[Diamond18]

Well, yes, on repeat reading of TTT and RotK, I noticed both instances where Tolkien mentions Merry and Pippin's futures. (Somehow they passed me by on the first reading). Pippin's was when Tolkien said that in after years he always had tears come to his eyes whenever he heard horns blow (because it reminded him of when the Rohirrim came to the rescue of Minis Tirith blowing their horns).

I understand now that Tolkien wouldn't kill our beloved hobbits (well, except in the appendices [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img] ) But I was't putting anything past him the first time I read, 'cause killing off a beloved character is a sure way to make your readers cry. "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" for example. What twisted author would kill his heroine? Victor Hugo for one.

After reading that book I guess I've never ruled out the possibilities of death for any character in other books. It's made me mistrustful of authors, you could say. But Tolkien's a better author than Victor Hugo any old day.