Disclaimer: Refer back to Chapter 1.

A/N: The song featured below is the song "Come What May" by Air Supply. 80s Song.

WARNING: OOC, LANGUAGE, FLUFF, WAFF, SUGGESTIVE THEMES

Chapter 10: Both Ends of the Spectrum

"Well, here we are Gale." she said to him as she looked at his profile.

He said nothing and just nodded.

She shook her head as she continued to smile, closing her eyes, "Come on…Let's get something to drink. My throat's parched and God knows I need it…"

"God…knows it?" he repeated.

She chuckled, "Oh Gale! Don't take everything in its literal meaning! Silly man!" she said playfully as they walked towards an empty table.

As they sat on their respective chairs and had ordered their drinks, she smiled at him, "So…um, did you enjoy your leave?"

He shrugged his shoulders, "It was satisfactory."

Uh huh.

Satisfactory. There was that word again.

She frowned at him, "Gale. What kind of a word is that? Satisfactory? I'm sure that there's something else!"

She saw the flash of confusion within his eyes but it was fleeting…and was replaced with…understanding? At that, surprise and disbelief engulfed her. Gale…understood what it was she was saying?

After a moment's deliberation, Gale slumped back on his chair and replied, "It was…boring."

At that, Argilla giggled, "Thought so! You just miss me!"

As the words left her lips, she wished that it didn't…Damn! Where had that come from!? Now he would feel…awkward! She would scare him away! Again!

"Erm, yea! After all, who would show you around right!? And we both know that you couldn't find fun places even if neon signs flashed and arrows pointed at them!" she said, laughing and concealing her bungling.

But…

Gale wasn't stupid.

He was dense when it came to emotions and the definition of the word "fun", but he could tell when a person was hiding something…

He was after all, the ever skeptic.

But still…

He was glad. She had said those words…And they were, magical to him. He blinked, 'Magical…? Such nonsense.'

Well, whatever it was, it was pleasant to him. It made him feel nice.

'See? Told you so! She cares about us!'

'…Maybe…' he half-concurred.

Wanting to dispel the aloofness, Argilla took a sip of her drink that she didn't even notice arrive before setting the glass back down, "Come on Gale. Let's hit the dance floor! It's nearly empty!" she said excitedly, holding out a hand for him to take.

This time though…

He took it without hesitation…

As she led him to the dance floor, he had anticipated his heart to pound…or his blood to pulse wildly through his nerves…He had expected cold sweat to trickle down his back and his eyes to dilate in sheer apprehension…

He was wildly surprised to find none of those had occurred.

He was calm…

And then, as he looked at their intertwined hands, he knew the reason why. She calmed him, didn't she? He could feel warmth seeping from her tiny hand…traveling over to his, filling his whole body with it.

Yes…He realized it then. It had been her. She made him feel…at ease. Because of her, he felt no fear…No, with her, he didn't fear the unknown.

A moment later, he found himself in the middle of the dance floor, face to face with his pink-haired angel.

Angel…

His heart stopped at that; at the memory…

"Gale? What's wrong?" asked Argilla, touching his shoulder.

He shook his head, tucking that particular memory deep in his head…What memory?

'It's a long time ago. No need for that.' he thought dismissively.

He looked at her meaningfully, "It's nothing."

She nodded, "Okay then!"

The place that she had brought him to was the same place that she believed he liked; it was the quiet bar without the rowdy music and people. And so, as the slow music began to play…the two assumed their respective positions…

She was impressed though as he remembered what she had taught him. His large and masculine hands were on her hips…only for his arms to snake around her tiny waist…Her hands reached his shoulders and wrapped themselves around his neck, bringing their bodies closer together.

"You learn quick." she told him truthfully, clearly appreciating the change in him.

Yes. She was glad. She was glad that he was changing. She could see it in his eyes. No longer confused and lost, she knew for certain that he was indeed having fun. He was appreciating what he was doing and wasn't treating it with skepticism or ignorant curiosity.

Now, it was as if, he knew exactly what to do…and what to feel.

"I learn from the best." he replied.

She almost fainted from that. Was that…a joke? A comeback from her punch line…? Well, Gale was supposed to be brilliant. She supposed that she shouldn't feel surprised.

He adapted quickly, didn't he?

Where did that come from? Even he didn't know. But it just flew from his mouth…

Again, silence reigned supreme.

