Elendor
Girl Talk
Halla and Cecilia enjoy a nice summer day.
Sort Date: no date set
Location: Beorning Village
Description: Cecilia wanders lazily through the courtyard, enjoying the warm summer sun that beats down on her. She has her hands clasped behind her head with a charming smile on her face as she hums a light tune. The bees don't seem to bother her at all, and she doesn't bother them.
The courtyard is not untenanted. Over by one of the encircling trees a lone figure sits, back against the tree, legs stretched before her and a whittling knife in hand, chipping away at a shapeless piece of wood. At the sound of humming the figure looks up - it is a woman, flame-red hair kindled by the sun. "Morning," Halla offers with a yawn. "Fine one, isn't it?"
Cecilia smiles pleasantly, nodding in agreement. "Very fine! A day to escape and enjoy yourself." Which is exactly what the young woman is doing. She's only just reached twenty, still young enough to have fun with life. She approaches Halla, looking on curiously.
Halla tilts an eyebrow. "Or a day to remain exactly where you are and enjoy yourself?" She does't move. Noting the direction of Cecilia's glance, she "Haven't decided what this'll be yet. Something sturdy, I think." Right now, she holds only a roughly shaped rectangular block, perhaps six inches long, that could become anything from spoon to cup to figurine.
Cecilia grins, "I suppose. As long as you're enjoying yourself!" The girl helps herself to a seat in the grass next to Halla. She kicks off her slippers and lets the grass tickle the bottom of her feet. "Halla.. right?" She's been trying to learn the names of everyone, her mother's doing. The woman mutters that it's important for a lady to know everyone so that she can help her husband out should his mind grow absent of a name. "Ooooh.. I hope the weather stays this beautiful all week."
Halla nods her aye to the query. Now that she has a companion, she seems disinclined to continue with her carving. Instead she sets the piece of wood down in her lap, tucks her knife back in its belt sheath and stretches. "Must be due a change after all that rain we've had of late. Mud, mud, mud. Surprised those wretched Dwarves didn't sink." She sniffs at the air, then pronounces, "Think it's set fine for a day or two. Bees seem to think so, anyway." Lazily she watches the industrious creatures.
"Ugh.. dwarves! They're so.. rude!" Cecilia wrinkles her nose up, shaking her head. "I'm glad they've moved on. They don't understand things at all. They shouldn't have been allowed to stay here at all."
Halla shrugs to that. "They pay their tolls, don't they? At least they're some use. A few of them aren't so bad, y'know." For a moment her expression turns pensive. "The rest ... well, what can you expect from flesh-eaters?" She snorts.
"A few of them? Ick! They all eat flesh. It's disgusting." The girl shudders a bit, then lays back in the grass, completely at ease despite barely knowing Halla. And why shouldn't she be? Who would hassle the daughter of a skald? "At least they pay. But it would be better if they stayed -outside- of the village, I think. Luckily my mother didn't make me help out at the infirmary when they were here. I wouldn't want to touch one." As if the dwarves carry diseases or something.
Halla eyes the prone girl in silence for several heartbeats, then gives a throaty chuckle. "I touched one. Fellow had wandered off and found some goblins, he was a bit the worse for wear. So I helped him back to the village. Quite the mess he was, bleeding like a staved in beer-barrel." The less said about his armor the better.
"Oh! That bad? Was he okay?" Cecilia may be a victim of taught predjudice, but she's not completely heartless. She sits back up. "Did he kill the goblins? They say that the dwarves fight the goblins nearly as ferociously as we do." There's emphasis on 'nearly', for surely none fight so hard as the Beornings do! "It was generous of you to help him!" She adds, flashing that charmingly sweet smile on Halla, a hidden weapon that's earned the young woman a great many things over the years.
Halla eyes the smile coolly - is that a tinge of amusement in her green eyes? "I could hardly leave him. If you found some hurt wild thing you'd aid it, wouldn't you? Strangers are no different. Besides," she pauses, "Dwarves aren't so bad. They say what they think - I like that." Her mouth stretches in a grin. "Not like that honey-tongued harper fellow. Ugh!" She mock shudders, completely forgetting the young woman's other question.
