Hear the drums on the hillside [Hilde]

Having no plans for the afternoon, Hvitserk had decided to go for a walk on his own. You never know what you could get up to or who you might run into when you wandered. He’d decided to bring along his bow and arrows at the last minute, in case he had a chance to do any hunting. If he could manage to catch a rabbit or two, it couldn’t hurt.

He’d come to a stream and decided to follow it for a while, having no real destination in mind, and knowing both people and animals congregated near fresh water. He was a bit disappointed that he hadn’t spotted any game yet but wasn’t too worried. For once he hadn’t bragged to his brother’s about his intentions before leaving, so coming home empty handed wouldn’t embarrass him.

Hvitserk came to a stop as he heard something in the distance. It was a strange sound, and he wasn’t really sure what could be until more sounds accompanied it. Now he was fairly certain there was a girl wherever the noise was coming from, and immediately turned in that direction. Either someone needed rescuing, or someone was getting up to something that sounded fun, and either way, Hvitserk wanted to be involved.

He came up behind a young woman hacking away at a tree with her weapon and when he moved to her left a bit, finally recognized her. It was Hilde, another thegn from Kattegat. “Did the tree say something rude to you? I think it’s probably sorry,” he spoke up loudly while still a good distance from her, not wanting to startle her and risk her turning her axe on him. He was grinning at her now, and nodded towards the tree. “Want to train against something that actually fights back?” He was always looking for more practice, after all.

Hvitserk’s smug grin didn’t fade for a second when she asked him which weapon he preferred. So they were definitely doing this, it seemed. He didn’t mind too much, he just hadn’t really expected to be fighting anyone on this walk. But, what could you do? And he was definitely having a hard time tearing his gaze away from the excitement he read in her eyes. This was someone who enjoyed fighting.

Finally answering her question, he bowed dramatically and replied, “Ladies choice.” But after just a moment looked back up at her and he added, “Just kidding, swords. Definitely swords.” His cheeky grin never once faded as he drew his own weapon, standing across from her and letting his arm hang at his side.

When he thought she was ready, he lifted his sword, pointing it in her direction, took a small, quick step forward but immediately withdrew it and let his arm fall to his side again. “Actually, do you maybe want to just talk or something? I’m tired already,” he joked, because she definitely looked like she was ready to kick some ass, and his ass was the only one around. “We can fight if you want to, but talking is also fun?”

It probably helped that she was most definitely one of the most attractive women he’d ever seen. How had they not spoken before? She seemed like exactly the sort of person he’d have befriended long ago.”Ladies choice,” he repeated, with another elaborate bow, “For real this time. Do we fight,” he nodded towards her sword, and then gestured to a nice comfy looking patch of grass on the ground, “or do we sit?”

Hvitserk laughed when he realized he’d chosen swords as soon as she’d dropped hers. Whoops. And he sent her a grin as he shrugged his shoulders at her a little bit. It hadn’t been deliberate, it was just easier to practice with swords than axes, in his experience.

He felt a little bad that he was messing with her when he clearly didn’t know her well, but not bad enough to take any of it back. This was him, this was what he did. He messed with people. Sure, they probably didn’t enjoy it as much as he did, but that wasn’t his problem. Besides, he was trying to make new friends! That was supposed to be a good thing, right?

His grin widened when Hilde chose to sit. She sat down and he immediately followed suit, sitting down directly across from her. He wasn’t really sure what kind of questions she was prepared to answer, and just rattled off anything that entered his mind.

“Do you come out here to beat up trees often? Do you not like trees? How come we’ve never spoken before? How long have you lived in Kattegat? You aren’t originally from here, are you?” He was certain that if she’d grown up here, he’d know her better by now. He was a fairly outgoing person, and was perfectly capable of being friends with men and women alike. Hopefully his incessant questions wouldn’t make her want to leave too quickly.

He actually felt bad, worried he might be overwhelming her. “Okay, sorry, that was a lot. But now you ask me?” What if she didn’t have any questions for him? What if she didn’t actually care who he was and simply wanted to get him to leave her alone? He nearly laughed at the thought. That didn’t seem likely to him. Everyone liked him.

Despite what he’d always assumed was a natural talent for talking to women, and making friends in general, Hvitserk was having a hard time getting a read on Hilde. Did she think he was just being an ass? It wouldn’t be the first time that had happened, because he occasionally rubbed people the wrong way, but she was pretty and he wanted her to like him. Because what’s not to like? Honestly.

He nodded politely when she answered his first couple questions, but grinned and shook his head a bit when she said she liked trees. He’d only been teasing, but maybe that wasn’t something she was really used to? After all, this wasn’t Sassa or any of his other friends, who knew not to take anything he said very seriously.

When she admitted that he was right, and she wasn’t originally from Kattegat, he perked up a bit. He’d always wanted to travel, and was really interested in listening to the stories people had to tell about where they came from. “Where are you from?” he asked next, not stopping to consider that it might not be something she wanted to discuss.

He grinned again when she asked a question of her own. Hvitserk had been a bit worried this would turn into a one sided conversation, and was glad that didn’t appear to be the case. “Axes are better, but swords are easier to defend against, and I don’t know your fighting style. I didn’t want you to disarm me in a minute flat. How embarrassing would that be?” He laughed, because he didn’t embarrass very easily, and that wouldn’t have been the first time he was disarmed quickly in training. But it was hard to impress a pretty girl when she was a better fighter than you were.

