Today on Nerd of the Rings, we are covering
the complete lives and travels of Merry and Pippin. This is in honor of my upcoming interview
with Billy Boyd and Dominic Monaghan, premiering on the channel at the link in the description! Now there’s a lot to get to, so we are going
to hit the highlights in the lives of these two heroic hobbits! Meriadoc Brandybuck is born in Buckland in
2982 of the Third Age. He is the son of Saradoc Brandybuck and Esmeralda
Took. Through Frodo’s mother, who was a Brandybuck,
Merry is Frodo’s first-cousin, once-removed. After Frodo’s parents die in 2980, Frodo
would go to live with his Brandybuck relatives in Brandy Hall - the huge central smial (or
hobbit hole) in Buckland, which was the ancestral home of the Brandybuck family. Frodo would live there with Merry and his
other relatives from the age of 12 to the age of 21, when Bilbo invites him to live
in Bag End as his heir. One year later, in the Spring of 2990, Peregrin
Took is born to Eglantine Banks, and Merry’s uncle - Paladin Took II. In addition to being Merry’s cousin, Pippin
is also related to both Frodo as his first-cousin, once-removed. We don’t know a great deal about Merry and
Pippin prior to Bilbo’s 111th Birthday Party. One nugget we do know, however, is that sometime
around the year 3000, Merry sees Bilbo become invisible in order to avoid the Sackville-Bagginses. He manages to follow Bilbo’s path and sees
him reappear and place something golden into his pocket. His curiosity piqued, Merry would always keep
an eye out for strange things and would even go so far as to take a peek at Bilbo’s diary
in Bag End. On September 22, 3001, Bilbo hosts his Long
Expected Party. After Bilbo makes his grand disappearance,
Merry comes to suspect that Frodo will soon follow. Of course, this would be over a period of
17 years, but by April 3018, the evidence becomes even greater. It is in April 3018 that Gandalf returns to
the Shire and confirms Bilbo’s ring is The One. Merry notices that Frodo has secret talks
with Gandalf and begins to say farewell to his favorite places. Frodo sells Bag End and feigns a move to Crickhollow
to hide his leaving The Shire. However, Merry had confided in a group of
Frodo’s friends his suspicions. This group of conspirators - Peregrin Took,
Samwise Gamgee, and Fredegar “Fatty” Bolger - would happen to be the same hobbits Frodo
would enlist to help him move to Crickhollow. Frodo, Sam, and Pippin make their way toward
Crickhollow, having close calls with the Nazgul who are searching the Shire, and meeting the
High Elves led by Gildor along the way. Meanwhile, Merry and Fatty are preparing for
their arrival at Frodo’s new house, having taken a wagon of Frodo’s possessions earlier. As Frodo comes to Farmer Maggot’s, Merry
begins to worry that his friends may be lost, and crosses Bucklebury Ferry to search for
them. Fortunately, he encounters Farmer Maggot’s
wagon, where Frodo, Sam, and Pippin are hiding. After having dinner at Crickhollow, Frodo
plans to tell his friends that he will be leaving the Shire. At this point, the conspirators reveal that
they have been aware of his plans for some time - and that they will accompany him. Fatty Bolger would remain behind, living in
Frodo’s house and even wearing Frodo’s clothes in order to keep up appearances that
Frodo was indeed living in Crickhollow. "You can trust us to stick to you through
thick and thin - to the bitter end. And you can trust us to keep any secret of
yours - closer than you keep it yourself. But you cannot trust us to let you face trouble
alone, and go off without a word. We are your friends, Frodo." - Merry The four hobbits make their way through the
Old Forest and come across Old Man Willow, who captures Merry and Pippin within his roots. Fortunately, they are saved by Tom Bombadil,
who gives them food and rest at his home. As they leave the Old Forest on September
29, they come across the Barrow-downs, where they are captured by a Barrow-wight. Fortunately, Frodo summons Tom Bombadil, who
saves them once again. Tom gives the hobbits Daggers of Westernesse
