'
Therewith she stepped forward daintily and entered into their throng,
and took an old man of the Woodlanders by the hand, and kissed his
cheek and led him away, and the coming rest seemed sweet to him. And
then came other women of the Vale, kind and fair and smiling, and led
away, some an old mother of the Wood-landers, some a young wife, some
a pair of lads; and not a few forsooth kissed and embraced the stark
warriors, and went away with them toward the tents, which stood along
the side of the Shivering Flood where it was at its quietest; for
there was the grass the softest and most abundant. There on the
green grass were tables arrayed, and lamps were hung above them on
spears, to be litten when the daylight should fail. And the best of
the victual which the Vale could give was spread on the boards, along
with wine and dainties, bought in Silver-dale, or on the edges of the
Westland with sword-strokes and arrow-flight.
There then they feasted and were merry; and the Sun-beam and Bow-may
and the other women of the Vale served them at table, and were very
blithe with them, caressing them with soft words, and with clipping
and kissing, as folk who were grown exceeding dear to them; so that
that eve of battle was softer and sweeter to them than any hour of
their life.
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