But the Precious holds his promise. Swearing by a person or a thing calls on
that person or thing to validate the oath and to reward or punish the parties
for keeping or breaking it. Gollum would not swear himself directly to Frodo,
but chose to do so ON THE RING. The Ring holds the
promise.
Silverlode
"They looked as he pointed, and before them they could see the stream leaping down to the trough of the valley, and then running on and away into the lower lands, until it was lost in a golden haze."
