Hilla is NPC no more
Hello! I wanted to finally introduce myself so that not everything you hear about me comes from the mouth of Sir Lucas (although it is a beautiful mouth).
HILLA, the kitchen maid
Basics:
Name: Hilla (Forester’s Hilla)
Nicknames: -
Age and DoB: 18, born in the beginning of the year 1175
Gender: Female
Relationship: Single. Has had a few “relationships” which she’s not ashamed of, but she doesn’t talk about them up-front.
Occupation/Rank/Title: Kitchen maid at Nottingham Castle
Contact Information: PM
Appearance:
Height: 5’3”
Eye Color: Green/brown hazel
Hair: Long and brown. At work she should keep it braided and under a scarf, but she doesn’t always obey this rule (she’s a bit vain about her hair).
Distinguishing features: -
Played by: young Helena Bonham Carter
Style: She wears simple servants’ clothes made of wool or linen; gray and brown dresses with an apron. She has one everyday dress of her own which doubles as her Sunday best when it’s clean. She has a long embroidered belt that goes around her waist twice and hangs low in the front.
Personality:
Hilla is cheeky, friendly, very talkative and free with gossip. She is well liked among other servants, because she can laugh at herself. Unfortunately, she’s also somewhat dimwitted and gullible. She often accepts the first explanation that is offered and doesn’t stop to think whether something is true or not. Therefore, in her eagerness to gossip, she sometimes gets the details mixed-up. Hilla is a pretty good worker most of the time, but has a tendency to drift into daydreaming. One thing that sets her apart from the other maids is that she can read a little, which is a real help to the cook, who can write down recipes for Hilla. Whether she actually follows them is another matter.
Hilla is easily impressed with wealth and it doesn’t take much of a well-dressed man to do or say to make her feel special. Although she’s had a few judgment lapses in her past, she is in no habit of sleeping with random men who pay her a compliment; she is waiting for her Prince Charming. Upon meeting Lucas of Arun she started to believe he could be that man. However, their friendship has turned sour recently and Hilla doesn’t really understand why. She is bitter but still hopeful that things will turn out for the best. Anyway, she is done with spending time with rough-mannered men from her own social class.
Hilla was taught to obey her elders and to pledge allegiance to the King, but lately she has been a bit unsure who the real King is, Richard or John. So, Hilla thinks it’s best to just obey her imminent masters, even if they are cruel. This attitude doesn’t stop her from being interested in the doings of Robin Hood and his outlaws, as they trigger a lot of talk in the kitchen.
As much as Hilla enjoys the hustle and bustle of Nottingham street life, her favorite pastime is to go for a walk in the countryside, sit by a river and listen to the birds. When sad, she finds solace in the memories of her happy childhood.
Background:
Hometown: Born in Lambley (north of Nottingham), but she has no connections there anymore.
Family: Father Redwald (deceased), mother Hilda (deceased), brother Henry (33, if he’s alive). Foster parents: Thomas the Forester and his wife Anne, whom Hilla regards as her real parents.
History: Hilla was the last child of Redwald and Hilda, poor serfs living in outskirts of Lambley. By the time she was born, her only living sibling was her older brother Henry, then 15 years old. Six other children born to the family had been stillborns or died young. When Hilla was barely two there was a serious outbreak of fever in the village and both her parents died. 17-year-old Henry had no means of taking care of his sister, but luckily the forester of Sherwood and his wife, who lived nearby, gladly took her in. They were an elderly couple with no children of their own. Henry told them that he was going to try to make his living in the south, but nothing is known of his whereabouts anymore. Hilla has always regarded her caretakers as her true parents and she was called “Forester’s Hilla” thoughout her childhood.
As a young girl Hilla was good-natured, kind and a little timid. Life was isolated in the little cottage in the forest, but she was quite contented playing by herself. The Foresters were God-fearing people and once a month they made the journey to Kirklees Abbey to hear Mass. Hilla was fascinated about the lives of nuns; they seemed so serene and happy. She even thought about joining the convent. However, that was not to be. When she was just fourteen, a son of a good friend of the Forester came to visit. He ended up staying a fortnight during which time Hilla heard tales of a life more interesting than what she had thought possible. The visitor found the starry-eyed girl a willing listener and an easy conquest. Thinking he was in love with her, Hilla was soon in his arms. A few days later the man was gone, leaving the little cottage all quiet again and - as it turned out later - Hilla with a child. However, her body was too immature to carry the pregnancy full-term and she lost the child before her parents learned about it. All they realized was that she became very absent-minded and started dreaming about a handsome prince who would change her life.
