Merys was born in the Dale-Lands, in a village rebuilt after Smaug. The village, Ainthwaite, knew some time of peace, the calm when Merys and her friend Anorowen built rafts on the river and fished from trees. But months ago, it fell to darkness again. The invaders swept across before anyone could prepare. Most of the young men, including Merys' brother Urso, were away in Lake-town. Her parents, both fighters, ran forward against the invaders, while Merys was forced to hide in the village hall with the elderly and children. The invaders soon broke down the doors, and when Merys awoke a captive, her village was burning to the ground. Though she escaped the Easterlings, she had no idea if anyone else survived. Making it by raft down to Lake-town, Merys searched for weeks for her brother. Urso and the other young men were nowhere to be found. Unable to turn back and not knowing where else to go, Merys began to walk west.

Raised on the water, it was only natural for the girl to find some comfort in the river Anduin. She built a raft and began floating downstream, living off fish and the growth of the banks. Eventually though, her course met with waterfalls and she was forced to abandon her craft, taking to Rohan by foot. In this long trek, her unassuming nature became an asset. No one bothered the lone little figure beneath the ragged, green cloak.

The Gap of Rohan and beyond would be too hazardous for a lone woman, but fortune smiled on Merys. About this time, she encountered a band of travelers and bartered for their protection. They were eager for someone who could cook, mend and do all those basic things they missed from home. She rode with them up the North-South road until arriving at the Brandywine. With the Shire in view, Merys believed she had finally found peaceful lands, and found a home with a very peculiar hobbit. Hazeltree Marsh was everything a hobbit should not be - bold, outgoing, full of wanderlust. In short, everything Merys was not. But again her skills were valued and she found a home in that hobbit hole til it became evident a woman was not a welcome addition to the Shire.

Following the road back over the Brandywine, Merys had a simpler time blending into life in Bree. So easy, in fact, she often feels invisible. Just another cook's assistant, an unnoticed shadow. Thankfully, she caught the attention of fellow northmen who have taken her in, let her sleep in their mead hall and gave her food to supplement her meager supply. She even earned enough to buy her own house, for awhile. But when she decided to become a tailor’s apprentice, she lost a lot of her income and had to leave her house behind. Now she sleeps in a back room of the tailor’s shop above Laila’s Market.