Lord of the Rings - Merry

Merry (Meriadoc Brandybuck)

In The Lord of the Rings, Merry was often considered, and was described by Tolkien as, the most perceptive and intelligent of the hobbits: for example, even before Bilbo Baggins left The Shire, he knew of the One Ring and its power of invisibility. He guarded Bag End after Bilbo's party, protecting Frodo from the various and often unwanted guests. He has a knowing manner and a teasing sense of humour so obviously innocent and well-meaning that they are impossible to resent. (In one incident, Lobelia Sackville-Baggins accuses Frodo of being a Brandybuck and no true Baggins; Merry assures Frodo "It was a compliment; and so, of course, not true".)