“They then took up the garments and went upon their way. 
‘May God let me,’ said Gudrun, ‘remind you of this day.’ 
With naked feet they waded there through the ice and snow: 
The noble maids, all homeless, were filled with pain and woe.”
Gudrun (Dippold’s
tr.).

[Sidenote:  Gudrun’s deliverance.] Gudrun and Hildburg had barely begun their usual task, however, ere a small boat drew near, in which they recognized Herwig and Ortwine.  All unconscious of their identity at first, the young men inquired about Gudrun.  She herself, to test their affection, replied that the princess was dead, and did not allow them to catch a glimpse of her face until she beheld Herwig’s emotion at these tidings, and heard him protest that he would be faithful to her unto death.

    “There spoke the royal Herwig:  ’As long as lasts my life,
    I’ll mourn for her; the maiden was to become my wife.’”
                                             Gudrun (Dippold’s tr.).

The lovers, who had been equally true, now fell into each other’s arms.  Ortwine was overjoyed at finding his sister and her companion, having long secretly loved the latter, so he poured out an avowal of his passion, and won from Hildburg a promise to be his wife.  The first moments of joyful reunion over, Herwig would fain have carried Gudrun and Hildburg back to camp with him; but Ortwine proudly declared that he had come to claim them openly, and would bear them away from Normandy honorably, in the guise of princesses, rather than by stealth.

Promising to rescue them on the morrow, the young men took leave of the maidens.  Hildburg conscientiously finished her task, but Gudrun proudly flung the linen into the sea and returned to the palace empty-handed, saying that it did not become her to do any more menial labor, since she had been kissed by two kings.  Gerlinda, hearing her confess that she had flung the linen into the sea, ordered her to be scourged; but when Gudrun turned upon her and proudly announced that she would take her revenge on the morrow, when she would preside over the banquet hall as queen, Gerlinda concluded that she had decided to accept Hartmut.

The mother, therefore, flew to him to impart the joyful tidings.  In his delight he would fain have embraced Gudrun, who, however, haughtily bade him refrain from saluting a mere washerwoman.  Becoming aware only then of her sorry plight, the prince withdrew, sternly ordering that her maidens should again be restored to her, that her every command should be fulfilled as if she were already queen, and that all should treat her with the utmost respect.  These orders were executed without delay, and while Hartmut was preparing for his wedding on the morrow, Gudrun, again clad in royal attire, with her maidens around her, whispered the tidings of their coming deliverance.  Morning had barely dawned when Hildburg, gazing out of the window, saw the castle entirely surrounded by the Hegelings’ forces; and at cockcrow old Wat’s horn pealed forth a loud defiance, rousing the Normans from pleasant dreams, and calling them to battle instead of to the anticipated wedding.