The Middle Earth Popularity Cup

[Thinlómien]

I don't really like Lúthien. She has some pretty cool (see, I'm using that word again ) magic things she does, but otherwise, she doesn't impress me much. I have nothing against it that she is ready to give everything for love, but I've heard Mithalwen's preachings of her selfishness countless times and I can kind of agree.

++Merry

He, on the other hand, has always been one of my favourites. I've always identified with him (well, mostly because my sister was a total Pippin when she was younger and she still is). I love his cheerful and gentle spirit, and it is nice to have a hobbit who has an apparent love for lore and stories but is still not a geek like those Bagginses. Also, Merry seems to be very caring about his friends and good at arranging stuff, probably thanks to his warm down-to-earth attitude. Furthermore, I've always had a thing for leader-type characters, and a leader is exactly what Merry becomes in the end.

Lastly, Merry's relationship with Théoden and Éowyn too is very touching. The following quote (among others) always makes my eyes turn suspiciously moist:

"Good!" said Merry. "Then I would like supper first, and after that a pipe." At that his face clouded. "No, not a pipe. I don't think I'll smoke again."

"Why not?" said Pippin.

"Well," answered Merry slowly. "He is dead. It has brought it all back to me. He said he was sorry he had never had a chance of talking herb-lore with me. Almost the last thing he ever said. I shan't ever be able to smoke again without thinking of him, and that day, Pippin, when he rode up to Isengard and was so polite."

"Smoke then, and think of him!" said Aragorn. "For he was a gentle heart and a great king and kept his oaths; and he rose out of the shadows to a last fair morning. Though your service to him was brief, it should be a memory glad and honourable to the end of your days."

(Too bad really, now I'm having tears in my eyes. But Aragorn's words there are just incredibly beautiful.)