I quickly backed away from my door and scanned my room for somewhere to hide. I was thinking of hiding underneath my bed, but there wasn't enough space for me to fit. I was also thinking of climbing out my bedroom window, but then Merry would see me and I would be totally embarrassed.

"Maybe hiding isn't such a good idea." I pondered. "I guess I have to face my fear this time. I really don't want to, but I guess I have no other choice."

I stood frozen as I watched my bedroom door being opened. My dark green eyes grew wide in fear and trepidation. Merry was standing in front of me. He had a serious look on his face. I had no idea what Merry was going to say or do to me. I had a feeling that it wouldn't be good.

Merry cleared his throat. "Brianna, we need to have a talk." He said, sternly. Merry moved in closer to me. The two of us were standing face to face. "A serious talk."

"A-A-About what?" I stuttered.

Merry let out a loud sigh. "I need to tell you something." The hobbit swallowed hard. There was an uneasiness, a shakiness, in his voice. The hard expression on Merry's face changed rather quickly. He now looked as if something was troubling him or as if he were guilty of something, like committing a heinous crime.

"What do you want to tell me, Merry?" I inquired. "Did I do something wrong? What did I do?"

"I-I-I-I need to apologize to you." Merry faltered. "I'm sorry about...about what happened between us, alright? I'm sorry for everything. It's all my fault. I'm sorry for forcing you to marry me. I'm sorry for forcing you to have children. I'm sorry for all of the terrible things I said to you. A-A-All of it was my fault. It was all my fault! I felt so guilty for what I did, but I didn't want to admit it! I held it all in...and....and...."

"And what, Merry?" I asked, in a quiet, compassionate voice. "What happened?"

Merry quickly seized my hands. I was taken aback for a moment, but then I saw a stream of tears flowing down from Merry's eyelids and my heart filled with pity.

"What happened, Merry?" I whispered. "You can tell me."

"I-I-I couldn't stop thinking about you." Merry blubbered. "I couldn't eat...I couldn't sleep, Brianna. I drank every night because I thought that it would drown my sorrows....b-b-but it didn't! It only made it worse!"

"Oh, Merry. That's....that's awful. I'm so sorry."

"I've had the most awful nightmares, B-Brianna. I dreamt that...that I lost you forever and...I could never get you back. Oh, B-B-Brianna. W-Will you please forgive me?"

"Of course I forgive you, Merry." I reassured. "I forgive you."

Merry pulled me close and gave me a tight embrace. Merry buried his head deep into my shoulder and rocked me back and forth. "Oh, thank you, B-Brianna! Thank you!"

After we let go of each other, I told Merry that I thought it would be a good idea if we were to wait a little longer to get married. I told him that I still had a whole life to live and I was still quite young.

"It's...It's alright." Said Merry. "It's alright. Frodo already told me that you weren't ready to get married. Oh, how could I have been so foolish? Y-you and F-Frodo are right, maybe we should wait. I-I-If it makes you feel any better, I s-still have the r-r-ing. D-don't you think it's beautiful?"

I nodded and smiled politely. "Of course I do, Merry. It is really beautiful."

Merry smiled weakly. "J-just like you, Bri." He pressed his hand against my cheek and stroked it gently. "J-just like you."

I chuckled softly. "Thank you, Merry. Um, there's something else I need to tell you. I know you got upset at me for saying this but...but I don't want...."

"I understand, Brianna." Merry sniffled. "Frodo already told me why you didn't want any children. It was foolish of me to get angry at you. The only reason why I wanted children is because I thought it would make you happy. But, now I realize that it doesn't. Maybe I'm not cut out to be a parent. Maybe we're both not cut out to be parents. Now that I think of it, being a parent seems like a lot of hard work."

"Yeah, it does seem like a lot of hard work." I agreed.

Merry wiped at his tear stained cheeks with the sleeves of his jacket. "You know, Brianna, I think that Frodo's done a great job raising you. You're pretty lucky to have him as a father."

I chuckled. "I guess I am pretty lucky. And I guess that Frodo's pretty lucky to have me as a daughter."

Merry nodded. "Indeed he is. Indeed he is. And I guess I'm pretty lucky to have you as my one true love. Oh, Brianna, I'm so sorry for everything that I've done. I'm just hoping that you will forgive me. Do...do you still love me?"

"Don't worry, Merry. I do forgive you. No matter what happens, I will always love you. Always."

Merry embraced me one last time and kissed me, affectionately. His kiss was so magical...and so beautiful. It nearly took my breath away.

I was so glad that I had Merry in my life. Without him, I don't know what I'd do. He was like that little ray of sunshine on the darkest of days. He was always there for me when I needed him the most. I loved Merry more than anything. He meant the world to me.

You know, after this moment, I was looking back at the first days of my adoption. I was remembering why Frodo decided to take me in instead of leaving me behind in the Eastfarthing Woods. Frodo told me that the main reason why he decided to adopt me was because he loved me dearly.

There was one thing I remember Frodo saying to me about love. He said "Love is patient and love is kind. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres and it never ever fails."

Those words have always stuck with me. I can honestly say that they've inspired me and changed my life for the better. Frodo was right.
Love is patient. Love is kind. It always protects and always trusts. It always hopes, always perseveres and it never ever fails.