But at last she said:
'Yet after all this shalt thou lead me back to my folk straight-way;
and when the battle is done, if both we are living, then shall we
speak more thereof.'
So he took her hand and led her on toward the tents of the Steer, and
for a while he spake nought; for he doubted himself, what he should
say; but at last he spake:
'Now is this better for me than if it had not been, whether I live or
whether I die. Yet thou hast not said that thou lovest me and
desirest me.'
'Wilt thou compel me?' she said. 'To-night I may not say it. Who
shall say what words my lips shall fashion when we stand together
victorious in Silver-dale; then indeed may the time seem long from
now.'
He said: 'Yea, true is that; yet once again I say that so measured
long and long is the time since first I saw thee in Burgdale before
thou knewest me. Yet now I will not bicker with thee, for be sure
that I am glad at heart. And lo you! our feet have brought us to the
tents of thy people. All good go with thee!'
'And with thee, sweet friend,' she said. Then she lingered a little,
turning her head toward the tents, and then turned her face toward
him and laid her hand on his neck, and drew his head adown to her and
kissed his cheek, and therewith swiftly and lightly departed from
him.
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