"Harper? Who is he?" Cecilia asks curiously, still smiling easily. She reaches up with one hand to idly twist a braid of her hair, then rather abruptly moves closer to Halla. "Will you let me braid your hair for you? I could fix it up. It's all loose and falling out."
"Some foreign fellow." Halla snorts, in answer to that first question. "Seems to be a friend of Mobeorn's - can't think why. Full of his own words, all smooth and honeyed. Take my word for it lass, it's when men start sweet-talking you need to worry. Next they start lying, or cheating on you, or go off and get themselves killed ..." Her gruff voice takes on a hard edge.
Belatedly she recalls Cecilia's other question. Her hand reaches back to touch her own lumpen braid, which right now has a few bits of twig twisted in it. "Uh ... sure." She attempts a weak smile.
Cecilia grins and quickly moves around behind Halla before she can change her mind. "What does he look like? Where is he from? He's a foreigner.. but.. he can't be as bad as the dwarves." She takes out Halla's exsisting braid and runs her fingers through the tangled hair a few times, frowning as she picks out the bits of twig and other unwelcome objects. "Is he handsome?"
Halla raises an eyebrow at that, even if it cannot be seen. "There's foreigners and foreigners. Better the beasts one knows ..." She twitches uneasily as her hair is groomed. "Is who handsome? The harper fellow or Mobeorn?" The query is accompanied by a chuckle.
"Mobeorn is cute, but.. I want to hear about the harper. Everyone talks about -Mobeorn-." Cecilia gives an exhausted sigh, as if the topic of the beijibar has been talked to death. "What's his name?" She begins braiding, rising up on her knees to pick the strands she wants from the top of Halla's head, tugging them tight.
Halla's chuckle deepens at those first words. "Quite the looker, isn't he? Pity he's so /young/ ..." Never mind the small matter of species. "Oh, that harper fellow. If you like them tall and dark," she grimaces, "then I suppose he's all right. Lith-something he's called. Never did work out the res- ouch!" For Cecilia's tugging is clearly felt.
"Oh! Sorry.." Cecilia says quickly, easing up her grip on the hair. "Lith? Hmm. Where is he staying? I think I'd like to meet him, if he's as honey-tongued as you say." There's amusement in the young woman's voice as she carefully works on an intricate braid. "Your hair is lovely! You have so many colors in it. It's really pretty when it's all tightened together."
Logging started to file j:mushessimplemulogselendor - beorning.txt
Halla sighs as the grasp on her hair loosens a little. "Think he's mostly up at the Infirmary, he was hurt pretty bad in the Forest during the goblin attacks. He has skill as a fighter, I have to admit. Or else he'll be in the Tavern trying to drink folk under the table. Heh, you're welcome to him. Hope you still have ears left after an hour of his chatter." The scathing words break off, and she asks uncertainly, "You really think my hair's pretty?" She reaches a hand back to feel what is being done.
"He's hurt? Oooh.. That should be easy enough, then. My mother is always hassling me to get more training in." Cecilia tugs again, but is more mindful not to pull too hard. "Oh yes! It's beautiful! If you washed it really well it would shine. You have all these lighter strands that blend with the darker. It's very pretty." The girl is weaving all the hair into one large braid close to her head, taking small sections at a time and working them in.
Halla lets her fingers run over the part-plaited braid, then pulls it quickly back as Cecilia tugs. "Feels like a lizard's spine," she remarks, puzzled, then snorts. "Wash my hair more often? Don't have time for stuff like that ... well, maybe sometimes." Hoarseness creeps into her voice, a sure sign of embarrassment. "It's just hair, really. Yours looks good too, lass - nice Beorning colour."
"It's pretty even if you don't wash it.." The girl says cheerfully, "I'm almost done." Cecilia doesn't seem overly judgemental of her own people, at least. "Are you married?" She asks lightly, no longer tugging painfully at any individual strands as she works the rest into a thick braid down Halla's back.
