Page:Stories of Norse Gods and Heroes.djvu/69

Rh to the realm of a king called Guike. This king had a beautiful daughter whose name was Gudrun.

When the queen saw Sigurd she was pleased with his beauty and strength, and wished him to marry Gudrun.

One night, when the warriors were feasting, she gave him a cup of magic drink which made him forget Brynhilda. Soon he married Gudrun and no longer remembered that he had ever seen Brynhilda.

After a time, Gunnar, the king's son, heard of Brynhilda and wished her for his wife. Brynhilda had sworn to wed the man who would ride through tho wavering fire around her castle.

She swore this vow, because she was sure no horse but Gran would go through the fire, and that Gran would not move unless Sigurd rode him.

Gunnar tried to ride through the fire, but his horse shrank back. Then he mounted Gran, but Gran would not move a step. Then the queen gave Sigurd a magic drink which made him look like Gunnar.

Sigurd mounted Gran, and the good horse plunged into the fire. The flames blazed up to the sky. But as Sigurd rode on the flickering fire wall sank and soon he came to Brynhilda.