Middle Earth

Dear friend,
  I am writing this sitting at our usual table at the Prancing Pony,
puffing at my pipe. According to the latest tidings I received, you
are many miles away south, riding with the Horse-lords. I trust you
brought a good supply of Old Toby! If you didn’t, you are going to
miss your northern Lone-lands much more bitterly, I assure you.
  When I took up the pen, my intention was to elaborate on the
reasons why I counseled you not to go to Gondor, yet. You know
what troubled me… the Steward is a wise man, and won’t waste
any time in putting your talents to good use, but his firstborn
son is about your age. Denethor is valiant and proud. I feared that
this might lead him to ignore your counsel, if not to resent it.
  Then, I remembered what I have to tell myself from time to time…
the task I chose is to inspire the enemies of Sauron, and to push
them to action. I am not here to rob them of their freedom of
choice. They say that even the Wise cannot see all ends! So, who
am I, certainly not the wisest, to tell you what you should do?
Only you can decide what to do with the time that is given you.
  Please accept one word of advice though, something that I have
learnt in more than one adventure: do not face your challenges
alone, and choose your companions wisely. There are many brave
souls among the various Free Peoples of the World who can
join you in your struggle: Elves, Dwarves, and Men. Even the
little folk of the Shire may prove useful. They certainly did
prove useful to me! A good friend of mine discovered too late
that there is more to those amazing creatures than you would
credit them for. I hope you will not commit the same mistake.
  Yours in friendship
  Gandalf.