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Originally Posted by Guinevere
Too bad Tolkien didn't mention Sam in this letter... but surely he wouldn't have Sam travel to the undying lands only to see Frodo's grave! That would be too cruel!!
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Besides which, it was ONLY 61 years since Frodo and Bilbo had departed. Frodo would only be in his 110s, old, but not yet ancient for a hobbit. And in the wholesome, semi-divine air of Eressia, even Bilbo might well still be alive (making him 192 or so!!!). Also, in Gandalf's explanation of the Ring's effects, he says that a Ringbearer does not obtain or acquire "more life", but rather that what he has is "stretched". He also says that once the Ring is given up, the Ringbearer would just pick up where he left off (my words, and interpretation).
I've always taken that passage to mean that Bilbo, once he gave the Ring, was essentially still a 50 year-old hobbit. Thus, when he went over to Eressia, though 131 in Hobbit years, he was the physical equivalent of an 70 year-old hobbit. Old, certainly, but not the mummified old creature shown in the movies. Frodo, by the same system, would be only about 35- YOUNGER than Sam.
I'm not sure if that conclusion of mine is borne out by the Books, but that is the understanding it gave me.