So much knowledge and history, poured upon a soul who soaked it up like a sunflower drinks the sunshine. So many words, residing in a heart that sang out each one with as much reverence as any priestess speaking of the Light.
Words were sacred. Being a skald was practically a religion unto itself. But Hilda did not see it as a burden, and that echoed in her unlined face, her soft smile. Skaldry was a gift, to herself and to all those around her, to spread knowledge like wildfire, to give freely of what was asked and never wish anything in return.
She would have made one hell of a Sister for the Chantry, if Gunnarr had not found her first.
And then, that serene wisdom was abruptly interrupted by the blush of a young girl asked a very unexpected question, and Hilda laughed out in mixed chagrin and good humour. "Ho, nein! Is no proper, for an apprentice to court, or be courted." But a wistful sigh spoke a thousand words on that particular subject, and her open face, eyes for the distance, was easily read. Hilda was not Ordhan's lover.... but one day, she might like to be something a bit more than that. The key phrase here was one day, and as soon as the skald realized she was staring east like a lovestruck fool, she straightened her back and set about putting the backstraps upon spits to roast, cleaned, sharpened sticks making for an impromptu grill.
Imenry's words sank home, however, distracting her from her word: Perhaps he was thinking of you. Oh, how Hilda hoped he was! Talk of Ordhan came easy, and the wistfulness disappeared as genuine warmth effused her speech and features instead, downcast eyes part shyness and part a stern self-reminder to heed her own work, lest she ruin the best part of the buck's sacrifice careening about like a mooncalf. "He is qviet, yes, but is der silence of a man who sees efferyting. He votches, und listens, und tinks und conseeders, und ven he speak it is because he haff someting to say. Der vorld needs more pepple who onderstand dot mit out silence to balance, effen der luffliest song is only so moch noise." A fond smile, a snuck glance upward to Imenry. "Und I am no surprise dot der two of hyu ver fast friend. Hyu bot' haff soch good hearts, soch steadiness, soch courage. Hyu bot' hide dot, hyu are austere, hyu are made of stone - but hyu are no. Is only to fool der vuns who do no look beneath der surface of der vater."