Changes

Merry was one in the small group of Frodo's friends knowing about the [[One Ring (Middle-earth)|One Ring]] and Frodo's departure for [[Rivendell]], and the one in charge of organising said secret departure. He later became part of the ''Fellowship of the Ring''. At [[Amon Hen]] he and Pippin were kidnapped by Saruman's Orcs. At the border of the [[Fangorn|Fangorn Forest]] they managed to free themselves and escape into the wood, where they met the Ent [[Treebeard]]. They went with him on the ''Last March of the Ents'', and witnessed the destruction of [[Isengard]]. There they met Gandalf and the remaining members of the Fellowship who came with [[Théoden|King Théoden]] of Rohan.  

Merry was one in the small group of Frodo's friends knowing about the [[One Ring (Middle-earth)|One Ring]] and Frodo's departure for [[Rivendell]], and the one in charge of organising said secret departure. He later became part of the ''Fellowship of the Ring''. At [[Amon Hen]] he and Pippin were kidnapped by Saruman's Orcs. At the border of the [[Fangorn|Fangorn Forest]] they managed to free themselves and escape into the wood, where they met the Ent [[Treebeard]]. They went with him on the ''Last March of the Ents'', and witnessed the destruction of [[Isengard]]. There they met Gandalf and the remaining members of the Fellowship who came with [[Théoden|King Théoden]] of Rohan.  

He was separated from Pippin when he went with Gandalf to Gondor. Merry remained with Théoden and became his esquire. Although Théoden intended to leave him behind when riding to the aid of Gondor, he was approached by the warrior [[Éowyn|Dernhelm]] who offered Merry to ride with him on his horse.<ref name = "elfhelmunderstanding">"There seemed to be some understanding between Dernhelm and Elfhelm, the Marshal who commanded the ''éored'' in which they were riding. He and all his men ignored Merry and pretended not to hear if he spoke. He might have been just another bag that Dernhelm was carrying." - J. R. R. Tolkien, ''The Lord of the Rings'', Book V, Chapter 5 "The Ride of the Rohirrim".</ref> At the ''Battle of the [[Pelennor Fields]]'' he saw Dernhelm, now revealed to be the King's niece Éowyn, confront the [[Witch-king of Angmar]], leader of the Nazgûl. Merry struck the Witch-king with his [[Arnor|Dúnedain]] blade forged for use against the forces of Angmar, which enabled Éowyn to make the fatal stroke and kill the Witch-king. This fit with a thousand year old foretelling, that the Witch-king would not be killed "by the hand of man"<ref name = "glorfindelprophecy">'...the Witch-king turned to flight and passed into the shadows. [...] but Glorfindel, looking into the gathering dark, said: "Do not pursue him! He will not return to this land. Far off yet is his doom, and not by the hand of man will he fall."' - J. R. R. Tolkien, ''The Lord of the Rings'', Appendix A, I, iv Gondor and the Heirs of Anárion</ref>: Éowyn was a woman, and Merry a Hobbit.  

He was separated from Pippin when he went with Gandalf to Gondor. Merry remained with Théoden and became his esquire. Although Théoden intended to leave him behind when riding to the aid of Gondor, he was approached by the warrior [[Éowyn|Dernhelm]] who offered Merry to ride with him on his horse.<ref name = "elfhelmunderstanding">"There seemed to be some understanding between Dernhelm and Elfhelm, the Marshal who commanded the ''éored'' in which they were riding. He and all his men ignored Merry and pretended not to hear if he spoke. He might have been just another bag that Dernhelm was carrying." - J. R. R. Tolkien, ''The Lord of the Rings'', Book V, Chapter 5 "The Ride of the Rohirrim".</ref> At the ''Battle of the [[Pelennor Fields]]'' he saw Dernhelm, now revealed to be the King's niece Éowyn, confront the [[Witch-king of Angmar]], leader of the Nazgûl. Merry struck the Witch-king with his [[Arnor|Dúnedain]] blade forged for use against the forces of Angmar, which enabled Éowyn to make the fatal stroke and kill the Witch-king. This fit with a thousand year old foretelling, that the Witch-king would not be killed "by the hand of man":<ref name = "glorfindelprophecy">'...the Witch-king turned to flight and passed into the shadows. [...] but Glorfindel, looking into the gathering dark, said: "Do not pursue him! He will not return to this land. Far off yet is his doom, and not by the hand of man will he fall."' - J. R. R. Tolkien, ''The Lord of the Rings'', Appendix A, I, iv Gondor and the Heirs of Anárion</ref> Éowyn was a woman, and Merry a Hobbit.  

After the war he is made a ''Knight of the Mark'' by King Éomer, and given a small horn by Éowyn. He would also remain known in Rohan by the [[Rohirric]] name ''Holdwine'', which he had been given by Théoden. After his return home, he played a leading role in the ''Scouring of the Shire''. He later became known as '''Meriadoc the Magnificent''', and succeded his father as Master of Buckland. Merry married Estella Bolger, sister to his friend [[Fredegar Bolger]], with whom he had at least one son. In his old age he and Pippin went back to Rohan and Gondor, were they died a short time after the year F.A. 64, upon which they were laid to rest among the Kings of Gondor in Rath Dínen.<ref name = "death">"1484 [...] Then he and Thain Peregrin went to Gondor and passed what short years were left to them in that realm, until they died and were laid in Rath Dínen among the great of Gondor. [...] 1541 [...] It is said that the beds of Meriadoc and Peregrin were set beside the bed of the great king." - J. R. R. Tolkien, ''The Lord of the Rings'', Appendix B The Tale of Years</ref>

After the war he is made a ''Knight of the Mark'' by King Éomer, and given a small horn by Éowyn. He would also remain known in Rohan by the [[Rohirric]] name ''Holdwine'', which he had been given by Théoden. After his return home, he played a leading role in the ''Scouring of the Shire''. He later became known as '''Meriadoc the Magnificent''', and succeded his father as Master of Buckland. Merry married Estella Bolger, sister to his friend [[Fredegar Bolger]], with whom he had at least one son. In his old age he and Pippin went back to Rohan and Gondor, were they died a short time after the year F.A. 64, upon which they were laid to rest among the Kings of Gondor in Rath Dínen.<ref name = "death">"1484 [...] Then he and Thain Peregrin went to Gondor and passed what short years were left to them in that realm, until they died and were laid in Rath Dínen among the great of Gondor. [...] 1541 [...] It is said that the beds of Meriadoc and Peregrin were set beside the bed of the great king." - J. R. R. Tolkien, ''The Lord of the Rings'', Appendix B The Tale of Years</ref>