Post Sections ⇅
How Do I Unlock Merethrond?
To be able to access the Merethrond Banqueting Hall, you’ll need to have attended the wedding ceremony first. Although you can already go into the banquet hall after the wedding, make sure you pick up Book 1, Chapter 8: The Wedding Feast from Rodwen who now considers herself an “Experienced Wedding-Planner”. You can make your own judgements on that one.
The Wedding Feast Rewards
Once you complete Book 1, Chapter 8 – i.e. have run the instance of the wedding feast and dancing – then you’ll receive the following rewards:
- 1 × Class Trait Point
- 1 × Wine Table decoration
- XP and Legendary Item XP (if applicable)
- A few coins. Yep, you get paid to go to someone else’s wedding reception. Winning!
A Long-Awaited Banquet (Daily)
Each day you can pick up A Long-Awaited Banquet from Toldir. Head upstairs to the actual table area and you’ll see quest rings over the Fellowship members. You may only complete one individual’s quest per server day. I have kept these in alphabetical order to make it easier to find the quest you need. The order in the Banqueter Deed is different.
Note: the individual NPC quests do not count towards the festival wrapper. However the A Long-Awaited Banquet quest does.
Skip to:
Faramir – Frodo Baggins – Gimli – King Aragorn II Elessar – Legolas – Meriadoc Brandybuck – Mithrandir – Peregrin Took – Samwise Gamgee
The Quests
So, as I said, these are in alphabetical order. To complete the deed you will have to complete each NPC’s quest once. If you have completed the deed and are just looking for a quick quest, I heard that (and I tested it) Faramir’s quest is by far the quickest. It’s just coincidence that his name is first in the order!
Faramir
Examine Boromir’s Horn
Right click on Boromir’s Horn which is just sat on the banquet table in front of Faramir.
In each hand he held up one half of a great horn cloven through the middle: a wild-ox horn bound with silver.
“That is the horn that Boromir always wore!” cried Pippin.
“Verily,” said Denethor. “And in my turn I bore it, and so did each eldest son of our house…”
The Return of the King, as quoted by Henneth-Annun.net
Faramir then goes on to say he wishes his father Denethor could have seen Gondor free of the Enemy. At the wedding ceremony, Mithrandir scolds dissenters in the crowd when he honours Denethor for having held the Enemy at bay with his mental energies. Faramir has already retrieved a stone and placed it at the base of the sapling of the White Tree. He asks that you bury the sundered Horn of Boromir at the same place.
Bury Boromir’s Horn
Head out of Merethrond and back into the Citadel Circle. The White Tree sapling is found at 22.4N, 55.9W. Interact with the Fertile Soil there to bury the horn, then head back to Faramir.
Faramir’s Resolve
Faramir now, having made peace with the past and honoured it, now looks to the future and to Éowyn. And you helped him get there.
Faramir Banquet Quest Rewards
Midsummer Token × 1
XP and Legendary Item XP (if applicable)
A few coins (scales to level)
Skip to:
Faramir – Frodo Baggins – Gimli – King Aragorn II Elessar – Legolas – Meriadoc Brandybuck – Mithrandir – Peregrin Took – Samwise Gamgee
Frodo Baggins
He is sat at the head table, so decides you need to fetch a quill, some ink and some sheets of parchment. Quite why he decides the middle of a banquet is the best place to start writing, I have no idea.
Finding a Quill, Ink and Parchment
The quest states you can find these at The Blue Theatre or The Houses of Lore. Having investigated it, you can find everything you need in the Blue Theatre, so I’m just going to cover that.
The quest requires that you retrieve:
- 1 × Writing-Quill
- 1 × Phial of Ink
- 4 × Sheets of Parchment
I have provided a map to show some of the locations in the Blue Theatre for these items.
Very often, you’ll find some of them together, which is why I haven’t needed to be any more detailed than that. Once you have all the requested items, head back to Frodo Baggins in Merethrond.
Blue Theatre Map
Now’s Not the Time, Frodo!
Once you have given your findings to Frodo, you give him a minute (literally) to think about how to start. Eventually he comes to the same conclusion as you did at the start of the quest – now isn’t the time for writing! Enjoy the festivities!