which are found within the barrow. These daggers, made by the Dunedain, were
made specifically for the war against the Witch-king around 1600 years earlier. Finally free of the perils of the Old Forest
and the Barrow-downs, the hobbits make their way to Bree and stay at the Prancing Pony. While staying at the Inn, Pippin begins to
tell the story of Bilbo’s birthday party and disappearance. This leads Frodo to begin to sing “The Man
in the Moon Stayed Up Too Late” to prevent Pippin from revealing anything about the ring. During the song, Frodo falls off the table
and the ring slips on his finger. That night, the Nazgul come to Bree. As the others meet with Strider, Merry goes
out for a walk, where he sees a black rider. He attempts to follow the mysterious rider,
but it disappears and Merry is overtaken by the Black Breath. Fortunately, before the riders could harm
him, Nob - a hobbit working at the Prancing Pony - finds Merry and returns him to the
Inn. Merry and Pippin travel with Sam, Frodo, and
Strider to Weathertop, where they are attacked by the Nazgul and on to Rivendell. Unlike in the films, Sam is the only one to
eavesdrop at the Council of Elrond on October 25. It wouldn’t be until much later, on December
18, when Merry and Pippin would make their voices heard. Elrond, noting that the hope of their errand
lies in speed and secrecy, chooses to appoint a group of seven to accompany Frodo and Sam. He names Gandalf, Legolas, Gimli, and Aragorn,
but states that the remaining two are yet to be chosen. Pippin, dismayed at being left behind, says
that he and Merry want to go as well. Elrond is hesitant, but at Gandalf’s encouragement,
he appoints Merry and Pippin as the final members of the Fellowship of the Ring. The Fellowship departs Rivendell on December
25 and after a failed attempt to pass Caradhras, and a nighttime attack by wolves, they make
their way to Moria. It is here where we get the first real taste
of Pippin’s knack for annoying Gandalf. “What are you going to do then?’ asked
Pippin, undaunted by the wizard’s bristling brows. “Knock on the doors with your head, Peregrin
Took,’ said Gandalf. ‘But if that does not shatter them, and
I am allowed a little peace from foolish questions, I will seek for the opening words.” Later, Pippin’s natural curiosity overtakes
his judgement when he drops a rock down a well as the Fellowship is travelling through
Moria - leading to the sounds of drums in the deep. “What’s that?’ cried Gandalf. He was relieved when Pippin confessed what
he had done; but he was angry, and Pippin could see his eye glinting. ‘Fool of a Took!’ he growled. ‘This is a serious journey, not a hobbit
walking-party. Throw yourself in next time, and then you
will be no further nuisance. Now be quiet!” The following day, they would come to the
Chamber of Mazarbul and the Bridge of Khazadum, where they would lose the Grey Wizard. The Fellowship makes its way to Lothlorien
(arrives Jan 22), where they would rest for nearly a month. On February 16, they set out, bidding farewell
to Lorien. At their parting, Galadriel gifts Merry and
Pippin each with a silver belt. The Fellowship makes its way south on the
Anduin River, passing the Argonath and camping at Parth Galen on February 25. The following day, the company is waylaid
by a group made of orcs from Isengard, Mordor, and the North. As they are searching for Frodo, Merry and
Pippin run directly into a group of the orcs. Boromir arrives and attempts to rescue the
halflings, but a group of the mighty Uruk-hai arrive and shoot him with arrows. Merry and Pippin are carried off, Boromir
is slain, and the Fellowship is broken. The following day, as the orcs carry Merry
and Pippin across the plains of Rohan, Pippin runs away from the orcs, not in hopes of escape,
but in hopes of leaving a sign. He leaves his elven brooch (broach) - and
his own footprints - off the trampled path of the orcs, giving Aragorn a clear sign that
he and Merry were still alive. Two days later, the orc company would arrive
at the outskirts of Fangorn Forest. Thanks to an attack by Eomer’s Rohirrim,
