night quarters put up
where they desired them, in the king's land. And they despatched envoys
to King Siegmund, to tell him and Queen Sieglind how that their son drew
nigh with fair Kriemhild, Queen Uta's child, from Worms on the Rhine.