Now Sigurd goes his ways with all that great
treasure, and in friendly wise he departs from them; and on Grani he rides
with all his war-gear and the burden withal; and thus he rides until he
comes to the hall of King Giuki; there he rides into the burg, and that
sees one of the king's men, and he spake withal --
"Sure it may be deemed that here is come one of the
Gods, for his array is all done with gold, and his horse is far mightier
than other horses, and the manner of his weapons is most exceeding goodly,
and most of all the man himself far excels all other men ever seen."
So the king goes out with his court and greets the man,
and asks --
"Who art thou who thus ridest into my burg, as none
has durst hitherto without the leave of my sons?"
He answered, "I am called Sigurd, son of King Sigmund."
Then said King Giuki, "Be thou welcome here then, and
take at our hands whatso thou wiliest."
So he went into the king's hall, and all men seemed
little beside him, and all men served him, and there he abode in great
joyance.
Now oft they all ride abroad together, Sigurd and Gunnar
and Hogni, and ever is Sigurd far the foremost of them, mighty men of
their hands though they were.
But Grimhild finds how heartily Sigurd loved Brynhild,
and how oft he talks of her; and she falls to thinking how well it were,
if he might abide there and wed the daughter of King Giuki, for she
saw that none might come anigh to his goodliness, and what faith and
goodhelp there was in him, and how that he had more wealth withal than
folk might tell of any man; and the king did to him even as unto his
own sons, and they for their parts held him of more worth than themselves.
So on a night as they sat at the drink, the queen arose,
and went before Sigurd, and said --
"Great joy we have in thine abiding here, and all good
things will we put before thee to take of us; lo now, take this horn
and drink thereof."
So he took it and drank, and therewithal she said, "Thy
father shall be Giuki the king, and I shall be thy mother, and Gunnar
and Hogni shall be thy brethren, and all this shall be sworn with oaths
each to each; and then surely shall the like of you never be found on
earth."
Sigurd took her speech well, for with the drinking of
that drink all memory of Brynhild departed from him. So there he abode
awhile.
And on a day went Grimhild to Giuki the king, and cast
her arms about his neck, and spake --
"Behold, there has now come to us the greatest of great
hearts that the world holds; and needs must he be trusty and of great
avail; give him thy daughter then, with plenteous wealth, and as much
of rule as he will; perchance thereby he will be well content to abide
here ever."
The king answered, "Seldom does it befall that kings
offer their daughters to any; yet in higher wise will it be done to
offer her to this man, than to take lowly prayers to her from others."
On a night Gudrun pours out the drink, and Sigurd beholds
her how fair she is and how full of all courtesy.
Five seasons Sigurd abode there, and ever they passed
their days together in good honour and friendship.
And so it befell that the king held talk together, and
Giuki said --
"Great good thou givest us, Sigurd, and with exceeding
strength thou strengthenest our realm."
Then Gunnar said, "All things that may be will we do
for thee, so thou abidest here long; both dominion shall thou have,
and our sister freely and unprayed for, whom another man would not get
for all his prayers."
Sigurd says, "Thanks have ye for this wherewith; ye
honour me, and gladly will I take the same."
Therewith they swore brotherhood together, and to be
even as if they were children of one father and one mother; and a noble
feast was holden, and endured many days, and Sigurd drank at the wedding
of him and Gudrun; and there might men behold all manner of game and
glee, and each day the feast was better and better.
Now fare these folk wide over the world, and do many
great deeds, and slay many kings' sons, and no man has ever done such
works of prowess as did they; then home they come again with much wealth
won in war.
Sigurd gave of the serpent's heart to Gudrun, and she
ate thereof, and became greater-hearted, and wiser than ere before:
and the son of these twain was called Sigmund.
Now on a time went Grimhild to Gunnar her son, and spake
--
"Fair blooms the life and fortune of thee, but for one
thing only, and namely whereas thou art unwedded; go woo Brynhild; good
rede is this, and Sigurd will ride with thee."
Gunnar answered, "Fair in she certes, and I am fain
enow to win her;" and therewith he tells his father, and his brethren,
and Sigurd, and they all prick him on to that wooing.