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The Acceptable Sacrifice by Larner	14 Review(s)
Queen Galadriel	Reviewed Chapter: 74 on 1/31/2014
Oh...this is just so sad. I'm enjoying getting to read this story minus my teenage flare for the melodramatic that colored everything I did and read when it was published. :) But this is still the most heartbreaking point of the story so far, because Frodo tries so hard to keep everything in and maintain his dignity and not let his perceived failure touch the Shire or those around him, and this is how it comes out. While I try to finish school, I've turned to making things and selling them, and parts of the process are tedious. Getting to read this while I work is so nice. I'm also starting to work my way through the books, starting with The Hobbit, and it's reawakening my Shire-dwelling muse. The amount I need to refresh myself on is staggering, though. Author Reply: You aren't the only one who is making things and selling them, usually on the internet and at craft fairs, to try to make ends meet. Have several friends who are doing much the same, and all of them say having an audiobook of some kind helps them get through it. And I'm thrilled to think you're possibly going to return to writing again! So, read away! Frodo's loss of his parents at such a young age had to have colored his manner of interacting with the world quite a bit, and there must have been times when all he wanted was to sit in his mom's lap and be comforted. But you aren't the only one who has known a tendency toward the melodramatic, you know. I, too, get that way, and I don't have adolescence to use as an excuse at the moment! Heh!

Radbooks	Reviewed Chapter: 74 on 1/26/2006
I enjoyed this chapter and having Mina there to be with Frodo as he struggled there - for him to have someone there to 'mother' him for a time. That was nice for him. And they are all much too smart to not start figuring all of these things out! Bucca and Pippin's talk was good too, with Bucca being so very respectful and understanding of Frodo and his pain and sacrifice. Pippin must have appreciated having someone that finally accepted that what they were saying was the truth - after dealing with his parents unbelief. Author Reply: It is a relief to be able to tell to those who no longer doubt, who are willing to accept. Yes, this has been a gift for Pippin, and a needed gift of information for Bucca, who with Aster and Mina will serve as the core of the everyday folk of the Shire who will begin to understand just what was given for all of them. At times we all need mothering, and Mina was able to stand for her cousin when Frodo needed her--and I think that through Mina Primula was able to be there, to help calm and soothe. And perhaps that moment of communion with her lost cousin helped her to begin to accept the full truth, as much as they can be brought to share at the moment, at least. Thanks so much for your responses, Radbooks.

lotrgirl1415	Reviewed Chapter: 74 on 1/24/2006
Sorry for my delay of reviews I've been so busy with school competitions and stuff. I know, EXCUSES! EXCUSES! lol I've just now read up to date and love it too much for words! Also I’d like to let you know that I LOVE your portrayal of Frodo in this fic. For I've noticed so many fanfic authors have rather enjoyed depicting him as an over conceited whiny "child" if I may say so.... But you depict him as such a sweet and sadly vulnerable "adult" and I love that sooo much. I do hope some of that made sense...I'm not very good with words...lol Keep up the great work. Lots of love, --Katie Author Reply: I've seen a few such stories as you've indicated, although those that depict Sam as unable to have an opinion other than Frodo's own tend to annoy me more, as do those in which Frodo seems to be tortured interminibly. Both lengthy Frodo and Faramir torture tend to upset me. So glad you appreciate how I depict him. Now and then Frodo does become rather fretful even in my own stories; but considering what he went through, I certainly can't fault him much for that, considering how awful I sometimes behave when I feel bad. So glad you're able to keep reading in spite of all else. Next chapter is now up.

Linda Hoyland	Reviewed Chapter: 74 on 1/24/2006
I enjoyed the conversation between Pippin and Bucca.Poor Frodo to have such nightmares,at least he is being cared for. Author Reply: So glad you enjoy that conversation, Linda. Bucca's figured out how to get some answers, at least. I would expect all four Hobbits to have their own nightmares; that Frodo now has others willing to help him soothe when he has one and Sam's not at hand gives me a lot of relief as well.

harrowcat	Reviewed Chapter: 74 on 1/23/2006
It was great to get not one but two Author replies to the last review Larner but to make me go back and check The Book at past midnight is above and beyond a reviewers duty! grins cheekily! Well, here comes my opinion, since you asked so nicely. Better but not quite in the bulls-eye. (Yes, yes, I do know I'm as stubborn and picky as at least a Took if not quite a Baggins but all my moaning is done out of love dear Larner!) Bilbo has the ring in the envelope and in his pocket for quite a long time - all through his argument with Gandalf in fact. Then he tries to leave with it still there. It is when he first offers it to Gandalf, (to deliver,) and then pulls it out and tries to put the envelope by the clock that his hand jerks back and and the envelope falls on the floor to be retrieved by Gandalf. I don't imagine that Gandalf would have told Pippin about being offered the Ring, (plot-bunny or drabble alert for Gandalf's feelings at this moment,) but your paragraph might go something like this.... "He'd put It in an envelope with his will and other papers. He had the envelope in his pocket and pulled it out intending to put it all by the clock. At the last second he dropped it; and Gandalf swooped down on the envelope and put it on the mantel before Bilbo could touch it again. Once It was on the mantelpiece, Bilbo was able to leave Bag End and leave It behind. I am a bit shy at daring to suggest this but you did ask Larner. Feel free to ignore it as I promise to keep reading and enjoying Actually on re-reading your second version I think I see where you are coming from. Is it reminiscent of Frodo putting It back in his pocket instead of trying to destroy It in his hearth fire? Well, bed for me as it is 12.40am. I was up late last night too, watching a documentary about Sir Ian McKellen. Good clips from Return of the King but a bit disappointing as they showed him crowning a blue coloured dummy! Ah, well, that is movie magic I suppose! Author Reply: I edited it yet again, but don't want to make Pippin's tale to be completely in line with the book, but more as if Pippin is telling his own understanding of what they've been told by Gandalf of what Bilbo did. Want to check it out again? And thanks so much for the help. I guess it's time to reread the books again. Finally found HP6 on cassette and have been reading it on my trip down here to Oregon. I've found that listening to books on tape helps keep me more alert on long drives. Am going to switch out the car radio--got one with a CD player in it as well; next time I'm going to bring the LOTR CDs read by Rob Inglis and read that next during my trips back and forth to work. Those forty minute drives need to be put to work at times. And he crowned a dummy? Aack!

