The children of Odin - Germanic Mythology

262 CHILDREN OF ODIN
them the wondrous helmet. Also he told them how he had slain
Fafnir the Dragon, and of how he had won the mighty hoard for
himself. His two sworn brothers who were there rejoiced that
he had such wondrous possessions.
But more precious than the hoard and more wondrous than
the helmet was the memory of BrjTihild that he had. But of
this he said no word.
Grimhild was the name of the Queen. She was the mother of
Gunnar and Hogni and their half-brother Guttorm. And she
and the King had one daughter whose name was Gudrun. Now
Grimhild was one of the wisest of women, and she knew when she
looked upon him that Sigurd was the world's greatest warrior.
She would have him belong to the Nibelungs, not only by the
oaths of brotherhood he had sworn with Gunnar and Hogni,
but by other ties. And when she heard of the great hoard that
was his she had greater wish and will that he should be one with
the Nibelvmgs. She looked on the helmet of gold and on the great
arm-ring that he wore, and she made it her heart's purpose that
Sigurd should wed with Gudrun, her daughter. But neither
Sigurd nor the maiden Gudrun knew of Grimhild's resolve.
And the Queen, watching Sigurd closely, knew that he had a
remembrance in his breast that held him from seeing Gudrun's
loveliness. She had knowledge of speUs and secret brews (she
was of the race of Borghild whose brew had destroyed Sinfiotli's
life) and she knew that she could make a potion that would
destroy the memory Sigurd held.