These nine people are the Fellowship of the Ring : the four hobbits Frodo , Sam , Merry , and Pippin , the elf Legolas , the dwarf Gimli , the two men Aragorn and Boromir , and Gandalf the Grey . Frodo volunteers to take the Ring , and a `` Fellowship of the Ring '' is chosen to accompany and protect him : Sam , Merry , Pippin , Aragorn , Gandalf , Gimli the Dwarf , Legolas the Elf , and the man Boromir , son of the Ruling Steward Denethor of the realm of Gondor .