Meriadoc Brandybuck knew that his job was among the most dangerous in the banquet hall. It was likely that only Isilwen was taking a bigger risk than he was, but he did not mention this to Estella, who was doing her best to maintain a brave face. Merry was proud of her. He knew she was terrified, but she had refused the chance to hide beneath the palace in order to help.

Merry had to get the weapons from Isilwen and move them under the table so that they could be passed out to the Elves. The word had been spread to all of the prisoners so that they were aware of what was going on, and each knew his or her responsibility to distract the guards as necessary. They all had seen what had (nearly) happened to Legolas and knew that it could mean their deaths.

What a cool and collected lot Elves were, Merry thought. If this had been a room full of Hobbits, the Uruk-hai would have known they were up to something in five minutes. These Uruks had not planned well. They should have had shifts of fresh guards switching off, but they knew that only their numbers and the lack of weapons held the Elves in check. Sooner or later the General they had mentioned would come back and order the slaughter of the Elves once he realized that they had not the strength to hold them indefinitely.

Elves needed less sleep than any creatures he had ever met, Merry thought. He was exhausted, himself. Only adrenaline and fear kept him awake. He could see the weariness and boredom on the ugly faces of the Uruk guards as well. They all looked like they could do with a nice nap, while all the Elves looked ready to go to war -- as soon as they were armed.

Merry was doing his best to move the weapons without being seen, even though it was taking forever. He did not dare take any chances, so he moved slowly and did the job as best he could. Almost all of the Elves had been given weapons when the guards finally noticed that Isilwen was doing something suspicious. He ducked under Estella's table when the guard began to interrogate Isilwen. Angelica was there with her, and they both looked at him with wide eyes. Merry lifted a finger to his lips, signaling them to remain as still and quiet as possible.

The battle began moments later. The three of them were armed with Elven daggers, as big as swords to them, but Merry wondered if it would be enough to take on the huge Uruk-hai.

"Keep under the table!" he said to the two female Hobbits. "Let the Elves handle it."

He held on to both of them as the noise of battle exploded all around them. They heard the whizzing of arrows, the clang of swords, the cries of the wounded, the thudding of falling bodies. Merry hoped they were all Uruk-hai. The table they were under creaked as if someone had jumped on top of it. Estella gasped, and Merry heard her choking back a sob. She was shaking. He rubbed her back soothingly, but knew he could not ease her fears in the midst of this.

Suddenly the table went flying off of them, stealing their cover. Over the three of them loomed a huge Uruk-hai warrior with a huge sword. He stared down at them as if he could not believe his eyes.

"What's this? Halflings? Should take half as long to kill you, then!"

"Run!" Merry shouted to Estella and Angelica. He didn't turn to look to see if they obeyed him, only raised his small dagger and prepared to defend himself.

The first sweep of the sword went completely over his head, and for once Merry was glad of his small stature. He lunged forward and sliced at the creature's thigh, hoping to duck between its legs and get clear of it. He cut into the Uruk's flesh and found himself showered with putrid blood. The Uruk-hai howled and stumbled, falling right on top of Merry, pinning him to the floor.

"Merry!" Estella screamed.

"Why aren't you running?" Merry called out as the wounded Uruk wiggled on top of him. Oh, he was really going to need a bath after this. A second later he saw Gimli looming over them, his ax raised. Merry cringed. He was really sorry he had punched the Dwarf in the nose yesterday morning, now! He squeezed his eyes shut as he saw the blade start to fall, but after the sickening crunch came, he felt no pain, and the Uruk stopped moving.

Merry opened his eyes. Gimli was trying to push the body of the fallen Uruk-hai off of him.

"You'll have to give me some help here, lad!" the Dwarf said, his face red beneath his beard from his exertions.

"Oh! Right! Thank you!" Merry pushed at the body and together they rolled it off of him. He pulled his dagger out of its flesh. It dripped with gore and Merry's stomach turned over.