When summer 1189 came Hilla’s mood had picked up and she decided to find employment in Nottingham. Edward Fitzwalter was still the Sheriff and out of kindness more than anything else, he promised Hilla a position as a kitchen maid at the Castle. At first it was difficult to get used to living among so many people in a noisy and smelly environment, but eventually she grew to like the busy town with all its diversions. At the end of the year Vaizey claimed the title of the Sheriff and subsequently made Hilla’s father redundant, nominating a new man as the forester. Thomas and Anne moved to Nottingham because Thomas’s brother John, a jeweler, was able to help him find lodgings and some work. Although her family is close by, Hilla sleeps at the servants’ quarters at the Castle, because she needs to be working at daybreak. Also, at her parents’ tiny hut the only place for her to sleep is on the floor near the fireplace. Like a dutiful daughter, Hilla always makes sure to visit her parents on her free evenings and during holidays.
Writing Sample:
(Title?)
Who: Hilla the Maid
What: Hilla meets William de Stuteville, one of the guests at the Castle
Where: Nottingham Caste
When: 13th of September, midday
“Finally,” Hilla exclaimed when a delivery boy arrived with two wicker baskets full of bread. She took one of the loaves and said approvingly, “Good, but we still need more.” The boy nodded and disappeared. Hilla turned to the cook. “It wasn’t a bad idea to ask Egbert’s widow to bake the breads. Saves us a lot of work.”
The cook gave a sigh. That was true, she thought while stirring the porridge, but it still bothered her pride that not all food being served was made at the Castle.
“Shall I take these to the hall right away?,” Hilla asked.
The cook looked up at her. She preferred to keep the talkative maid of hers out of the way of important guests, but there was nobody else present that she could ask, either. The other girls were busy at work and the scullery maid… no, inappropriate. “Yes, you can go,” she agreed, “but don’t dawdle in there longer than you must! I need you here.”
As soon as Hilla was out the kitchen door, she took off her scarf and folded it neatly in the pocket of her apron. She fluffed her long hair. With a bit of luck she might see the young man she’d met the day before; Lucas of something. He had a foreign name and a lovely foreign accent, too. Hilla smiled to herself thinking about him. Then she picked up the baskets and walked briskly to the hall.
~*~*~
There was a group of older men at the end of the long table nearest to the door. Hilla walked to them. “Excuse me, my lords. Some bread, perhaps?”
Before she could blink an eye, a firm hand had pulled her onto a man’s lap. A roar of laughter from the others caught everyone’s attention in the hall. Instinctively Hilla tried to squirm her way up, worrying she would drop the baskets, but that just made the man hold his hand around her waist even tighter.
“Hey, lass, calm down,” the man spoke into her ear. “I’m not going to eat you.”
Hilla turned to face the man and chuckled softly. “No? Will you offer a drink then?”
The man lifted his cup of ale to Hilla’s lips, but just then another man’s hand pushed it down.
“George, let her go,” a silver-haired man spoke up, then addressing Hilla. “That’s the kind of talk that will get you into trouble, girl.”
Hilla was flustered. She didn’t need to be rescued, but the man seemed genuinely concerned. “Thank you, sir.” She got up and placed one of the bread baskets on the table.
“I am Willian de Stuteville and I’m sorry I haven’t seen you here before. What is your name?”
“Hilla, my lord. I don’t usually serve tables.”
“Well, Hilla, I think you should continue your work,” de Stuteville said returning to his seat.
As Hilla hurried to take the other basket to another table she saw the stern face of Sir Guy glaring at her from across the room. She felt a knot in her stomach. Hopefully he wouldn’t tell the cook about her.
Anything else?
Since Hilla was originally a NPC created by Sir Lucatz, I don’t mind if she is still casually mentioned by other characters as long as I know about it beforehand or soon afterwards, so that I don’t accidentally write her doing something else at the same time. Basically I’m talking about stuff like “I saw Hilla at the market place, but she didn’t notice me waving at her”. The only thing I hope is that nobody writes anything that changes her story. Thank you.
