The Roots of the Mountains · Chapter
Of the Hosting in Shadowy Vale explained
The Woodlanders arrive in Shadowy Vale to join the Hosting, bringing their families and goods.
What happens
The Woodlanders arrive in Shadowy Vale to join the Hosting, bringing their families and goods. They are warmly welcomed by Folk-might, Face-of-god, and Sun-beam, who affirm the unity of the folk. A feast is held, and later Folk-might meets the Bride at Staff-stone, where he speaks of his love for her. The chapter ends with the leaders taking counsel for the coming battle.
Themes in this chapter
Community and Kinship
The Woodlanders bring their families and goods, and are welcomed as one folk with the Wolf, emphasizing unity and mutual trust.
Love and Sacrifice
Folk-might's declaration of love to the Bride on the eve of battle highlights the intertwining of personal desire with the looming sacrifice of war.
War and Liberation
The hosting is explicitly for a journey to 'take to us that which we have missed,' and the presence of delivered thralls underscores the theme of liberation through conflict.
Characters to notice
- Folk-might
Leads the welcome of the Woodlanders, speaks of unity, and later meets the Bride at Staff-stone to declare his love.
- Face-of-god
Stands with Sun-beam during the welcome of the Woodlanders, present at the feast and council.
- Sun-beam
Welcomes the Woodlanders with kindness, leads them to the tents, and serves at the feast.
- The Bride
Serves her kindred at the feast, is admired for her beauty, and later meets Folk-might at Staff-stone.
- Red-wolf
Speaks for the Woodlanders, affirming their unity with the Wolf, and joins the council.
- Bow-may
Serves the Woodlanders at the feast alongside Sun-beam and other women of the Vale.
Key passages
“It was on the evening of the fourth day after the Folk-mote that there came through the Waste to the rocky edge of Shadowy Vale a band of some fifteen score of men-at-arms, and with them a multitude of women and children and old men...”
Four days after the Folk-mote, a large group of about three hundred warriors, along with many women, children, and elderly, arrived at Shadowy Vale from the Waste.
Describes the arrival of the Woodlanders for the hosting.
“Then Folk-might cried aloud: 'A full and free greeting to our brothers! Well be ye, O Sons of our Ancient Fathers! And today are ye the dearer to us because we see that ye have brought us a gift, to wit, your wives and children, and your grandsires unmeet for war.'”
Folk-might welcomed the Woodlanders warmly, noting that bringing their families showed great trust and a commitment to never be separated again.
Folk-might's speech emphasizes unity and trust.
“The Bride was with her kindred of the Steer, with whom were many men of Shadowy Vale, and she served her friends and fellows clad in her war-gear, save helm and hauberk, bearing herself as one who is serving dear guests.”
The Bride, dressed in armor but without helmet or mail, served her kin and allies, acting as a gracious hostess.
Shows the Bride's role and appearance during the feast.
“He said: 'My talk shall not be long; for thou and I both must sleep tonight, since there is work to hand tomorrow. Now since, as thou sayest, O fairest of women, we may never meet again alive, I ask thee now at this hour, when we both live and are near to one another, to suffer me to speak to thee of my love of thee and desire for thee.'”
Folk-might tells the Bride that their conversation must be brief because of the coming battle, and asks to speak of his love for her, knowing they may not survive.
Folk-might's declaration of love on the eve of battle.
