answered Eckewart.

He set out with good will, and told Rudeger what he had heard. Such good
news had not reached him for long. A knight was seen hasting to
Bechlaren. Rudeger knew him, and said, "Here cometh Eckewart,
Kriemhild's man, down the way." He deemed that foemen had done him a
hurt. He went to the door and met the envoy, that ungirded his sword and
laid it down.

Rudeger said to the knight, "What hast thou heard, that thou ridest in
such hot haste? Hath any done us a mischief?"

"None hath harmed us," said Eckewart straightway. "Three kings have sent
me: Gunther of Burgundy, Giselher, and Gernot. Each of them commended
his service to thee. The same doth Hagen from true heart, and also
Folker. Further, I have to tell thee that Dankwart, the king's marshal,
bade me say that the good knights have need of thy roof."

Rudeger answered with smiling face, "This is glad news, that the high
kings need my service. It shall not be denied them. Right glad am I
that they come to my house."

"Dankwart, the marshal, bade me tell thee who there be of them: sixty
bold warriors and a thousand good knights, with nine thousand squires."

Rudeger rejoiced to hear it, and said, "Welcome are these guests--the
high warriors that come to my castle, and that I so seldom have served
heretofore. Ride out to meet them, my kinsmen and my vassals."

Whereat knights and squires hasted to horse. All that their lord
commanded they deemed right; so they served him the better.

Gotelind, that sat in her chamber, had not heard the news.

Twenty-Seventh Adventure

How They Came to Bechlaren

The Margrave went to find his wife and daughter, and told them the good
news that he had heard, how that their queen's brethren were coming to
the house.

"Dear love," said Rudeger, "receive the high and noble kings well when
they come here with their followers. Hagen, Gunther's man, thou shalt
also greet fair. There is one with them that hight Dankwart; another
hight Folker, a man of much worship. These six thou shalt kiss--thou
and my daughter. Entreat the warriors courteously."

The women promised it, nothing loth. They took goodly apparel from their
chests, wherein to meet the knights. The fair women made haste enow.
Their cheeks needed little false colour. They wore fillets of bright
gold on their heads, fashioned like rich wreaths, that the wind might not
ruffle their beautiful hair. They were dainty and fresh.