[Eressië Ailin]

I think Sam did alot of what he did out of fear. Not just just fear of what would happen to him, he wasn't even thinking about himself when he said he would go to Mordor with Frodo, but out of fear for Frodo and The Shire. It just goes to show you how close the two were. Sam knew there was danger ahead of him, but he couldn't possibly imagine what kind of danger. For Sam, it probably would have been harder for him to stay in Shire, waiting for Frodo to come back. Sam wouldn't be able to let his friend face danger alone; he has to be there with him. I don't have a book here next to me (I know, it's sad), but in FoTR, Pippin says something about Sam 'getting rewarded for his cheek, instead of punished.' In my opinion, making the hobbits stay in the Shire would be a very harsh and cruel punishment. It would be like making them wait until their best friend dies.