e do it for thy sister's sake."

So Gunther sent for the knight, who came when they had found him. And
the king said, "We are well night home in my land. It is time I sent a
messenger to tell my dear sister and my mother that we draw near.
Undertake thou the journey, and I will owe thee much thank."

But Siegfried would not do it till that Gunther had begged him and said,
"Ride not for my sake only, but for fair Kriemhild's, that the royal
maiden requite it, even as I." And when Siegfried heard that, he yielded.

"Command what thou wilt, I will not gainsay it. I will do it for the
sake of my beautiful lady. How should I deny aught to her that I bear in
my heart? Because of her, I will perform all that thou askest."

"Tell Uta, then, the great queen, that we have prospered in our
adventure; and let my brothers hear how that it hath fared well with us.
Tell the same news to our friends. And hide nothing from my sister.
Greet her from Brunhild and me; greet also the courtiers and all my men.
Say to them that I have gotten the desire of my heart. And bid Ortwin,
my dear nephew, raise seats by the Rhine. Make it known also to the
other knights that I will hold a great hightide with Brunhild; and bid my
sister, when she heareth I am at hand with my guests, prepare a fair
welcome for my bride; for the which I shall ever be beholden to her."

So Siegfried took leave of Brunhild, as was meet, and rode to the Rhine.
In the whole world was no better envoy.

With twenty and four knights he rode to Worms. And when it was noised
abroad that he was come without the king, Gunther's servants were heavy
of their cheer, for they feared that their lord had tarried behind, dead.

The messengers sprang gaily from their horses, and Giselher, the young
king, ran to them, and Gernot, his brother, who cried quickly, when he
saw not King Gunther with Siegfried, "Thou art welcome, Sir Siegfried.
Tell me, now, what thou hast done with my brother the king. If the
strength of Brunhild hath reft him from us, a bitter wooing hath it been."

"Fear naught. Thee and his kinsmen my friend greeteth by me, for he hath
sent me hither to you with news. Contrive now that I come to the queen
and thy sister. For I am charged with the same message to them as to
thee, from Gunther and Brunhild: that it standeth well with the twain."

Giselher said, "Go in to them straightway, and it will please my sister.
She feareth for my brother; by my troth