[hobbit punk]

When Gandalf first came to Middle Earth, he was given the Elvish ring Narya by Cirdan. His spirit was said to be warm and eager, these qualities being enhanced by Narya. He used this power to council men and elves in times of need without pressuring them to take his council. Thus Gandalf was loved by all who were not proud long before the War of the Ring. Before the rise of Sauron the Istari had little contact with elves or men and they preferred to wander about gaining knowledge of Middle Earth and its inhabitants. Once Sauron rose and their knowledge was great, the Istari came more into the open. However, Gandalf helped those in need, having no fixed home himself. Gandalf did befriend people of all races before the War of the Ring. He seemed to like to keep a low profile, so his accomplishments before the War of the Ring may have, for the most part, gone unnoticed. I found this information in The Istari in the Unfinished Tales. I found it eye-opening and informative. I recommend reading it to anyone who wishes to learn more about the history of Gandalf and his fellow wizards.