Guide to Hobbit Courting

Preface

Dear reader,

While I was staying in the Shire I got especially close to one hobbit. Bilbo Baggins was his name. He seemed happy to be talking to someone who didn't want to steal his spoons and wasn't after his fortune. We became fast friends when he learned I had an interest in books as well. On the fourth night of my stay he gifted me a green book. He told me to keep track of my journey and write everything down that I discovered. That way I wouldn't forget a single thing, he said. But instead of writing about my journey I decided to write about something else that intrigued me.

I was staying in the Shire for several months so I had plenty of time to learn all about their courting rituals. Bilbo didn't have much experience with it himself but he did know some hobbits who were happy to share everything they knew with me. But it was only because of my friend that I got this rare opportunity. It would have taken me many more months to gain the trust of all the hobbits in the Shire if it wasn't for Bilbo. I learned many things, such as the importance of courtship among hobbits. It is not something they take lightly. If you start a courtship with a hobbit, you better finish it with a marriage.

They didn't mind others to read this information as long as they could read it before hand. So I let them. It only needed a few changes but overall, they were happy with the way it turned out. This book will teach you the steps in hobbit courting and vital information to complete a courtship with a hobbit in good spirit. Bilbo wanted me to include a chapter about the importance of courtship as well so that will probably be one of the first chapters. 

The hobbits don't care with who you share this information. They only want you to respect their rituals and understand the importance of courtship. Hobbit courting is the least complicated kind of courtship in Middle-Earth but you do need to know how to handle certain situations. Where it is important to say the right words to dwarfs, you need to give the right color of flowers to a hobbit or they will take it as an insult. So you'd better read this book before you start a courtship with a hobbit. Or it may all end with crushed flowers and angry glares from the neighbourhood. And you don't want that, now do you?