[Folwren]

Bilbo was pitiful enough to stay his hand and allow Gollum to live. How noble, and of course, it meant the ring could eventually be destroyed. Even if this were not the case, it was the right thing to do, and he was displaying how merciful he was.

I don't think that it was pity that stayed Bilbo Baggins's hand! He didn't have a chance to kill Gollum except when he was behind him and made that final leap to freedom, and if he had killed him then, that would have been nothing less than a back stabbing murder. It may have been the right thing to do, but he didn't do it because he had mercy...he did it because he didn't have the guts to go off and kill something like that (like Mormegil said).

On the other hand, we have Sam the Sadist, who likes tying Gollum up, attacking him, verbally abusing him, etc. etc.

You wanna hear some quotes from the books that prove Samwise merciful? Allow me, gentlemen...

From The Two Towers, Book IV, Chapter One, The Taming of Smeagol:
At last Frodo was convinced that [Gollum] really was in pain; but it could not be from the knot. He examined it and found that it was not too tight, indeed hardly tight enough. Sam was gentler than his words.

(So much for your liking to tie Gollum up! Ha.)

Same book, Chapter Eight, The Stairs of Cirith Ungol:
Sam felt a bit remorseful, though not more trustful. 'Sorry,' he said. 'I'm sorry, but you startled me out of my sleep. And I shouldn't have been sleping, and that made me a bit sharp. But Mr. Frodo, he's that tired, I asked him to have a wink; and well, that's how it is. Sorry.'

And mind that that was right before Gollum's most hideous act of treachery!! If you still doubt me...this one will smash any of your hopes of Sam's lack of pity.

The Return of the King, Book VI, Chapter Three, Mount Doom:
Sam's hand wavered. His mind as hot with wrath and the memory of evil. It would be just to slay this treacherous, murderous creature, just and many times deserved; and also it seemd the only safe thing to do. But deep in his heart there was something that restrained him: he could not strike this thing lying in the dust, forlorn, ruinous, utterly wretched. He himsefl, though only for a little while, had borne the Ring, and now dimly he guessed the agony of Gollum's shrivelled mind and body, enslaved to that Ring, unable to find peace or relief ever in life again. But Sam had no words to express what he felt.

If you doubt Sam's pity and even pretend that Bilbo had more, then just think of all the time Sam had a chance to kill Gollum and he didn't. Bilbo had one chance - one chance to turn down. Sam had several. He didn't love Gollum...Bilbo didn't either...he was just more honest to express what he felt in his words than Bilbo ever was!

For my part, I find it surprising that Bilbo has not yet been canonised...

What do you mean?

Was I nice enough, Fordim? And all this is mostly friendly bantering, is it not? I'm just sharpening my debating skills and my knowledge of both Bilbo and Sam!