Bilbo, Gollum and Sam

[Tar-Palantir]

When the ring was destroyed, everything created with it went up in smoke. Bilbo aged an additional 61 years in a night. That's why he was so very much older only a year later when the hobbits met up with him in Rivendell. Gollum would have gone up in a poof of smoke, aging hundreds of years at once.

He would have died in any case.

Thank you Maril, I had never thought about the time-line in such a way. I went back to read the Bilbo in Rivendell portions of the book, and you are dead on, he had not aged more than the normal passing of time (17 years). I suppose I let the movie influence my mental image of Bilbo... [img]smilies/mad.gif[/img]

I also found the passage that indicates this - it is Arwen speaking to Frodo on the first page of chapter 6 in RotK -

"For you know the power of that thing which is now destroyed; and all that was done by that power is now passing away. But your kinsman possessed this thing longer than you. He is ancient in years now, according to his kind; and he awaits you, for he will not again make any long journey save one."

How did I miss that!?!?! I guess Gollum without doubt would have died.

Thanks again Maril - [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]