Baggins Babe	Reviewed Chapter: 74 on 1/23/2006
Mina is lovely - so motherly, and I loved her raging fury at what had been done to Frodo. She and Bucca are really adding things up now, and realising that the stories are true. I wonder why Will is being so dense. He's not stupid but he doesn't seem able to allow himself to understand. I hope he grasps things eventually! Author Reply: Some folk just can't appear to grasp that which isn't in their usual experience, and Will appears to be one of those. He'd still not completely gotten it by the time Ruvemir came to the Shire a couple years after Frodo left, after all. What he's able to wrap his mind around is that Frodo's perfect material to become Mayor properly; and it's not going to be easy when Frodo backs out. And so glad you approve of Mina and Bucca. Yes, Mina is feeling the mother's anger at someone who's hurt her own lad, feeling it for her cousin. And they're accepting that the world out there exists and what exactly Frodo did out in it.

Antane	Reviewed Chapter: 74 on 1/23/2006
Love that part with the nightmare and Frodo calling out for his Mummy, though I do ache also. Very well done! Namarie, God bless, Antane :) Author Reply: He opens his eyes and sees someone come in who so strongly reminds him of his mother; and if Mina was a Goold originally and a first cousin to Primula and Rory I'd suspect this was very probable--I look very much like my own cousin Pamela in many ways. And so often when we are in pain we do wish our mothers were at hand--I know I do, and she's been gone now for well over a decade. And I suspect that when Mina said, "Mummy's here," she was right, and that Primula was by her.

Kitty	Reviewed Chapter: 74 on 1/23/2006
Dear Mina, she was so tender and caring to Frodo! With Sam being at the Cotton’s, I am so glad Mina is there to look after Frodo. He needs it so badly. Although it is surely not easy for Mina to come to terms with what she is getting to know from him in his nightmares and about his condition. Bucca is truly a very intelligent and perceptive hobbit. To figure out so much with only the few details he knows is quite impressive. And it is interesting to watch how they slowly begin to understand Bilbo’s stories aren’t thought up, but the truth. Ah, Bucca got the courage to ask Pippin? Good! Maybe it was a nice change for Pippin to talk about it with someone who at least begins to understand and who believes and accepts it, contrary to his parents, even if he still isn’t able to tell the story in great detail. I think he gave Bucca a short but thorough account of the happenings in the South with all the main details. Enough for Bucca to understand not only what happened, but Frodo’s problems as well. Author Reply: Mina has needed to care for a son for a long time; Frodo has missed his mother's touch for even longer. That for the moment each would need the other would seem logical--both logical and right. Both Mina and Bucca are piecing it together, and then even Aster finds herself putting in even more pieces, which surprises her, for it would be in many ways a more comfortable world if all of Bilbo's stories were just made up. But, yes, I think that Bucca, finding the opportunity, would seek validation for his understanding from one who was there; and I think that of the four of them the one who would be most able to speak of it would be Pippin. As you've noted, Pippin doesn't go into deep detail--just enough to help Bucca put it more into context. This will help in the long run for more of the Shire to accept the idea of a "jumped-up gardener" running for Mayor one day, I think.

harrowcat	Reviewed Chapter: 74 on 1/23/2006
There is a saying 'to forgive and forget.' But if the hurt is deep then i don't think that it is possible to forget. It takes courage, lots of support and affirmation and, above all, time in order to move beyond the experience, to be able to look at it as it truly was and to begin to trust yourself and others again. Time is the one thing that Frodo doesn't have but it is good to see more and more people beginning to understand and be able to add their honour and respect for Frodo and Sam to the process of healing. “He accidentally dropped It, and Gandalf swooped down on It and put It in the envelope with Bilbo’s will and other papers before he could pick It up again. Once It was in the envelope Bilbo was able to leave Bag End and leave It behind. Are you following book or movie verse here Larner? If book then the Ring was already in an envelope with Bilbo's will etc and it is the entire envelope that Gandalf picks up and puts on the mantle-piece. Gandalf doesn't actually touch the Ring. Even when he removes it from the fire he uses tongs. PJ has Bilbo drop IT on the floor and Frodo picks it up. Needless to say I prefer canon to movie! Author Reply: Frodo may never fully recover, but Sam and Pippin and Merry continue to live in the Shire for over fifty years, and need to have that honor and respect. They need to have the understanding of those who can to help them remain as long in their homeland as they do. These who come to appreciate what Frodo did help in the long run build the core of those who will appreciate what they did not only within the Shire but outside it as well. You are right about the Ring and the envelope--will need to correct that. I, too, prefer book canon. Author Reply: Corrections done. Do let me know if you think I did it right.

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 74 on 1/23/2006
Working out the story themselves - seeking out the information that was held back - must have made it so much more impressive and terrifying. Seeing its effects - the scars, the cold, the nightmares - must have made it all much more real too. Author Reply: Yes, most of the Whitfoot family now has a deeper understanding and appreciation for what happened. And they understand more how Frodo sells himself short. In the end this helps build appreciation for what the rest have done and been through as well.

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