[the phantom]

I would agree with Rimbaud. Merry and Pippen were incredibly important in the waking of Fangorn, the slaying of the King of the Nazgul, and in saving Faramir's life. Boromir forced Frodo's decision, and if Frodo and Sam had not gone off alone, the ring would've eventually corrupted the rest of the company, and they wouldn't have destroyed the ring because their timing would've been wrong, they might've chosen the wrong way into Mordor since Gollum wouldn't have guided them. Legolas and Gimli, though valiant in battle, altered the course of the war of the ring less than any of the fellowship.