"Me?" Halla twitches. "Not likely. There was someone once. Got himself killed by goblins." Her voice is bitter. "Then there was that trader fellow, took himself off to Dale - and that blasted Birghir, he took up with another woman ... Men - who needs them? Trust me, lass, we're better off without them. Is it done now?" She tries to twist round a little to see what Cecilia is up to, knocking the piece of wood from her lap.
"Wait.. wait.. not quite." Cecilia answers quickly, "Don't move yet." She reaches for the cord to tie off the braid tightly at the end. "Okay, there! All done." The young woman grins and moves back to admire her work. "It shouldn't fall out too quickly if you're careful. It's even better if you braid it when it's wet. Then it will stay for days. I did mine two days ago." She lightly runs her hand through all the thin braids in her own hair.
Cecilia moves back around to where she was sitting before, tucking her legs under her comfortably. "My mother says that her and my father have chosen someone for me to marry, but I don't know who it is. I hope it's someone handsome, and strong." Who cares about personality?
Halla sits patiently until the last piece of cord is tied, then reaches her hand back to feel Cecilia's handiwork. A slow, rather embarrassed smile spreads across her weatherworn features. "It feels ... beautiful." She cocks her head at Cecilia's other piece of information. "They have? Well, best of luck to you lass. You've forgotten one thing though - rich."
She winks, then bends to retrieve her fallen piece of wood, turning it in her hands before looking back to Cecilia. "So - what's this to be? Cup? Spoon? Or something else? You choose - a trade. Skill for skill."
Cecilia smiles pleasantly, obviously glad that Halla likes her work. "Rich? Oh.. well, I'm sure he'll be rich. They wouldn't pick someone that isn't." She says with a grin. Then her attention shifts to the wood. "Oooh.. I get to decide?" She thinks for a moment, then suggests. "Make a comb, and I can braid it into your hair. That would look perfect." She says with enthusiasm, grinning that charming smile again.
Halla laughs. "It'd be wasted on my hair. A comb, eh? I'll see what I can do." That said, she gathers up her long limbs and gets to her feet. "Think I'll be on my way now - thank you lass, for sharing your skill." She holds her head that little bit straighter than usual. "Enjoy the sun - and I wish you joy of finding yon foreign harper. Hope you don't regret it." She grins, sketches a wave and strides away.
The courtyard is not untenanted. Over by one of the encircling trees a lone figure sits, back against the tree, legs stretched before her and a whittling knife in hand, chipping away at a shapeless piece of wood. At the sound of humming the figure looks up - it is a woman, flame-red hair kindled by the sun. "Morning," Halla offers with a yawn. "Fine one, isn't it?"
Cecilia smiles pleasantly, nodding in agreement. "Very fine! A day to escape and enjoy yourself." Which is exactly what the young woman is doing. She's only just reached twenty, still young enough to have fun with life. She approaches Halla, looking on curiously.
Halla tilts an eyebrow. "Or a day to remain exactly where you are and enjoy yourself?" She does't move. Noting the direction of Cecilia's glance, she "Haven't decided what this'll be yet. Something sturdy, I think." Right now, she holds only a roughly shaped rectangular block, perhaps six inches long, that could become anything from spoon to cup to figurine.
Cecilia grins, "I suppose. As long as you're enjoying yourself!" The girl helps herself to a seat in the grass next to Halla. She kicks off her slippers and lets the grass tickle the bottom of her feet. "Halla.. right?" She's been trying to learn the names of everyone, her mother's doing. The woman mutters that it's important for a lady to know everyone so that she can help her husband out should his mind grow absent of a name. "Ooooh.. I hope the weather stays this beautiful all week."
Halla nods her aye to the query. Now that she has a companion, she seems disinclined to continue with her carving. Instead she sets the piece of wood down in her lap, tucks her knife back in its belt sheath and stretches. "Must be due a change after all that rain we've had of late. Mud, mud, mud. Surprised those wretched Dwarves didn't sink." She sniffs at the air, then pronounces, "Think it's set fine for a day or two. Bees seem to think so, anyway." Lazily she watches the industrious creatures.