Frodo Baggins Banquet Quest Rewards
- Midsummer Token × 1
- XP and Legendary Item XP (if applicable)
- A few coins (scales to level)
Skip to:
Faramir – Frodo Baggins – Gimli – King Aragorn II Elessar – Legolas – Meriadoc Brandybuck – Mithrandir – Peregrin Took – Samwise Gamgee
Gimli
You can take a Dwarf from building but…
You can’t take the desire to build out of a Dwarf. In short, Gimli is admiring the beauty of Gondorian construction (well, he is a Dwarf, so we can forgive him this). So, despite quaffing *mumble mumble* flagons of drink already, he is thinking about how he can put his stonework to use in Gondor’s rebuilding efforts. He ends by asking the “radiant” Galadriel if she’ll visit one of his projects when it’s finished. Well I say “he asks” – he actually admits drink should never “speak on his behalf” so asks you to. The remaining dialogue is lovely. Enjoy it.
Gimli Banquet Quest Rewards
- Midsummer Token × 1
- XP (No iXP)
- A few coins (scales to level)
Skip to:
Faramir – Frodo Baggins – Gimli – King Aragorn II Elessar – Legolas – Meriadoc Brandybuck – Mithrandir – Peregrin Took – Samwise Gamgee
King Aragorn II Elessar
Unquieted Tables
Go around the entire table area in the Banquet Hall and right click 14 × Unquieted Tables. In case you’re curious, the emote used here is /ahem, but I don’t think that emote ticks off the quest. Feel free to correct me. Here are 3 different angles when finding tables.
Return to King Aragorn and then listen to his short speech. Even guests who are not in his kingdoms should be polite enough to listen, hmm?
King Aragorn II Elessar Banquet Quest Rewards
- Midsummer Token × 1
- XP (No iXP)
- A few coins (scales to level)
Skip to:
Faramir – Frodo Baggins – Gimli – King Aragorn II Elessar – Legolas – Meriadoc Brandybuck – Mithrandir – Peregrin Took – Samwise Gamgee
Legolas
Speak to Gimli
Once you’ve accepted Legolas’ quest, go to the other end of the table and speak Gimli. I guess Legolas didn’t want to shout down the table “Hey, let’s see who can drink the most before falling unconscious!”. Can’t imagine why. Anyway, Gimli refuses – having had *mumble mumble* drinks already.
Finding Wine
Legolas decides that he had phrased the challenge wrong. Instead of calling it a “test of fortitude” he rebrands it as a “battle”. But first, the Elf says to go and fetch 10 Bottles of Wine from the kitchens. So head all the way to the underground level of Merethrond and pick some up. I’ve marked three locations on the map but you’re not exactly spoilt for choice – it is the biggest wedding since forever after all.
/challenge Gimli
Once you’ve retrieved the bottles, head back up and /challenge Gimli to battle. Then the pair can have a new contest – without bloodshed. Hopefully!
Legolas Banquet Quest Rewards
- Midsummer Token × 1
- XP and Legendary Item XP (if applicable)
- A few coins (scales to level)
If memory serves, they travel far and wide after the events of The Lord of the Rings until eventually Legolas makes a 2-man grey ship and they sail West. I do not think we know for certain what happened to Gimli on that journey, though with his devotion to some Elves, and Galadriel in particular, he may not have been refused in the Undying West?
Skip to:
Faramir – Frodo Baggins – Gimli – King Aragorn II Elessar – Legolas – Meriadoc Brandybuck – Mithrandir – Peregrin Took – Samwise Gamgee
Meriadoc Brandybuck
Where to Search for Pipe-Weed
Meriadoc sends you to the prow of Minas Tirith, the High Stables and the Southern Great Guesthouse. Quite the run-around! Here are the locations for you. Just so you know, the one in the stables is up the steps immediately on the left as you enter.
Once you’ve (fruitlessly) looked in these locations, head back to Merethrond.
Speak to Toldir
As you head back in Toldir grabs your attention and asks if you’re looking for Meriadoc’s pipe-weed. Sighing, you say that you are. Then Toldir tells you that Merry had in fact given it to him for safe keeping and that it’s in the kitchens of… Merethrond.
At least you’ll be hungry again after all the running around. Silver linings and all that. Head back to Meriadoc Brandybuck to complete the quest.
