[Amanaduial the archer]

Amanaduial tilted her head to one side as the copper was offered to her. The woman on the other side of the bar gave an anxious, hopeful smile in return, and brushed a strand of heair behind her ear nervously, then placed the coin on the bar between them.

"Watered wine, please." She repeated, even more politely, her voice quiet. This was a woman who was evidently used to being turned down.

Aman pushed the coin back over the bar. The woman's face immediately fell, and she took her coin and turned to go. Aman leant over and caught her shoulder. At this she spun around, as if thinking she would be caught. "No, nothing like that!" Aman laughed, quick to explain. "No, not that either. Drinks are on the house, have been all day."

"Free?" The woman inquired quietly, as if not sure of the word. Aman laughed again and nodded.

"Aye. Tis my first day of work- the Innkeeper Pio left earlier today after the birth of her twins, and I'm standing in. Can I get you anything? Not watered wine," She added hastily. "How about a cider? Or a pint? Anything you wish, and it is free, honestly."

The woman here regarded her with a look of suspicion, as if she was about to turn around and renounce it all. Then, slowly, she smiled back. "Well...well then, can I have a wine. White, please."

Aman smiled and got the requested beverage. She gave it to the woman, then offered her hand. "Shall we start again? Aman, not an ogerish innkeeper, not about to turn you out, and quite ready to give you a room for the night."

The elf smiled bashfully and took her hand. "My name is Vanwe." She replied.

As she did so, another came in. Aman caught her out of the corner of her eye and smiled to see another newcomer. She inclined her head to a hobbit who was near the newcomer and nodded at his inquiring look. The woman saw the hobbit now and walked up to him, a small, polite smile on her face.

"Hello, I'm new around here and I was wondering if you by chance new where the innkeeper was." Aman picked up the words from across the room, quiet as they were. The hobbit smiled, and obligingly pointed in the direction of Aman, and said a few words Aman didnt quite catch. The newcomer looked over, caught Aman's eye, then nodded to and thanked the hobbit, before beginning to make her way over.

"A friend of yours?" Vanwe inquired, getting a little bolder now she was grasping that she was welcome.

"Nay, few around her would be. I am from Rohan, a pretty distance from this neck of the woods. Where is it you hail from?"