[Mithalwen]

If you look at the beginning of "The Ride of the Rohirrim" you will see that Elfhelm the Marshall likes his puns. I always wonder if Elfhelm was cursing in Westron or whether Merry had piclked up enough Rohirric in a short time (not impossible given it's relationship to Hobbitish) to understand "wretched" tree roots. Even the priggish and serious Aragorn makes a slight joke about the Master of the Houses of healing knowing all the names of herbs but not actually having any.

Of a similar nature is Elrond's comment about Sam not being separable from Frodo even when not invited to a secret council. A dry humour but one no less.