[Amanaduial the archer]

"Another? Well, well, you have been busy since we last saw you, Pio," Aman's cheeky comment and familiar, droll voice made Pio turn, a smile upon her face. Aman's small smiled immediately lit up into a huge grin which she couldn't resist as she stepped forward from the doorway, arms out, embracing her friend tightly. Then, as the news actually sunk in, she shyed back slightly, an apology on her lips and a hand towards Pio's stomach. "Oh, goodness Pio, I'm sorr-"

"Don't be, don't be!" Pio laughed, shaking her head, then hugged Aman again. "Its brilliant to see you again."

"And you. You look...radiant." The word seemed to fit the elf perfectly - she seemed to practically be glowing from head to toe. Aman inclined a head to Mithadan, holding out a hand. "You have taken good care of her, Mithadan."

The man smiled, shaking Aman's hand firmly wuth both of his. He too looked well, if a little tired, but his eyes twinkled with the same happiness which practically radiated from Pio. He winked. "I do my best, Aman."

"And what about you - have you been taking care of my Inn, hmmm?" Pio took on a mock severe voice, hands, now free of babies which Ruby and Buttercup were cooing at and cradling, on hips. Aman grinned, then became seemingly more serious, ticking off points on her fingers as she spoke.

"It has been pretty uneventful, you know. I mean, there was of course that incident with the stag night which was a little too rowdy, but the ale stains came off eventually." A shadow of doubt flickered across Pio's face, and Aman continued, her face still straight. "Then there was the horse thief, but they only made of with five or six purebreeds. And the debt, but I'm sure it can be redeemed, we'll surely be able to pay off 6,000 gold pieces to Butterbur eventually..."

"And the fire - don't worry, we put it out eventually -" Ruby interjected, catching onto the charade.

"Fire? What-" Pio exclaimed, panicking, but Buttercup interrupted.

"Not to mention the duelling match between the two hobbits -" Buttercup was almost giggling, and Pio's face was becoming more and more concerned.

"And the robbery-"
"The dancing oliphaunts-"
"The flying pigs!" Both hobbit waitresses and the Innkeeper couldn't help the fits of laughter finally getting the better of them at the expression on Pio's face, rising steadily to panic, more panic, downright horror...then realisation. She raised an eyebrow, grinning with them, while Mithadan behind them was also doing his best to keep a straight face.

"I take it that means all was well?"

Aman smiled, nodding slowly. "Aye, nothing too devastating, I'm sure...come, have a drink, I'm sure there will be plenty who would be delighted to wish you back."

As the lady of Rohan guided Pio and Mithadan into the common room, accompanied by Ruby and Buttercup and their eager torrent of news, she brushed a swathe of her blonde-streaked hair back behind her ears, and her eyes once again met those light grey, solemn ones near the fire. Auryn looked away almost immediately, but Aman couldn't help watching him for a few more moments. His fingers seemed to be unfurling with his curiosity, and she noted, for some absurd reason, their length and slimness. Clever fingers...forcing herself not to stare, she turned back to her old friend and her little family, chattering away with them all.

"Ah Beren. I don't believe you've met Pio, have you?"

Aman may not have noticed that the grey gaze of the Gondorian returned inquisitively to her, but another observed it...