Seeing the aged monarch himself advance at the head of the troops, Hagen, who guards the door, loudly jeers at him, whereupon Kriemhild offers an immense reward to any one who will bring her his head.
_35th Adventure._ The first to try to earn this guerdon is a Dane, who not only succeeds in entering the hall but in effecting a retreat.
When, emboldened by this first success, he advances a second time with a new force, he is killed as well as his men.
_36th Adventure._ After a second brief rest, the Burgundians prepare to meet a new assault directed by Kriemhild, whose wrath now involves all her kinsmen, although at first she meditated the death of Hagen alone.

The murder of his child has incensed even Etzel, and the Huns plan a general massacre to avenge their slain.

Although the Burgundians offer to meet Etzel's forces in fair fight provided they can return home unmolested if victorious, Kriemhild urges her husband to refuse unless Hagen is delivered up to their tender mercies.
Deeming it dishonorable to forsake a companion, the Burgundians reject these terms, whereupon Kriemhild, whose fury has reached a frantic point, orders the hall set on fire.
Although the queen fancies the Burgundians will be roasted alive, the hall being built of stone offers them a place of refuge, and, as they quench in blood all the sparks that enter, they succeed in maintaining their position.
'Twas well for the Burgundians that vaulted was the roof; This was, in all their danger, the more to their behoof.
Only about the windows from fire they suffer'd sore.
Still, as their spirit impell'd them, themselves they bravely bore.
The intensity of the heat causes such thirst, however, that Hagen bids his companions quench that too in the blood of the slain.

Thus, six hundred Burgundians are found alive when a new Hungarian force bursts into the hall.
_37th Adventure._ Having failed in this third attempt, Kriemhild reminds Rudiger of his solemn oath, and bids him redeem his promise by slaying the Burgundians.

Although this nobleman pleads with the queen, offering instead to relinquish all he owns and leave her land a beggar, she insists upon his obedience to her commands.