[Aratlithiel]

I don't think Sam would have lasted til Bree if he didn't have his love for Frodo to drive him. That love was more important to him than his garden, The Shire or even Middle-earth, as evidenced by his refusal to leave Frodo's body to the orcs outside of Cirith Ungol. He knew the peril he was placing the Ring in - he knew he AND the Ring would be captured - but he chose to forsake everything else for his master, even though he believed him dead at the time. I firmly believe Sam would have shoved Frodo into the Cracks of Doom if Frodo had asked him to - and probably would have jumped right in after him.

That being said, Frodo certainly would never have made it to the mountain at all without Sam. He needed someone with him to keep pushing him and Sam was the only one who loved him enough to do that - again, because it was what Frodo wished. Can you imagine Merry or Pippin (as steadfast and true as they were) pushing Frodo the way Sam did? No, I think they would have stopped him "for his own good" eventually, believing they were saving him. Sam knew the only way to save Frodo was to complete the Quest and he only knew that because of his deep love and understanding of him.

I think Frodo and Sam (Gollum aside) were the only combination that could have accomplished the task.

Of course that's just my opinion, I could be wrong. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]