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The Acceptable Sacrifice by Larner	11 Review(s)
Antane	Reviewed Chapter: 42 on 12/11/2005
Another nice Frodo and Sam moment with Frodo falling asleep in Sam's lap and I like the picture he did of Aragorn and Sam. Forgot to mention, I think, about liking in an earlier chapter about Aragorn considering these two his brothers and Frodo his twin. Namarie, God bless, Antane :) Author Reply: Yes, at times the now-familiar comort of sleeping pillowed on Sam would be the one way in which Frodo might find rest. And if you've read "Fostering" you know how I have always found the idea that Frodo, Aragorn, and Sam were spiritually related attractive. Good to hear from you again.

Baggins Babe	Reviewed Chapter: 42 on 12/7/2005
Mixed emotions in this chapter. I found myself rolling about at the description of a bemused Lord Bard roped in to help with the cooking - I imagine he was! And the thought of various lords finding themselves holding bits of string or helping with the weeding........ I can imagine Aragorn doing ordinary tasks like gardening, cooking and washing-up. Such mundane tasks would have helped to keep his feet one the ground, as I think the flattery offered to kings would be dangerous if not checked. Aragorn is too sensible to be swayed, but looking back to some of the worst excesses of medieval kings and Roman emperors makes me believe that many of them came to believe in their own divinity as a result of all the sycophancy around them. A disturbing vision indeed for our Frodo - to see such awful things happening and have to realise he was powerless to stop them must have been very hard to bear. And what a nice way to wake up in the morning! I'm sure many of us would agree about that! Author Reply: It's part of the tragedy of Galador that he doesn't realize just how much Aragorn's willingness to garden and rope others into helping, to cook for himself and others, to check out the working conditions of the servants within the Citadel, to clean up after himself at times, and so on is part of what makes him such an excellent King. He has his priorities straight, and recognizes that to ignore the small things in the end will lessen him over time. The prescient knowledge is beginning to make itself better known to Frodo, and you're right, recognizing he can do nothing right now would be a horrible burden at times. And I certainly wouldn't mind having Aragorn there when I wake up! Heh!

Radbooks	Reviewed Chapter: 42 on 12/6/2005
Aragorn was right to put the man in prison so that his anger might cool before he sentenced that man so that the punishment is just, but he pretty much deserves the maximum he can get for what he's done. But still it shouldn't be handed out in anger, but in cool, calm justice, huh? Abusing children and wives, I'm not sure that there is anything that hurts society more than that. The effects of it are so far reaching. Okay, back to your story. :) I love the image of King Bard helping to cook. I take him for sort of a 'city' man, whereas Aragorn and Faramir as rangers are more used to cooking and so it is not so unusual for them to do things like that. But for Bard it has to be very strange and yet he seems to pitch in and so must have a good heart and not haughty. Loved the inclusion of the bench from your short story - that was fun! I was glad that Iorhael was visiting Frodo and then Faralion when the 'vision' happened and that Frodo was able to get help from other people - there are others that care for him and he needs maybe to see that. Not sure why I think that, but it's like he needs to be able to realize that so he'll be able to leave Agagorn when it's time. Eldamir gave him such good advice - that he couldn't change anything that was happening there, if it was even true. Nice way for Frodo to wake up in the morning! :) Author Reply: Yes, Aragorn realizes that he must allow his own anger to cool before passing sentence; and it is harder because this man has abused the very things Aragorn himself waits and hopes for--wife and children. It was for that hope Aragorn accepted the Crown and for it he will accept the Sceptre as well when it comes to him. Yet this Man abuses the love offered him, the children with which he's been blest! He must have been livid. Bard, unlike Aragorn, was born in the King's house, so it's less likely he would have learned to cook or would think to garden himself. You're right, though--he's taking it all in stride. I doubt the King's house in Dale is anywhere like the Citadel of Minas Tirith, of course; the small kingdom has only been back in business for less than eighty years, after all; but it still has been three generations now, and Bard II has had the chance to take in the ideas of what Kings are SUPPOSED to be like. That Aragorn does what he pleases of the household arts would probably be a pleasant surprise to him, I think. I myself hadn't thought of the presence of Master Iorhael and Master Faralion and Healer Eldamir as a means of helping Frodo wean himself from his dependence on the King, but I certainly see the point, and thank you for pointing it out to me. He can't, as he commented earlier, take Aragorn home with him, after all. And I think we'd all agree that looking into the face of the great King of Men on awakening would be a delight! Heh!

