[MLD-Grounds-Keeper-Willie]

Well, that's a good point, but we can't be sure. The only way to find out was if Gollum had lived after the ring was destroyed. But do you think it would it happen immediately or would Gollum's age catch up overnight, so maybe Gollum would die in his sleep. I wonder if Gollum knew this. Or if he just felt it or knew it through the ring, just a realization after having the ring so long. Is that one reason he so badly did not want to let the ring be destroyed. I think he might have. There is no doubt that he didn't want the ring with a burning desire. But I think at times he could have had it, but chose not to, especially to keep what friendship he had with Frodo. It seems that at those times he just wanted his life back with friends and no lonliness. So was Gollum also trying to keep himself from dying? Did Gollum know his fate was sealed with the ring? It's a sad, sad case.

[ January 12, 2003: Message edited by: MLD-Grounds-Keeper-Willie ]