Meriadoc Brandybuck
by Rogorn
Meriadoc Brandybuck (hobbit name Kalimac Brandagamba)
One of the most distinguished Hobbits of history, remembered in the
Annals of the Shire not only for his deeds in the year of the War of
the Ring, but for his deep interest in the origins of the Hobbits
themselves, as shown by his many contributions to the sum of
Hobbit-scholarship.
More usually known as ‘Merry’, he was born in 2982 Third Age, the only
child of Saradoc ‘Scattergold’ Brandybuck, Master of Brandybuck Hall,
and Esmeralda Took, sister of Thain Paladin II. He was therefore cousin
to his great friend and companion-in-adventures Peregrin ‘Pippin’ Took.
He was also second cousin to his other good friend and comrade Frodo
Baggins.
As his nickname perhaps implies, his disposition was cheerful, even
irrepresible, with a strong strain of the Fallohidish adventurous
temperament. Yet, even in the midst of his adventures he was already
showing signs of his developing interests in deeper matters. Of the two
younger hobbits in the Company of the Ring (him and Pippin), he was
undoubtedly the more mature, and he took the Quest seriously from the
first, characteristically spending a good deal of time in the libraries
of Rivendell, studying maps of the lands which lay far beyond his
knowledge.
The Brandybuck family was one of the most prominent in the Shire, and
the most important family in Buckland, so much so in fact that the head
of the Brandybuck clan was called the ‘Master of Buckland’ and his
authority over that strip of wooded country, east of the river
Baranduin, was widely respected. Being therefore of aristocratic
background, from the start he was able to address the high characters
he was to meet in the most appropriate manner, going even to the length
of formally pledging his service to King Théoden of Rohan. This
gesture greatly pleased the late ruler, though doubtless Théoden
continued to regard him more as a ward than a warrior. Nonetheless, he
accompanied the Riders of Rohan on their epic journey towards the
besieged city of Minas Tirith to the aid of Gondor during the War of
the Ring. Once there, in the Pelennor Fields, in front of the walls of
the famed White City, he stood by Théoden once his sire had been
struck down by the Chief Nazgul, and together with Théoden’s
sister-daughter, Éowyn, brought about the Witch-king’s downfall.
For these deeds he won great honour and renown among the Rohirrim, who
named him ‘Holdwine’ [pronounced Hold-vee-neh] in their language, and
gave him rank and much esteem in their land. After the war’s end, he
became a close friend of Théoden’s successor, his sister-son
Éomer, and remained greatly attached to Rohan for the rest of
his long life, visiting the Mark often.
He also learned its language, for he fancied that he could detect many
names and words in it akin to his own Hobbit-speech (which was correct
– a form of the language spoken in Rohan was common enough among Men of
the Northern valleys of the Anduin, near his part of the Shire).
Eventually he produced at least one short treatise on the subject, ‘Old
words and names in the Shire’.
Another subject which later captured his interest was the calculation
of years and the forms of calendar reckoning in Western Middle-Earth.
Finally, he also seemed to have been a fair botanist, with yet another
scholarly work to his credit, ‘Herblore of the Shire’. It seems quite
likely that his initial work in this particular field grew out of his
great interest in (and fondness for) pipeweed, the origins of which
obviously held a special fascination for him.
Nonetheless, in the eyes of the Shire-folk, while these varied academic
accomplishments and greater deeds on foreign fields doubtless earned
him respect, this could not compare with the great honour brought on
himself with his adroit handling of the police action known as ‘the
Scouring of the Shire’. In this he captained the Hobbitry-in-arms
against the last remnants of the evil brought on to the Shire by the
War of the Ring, with professional skill and admirable attention to
detail.
In 1432 SR, King Elessar of Arnor and Gondor appointed the holders of
the three most important offices in the Shire (the Thain of the Shire,
the Mayor of Michel Delving and the Master of Buckland) as permanent
counsellors of Arnor, the North-kingdom. The fact that at the time of
this decision the holders of these positions were Peregrin Took,
Samwise Gamgee and Meriadoc himself (he had spent only two years as
Master, suceeding his father) was surely more than a simple
coincidence. These three remarkable hobbits, together with Bilbo and
Frodo Baggins, might have been the reason King Elessar took particular
notice of this part of his new realm, but all halflings as a whole
became benefited by their deeds beyond the duration of their lives.
For some 50 years these old comrades continued to work together,
shouldering the civil responsibilities of the Shire. Finally, in 63
Fourth Age he took counsel with Peregrin and both resigned their
offices, handing over their chattels and estates to their sons (he had
one from his wife Estella Bolger, but his name and deeds are not
known), and riding away South, leaving the Shire forever. First they
travelled to Edoras, the capital city of Rohan, where he saw his old
friend King Éomer for the last time (Éomer died that
autumn). Then they continued journey to Gondor, where they dwelt with
King Elessar in great honour and splendour for some years before they
too passed away and were laid to rest in the Hallows, in the House of
the Kings.
(thanks to JAE Tyler's Companion)
7-May-04