Gale was calm, yes…but now, as their bodies pressed themselves together, it was then that his body had crumbled…and had succumbed. His heart was racing now…But not out of fear…or anxiety…

It was pounding out of excitement…

Slowly, the lights dimmed and the music played…The words flowed…

"When she looks at me
I know the girl sees things
Nobody else can see…"

His eyes were on hers now…never breaking that silent bond that he knew that they felt only for one another. He wondered…did she feel it too?

Did she feel that faint yet insistent tug of the heart…? Of the soul?

"All of the secret fears inside
And all the craziness I hide
She looks into my soul
And reads me like nobody can."

His heart leapt at that…This song…

It was as if it had taken a peek at his hidden self and had exposed it to the world…for all of those fools who would listen. And now, as he heard the painfully truthful words from the song, he wondered. Did she read between the lines as well…? The way he did?

Did she, too, feel the similarities…?

"And she doesn't judge the man
She just takes me as I am…"

As she pulled him to her, resting her head on his chest…hearing her sigh that slow and ecstatic sigh…his heart was put to rest.

She knew…didn't she?

He smiled then as he felt himself being drawn to her. Reciprocating her earlier actions, his head bent down and rested atop of hers…inhaling softly the sweet frangrance that hung about the chilly air; the sweet frangrance that was her…

"Come what may, she believes
And that faith is something
I've never known before
Come what may, she loves me
And that love has helped me open a door
Making me love myself a little more."

He felt her cling to him tightly…and he felt himself doing the same. This was…this was the most envigorating feeling that he had thus far experienced…

And it was all because of her.

At that, his lips slowly tugged upwards…for a small smile.

'Argilla…'

xxxxx

The night had grown late; too late, and the two soldiers headed for the barrack. Argilla smiled, all worries about her lover, dissipating into the chilly air.

She had had a wondrous time with Gale.

There were no words of apology that were needed, they both deemed. No. No words about their previous squabble had left their lips. There was no need to. They had a difference in opinions…and the event had been exaggerated. But that was done and over it.

There wasn't a need to apologize and overly dramatize the whole thing. The most important thing was that she had forgotten about it and he had as well.

And now, they were walking towards her room…

Gale had offered that he walk her there…now that Heat was unavailable. She had accepted of course.

"Well, here's my stop!" she said cheerfully, "I had a lot of fun Gale!" she said.

He nodded, "Me too…"

Her smile widened at that and she giggled, "I'm glad. It put my mind off the guys for a while…" she said, her smile now containing rue.

He nodded, "Aa…"

The woman then shook herself and removed the ill feeling that she was once more beginning to have and spoke, "We should do it again some other time, huh?"

"Indeed." he replied nonchalantly.

Argilla was glad. He might have changed…but there were always the tiny details that would remain the same.

"Goodnight Gale!" she said. Before he could reply, she had pulled his arm and kissed his cheek.

At that, as she pulled away and as their eyes now met, his face held nothing but curiosity. She blushed mildly, "Erm…Goodnight."

A moment later, he was alone in the hallway.

"Goodnight…"

xxxxx

"Heat…!!" she squealed as she ran to him. He had returned…They had returned. She ran to him as she fast as she could…And as she reached him, she pounced on him. He smirked at her as he held her, "Missed me?" he asked, nipping at her ear.

She giggled and shivered in delight as she found her body growing hot as they touched. It had been too long…

Too long…

Gale watched them from afar from the corner of his eyes…

That hurt.

He frowned at that, 'This feeling is…getting rather irritating.' he thought blankly.

He had felt…pleasant the previous days.

She and he had mended their broken bond and had resumed their "fun" activities. He was…glad.

But then, he had returned.

He, once more, had her undivided attention. And that had left Gale out in the cold. Again.

"Gale, I'll give you the status reports." came Serph's statement.

He blinked. What? Damn! Right…the status report.

'I am…being distracted…' he thought disdainfully.

It won't happen again.

He eliminated his thoughts about Argilla and nodded at Serph, following him as he walked out of the scene.

xxxxx

"You should have seen it…!" Heat said as he laughed.

The Embryon elite team was in the mess hall, having their dinner. The mission had been a success and Azazel was no more.

That would put a halt in the Brutes advancement…For now.

Again, the balance of power would tilt towards Embryon once more.

