For in that sleep of death what dreams may come.

[Bêthberry]

Or, more precisely, whose, and how?

This topic is about a real Barrow Downs dream--not to be confused with our own Barrow Downs dreams down Mirth-ways--the one Merry had after he, Pippin and Sam were taken by the Barrow Wight.

The dream has been discussed in our chapter by chapter discussion of Fog on the Barrow Downs, particularly by Boro88, Estelyn Telcontar, davem, and Lalwende, but I think more can be said of the topic, so here goes. And bear with all the quotes!

First, some context. Tom Bombadil has answered Frodo's call and come to rescue the hobbits from the dread and gloom of the Barrow Wight's horror. Sam, Pippin and Merry wake up and find themselves clothed in what could be the decayed remains of burial shrouds and relics of those who had been laid to rest in the Barrow.

Originally Posted by Merry, Fog on the Barrow Downs

'What in the name of wonder?' began Merry, feeling the golden circlet that had slipped over one eye. Then he stopped, and a shadow came over his face, and he closed his eyes. 'Of course, I remember!' he said. 'The men of Carn Dum came on us at night, and we were worsted. Ah! the spear in my heart!' He clutched at his breast. 'No! No!' he said, opening his eyes. 'What am I saying? I have been dreaming.'

A strange dream. It appears he has remembered or relived the death of someone, possibly the person whose winding sheet he now wears.

Then, once the hobbits have recovered some warmth into their bodies, Tom completes the breaking and scattering of the spell of the mound (Tolkien's terminology) and raids the tomb, providing hobbits with special knives. Those who are rereading LotR know that the blade Merry carries is special, for it will be this blade that he uses to stab the Witch King and destroy the spell which protects the King of the Nazgul.

Here's what Tom says about the blades as he distributes them.

Originally Posted by Tom, Fog on the Barrow Downs

Then he told them that these blades were forged many long years ago by Men of Wsternesse: they were foes of the Dark Lord, but they were overcome by the evil king of Carn Dum in the Land of Angmar.

'Few now remember them,' Tom mumured, 'yet still some go wandering, sons of forgotten kings walking in loneliness, guarding from evil things folk that are heedless.'

The hobbits did not understand his words, but as he spoke they had a vision as it were of a great expanse of years behind them, like a vast shadowy plain over which there strode shapes of Men, tall and grim with bright swords, and last came one a star on his brow. Then the vision faded, and they were back in the sunlit world.

Tom's words have collapsed time, giving the hobbits a vision of . . . what past battle. Appendix A provides essential historical background here to the spread of the Witch-King's malevolence in destroying Cardolan, one of the three kingdoms in the line of Isildur. Boro quoted a bit in the thread linked to above, but the entire passage is intriguing.

Originally Posted by Appendix A, Eriador, Arnor, and the Heirs of Isildur

A great host came out of Angmar in 1409, and crossing the river entered Cardolan and surrounded Weathertop. The Dunedain were defeated and Arveleg [the king] was slain. The Tower of Amon Sul was burned and razed; but the palantir was saved and carried back in retreat to Fornost, Rhudaur was occupied by evil Men subject to Angmar, and the Dunedain that remained there were slain or fled west. Cardolan was ravaged. Araphor son of Arveleg was not yet full grown, but he was valaint, and with aid from Cirdan he repelled the enemy from Fornost and the North Downs. A remnant of the faithful among the Dunedain of Cardolan also held out in Tyrn Gorthad (the Barrowdowns) or took refuge in the Forest behind. . . . It was at this time that an end came of the Dunedain of Cardolan, and evil spirits out of Angmar and Rhudaur entered into the deserted mounds and dwelt there.

[The Appendix then moves into a quotation, part of Tolkien's literary apparatus to make the Appendix appear to be based upon ancient annals.]

'It is said that the mounds of Tyrn Gorthad, as the Barrowdowns were called of old, are very ancient, and that many were built in the day of the old world of the First Age by the forefathers of the Edain, before they crossed the Blue Mountains into Beleriand, of which Lindon is all that now remains. Those hills (Tyrn Gorthad/Barrowdowns) were therefore revered by the Dunedain after their return; and there many of their lords and kings were buried. (Some say that the mound in which the Ring-bearer was imprisoned had been the grave of the last prince of Cardolan, who fell in the war of 1409).'

Was it this prince whose death Merry dreams of? How fitting that the blade stilled by the Witch King will eventually help to bring him down. But what gives Merry this power of dream? The death shroud and the eerie spell of the Downs? Or is Merry reliving a previous life (well, in this case, death). Is this one tiny example of a possibility that Merry is here reliving a past death? If elves can reincarnate, could this be a suggestion that Men could, too?

Also intriguing is Tom's statement that the spirits of those Men killed still wander the land, guarding and protecting the unwary. Is this an example of Men's fear remaining in Middle earth? Think of the recent discussion of Laws and Customs among the Eldar.

So, how does Merry come to this dream? The supernatural effects of the burial grounds? The shroud with which the Barrow Wight draped him? A lingering fear trying to warn Merry? Past life regression?

Any thoughts, wights?