Sam who?

[The Only Real Estel]

I don't think he is surprised, although I see how one could be mislead in that scene to believe so.

Sounds plasible except for this part:

(Aragorn)"He's not alone. Sam went with him."

(Gandalf)"Did he? Did he indeed..."

I think that shows that Gandalf did not realize that Sam was with Frodo. It's a good question Elianna, I was just mentioning what you said to my friends the last time we saw TTT together. Surely Gandalf would've found out just about everything that had happened to the Fellowship during the long ride to Edoras. I would like to think he'd wonder where Sam is, not just assume he's dead or gone home .