"Shut up mon!" yelled a blushing Cielo.

Argilla was giggling unsurely. She didn't know what they were getting at but just looking from Heat's laughing countenance, to Serph's chuckling face to Cielo's embarrassed state…she knew that whatever it was that they wanted to talk about was something…hilarious.

"The idiot almost had his ass kicked at the first round…!" Heat said as he continued to laugh.

At that, Argilla laughed. Yes well…it could be funny…Cielo wasn't much of a fighter…Not really. And most especially not when it came to single-handedly warding off a member of the Brutes.

"Hey mon! He just lunged at me!" defended a red-faced Cielo, pointing at Heat, with his eyebrows furrowed.

Serph coughed, "Erm…the match had already begun Cielo…He was supposed to do that."

Heat snorted and crossed his arms, "What did you expect dumb shit? That he was just going to stand there and let you hit him?"

Cielo sat back down and grumbled, "It was a plan you know!? Until you ruined it by yelling! Stupid clod!" he huffed haughtily as he crossed his arms, turning away.

At that, the table laughed once more.

Cielo could be such a child…

Cielo then turned back and glared at Heat again, "And I think dat he was beginning to warm up to me too!"

Gale sat there, not saying anything. Sometimes, he could just wonder as to how Cielo had graduated from the academy…

"I'd just pester him and dodge his attacks until he gave up ja?!" he suddenly said excitedly, his sapphire eyes blazing and twinkling innocently.

At that, Heat and Serph almost choked on their food. Cielo was…really serious about that…? Oh boy.

Gale shook his head. Whereas before he was wondering how Cielo passed, now, he knew how.

'He'd just pester and annoy the dean and the instructors and dodge their attacks until they gave up and have him pass…'

"Shaddap about dat ja!?" Cielo said playfully, "Besides, you guys didn't even tell Gale and Argilla who won de tournament." he grinned pompously.

Argilla and Gale raised their eyebrows. Just what was Cielo getting at…?

Argilla blinked as Heat and Serph suddenly felt uncomfortable.

Gale's eyes widened for but a moment before settling back down. He couldn't believe it. But still…

He said nothing.

Argilla turned to Heat, "Heat? Who won the tournament?"

Heat turned away from her and coughed, "Oh…erm…aa…about that…"

"Serph?" she asked, turning to her leader who merely shrugged his shoulders.

Now her curiosity had peaked. She turned to Cielo and saw the content look on his face. There he was sitting straight, his eyes closed with his arms crossed, his lips on a grin.

At that, Argilla could have sworn that her heart had stopped.

'Oh my god…'

"You won the tournament?!" she yelled in pure incredulity.

"Yyyyeeep." came the young man's proud response, looking at her smugly.

Her eye twitched as she turned from Cielo to look at Heat, "Heat. Tell me it's not true." she instructed him, grabbing onto his cape.

He shrugged his shoulders and coughed, saying nothing.

She blinked and turned to Serph, "Serph…?"

He merely smiled cheekily at her, "He won the tournament."

Argilla wanted to laugh. And she did.

Cielo pouted, "Hey!! You're so mean!!"

Wiping a tear from her endless laughing as she controlled herself, she forced herself to calm down, "I'm sorry Cielo…"

At that, Heat snorted, "Yea. It's just stupid to believe right away if someone had said that you actually won the tournament."

Cielo glared at the redhead, "I won de tournament brudda! Get…over it!" he seethed, feigning anger.

Gale smirked within but he just nonetheless shook his head. There they were again…with their bickering…

'Just like children…' he thought knowingly.

But still, he was proud that Cielo had won. He couldn't believe it. But still, facts were facts. Cielo's otherwise ludicrous and lugubrious statement had been corroborated not just by one but by two witnesses, both of which were of high credibility.

His thoughts about Cielo were shattered as he heard a squeal. He moved not but from the corner of his eyes, he saw that Heat and Argilla had started to…fool around.

He narrowed his eyes but nonetheless, remained calm.

But from where he sat, which was at the head of the rectangular table that they occupied, he could clearly see the both of them…and much to his chagrin, what they were doing.

Heat had his arm around her waist and was whispering to her.

He frowned at that. He didn't want to see it anymore. He knew that he shouldn't feel that way to begin with…but he just did.