Gimli ran off back into the fray. Merry watched him as he moved to fight at Legolas' side. Legolas shouted Haldir's name, and Merry realized that some of the Uruk-hai were attempting to flee. Haldir and Isilwen went after them.

"We're winning!" screamed Angelica, but then an arrow flew over her head and she ducked to the floor. Estella seemed petrified, and Merry stood in front of her. Another Uruk came at them, and Merry reached up to stab it in the gut. He was not sure if he killed it or the arrow that one of the Elves shot into it from behind did.

"Merry!"

Merry looked towards the sound of his name and saw Pippin up on the windowsill. "Get down from there before you fall out!"

"Merry, Gandalf's coming! Gandalf and Faramir! And an army! I can see them in the garden!"

"Thank goodness for that," Merry gasped. "Now get down!"

"They're fighting the Uruk-hai in the garden!" Pippin called.

A cheer went up among the Elves, and it seemed to Merry that the battle in the banquet hall was won very quickly after that. He looked around to see that the only ones left standing were Elves and Hobbits, and one very excited Dwarf. He and Legolas were already comparing battle scores, the numbers going up with each telling.

"I missed at least two that I got in the tunnel," Gimli said. "Let me count again."

"I am still ahead of you by at least five," said Legolas.

"And I am ahead of you by at least ten," Ciendriel told Legolas.

"That's impossible!" said Gimli.

Pippin jumped down from the window and Angelica ran to him and hugged him. "Faramir's here, Diamond!" Pippin said. "Do you know what that means? We can get his blessing without going all the way to Ithilien. We can get married soon!"

"Oh!" Angelica exclaimed. She kissed Pippin on the mouth.

Merry fought back a twinge of jealousy. He dropped his bloody dagger and looked around for Estella. She was sitting on the floor, her face stained with tears, looking exhausted. Merry went to her and gathered her into his arms. Was she crying because Pippin was lost to her forever now? Or maybe because she would surely have to leave with Faramir if she was truly going to serve as Eowyn's lady in waiting? Could she be crying because she and Merry would soon be parted?

Merry knew that the thought made him feel like crying, but for a Hobbit to be asked to serve amongst the royalty of Men was a great honor indeed, and he was not so selfish as to attempt to take that away from her just because he wanted, so badly, to be with her now. When had the pretending become real? When had wanting to seduce her become wanting to love her?

"It's all right," he told her. "We're safe now."

"So much blood," she whispered. She put her arms around him and clung to him, shaking like a leaf in the wind.

Merry looked around as he held her. He counted off all of his friends and companions. They were all still alive. The Elves had begun to move the bodies into a pile. No, into two piles. Several Elves had been killed in this fight. Merry counted at least eight Elven bodies, but he knew none of them more than in passing. Still, the sacrifice had been small in comparison.

Frodo came over to them, concern etched in his face. "Is Estella all right?"

"She'll be fine. I'll take care of her," Merry said. "It's just that she's never seen anything like this before. You look tired, Frodo."

"We are all tired," Frodo agreed.

"I should take her out of here."

"Not yet. Wait until Gandalf comes. We're safer in a big group."

"All right."

"You're a hero, Merry the Magnificent," Frodo said, smiling at him.

Merry laughed. "What makes you say that?"

"You had the most dangerous job of all of us, and you did it well. Without your hard work, everyone in this room might have died."

"We all do what we have to," Merry said seriously. Frodo reached out and squeezed his shoulder. Estella looked up and smiled at Frodo.

"Take good care of him, Estella," Frodo said. He turned and walked away to rescue Pippin and Angelica from Bilbo, who was apparently telling a long-winded, boastful story about his own heroic deeds in this battle.

"Take good care of you?" Estella said, smiling at Merry.

He brought his hand up to her face and stroked away one of her tears. "I suppose I need looking after sometimes."

"I thought you were going to look after me."

"I will."

"We can look after each other, if you like," she said timidly.

