'
So at last those twain went up the sun-bright Hall hand in hand in
all their loveliness, and up on to the dais, and stood together by
the middle seat; and the tumult of the joy of the kindred was hushed
for a while as they saw that there was speech in the mouth of the
War-leader.
Then he spread his hands abroad before them all and cried out: 'How
then have I kept mine oath, whereas I swore on the Holy Boar to wed
the fairest woman of the world?'
A mighty shout went rattling about the timbers of the roof in answer
to his word; and they that looked up to the gable of the Hall said
that they saw the ray-ringed image of the God smile with joy over the
gathered folk.
But spake Iron-face unheard amidst the clamour of the Hall: 'How
fares it now with my darling and my daughter, who dwelleth amongst
strangers in the land beyond the wild-wood?'
CHAPTER LIX. THE BEHEST OF FACE-OF-GOD TO THE BRIDE ACCOMPLISHED: A
MOTE-STEAD APPOINTED FOR THE THREE FOLKS, TO WIT, THE MEN OF
BURGDALE, THE SHEPHERDS, AND THE CHILDREN OF THE WOLF
Three years and two months thereafter, three hours after noon in the
days of early autumn, came a wain tilted over with precious webs of
cloth, and drawn by eight white oxen, into the Market-place of
Silver-stead: two score and ten of spearmen of the tallest, clad in
goodly war-gear, went beside it, and much people of Silver-dale
thronged about them.
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