rate bravest moment. . .

I think the bravest act in all of Tolkien's books is when Samwise decides not to kill himself and instead takes the Ring from his fallen master to continue the quest alone.

And in case you skimmed over that part, allow me to quote:

...It would not be worth while to leave his master for [revenge]. It would not bring him back. Nothing would. They had better both be dead together. And that too would be a lonely journey.

He looked on the bright point of the sword. He thought of the places behind where there was a black brink and an empty fall into nothingness. There was no escape that way. That was to do nothing, not even to grieve. That was not what he had set out to do...


The choice to deny death, particularly a death self-inflicted, is, to me, brave beyond all the Berens and Eowyns and endless Estels the world can count.