[Encaitare]

The sunlight was slanting through the window, warm and welcoming -- and firmly aimed at Caity's eyes. She squinted at the offending light, mumbled something to herself about being awoken at the crack of dawn, and then remembered where she was. The events of the previous evening suddenly came back to her, and she hoped she had not slept too late. She threw the bedsheets off of her and hastened to the window. Fortunately, it did not seem too early, although she could see several people outdoors, carrying tables out onto the grass.

Ah, good. Now all I've got to do is get dressed, find this Gil person, and maybe get some breakfast in along the way, thought the young hobbit, hurrying to her now dry pack and withdrawing a package wrapped in oilcloth. Inside was her best dress, green and cream with pale lacing up the sides. She put on the dress, briefly checked her hair in the looking-glass, and left her room.

In the Common Room, a few people were still eating, but many of the tables had already been carried outside. Caity wondered how exactly she was supposed to find Gil. A look around the room, however, was enough to assure her that he was not present -- the hobbit lads there did not have a musician's look. Logic told her that he would be outside with the other young men, carrying the tables and preparing for the handfasting.

So outside she went, pleased to see that the morning sun had driven away the night's chill and damp. Birds were singing in the trees, and everyone seemed excited. Yet there were so many people! How to pick a stranger out of a crowd? She weaved her way through the hobbits and furniture, scanning those she passed.

She was about to ask someone if they knew who Gil was, but then she heard a hobbit's voice:

"Gil! Where should we put this one?" Two hobbits were carrying a large table; the question was answered by another, who was speaking with two tall Men.

"Right over there should do the trick, I think," the one who was presumably Gil responded, pointing to a clear patch of grass.

Feeling rather triumphant, Caity made her way over to the hobbit lad. "Master Gil?" she asked.

"Yes, and a good morning to you, miss!"

"Thank you," she responded, glad to see him offer a friendly smile, and offering a short but polite curtsey. "My name is Caity -- well, Caterine Brandybuck."

"A pleasure to meet you, Caity. Do let me introduce you to Seamus and Owen; they've come to offer their musical services to us this afternoon."

Caity gave them a curtsey as well, although a small feeling of dread was creeping up in her stomach. She knew it was a silly thing to get worked up over, but oh! how badly she wanted to play.

Suddenly a small dark figure jumped out of nowhere and landed on her shoulder. She yelped in surprise, raising her hand to her shoulder only to have a little wiry creature scamper down onto her hand and down her arm. Seamus, Owen, and Gil all laughed, and Caity joined them as soon as she realized that the animal was rather cute, really.

"Don't mind Shimshin; he won't hurt you. Just a harmless little monkey, although he is a formidable dancer," Seamus said with a smile, taking the monkey from Caity's arm to rest upon his own shoulder.

"So what brings you to the Dragon?" Gil said, still chuckling a little at Shimshin's antics. "I trust you've heard about the handfasting?"

"Yes, and I also heard you needed someone to play flute or pennywhistle; I came from Buckland late last night to see if the position had yet been filled." She looked into Gil's eyes, hoping he wouldn't tell her that these Men were all they needed, thank you very much. "Has it?"