Did Frodo REALLY volunteer to Bear the Ring?

[Galadriel55]

Originally Posted by Mithalwen

But most were just fellow travellers in the outset. Boromir was going home and Aragorn was going with him. Gimli and Legolas were also on an indirect route home though there must have been a greater purpose since Gimli presumably let Gloin go home the more direct route via the high pass.. and while Legolas is alone it is possible that he hadn't journeyed alone. Gandalf is already a ringbearer which leave the younger Hobbits who go out of love and loyalty to Frodo.

But fellow travelers do not attempt to give formal vows, pledging themselves to the journey. It was made clear at the very start that this is not going to be a pleasant stroll - so there must have been some sense of duty that prompted the Fellowship to, well, become the Fellowship. It's true that Gimli, Legolas, and Boromir were all bachelors with enough strength and few enough other commitments, and they probably thought of it as a "there and back again" trip (or just back again for Boromir). Maybe they felt like they just didn't have excuses not to participate. Still, though, the start of the quest felt more than that; it didn't have the air of "Well, Frodo, we'll just see you off to Mordor and go back home".