Born to Aldor and Hildthryth, prominent friends of the Thane of Cliving, Hildburh grew up in a life of parties, fine dresses, and private tutors. On the day of her seventh birthday, her father hired the services of a bard to sing for them after dinner. The young girl was enamoured with the way the musicians’ fingers plucked his lute-strings and the warbling pitches of his voice, and became determined to become as acquainted with music as the bard. Her father agreed to her training without much persuasion, and the finest minstrels were called to tutor her. Hildburh showed great aptitude for music and as her skill grew so did her love for the subject. On her fourteenth birthday, her brother, Aethelgrim, gifted her a lute of beechwood, carved and painted with intricate patterns. Hildburh would later add to these carvings in her spare time.

Though her parents loved their only daughter, their attention was on her brothers for the most part which allowed Hildburh to neglect her other studies, such as reading and writing, skills in which she oft found her concentration drifting away to be replaced by a daydream.

Although as a child many hours were spent fighting and riding in the norcrofts with her two brothers, this time was much diminished throughout her teen years since her mother began to attempt to betroth her to young men of other prominent families on top of Hildburh’s growing adoration for song. This was not to be, and Hildburh succeeded in halting every arrangement due to her distant ways and disinterest in interacting with any of these boys, though she was respectful and pleasant towards all. Her mother's pleas fell on deaf ears, as now forbidden to partake in the shenanigans of her siblings due to an unfortunate accident which resulted in a permanent scar in her sixteenth year, almost all her waking hours were devoted to her lute.

In the spring of her eighteenth year, Hildburh declared her intentions to travel and seek renown for her musical talents. Hildthryth was initially much opposed to the idea, fearing the growing threat of orcs on the plains of the Mark, and fiercely made her opinion known. Hildburh, knowing this was a result of her mother's love for her only daughter, replied: 

‘Mother, you know that you cannot halt my plans, only delay them. Though it is true, I have little skill with a blade I do not intend to venture into danger ill-prepared. Should you never accept my leaving I shall hold no ill will towards you, as I know your concerns are founded on affection’

 Aldor held his daughter's happiness close to his heart and pledged to his wife to train Hildburh a little in the art of the blade before she would be permitted to leave. This set Hildthryth’s mind at ease and she no longer outwardly rejected Hildburh’s plan. 

Hildburh set off from Cliving as spring waned, her lute on her back and a fine sword strapped to her saddle. Her mother's final gift, a wolf-dog named Aethelmund, trotting at her side.