"I would like that," said Merry. "Very much."

A loud bang exploded through the room as Haldir of Lorien kicked open the door to the dining hall and entered wildly, his sword drawn.

"The battle is won, Haldir," Legolas called to him.

"Where is my sister?" Erestor demanded, stringing across the room towards the wary Marchwarden.

"She is with Lord Elrond. They are both well," Haldir replied quietly. Slowly he lowered his weapon and addressed the crowd, who were looking towards him. "The leaders of the Uruk-hai who held you prisoner are dead. The Wizard Gandalf and Faramir of Ithilien are outside now, battling the last of them."

"You are wrong, Haldir of Lorien. The last of them are dead," said Gandalf in a kind tone as he entered the dining hall accompanied by Faramir, Elrond, Isilwen, and a small company of Men.

Haldir turned to face them. "Never have I been so relieved to be wrong."

"Never have you so easily admitted to it," said Gimli. Haldir ignored him.

Merry saw Isilwen staring pleadingly at Haldir even as she stood at the side of Lord Elrond. Haldir seemed to be studiously ignoring her, and Merry was not sure why. He'd been under the impression that something was going on between the two of them, at least it had seemed that way back in the tunnel.

"Rivendell has been restored to the Elves, for what time they choose to remain here," Gandalf said, nodding to Elrond.

"I would like to commend all of you for your bravery," said Elrond. "But most especially I would like to thank Haldir of Lothlorien who led the effort to bring weapons to you, and who saved my life."

Haldir inclined his head graciously. Merry whistled and began to applaud. The other Hobbits took up the cheer enthusiastically. Legolas moved to embrace Haldir, as did Ciendriel and his brothers, but to Merry, the big blond Elf still looked sad.

Haldir looked at Elrond. "I could not have done this alone," he said.

"I know," Elrond replied. "Do not think that efforts of anyone else have been forgotten."

"There is much work to be done," Gandalf said gravely.

"My men and I will assist in removing the corpses, if you so desire," Faramir said to Elrond.

"Those who need to rest may go to it," Elrond told the assembled company. "The rest of us shall begin to restore Rivendell as best we can."

Most of the Elves, aside from those who were wounded, remained to help, though a few departed or were led away. Haldir turned and left abruptly, though he did not look tired to Merry's eyes. Elrond exchanged a look with Isilwen, nodding slightly, and she ran out after Haldir. Erestor took as step as if he meant to go after his sister, but Elrond held up a hand to stop him. Merry was wavering on his feet. He was exhausted and resting sounded like an excellent idea. Still, he did not wish to seem like he was reluctant to help.

"All of the Hobbits need sleep," Gandalf said, smiling at Merry as if he'd read his mind. "Come with me. Legolas Greenleaf, you too. Ciendriel, he may need you to tend to his wounds. Gimli."

"I need no rest!" said the Dwarf.

"Surely you wish to replace that ax with your own…just in case," said Gandalf. The Dwarf considered for a moment, then agreed. Gandalf was clever, Merry thought. He knew that Gimli would never admit to needing rest.

"Very well."

"Take some of my men to watch over them, that they may sleep peacefully," Faramir suggested.

"The Men of Ithilien will watch over Rivendell until we are assured of our peace once again," said Elrond to the assembled company. "And for that, we offer them our hospitality and our gratitude."

"Come on, Estella," Merry said gently, taking her hand. "We could use some sleep."

"Sleep…yes…" Estella whispered, sounding far away.

They followed after Gandalf, who had shooed Legolas out of the hall. Bilbo, Frodo, Ciendriel and Gimli followed after. Pippin stopped to greet Faramir.

"This is Angelica," he told the Prince. "We need to speak to you later."

"Very well," said Faramir, smiling at them.

Merry wondered if Estella would introduce herself to Faramir, but she walked right past him as if in a daze. Merry was last. He hurried to keep up, too tired to think about anything else for a long while.