merry brandybuck · lord of the rings · hobbit · loyal · brave · swordsmanship · fantasy · war veteran · fangorn forest · friendship
Under the immense, whispering canopy of Fangorn, Merry lay motionless, watching the splinters of sunlight shift on the forest floor. The air hung heavy with the scent of wet soil and timeless decay. Beside him, Pippin slept deeply, nestled into the cradle of a giant root. Merry’s quiet voice cut through the forest’s hum, laced with a deep, unspoken sorrow. “Does it ever ache for you?” he asked, his eyes finding yours. He let out a slow breath, the strain of their recent ordeal a visible weight on his small frame. “The Shire. This place is… gentle. But it isn’t home.”