Samwise Gamgee

**Samwise "Sam" Gamgee** (6 April T.A. 2980 - Fo.A. 61; Shire Reckoning: 1380 - 1482; 102 years old when he sailed into the West) was Frodo Baggins' servant and the only original member of the Fellowship of the Ring to remain with him till the very end of the journey to Mount Doom.

## History

### Early Life

Sam was born in the Shire during the Third Age, the son of Hamfast Gamgee. At some point he befriended Frodo Baggins and Rosie Cotton, other Hobbits in the Shire. Sam dreamed from a young age to see the Elves and was marvelled by stories from outside the Shire such as the existence of Oliphaunts, (which were just myth in the Shire).

### Bilbo's Party

Bilbo Baggins was holding his 111th birthday party and Sam attended with Frodo and the rest of the Hobbits from the Shire that knew Bilbo. A friend of Bilbo's, Gandalf the Grey, was there setting off fireworks while music played and everyone was having a merry time. Sam nervously watched Rosie Cotton dancing and wanted to ask her to dance. Frodo grabbed Sam and pushed him into her, forcing him to dance with her. As Sam and the other Hobbits watched Bilbo made his birthday speech and bid everyone farewell before disappearing due to some unknown magic. Bilbo departed the Shire that night and wasn't seen by Sam or any of the Hobbits for some time, Frodo inheriting Bag End and all of Bilbo's possessions.

### Eavesdropping

Some weeks later, Sam was tending to the gardens at Bag End and overheard Gandalf talking to Frodo about the power of the One Ring and the Dark Lord Sauron. Gandalf eventually heard Sam move outside the window and struck him with his staff before pulling him inside and asking him what he heard. At first Sam claimed to have heard nothing but after admitted afterwards to hearing about Mordor and a Dark Lord. Gandalf decided to send Sam with Frodo to take the Ring out of the Shire. Gandalf told Sam "Don't you leave him Samwise Gamgee", a phrase that Sam would not forget for the entirety of their quest.

### Leaving the Shire

Sam accompanied Frodo through the Shire towards Bree and eventually they reached a spot near Farmer Maggot's farm. Sam stopped and told Frodo that if he took another step he would be further then he had ever been from home. Frodo convinced him to keep walking and they ran into Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took who had stolen crops from Farmer Maggot and were running away. Merry and Pippin handed Sam some of the crops and all four of the Hobbits were forced to run. They fell down a slope into the Old Forest at the edge of the farmland and landed near some mushrooms. Frodo told the Hobbits to get off the road as he sensed a darkness approaching. They hid under a tree root that stuck out from the road, creating a little hollow for them to hide in. A figure dressed in a black cloak, riding a black horse dismounted next to them and peered over. Sam and the other Hobbits tried to keep quiet and still but the evilness of the creature caused spiders and centipedes to crawl out of the dirt around them. Sam noticed Frodo about to put on the ring and reached out to stop him. Pippin threw something in another direction, causing the hooded figure to screech off in the direction of the noise. They quickly ran away as fast as they could. More Black Riders searched for them as they ran through the Old Forest. Frodo told Merry that they needed to reach Bree and the young Hobbit thought quickly, telling them to follow him to Buckleberry Ferry. Sam and the other Hobbits reached the ferry after running into more black riders and a narrow escape.

### Bree

The four Hobbits reached Bree after reaching the end of the forest and met Harry Goatleaf at the entrance. He let them in and they made their way to the Prancing Pony inn. There they asked for Gandalf who was supposed to meet them there but Barliman Butterbur, the innkeeper, told them he hadn't seen Gandalf in months. Confused, they sat down for a drink. After an incident where Frodo tried to stop Pippin from telling random Men of Bree all about him, Frodo put on the ring and was spotted by Sauron, causing the Black Riders to head towards Bree. A ranger who had been watching the event unfold from the corner of the inn, grabbed Frodo and took him into a back room. The ranger, known as Strider was revealed to be a friend of Gandalf's and an ally. Sam got extremely worried about Frodo and with Merry and Pippin they stormed the room where Strider and Frodo were. Strider commended Sam's loyalty to Frodo. Strider, whose real name was Aragorn, kept them safe in a separate room while the ringwraiths entered Bree and stabbed the decoy beds where the Hobbits were supposed to be. Sam and the other Hobbits listened from afar as the ringwraiths went crazy with frustration that the Hobbits weren't there.

