Thidrekssaga 241. About the friendship between Attila and King Erminrek. King Attila of Susa had both great power and a large number of retainers, and he conquered many lands. He became friends with King Erminrek, who ruled over Puli [Apulia]. These two kings had such friendship between them that Attila sent his kinsman Osid along with twelve knights to King Erminrek. Erminrek sent Valtari of Vaskenstein, his nephew, and twelve knights in return. Valtari was twelve years old at the time. He remained there seven years. Two years after Valtari had come there, Hildigunn, the daughter of Earl Ilias of Greece, came to Susa to serve as a hostage to King Attila. She was then seven years old. These two young people loved each other very much, but Attila did not know it. 242. Valtari flees with Hhldigunn It happened one day that there was a great festival in the open courtyard of King Attila and there was much dancing. Valtari was holding Hildigunn’s hand and they were speaking of many things. No one suspected anything. Valtari spoke: “How long will you be the maid of Queen Erka? It would be better if you were to travel home with us to my kinfolk.” She said: “Sir, you should not ridicule me, even if I am not with my kinfolk.” Valtari answered: “Lady, you are the daughter of Earl Ilias of Greece and Osantrix, the king of the Vilkinamen is your uncle, and the king of the Rus is another. I am the nephew of King Erminrek of Rome and a kinsman of King Thidrek of Bern. Why should I serve King Attila? Please come home with me and as I love you, so let God love me.” She answered: “Now that I know your will for certain, you shall direct me and my will. I was four years old when I first saw you, and I loved you immediately more than anything else in the world, and I wish to go with you wherever you wish.” Valtari answered: “If it is as you say, then come to the outermost castle gate in the morning when the sun is rising, and bring as much gold with you as you can carry in both hands, because you watch over the treasure chests of Queen Erka, your kinswoman. She said that she would do so and King Attila did not become aware of their talk before Valtari had ridden out of Susa with Hildigunn. They had now much money in gold, and the two rode out of the castle gate alone since no one was such a good friend to them that they dared tell him of their trip. King Attila became aware that Valtari and Hildigunn had ridden away. He bade his men ride after them, “and you will have the money they have taken away and the head of Valtari as well.” One of these men was Hogni, the son of King Aldrian, and all twelve knights rode quickly with him after them, and now each group saw the other riding. Valtari sprang from his horse with great courtesy and valor and took his lady Hildigunn down along with their treasures. Then he sprang onto his horse and put his helmet on his head and positioned his spear. Hildigunn spoke to her true lord: “Sir, it grieves me that you are going to fight against twelve knights. Rather ride away and save your life.” “Lady,” he said, “do not cry. I have already seen split helmets, broken shields, torn byrnies, and men falling headless from their horses, and I have done all of that with my own hands, and this is no superior force to me.” Now he rode to meet them. A great battle took place and night darkened before the battle was ended. 244. Valtari escapes with ilildigunn Valtari was now badly wounded, but he had killed eleven knights. Hdgni had escaped into the forest. Valtari found his lady and set up camp in the forest. Valtari struck fire from a flint and made a large fire and on it he roasted a ham from a wild boar. They then ate and and did not stop until everything had been eaten from the bone. Hogni now came out of the forest toward the fire where Valtari was sitting. He drew his sword and intended to kill him. Hildigunn spoke to Valtari: “Beware. Here comes one of our enemies with whom you fought today.” He now took up the ham bone from which they had eaten and he cast it at Hogni and delivered such a mighty blow that he fell to the earth. He struck him on the cheek so that it was torn open and the eye sprang out. Hogni now stood up and ran to his horse and rode home to Susa and told King Attila about his expedition. Valtari now mounted up and rode south over the mountains to meet King Erminrek and told him all about his trip. Then they recovered King Attila’s friendship with gifts of money that King Erminrek sent King Attila. Haymes translation
241. About the friendship between Attila and King Erminrek.
King Attila of Susa had both great power and a large number of retainers, and he conquered many lands. He became friends with King Erminrek, who ruled over Puli [Apulia]. These two kings had such friendship between them that Attila sent his kinsman Osid along with twelve knights to King Erminrek. Erminrek sent Valtari of Vaskenstein, his nephew, and twelve knights in return. Valtari was twelve years old at the time. He remained there seven years. Two years after Valtari had come there, Hildigunn, the daughter of Earl Ilias of Greece, came to Susa to serve as a hostage to King Attila. She was then seven years old. These two young people loved each other very much, but Attila did not know it.
242. Valtari flees with Hhldigunn
It happened one day that there was a great festival in the open courtyard of King Attila and there was much dancing. Valtari was holding Hildigunn’s hand and they were speaking of many things. No one suspected anything.
Valtari spoke: “How long will you be the maid of Queen Erka? It would be better if you were to travel home with us to my kinfolk.”
She said: “Sir, you should not ridicule me, even if I am not with my kinfolk.”
Valtari answered: “Lady, you are the daughter of Earl Ilias of Greece and Osantrix, the king of the Vilkinamen is your uncle, and the king of the Rus is another. I am the nephew of King Erminrek of Rome and a kinsman of King Thidrek of Bern. Why should I serve King Attila? Please come home with me and as I love you, so let God love me.”
She answered: “Now that I know your will for certain, you shall direct me and my will. I was four years old when I first saw you, and I loved you immediately more than anything else in the world, and I wish to go with you wherever you wish.”
Valtari answered: “If it is as you say, then come to the outermost castle gate in the morning when the sun is rising, and bring as much gold with you as you can carry in both hands, because you watch over the treasure chests of Queen Erka, your kinswoman.
She said that she would do so and King Attila did not become aware of their talk before Valtari had ridden out of Susa with Hildigunn. They had now much money in gold, and the two rode out of the castle gate alone since no one was such a good friend to them that they dared tell him of their trip.
King Attila became aware that Valtari and Hildigunn had ridden away. He bade his men ride after them, “and you will have the money they have taken away and the head of Valtari as well.”
One of these men was Hogni, the son of King Aldrian, and all twelve knights rode quickly with him after them, and now each group saw the other riding. Valtari sprang from his horse with great courtesy and valor and took his lady Hildigunn down along with their treasures. Then he sprang onto his horse and put his helmet on his head and positioned his spear.
Hildigunn spoke to her true lord: “Sir, it grieves me that you are going to fight against twelve knights. Rather ride away and save your life.”
“Lady,” he said, “do not cry. I have already seen split helmets, broken shields, torn byrnies, and men falling headless from their horses, and I have done all of that with my own hands, and this is no superior force to me.”
Now he rode to meet them. A great battle took place and night darkened before the battle was ended.
244. Valtari escapes with ilildigunn
Valtari was now badly wounded, but he had killed eleven knights. Hdgni had escaped into the forest. Valtari found his lady and set up camp in the forest. Valtari struck fire from a flint and made a large fire and on it he roasted a ham from a wild boar. They then ate and and did not stop until everything had been eaten from the bone. Hogni now came out of the forest toward the fire where Valtari was sitting. He drew his sword and intended to kill him.
Hildigunn spoke to Valtari: “Beware. Here comes one of our enemies with whom you fought today.”
He now took up the ham bone from which they had eaten and he cast it at Hogni and delivered such a mighty blow that he fell to the earth. He struck him on the cheek so that it was torn open and the eye sprang out. Hogni now stood up and ran to his horse and rode home to Susa and told King Attila about his expedition. Valtari now mounted up and rode south over the mountains to meet King Erminrek and told him all about his trip. Then they recovered King Attila’s friendship with gifts of money that King Erminrek sent King Attila.
Haymes translation