lay on her bed full of thoughts. Her bright eyes were never dry till she
went to mass in the morning.

The kings also came at the hour of mass, and took their sister by the
hand. They counselled her to wed the king of the Huns. But the lady was
no merrier of her cheer.

Then they bade Etzel's men come before her, that were fain to be gone
with her answer, whether it was a "yea" or a "nay." So Rudeger came to
the court. His comrades urged him to learn the princes' mind without
delay. This seemed good to them all, for it was a far way back to their
land.

They brought Rudeger to Kriemhild. And the knight asked the queen gently
to let him hear the message she sent to Etzel. He won nothing from her
but denial, for never could she love another man.

Then said the Margrave, "That were ill done. Wherefore ruin so fair a
body? Still mayest thou with honour become a good man's wife." Yet all
their entreaty availed not, till that Rudeger said secretly to the queen
that he would make good to her any hurt that might befall her. At that,
her grief abated somewhat.

He said to the queen, "Weep no more. If thou hadst none among the Huns
save me, my faithful kinsmen, and my men, sore must he pay for it that
did thee wrong."

Much milder was the lady's mood, and she said, "Swear me an oath that,
should any do aught against me, thou wilt be the first to avenge it."

The Margrave answered, "I will swear it."

So Rudeger swore with all his men always to serve her truly, and to deny
her nothing in Etzel's land that her honour called for, and he confirmed
it with his hand.

Then thought the faithful woman, "Since I, a forlorn woman, can win so
many friends, I will let the folk say what they please. Haply I may yet
avenge my dear husband's death. Etzel hath so many knights that, were
they mine to command, I could do what I would. Thereto, he is so wealthy
that I shall have wherewith to bestow gifts. Cruel Hagen hath taken my
treasure from me."

She said to Rudeger, "Had I not heard he was a heathen, I would go gladly
at his bidding, and take him to husband."

The Margrave answered, "Say no more of that, Lady. He is not quite a
heathen, be assured, for my dear master hath been christened; albeit he
hath turned again. Haply he will think better of it shouldst thou wed
him. He hath so many Christian knights that no ill could betide thee.
And thou mightst easily win back the good prince, heart and soul, to God."