The White Tower Pub and Inn

[Eowyn]

"Well, I plan to stay here for a while. Maybe - if you didn't erased all evil beeings - there is something I could help with in future. What do you think?"

[Envin]

"That seems well to me," Aragorn answered, nodding. "Arwen and I should be glad of thy company, and thou shalt stay in the Citadel near us. But is thy husband permissive of thy staying away from him for so long?"

[Eowyn]

Eowyn smiled. "Ah, he actually encouraged me. I think I am pretty annoying when I am bored. And he is very busy with Ithilien. You know, he takes his dutys for his King absolutely serious."

[Nefertiti]

The night had become a rather chill one as the hours passed on, and a lone traveler could be seen making her way up the streets of the White City. Her horse was the color of the darkest ebony, and as Nefertiti dismounted before the Pub, the steed made no unnecessary movements. The woman tethered him to a pole, lowering her hood as she entered the jolly buildling. The heat from the fire warmed her at once, and she was tempted to remove her gloves from her hands. She finally did as she seated herself in the far back, revealing slender fingers and nails that were colored gold. Her dark eyes wandered about the room, scanning back and forth from person to person, when finally they stopped. Was this a place that the Lord Aragorn visited often? One could not miss him in such a place as this, for he was widely known about the lands of Middle Earth. Nefertiti also took not of the woman to whom he was talking. Certainly, this was not his wife...she'd heard rumor that the Lord had wed an elf woman.

It was a few moments before someone came to her table and asked if she was interested in a drink. Surely it was not customary for the bartender to visit each table, but he must have been eager for her to purchase something. She ordered a simple ale, smirking as she lifted it to her lips and sipped from the glass. "Thank you," her voice was hushed and low so as not to attract unneeded attention.

[Envin]

"Good indeed is that, and I have ever known Faramir to be a good and faithful servant," Aragorn answered. "Oft have I mused at how odd a match the twain of ye are, if I may employ that word. He, so quiet and reticent, and thou, so ready to take up sword. But maybe the restful life in Ithilien hath quieted the wild spirit of the White Lady," he added with his eyes twinkling. He took a drink from his mug and glanced about the room. The day was drawing to a close and the workmen of Minas Tirith were beginning to wend their ways into the welcoming warmth of the pub, ordering rounds for themselves and their comrades. He smiled as he observed his peaceful people, the legacy of his fathers, and took pride and simple pleasure in the knowledge that he had aided in making their lives as glad as they might be.

But his keen eyes did not fail to espy the woman who slipped into the crowd and took a remote table in the far shadow. Though his eyes did not long rest upon her, he was struck by her appearance, and could not recall ever seeing her ere now. He sighed and took another pull at his pipe.

[Nefertiti]

Nefertiti grew more comfortable with the fair sized pub as the evening wore on. The heat from the fire was very satisfying and it wasn't long before she shrugged off her cloak, draping it over the back of her chair. This movement revealed a black dress, and equally black hair that tumbled down over her shoulders. She drank a while longer from her glass of ale before it was gone, and she gestured for the bartender to fill it back up. He did so quickly and was back about his business.

Nefertiti caught the glance of the Lord Aragorn and smirked, but soon returned her attention to the table before her. That was when her ears caught the distinct sound of hissing eminating from the folds of her cloak. "Hush, Kartan." She whispered to the snake, and the hissing ceased. The woman tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, glanced about the room casually to make sure no one had overheard her. After all, it would look rather odd to be talking to one's garment.

It wasn't long before Nefertiti noticed the black tail of the serpant as it slithered across the wooden floor of the pub. "No!" She whispered hastily to the creature, but it was to late. It had already disappeared amongst the crowd. Gracefully, the woman scooped up her glass and began to weave her way through the crowd, pretending as if she were just walking about looking for someone. A few half-hearted smiles were offered as she passed people by, but finally she spotted the snake. He was wound around the leg of the table at which Lord Aragorn was seated. Nefertiti rolled her eyes and quickly made her way over. "Pardon my intrusion, but you have my serpant." She gestured toward the bottom of the table with a brief wave of her hand, afraid to come to near without permission.

[Eowyn]

Eowyn grinned about Aragorns words. "Certainly not," she said. She saw from the corner of her eye the new guest enter. She took her seat and after a short while she raised and came to their table. Once she pointed to the ground, Eowyn saw the tail of the snake near Aragorns foot and bursted out in laughter. "Such a little bugger. Did he escape? Be carefully Aragorn, don't hurt that poor beast."

[Envin]

Aragorn's eyes flitted down to the table leg where the scaly beast was wound, glancing up at the three with a shifty gaze. He chuckled, and gestured Nefertiti toward one of the seats at the table. Then he bent down slowly toward Kartan, who looked at him distrustfully. But he swfitly reached out with quick reflexes and snatched the snake up by the back of its head, and thoguh it might thrash and make moan and hiss, it could not free itself. Aragorn smiled, and handed the serpent to Nefertiti.

