The Question and Answer section for The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.
I've never known of a particular word count. Check this link out, his/her conclusion seems reasonable:
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_many_words_are_in_'The_Lord_of_the_Rings'
One of Frodo's epiphanies over the course of the novel occurs when he realizes that his journey is fated....that the journey is his to make, and that he can only focus on his own role in the quest..... that he must use his own strength and wisdom...
Consider what happens in book2 chapter 4:
The next day, the group travels to the west and Gandalf opens a magic door. These doors close just in time for the group to escape an attack by one of the vicious creatures that live in the nearby lake....
