Who is Hilda from The Wolf and the Dove and what is their importance?

Hilda is a woman who lives near Darkenwald. She is set upon by thieves, who burn some of her property and rape and kill her daughter, killing some other members of her family as well. Hilda is crawling to her daughter when Wulfgar arrives at the scene, splits his men and follows the two parties of thieves. Both groups are captured or killed, and Wulfgar gives one of the captured horses to Hilda, though he notes it isn't nearly enough to make up for the loss of her daughter.