A Potentially Meaningful 'What if'

[Nilpaurion Felagund]

He also left Frodo for dead at Shelob and took the Ring. So, yes, I think that Sam would have had enough strength and perception (remember when he resisted the temptation of the Ring to become Samwise the Strong) to hurt Frodo to destroy the Ring.

I don't think so...

They must understand that--Elrond and the council, and the great Lords and Ladies with all their wisdom. Their plans have gone wrong. I can't be their Rong-bearer. Not without Mr. Frodo.

(LotR, Book IV, Chapter 10)

He was at first prepared to leave Mr. Frodo...errr...Frodo because he thought he was dead. Gone. Never to return. Even then, he had hesitations. He tarried for a long time with Frodo before he made his mind up. He knew he had to fulfill the mission(with hopes of dying, perhaps, and joining Frodo beyond Eä.) But once he found out Frodo was alive, he forgot all about the quest. His Master needed rescuing.

There is no other place where the Ring would be so powerful as at the place where it was created. In that place, its will would supersede even the will of iron.

I agree. Had Sam succumbed to the Ring's superior will, he would have joined Gollum and Frodo in the mêlée.

Now, a silly twist to the question(if I may do so...): Would Bombadil, had he been there, destroy the Ring?

->Elenrod

<font size=1 color=339966>[ 3:23 AM December 12, 2003: Message edited by: Nilpaurion Felagund ]