((ooc: thank you haecvir and hulamoth for all your help))
HILLA, the kitchen maid
Basics:
Name: Hilla (Forester’s Hilla)
Nicknames: -
Age and DoB: 18, born in the beginning of the year 1175
Gender: Female
Relationship: Single. Has had a few “relationships” which she’s not ashamed of, but she doesn’t talk about them up-front.
Occupation/Rank/Title: Kitchen maid at Nottingham Castle
Contact Information: PM
Appearance:
Height: 5’3”
Eye Color: Green/brown hazel
Hair: Long and brown. At work she should keep it braided and under a scarf, but she doesn’t always obey this rule (she’s a bit vain about her hair).
Distinguishing features: -
Played by: young Helena Bonham Carter
Style: She wears simple servants’ clothes made of wool or linen; gray and brown dresses with an apron. She has one everyday dress of her own which doubles as her Sunday best when it’s clean. She has a long embroidered belt that goes around her waist twice and hangs low in the front.
Personality:
Hilla is cheeky, friendly, very talkative and free with gossip. She is well liked among other servants, because she can laugh at herself. Unfortunately, she’s also somewhat dimwitted and gullible. She often accepts the first explanation that is offered and doesn’t stop to think whether something is true or not. Therefore, in her eagerness to gossip, she sometimes gets the details mixed-up. Hilla is a pretty good worker most of the time, but has a tendency to drift into daydreaming. One thing that sets her apart from the other maids is that she can read a little, which is a real help to the cook, who can write down recipes for Hilla. Whether she actually follows them is another matter.
Hilla is easily impressed with wealth and it doesn’t take much of a well-dressed man to do or say to make her feel special. Although she’s had a few judgment lapses in her past, she is in no habit of sleeping with random men who pay her a compliment; she is waiting for her Prince Charming. Upon meeting Lucas of Arun she started to believe he could be that man. However, their friendship has turned sour recently and Hilla doesn’t really understand why. She is bitter but still hopeful that things will turn out for the best. Anyway, she is done with spending time with rough-mannered men from her own social class.
Hilla was taught to obey her elders and to pledge allegiance to the King, but lately she has been a bit unsure who the real King is, Richard or John. So, Hilla thinks it’s best to just obey her imminent masters, even if they are cruel. This attitude doesn’t stop her from being interested in the doings of Robin Hood and his outlaws, as they trigger a lot of talk in the kitchen.
As much as Hilla enjoys the hustle and bustle of Nottingham street life, her favorite pastime is to go for a walk in the countryside, sit by a river and listen to the birds. When sad, she finds solace in the memories of her happy childhood.
Background:
Hometown: Born in Lambley (north of Nottingham), but she has no connections there anymore.
Family: Father Redwald (deceased), mother Hilda (deceased), brother Henry (33, if he’s alive). Foster parents: Thomas the Forester and his wife Anne, whom Hilla regards as her real parents.
History: Hilla was the last child of Redwald and Hilda, poor serfs living in outskirts of Lambley. By the time she was born, her only living sibling was her older brother Henry, then 15 years old. Six other children born to the family had been stillborns or died young. When Hilla was barely two there was a serious outbreak of fever in the village and both her parents died. 17-year-old Henry had no means of taking care of his sister, but luckily the forester of Sherwood and his wife, who lived nearby, gladly took her in. They were an elderly couple with no children of their own. Henry told them that he was going to try to make his living in the south, but nothing is known of his whereabouts anymore. Hilla has always regarded her caretakers as her true parents and she was called “Forester’s Hilla” thoughout her childhood.
As a young girl Hilla was good-natured, kind and a little timid. Life was isolated in the little cottage in the forest, but she was quite contented playing by herself. The Foresters were God-fearing people and once a month they made the journey to Kirklees Abbey to hear Mass. Hilla was fascinated about the lives of nuns; they seemed so serene and happy. She even thought about joining the convent. However, that was not to be. When she was just fourteen, a son of a good friend of the Forester came to visit. He ended up staying a fortnight during which time Hilla heard tales of a life more interesting than what she had thought possible. The visitor found the starry-eyed girl a willing listener and an easy conquest. Thinking he was in love with her, Hilla was soon in his arms. A few days later the man was gone, leaving the little cottage all quiet again and - as it turned out later - Hilla with a child. However, her body was too immature to carry the pregnancy full-term and she lost the child before her parents learned about it. All they realized was that she became very absent-minded and started dreaming about a handsome prince who would change her life.
