A truce is reached, and Finn offers to take in Hnaef's thanes as his own. The Half-Danes agree out of necessity; they are on foreign soil, without a king. Old enmities and recent deaths lead to an uneasy truce. The Danes are forced to stay the winter because of rough, icy seas. As time passes, Hengest, Hnaef's top thane and now the Half-Danes' leader, thinks more about vengeance than he does about returning home. In the spring, one of the Danish warriors presents him with a sword symbolic of leadership and implying revenge.
The ensuing battle is introduced with the understatement of transition but specific imagery that we've grown to expect from the Beowulf poet: "The hall was decorated / with the lives of the foe" (1151–52), a "tapestry of blood" (1152) as Chickering translates. The Half-Danes triumph. King Finn is killed along with his men. The Danes return home with Hildeburh and assorted treasures.
Wealhtheow's appearance immediately follows the Finnsburh performance and reminds the poet's knowledgeable audience that she will suffer loss of family as does Queen Hildeburh in the scop's story, once more foreshadowing future tragedy during current celebration. Beowulf sits between her two sons at the feast, and she asks him to serve as their good counsel and exemplar. Wealhtheow presents Beowulf with various gifts, including the largest gold collar ever seen.
Peace and joy seem to have come to Heorot. The thanes drink a great deal and fall asleep assured, for the first time in years, that they are safe in the hall. Hrothgar retires to his quarters, and Beowulf spends the night away from the hall. One visitor has not yet arrived. She will bring death to Heorot.
