After the hopelessness and distress of the past days for both the hobbits and the Three Hunters, their reunion is a joyful reprieve. The hobbits are safe, happily eating and smoking —some of their favorite pastimes, and their favorite shields against despair. Théoden meets another of Rohan’s legends in the hobbits and, open-minded about the truth of the old stories, actually identifies them, though few people do. Merry and Pippin note Théoden’s good manners, further indication of the return of courtesy to Rohan.