When summer 1189 came Hilla’s mood had picked up and she decided to find employment in Nottingham. Edward Fitzwalter was still the Sheriff and out of kindness more than anything else, he promised Hilla a position as a kitchen maid at the Castle. At first it was difficult to get used to living among so many people in a noisy and smelly environment, but eventually she grew to like the busy town with all its diversions. At the end of the year Vaizey claimed the title of the Sheriff and subsequently made Hilla’s father redundant, nominating a new man as the forester. Thomas and Anne moved to Nottingham because Thomas’s brother John, a jeweler, was able to help him find lodgings and some work. Although her family is close by, Hilla sleeps at the servants’ quarters at the Castle, because she needs to be working at daybreak. Also, at her parents’ tiny hut the only place for her to sleep is on the floor near the fireplace. Like a dutiful daughter, Hilla always makes sure to visit her parents on her free evenings and during holidays.
Writing Sample:
(Title?)
Who: Hilla the Maid
What: Hilla meets William de Stuteville, one of the guests at the Castle
Where: Nottingham Caste
When: 13th of September, midday
“Finally,” Hilla exclaimed when a delivery boy arrived with two wicker baskets full of bread. She took one of the loaves and said approvingly, “Good, but we still need more.” The boy nodded and disappeared. Hilla turned to the cook. “It wasn’t a bad idea to ask Egbert’s widow to bake the breads. Saves us a lot of work.”
The cook gave a sigh. That was true, she thought while stirring the porridge, but it still bothered her pride that not all food being served was made at the Castle.
“Shall I take these to the hall right away?,” Hilla asked.
The cook looked up at her. She preferred to keep the talkative maid of hers out of the way of important guests, but there was nobody else present that she could ask, either. The other girls were busy at work and the scullery maid… no, inappropriate. “Yes, you can go,” she agreed, “but don’t dawdle in there longer than you must! I need you here.”
As soon as Hilla was out the kitchen door, she took off her scarf and folded it neatly in the pocket of her apron. She fluffed her long hair. With a bit of luck she might see the young man she’d met the day before; Lucas of something. He had a foreign name and a lovely foreign accent, too. Hilla smiled to herself thinking about him. Then she picked up the baskets and walked briskly to the hall.
~*~*~
There was a group of older men at the end of the long table nearest to the door. Hilla walked to them. “Excuse me, my lords. Some bread, perhaps?”
Before she could blink an eye, a firm hand had pulled her onto a man’s lap. A roar of laughter from the others caught everyone’s attention in the hall. Instinctively Hilla tried to squirm her way up, worrying she would drop the baskets, but that just made the man hold his hand around her waist even tighter.
“Hey, lass, calm down,” the man spoke into her ear. “I’m not going to eat you.”
Hilla turned to face the man and chuckled softly. “No? Will you offer a drink then?”
The man lifted his cup of ale to Hilla’s lips, but just then another man’s hand pushed it down.
“George, let her go,” a silver-haired man spoke up, then addressing Hilla. “That’s the kind of talk that will get you into trouble, girl.”
Hilla was flustered. She didn’t need to be rescued, but the man seemed genuinely concerned. “Thank you, sir.” She got up and placed one of the bread baskets on the table.
“I am Willian de Stuteville and I’m sorry I haven’t seen you here before. What is your name?”
“Hilla, my lord. I don’t usually serve tables.”
“Well, Hilla, I think you should continue your work,” de Stuteville said returning to his seat.
As Hilla hurried to take the other basket to another table she saw the stern face of Sir Guy glaring at her from across the room. She felt a knot in her stomach. Hopefully he wouldn’t tell the cook about her.
Anything else?
Since Hilla was originally a NPC created by Sir Lucatz, I don’t mind if she is still casually mentioned by other characters as long as I know about it beforehand or soon afterwards, so that I don’t accidentally write her doing something else at the same time. Basically I’m talking about stuff like “I saw Hilla at the market place, but she didn’t notice me waving at her”. The only thing I hope is that nobody writes anything that changes her story. Thank you.
((ooc: thank you haecvir and hulamoth for all your help))