Gandalf was known by many names. He was widely known as The Wandering Wizard, all with good reason. He was currently residing in Gondor of all places. He was leaning on a rock ledge of a half wall. He was smoking his pipe while some servants of the Thane were loading his horse and cart with bags of supplies. Gandalf had not been able to see the Thane himself but his housecarl was able to see him instead. A knight and his brother, better known as Boromir and Faramir, stood next to Gandalf. They were the sons of the Thane. Boromir asked the Wandering Wizard, "Where are you headed next, my friend?"

Gandalf nodded. Smoke escaped his mouth as he said, "Hobbiton. It's a town in The Shire east of here. I'm going to a birthday party."

Faramir asked him confusingly, "The what? The Shire? What's that?"

Gandalf smiled, "It's a lovely area full of grass, trees, and flowers. It's rather peaceful."

Boromir asked, "Why have I never heard of such a place?"

Gandalf replied, "Do not fret, young Boromir. Most folks have not heard of it. That is mostly because the people who live there are so unproblematic."

Boromir furrowed his brows, "People? Who lives there? Do they have a Thane?"

Faramir added, "If there are Men there, we should know. We may need them for battle."

Gandalf said, "Yes, they have a Thane. The people there are not of the race of Man. They are hobbits."

Boromir and Faramir looked at each other puzzledly. Faramir asked, "Hobbits?"

Gandalf nodded, "Hobbits are a wonderful race. I wish others were more like them."

Boromir asked, "But Gandalf, what's a hobbit?"

Gandalf replied knowingly, "They go by many names. They are Halflings, Shire-folk, or most commonly known as Hobbits. They are simple and kind folk. They almost never resort to violence. Though, when the time arises, they are most proficient in long-distance attacks like archery. They're mostly farmers, though you can't really blame them. They live in houses that are kept underground inside grassy hills- though don't let that fool you. They are far from primal. Their homes are extremely cozy, and even a standard hobbit hole, or a smial as they're called, tends to be much fancier than that of a home of Man."

Boromir asked, "What do they look like? Do they look like Men?"

Gandalf answered, "They are very small. They are usually smaller than dwarves. They are thinner than dwarves, which is rather surprising given how much hobbits eat. However, they are also shorter than them. While dwarves tend to be four feet tall or higher, hobbits tend to average at about 3'6". The tallest hobbit on record was 4'5". He was considered massive. I dare say, if you ever enter a hobbit hole, you must be careful! You will hit your head on everything. They also have a peculiar look to them. They have pointed ears, much like elves, though they are not as long. They cannot grow facial hair at all. However, hobbits have one very rare and curious trait; they have rather large feet. Their feet are also very hairy and their soles are as tough as leather. They do not wear shoes. They have no need for them!"

While Boromir tried to wrap his mind around the concept of race with large, hairy, shoeless feet, Faramir reasoned, "They sound rather strange, but we've never heard of them. Surely they are a rare race?"

Gandalf shook his head, "No, not at all. They simply keep to themselves. They tend to have incredibly large families. One of the largest families is the Tooks. The Tooks mainly live in a large hall called Tuckborough. That is where Paladin Took, his wife, and his children reside. He is the Thain of the Shire. He has a rather average if not small family with only four children. Their names are Pearl, Pimpernel, Pervinca, and the youngest and only son Peregrin. I have high hopes for him. Do not be fooled by the number of members in this family. I haven't mentioned the cousins, aunts, uncles, second cousins, great uncles, grandparents, or great grandparents that also live there."

Boromir, ever intrigued, asked, "What do they do? Are they like dwarves and mine all day?"

Gandalf took another smoke from his pipe. He chuckled, "I dare say, they mainly spend their time eating. They eat six to eight times a day! They have what they call breakfast, second breakfast, elevenses, luncheon, dinner, supper, afternoon tea, and midnight snack. However, I can't blame them very much- they tend to be excellent cooks."

Faramir, also wanting more, asked, "What else do they do?"

Gandalf answered fondly, "When they aren't cooking or eating, they are farming. When that's done, they go fishing, gardening, smoking pipe-weed, or go drinking at a pub called The Green Dragon. They also have parties. They have the most wonderful festivals! Though my fireworks are quite a hit if I do say so myself, which is why I'm going to this upcoming party. There is dancing, music, drinking, and wonderful decorations of silk streamers and flowers. And of course, there is the singing. Many hobbits are very talented in the art of singing. One in particular, Peregrin Took, the one I mentioned before, is considered one of the best. Rumor has it that he has a voice quote 'so pretty that even the loveliest sopranos get jealous.' He doesn't sing often, but when he does, everyone listens."

Again, the brothers looked at each other quite puzzled. Pretty? Gandalf never described anything as "pretty". It really must be lovely. Faramir asked, "This Took, you said he's the son of the Thain. Do these hobbits have nobility?"

Gandalf hummed in thought before he answered, "Yes, hobbits have nobility. There are less fortunate hobbits, like the Gamgees. However, a starving hobbit is rare as most others are willing to help. One of the highest nobility of hobbits, believe it or not, is not the Thane. Yes, he is technically the highest, but that is inherited as I'm sure you two are aware. The highest-ranked hobbits, besides the Thain, are those who live in a particular smial. It's called Bag End. It currently belongs to Bilbo Baggins and his nephew Frodo Baggins."

Boromir gasped. Though he was considered a brave and strong man, he still loved to hear the story of the brave hero, Bilbo Baggins, and a group of dwarves who defeated a dragon. However, he always figured that Baggins was a Man. He asked, "Bilbo Baggins? The same Bilbo Baggins that defeated the dragon? He gained his nobility from the dragon, didn't he?"

Gandalf chuckled, "Yes, the very same. He had Bag End long before the dragon, I'm afraid. After Bilbo, it shall go to Frodo. However, do not have their nobility deprive you of your opinion of them. They are rather kind and generous people. They have a gardener, Samwise Gamgee. Even though he is their gardener, Samwise and Frodo are the best of friends. Sometimes outsiders may think they are related. Frodo and Bilbo practically raised Samwise. They are much older than him. Oh, yes, I would say that Frodo is a good ten or twenty years older than Samwise. "

Faramir and Boromir raised their eyebrows simultaneously. Gandalf gave a small chuckle at the sight. He continued, "Do not look so surprised by that number! Hobbits age differently than Man, elves, dwarves, or any other race. I'm afraid they age slower than Man but faster than the rest. Hobbits reach the age of adulthood at 33. Samwise is about, oh, 38 while Frodo is nearing 50. In terms of Man, Samwise would be about 20 and Frodo would be about 27."

They nodded. Faramir said, "You seem very fond of them."

Gandalf nodded, "I'm afraid so."

Boromir added cheerfully, "I hope I can meet a hobbit someday!"

Gandalf winked, "Perhaps you will. They are such lovely creatures."

Gandalf took one more drag of his pipe before one of the servants walked up to him. They bowed and told him that his carriage was ready. Gandalf said his final goodbyes to the brothers before he hopped on his cart and whipped his horse forward. He continued on his journey to Hobbiton, on his way to a birthday party for his favorite person of his favorite race. Oh, how he wished everyone were like hobbits. The kind, peaceful, unproblematic hobbits.