Part One

Sieglinde hummed as she wrought out the cloth. Her husband would return soon, and he hated when she hummed. Suddenly, she heard footfalls outside the door and prepared to hear Hunding's booming voice requesting she bring him food and drink.

Instead, the door swung open hesitantly. Someone stepped over the threshold and collapsed on the ground. She grabbed an axe from the wall and tiptoed into the room to see who it was.

A man, soaked from the storm and looking exhausted, was lying at the hearth. He looked innocent enough, so she lowered the axe and called out to him.

"Hello...? Who are you?"

The man started at her voice and sat up.

"I'm so sorry, but could I please have a drink of water?"

Still slightly suspicious, she filled a cup with water and brought it to him. "Why have you been out in the storm?"

"My name is Siegmund," he said, answering her earlier question. "I have been fleeing pursuers from battle. I am a wounded, weaponless soldier. Who does this home belong to, and will they have mercy on me to allow me to stay?"

"This house and I, Sieglinde, belong to Hunding, my husband," she said. "He should return soon and I believe he will let you stay a night. Where are your wounds?"

"Thank you, Sieglinde."

Siegmund then began to unbutton his outer shirt and peeled back one sleeve to show a wound on his shoulder. With feeling, Sieglinde immediately began to tend to it and they passed the time this way until Hunding returned.

***

Siegmund trembled at Sieglinde's touch. He was so grateful to her for helping him, and he told himself the trembling was just from the pain. He worried when her husband returned he would not let him stay, so he soaked every minute of warmth he could.

When they finally heard Hunding outside, putting his horse up, Sieglinde stood and opened the door. Hunding first looked confused that Sieglinde had opened the door for him, and then his eyes caught sight of Siegmund.

"Husband," Sieglinde started, "I have found a travel-weary and wounded soldier who seeks shelter. Will you allow him to stay?"

Hunding huffed and looked unsure. "Prepare the table for us, wife, and I will decide."

Sieglinde did as she was told, and Siegmund became angry without really knowing why.

All I know is if I am ever lucky enough to find a wife, I would not treat her so, he thought to himself.

Sieglinde set the table with food, and Siegmund blushed as he heard and felt his stomach grumble with hunger, thanking the gods he would be able to eat. He buttoned his outer shirt and stood, making his way to the table where Hunding had sat at the head.

"I must thank you sir for your kindness, and your wife's as well," Siegmund said. "I have traveled all day on foot and am grateful to have come across your home."

For several minutes, the three ate in silence until Hunding spoke up.

"And what makes you travel with no horse or weapon?"

"Well, sir," Siegmund sighed. "I was wounded in battle and my foes tried to take me prisoner. Though I escaped with my life, they took my weapons and I fear they pursue me even now as I killed many of their men."

Hunding's eyes widened as Siegmund told his story, and his nostrils flared. Unsure what this meant, Siegmund began eating the food set before him as he waited for Hunding to speak.

"How strange fortune is to us," Hunding said. "For in fact, I am one of your pursuers and here I find you on my very own hearth."

Siegmund's breath caught in his throat. So much for the gods helping him out. He had been so focused on getting out of the storm, on having a place to rest, he didn't consider being discovered within shelter. With no weapon, he had no idea what to do. Surely Hunding wouldn't kill him in front of his wife.

Siegmund's eyes moved to Sieglinde, who looked just as frightened as he felt. As thoughts raced through his head, trying to decide what he should do and wondering if this was truly the end, Hunding began to speak again.

"Do not fret, soldier. I will allow you to eat and drink and shelter here for the night. But in the morning you will choose your trustiest weapon and fight me outside. We will see who fortune will be kind to when we wake."

Hunding quickly finished his plate and he and Sieglinde left for their room. Thoughts of Siegmund's escape ran through Sieglinde's head, knowing he had no weapon to duel Hunding with.

After maybe half an hour, Sieglinde quietly came back into the room. She had given Hunding something to make him sleep deeply.

"Siegmund, there is a sword in the trunk of the tree our home is built around. Come, look."

Siegmund followed her to the trunk and saw she was right.

"It was left here by the god Wotan and can only be removed by the man who is destined to save me from Hunding, who I never wanted to marry. I believe that man is you, Siegmund."

Nervously, Siegmund nodded and reached for the sword. Sure enough, it came out of the tree.

Sieglinde's hands went to her mouth, and tears of joy began to stream down her face. Siegmund smiled, knowing there was a good chance he would survive this and take Sieglinde with him.

"Sieglinde, I promise you, I will kill Hunding with this sword and after that you and I will run away together. You deserve so much more than this life you've been living, and I will give that to you."

The two embraced in a tight hug, and as the night wore on they became one flesh, not knowing if this would be their only chance.

***

Author's Note: This first part is based on the first act of Richard Wagner's The Valkyrie. My version is pretty similar, but with more insight into Siegmund and Sieglinde's thoughts and feelings. In the original, it starts off with Siegmund entering the home instead of giving us a look at his travels. Sieglinde finds him and he asks for water, and then she offers him some mead that will help with his wounds. He asks her to drink it first and seeing that it's okay, he drinks it himself. Hunding shows up, and Sieglinde explains why Siegmund is there. Hunding tells her to prepare the meal for the men, and as they sit down Hunding asks Siegmund why he is running without a weapon. Siegmund explains that he was helping a woman whose brothers were trying to make her marry someone she didn't wish to. It turned into a fight and Siegmund killed the brothers. The woman was upset, and then other kinsmen showed up to kill Siegmund, who got away but without his weapon. Hunding reveals he is one of the kinsmen and tells him they will fight in the morning. He then makes Sieglinde go to bed and he follows her, but at the end of the act she comes back down and reveals she has given him something to make him sleep deeply. She tells Siegmund of a sword in the trunk of the tree their home is built around that was left there for and could only be removed by the man that will save her from Hunding, whom she did not want to marry. Siegmund is able to remove the sword, and the two both discover they are long-lost twins and declare their love for each other (and it is implied that they sleep together) as the act ends.

Bibliography: The Valkyrie

Image Information: Sieglinde giving Siegmund a healing drink, source