The damnation of Gollum

[Alcuin]

Perhaps this should be a separate thread, but there are three four hobbits in this story who are released from their service. In fact, all five hobbits in Lord of the Rings are bound by some sort of oath excluding Bilbo, who is retired.

1. Gollum has already been discussed at the beginning of this thread.
   
2. Frodo is bound by his promise before the Council of Elrond. At the very last, like Gollum, he breaks his bond, though not of his own free will; but by an act of Grace, Gollum, the other oath-breaking hobbit (who did break his oath of his own volition), bites off his finger and falls into the Crack of Doom, thereby fulfilling Frodo’s Quest.
   
3. Sam is faithful to the very end. At the Havens, Frodo not only released Sam from service, but rewarded him with Bag End and the legacy of the Baggins family, all that would have passed or belonged to Frodo. Sam did not want to be released, but could not refuse Frodo’s generosity; and besides, he could not follow Frodo at that time.
   
4. Merry is released by Théoden and invited to serve Éowyn, whom he serves so faithfully that together, they defeat the Witch-king. Merry strenuously objected when Théoden released him, and willingly took up with “Dernhelm,” whom he did not recognize as Éowyn, to whose service Théoden had committed him.
   
5. Pippin is released by Denethor, but refuses release, and helps rescue Faramir. Later, Aragorn as King Elessar tells him:

   [D]o not forget, Peregrin Took, that you are a knight of Gondor, and I do not release you from your service. You are going now on leave, but I may recall you.

   Not only Pippin does not complain, when he returns to the Shire, he attacks the Ruffians as a knight of Gondor and in the name of the King.