[The Saucepan Man]

Because they left the Shire later than Gandalf intended, the Hobbits met Gildor and his companions, who were able to send word to Elrond in Rivendell of Frodo's plight, thus ensuring that Glorfindel was abroad searching for them. But for this chain of events, Frodo would almost certainly have succumbed to the Witch-king's blade.