Summary of the Thidrekssaga

Dietrich told Hildebrand they would travel over the Mundia mountains397, and before them was a forest. Dietrich and Herrat remained in the forest, but Hildebrand rode on to a castle belonging to old earl Ludwig and his son Konrad. Then Hildebrand spotted a man that lived in the castle, and he asked him who ruled there, and the man told him it was earl Ludwig and his son Konrad. Then Hildebrand asked who ruled Bern. The man told him it was lord Alebrand, son of old Hildebrand.

Hildebrand laughed and asked: How good of a warrior is Alebrand? And what kind of man is he? The man replied that Alebrand was the best of all warriors, and he exceeds all in courtesy and generosity, but he is grim towards his enemies.

Hildebrand said: You're a good man. What more can you tell me? And the man replied that there was important and likely true news: Ermenrik was dead.

And Hildebrand and the man went to the castle, and Hildebrand asked the man to get jarl Konrad. Konrad wanted to know what a foreign man with a broad white beard wanted from him, and came out of the castle alone. Hildebrand asked him who he was, and he replied he was Konrad son of Ludwig, and Konrad asked who Hildebrand was. Hildebrand answered he was Hildebrand master of the WölfingenThis family name is new, it does not occur in 15. And Konrad told him he, too, was a Wölfing, and invited his kinsman into the castle to meet his father.

But Hildebrand said he couldn't come this time, but was there any news? Big news! Konrad replied, king Ermenrik of Rome is dead. And who now wears his crown, Hildebrand asked. Evil news, Konrad replied, it’s that traitor Sibich. But what news do you have? And Hildebrand told him jarl Elsung had been killed and king Dietrich was back in Amelungenland.

God be praised, Konrad replied. Alebrand has already sent messengers north into Hunnenland to tell Dietrich to come back to his realm. And Alebrand does not want to give up his castle to Sibich, nor any other place. The Amelungs prefer to die before allowing Sibich to rule Bern.

And Hildebrand said he had to return to the forest where Dietrich waited. But Konrad asked him to wait, because he wanted to tell his father what had happened.

Konrad went into the castle and told his father what had happened. And jarl Ludwig rose and went to Hildebrand with many men, and kissed him, and welcomed him as a kinsman. But where, he then asked, is king Dietrich? Hildebrand told him he was in the forest, and jarl Ludwig called for horses, and at that moment some men arrived with a cart full of honey and wine. Ludwig took the cart, added some of the best provisions, and went into the forest, where Dietrich had meanwhile made a fire.

Ludwig and Konrad fell on their knees before Dietrich, kissed his hands, hailed him as their lord, and told him they would help him in whatever he wanted to do. Then Dietrich took them by the hand and set them next to him, and they exchanged tidings. Ludwig invited Dietrich to his castle, but Dietrich told him he'd stay in the forest for a while, while Hildebrand rode to meet his son Alebrand. And while Hildebrand made himself ready they had a great feast, but Dietrich refused to go into the castle because he had sworn not to enter any house before his good castle at Bern.

Hildebrand and Konrad set out, and Konrad advised Hildebrand to tell Alebrand straight away who he was, because if he didn't Alebrand might kill him, he was that good of a warrior. And Hildebrand asked for a description of Alebrand. Konrad told him Alebrand had a white stallion, and the nails in his shoes were golden, and so were his horseshoes. His shield was white with a castle on it. And you are too old to stand up to him.

Hildebrand laughed and said that even though Alebrand might be too proud to compare himself to another man, it might still be that he wouldn't tell me his name before I tell him mine.