ch so angered Hunding
that he immediately set out in pursuit of the bold young prince,
whom he followed to the dwelling of Hagal. Helgi would then have been
secured but that meanwhile he had disguised himself as a servant-maid,
and was busy grinding corn as if this were his wonted occupation. The
invaders marvelled somewhat at the maid's tall stature and brawny
arms, nevertheless they departed without suspecting that they had
been so near the hero whom they sought.

Having thus cleverly escaped, Helgi joined Sinfiotli, and collecting an
army, the two young men marched boldly against the Hundings, with whom
they fought a great battle, over which the Valkyrs hovered, waiting
to convey the slain to Valhalla. Gudrun, one of the battle-maidens,
was so struck by the courage which Helgi displayed, that she openly
sought him and promised to be his wife. Only one of the Hunding race,
Dag, remained alive, and he was allowed to go free after promising not
to endeavour to avenge his kinsmen's death. This promise was not kept,
however, and Dag, having obtained possession of Odin's spear Gungnir,
treacherously slew Helgi with it. Gudrun, who in the meantime had
fulfilled her promise to become his wife, wept many tears at his death,
and laid a solemn curse upon his murderer; then, hearing from one of
her maids that her slain husband kept calling for her from the depths
of the tomb, she fearlessly entered the mound at night and tenderly
inquired why he called and why his wounds continued to bleed after
death. Helgi answered that he could not rest happy because of her
grief, and declared that for every tear she shed a drop of his blood
must flow.

"Thou weepest, gold-adorned!
Cruel tears,
Sun-bright daughter of the south!
Ere to sleep thou goest;
Each one falls bloody
On the prince's breast,
Wet, cold, and piercing,
With sorrow big."

Saemund's Edda (Thorpe's tr.).

To appease the spirit of her beloved husband, Gudrun from that time
ceased to weep, but they did not long remain separated; for soon after
the spirit of Helgi had ridden over Bifroest and entered Valhalla,
to become leader of the Einheriar, he was joined by Gudrun who, as a
Valkyr once more, resumed her loving tendance of him. When at Odin's
command she left his side for scenes of human strife, it was to seek
new recruits for the army which her lord was to lead into battle when
Ragnarok, the twilight of the gods, shoul