Why Merry?

[CrazySquirrel]

As you know, Merry (and Eowyn) killed the Witch-King.

But I have just remembered something... In the Barrow-Downs, after being rescued by Tom, it was MERRY who had the following dream:

'What in the name of wonder?' began Merry, feeling the golden circlet that had slipped over one eye. Then he stopped, and a shadow came over his face, and he closed his eyes. 'Of course, I remember!' he said. 'The men of Carn Dûm came on us at night, and we were worsted. Ah! the spear in my heart!' He clutched at his breast. 'No! No!' he said, opening his eyes. 'What am I saying? I have been dreaming. Where did you get to, Frodo?'

It looks like that for a time he was possessed by a spirit of a long-forgotten Dunadan killed in the war of TA 1409, when the Witch-King destroyed Cardolan.

No other hobbit, but Merry, had a similar dream! And it was precisely Merry who killed the Witch-King, though all the four of the hobbits have got the Barrow-blades, potent against the Witch-King.

Do you think it is a simple co-incidence?

[rohirrim TR]

never thought of that before, hmm I'll have to think about that one.

[The Gaffer]

Could be just a coincidence.

However, Merry is far less naive than the rest of the hobbits at the start of the tale, and perhaps knows more about the outside world even than Frodo. You'll recall it is he who leads them into the Old Forest.

Again, there's the bit (and what a tremendous bit it is) after Merry sticks it to the Witch-King about how he who made the blade would be happy to know its fate, as if the revenge of the Dunedain he had slain reached across the centuries to strike the Witch-King down.

Given that, it's probably no coincidence that Merry was given these lines.

[CrazySquirrel]

Perhaps the one who has made the blade was the same one who got killed by the spear in his heart in Merry's dream?

Then it looks like he has chosen Merry as a tool for his vengeance.

By the way, what was his spirit doing in the Barrow-Downs? Was it trapped there by the Witch-King's sorcery? Or has he become a Barrow-Wight?

[The Gaffer]

The swords themselves were made in Numenor, presumably during the Second Age prior to the Witch-King inhabiting Angmar. So whoever made them had nothing specifically to do with Arnor, but would have been involved in wars against Mordor.

[Nazgûl Princess]

I though the swords were made specifically for the war against the Witch- King of Angmar.

By the way, what was his spirit doing in the Barrow-Downs? Was it trapped there by the Witch-King's sorcery? Or has he become a Barrow-Wight?

The Barrow-Downs was a resting place for the Dunedain, who buried there kings and lords there. When Cardolan was defeated some of the Dunedain went there for refuge. The last prince of Cardolan was supposedly buried there.

After the great plague 1636 most of the surviving Cardolans perished which left the Barrows unattended. That is when the Witch-King sent evil spirits to inhabit the barrows. The spirits were then known as Barrow-Wrights.

[Gordis]

Very interesting, CS and The Gaffer!

Originally Posted by CrazySquirrel

Or has he become a Barrow-Wight?

Unlikely. I think there was but one wight in this barrow:

"Get out, you old Wight! Vanish in the sunlight!"

And Merry had his dream AFTER the wight had departed. More likely, there was another unhappy bodiless fëa trapped in the barrow. What kept it from going to Mandos? Maybe sorcery, maybe desire for vengeance.

I think the latter, so, indeed, Merry was chosen as a tool to avenge the Witch-King. And Tom felt something, as he has given the hobbits special blades.

Originally Posted by The Gaffer

The swords themselves were made in Numenor, presumably during the Second Age prior to the Witch-King inhabiting Angmar. So whoever made them had nothing specifically to do with Arnor, but would have been involved in wars against Mordor.

I think you are wrong here, the following quotes show the blades were Arnor-made:

Then he [Tom] told them that these blades were forged many long years ago by Men of Westernesse: they were foes of the Dark Lord, but they were overcome by the evil king of Carn Dûm in the Land of Angmar.

Men of Westernesse was just another term for the Dunedain.

So passed the sword of the Barrow-downs, work of Westernesse. But glad would he have been to know its fate who wrought it slowly long ago in the North-kingdom when the Dúnedain were young, and chief among their foes was the dread realm of Angmar and its sorcerer king. No other blade, not though mightier hands had wielded it, would have dealt that foe a wound so bitter, cleaving the undead flesh, breaking the spell that knit his unseen sinews to his will.

Here is is explicit that it was "made in Arnor".
However the technology might indeed have come from the Second age Numenor.

[Jon S.]

Originally Posted by The Gaffer

Merry is far less naive than the rest of the hobbits at the start of the tale, and perhaps knows more about the outside world even than Frodo. You'll recall it is he who leads them into the Old Forest.

Again, there's the bit (and what a tremendous bit it is) after Merry sticks it to the Witch-King about how he who made the blade would be happy to know its fate, as if the revenge of the Dunedain he had slain reached across the centuries to strike the Witch-King down.

Given that, it's probably no coincidence that Merry was given these lines.

"Hobbits are an unobtrusive but very ancient people, more numerous formerly than they are today; for they love peace and quiet and good tilled earth: a well-ordered and well-farmed countryside was their favourite haunt. /…/ And laugh they did, and eat, and drink, often and heartily, being fond of simple jests at all times, and of six meals a day (when they could get them). They were hospitable and delighted in parties, and in presents, which they gave away freely and eagerly accepted. /…/ At no time had Hobbits of any kind been warlike, and they had never fought among themselves. In olden days they had, of course, been often obliged to fight to maintain themselves in a hard world; but in Bilbo's time that was very ancient history. /…/ Nonetheless, ease and peace had left this people still curiously tough. They were, if it came to it, difficult to daunt or to kill; and they were, perhaps, so unwearyingly fond of good things not least because they could, when put to it, do without them, and could survive rough handling by grief, foe, or weather in a way that astonished those who did not know them well and looked no further than their bellies and their well-fed faces. Though slow to quarrel, and for sport killing nothing that lived, they were doughty at bay, and at need could still handle arms. (LotR: Prologue)