they are able to escape into Fangorn Forest, where they meet Treebeard. Over the coming days, they discuss the state
of events with Treebeard, drink ent-draught (draft), and attend the Entmoot. The ent-draught causes the pair to grow to
the point where they would be the tallest hobbits in the history of The Shire. During the Entmoot, they are introduced to
Quickbeam - one of the most hasty ents, who had already made up his mind about going to
battle Saruman. After a time in Quickbeam’s house, Merry
and Pippin march with the Ents in the Attack on Isengard on the night of March 2. In the end, Isengard would be flooded, Saruman’s
servants destroyed, and the Tower of Orthanc under siege. In the aftermath of battle, (March 3) as the
hobbits are sitting upon their field of victory, Gandalf arrives in great hurry and great need. He halted just by us and looked down at us. “Gandalf!” I said at last, but my voice was only a whisper. Did he say: “Hullo, Pippin! This is a pleasant surprise!”? No, indeed! He said: “Get up, you tom-fool of a Took! Where, in the name of wonder, in all this
ruin is Treebeard? I want him. Quick!” Treebeard agrees to send the Huorns to Helm’s
Deep, helping to secure Rohan’s ultimate victory on the morning of March 4. The following day, Merry and Pippin are reunited
with most of the Fellowship as Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli accompany Theoden to the
Parley with Saruman at Isengard. In a moment of anger, Wormtongue throws the
palantir from the tower of Orthanc, which Gandalf promptly takes. That night, Pippin’s curiosity once again
gets the better of him. He steals the Palantir as Gandalf sleeps and
is seen by Sauron. Gandalf awakes and a fell beast flies overhead,
on its way to Orthanc. Gandalf realizes that war is imminent, takes
Pippin and rides for Minas Tirith. Gandalf also realizes the opportunity this
situation has presented - Sauron, seeing Pippin in the palantir, has mistakenly assumed that
Pippin is the halfling carrying the One Ring and that he is currently at Isengard with
Saruman. So long as Sauron believes Pippin has the
ring, he will not be looking for Frodo. As Gandalf and Pippin make the four day journey
to Minas Tirith, Merry goes with Aragorn and Theoden first to Helm’s Deep, then to Dunharrow. It is during his day at Helm’s Deep that
Merry is moved to offer his service to King Theoden. (March 6). After arriving in Minas Tirith on March 9,
Pippin would make a pledge of his own, swearing himself to Denethor’s service in payment
of his debt to Boromir. In his first act of service, Denethor orders
Pippin to tell him all about his journey, especially concerning Boromir. Despite Pippin’s attempt at keeping the
ring, Frodo, and Aragorn secret, he could not fully hide all these from Denethor - for
Denethor was both wise and perceptive. Meanwhile, in Rohan, Merry joins the muster
of the Rohirrim, but is told by Theoden when they stop at Edoras that the time has come
for him to stay behind - for he cannot keep up on a pony and no rider can bear the extra
weight to carry him. In this moment, Merry is taken by Dernhelm
- a disguised Eowyn - and they make their way to Gondor on March 11. During their travels, the Rohirrim in their
company - including their leader Elfhelm - ignored Merry’s presence - allowing him to proceed
toward battle. As the Rohirrim ride south, Minas Tirith prepares
for war. Pippin is taught the lesser passwords and
takes his place as a guard of the citadel. In his training, he becomes friends with another
guard - Beregond and his son Bergil. The people of Gondor are amazed by this halfling. Soon, Pippin is referred to as “Ernil i
Pheriannath” “Prince of the Halflings” and wild rumors spread that he had pledged
5,000 halfling to the defence of Minas Tirith. Merry and Pippin would each play significant
roles in the Battle of Pelennor Fields. During the battle, Pippin would help save
Faramir’s life, while Merry would save Eowyn’s. After Faramir returns to the city suffering
under the Black Breath, Denethor turns to despair and attempts to burn himself and Faramir
