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'''Meriadoc Brandybuck''', usually referred to as '''Merry''', is a character in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth world, appearing as a main character in ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''. Merry was a [[Hobbit]] from the [[Shire (Middle-earth)|Shire]]. He was born in [[Third Age (Middle-earth)|T.A.]] 2982 as the only child of Saradoc Brandybuck, Master of Buckland, and Esmeralda Took. This made him a first cousin of [[Peregrin Took]], and also a more removed cousin of [[Frodo Baggins]], both of which were also close friends to him.  

'''Meriadoc Brandybuck''', usually referred to as '''Merry''', is a character in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth world, appearing as a main character in ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''.  

In the books, Merry is often described as one of the smartest of the hobbits - indeed, he is a great lover of history, cartography and seafaring. 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 a [[Hobbit]] from the [[Shire (Middle-earth)|Shire]]. He was born in [[Third Age (Middle-earth)|T.A.]] 2982 as the only child of Saradoc Brandybuck, Master of Buckland, and Esmeralda Took. This made him a first cousin of [[Peregrin Took]], and also a more removed cousin of [[Frodo Baggins]], both of which were also close friends to him. In the books, Merry is often described as one of the smartest of the hobbits - indeed, he is a great lover of history, cartography and seafaring.  

 

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.