"Now, that sort of thing is quite uncommon in this part of the world, m'lady," said Aragorn. "Deserving of a tale, at least, is this to we humble folk of Gondor. Come, sit thee down here, I shall purchase thee another ale, and thou shalt spin one for us."

[Nefertiti]

Nefertiti was slightly surprised by the light haired woman's laughter, but she said nothing of it. Instead she replied, "Yes, he did...escape." It wasn't exactly the right word, for he'd never been in 'captivity' in the first place - but it sounded good enough. The desert woman reached out and took the snake from the Lord Aragorn's grasp. The creature quickly coiled itself about her arm, albeit loosely, grateful to be back in its master's care. It amused Nefertiti that Aragorn had been so quick to grab the creature...and it made her wonder if he knew of the poison that the beast contained. Oh well, it mattered naught now. Kartan was safely back in her possession.

A smirk formed upon Nefertiti's lips at Aragorn's request for a tale. Surely, she had enough to go around for everyone...but that did not exactly mean she was willing to share them all. But it was a simple tale he wanted. Just one to explain the appearance of the snake - and herself - she would guess. The woman wound her way around to the chair to which he'd gestured, and slid into it gracefully. She pushed her dark hair back over her shoulders as she leaned forward, allowing the serpant to coil on the edge of the table. Kartan was still glancing warily from time to time at the one who'd picked him up earlier, not all too sure about his position.

"It is a tale you want?" Nefertiti asked in a smooth voice. It was obvious she was a slick talker, and could probably manage her way in or out of any situation if she were given the chance to speak and work her feminine charms. "The tale of my arival is not all that exciting I'm afraid. I was born in Haradwraith, though have not been there all of my life." She paused, sipping from her glass as the waiter brought her another, the liquid seemed to be having no effect on her as of yet. "I am merely paying Gondor a visit now. Just passing through." Nefertiti's dark eyes glanced downward toward the snake. "Kartan is from the desert - though I'm sure you could have guessed that." She smiled, glancing first to the woman, then to the Lord Aragorn as her speaking ceased.

[Eowyn]

Eowyn smiled at the snake. "How did you become such a friendly relationship to each other? The reptiles in this part of middle earth are less interested in company with men, I suppose." She looked up to the women from Haradwaith. "I never had the luck to call one of this creatures my serpant. You seem to have amazing skills. Ah, how rude of me. I am Eowyn by the way, nice to meet you." She bend her neck slightly in a greeting and took her mug for taking another sip.

[Envin]

"And I am Aragorn, called Elessar, though thou mayest have known this ere now. I have oft been afar afield, to places where the stars are strange, e'en to the far reaches of Rhun and Harad. I have seen many a slithering friend such as thy tricksy comrade here, and all they that I have met have not been nice. It is odd that thy friendship should be so fast and sure. But what make thee in Gondor, good lady? And what may we call thee?"

[Nefertiti]

The woman's dark eyes glanced back and forth between the two as they took turns speaking. She too took another sip from her glass and placed it back upon the wood of the table top. She ran her fingers gently over the snake's head. "T'was no fast and sure friendship. It took time, to be sure." The light of the fire flicked, and she glanced toward it briefly before returning her attention to the table. After a nod toward Eowyn as she introduced herself, she spoke as well. "I am known as Nefertiti." The woman's brow furrowed as she thought for a moment. "I have heard of you," she said to Lord Aragorn, "is this maiden thy wife?" It seemed a legitimate question to her.

[Eowyn]

Eowyn chuckled. "I am not his wife, just a friend of old deeds." she said and looked with a grin to Aragorn.

[Envin]

"Nay indeed, m'lady," Aragorn chuckled. "This is the Lady Eowyn, the wife of the Steward of Gondor, who dwelleth in Emyn Arnen in the sight of the City. She is here enjoying a holiday from the rebuilding of Ithilien pursuant to the woes of Dindaedel. Nefertiti is an odd name, one that I do not recall ever hearing ere now. Is't a family name? Art thou aquainted with anyone in Gondor?"

[Nefertiti]

Nefertiti nodded with a smirk, not the least embarassed by her mistake, and definitely showing that it was so. She did wonder briefly, however, if the Lord Aragorn's wife new he was here with this woman. But then, maybe to her it did not matter. Pushing such thoughts aside, the maiden sipped from her glass, pondering Aragorn's first question.

"My name?" She drummed her golden fingernails on the table top. "It is just a name." Nefertiti could think of nothing significant revolving around it, nor could she remember why her mother and father had chosen it. Ha! She could not even remember her mother and father...much less their reason for naming her. Nefertiti spun her glass around on the table slowly, looking at it from every angle as though it were very interesting.