What's the Worst Thing Characters had to Face in Middle Earth?

[mormegil]

I must start a new idea here, one that came to me today in my reading. It is that Samwise had to overcome his loyalty and love to Frodo. At Cirith Ungol when he knew the task needed to succeed but to do so he would leave Frodo, even though he thought him dead, it was the worst part of his life to make that decision.

He had such an abounding sense of loyalty to Frodo, and Frodo alone in this matter, that he was more than willing to give his own life if it meant saving Frodo's. He felt no fear or hesitation to attack Shelob, go in Anduin (which for him was a big deal) or do any other things on the task if it was requisite to help Frodo including beginning to go over the cliff at the Ephel Dúath, which Tolkien remarks as Samwise's most courageous moment. My point in this is that Samwise was fiercely loyal to Frodo and then to have to abandon him next to the orcs and Shelob was nearly too great a burden for him. So for him to overcome that trial was a demonstration of his quality. This was truly the one of the pinnacles for his character. Being able to put his own feelings aside and do what is needed to save Middle-earth

Another problem that Sam faced, though lesser in degree and intensity, was his self-doubt and lack of confidence in himself.