Before, he had believed that what they did together was warranted since she and Heat were most probably having problems…But now…as he saw her completely happy with the redhead, he knew that his earlier belief had been shattered and was no longer true.

And so, his feelings…his jealous feeling was completely…unjustified and completely inappropriate. But nonetheless, he still felt it.

Seeing his plate empty, he stood. That had earned him curious looks from his teammates…and a look of triumph from Heat. He frowned further; so, Heat knew eh?

He looked at each of them before speaking, "I'm done with dinner. I believe that I'll retire for the night."

"Okay brudda. Goodnight!" said Cielo.

"Pleasant evening Gale." said Serph.

"See ya old man." said Heat, smirking, much to his vexation.

"Bye Gale!" waved Argilla.

He felt a pang of pain at that. There he was…half-expecting for her to stop him…

But she didn't.

But why would she anyway?

Heat was there…

xxxxx

"So, did the old man hump you?" Heat asked casually, as they prepared for the night.

She stopped buttoning her pajama top and frowned at him, "Honestly Heat, I don't know where you get your dumb ideas. Gale isn't like that! He's a real gentleman!"

Heat snorted at that and climbed onto the bed, "Yea, yea. Whatever. All I'm saying is that he's not as innocent as he looks Argilla."

She snorted but said nothing, ignoring him as she got into bed as well.

The two sat up and Heat looked at her, "He's a man too. Don't forget that."

She ignored him and lay down, "Heat, I don't know what you're talking about. Gale's a friend. Nothing more."

He grumbled at that and she spoke, "What?"

"Nothing."

She sighed, "It's not nothing. Just tell me."

He lay down beside her and turned away, "I didn't say anything. Goodnight."

She blinked; what? That was it? Not even a goodnight kiss? She smirked; aww…He was still jealous!

She giggled and scooted over to him, embracing him from behind and whispered, "If you want, why don't we go on a double-date with him hm?"

Heat's eyes flashed at that although she couldn't see it. A double-date…? With the old man…? Hm…

'Yea, fix him up with some whore so he'd lay off my woman!' he thought within.

Right.

That wasn't a bad idea! Not at all!

At that, he turned around and met her eyes, "Yea. Why not?"

She knew that he wouldn't be able to resist. She pecked him on the lips and moved away when he held her still…

He deepened their kiss…

She moaned into his mouth. And she thought that they would just end up either talking or sleeping all night!

xxxxx

"A what?" he asked.

Argilla held her hands behind her back as she bit her lip, "You know, a double-date."

He blinked and she sweat-dropped, "Erm, instead of just being you and me, we'll include other people so that it'll be more fun!"

'Other people…Fun…?' he asked, repeating her words in his mind. In his head, none of what she had said to him so far made sense. Nothing made sense.

Why did she have to do that? Wasn't she having enough fun with him? Why did it have to include other people?

"Come on Gale! It wouldn't be too bad!" she said, urging him to consider.

He frowned internally. What choice did he have…?

'What choice is there? There is but one path and it had already been chosen.' he thought dryly, vexingly.

"Please Gale?" she begged playfully, tilting her head to the side, her eyes widening and her lips protruding.

He wanted to smile at that. She was just…irresistible.

"Alright."

There, he had finally conceded.

"Great!" she exclaimed, "Meet us at the park at 1800 hours tonight!"

He blinked, "Argilla…I don't…"

She shook her head, "Don't worry about it Gale. We're going to our favorite bar! It wouldn't be noisy!"

"That's not what I meant." he responded evenly; his eyes on her.

She looked at him for a second before understanding, "Oh! Don't worry about that either! Heat is bringing someone for you to meet! Don't worry! You'll like her!"

He frowned internally. He doubted that very much.

xxxxx

"Gale, this is Brunhild."

xxxxx

"I can't believe you did that Heat!" she growled as she crossed her arms, wriggling from his seductive touches.

"What?" he purred innocently as he tried to kiss her in vain.

She put her hand on his face and pulled away, "You know what I mean Heat! You…you…!" she stammered as she found herself paralyzed with rage.

He chuckled, "I what? I didn't do anything!" he openly protested, still trying to get a hold of her seemingly slippery body.

Argilla ducked and swayed out his hands' way and took a step back in order to put distance in between them, "Why the heck did you bring that she-oaf!? Forget that! Where the heck did you catch that she-oaf!?" she asked angrily.

