This episode, however, was enough to show the Burgundians very plainly what they could expect, and Hagen and Volker soon joined their companions, keeping ever side by side, according to their agreement.
"Howe'er the rest were coupled, as mov'd to court the train, Folker and Hagen parted ne'er again, Save in one mortal struggle, e'en to their dying hour." _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.).
After banqueting with Etzel the guests were led to their appointed quarters, far remote from those of their squires; and when the Huns began to crowd them, Hagen again frightened them off with one of his black looks.
When the hall where they were to sleep was finally reached, the knights all lay down to rest except Hagen and Volker, who mounted guard, the latter beguiling the hours by playing on his fiddle.
Once, in the middle of the night, these self-appointed sentinels saw an armed troop draw near; but when they loudly challenged the foremost men, they beat a hasty retreat.

At dawn of day the knights arose to go to mass, wearing their arms by Hagen's advice, keeping well together, and presenting such a threatening aspect that Kriemhild's men dared not attack them.
In spite of all these signs, Etzel remained entirely ignorant of his wife's evil designs, and continued to treat the Burgundians like friends and kinsmen.
"How deep soe'er and deadly the hate she bore her kin, Still, had the truth by any disclos'd to Etzel been, He had at once prevented what afterwards befell.
Through proud contemptuous courage they scorn'd their wrongs to tell." _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.).
[Sidenote: Beginning of hostilities.] After mass a tournament was held, Dietrich and Ruediger virtuously abstaining from taking part in it, lest some mishap should occur through their bravery, and fan into flames the smoldering fire of discord.

In spite of all these precautions, however, the threatened disruption nearly occurred when Volker accidentally slew a Hun; and it was avoided only by King Etzel's prompt interference.
Kriemhild, hearing of this accident, vainly tried to use it as an excuse to bribe Dietrich, or his man Hildebrand, to slay her foe.

She finally won over Bloedelin, the king's brother, by promising him a fair bride.

To earn this reward the prince went with an armed host to the hall where all the Burgundian squires were feasting under Dankwart's care, and there treacherously slew them all, Dankwart alone escaping to the king's hall to join his brother Hagen.
In the mean while Etzel was entertaining his mailed guests, and had sent for his little son, whom he placed in Gunther's lap, telling him that he would soon send the boy to Burgundy to be educated among his mother's kin.
All admired the graceful child except Hagen, who gruffly remarked that the child appeared more likely to die early than to live to grow up.