Merry

MERRY ~ Meriadoc Brandybuck, born in 2982 (1382 Shire Reckoning) son of Saradoc Brandybuck and Esmerelda Took, and a distant cousin to Frodo Baggins on Frodo's mother's side. Merry joined Frodo, Sam, and Pippin on the mission to take the Ring to Rivendell, where he volunteered as a member of the Fellowship. After he and Pippin were kidnapped by Orcs at Amon Hen, they escaped and became the first people in generations to meet the Ents of Fanghorn Forest. Going with the Ents against Saruman, he and Pippin witnessed their destruction of Isengard and were there waiting when Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli and King Theoden's host arrived from Rohan. Merry was befriended by Theoden and became very fond of the old King. He rode with them to the relief of Minas Tirith at Battle of the Pelannor Fields, where he saw Theoden fall in battle against the Lord of the Nazgul, mightiest of the Nine. Merry and Eowyn together attacked the evil lord and slew him. Although sorely afflicted by the mere touch of such evil, Merry was healed by Aragorn and reunited with Pippin and the others. After seeing seeing the end of the War of the Ring, and Aragorn's coronation and wedding, the hobbits returned to find the Shire enslaved and despoiled by Men under Saruman, who although broken in power sought to work one last evil. However, Merry and Pippin rallied the Shire and led them to victory against the ruffianly invaders, in the valiant Battle of Bywater. Thereafter Merry was known as "the Magnificent" - that in part due to the extra height he and Pippin acquired from drinking Ent-draughts - and eventually became Master of Buckland and head of Brandy Hall. He married Estella Bolger, although the number of their children is not known. In the 62nd year of the Fourth Age, (1484 Shire Reckoning) he handed over his affairs to his son, and he and Pippin embarked on one last journey to Gondor. There they passed their final years, and after death were laid in state in Rath Dнnen, the Silent Street of Minas Tirith, wherein were laid the nobles and kings of Gondor.