This is a short'n'bittersweet little thing inspired by the way Merry looked at Eowyn in Two Towers. As this is my first fic, constructive criticism would be much appreciated. Thank you and enjoy! :)
Disclaimer: I owneth naught, worm that I am, so smite me not, O Gods of Copyright!
Meriadoc Brandybuck fell in love with the Shieldmaiden of Rohan. He could pinpoint the beginning of his feelings at that night when she girded him for war. When Aragorn left for the paths of the dead. Merry remembered drawing his sword and nearly hitting the beautiful lady in front of him. When she laughed and told him to be careful, he looked into her eyes. And fell in love. Her smile, her laugh, her belief in him - they were the most beautiful things he had ever beheld. And when she hauled him up on her horse, so he could fight - it was as if an angel had come to him. When she defied the Witch-King, he thought that nothing on earth was so beautiful. Not all the elves in Middle-Earth could have compared. When they both lay in the houses of healing, he prayed, not for his recovery, but for hers. When he saw her with Faramir, he thought his heart would break. It broke when he saw her kiss him, and broke again when he saw her pledge her troth to him. He had known that she could never see him as anything other than friend, or brother, or even son, but it tore at his heart to see her so happy with another man. Was he jealous? No. Just sad. Pippin didn't know. He was Merry's best friend since childhood, but he couldn't see that Merry's heart was torn in two. When they returned to the Shire, Merry swore he would never love again.
That is, until he met a hobbit named Estella...