He bade them to his presence, and sent greeting by them to Siegfried’s country. Brunhild clad them in rich apparel, and the king spake, “Ye knights shall keep back naught wherewith I charge you, but shall say to stark Siegfried, and to my sister, that no man in this world is better minded to them than I be. Bid them both hither to the Rhine. If they come, I and my wife will cease not to be beholden to them. Or midsummer is here, he and his knights will find among us many to do them worship. Greet King Siegmund also from me, and say that I and my friends are his true servants; and entreat my sister that, without fail, she ride hither to her friends. No hightide were fitter for her.” Brunhild and Uta, and their women, commended them to the fair women and the bold men at Siegfried’s court. So the envoys made haste to do the king’s bidding. They stood ready for the road; horses and harness were there, and they took their leave. They pushed forward with the escort the king gave them. Inside of twelve days they reached the land and the castle of the Nibelungs, and found Siegfried on the march of Norway. Horses and men were weary with the long road. They brought word to both Siegfried and Kriemhild that knights were come, clad after the manner of the Burgundians. And Kriemhild sprang from the couch where she lay resting, and bade a maiden run to the window, who saw Gary standing in the courtyard, and his knights that were sent with him. They brought welcome news to her anxious heart. She cried to the king, “Seest thou, standing there in the courtyard, them that be come with stark Gary, that my brother Gunther hath sent down the Rhine?” And Siegfried answered, “They are welcome.” All the folk ran when they saw the envoys and greeted them with kind words. Siegfried was right glad at their coming. Lodging was given to them, and their horses were seen to, whereupon they went straightway where Siegfried sat by Kriemhild. Both were joyful to behold them. The king and his wife rose quickly to receive Gary and Gunther’s knights of Burgundy. And they bade Gary sit down. “Nay, let us way-weary guests stand while we tell thee Gunther’s message. After, we will sit. Gunther and Brunhild, with whom it is well, and Queen Uta, your mother, and Giselher, the youth, and eke Gernot, and your nearest kinsmen, send greeting from Burgundy.” “Now God reward them,” said Siegfried; “I hold them for good and true, as a man should trust his friends. The like doth their sister. Say on, whether they be of good cheer. Hath any done my wife’s brethren a hurt since we parted? Tell me, for I will stand by them till their foemen rue my help.” Margrave Gary, the good knight, answered, “It is well with them, and they are of good cheer. They bid thee to a hightide, and were right glad if thou camest. They bid my Lady also. So soon as the winter shall be ended, before midsummer, they would see you.” But Siegfried said, “That can hardly be.”