The sun was overhead when Tatiania turned and made her way up the stairs to the Pony. She hadn't wanted to stop at all, but she was low on supplies and knew it would take a couple of days to get to Thorin's Hall on the old nag she'd been lucky to buy off a farmer for cheap.
Entering the dimly lit room, she glanced around at the smattering of patrons before striding purposefully up to the counter. As Bariman was busy helping someone, she took a moment to open a small pouch and count out what remained of the coins she'd made doing odd jobs for the lady. It'd have been more - the lady sure was stupid when it came to money, despite her intelligence - but Tatiania had absolutely refused, stating she'd not take what she hadn't earned.
"Can I help you with something?" she heard, and looked up to see Barliman standing there, tapping a finger on the counter.
"I need a few supplies for a trip," Tatiania replied, giving Barliman a list of what she required and waited for him to tally everything up.
Barliman looked back up from his adding, pointing his finger at his hastily written list. "That'll be 6 silver, 36 copper," he said, holding his hand out.
"Damn," Tatiania muttered under her breath, "doesn't leave me much." However, she nodded, counted out the coins into his palm and, after watching him shuffle towards the back, turned to lean against the counter while she waited.
"Hey Barli!" a voice shouted out from beside her, "my friends an' I need a refill!"
Tatiania looked at the speaker from the corner of her eye, noting he seemed to be one of the locals that frequented the bar. He was seemingly drunk and reeking of ale, and Tatiania snorted lightly, turning her attention back to the counter as Barliman returned with the package of supplies.
"Barli," the man said loudly, obviously deaf from inebriation. "My friends an' I, we want another round, and," he added, throwing an arm around Tatiania's shoulder, "whatever th' lass here wants too."
Every muscle in her body stiffened at the contact, and Tatiania jerked away from the man, giving him a disdainful glare. "How about you piss off mister," she said, "I can buy my own damn drinks." She picked up her supplies, nodding curtly towards Barliman, who was pouring the round of ales and turned to leave.
The drunk, recovered from his surprise, called out to his friends at the table, "well she's a right unfriendly little b****, ain't she?", receiving a round of raucous laughter in reply.
Tatiania merely smiled to herself as she left. "And don't you forget it, mister," she whispered.