alive. Were it not for Pippin instructing Beregond
to protect Faramir, he likely would have perished while Pippin searched for Gandalf. Instead, Beregond kills three soldiers attempting
to light the pyre and holds out until Gandalf and Pippin arrive, saving Faramir’s life. Meanwhile, on the Plains of Pelennor, the
Witch-king mortally wounds Theoden. Eowyn reveals her true identity, standing
between her uncle and the Lord of the Nazgul. As the Witch-king prepares to strike a fatal
blow to Eowyn, Merry stabs him in his calf with the barrow-blade - the dagger of Westernesse
forged to fight the Witch-king, making the Lord of the Nazgul vulnerable to attack. Eowyn strikes the Witch-king in the head,
ending him once and for all. Eowyn collapses, falling under the Black Breath. Merry speaks to Theoden one last time as the
king tells his esquire to think of him in days of peace as he sits with his pipe. Merry would soon also fall prey to the effects
of the Black Breath, and would only be healed when Aragorn enters the houses of healing,
where he calls Faramir, Eowyn and Merry back from the darkness. Unlike the films, Merry remains behind in
the Houses of Healing while Pippin travels with Aragorn and the others to the Black Gate. There, at the Battle of the Morannon, Pippin
saves Beregond’s life by killing a troll that had charged their ranks. The troll, however, falls on top of him. Pippin would be pinned under the troll until
after the battle, when Gimli recognizes a hobbit foot sticking out from beneath the
troll and pulls him out. In the coming weeks and months, the hobbits
would celebrate the destruction of the ring and the massive victory over Sauron. They attend the coronation of King Elessar,
his wedding to Arwen, and travel to Edoras for the funeral of Theoden. After stops at Isengard, Rivendell, and Bree,
they finally return to the Shire to find it taken over by ruffians. Merry and Pippin, soldiers of Rohan and Gondor,
lead the hobbits in attempting to retake the Shire. Pippin travels to Tookland and brings back
100 hobbits to fight in the Battle of Bywater. During this same Battle, Merry uses a special
horn of Rohan, gifted to him by Eomer and Eowyn, to summon the hobbits and rouse them
to victory. After their home is retaken and Saruman and
Wormtongue are slain, the hobbits would go on to play important roles in the future of
the Shire. In year 4 FoA, Pippin marries Diamond of Long
Cleeve and three years later, they have a son - who they name Faramir. Faramir Took would go on to marry Goldilocks
Gamgee - the third daughter of Sam and Rose. Merry would marry Fatty Bolger’s sister,
Estella and become the Master of Buckland, inheriting the role from his father. Merry would go on to write many academic works,
such as Herblore of the Shire, Old Words and Names in the Shire, and The Reckoning of Years. In 13 FoA, Pippin becomes the Thain of the
Shire - the leader of the Took clan. In this same year, Aragorn makes the roles
of Master of Buckland, Thain of the Shire, and the Mayor of Michel Delving (which at
this time is now Samwise) into official counselors to the king. Two years later, Aragorn visits the northern
realm and meets the hobbits at the Brandywine Bridge - following his own decree that none
of the big folk should ever enter The Shire. In 31 FoA, King Elessar gifts the lands of
the Westmarch officially to the hobbits of The Shire. Pippin appoints Fastred, Sam’s son in law
to be the first Warden of Westmarch. Decades later, in 63 FoA, Merry - now 102,
and Pippin now 94, leave the Shire for the last time after Merry receives an invitation
from King Eomer. They pass their roles as Thain of the Shire
and Master of Buckland on to their sons and travel to Edoras. That fall, Eomer would die at 93 years old. The friends then travel to Gondor, where they
would live out their remaining days with Aragorn. At their passing, Merry and Pippin are laid
to rest in Rath Dinen. When Aragorn dies nearly 60 years later, Merry
and Pippin are placed beside their friend in their final resting place, among the Kings
and Stewards of Gondor.
