[ Merry reaches a hand out to pet at Glaurugn's head as he has done so often in these past few days, curled up in serpentine coils in the few moments of rest that they could grasp. He finds his arm hurts less, now, or perhaps he has become accustomed to the dull ache it seems to have faded to. ]

It's quite all right. [ A beat, and then a laugh. ] I imagine it might be more disconcerting to you to have awoken in a different shape.

[ Sauron is defeated and gone in his world, and he doubts that anything aboard this ship can change that, for so much time had passed already before Merry arrived, and still all else had remained the same, even with Sauron having encountered those who would become his enemies. And it is not in Merry to truly hate, only to mourn, and pity, and offer what little grace he can. Meriadoc is quite sure that grace and friendship are not what Sauron expects. ]

I suppose we'll just have to feel our way through whatever comes next, then. I don't think I've ever had a friend quite so old or talented, before.

[ I'm not about to kick you out, is what he is saying, in his hobbitlike, simple way. ]