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The Acceptable Sacrifice  by Larner 21 Review(s)
Eliazbeth WherryReviewed Chapter: 9 on 12/11/2008
Poor Frodo, I'd hate to be refered to as Lord or anything like that!
God Bless
Elizabeth Anne Lucy Wherry

Author Reply: Then you do understand just how he feels.

Sorry to be delayed in getting back to you, but this last week has been very trying at work. It's nice to be able to just type today and not worry about my client for a couple days.

PIppinfan1988Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 6/10/2006
I rather like Master Faralion and his insights and observations of Frodo and the hobbits. A nice little respite.

Pippinfan
p.s. Sorry for the long pause--RL reared its ugly head and I had to beat it back down.

Author Reply: I apologize for how long it's taken to respond to your reviews. As I indicated in the notes to "Reunion," I've had so many technical difficulties in the past year I begin to wonder if I'll ever have a month or two without them. Now the D: drive is complaining and beginning to lose integrity in the heat thrown our way by the gods of weather lately. If it's not one thing, it's another.

Am so very glad you find yourself enjoying Master Faralion. It's always interesting to see exactly how different characters see our favorites.

EndaewenReviewed Chapter: 9 on 2/16/2006
This chapter ending was absolutely perfect. I can just see them doing and saying what you wrote there.

Author Reply: I'm so glad you find it all believable, Endaewen. I certainly have tried to remain true to the characters established by Tolkien. I have upped the ante in some ways, looking at how the specific wounds and experiences would truly have affected the characters, but I do believe I've kept as true to Tolkien's creation as I could.

Glad the tale has gathered another reader.

Pearl TookReviewed Chapter: 9 on 12/9/2005
A good review sort of chapter. I liked the Captain Thorongil part, LOL Very well done!!

Author Reply: A good way of working known material into the story without being too boring; and so glad you liked the reference to a certain Ranger's former identity! Thanks and glad it afforded you a giggle or two.

LindeleaReviewed Chapter: 9 on 11/17/2005
I *like* your minstrel!

I don't have time to comment, but wanted to say before pulled away how fascinating this chapter was.

And Thorongil. *snork*

Author Reply: Am glad you like Faralion--I think he'd have been good for Frodo at that point.

As for Thorongil--Frodo's beginning to figure it all out. *Snork* indeed!

Grey WondererReviewed Chapter: 9 on 11/16/2005
Another lovely chapter. I was glad to see Faralion included. He seems to bring out talk by his very nature. I loved his shock at Pippin's remark about getting bit by a spider not being a good activity! I also love the fact that the hobbits wanted Aragorn to sing and Legolas's amusement over the choice of song by Captain Thorongil. I have to take a break here, but I'll be back!

Author Reply: Faralion is being good for Frodo here; but he still has a good deal to learn about Hobbits and their ways and priorities as well as understanding Aragorn isn't going to buy into traditional class distinctions once he's King. Aragorn's going to include a good number of odd folks on his Councils, and will overrule traditional protocol pretty much when he feels it's called for.

Thanks for all the feedback today.

PeriantariReviewed Chapter: 9 on 10/28/2005
Most likely when I get home I’ll be badgered by my older cousins to find out what in Middle Earth possessed me to sell the family home and leave the Shire and allow Merry and Pippin to accompany me; and Sam’s father will probably give me an extensive lecture on the impropriety of saying I was taking him to serve as gardener and caretaker for the house at Crickhollow when in reality I was simply going off on an adventure.”
that'll be a great fanfic story to tell about every hobbits' thoughts on the "travelers" coming back on what motivated them in departing from the Shire. I would love to read a story about that. :)

“I may not look my age, but believe me, Master Faralion--I feel it. The Ring kept me looking much the age I was when I received It, but I suspect I shall begin aging swiftly enough now It is gone.
I always wonder about how fast aging would happen after the Ring is taken away from Frodo.

When he did it was as if a grey day had suddenly burned away to show a joyfully blue sky and shining sun, and often when he smiled quietly it reminded Faralion of the moon and stars illuminating a dark landscape.
Just a beautiful line--wonderful imagery and description.

