Backup-bearer

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

Originally Posted by Nazgûl-king

Who do you think would have become ring-bearer if Frodo had died in Moria? Do you think a backup bearer was assigned by the Council of Elrond to carry the Ring if Frodo dies? I think Sam would have been made backup-bearer for his loyalty to Frodo and resilience to the Ring. Though if there was not one assigned, I think Boromir would have tried to take the Ring if Frodo died.

Well, they would not want Boromir to be the back up, but I think that Sam would probably be the backup but would he be able to leave Frodo behind? (Yes, he did leave him with Shelob when he was presumed to be dead, but keep into account that Samwise was coming back, or planning to anyways)

[Lindale]

Yup, most probably it will be Sam, because Aragorn, Gandalf and the others will deem it best, except Boromir, who will use his argument in the Council to use the Ring over again. Maybe the madness of Boromir would manifest itself here. If it does, then the Fellowship will be broken, plus all the dangers of Moria in the background. Even if all seven of the Fellowship are against Boromir alone. Chaos.

[Meriadoc1961]

I think the logical choice would have been for Sam to be the bearer. Boromir would have wanted it, but I do not think he would have tried to take it yet by force.

Merry

[Nogrod]

Originally Posted by Meriadoc1961

I think the logical choice would have been for Sam to be the bearer.

I think there was enough to chew for the council that Frodo... a hobbit that is... should be trusted with something like this important thing. Surely it was mainly the authority of Gandalf that gave Frodo the task in the first place. So making another unknown hobbit a back-up, one even Gandalf didn't know or trust so much at that time? No way.

Boromir I think is out of consideration. Aragorn and Gandalf might have been suggested by some of the council members but they would have declined the offer. Gimli would have been strongly against Legolas taking it at that time but all the elves would have voted no for Gimli...

I don't see a scenario for a back-up bearer. If someone would have been chosen to that part I'd say it would have been Legolas... a millenia old elf with experience and a cool head.

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

Hmmm... I don't really see a backup bearer but of course nobody would have given the ring to Sam, but probably to someone they thought would be of more importance!

[Laurinquë]

I think Sam would have been the best backup ring-bearer, but he might not have gotten the job. Gandalf might have the sense to give it to him, Merry and Pippin too, but everybody else? They would have probably wanted some Elven hero in Lothlorien to do it, everbody except Gimli....

[Boromir88]

I think a back-up bearer would have been fruitless and ended in failure. As Elrond in his infinite wisdom says:

"I think that this task is appointed for you, Frodo; and that if you do not find a way, no one will."~The Council of Elrond

Even if someone else would have had the strength to lug the Ring all the way into the Sammath Naur (which Tolkien writes in a letter saying Frodo was possibly the only one ever who could have done such a thing...but that is for a different discussion), Frodo's own redemption came when he spared Gollum's life, when everyone else would have told Frodo to kill him. Certainly not Sam, nor do I think any of the others, would have found pity in their heart to spare Gollum.

If a back-up bearer had to be chosen, the best I guess would have been Sam...afterall he did prove to be a trusty temporary "bearer." But in the end, Frodo's death would mean the death of the quest.