"Ugh.. dwarves! They're so.. rude!" Cecilia wrinkles her nose up, shaking her head. "I'm glad they've moved on. They don't understand things at all. They shouldn't have been allowed to stay here at all."
Halla shrugs to that. "They pay their tolls, don't they? At least they're some use. A few of them aren't so bad, y'know." For a moment her expression turns pensive. "The rest ... well, what can you expect from flesh-eaters?" She snorts.
"A few of them? Ick! They all eat flesh. It's disgusting." The girl shudders a bit, then lays back in the grass, completely at ease despite barely knowing Halla. And why shouldn't she be? Who would hassle the daughter of a skald? "At least they pay. But it would be better if they stayed -outside- of the village, I think. Luckily my mother didn't make me help out at the infirmary when they were here. I wouldn't want to touch one." As if the dwarves carry diseases or something.
Halla eyes the prone girl in silence for several heartbeats, then gives a throaty chuckle. "I touched one. Fellow had wandered off and found some goblins, he was a bit the worse for wear. So I helped him back to the village. Quite the mess he was, bleeding like a staved in beer-barrel." The less said about his armor the better.
"Oh! That bad? Was he okay?" Cecilia may be a victim of taught predjudice, but she's not completely heartless. She sits back up. "Did he kill the goblins? They say that the dwarves fight the goblins nearly as ferociously as we do." There's emphasis on 'nearly', for surely none fight so hard as the Beornings do! "It was generous of you to help him!" She adds, flashing that charmingly sweet smile on Halla, a hidden weapon that's earned the young woman a great many things over the years.
Halla eyes the smile coolly - is that a tinge of amusement in her green eyes? "I could hardly leave him. If you found some hurt wild thing you'd aid it, wouldn't you? Strangers are no different. Besides," she pauses, "Dwarves aren't so bad. They say what they think - I like that." Her mouth stretches in a grin. "Not like that honey-tongued harper fellow. Ugh!" She mock shudders, completely forgetting the young woman's other question.
"Harper? Who is he?" Cecilia asks curiously, still smiling easily. She reaches up with one hand to idly twist a braid of her hair, then rather abruptly moves closer to Halla. "Will you let me braid your hair for you? I could fix it up. It's all loose and falling out."
"Some foreign fellow." Halla snorts, in answer to that first question. "Seems to be a friend of Mobeorn's - can't think why. Full of his own words, all smooth and honeyed. Take my word for it lass, it's when men start sweet-talking you need to worry. Next they start lying, or cheating on you, or go off and get themselves killed ..." Her gruff voice takes on a hard edge.
Belatedly she recalls Cecilia's other question. Her hand reaches back to touch her own lumpen braid, which right now has a few bits of twig twisted in it. "Uh ... sure." She attempts a weak smile.
Cecilia grins and quickly moves around behind Halla before she can change her mind. "What does he look like? Where is he from? He's a foreigner.. but.. he can't be as bad as the dwarves." She takes out Halla's exsisting braid and runs her fingers through the tangled hair a few times, frowning as she picks out the bits of twig and other unwelcome objects. "Is he handsome?"
Halla raises an eyebrow at that, even if it cannot be seen. "There's foreigners and foreigners. Better the beasts one knows ..." She twitches uneasily as her hair is groomed. "Is who handsome? The harper fellow or Mobeorn?" The query is accompanied by a chuckle.
"Mobeorn is cute, but.. I want to hear about the harper. Everyone talks about -Mobeorn-." Cecilia gives an exhausted sigh, as if the topic of the beijibar has been talked to death. "What's his name?" She begins braiding, rising up on her knees to pick the strands she wants from the top of Halla's head, tugging them tight.
Halla's chuckle deepens at those first words. "Quite the looker, isn't he? Pity he's so /young/ ..." Never mind the small matter of species. "Oh, that harper fellow. If you like them tall and dark," she grimaces, "then I suppose he's all right. Lith-something he's called. Never did work out the res- ouch!" For Cecilia's tugging is clearly felt.
"Oh! Sorry.." Cecilia says quickly, easing up her grip on the hair. "Lith? Hmm. Where is he staying? I think I'd like to meet him, if he's as honey-tongued as you say." There's amusement in the young woman's voice as she carefully works on an intricate braid. "Your hair is lovely! You have so many colors in it. It's really pretty when it's all tightened together."