Heat stopped trying to catch her and straightened up, "Hey! That's totally unfair to Brunhild!"

"Brunhild?!" she screeched, "That thing has a name?!" she asked as she remembered Gale's so-called date.

She was a very tall woman. A head taller than Heat. She had large blue eyes with matching hair color…She had fair skin with a very robust and large-boned body. Argilla gulped at that. Brunhild had muscles upon muscles and at that, she couldn't help but wonder about the men that she had taken into her bed.

Argilla tugged at her collar at that thought, imagining what it would be like if Gale had gone home with the woman.

Brunhild had the voice that could stop a rampaging heard of wildebeest.

She shuddered as she remembered the large woman's deep and masculine voice.

'Oh my God…Eww…'

"Of course she has a name dumb woman! Didn't you hear me when I introduced you two to her!?" retorted the redhead.

Argilla rolled her eyes, "Come on Heat! You know what I mean! Why did you do that!?"

Heat laughed humorlessly, "For Christ's sake! You wanted a double-date, so I found a damn date for the old goat! Who the fuck cares!?"

Argilla narrowed her eyes angrily at him, "When I said for you to look for a date for Gale I meant for you to find a suitable woman…with grace and eloquence! Not a reject from the zoo!"

"Why the fuck is it so important to you about what happens to Gale? Hey, he's the one who wants to know about dating right? Well, there are some bad and good choices!" he said, raising his voice, annoyed at her, "Why are you so concerned anyway!? What the fuck do you care!?"

At that, Argilla snapped.

"Gale…is my friend Heat. He's someone to me. He isn't some nobody whom you can just abuse and discard."

At that, she left the bedroom, not caring if she was clad in nothing but her sleeping gown. She didn't care that he had shouted after her, asking her to halt.

'Screw him…'

xxxxx

Gale sighed as he got ready for retirement. That…had been the most terrible experience of his life. And he was in the military for Christ's sake!

He shook his head.

He hissed though as he felt stinging pain on his face; more specifically, on his right eye. Right…

That thing…still had to go away.

That woman and he…They just couldn't work together. Nope.

'She's too much for me to handle.' he thought with a slight shiver as he remembered how the date went.

Even though it went…sour, there was one thing that kept his spirit alive. Her. Even if they hadn't been "together", he could still feel her supporting and encouraging him from afar.

To him, that was compensation enough.

It was enough to make up for the nightmarish experience that was his date.

He shuddered a bit though as his mind recalled the events.

Flashback

He blinked and then blinked again. He appraised the tall and robust woman in front of him. She was his date for tonight. His date. The woman that he was to be with and accompany for the rest of the night.

This…person.

He blinked again.

"Well come on. Let's get to our table."

That was Heat. Gale stole a glance at him and saw that he looked quite content while Argilla…She looked…disappointed?

And then, he noticed a hint of a smile on her lips…A sad smile.

She was sad for him, wasn't she?

Granted, he really couldn't tell what she was feeling but…to him, it seemed that way. And at that thought, he internally smiled.

"Shall we go?"

At that, he snapped awake. He was met with blue eyes. He nodded, "We shall."

He tried his best to tug his lips upwards for a…a smile, but he just couldn't do it. His facial muscles only tightened thus resulting in a grotesque and pathetic attempt at a smile.

End Flashback

That was the most mortifying and most challenging position that he had been in…in his whole career.

He had always prided himself as a man who never underestimated a person by his or her physical appearance.

And he didn't.

Brundhild wasn't a woman whom he would consider…inadequate. There was nothing that she lacked to be considered to be a woman. She had the anatomic makeup of a female…Right from her chest…to the lack thereof of a man's Adam's apple.

Yes. She was a woman; both in his eyes and everyone else's.

But that wasn't the real question.

The question was…

Did Brunhild make him…feel the way his pink-haired comrade did?

And the answer…was no.

Gale sat on the bed and stared blankly at what lay in front of him. Nothing but mundane furniture…drab and dull, decorated his room.

Much to his dislike, he could feel himself beginning to feel irritated at what he saw. A dull scenario. A dull room.

He blinked; had his room always looked this…unimaginative…?

He shook his head. Of course not! He was just having funny thoughts…! At the thought of funny thoughts though, he saw once more, a pair of blazing blue eyes. Again, he shuddered.

