Astrid was very understanding of her choice to not participate to the feast. She nodded to Svala and kept stirring the porridge until it was ready. Taking two wooden bowls and two spoons, she handed the two other to Svala before grabbing a larger spoon to serve the porridge. "Yes, indeed." The matron spoke. "I wonder why I apologize. Perhaps it's because I've been in your position a long time ago and know how it feels. I want you to know we want you safe and we want to share everything in this village with you, no matter how much your heart aches." Astrid smiled slightly. "Eventually those scars wille be healed. You will see."<br/><br/>She served Svala first, giving her a generous amount of food and serving her some mead to quench her thirst. Next she moved on to herself and placed a lid over the large pot to keep the porridge hot, just in case Jonas would return or if Inge would be bothered to wake up. When Svala spoke of Jonas, Astrid blinked her eyes slightly but nodded slowly to the idea.<br/><br/>"Yes. In that case I will prepare something for both of you. I hope he comes to his senses and realizes that these things happen all the time, everywhere around us." Astrid sighed and shook her head, taking a sip from her mead. "Not just to the people we barely know, but to our loved ones as well. Perhaps it was a rightful punishment for what we did last night to your village. But this is how I see it and this is why we should accept it. The people we lose will find peace in a better place where we are all bound to go to some day. Some of us just go sooner."<br/><br/>Astrid began eating her porridge. It was a welcome meal after last night. She was tired and felt the weight of one village on her shoulders, as she always did after a raid. Years of experience did not remove the guilt that inevitably came with killing another living being. "Tell me, Svala." She spoke again after a short silence. "Where did you learn such fighting skills? Who taught you how to handle your sword so well?"