One of the most touching scenes in The Fellowship of the Ring is when Frodo’s friends tell him that they will be going with him on his terrifying journey. Up to this point in the story, Frodo believed that he was going to sneak off–which was agonizing to him. For how does one say goodbye to one’s dearest friends if you’re sneaking off on a dangerous mission–one from which you may never return? They know his secret–and have been planning (behind his back) to go with him. When it all comes out–Frodo is caught in this bewildering mixture of emotions:

‘Sam!’ cried Frodo, feeling that amazement could go no further, and quite unable to decide whether he felt angry, amused, relieved, or merely foolish.

‘Yes, sir! said Sam. ‘Begging your pardon, sir! But I meant no wrong to you, Mr. Frodo, nor to Mr. Gandalf for that matter. He has some sense, mind you; and when you said go alone, he said no! take someone as you can trust.’

‘But it does not seem that I can trust anyone,’ said Frodo.

Sam looked at him unhappily. ‘It all depends on what you want,’ put in Merry. ‘You can trust us to stick to you through thick and thin–to the bitter end. And you can trust us to keep any secret of yours–closer than you keep it yourself. But you cannot trust us to let you face trouble alone, and go off without a word. We are your friends, Frodo. Anyway: there it is. We know most of what Gandalf has told you. We know a good deal about the Ring. We are horribly afraid–but we are coming with you; or following you like hounds.’

‘You are a set of deceitful scoundrels!’ [said Frodo], turning to the others. ‘But bless you!’ he laughed, getting up and waving his arms, ‘I give in….If the danger were not so dark, I should dance for joy. Even so, I cannot help feeling happy; happier than I have felt for a long time. I had dreaded this evening’

‘Good! That’s settled. Three cheers for Captain Frodo and company!’ they shouted; and danced round him.

J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring, 115-116.