Flashback

His salvation came when they had reached their table…

Aa…

He had always been the gentleman of the group…and so, sticking to his routine, he reached for the backrest of Brunhild's chair and pulled it for her. She looked at him with a frown, "Vat are you doing?" she asked with a raised eyebrow, her low and masculine voice sending shivers down his spine.

He didn't want to be rude but damn it, that voice was just disturbing to listen to!

He looked at her square in the face, "I am merely pulling the chair for you Brunhild…"

"I do not need help." she responded, "I am perfectly capable."

At that…he slowly backed off.

End Flashback

He sighed at that. And that wasn't really the end of it. Oh no. That was just the beginning of his nightmare…

Flashback

Right after their drinks had been served, he had been surprised and a bit shocked to know that Brunhild had ordered the strongest libations available.

'She's…so different from Argilla…' he thought as she drank the glass' contents in one gulp.

But still, he couldn't help but admire Brunhild's fine liver.

A few moments later, Heat broke the silence, "You know Gale," he began as he wrapped an arm around Argilla's shoulder, grinning at him smugly, "Brunhild is an active member of RSU."

RSU.

The Revolutionary Soldiers Unit.

Huh.

'An activist…' Gale thought dryly. Just perfect.

Heat had really done his homework about him, hadn't he?

Great. It was just what he needed. He had always been of the conservative party…and he had spent his career administering such ideals…But with this…with this woman in front of him, he knew that this date was going to be anything but pleasant and quaint.

He had expected it to be a bit rough on the side…But now, there had been an addendum. It would be political. He groaned internally at that.

The hulky woman turned to him, "Ja. I am. You are in charge of Muladhara's protocols for the troops."

"Yes I am." he replied casually.

"Then vhy don't you legalize the use of steroids for training and actual combat?" she asked.

"…"

What was he to say? He knew what would be the outcome. This would be…a disaster.

End Flashback

And it had been. He had been forced to defend the conservative point of view…And that was when it had happened.

Heat had asked Argilla for a dance.

What the hell was he supposed to do then!?

Well…he did the only thing that he could do.

Flashback

"Heat and Argilla had already started dancing. Do you want to dance?" he asked her, hoping against hope to relieve themselves of the terrible aloofness that had thus far pervaded their quaint little table.

She snorted at him and crossed her arms, "If you think that you can vin me vith that ploy and from a conservative, then you can forget it."

He resisted the strong urge to roll his eyes at that.

So, he continued to sit there, his eyes darting everywhere and nowhere…

Until…

His eyes landed on his date's shirt.

Upon her chest.

Was that…was that a large splotch of pasta sauce on her…?

'H-how…disgraceful…' he thought disgustedly.

Sure, it was normal to have stains every now and then…but the thing was…

'We didn't order spaghetti…' he thought.

Nope.

They didn't.

'How long…has that been there?'

"Vat the hell are you looking at!?" thundered a harsh masculine voice that he knew could only originate from Brunhild.

He looked up and wished he didn't.

He didn't have the time to react as, as soon he had moved his face did a big, strong and bony fist meet with his right eye.

End Flashback

And that was how the evening had concluded. Right after that, he found himself being helped up to be on his feet by Heat and Argilla.

Brunhild had promised not to press charges against him under the grounds of sexual harassment…

He scoffed at that.

"Sexual harassment indeed…" he trailed off, "If anything, I should press charges for assault…" he grumbled to himself.

Who the hell in their right mind would peep on her anyhow!?

'Only an insane person or an individual with a death wish would…' he thought with a shiver.

He straightened up suddenly as he heard loud knocks on his door.

Who…could that be?

He stood and walked over to it as the knocking refused to cease. He opened it, ready for a laundry list of curses for the person on the other side when he suddenly froze.

There, in front of him, dressed in only a semi-transparent white gown was his pink-haired object of affection.

"Argilla…" he trailed off dreamily, still marveling at her sight…and ascertaining whether or not the visage before him was real or not…

"Gale…" she responded with a warm smile on her face.

xxxxx

A/N:

Brunhild: The name of a Valkyrie; a famous one who was noted for her forbidden love for her einherjar, Siegfried. Brunhild was the name of a beautiful and fallen Valkyrie.

Another adaptation of this character was seen in Nibelungenlied where Brunhild is a queen who swore to marry any man who would defeat her in combat. Siegfried managed to do this but he fought and won her for someone else.