[greyhavener]

I think Mr. Frodo is onto something examining Sam's character in the context of your theme of small people under big circumstances. Sam wasn't Gandalf's choice, he got involved sort of by accident. He's not particularly smart, not particularly agile, not much of a fighter. He cooks. But Sam's unwavering loyalty to Frodo and his simple understanding or what's right and what's wrong leads him into Mordor. He takes on a quest for which he hasn't been "chosen". He bears the ring that isn't his to bear. Sam may not be fully cognizant of the importance of the ring's destruction, but knowing that it is evil and has damaged Frodo is enough. He opens his heart to be a channel of healing and help for Frodo as he unleashes a "prayer of power" for lack of a better term in Elvish, a language he doesn't understand. Sam sees himself always as secondary in importance yet willingly and wholeheartedly participates in the quest. Sam accepts his own powerlessness over the situation saying "what a story we are in". Sam's paticipation is key to getting the ring to the Mount Doom, yet he always participates with a servant's heart. In the end he is the one who receives honor. In a way it's Sam's story: he gets the girl, becomes the mayor, and eventually takes his place in the West with the other ringbearers