Meriadoc Brandybuck Banquet Quest Rewards
- Midsummer Token × 1
- XP and Legendary Item XP (if applicable)
- A few coins (scales to level)
Skip to:
Faramir – Frodo Baggins – Gimli – King Aragorn II Elessar – Legolas – Meriadoc Brandybuck – Mithrandir – Peregrin Took – Samwise Gamgee
Mithrandir
Finding the Books
In case you’ve forgotten where Gandalf’s room is (you have been before to fetch fireworks) – the High Guesthouse is marked on your in-game map and here are the two books you need to retrieve:
Booster Seats
Once you return to the Wizard you find out the reason he needed those huge books was – to put under Frodo and Sam so they can sit higher on their chairs! I was a little disappointed that this wasn’t reflected on the in-game graphics (LOTRO have given them smaller chairs but they can reach the table), but it’s still a funny end to a quest.
Mithrandir Banquet Quest Rewards
- Midsummer Token × 1
- XP and Legendary Item XP (if applicable)
- A few coins (scales to level)
Skip to:
Faramir – Frodo Baggins – Gimli – King Aragorn II Elessar – Legolas – Meriadoc Brandybuck – Mithrandir – Peregrin Took – Samwise Gamgee
Peregrin Took
Head to the Kitchens
You probably know Merethrond like your own home at this point. You’ll need to wander the whole kitchen. From what I can gather, you can gather:
- 3 × Meat dishes (not the item name)
- 1 × fine bread platter
- 1 × Platter of Fine Cheese
- 1 × Glazed Pastry Tower
Nom. There are more items than you’re allowed to pick up.
Go to the Old Guesthouse
The Old Guesthouse is on the Workers Tier (the first Circle), so head to the High Stables and travel to City Stables. The Old Guest house is just South of the stables at 21.6N, 53.8W. This is where you find the Florist’s Daughter from the Floral Crowns Midsummer quest.
Speak to the Children
The children of the Old Guesthouse are eagerly awaiting the food promised by “Prince Peregrin” (like he’d ever be called that back in The Shire, haha). They send their thanks and send you on your way back to… Pippin.
The Missive
The quest doesn’t end there. He gives you a sealed missive to give to Beregrond…who is sat right next to him. I’ll let you enjoy the rest.
Peregrin Took Banquet Quest Rewards
- Midsummer Token × 1
- XP (No iXP)
- A few coins (scales to level)
Skip to:
Faramir – Frodo Baggins – Gimli – King Aragorn II Elessar – Legolas – Meriadoc Brandybuck – Mithrandir – Peregrin Took – Samwise Gamgee
Samwise Gamgee
Finding Worrysome Thoughts
These “thoughts” take the form of translucent Cotton and Gamgee family members and what Samwise thinks they are saying about him. A trap I think some of us in modern-day Earth can relate too. Here’s a map of where I found them.
Right-click them to /shoo them away. I’ve put a mini gallery of all the Worrysome Thoughts below, but a really lovely touch by LOTRO is that Rosie Cotton is sat on his chair at the top table.
Samwise Gamgee Banquet Quest Rewards
- Midsummer Token × 1
- XP (No iXP)? To confirm in 2022
- A few coins (scales to level)
Skip to:
Faramir – Frodo Baggins – Gimli – King Aragorn II Elessar – Legolas – Meriadoc Brandybuck – Mithrandir – Peregrin Took – Samwise Gamgee
A Feast of Fellowship (Banqueter Title) Deed
Title: Banqueter- Midsummer Tokens: 9
Plus you’ll have experienced some lovely interactions with key figures in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy and some fab LOTRO story-crafting.
TL;DR A Long-Awaited Banquet, the Feast Genuinely Never Ends!
Given you can repeat each person’s quest multiple times over the entire Midsummer Festival and over multiple years, the A Celebration Without End is not hyperbole! But in all seriousness, there are some lovely and touching stories in A Long-Awaited Banquet, so please take time to read them. Have fun!
Other Midsummer Content
About the Author
I have been playing MMOs for about ten years and began writing guides to The Lord of the Rings Online in 2017. I've only been creating content about Final Fantasy XIV since 2022, but I am glad for the mix. My current games include LOTRO, FFXIV and the occasional Palia session too.
Donate Coffee
