[Encaitare]

What an interesting lot of people! Caity thought as she entered the Common Room.

On her way in from her gardening, she had passed a party of several Men, and had cast an amused glance at one of them because of his flamboyant footwear. She had then gone up to her room and washed her grimy fingernails and toenails to the best of her ability. When she was satisfied, she had gone down to the Common Room once more with her whistle in her hand and an ocarina carefully stashed in her pocket, and it seemed that the room had become packed to the brim with unusual characters.

She warily eyed a huge man and his equally huge dog. Its master did not seem dangerous, but the hound was disconcerting in its great size, so she did her best to avoid it. Finding herself a table and sitting down, she idly played a few notes on her whistle as she people-watched. She then began to play a few simple songs, including one tune that she had made up herself. When she looked up again, it seemed that there was some kind of commotion going on across the room. It looked as though Mr. Snaveling and Mr. Headstrong were arguing; then Mithalwen spoke and calmed the eldery hobbit down. The Elf bent over something, or someone; Snaveling exited at a word from her.

Curious, Caity rose and went to see what was happening. She was alarmed to see a young hobbit girl -- Marigold, she believed her name was -- lying on a couch, all scraped up.

"Excuse me, Mithalwen," she said, "I don't mean to be nosy, but what's happened to her? Is she alright?"

Falco grumbled a little but stopped at a glance from the Elf. "She took a spill is all," she responded. "She will be fine in a little while." Mithalwen turned to the lass. "Look, Marigold, you've a visitor already." The girl looked up tiredly.

"Hello," Caity greeted her. "My name's Caity Brandybuck. I hear you're not feeling so well?"

Marigold shook her head a little, but then stopped, wincing as it hurt her.

Caity had an idea; she knelt down beside the couch and drew the ocarina from her pocket. "Have you ever seen one of these before?"

"No," Marigold said with interest. "What is it?"

"It's called an ocarina. It's a musical instrument -- I'll play something for you if you like. What's your favorite song?"