Kitty	Reviewed Chapter: 42 on 12/6/2005
Well, it’s only to be expected that certain experiences stir nightmares, but I am sad for the Hobbits nonetheless. For this peaceful, innocent race it is much more straining than for others who had to fight Sauron's minions for centuries or even millennia to have to witness so much evil. This chapter contains some nice reminders to your other fics. The spying childs, and most of all, the bench! I was grinning widely through this part of the chapter, as you can surely imagine. LOL I’d loved to see Faralion’s face the first time he witnessed Aragorn in the kitchen of the guest house! And then Bard and Faramir as well! And poor Galadon must be so very confused about the Council meetings and gardening! What a pity this vision interrupted Frodo's pleasant talk with Iorhael and Faralion! Another unpleasant experience for Frodo and a very disturbing one, too. Eldamir can’t know how true his remark “It’s not that unusual a gift among the Dúnedain” really is – after all, one could say Frodo is a reborn Dúnedain. But then, Eldamir is a wise and insightful man. Author Reply: Loss of innocence can lead to callousness or to greater compassion and wisdom, as well as to nightmares. Glad you appreciated the references to "Gifts and the Benefits of Scholarship" and "The King's Commission." It's fun to give the hints that bring back smiles or chuckles. Faralion has been realizing Aragorn refuses to be pushed into any specific mold; but for Galador to find himself helping the King garden while trying to discuss the correspondence of various lords of the realm and to realize that so many different sorts can freely come and go from the King's Council must indeed be a shock to his system. Foresight has been a part of Frodo's life for a time, although it's only now becoming common enough, I think, for him to appreciate just what a gift--and possibly a burden as well--it might become. And it's hard to say whether a spirit whose former intended body died before it was intended to be brought to birth could be properly said to be "reborn"--and yet you are right--Frodo may have some carry over from the life formerly intended for him. And Eldamir is insightful. After all, his name means "Elven jewel."

Queen Galadriel	Reviewed Chapter: 42 on 12/6/2005
Wow!!! I'd like to list my favourite parts of this chapter, but there are too many! I just love it! I know I've said this before, but you make it all seem so real. I especially love your description of the hobbits' "normal" (normal, ha!) life in Gondor, even if it's not always normal. :-) And I like what Sam said about the bench. It shows his love and loyalty for his master and dearest friend so well, and I can't think about that bench without wanting to laugh myself! Excellently done! God bless, Galadriel Author Reply: Glad you, too, appreciated the carry over from "Gifts and the Benefits of Scholarship." That was such a fun story to write, after all. Yes, we are beginning to see the rhythms of life the Hobbits are enjoying here in Minas Tirith, and they are beginning to appreciate this is a city with its own advantages and where they can know friendship.

shirebound	Reviewed Chapter: 42 on 12/6/2005
And even if it is true--you can do nothing from here to change things. Those you left behind must see to their own difficulties, even as they could not assist you to cross the Dead Marshes or find your way through Gorgoroth. You are still not quite recovered enough to travel so far; and even if you were, it would still take over well over a month to make the journey for one on a steady horse with a clear road. You cannot seek to take responsibility for that which you cannot touch. Do you understand?” How very wise. And how lovely that Gondor's long-awaited king is showing his people that no task (gardening, cooking, etc.) is too humble if done with love and an open heart. Author Reply: Yes, Eldamir is a wise man, and gives good advice to Frodo. It's probable that the visions are simply intended to give Frodo a heads up that things aren't well at home and he will need to go there soon; but that he would start feeling personally responsible for what's happening and feel impelled to do something about it himself is just typical of him at this time. And Aragorn doesn't necessarily see tasks as humble or noble, but more in terms of necessary and fulfilling, I think.

French Pony	Reviewed Chapter: 42 on 12/6/2005
Frodo does seem to have made progress here -- he's having decent stretches of good days. I'm glad he and the others are getting the chance to enjoy the pleasures of summer in Minas Tirith and the people are having the chance to get to know them a little. Frodo is also having new side effects, which is at least different, if not better. Of course, he'll find out that his vision was true, which may explain why he didn't seem particularly surprised during the Scouring of the Shire chapters. I like that you occasionally make mention of the effects of the Quest on the other Hobbits. It expands the focus from just Frodo and his problems, which occasionally threatens to make the story just a little claustrophobic. I'd love to get into the minds of the rest of the Company and main characters a little, beyond the Hobbits, and see how they're doing as well. It seems that they're all sticking together for mutual healing as well as to support Frodo. Author Reply: Yes, I think you are right that mutual healing is part of why they stayed together in the guest house while in Minas Tirith. I'll try to get more into the minds of the others, although the main focus of this one IS Frodo. Give it a few chapters, of course. And there is healing going on for Frodo as well, slow and not always without incident, but at least enough to help him get home again, where his personal gifts will be needed in the healing of the Shire.

