Then
she spake in a weak voice:
'Thou seest, chieftain and dear friend, that I may not stand by thy
victorious side to-day. And now, though I were fain if thou wouldst
never leave me, yet needs must thou go about thy work, since thou art
become the Alderman of the Folk of Silver-dale. Yea, and even if
thou wert not to go from me, yet in a manner should I go from thee.
For I am grievously hurt, and I know by myself, and also the leeches
have told me, that the fever is a-coming on me; so that presently I
shall not know thee, but may deem thee to be a woman, or a hound, or
the very Wolf that is the image of the Father of thy kindred; or
even, it may be, someone else--that I have played with time agone.'
Her voice faltered and faded out here, and she was silent a while;
then she said:
'So depart, kind friend and dear love, bearing this word with thee,
that should I die, I call on Iron-face my kinsman to bear witness
that I bid thee carry me to bale in Silver-dale, and lay mine ashes
with the ashes of thy Fathers, with whom thine own shall mingle at
the last, since I have been of the warriors who have helped to bring
thee aback to the land of thy folk.
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