Logging started to file j:mushessimplemulogselendor - beorning.txt
Halla sighs as the grasp on her hair loosens a little. "Think he's mostly up at the Infirmary, he was hurt pretty bad in the Forest during the goblin attacks. He has skill as a fighter, I have to admit. Or else he'll be in the Tavern trying to drink folk under the table. Heh, you're welcome to him. Hope you still have ears left after an hour of his chatter." The scathing words break off, and she asks uncertainly, "You really think my hair's pretty?" She reaches a hand back to feel what is being done.
"He's hurt? Oooh.. That should be easy enough, then. My mother is always hassling me to get more training in." Cecilia tugs again, but is more mindful not to pull too hard. "Oh yes! It's beautiful! If you washed it really well it would shine. You have all these lighter strands that blend with the darker. It's very pretty." The girl is weaving all the hair into one large braid close to her head, taking small sections at a time and working them in.
Halla lets her fingers run over the part-plaited braid, then pulls it quickly back as Cecilia tugs. "Feels like a lizard's spine," she remarks, puzzled, then snorts. "Wash my hair more often? Don't have time for stuff like that ... well, maybe sometimes." Hoarseness creeps into her voice, a sure sign of embarrassment. "It's just hair, really. Yours looks good too, lass - nice Beorning colour."
"It's pretty even if you don't wash it.." The girl says cheerfully, "I'm almost done." Cecilia doesn't seem overly judgemental of her own people, at least. "Are you married?" She asks lightly, no longer tugging painfully at any individual strands as she works the rest into a thick braid down Halla's back.
"Me?" Halla twitches. "Not likely. There was someone once. Got himself killed by goblins." Her voice is bitter. "Then there was that trader fellow, took himself off to Dale - and that blasted Birghir, he took up with another woman ... Men - who needs them? Trust me, lass, we're better off without them. Is it done now?" She tries to twist round a little to see what Cecilia is up to, knocking the piece of wood from her lap.
"Wait.. wait.. not quite." Cecilia answers quickly, "Don't move yet." She reaches for the cord to tie off the braid tightly at the end. "Okay, there! All done." The young woman grins and moves back to admire her work. "It shouldn't fall out too quickly if you're careful. It's even better if you braid it when it's wet. Then it will stay for days. I did mine two days ago." She lightly runs her hand through all the thin braids in her own hair.
Cecilia moves back around to where she was sitting before, tucking her legs under her comfortably. "My mother says that her and my father have chosen someone for me to marry, but I don't know who it is. I hope it's someone handsome, and strong." Who cares about personality?
Halla sits patiently until the last piece of cord is tied, then reaches her hand back to feel Cecilia's handiwork. A slow, rather embarrassed smile spreads across her weatherworn features. "It feels ... beautiful." She cocks her head at Cecilia's other piece of information. "They have? Well, best of luck to you lass. You've forgotten one thing though - rich."
She winks, then bends to retrieve her fallen piece of wood, turning it in her hands before looking back to Cecilia. "So - what's this to be? Cup? Spoon? Or something else? You choose - a trade. Skill for skill."
Cecilia smiles pleasantly, obviously glad that Halla likes her work. "Rich? Oh.. well, I'm sure he'll be rich. They wouldn't pick someone that isn't." She says with a grin. Then her attention shifts to the wood. "Oooh.. I get to decide?" She thinks for a moment, then suggests. "Make a comb, and I can braid it into your hair. That would look perfect." She says with enthusiasm, grinning that charming smile again.
Halla laughs. "It'd be wasted on my hair. A comb, eh? I'll see what I can do." That said, she gathers up her long limbs and gets to her feet. "Think I'll be on my way now - thank you lass, for sharing your skill." She holds her head that little bit straighter than usual. "Enjoy the sun - and I wish you joy of finding yon foreign harper. Hope you don't regret it." She grins, sketches a wave and strides away.
Players: Halla, Cecilia
Located in: Beorning
