Two years ago.....
Hildey sat on a small patch of dead grass, leaning against the back wall of The Training Hall Of Skovsgard. She stared vacantly down into a muddy pool near by, her expression solemn. Rarely was the woman seen this absent.
Suddenly a friendly hand gripped her shoulder, ”Ha! I have found you!”
She glanced at the man who had knelt by her side, and then down at his hand that was firmly holding her. It was Bjargarr, the son of Jarl. He seemed gallant in his stout posture, smiling kindly down at her. The sunlight brought the gold out of his perfect hair. All of the Jarl's relatives had been graced with such, making them stand out amongst the men of their village.
Hildey did not reply to his words and turned her grim gaze back into the pool.
Bjargarr sighed through his smile and tried again, "He was a good man, Hilde! Worthy of our brooding and more. Yet he was also a man known of his smiles and laughter, would he not prefer we'd smile at his memory rather than shed tears in the mud.” The woman kept her gaze on the pool, a faint slow smile growing on her lips, even if her gaze remained darkly mirthless.
Bjargarr attempted to ruffle her hair and she calmly swatted his hand away with a simple movement of her own hand. The man chuckled, ”Do you remember the time when he and my father took a day off their duties and sneaked out of the village without a word. Everyone thought we had been attacked and the Jarl had been kidnapped, or worse - killed!” He laughed, ”What a clever way to test the readiness of your warriors and at the same time grant yourself some time of leisure!” He poked her cheek gently with his fist, ”I’m still certain it was your father’s idea. His merry wit is written all over the plot.”
Hildey’s smile widened slightly and she shifted her gaze slowly at the man, ”They went fishing, you know.”
Bjargarr laughed, ”Is that so?” He lowered his face somewhat, raising his brow curiously, ”And did they catch any fish?”
Hildey shook her head with a warm smile, glancing about while she recalled, ”Do you remember the time when they returned from that large scouting mission when we were just wee kids? We hadn’t seen them for weeks and we saw them riding toward the village. They unmounted their horses and walked toward us, poor children ridden by longing toward their fathers. We ran toward them, and they smiled, although they seemed to be counting as well…And when we almost reached them…” Bjargarr laughed and finished Hildey's sentence, ”....They ran away! Forcing us to chase them while laughing their arses off!” Hildey nodded several times, smiling at the memory, ”And how we ran… for those hugs.” Her smile grew sad and her eyes moist, for she knew no amount of running would allow her to hug her father anymore. He was past her reach.
Bjargarr took a note of the shift in her expression, hopping on his feet and offering a hand to her, ”Come Hilde! Let’s spar. I know me beating you up will cheer you!” Hildey glanced up at him, the amusement plain on her gaze. Slowly she rose on her feet on her own accord, walking past him calmly, ”Well if you want to eat mud Bjar…who am I to refuse you.” Bjargarr grinned after her, stepping eagerly in her trail.
((I sort of wanted to write something that depicted the character whose death started this plotline. R.I.P Bjargarr.))
