Why did Merry and Pippin choose Gondor?

[Raynor]

From the Tale of Years, RotK:

1484
In the spring of the year a message came from Rohan to Buckland that King Eomer wished to see Master Holdwine once again. Meriadoc was then old (102) but still hale. He took counsel with his friend the Thain, and soon after they handed over their goods and offices to their sons and rode away over the Sam Ford, and they were not seen again in the Shire. It was heard after that Master Meriadoc came to Edoras and was with King Eomer before he died in that autumn. Then he and Thain Peregrin went to Gondor and passed what short years were left to them in that realm, until they died and were laid in Rath Dínen among the great of Gondor.

What do you think motivated their choice, to be burried in Gondor?

[Marky Lazer]

Because their proudest actions were in Gondor, maybe?
Merry helping to defeat the Witchking of Angmar and Pip who fought as a guard of the citadel (if that was his correct title)

[BillF]

Originally Posted by Raynor

From the Tale of Years, RotK:

What do you think motivated their choice, to be burried in Gondor?

Pippin, obviously, was a soldier of Gondor... but I think they both went there out of a great love of Aragorn, "who had never failed them..."
That, and they had touched 'high' things - a world lofty and sublime. Gondor under Elessar's reign was beautiful and inspiring. They enjoyed the reward of years of peace in The Shire, but wanted to see once more the other things they had fought for, and helped to flower. Merry also, no doubt, had a few old scrolls and histories he still wanted to look through.

[j. d. worthington]

Welcome to the Chrons, Bill...

I'd say that has a great deal to do with it. After all, Tolkien had the hobbits "grow up" via their journey to Gondor, something that certainly was necessary for them to handle the problems that surfaced in the Shire by the time of their return (can one imagine Merry or Pippin as they were beforehand being very effective in opposing the Shirriffs, let alone anything larger?). That "touching of high things" is very much akin to those of us who find a broader perspective and, however much we may enjoy a visit, find that in the end as the saying goes, we can never truly go home again....

[manephelien]

Indeed. Although Merry and Pippin did spend the majority of their years in the Shire, once their children were independent with growing families of their own, they heard the wild geese again and wanted to meet some old friends before it was too late.

[Nesacat]

Yes I think Merry and Pippin bloomed on that journey and much came to fruitfulness in one way or another in Gondor and with Aragorn. Like Bilbo, I think they needed that one last journey to be again with all the wonder they played such a huge part in. I think too that there is such a part in all of us.

[Rider]

I agree with the above mentioned but only for clarification: just as Bilbo wanted to return to the Lonely Mountain after some time, so did they... they wanted to see what the helped to create. Not to mention that they were great friends with both kings and their fame was great.

[Nesacat]

... as for being buried in Gondor ... I think that was where the great adventure of their lives was. The thing they did that other Hobbits had never done. The thing was absolutely un-Hobbit like. It all came together to end at Gondor. And that was also where Aragorn was and he had been the first one from the outside to walk with them on the adventure.

[pyan]

Originally Posted by Nesacat

The thing was absolutely un-Hobbit like.

I get the impression, as well, that the hobbits as a whole never really understood what they had done, and been through. Their whole lives after the Fellowship would seem a little flat, maybe, after their adventures, and it would be only natural to go back to where their roles in the overthrow of Sauron would be appreciated.
Even being the Thain and the Master would be somewhat prosaic after their travels - I'm surprised they didn't go back sooner.

[Nesacat]

I think they would have if they had paused to mull over it. But I think that for a time they were caught up in the doings of the Shire in which they were very much involved. And then when the message from Eomer came ... they remembered. And it was then hard to put away again.

[pyan]

I can just imagine the Thain and the Master of Buckland trying to squeeze into their old mail-shirts for the trip........Not as if you can really let them out a bit, either.....

[j. d. worthington]

Originally Posted by pyan

I can just imagine the Thain and the Master of Buckland trying to squeeze into their old mail-shirts for the trip........Not as if you can really let them out a bit, either.....

Hmmm. None too easily, no..... And I'd agree that was also a part of it; that they (like Bilbo) wanted to "see mountains again", as it were, and that they were -- being conscientious (another thing learned on their journey) -- caught up in taking care of things in the Shire for a long while, as well....

[andyn]

I think they were like the old soldiers who many years later in life, go back to the battlefields of their youth to remember those who had fallen.

[Nesacat]

... and to remember the thunder, amazing valour of those they fought with and the totally unexpected acts of heroism on both their parts.