The section in italics is quoted directly from the book.

Chapter Four

Iris was having a wonderful day so far. Her first breakfast had been nice and light, just enough to get her started; followed by a good hour in the garden where her prize winning tomatoes were growing nicely. Then a slightly heartier second breakfast of oatmeal with fresh picked berries from the garden to sweeten it a touch.

With just herself in the large Smail, it was easy to keep everything clean, only needing to tidy up after herself. Once the morning dishes were complete, she found herself with a mite bit of time before elevensies and her planned trip to the market before lunch. She grabbed her pipe, a book to loose herself in and wandered out to the front to the bench her papa put in for her mother in the garden.

Lighting her pipe, she took a drag, closed her eyes and leaned back to take in the sun. Only to have her relaxation disturbed by the smoke coming back into her face. When she opened her eyes, there was a tall elderly man standing in front of her. He was wearing a tall pointed blue hat, a long gray cloak, a silver scarf over which his long white beard hung down below his waist, and immense black books.

"Good Morning!" said Iris, and she meant it. The sun was shining and the grass was very green. But the old man looked at her from under long bushy eyebrows that stuck out further than the brim of his shady hat.

"What do you mean?" he said. "Do you wish me a good morning, or mean that it is a good morning whether I want it or not; or that you feel good this morning; or that it is a good morning to be good on?"

"All of them at once," said Iris. "And a very fine morning for a pipe of tobacco out of doors, in the bargain. If you have a pipe about you, sit down and have a fill of mine! There's no hurry, we have all the day before us!" she said with exuberance, moving over a little bench to make room for him. She was much more welcoming to outsiders than other Hobbits. She didn't see the point of making bigger folk feel unwelcome, as her own heritage showed they could get along.

"I would be most delighted Mistress," he opened the gate and took the offered seat, while pulling out his own pipe. "I was hoping to speak with you this fine morning." he said around a mouthful of pipe, the blew out a ring.

She turned her head to look at him a little more closely, "And why would that be Master…" "Gandalf." "Gandalf. Wait, not Gandalf the Gray?" she grinned. "My mother and grandfather told such wonderful stories about you."

He chuckled, "I'm glad to hear there wasn't just stories of how I am a disturber of the peace."

"Oh I heard many of those stories of those as well from my papa." she smirked.

"And yet you have not tossed me out of your yard, Mistress. I am impressed."

"It would be completely improper of me to invite a guest to sit and share a pipe, then to chase them away only moments later Master Gandalf." She looked properly scandalized. "Though, again, I must ask why you have sought me out this fine morning, good sir?"

"One thing that has never changed, a hobbits sense of good manors." He looked as if he was holding in a bit of a laugh as he took another drag off his pipe. "I am looking for someone to go on an adventure."

"Truly? And you believe that you would find someone on this side of the Brandywine that would be willing to leave their Smail for any length of time?"

"I would have thought that the daughter of Belladonna Took," he looked down at her, "would have the spark to visit some where other than the Shire."

"Master Gandalf, my mother's heart was broken the last time she left the Shire at your insistence. I fear that I do not wish that to happen to myself."

"I would not be able to promise you young Mistress that your heart would not be stirred by the adventures that would follow, yet I believe many of your questions would be answered."

Huffing and chewing on the end of her pipe, "When would this adventure begin?"

"The rest of the company would arrive this evening and explain the whole of it. Then we would leave early tomorrow morning." He stood up, while tucking his pipe away.

"And I expect they would be expecting dinner then?" Oh her shopping trip was going to be so much more extensive then usual. "How many will I be feeding?" She paused for a moment, "TOMORROW? That is not near enough time of notice! I have to set a will, make sure my lands are cared for. And make sure that the Sackville-Baggins don't try and take my home while I'm gone. I could not leave my home for at least two days at the shortest." She stood as well, brushing down her skirts.

Calming herself, "Master Gandalf, do you think they would be willing to stay an extra eve, if I promise to feed them all; so that I may have a chance to settle my affairs and get the gear needed for this journey?"

Tugging the brim of his hat, "I will speak to the leader of the company when I see him next Mistress," looking down at her, "though I am surprised you acquiesce so easily. I expected a bit of a battle to get you to join us."

"I will admit to having a bit of my mother's wanderlust in my heart. I also had once planned a grand adventure that I never took. It is time." She wasn't going to give the full answer to his question, for even she didn't know the reasoning behind why she felt she should go on this adventure.

"Dear sir, I must take your leave and get to the market as to get the food stuffs required for feeding company for two days."

"There will be 14 of us Mistress."

"Ah, a small Took size gathering then." She gave him a grin, "I do hope they have a cook with them, feeding 15, for 7 meals a day, will be a full time job and I have a lot to get done." She gave him a small bow, and they both left the yard.

Next chapter, the company arrives.