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| The Acceptable Sacrifice by Larner | 21 Review(s) |
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| Inkling | Reviewed Chapter: 30 on 3/25/2007 |
| Go Frodo! Loved his handling of Angrapain, both in the last chapter and this one. I’ve never liked portrayals of Frodo as helpless victim…and am so glad you don’t either! Author Reply: No, I doubt Frodo was totally helpless; his courage in trying to take a sword to the Witch-king and in stabbing the troll's foot and cutting off the wight's hand all show he had far more courage and will than most give him credit for. So glad you're continuing to read this. | |
| Inkling | Reviewed Chapter: 30 on 3/25/2007 |
| Ah, mushrooms…the love that dare not speak its name! Author Reply: Glad you appreciate that, although Angrapain doesn't fully understand, of course! | |
| Grey Wonderer | Reviewed Chapter: 30 on 1/3/2006 |
| Angrapain of Umbar is not as dangerous as he thinks he is nor is Frodo as helpless as others might think! I love it when Frodo defends himself or someone else. I like it when we get to see his inner strength. Author Reply: Yes, Frodo has depths of inner strength of which others remain ignorant until times such as this. And if anyone deserved the good ol' one-two, it HAS to be Angrapain of Umbar. | |
| Antane | Reviewed Chapter: 30 on 11/19/2005 |
| You go, Frodo! Down and out! Too bad you are too much of a gentlehobbit to aim lower. Where is Lorenna Bobbit or whatever her name was when you need her? It's good all we readers weren't there too because Angrypain (I love how one reviewer called him that, never liked or trusted the guy from the first moment and that name fits him and all militant gays) would have been pulp by the time we were done. And he better hope Sam doesn't find out about the slight to his brother-master's honor or our dear gardener may forget himself and his manners and do the job right with as dull a blade as possible. Author Reply: I think even Aragorn is considering the gelding knife for this one (he does call for it in The King's Commission, btw). But Aragorn has needed to learn that Frodo IS capable of taking care of himself when circumstances warrant it. As for Sam--I think he trusts in the King's justice. As for Lorenna--SHIVVEERRRINNNGGGG! | |
| grumpy | Reviewed Chapter: 30 on 11/18/2005 |
| Well done Frodo, that was well done indeed. A hobbit may be small by men's standards, but can bring one down. Author Reply: Yes, Frodo has shown the world of Men that even one unarmed can be effective in defense when it's needed. So glad you appreciated it! | |
| Baggins Babe | Reviewed Chapter: 30 on 11/18/2005 |
| Oh my! That was a moment to savour - Frodo felling the obnoxious Angrapain. I so enjoyed this chapter but I had to leave for work before I could review. It made my day though - I kept grinning to myself all day when I thought of it. I hope Frodo does not suffer a bad reaction to this incident, and I hope he managed to nab plenty of mushrooms. :-)) Hope Aragorn turns up and throws this ghastly individual in prison for a while. I can understand why he behaves the way he does, but it doesn't make him any less icky! I also loved the glimpse of the sword practice, esp. Eowyn with her brother. That must have given the Umbarians pause for thought! They really should learn never to trust a book by its cover. Author Reply: Yes, Frodo himself felling Angrapain is most appropriate, and I, too, find myself savoring the moment. You will see in today's chapter what Aragorn initially does, and I hope you will appreciate it; and as for the mushrooms, those, too, you will learn about. And am so glad you appreciated the sparring between Eomer and Eowyn--a wonderful glimpse for the Umbarians that the rest of the world has its own standards. I rejoice this chapter left you smiling with satisfaction. | |
| Andrea | Reviewed Chapter: 30 on 11/18/2005 |
| You have all rights to be proud of Frodo, and I'm proud of him, too. That was very clever and very effective ;-) The blow could have hit lower, but this is Frodo and he would never do such a thing. I totally agree with you! Agrapain is what his environment and the influence of his Uncle and Sauron have made of him. In other times and with other guardians he would have become a completely different person. It's frightening to see how much power the Dark Lord had over the peoples of Middle Earth. Author Reply: Those who give themselves to evil not only tend to evaluate others in light of their own weaknesses and proclivities, but also tend to promote similar behaviors in others. It's frightening to think what Middle Earth would have come to had Sauron regained his Ring. It's a pretty awful thing to consider. Am glad you agree that Frodo would never have struck below the belt, although Angrapain would have deserved just that. | |
| Radbooks | Reviewed Chapter: 30 on 11/18/2005 |
