Merry Brandybuck

19

Meriadoc was the second youngest child and the third son of Saradoc and Esmeralda. He had four older siblings Espartac (July 2 TA 2874), Mirabelle (August 6 TA 2876), Redaric (September 1 TA 2878), Susannah (October 4 TA 2880) and a younger sister Rubyrose (December 3 TA 2884).. Claiming descent from Gorhendad Oldbuck, he also had Tookish blood through his mother, and also his father's grandmother, Mirabella Took. He was also first cousins with Peregrin Took. With him they wandered in the Marish and were friends of Farmer Maggot. Around T.A. 3000 Merry witnessed a strange scene: he saw Bilbo Baggins becoming invisible in order to avoid a meeting with the Sackville-Bagginses. Startled, he got through the hedge and walked along the field inside, and watched as Bilbo reappeared, and put a glint of gold in his pocket. This made teenage Meriadoc very curious and he even looked into Bilbo's private diary. Merry kept this knowledge private but was always suspicious. He was present with his family at Bilbo's Farewell Party and the next day of Bilbo's disappearance, Frodo had a hard day keeping his things from unwanted Half-Perians who came to loot Bag End, and put Merry to keep an eye on them in order to rest; until the Sackville-Bagginses came to Merry demanding to see Frodo. Later Lobelia left angrily calling Frodo "Brandybuck", which Merry said was a compliment. Since Bilbo's disappearance, he believed that Frodo would soon follow. He shared his secrets with a group of Frodo's friends, namely Samwise Gamgee, Peregrin Took, Fredegar Bolger. Especially after April T.A. 3018 he noticed how Frodo was saying "farewell" to his favourite places, selling Bag End to the Sackville-Bagginses, and secretive talks with Gandalf. All along, Sam Gamgee had been their "chief investigator". He heard Gandalf's instructions to Frodo for his departure, and warned his friends about it. The Conspirators, sought to protect Frodo (and the Ring) without his knowledge.

Estella Bolger AU

7

Estella Brandybuck, née Bolger, was a Half-Perian of the Shire. On September 22, TA 3001, Estella and her family attended Bilbo's Farewell Party. She giggled when Merry and Pippin were punished by Gandalf for stealing one of the fireworks. During the speech, Estella smiled at Merry until she witnessed Bilbo disappear with the magic ring that he held for sixty years. She later assisted her brother, Fredegar in moving Idhrenor's things to his new home at Crickhollow. War of the Ring When Frodo and the rest set out to take the Ring to Rivendell, Estella remained in Crickhollow while her brother was keeping appearances and delayed news of their departure. She heard the sound of the Horn-call of Buckland when the Nazgûl arrived to find the ring and believed that Fredegar was Bilbo Baggins. As Sauron was preparing to rally his forces and send his spies to search for the ring, Estella was among those who volunteered to join the Shire Company under the leadership of Will . Near the end of the Battle of Pelennor Fields, Estella and the entire company charged against the retreating orcs when the Army of the Dead arrived. After the battle, Estella was in Minas Tirith where she was treating the wounded. She was very happy to see Merry who was injured. Estella a lot of time with Merry and the two began to develop their relationship. Later on, the two accompany the armies of the Free Alliance to the Black Gate and prepare to battle the forces of Mordor, giving Frodo, Calíon, Sam and Rosie enough time to destroy the One Ring. Estella survived the ongoing battle and attended the coronation of Aragorn. Fourth Age Estella married Merry sometime in the very early Fourth Age and they had four children.