“Why do you ‘come here often’? We should’ve been friends ages ago,” he winked at her, and hoped he wasn’t going to say anything that scared her off. It was rare that he found someone his own age, especially another thegn, that he didn’t know very well, and wanted to remedy that if he could.

Despite her apparent lack of enthusiasm when it came to talking about herself, or maybe just talking in general, what did he know? Hvitserk thought things were going fairly well. He was being his normal, charming self, and he’d definitely noticed her smile at least a little. Which looked like a win to him. He watched her look down at her hands and felt a little bit bad for asking questions in the first place. Technically she could tell him to get lost and simply choose not to tell him a thing, but he knew few people would actually chose that route.

He smiled when he told him she was from Uddevalla. “That’s cool,” he replied with a nod, and chose not to ask any further questions about it. Whether she didn’t want to talk about that specific thing or simply didn’t want to talk at all, he didn’t want to pry where he wasn’t wanted. He most definitely preferred being wanted.

An enormous grin broke across his face at her boast and he shook his head at her. “Well then, we’ll have to test that some time,” he answered, still grinning, and puffing his chest out for a minute like he was trying to appear bigger, stronger, more fierce. And then he quickly resumed his previous relaxed position and simply nodded at her. “You’re probably right. I saw the way you were attacking that tree, I don’t think I want to fight you at all.”

Hilde told him it was quiet here, which was why she visited it, and he laughed at her when she amended the statement. “Oh, I’m very sorry I’ve disrupted your quiet," he started, trying to look offended, but failing miserably. "I’m just trying to make new friends, it figures I’d come across someone like you.” He paused then, wondering if she’d take the bait. He was certainly having more fun than he’d expected to find in the woods, and just hoped he wasn’t alone in that regard.

It was probably a very good thing that Hvitserk couldn’t read minds because if he could, he’d have learned the very rude things Hilde was thinking about him, and been absolutely crushed. Crushed. But since he couldn’t, he was thoroughly enjoying himself while teasing and trying to get to know the thegn sitting across from him.  He wasn’t really sure if she was flirting back with him. It didn’t feel like it, but maybe she was just shy? Maybe she wasn’t good at flirting? Or maybe she wasn’t interested. Which, obviously didn’t make any sense but she was from Uddevalla and he’d heard the people there were a bit odd. Though clearly, quite attractive.

From the very little he knew about her, he’d uncovered through his incredible intuition and calculated observations that she liked to fight. And he liked to fight. #soulmates. So if that was the only way he’d be able to get to know her, he was willing to make that sacrifice, and fight her. And he was honestly looking forward to it. Even moreso because he was quite confident she was going to kick his ass.

So when she said she’d ‘love to’ he couldn’t wipe the grin from his face. Oh yeah, so would he. She teased him and he decided she was totally into him because that’s how you flirt. And he just nodded at her. “I am! You’re very intimidating. I’ll still fight you though, since you’re clearly looking forward to it,” Hvitserk answered with a wink. Because he too was flirting.

He couldn’t help the bark of laughter when she asked if he usually made friends with trees. Ubbe had made a comment about him and trees too not too long ago. Did he look like someone who… talked to trees? He assumed those people were insane, and therefore, he did not fit the description. But he wasn’t about to turn the conversation in a serious direction, obviously. Hvitserk was barely even acquainted with the word. “I might. Why? You just beat them up? You’re very violent.”

Ripping up a handful of grass and then letting the blades fall down slowly again, he looked up at her and nodded in the direction of the village. “We should train together. And we should also go get a drink together.” He was so smooth.

While Hvitserk had originally hoped to have a real conversation, he was quickly becoming adjusted to the fact that Hilde didn’t seem interested in talking overly much. Which, honestly, didn’t really bother him. He could talk enough for the both of them. Though there was a good chance Hilde wouldn’t really appreciate it but he would. That’s what mattered, right? Hmm, probably not. Whoops.

Though he was quite certain that she was into him, because why wouldn’t she be, she seemed to be confused when he winked at her, and well, basically by his entire personality in general, and when she told him she believed he was probably a better fighter than he let on, he could only grin in response. “I certainly like to think so. But bragging can be unattractive to some people, so I try to take my time getting there.” After a moment, he wondered, “So where do you land on it? Bragging, is it attractive or unattractive? Cause I can do both.”

His bit about the trees seemed to have gotten a reaction though, and he honestly can’t believe he’s about to be that guy who’s friends with trees now. But evidently, that was his destiny. And she’d laughed, so he could roll with it. “Please do, they’re very sensitive.” Hvitserk attempted to keep a straight face but it didn’t last too long, and he was once again grinning at her.

Hilde didn’t immediately respond to his offer to train and also get a drink, and he realized after he’d said it that she’d already agreed to train with him and that he was a bit of an idiot sometimes but maybe she wouldn’t notice. BUT THEN SHE SAID YES. Or rather ‘sure’ which was slightly less enthusiastic than ‘yes’ but he’d take what he could get. “Okay, great. We should do that. Go drinking. Soon.” He meant like now, but didn’t want to seem pushy, and simply grinned at her like an idiot, nodding his head occasionally. He was going to get to fight her, he was going to get to drink with her, all things that involved spending time with her. His day was definitely looking up.