# How the Host Came Home Again explained — The Roots of the Mountains > Chapter companion for The Roots of the Mountains by William Morris. ## What happens The Host returns to Burgdale after a journey of fourteen days, passing through Rosedale where they are welcomed by Dallach. Dallach requests a score of men to stay and help him govern the newly freed folk, and forty young warriors remain. Some Rosedale folk join the Host to settle in Burgdale. The Host reaches the edge of the wilderness, meets messengers, and finally arrives home to a joyous reunion with families and lovers. The chapter ends with the evening feasts and the parting of Face-of-god and Sun-beam at their respective houses. ## Themes in this chapter ### Community and Kinship The Host is welcomed home with joy, and the bonds of family and friendship are celebrated through feasting, storytelling, and reunions. ### Love and Sacrifice The chapter emphasizes the joy of lovers reuniting, the sweetness of renewed delight, and the promise of happy life after the fear of death and sundering. ### New Beginning in Silverdale The settlement of Inglebourne and the integration of freed folk from Rosedale and Silverdale into Burgdale symbolize a fresh start and the building of new communities. ## Character check-ins ### Face-of-god Speaks with Dallach, grants his request for men to stay in Rosedale, and later parts with Sun-beam at the door of the House of the Face. ### Dallach Welcomes the Host in Rosedale, asks for a score of men to help govern the newly freed folk, and gives gifts to the departing Host. ### Sun-beam Returns with the Host and parts with Face-of-god at the door of the House of the Face, going to the House of the Steer. ### Stone-face Mentioned as Face-of-god's father, beside whom Face-of-god sits under the image of the God. ## Key lines > It was fourteen days before they came to Rosedale; for they had much baggage with them, and they had no mind to weary themselves, and the wood was nothing loathsome to them, whereas the weather was fair and bright for the more part. The journey to Rosedale took fourteen days because they carried heavy baggage and chose not to hurry, enjoying the fair weather and pleasant woods. _Describes the leisurely pace of the Host's return._ > But a score and three of runaways joined themselves to the Host, having watched their goings and wotting that they were not foemen. Twenty-three runaways, having observed the Host and recognized them as friends, joined the group. _Runaways attach themselves to the Host._ > Dallach spake with Face-of-god and the chiefs of the Dalesmen, and said: 'Ye have given me much from the time when ye found me in the wood a naked wastrel; yet now I would ask you a gift to lay on the top of all that ye have given me.' Dallach reminded Face-of-god and the chiefs how they had rescued him as a naked outcast, and then asked for an additional favor. _Dallach requests a gift from the Host._ > So two score and ten of the Burgdale men abode in Rosedale, no one of whom was of more than twenty and five winters. Fifty young Burgdale men, all under twenty-five years old, stayed behind in Rosedale. _Young warriors remain in Rosedale to help Dallach._ > For a half score were wedded in Rosedale before the year’s ending; and seven more, who had also taken to them wives of the goodliest of the Rosedale women, betook them the next spring to the Burg of the Runaways, and there built them a stead, and drew a garth about it, and dug and sowed the banks of the river, which they called Inglebourne. Ten of the men married Rosedale women within the year, and seven more, also married to Rosedale women, moved the following spring to the Burg of the Runaways, where they built a homestead and farmed along the river they named Inglebourne. _Describes the founding of Inglebourne._ > So now with good hearts the Host of Burgdale turned their faces toward their well-beloved Dale; and they made good diligence, so that in three days’ time they were come anigh the edge of the woodland wilderness. The Host eagerly headed home, traveling quickly to reach the edge of the woodland wilderness in three days. _The Host hastens homeward._ > But one of them, a man of the House of the Face, left the Host a little after nightfall, and bore back to Burgstead at once the tidings of the coming home of the Host. A man from the House of the Face slipped away after dark to bring news of the Host's imminent arrival to Burgstead. _A messenger is sent ahead to Burgstead._ > So these went their ways with many kind words; and two hours afterwards all the rest of the Host stood on the level ground of the Portway; but presently were the ranks of war disordered and broken up by the joy of the women and children, as they fell to drawing goodman or brother or lover out of the throng to the way that led speediest to their homesteads and halls. After the Shepherd-folk departed with kind farewells, the remaining Host reached the Portway, where women and children joyfully broke the military ranks to pull their men toward home. _The Host disperses as families reunite._ > For these new hours were full of the kissing and embracing of lovers, and the sweetness of renewed delight in beholding the fair bodies so sorely desired, and hearkening the soft wheedling of longed-for voices. The hours were filled with lovers kissing and embracing, delighting in seeing and hearing those they had missed. _Describes the joyful reunions._ > But Face-of-god and the Sun-beam parted at the door of the House of the Face; for needs must she go with her new folk to the House of the Steer, and needs must Face-of-god be amongst his own folk in that hour of high-tide, and sit beside his father beneath the image of the God with the ray-begirt head. Face-of-god and Sun-beam separated at the door of the House of the Face, she going to the House of the Steer with her new kin, and he joining his own folk to sit beside his father under the image of the ray-crowned God. _The couple parts for the evening's celebrations._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_roots_of_the_mountains_se/chapters/lvii-how-the-host-came-home-again - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_roots_of_the_mountains_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_roots_of_the_mountains_se/chapters