Part Three

Listen to "Wotan's Farewell" as you read using the embedded video above or this link

Brunnhilde's mind raced with feelings of sorrow as she rode with her father. He wasn't speaking, so she wasn't either.

She did not regret saving Siegmund. Sieglinde's child needed its father.

What she did regret was that her father would never forgive her for disobeying his orders. She had always been his favorite child, but she supposed that was all in the past now.

Finally, they reached what seemed to be his destination. The peak of a large mountain, hundreds of miles from where they left Siegmund and Sieglinde. They landed, the sound of their horses hooves hitting the stone breaking the silence.

"Why have you brought me here, Father?"

"Brunnhilde," he started, as he dismounted his horse. "I cannot explain to you how much your betrayal has pained me. This is where we will say our goodbyes."

"Father, I am so sorry."

Brunnhilde's eyes filled with tears as she dismounted and ran to her father, hoping to find his arms open to her as they always had been. But he turned from her.

"What's done is done, Brunnhilde. This cannot be forgiven."

"But you must see, I was only doing what I knew you truly wished in your heart. You didn't want Siegmund to die. He is the hope of your heart, your hope for the future. I decided to save him because I knew you could not defy Fricka yourself."

"It was arrogant of you to assume I could not make a decision for myself, daughter. And now, because of your arrogance, you will be left here to sleep. The first man who comes upon you will wake you and you will become his wife. You will be stripped of your immortality, and left to spend the rest of your days obeying the commands of your husband."

"Father!" Brunnhilde gasped, horrified. "You would leave your daughter to such shame, to such debasement? Please, I'm begging you, run me through with my own sword before assigning me that fate."

"Death is too easy a punishment," Wotan said, shaking his head and finally looking into her eyes. She could see that he still loved, still cared for her. She knew she had to convince him of something else, when an idea struck her.

"Then put me to sleep, and leave me here, but not unprotected. Surround me with a ring of fire, that will burn and kill any man except the bravest of heroes. And that man will be the one to wake me, and I will answer to him, the brave, honorable hero."

Wotan considered the idea for several long moments, before finally taking Brunnhilde into his arms. His daughter clung tightly to him, silent sobs wracking her body. Pulling back, he took her face in his hands and pressed his lips against both of her eyes, and finally a lingering kiss on her forehead.

Her body went limp as she fell into a deep sleep, and he carried her to the top of the peak. He wiped a tear from his eye as he called down a ring of fire.

"Here Brunnhilde will lie, until a man who does not fear Wotan's sword can pass through this fire and wake her," Wotan's booming voice declared.

***

Sieglinde and Siegmund watched, hands clasped together, as Wotan made his way toward them. He was notably without Brunnhilde or her horse.

Siegmund braced himself, knowing the woman, his half-sister, who saved him was now likely dead at the hands of their father.

"My son," Wotan said, "Sieglinde. I'm sure you both must be confused."

The couple could only nod.

"And I'm sure you are both mourning Brunnhilde. Well, I hope it eases your pain to know that she is not dead but instead in a deep sleep. Protected by a ring of fire that only the bravest of men can penetrate, she will sleep there until awoken by a hero."

"That is comforting," Siegmund nodded. "Thank you."

"Is there somewhere we can go to speak other than this field?" Wotan asked.

Sieglinde nodded, and they led the god to the cottage that formerly belonged to Hunding. She prepared a meal, and over the next several hours Wotan spoke plainly with them about his plans for Siegmund.

As the twilight hour came, Wotan bid them farewell.

When they were finally alone, Siegmund wrapped Sieglinde in his arms. So much had happened in one day, and they were both exhausted.

"My love, are you okay?" Siegmund asked.

"As okay as can be expected," she answered, leaning back to look into his eyes. "It's a lot to take in, but there's no one else I'd rather be with right now than you."

"I completely agree, Sieglinde. And knowing that you will carry my child, I am so eager to see what the future might bring."

"Brunnhilde told you he would be important, did she not?" Sieglinde asked, and Siegmund nodded as he knelt down to press his lips to her stomach. "I think he might be the one to save her."

Siegmund looked up, his eyes brightening.

"I think you might be right, my love. We will raise him to be brave, strong, and unafraid of his destiny."

Sieglinde smiled down at him, amazed at how much in her life had changed in the span of a day.

"I am so glad you came into my home, Siegmund. I know that fate has brought us together, and I'm ready to face our destiny together."

"As am I," he said, taking her into his arms and kissing her.

***

Author's Note: In this third and last part, mine looks a lot different than the original. This is because in Wagner's opera, the second act ends with Siegmund and Hunding dead, and Brunnhilde running away with Sieglinde. So, his third act opens up with all of Brunnhilde's Valkyrie sisters meeting up and preparing to go see their father. They are waiting for Brunnhilde when they see her with Sieglinde. They are confused, and then appalled when Brunnhilde explains what happened and that she needs their help to conceal herself and Sieglinde from their father. The Valkyries tell her they won't do this, they won't go against Wotan. Brunnhilde sends Sieglinde away, instructing her where to go and to raise her son in hiding. Finally, Wotan arrives and instructs her sisters to leave them on the mountain top. They argue over the choice Brunnhilde makes, and she is able to convince him of the plan to leave her in the ring of fire. The act ends there, but I added on this extra scene because I felt it was necessary since my Siegmund is still alive. I wanted to start and end this storybook with them, and I felt it gave some closure on their story. I also foreshadowed that their son, Siegfried, is the one that will save Brunnhilde. In Wagner's opera, he is also the one to take the ring back. However, my vision is that the father and son will work together in this.

Bibliography: The Valkyrie

Image Information: Wotan says goodbye to Brunnhilde, source