Dreamflower	Reviewed Chapter: 42 on 12/6/2005
This is a chapter that is just filled with food for thought, and most of it meat at that! Your descriptions of the nightmares plaguing the four hobbits are very much along the lines of what I have imagined for them myself. The descriptions of what triggered them intriguing. I can see that being with the broken body of the youth would have reminded Merry of Theoden's broken body upon the Pelennor, and being exposed to such a case of horrific domestic abuse would have haunted Pippin--I would imagine that such a thing, while perhaps not totally unknown in the Shire, would be sufficiently rare as to make most hobbits think of it with revulsion, and while Pippin's grown up a good deal, he's still too young to have been exposed to such as that before, in a way more disturbing and shocking than a device or creature of the Enemy. I loved the glimpses of the children spying on Frodo, and his delighted reaction to them. I am quite sure that is why there was no stop put to it by any of the higher authorities, when Aragorn realized it did Frodo good. I also loved the description of the King and the hobbits cooking and gardening together. Frodo's vision of home, and his forebodings of what Lotho might be up to was a very good bit of foreshadowing. I like that Eldamir did not dismiss it, and took it for what it was, a gift of prescience. But he also gave Frodo some very good advice about it as well: truly there was nothing else to be done. And I also liked Farolian's reactions as he heard Frodo's descriptions of their early travels. Especially his reaction to the idea of a Balrog! The end, of Frodo asleep with his head in Sam's lap, and Aragorn coming upon them, was very touching. Author Reply: Men are more prone to violence than Hobbits, and so that Pippin would have seen such a trial seemed logical; and you are right--between his youth and the probable greater rarity of such violent expression of such abuse in the Shire this would have been a shock. When I wrote about Merry helping to bring the body of the young boy up from the Fourth Circle, I hadn't thought about specifically WHY he'd have reacted as he did, I only knew that this was what would have triggered his nightmare. Thank you for bringing to my conscious mind WHY. I don't think Aragorn would have stopped the spying of children unless Frodo indicated such activities bothered him, and am glad you appreciated that both allowed it to go on and that Frodo benefitted by it. Aragorn wouldn't have given up on those activities he enjoyed, cooking or gardening, or about anything else that also gave him positive pleasure. To perdition with anyone who tries to indicate these are too "humble" of activities for a king to indulge in! Faralion is realizing that the entire Fellowship has been tried by fire, and NOT just Frodo and Sam; as a bard and minstrel, as with Ruvemir later, he'd have been educated in the full history of Middle Earth and would appreciate just what such things were. The thought there was still the chance to encounter such things must have truly taken the man aback! For so long the only way Frodo rested was while being physically comforted by Sam, up the stair, through Mordor--that he'd rest decently and be glad to waken to see not stone but Aragorn leaning over him only seemed logical after a night of fighting nightmares.

harrowcat	Reviewed Chapter: 42 on 12/6/2005
I suppose that the garden of the houses of healing are the nearest equivalant to the oak at the top of the hill. Is this a sign that Frodo is beginning to try and deal with this without resort to Aragorn? Sad but necessary. Amazing but logical application of the King's Gift. Good that Frodo is warned not to try and take responsibility for what is happening in the Shire. Perhaps you could put a link to your bench story on this chapter. I still giggle too when I think of it. As one who speaks no language but her own I would love to know ALL that Aragorn is saying. Author Reply: Yes, I think that the gardens would begin to represent the freedom Frodo misses from home, the freedom to see the stars he loves so. And, yes, Frodo is beginning to realize he needs to find ways other than depending on Aragorn to deal with his distresses. After all, as he noted, he can't take Aragorn home with him. And his own version of the King's Gift and natural prescience are working together to prepare him for the necessity to return home. Okay, I'll put a reference to "Gifts and the Benefits of Scholarship" at the beginning of this story. I am glad so many recognized the hints given here, and that it still brings a giggle.

Raksha The Demon	Reviewed Chapter: 42 on 12/6/2005
The image of Aragorn planting an herb garden in the Citadel, with help from Faramir, Sam, Frodo and some of the Elves, is quite charming. Ditto Faramir helping Aragorn cook - they will make fine husbands for two lucky ladies. I expect the menfolk of various species find it a pleasant change from orc-killing. (manly men can garden, cook, take out the garbage and kill orcs too!) It is of course, terribly sad, that Frodo will ultimately be unable to make a life in Middle-earth that includes enjoyment of such simple pleasures, as well as the families that the other hobbits will create. Author Reply: My manly man was a wonderful cook and even took out the garbage on occasion, although he had not the slightest interest in gardening.... But you are right--it is indeed too bad Frodo didn't find his joy among those who loved him in the mortal lands. It must have torn him up to leave Elanor behind him.

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