[ninlaith]

Ooo....it hurts. Such a tough question. I agree, human nature does say that it is natiral to have mercy for those who are weaker. Which also brings me back to the Code of Chivalry, but we won't get into that. But none of us have truly been in Frodos place. We honestly do not know how we would feel in that exact situation. We can guess but we do not know. We would all like to think that we would let our mercy hand take hold, but that natural rage and frustration is such a powerful evil feeling. That's why I believe Frodo was chosen to carry the ring. Man could never comtain that rage unless they were "pure of heart" which we all know is next to non-existent. Frodo was the only one who could stand being merciful because he was not human. I think some of us forget this fact. Frodo was not human. More like a sub-human I suppose. He was not ridden with the evil flaws of man but had flaws of his own. Less concerning flaws. A man could never have handled it.