Thanks for this fic, Larner--i really like it and will continue on for more when time allows. :)

I really like your Frodo and like your Aragorn--both are very much in character of how i imagined them to be like.

Author Reply: Part of the question of how they were greeted on their return home I covered in my story "The Choice of Healing", which is on this site also, in case you hadn't read it yet.

So glad that you appreciate the imagery and how I depict Frodo and Aragorn, both of whom are at the heart of the story to begin with.

BodkinReviewed Chapter: 9 on 10/26/2005
I like the appearance of the minstrel. (Clothed a bit garishly, it seems!)

He seems to be developing a fair understanding of the Hobbit-Who-Saved-Middle-Earth. And hobbits in general. I'm glad that he's got Frodo talking - it enabled him to reveal some of the things that he was avoiding. The Frodo/Sam side of the story probably didn't get much of an airing - only two of them there and neither of them inclined to brag.

I'm glad Faralion realised that Pippin's irreverence is a deliberate technique for relieving tension rather than insensitivity. Works, too.

And poor Aragorn is going to be haunted by the legacy of Thorongil for evermore.

Author Reply: Oh, yes, and I rather suspect Aragorn actually enjoys it, too. Wonder when Faralion is going to cotton on to them being one and the same?

Garishly clad? Well, he's an minstrel, after all, and thus was supposed to attract attention. He might even be seen as conservatively dressed compared to later standards where motley and diamond patterns becamd popular for entertainers.

Frodo needs to talk, definitely; but the full results of what he admits to and that are said to him may remain lodged in his mind for quite some time before he truly internalizes them and accepts the healing they are meant to aid in.

And Merry and Aragorn both admitted speaking lightly was common to Hobbit behavior; so I figured that this would be how Faralion realized this was true. And, yes, it does work.

grumpyReviewed Chapter: 9 on 10/25/2005
Love that bit about Frodo saying he feels like the old gaffer, who wants to sit in the sun, and instead gets stuck watching the kids. I also like you have weaved Faralion into the story. Good old Captain Thorongil wrote tavern songs, that sly on devil.

Author Reply: Yes, Frodo isn't quite certain where he belongs any more. He certainly doesn't feel as young as he still might look; and so he starts imagining himself one of the oldsters instead.

You know by now that I love weaving characters from story to story, and so Faralion had to find his way into this one, particuarly as this is where the Lay of Frodo of the Nine Fingers came into being.

And I can see Thorongil writing tavern songs, can't you? After all, he was much younger then....

And now Aragorn finds himself watching to see how long it might take for folk to begin recognizing him.

RadbooksReviewed Chapter: 9 on 10/25/2005
I so love how you weave in your original characters from story to story - like Faralion here. It was interesting to have him speaking with Frodo and having him see the hobbits from Frodo's point of view. Having Frodo all alone and 'stuck' with this stranger that morning, though made me feel sorry for him. As I mentioned in an earlier review how he was surrounded by everyone who loved him, there are still times when you have to be alone with your pain. Well, even when you are with those you love, you are still alone in your pain, if you know what I mean! ;)

I could see why Aragorn thought that a friendship might occur between him and Faralion. The bard obviously got along quite well with the hobbits - Frodo appeared to be pretty open with him and he did have a kind and gentle heart and with their shared love of music it did seem like a natural thing.

I just realized in the last chapter that this was the first story that Aragorn and Frodo have been in together. Of course, the essence (?) of them being together swirls around in your others stories as Frodo is talked about a lot and you know how close Aragorn was to Frodo, but this is the first time they have appeared together, I think. It makes it extra special.

Looking forward to more.



Author Reply: Glad you like how I try to keep the stories bound together. And I, too, can see how Aragorn would be disappointed not to develop a good relationship with Faralion.

Those who are in great pain do find themselves feeling alone so often. I know that my husband often felt himself totally isolated as I had to take on more and more of the duties of the family with the outer world and still try to work and all. I was there but he felt walled off so much of the time.

You're right--this IS the first time (while living, at least) Frodo and Aragorn are actually together in my stories. I hadn't really thought of that, either. Well, now you can see how I have always envisioned them reacting with one another.

Thanks so much for the observations.

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