midnight
Brunhilda was a woman of superb stature . She stood alone upon the dais which supported the vacant throne , one hand resting upon its carven arm . A cloak of imperial ermine fell gracefully from her shapely shoulders and her slightly-elevated position on the platform added height to her goddess-like tallness , giving her the appearance of towering above every other person in the room , man or woman . The excessive pallor of her complexion was emphasised by the raven blackness of her wealth of hair , and the sombre midnight of her eyes ; eyes with slumbering fire in them , qualified by a haunted look which veiled their burning intensity . Her brow was too broad and her chin too firm for a painter 's ideal of beauty ; her commanding presence giving the effect of majesty rather than of loveliness . Deep lines of care marred the marble of her forehead , and Wilhelm said to himself : `` Here is a woman going to her doom ; knowing it ; yet determined to show no sign of fear and utter no cry for mercy . '' Every other woman there had eyes of varying shades of blue and gray , and hair ranging from brown to golden yellow ; thus the Empress stood before them like a creature from another world .