The suitors, dismayed at this declaration, reluctantly withdrew, even though they were all valiant men.

In those days Hettel (who corresponds to Hedin in the Edda story) was king of northern Germany and of the Hegelings.

He too heard marvelous accounts of Hilde's beauty, and, as he was still unmarried, longed to secure her as wife.

But knowing that Hagen, in his anger, was likely to slay any ambassador who came to his court with a proposal of marriage, Hettel vowed that he would rather forego the alliance than run the risk of losing any of his tried friends and faithful servants.
"Then said the royal Hetel: 'The people all relate That whosoe'er will woo her incurs her father's hate, And for the maid has perished full many a noble knight; My friends shall never suffer for me such woeful plight.'" _Gudrun_ (Dippold's tr.).
[Sidenote: Strategy of Hettel's followers.] His faithful followers, Wat, Horant, and Frute, perceiving that his heart was set upon the maiden, finally volunteered to go and get her, saying that they could easily bear her away by stratagem, although they did not dare to ask for her openly.

So they loaded their vessel with merchandise, hid their weapons, so that they should be taken for the traders they professed to be, and sailed boldly into Hagen's port, where, spreading out their wares, they invited all the people to buy.
Attracted by the extraordinary bargains they offered, the people came in crowds, and soon all the inhabitants of Balian were busy talking about the strange peddlers and praising their wares.