| I enjoyed the scene between Aragorn and Eowyn. In spite of what I am sure is at least a little bit of uncomfortablity on Aragorn's part - well hidden, of course - he is first and foremost a healer and would never let that interfere with his duty to see to her needs. And that acceptance allows Eowyn to relax in what would be a very awkward situation for her and eventually leads to the deep friendship that develops between Aragorn, Faramir, Arwen, and Eowyn. I like how you bring out little things like this in a subtle way... maybe not so little... maybe I just see them because I like stuff like that. :) Loved how Elrohir wouldn't give back the sword and how Belveramir had saved his clothes for him - he had faith that he would return someday. So glad that Frodo took care of his own problem with Angrapain. He's so strong, even if he doesn't realize it right now, but he will at some point. I'm hoping Aragorn comes along now and finds Angrapain on the ground and deals with him for good. :) Nicely done. Author Reply: Yes, there has to be a redefinition of the relationship between Aragorn and Eowyn, and this was a good place to start, with Eowyn realizing he doesn't intend to avoid her completely out of embarrassment but is truly concerned for her welfare and happiness. The interchange about returning the sword wrote itself, as such things do. And am glad you appreciate that both Ecthelion and Belveramir hoped for the return of the King/Thorongil. As for Frodo and Angrapain--those from Umbar need to realize they DON'T know Hobbits at all. Glad you approve! | |
| harrowcat | Reviewed Chapter: 30 on 11/18/2005 |
| Yeh! Go, Frodo Go!!! *ggg* Now what are the rules about clobbering diplomats who don't act diplomatically? Nasty, slimy man. I feel sorry for what he has been turned into as he is yet another victim of Sauron but I hate him for what he is choosing to do now. And what will punching such a dense block of wood do to those abused stomach muscles? And he didn't spill the mushrooms did he? I want to borrow some to go with my bacon! Loved the sparring scene too. Author Reply: You have me giggling now! Hee! No, he didn't spill those mushrooms, as you will shortly see. As for how Frodo himself responds to this encounter--well, that's to come. And I rejoice you love the sparring scene. Such are fun to write, as you know. I like to think of Eowyn keeping her brother on the run while they spar together. | |
| Kitty | Reviewed Chapter: 30 on 11/18/2005 |
| Hah, what a treat to start my day at work with! Wonderful chapter, Larner! The first blow took the Man in the midriff, and he bent over in the shock of pain he felt. The second caught him on the point of the chin, and he fell like a polled ox. *widely grinning* Ah YES Frodo! Great! (Although I have to admit, I'd not have complained if Frodo had aimed a bit lower!) But it was fun to see this old punch put to good use! And Angrapain will *never* again underestimate Hobbits! What a despicable guy he is - as bad as Varondil. To believe all others are thinking in the same twisted way as he does and to desire Frodo and Pippin because he believes they have power! *feels sick* He may have been abused in his own childhood, but that doesn't excuse to do everything he wants and to molest others, particularly if he thinks them weaker than himself and helpless. Although I have to admit, somehow it was a bit funny how offended Angrapain was in the beginning because his first try with Frodo didn't went as he had expected. Well, I suppose he will find himself in the prison of the Citadel very soon - and then have to face a *very* furious Lord King Elessar Telcontar. The sparring was throughout enjoyable. How good the Umbarians came in time to watch Éowyn sparr with her brother! So, Ecthelion cherished the practice gear of Captain Thorongil so much he kept it? And Denethor ordered it burned? *shakes head* Oh Denethor! I was very amused how Belveramir saved the gear! And I enjoyed what you told about Faramir sparring with his father. Obviously he discovered the same weakness as Thorongil and his father couldn't bear it. Oh, and the sword teacher of Boromir and Faramir was a pupil of Thorongil? How fitting! And I love Aragorn and his elven brothers together - their gentle jesting and teasing is always fun! Well, I should go back to work - I wonder if I'm able to concentrate after *this* ;-) Author Reply: But how low do you think one such as Frodo might go? A sucker punch he might give, but I don't think Frodo would have gone below the belt, no matter how much Angrapain deserved it. And, yes, he'll soon be in the prison, and he'll be shortly facing a very coldly angered King. A wise man doesn't wish to face a coldly angry Aragorn Elessar, not that Angrapain is a wise man by any stretch of the imagination. I'm not certain if Ecthelion cherished the gear of Captain Thorongil as much as he was planning for the day when the King might return, for I suspect both he and his son were pretty certain who Thorongil was in reality. I think he hoped the day when Aragorn would come to claim the Winged Crown would be soon, hopefully while he was still alive; but even if he returned as Thorongil he still would have wanted him back, I think. Thorongil was probably in Gondor when Boromir was born, but not for long afterwards if he was to make his trips to Rhun and Harad afterwards. As I have him making a trip back to Eriador to set up a new chain of command in between the leaving of service to Ecthelion and making his journeys, it's unlikely Boromir would have any memory of the one his father felt to be his rival. But in spite of the envy, Denethor would still know Thorongil was the best swordsman he'd ever seen and wish that knowledge and skill passed to his sons, I think. And I like to think that Aragorn and Faramir have similar abilities to evaluate, and would have recognized the same weaknesses in Denethor, with similar results. And once he was an adult, I think Aragorn and the twins would have felt more closely as brothers, and they'd find ways of teasing one another which would express their caring for one another. But it must be hard for them, knowing that in an eyeblink of their lives this one, too, will be gone beyond the bounds of Arda. It would be a great grief at the times they might allow themselves to think deeply on it. So glad I could help you start your day off happily. | |