[Amanaduial the archer]

The Innkeeper grinned widely at one of the regulars as she delivered another ale to him, and he attempted drunkenly to flirt with her hopelessly. Aman laughed with him and pretended to scold him. Luckily, he was too drunk to realise that her laugh was slightly strained. Walking back to the bar, Aman cast her eyes around the room lightly, checking that the denizens of the busy room seemed content, for now at least. Her eyes caught on Snaveling and her step faltered slightly, before she looked away, holding her head high. As she avertd her gaze from the raven haired man, her eyes caught those of another: Derufin. For a moment, they held, and he cocked his head onto one side through the haze of pipe smoke in front of his face, his dark eyes searching hers. Aman returned the gaze for a second, then turned away, walking back to the bar, ignoring his concerned look.

What does he know? From the look of Snaveling now, he would think him a respectable man, as they all do: when he came first he was nothing of the sort, a ruffian, mistrusted by all...nearly all... Aman recalled how she had listened to Snaveling and shown him kindness, where Roa had shown him only spite. Did that count for nothing?

Ringing the bell at the bar, she called, "Supper ending now, ladies and gents, last orders for food now please!" Closing her eyes for a few moments, she felt the ache in her limbs and her head: she had not rested since she had come in from riding from the East Road, and from several hours riding her limbs were stiff and protested. She needed to sleep...

No. He might see it as defeat. He would not defeat her, he and his precious ranger woman. And so she kept on, not aware of how far she was pushing herself, mentally and physically - but it was noticed by the stablemaster, watching her with his still eyes, and the black Numenorian on the other side...