# Adventure XV: How Siegfried Was Betrayed explained — The Nibelungenlied

> Chapter companion for The Nibelungenlied by Anonymous.

## What happens

King Gunther feigns a war threat from Ludegast and Ludeger to lure Siegfried into a trap. Hagen manipulates Kriemhilda into revealing Siegfried's vulnerable spot—a linden-leaf-shaped patch on his back where dragon blood did not cover him. Kriemhilda, believing she is helping, sews a small cross on Siegfried's garment to mark the spot. The false war is called off, and Gunther proposes a hunting trip, setting the stage for Siegfried's murder.

## Themes in this chapter

### Betrayal and Deception

Hagen and Gunther orchestrate a false war and a hunting trip to trap Siegfried; Kriemhilda is deceived into revealing his weakness.

### Loyalty and Friendship

Siegfried's unwavering loyalty to Gunther is exploited; Kriemhilda's trust in Hagen is tragically misplaced.

### Fate and Foreboding

Kriemhilda's anxiety and the sewing of the cross foreshadow Siegfried's doom.

## Character check-ins

### Siegfried

Unknowingly walks into Hagen's trap; offers to fight Gunther's supposed enemies; agrees to go hunting.

### Kriemhilda

Betrays Siegfried's secret in a misguided attempt to protect him; sews a cross on his garment.

### Hagen

Masterminds the betrayal; extracts Siegfried's vulnerable spot from Kriemhilda; plans the hunting trip.

### King Gunther

Participates in the deception; feigns war and later suggests the hunt.

### Siegmund

Siegfried's father; asked to stay behind during the false campaign.

### Ludegast

Mentioned as the supposed challenger in the fabricated war.

### Ludeger

Mentioned as the supposed challenger in the fabricated war.

## Key lines

> She spake: 'Bold is my husband and strong enough thereto. When he upon the mountain erstwhile the dragon slew, In the brute's blood he bathed him, the goodly warrior, And since that day, in battle, no steel can cut him more.'

Kriemhilda explains that Siegfried became invulnerable after bathing in the dragon's blood.

_Reveals the source of Siegfried's invulnerability._

> She spake: 'With fine silk will I upon his garment sew A little cross unnoticed, that so thy hand may know, O hero, where to guard him, when into fight he goes, And in the stress of battle he stands before his foes.'

Kriemhilda promises to sew a small cross on Siegfried's clothing to mark the vulnerable spot for Hagen to protect.

_The cross becomes the instrument of betrayal._

> When he espied the token, two of his following He sent away in secret another tale to bring: How peace should not be broken towards King Gunther's land— They had but come as envoys by Ludeger's command.

Hagen, seeing the cross, secretly sends messengers to call off the false war, ensuring the hunt proceeds.

_Hagen's manipulation of events to isolate Siegfried._

## Links

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