[Amanaduial the archer]

Aman was slightly startled by the flirtatious tone and behaviour of the man in front of her, but didn't let it show - it was rather hard to make the unshakeable Innkeeper seem outwardly startled or lose her control completely. Although you came rather close tonight.. she reflected, slipping a glance at Snaveling. The man seemed troubled once more, she noticed, and as she watched her ran a fretful hand through his hair, snagging his fingers on the knots and tats. For a second, the Innkeeper thought to catch his attention, for he had seemed so relaxed and when he was so troubled his resolve might slip...but no, he seemed to make up his mind and stood.

"Aman?"

Aman looked back at the man by the bar and nearly blushed - shame, Aman, to get so distracted when someone is waiting! "Apologies, Bredan, I was a little distracted."

"Hmm, I saw," Bredan seemed thoughtful and sighed as he said this as his eyes followed Snaveling out of the bar. Aman thought it best to change the subject back to business, pulling out the large leather bound ledger from across the bar where another customer had just signed into the Inn.

"Of course you may have a room - although we seem to be getting a little short of late. If you could just put your name here, and sign here with your mark. Thank you.." she smiled at the man and, turning to get it from the wall, she handed him a selected room key. "One with a nice view across the Shire hills there," she added as she gave it to him. His fingers slid across herself and he seemed to blush very slightly.

Aman wasn't sure what the man's intentions were, but he seemed a decent enough fellow - still, it didn't generally pay to get too close to the Inn's denizens. All too soon they all moved on...pictures of several of those she had been good friends with flitted through the Innkeeper's memory, but she moved them to one side, for the time being. But something else troubled the Innkeeper's mind, something she wasn't sure she had seen: just as Snaveling had left the table, he had deposited a gold coin into his pocket, leaving Toby asleep at the table. Of course, it might have been his; but hadn't he said before that he had no money to pay his way? You saw him, Aman - he is a different man from the callous would-be murderer who first set fire to the trees. Toby probably gave it to him - Snaveling would not now stoop to stealing from his friend... Aman couldn't help dwelling on the man: he was fascinating, a melancholy, bitter enigma of a character, under which lay a gentleman, she was sure....

The firelight lit the side of the man's sallow face as he approached the woman, and his voice was oddly soft, not his usual harsh tone as he kissed her hand. "My lady...-"

"You're a fool, Amanaduial - you did well to take your hand from his. You know nothing solid about the man and what sort of gossip would you like to give the people of the Shire?" She shook her head, smiling self-mockingly. Rubbing her eyes, she stifled a yawn: it had been a long day and she was tired.

Moving briskly across to the little group of hobbits who sat chatting amiably further along the bar, Aman grinned at them. "Evening ladies, anyone need a drink?"