30-day Middle-earth Challenge—Day Four: Favorite Scene

How to choose just one favorite scene from among all the delightful…and deliciously frightful…and happy/fun/humorous…and “profound”…scenes that make up the LORT trilogy? ’Cos I probably really should stick to the rules this time, seeing as I kinda cheated with the Favorite Quote post. *Halo*

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It was a hard choice. I almost picked Bilbo’s Birthday Party, but much as I love that scene, I’d have to say that there’s one I like even more. It’s the one in ROTK where Merry and Éowyn are resting before reaching Gondor, and have a little chat. Sadly, I’ve forgotten much of what was said during that “interview” (it’s been a few years since we watched the movies). All I remember is Merry’s statement that:

“...There are…many who love you. If I were a Man of Rohan—but I’m not. I’m a Hobbit.”

 I love the interaction between Merry and Éowyn in this movie. Both feel strongly the call to fight for their peoples, but are inhibited by one thing or another. For Éowyn, it’s the notion that a woman’s place is “in the house. But when the men have died in battle and honour, you have leave to be burned in the house, for the men will need it no more….” (Return of the King, Chapter 2: Passing of the Grey Company.)

Merry, on the other hand, is left out because of his size—or rather, lack thereof. Even after drinking the Ent-draught, he’s still no taller than a young boy among the Rohirrim. Everyone around him feels he’s too small to be of any use, which of course makes his feel “like baggage to be called for when all is over.”

Both are initially excluded from answering the call to arms; yet both find a way to sneak in with the Riders anyway. Éowyn sympathizes with Merry, and Merry, on his part, feels a deep respect for Éowyn. And of course, anyone who’s read the books (or seen the movie—or both :-D) knows that they both got their chance for “doing great deeds.”

And just for the record, it was this scene that created the initial “spark” of inspiration for Ciára Littlefoot’s story. :-)

Until next time, Gentle Readers,

God bless,

~“Tom”~