Her eyes shone bright and eager, and the pommels of her cheeks
were flushed and red contrary to their wont. Needs must Gold-mane
sit by her, and when he came close to her he knew not what to do, but
he put forth his hand to her, yet with a troubled countenance; for he
feared her grief mingled with her beauty: as for her, she wavered in
her mind whether she should forbear to touch him or not; but she saw
that men about were looking at them, and especially was Iron-face
looking on her: therefore she stood up and took Gold-mane's hand and
kissed his face as she had been wont to do, and by then was her face
as white as paper; and her anguish pierced his heart, so that he
well-nigh groaned for grief of her. But Iron-face looked on her and
said kindly:
'Kinswoman, thou art pale; thou hast feared for thy mate amidst all
these tidings of war, and still fearest for him. But pluck up a
heart; for the man is a deft warrior for all his fair face, which
thou lovest as a woman should, and his hands may yet save his head.
And if he be slain, yet are there other men of the kindred, and the
earth will not be a desert to thee even then.
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