But the deadliest cause of quarrel was yet to come.  Said Queen Kriemhild to Queen Brunhild when next she saw her:  “Think you that when you were vanquished in your own land it was Gunther, my brother, that vanquished you?” “Yea,” answered the Queen, “did I not see it with my own eyes?” “Nay,” said Kriemhild, “it was not so.  See you this ring?” And she took a ring that she had upon her finger and held it forth.  “Do you know it?” And Brunhild looked and knew it for her own.  “That,” said Kriemhild, “Siegfried, my husband, took from you when you were smitten by his spear and knew not what had befallen you, so sore was the blow.  You saw him not, for he had the Hood of Darkness on him and was invisible.  But it was he that smote you with the spear, and put the stone further than you, and passed you in the leap.  And this ring he gave me for a token, if ever you should boast yourself against me.  Talk, therefore, no more of lords and vassals.  My husband feigned this vassalage that he might deceive you the more readily.”

But Brunhild held her peace, for the ring was a proof which she could not gainsay.  She held her peace, but she cherished her rage, keeping it in the depths of her heart, and sware that she would be avenged on the man that had so deceived her.

When Hagen saw that Queen Brunhild was in continual trouble and sadness he would fain know the cause. “’Tis of Siegfried’s doing,” she answered.  “He has wronged me beyond pardon.”  And she besought him that he would avenge her and King Gunther upon him.

So Hagan plotted evil, saying enemies were coming against Gunther, and Siegfried and his knights made them ready to go forth to the King’s defence.  And of the chiefs of Rhineland not a few offered themselves as comrades, knowing nothing of the treachery that Hagen and his fellows were preparing against him.

But before they departed Hagen went to bid farewell to Queen Kriemhild.  Said she, “I have good comfort in my heart to think how valiant a husband I have, and how zealous he is to help his friends, for I have loved my kinsmen always, nor ever wished them ill.”  “Tell me, dear lady,” said Hagen, “what service I can do to your husband, for there is no one whom I love better than him.”  The Queen made answer, “I have no fear that my lord will fall in battle by any man’s sword, save only that he is too ready to follow even to rashness his own warlike spirit.”  “Dear lady,” said Hagen, “if there is any danger which you hold in special fear, tell me that I may defend him against it.”  Then Kriemhild, in the simpleness of her heart, told him the secret.  “In years gone by,” said she, “my husband slew a dragon among the mountains, and when he had slain the monster, he bathed himself in its blood.  So mighty was the charm, that thenceforth no steel had power to wound him.  And yet, for all this, I am ever in fear lest by some mischance a weapon should pierce him.  Hearken now, my cousin, for you are