Resilient Seeker Coaching | Ross Raymond Nunamaker

Overview

I always say I feel like I most resemble Samwise Gamgee, or maybe want to. Hard working, practical, humble, enjoys a good story, and loves to garden.

Yet, my favorite of the hobbits is Meriadoc Brandybuck, or Merry. In the prologue it says hobbits seldom reach three feet these days, Bandaboras Took, the Bullroarer was four foot five and he was surpassed only “by two famous characters of old; but that curious matter is dealt with in this book” meaning Merry and Pippin who because of the Ent Draught grew to four feet six inches.

Merry was born in TA 2982 and was eight years older than Perrigan, two years younger than Samwise, and 14 years younger than Frodo (we don’t know Fredegar’s age). For context Faramir was born in 2983 and Eowyn in 2995.

Merry was Frodo’s first, second, and third cousin once removed in each case. He lived in Brandy Hall, his family home that was quite extensive. It was also where Frodo lived when he was orphaned as a child until Bilbo adopted him and he moved to Hobbiton.

Frodo was orphaned when his parents drowned in a boating accident. Hobbits didn’t generally take to boats, but Bucklanders did. Merry was not afraid of boats and likely knew how to swim. It is also learned that Merry had ventured more than once into the Old Forest.

The Lord of the Rings: Book One

Merry first enters the story the day after the party when Frodo is worn out from visitors at Bag End and helps out while Frodo rests, which is of course when the Sackville-Baggins arrive.

When it was determined by Frodo to leave Bag End and return to Buckland it is Merry who finds Crickhollow for him to live in. It is perfectly placed being off the main road, near, but not within Brandy Hall, and abutting the Old Forest, which was the eastern border of Buckland and the Shire.

Merry is the responsible, thoughtful character able to plan and prepare as he does with the house and preparing for the departure from Crickhollow before they even arrive. He was the main organizer of the conspiracy that was unveiled the first night there.

He does not make the first leg of the journey with Frodo, Sam, and Pippin when they first encounter the Nazgul, because he brought the last cart of Frodo’s belongings and prepared dinner for them along with Fatty.

Before reaching Bree, Merry leads the Hobbits into the old Forest, is half consumed by Old Man Willow, and is captured along with Sam and Pippin by a Barrow-Wight.

While in Bree Merry takes a walk when the others don’t return from the common room. As he told his story it was written:

Strider looked at Merry with wonder. ‘You have a stout heart,’ he said; ‘but it was foolish’.

He explains it was the Black Breath.

At Weathertop, it is Merry who goes with Strider and Frodo to the top of Weathertop where they spot five Black Riders gathering on the road below. Later, it is Merry who first spots the dark shapes approaching their campfire. 

The Lord of the Rings: Books Two and Three

When Merry and Pippin were captured, Pippin did his best impersonation of Hurin as he hacked off the orcs hands and arms as they tried to take the Hobbits alive. Merry’s wounded forehead is treated with an ointment by the orcs which burns him. He wore the scar until the end of his days

Captured by orcs, he and pippin endure great hardship, until their escape into Fanghorn where they befriend Treebeard and are presumably the first of the Fellowship to see Gandalf after his fall.

With Treebeard, they are given the Ent-draught and after the Ent Moot, Merry is the one who gets Treebeard to understand the impact the war will have on Ents and how it may come to destroy them if they don’t join and help.

After the conquering of Isengard, it is Merry who welcomes King Theoden and company in grand style. This may be my favorite scene in all the books. He even begins to give a history of herblore to Theoden King.

In the bigger picture, this scene is the beginning of Merry’s lifelong affiliation with Rohan. He will be named Theoden’s esquire and is the last person to speak with him in life.

The Lord of the Rings: Books Five and Six

This happened shortly after Merry and Eowyn slew the Witch King of Angmar during the Battle of the Pelennor Fields.

Merry recovers in the Houses of Healing alongside Eowyn and Faramir at the hands of the healer, Aragorn, which proves his claim to being the rightful King.

Merry is given the Horn of the Mark for his service to Rohan. The horn was recovered from the Hoard of Scatha the Worm.

Merry would also become a knight of Rohan.

When Merry first returned to the Shire after his journey, he became a leader of the Hobbits in the Battle of ByWater, and laid the plans that gave them victory over the Ruffians and ultimately Saruman.

After the Scouring

Merry became an author, writing: Herblore of the Shire, The Reckoning Years, and Old Words and Names in the Shire.

Merry visited Rivendell several times and is believed to have assisted in writing the Tale of Years. Through his efforts and ongoing connection with Rohan, the library of Bucklebury contained much that was not in the Red Book. 

Merry became Master of Buckland upon his father’s death, and was called the Magnificent. He received gifts from King Eomer and Lady Eowyn on this occasion as his ties remained strong with Rohan.

He was made a counsellor of the North-Kingdom, married Estella Bolger (Fredegar’s sister), and eventually resigned his offices to ride south with Pippin to Rohan and Gondor one last time.

On March 1, 1541 their beds were laid next to Elessar and they were buried in the House of Kings.