### Weathertop

Aragorn led the Hobbits away from Bree at sunrise, saying they couldn't wait for Gandalf. By nightfall they reached the ancient ruins of Amon Sûl, now known as Weathertop. Sam was given a barrow-blade by Aragorn, as were the other Hobbits. Aragorn went out to scout ahead and left the Hobbits next to the ancient ruins. Sam, with the help of Merry and Pippin, decided to light a fire and cook some food while Frodo was sleeping but when Frodo woke up he panicked and put out Sam's fire as quickly as possible. Sam was confused but then realised that he had drawn the ringwraiths straight to them. The Hobbits unsheathed their blades and made their way to the middle of the ruins as they could see the black riders approaching through the darkness. They were cornered there when the black figures reached the top and Sam was quickly knocked aside while trying to protect Frodo. He watched in horror as Frodo put on the ring to hide from the Witch King of Angmar but was then stabbed by the Nazgûl who could still see him in the twilight realm. Sam and the Hobbits were all rescued when Aragorn returned, his sword ablaze with fire. Aragorn single-handedly drove off the Nazgûl and then identified the blade that stabbed Frodo as a Morgul-blade. Sam was extremely concerned for Frodo and as they left Weathertop, Aragorn told him to find the kingsfoil weed. They were met by Lady Arwen, daughter of Elrond, who volunteered to take Frodo as fast as she could to Rivendell on horseback so he could be treated by Elrond. As she left, Sam yelled after her, saying that the wraiths were still out there. Sam, Merry, Pippin and Aragorn continued on to Rivendell to find that Elrond had successfully healed Frodo and Arwen had temporarily defeated the ringwraiths.

### Rivendell

Sam stayed by Frodo's side while he was unconscious for four nights in Rivendell. Sam and the other Hobbits were reunited with Bilbo who had settled down in the elven valley. At some point Gandalf arrived and met up with them. Sam finally got to meet the Elves but after the three days spent in Rivendell he was ready to head back home to the Shire. Sam talked to Frodo about how they had done what they had set out to do and that the Ring would be safe in Rivendell. Unbeknownst to Frodo and Sam, Elrond was talking to Gandalf about how the ring must not stay in Rivendell as it made the Elven valley a target for the Dark Lord Sauron and his forces. Frodo attended the Council of Elrond and volunteered to take the ring to Mordor. Aragorn and Gandalf pledged themselves to guide Frodo and protect him on his journey and following this, Boromir of Gondor, Legolas of the Woodland Realm and Gimli of Durin's folk also joined the company. Sam was eavesdropping outside and when he heard that Frodo would be going to Mordor he ran in and insisted on going with Frodo. Elrond told Sam it would seem they are inseparable considering Frodo was summoned to the meeting and Sam was not. Merry and Pippin also ran in and insisted on going, making up the Fellowship of the Ring.

### Fellowship of the Ring

Sam and the rest of the Fellowship of the Ring left Rivendell the next morning and traveled towards the Misty Mountains. At one point they stopped for a break and were spotted by the Crebain, reporting for Saruman. Gandalf led them up the pass of Caradhras but Saruman sent a magical storm to block their way through. Saruman caused an avalanche which resulted in the entire fellowship being covered in snow. After digging their way out, they decided to retreat and go through the mines of Moria.

### Moria

Sam continued to look after the Fellowship's pony Bill during the journey but when they reached the gate of Moria he was forced to say goodbye, the mines being no place for a pony. Upon entering the mines, the Fellowship realised that the Dwarves there had been massacred by Goblins and tried to retreat. The Watcher in the Water outside caved in the entrance behind them and forced them to continue on through the mines. Eventually they reached the tomb of Balin and were attacked by Goblins. Sam tried to protect Frodo during the battle and watched in dismay as the Cave Troll stabbed him with a spear. After the Cave Troll was successfully killed by Legolas, Sam and the others realised that Frodo was wearing Bilbo's mithril coat and therefore was not fatally injured by the spear. They continued through the mines, pursued by Goblins and a Balrog. When they reached the crumbling stairway gap, they began to jump over as the platform they were standing on continued to disintegrate beneath them. Sam was tossed across by Aragorn and caught on the other side. They continued on to the bridge of Khazad-dûm where the Balrog finally caught up to them. They all crossed the bridge and Gandalf stopped in the middle to hold off the foul creature. The Balrog fell, the bridge collapsing under his weight, but using his whip to trip Gandalf off the edge as well, the wizards last command being for the rest of the Fellowship to run. Aragorn led the remaining members of the Fellowship out from Moria and towards Lothlórien.

### Lothlórien

As the Fellowship neared Lothlórien they were tracked by the Orcs of the Misty Mountains but managed to reach the safety of the forest. Haldir and the elven guards discovered them and took them to Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn. The Fellowship stayed some time in the wood, taking the time grieve Gandalf and to rest. When they l
eft, Galadriel gave them all a gift to help them on their journey. To Sam, her gift was Eelven rope which he kept with his stuff for the rest of the journey. The Fellowship departed Lothlórien in boats, Sam riding in a boat with Frodo and Aragorn.

### Breaking of the Fellowship

The Fellowship broke apart in Amon-hen when Boromir tried to take the ring from Frodo and the Hobbit realised he had to leave and complete the quest alone. Sam, like the others, went looking for Frodo when he went missing from the group. They were attacked by Saruman's Uruk-hai and Sam continued to look for Frodo during the attack. Realising that Frodo must have been leaving, Sam made his way to the river where he saw Frodo in a boat, making his way across the water. Sam yelled after him to stop before trying to swim after him. Frodo turned around, knowing Sam couldn't swim and helped him into the boat. Sam told Frodo he was going with him because of the promise he made to Gandalf. They reached the shore and traveled towards Mordor alone.