Was Gollum's slip the only way?

[Findegil]

It is true taht Bilbo did give the Ringa away and that he was the first to do so. But he was not the only one: Sam did it as well, and even was much less help then Bilbo (but after a much shorter time of claiming it).

I don't think that any being in Middle-Earth could have distroied the Ring, not after the War in Second Age nor at any later time. Celebrimbor and Galadriel together were not able to destroy the Elvenrings, so I don't belive Elrond had it made any better then Isildur. And I think he did know it. Not for nothing he said that he would not take the Ring for hidding at the council.

What he could have done in the second Age and what, I think, would have been the best way, was killing Isildur by pushing him over the brink into the fire! And that exactly would have been what Gandalf would have persued Sam or any other surving companien if he had been at the Cracks of Doom. HE could not even have done that within rules of his mission, I think. So he had to bring someelse to do it.

Respectfully
Findegil