Plotting and magic potions . . .

Section 7, "Gudrun," brings Sigurd to the hall of Gjuki, king of the Gjukings and Gudrun's father.

Before his arrival, Gudrun relates a dream to her mother--a disturbing dream foretelling doom; then she sees Sigurd approaching on Grani, his horse, laden with the dragon treasure. He is welcomed to the hall, and Tolkien describes the feast that follows. One of Gudrun's brothers plays a harp and sings of war between the Goths and Huns:

By mighty Mirkwood
on the marches of the East
the great Goth-kings
in glory ruled.
By Danpar-banks
was dread warfare
with the hosts of Hunland,
horsemen countless. (131)

Then Sigurd sings of his slaying of Fafnir and the waking of Brynhild. This is all very well done--Tolkien captures the atmosphere of the mead hall and the mood of the characters.

In the silence following the songs, Sigurd thinks of Brynhild, and Gudrun's brothers think of how they can get him to marry their sister.

Sigurd joins the household and goes to war with the Gjukings, winning great glory. Then his thoughts turn to his own homeland and revenge for his father's death. He fits out a fleet of dragon-prowed ships and sails to his father's land, where he is merciless to his enemies. Yet, even though he has exacted revenge, his father's hall is in ruins and his people all gone. He is now king--but has no subjects or meadhall, so he returns to the Gjuking's land.

Here, in Gjuki's hall, Sigurd fulfills his kingly role as ring-giver, gift-giver, binding his retainers more closely to him:

A king sat Sigurd:
carven silver,
raiment gleaming,
rings and goblets,
dear things dealt he,
doughty-handed,
his friends enriching,
fame upraising. (137)

As Gjuki and his sons seek for a way to marry Gudrun to Sigurd in order to form a more binding alliance, he sits thinking of Brynhild; then Gudrun's mother slips out of the hall and prepares a drugged drink in a rune-carved horn. When she gives it to Sigurd, he drinks it and immediately becomes confused, forgetting Brynhild. At that moment, Gudrun enters the hall:

In came Gudrun
gleaming-robed,
as flower enfolded
fair at morning.
Sigurd wondered,
silent gazing;
his mind was glamoured,
mood confounded. (140)

And here the section ends. What a cliff-hanger! Of course, we know this is the weaving of fate--with a little help from magic potions--but it's sad to think of Gudrun, knowing from her dream that something bad is about to happen, being used as a pawn (the Anglo-Saxon's "peace bride")to help strengthen her father's power.