i still can't really think of an adult heroine in the frodo/samwise vein, not a child yet still innocent and unambitious enough to bear it long enough for a hero's quest
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Donna Nobel from Dr. Who or
Sally from Nightmare Before Christmas might fit this. Donna has actually given up a similar level of power after carrying it for a long time. Sally is unambitious and content and innocent.
Samantha Carter, maybe? she's certainly received offers of power over the years.
Guinan has centuries of lived experiences and knowledge, and is just content to listen to the stories of others, maybe offer a little guidance here or there (which is usually getting them to help themselves).
kate daniels series by ilona andrews. kate's got power but not enough to solve her problems. she's also walked away from political power several times by the end of the first arc.
toby from october daye by seanan mcguire is in a similar boat, and lives w/ a dozen sources of power she's not using
rasputin iv from x-men could also fit the bill. she's been engineered by mr sinister to be a hero, and I'd give good odds on the ring reminding her of him and making her want to kill it faster
mara from nettle & bone by t kingfisher would hold out against it. she'd hate it from the first whisper
dani moonstar could also probably manage carrying the ring. bonus points for the parallels between how the ring uses desire the way her powers use fear
laura kinney would be effective in this mission, but she leans towards self-destruction so it's probs not the best for her personal growth
I guess part of the question is, do we need a heroine who would get it to the cracks of doom the way Frodo did, but then still need a Gollum to accidentally carry out the destruction, or do we need a heroine who will actually choose to destroy it?
I think one of the interesting things about the destruction of the ring is that it *is* accidental. It’s not clear that even Frodo or Sam could actually have destroyed the ring.
So if we need our heroine to choose to destroy the ring and then actually do it, she needs to be even more resilient *and* less ego-driven than Frodo or Sam, which is really saying something.
If on the other hand, she just needs to get it there the way they did, I think there are some good options in this thread, and also a bunch of replies that make it clear that the writer doesn’t really understand how the corrupting power of the ring works.
Like, anyone with an axe to grind, a lot of ambition, a lot of will to “act and do” or who wants to impact the world in any large-scale way, is apt to begin with good intentions, but ultimately fall pray to the ring. That’s why both Gandalf and Galadriel are like, “nope, nope, nope.”
It's too much for a child, but it needs to be someone who hasn't gained power and doesn't want it, I agree. I keep coming back to Cheery Littlebottom. Some of the others who have been suggested would make great companions, like the witches.
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Sally from Nightmare Before Christmas might fit this. Donna has actually given up a similar level of power after carrying it for a long time. Sally is unambitious and content and innocent.
From Hayao Miyazaki’s manga, specifically… not the Studio Ghibli film.
Guinan has centuries of lived experiences and knowledge, and is just content to listen to the stories of others, maybe offer a little guidance here or there (which is usually getting them to help themselves).
toby from october daye by seanan mcguire is in a similar boat, and lives w/ a dozen sources of power she's not using
mara from nettle & bone by t kingfisher would hold out against it. she'd hate it from the first whisper
laura kinney would be effective in this mission, but she leans towards self-destruction so it's probs not the best for her personal growth