I got this game a few years ago and I have never figured out how to get past old man willow. I have read things that tell me to his his fists but it never works for me. Merry and Pippin end up dieing before anything happens. Is there a certain number of times that you need to hit his fists? Is there a special time to hit them? Does it take a while for it to work? Someone please let me know what to do.

yes. once his fist hammers down run over to it and whack it with your staff. i dont know exactly how many times but it does take a while. make sure you stay clear of the fists, though. you are hitting them when theyre on the ground, right? okay check that. after youve hit a fist right youll know cuz the willow will make a weird wilting sound. so continue this for a while and youll know youre done when a cutscene shows tom bombadil coming and singing a song to it to make it stop. good luck.