The Lord of the Rings Lovers
Chapter 7: The Account of Merry
Merry found him self being sucked under water. He struggled against the current, trying to break the surface for air, but the current was too strong and dragged him deeper. His cloak had now tangled around his arms so he could hardly move. With what strength he had left in his legs he tried to kick his way to the surface but he was running out of air rapidly and the feeling in his arms and legs was going. Soon he had lost complete feeling throughout his entire body and the rushing of water in his ears was beginning to fade. It kept on fading until he could hear nothing. All he could see was the darkness of his own mind, willing him to stay alive. He could see a faint light in the distance now, which was slowly gaining brightness. Merry had a sudden urge to keep the star in sight because if it went away something terrible would happen. He struggled to bring the light closer to him but it kept drifting steadily away. He tried again but the star was not obeying him. This battle went on for what seemed like forever, Merry struggling to pull the light towards him, desperate not to let it go, and the light doing just the opposite of what he wanted. At length the star began to fade; it was losing the battle. Merry fought ever more to pull it towards him and this time it was working. Slowly but surely the star drifted reluctantly towards Merry and at last he was able to hold it with his mind. He held it tighter and tighter until all the light from it had faded and was gone.
Merry felt cold stones beneath his face and hands. He raised his head and looked at the ground. There were pebbles surrounding him and water sloshing gently over them. He tried to stand but his limbs were too weak. He lay still, feeling the cold water on his toes and hands, cooling and refreshing. For ages it seemed he lay there, not wanting to move. Suddenly he heard several footsteps; they were coming from up ahead but Merry didn't dare look up and remained still on the pebbles, his head down. The footsteps became louder and louder until they were right in front of him.
"Quick!" He heard someone shout, then more footsteps. The person was now talking to Merry, trying to rouse him. Merry responded and raised his head, dazed. He tries to speak but could only splutter and cough. The man whom had spoken to him picked him up and went to set him upon a horse, wrapping a cloak around him.
Merry could now see where he was. He had been washed up onto the shore of Amon Hen. Then he looked at the warriors surrounding him. They were men of the Rohirrim, but how had they known where he was?
"We are taking you to Edoras. The Lady and Lord wish to see you master Meriadoc. They have important news."
Merry spluttered again, and then choked, clearing his throat.
"How-? How do you know who I am?" He gasped, "and how did you know I was here?"
"All will be explained later, for now you must rest and keep warm." The rider gave him another cloak.
"But who are you?" Asked Merry.
"I am Thrár, a rider of Rohan." He said. Thrár mounted up on his horse behind Merry. He shouted a command to his men and off they rode, away from Amon Hen.
Merry slept most of the journey to Edoras and was still weary when the Rohirrim reached their destination. He now felt strong enough to walk and he climbed off the great horse with difficulty, but he managed it. Thrár escorted Merry up the steps and there, waiting for him at the great doors, were Lord faramir and Lady Éowyn. Thr bowed low and descended the steps. Merry followed suite but stayed where he was.
"Merry," Faramir smiled, "come inside, eat with us. We have some news." Merry followed them inside. During dinner Faramir and Éowyn told him of their visit from the hobbits, Legolas and Las-Galen and how they sent the Rohan riders to search for any sign of him.
"Where are they now?" Asked Merry, eager to be reunited with his companions.
"They went forth to Gondor. We understand they will be staying there a while."
Merry jumped out of his seat, rather too quickly and his head swam. He sat back down again.
"I need to get to them, before they leave Gondor or I shall probably never see them again."
Éowyn laughed, " Do not be so troubled. We shall take you there with our fast horses and men to escort you; you will be there within four days at the most. There is no need to rush, with your companions on foot you should get there, by any luck, on the same day!" Merry relaxed and leaned back.
"You need rest I can see," said Faramir.
"I slept all the way here," protested Merry, not wanting to leave his food.
"But on a horse, not a proper bed. You shall stay here tonight and the next until you are better."
"What about my friends?"
"As I said you needn't rush," said Éowyn, "Your friends only set out yesterday and we shall take a shorter road, through Minas Tirith."
Merry accepted this and left his food. Faramir showed him to his room to rest. Merry had to use a chair to climb into his bed because it was so big and not made for hobbits. After a long rest Merry woke, refreshed and cleared of most of his weariness. His first thought was to set off for Gondor immediately, but he found when he got out of bed, that he was still weak and somewhat drained after his ordeal in the Anduin.
Merry spent two more nights there recovering and on the third morning he planned to leave. He was to be escorted with the Riders of Rohan first to Minas Tirith, past the White Mountains, and then on to Gondor to hopefully be reunited with his friends. He rose early and got dressed, now completely recovered. Outside the Riders and several horses were ready. Merry was helped onto one of the smaller white horses, who would ride up front with Thrár, the leader of the Riders and the one who had rescued him from the shore of Amon Hen.
Lord Faramir and Lady Éowyn bade him farewell and he set out with the Riders to Minas Tirith. The horses were speedier than Merry had expected and the journey to Minas Tirith was short. They stopped there for one night and set out the next day to Gondor. The Rider collected on top of a large hill of grass and looked out over the plain.
"That is where we are heading," said Thrár to Merry, "It is perhaps twelve legues from here as far as I can make out." Merry looked to where Thrár was pointing and saw the bright city of Gondor shining like a star in the night sky.
"It will take us just under a day on horseback," said Thrár, "I expect your friends may be arriving there today or perhaps they already have."
They set off again, the horses going at a steady pace. After a long day of travelling they reached Gondor. They stopped at the city gate and Merry dismounted his horse.
"This is where we must leave you," said Thrár.
"Already?" Said Merry, "I thought you were staying."
"We have other business. So here we must say farewell." And with that Thrár turned his horse, followed by his Riders and Merry';s horse and rode off. Merry watched them until they were out of sight. He then turned to face the gate. It had been opened by two guards.
He looked ahead into the great city and walked through the gate.
"And that's how I got here," Merry finished.
"Well you have had quite an adventure," remarked Aragorn, "and you were lucky to have survived the Anduin, there are few who have succeeded."
Merry smiled. They were all back together again and hopefully it would stay that way. Now the next step was finding how they were going to get home.