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| The Acceptable Sacrifice by Larner | 23 Review(s) |
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| Armariel | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 10/18/2005 |
| I like the mithril shirt being the central image here, and symbolic of his once hidden spirit being brought into light. It *was* made for a prince, right? Author Reply: Yes, the prince who would help defeat Sauron, as Tharen Thranduilion told Aragorn in The King's Commission. It has been fun weaving that thread into this story now! Thanks for bringing that up--was wondering if anyone would remember! | |
| Antane | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 10/18/2005 |
| Larner, thanks for this story! I, too, must have missed yesterday that it said in progress because I thought it was a rather abrupt non-end but here's more so that's cool. Now, do you think you can come over and tell my mom and sister all this? My mom hasn't read the books though she's seen the films and has no idea how much Frodo suffered emotionally/mentally/spiritually and she and my sister think he only was troubled twice a year and was fine the rest of the time and we are just making the rest up. But we aren't! Namarie, God bless, Antane Author Reply: I doubt he felt bad all the time or even every day; but I suspect that as he first recovered he had very bad days, that they got sufficiently bearable to get home again, but that then he'd start to deteriorate, particularly after the second bout on October sixth. But I truly believe neither the spider bite, which was inflicted by the daughter of Ungoliant herself, nor the Morgul wound would ever truly heal, and that his physical as well as his psychological and emotional health would eventually begin to deteriorate as a result. My husband was mortally ill for well over a year before he finally died, and I know he had very good days and then several in a row when he was physically and emotionally depressed almost to the point of suicide. I can see that with Frodo, particularly in response to the spider bite. It was a special on long-term research of spider bites that led me to write "The Choice of Healing," after all. Such things can cause cardiac, digestive, auto-immune system, and joint deterioration, among other things. Thanks for the feedback. | |
| TithenFeredir | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 10/18/2005 |
| Oooo, this was very powerful in a quiet sort of way. For Frodo to feel terribly out of place in the role of the hero seemed very in character, but then you go on to reveal how deeply his ordeal damaged him--his loss of innocence and his terrible guilt. The idea that he planned to throw himself into the fire was chilling. Wow. ~TF Author Reply: He'd have had to have realized how hard letting it go would be after he grabbed It from Sam in the Tower of Cirith Ungol, I think. And he didn't believe that he and Sam would be able to get out of the way in time once it did go into the fire, as he said just that to Sam when (book)Sam spoke of rationing food and water for the return journey, before he, too, accepted this was most likely a suicide mission. So I suspect that Frodo started considering this strategy fairly early on. Thanks for the review! | |
| Kitty | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 10/18/2005 |
| One prince has at this time been raised to the throne; let the other two be brought forth to stand beside him, those intended to bring him to that great seat . Frodo may not understand this at the moment, but I do :) Nice connection to the other fics! The discussion between Frodo and Gandalf was quite intriguing. Gandalf was right in so many ways. Sadly he couldn’t erase Frodo’s feelings of guilt enough to overcome the Quest and remain well and hale in Middle-earth in the end. Well, at least Sam got his wish fulfilled to know if songs would be made about them! He deserved it so much. And he was probably more at ease with this praising than Frodo, who was obviously quite confused. Author Reply: I suspect that from the moment Gandalf fell in Moria the Ring would have started seriously messing with Frodo's mind, with perhaps some easing while they were in Lorien. And the closer they came to Mordor and the weaker Frodo became physically, the worse the manipulation he'd have known from the Ring. By the time he awoke he'd have been totally confused indeed! And as the physical symptoms of his ordeal made themselves more obvious he'd find himself overwhelmed at times, particularly that first day. I mean, this poor hobbit has truly been to the brink of the Pit itself, and the first thing they do is dress him up as a prince and whisk him off to a feast he most likely can't even properly digest? Poor Hobbit! Little time even to allow him to digest the fact he IS alive after all! | |
| Dreamflower | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 10/18/2005 |
| You saw truly--to destroy the Ring would cost a life; had you taken It into the Fire as you’d purposed, it would have cost three lives and not one, for he would still have died, and to less purpose; and Sam would not have left the Sammath Naur without you. And this is what Frodo truly needed to realize, and what he had such a hard time accepting... Author Reply: You have said it, Dreamflower. And congratulations on all your awards! I'm tickled pink! | |
| Pearl Took | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 10/18/2005 |
| The hero who doesn't see himself as a hero. Like most of us (me most deffinately included) Frodo is focusing on his imperfections. It isn't easy to see that often even our "failures" are important. This is so well done :) Author Reply: Thank you, Pearl Took. I know what you mean about focussing on imperfections--a lot of us do it. Thank you for appreciating Frodo's lesson in this chapter. | |
| Iorhael | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 10/18/2005 |
| Frodo should not feel so unworthy. Poor him. Facing all the Gondor people will be hard for him. Author Reply: There was something in him that started the depression that in the end drew him out of Middle Earth completely, and Tolkien himself speculated it was a skewed understanding of what his sacrifice was meant to be and how important he was to the rest of the world. That and the continuing problems with the shoulder wound that WOULD NOT heal and other memories that kept resurfacing at regular intervals would work on one another, the depression making the physical bouts worse, and the physical problems aggravating the depression and spiritual malaise. No, he shouldn't feel unworthy; but so many survivors of traumatic events do feel just that guilty. It's a problem, but not an uncommon one. Thanks so much for the feedback. | |
| harrowcat | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 10/18/2005 |
| This is great again Larner. Do I hear overtones of the Prodigal Son in this? I have often wondered whether he was happy at being hailed as the returned Son brought back into life. After all, he came back asking forgiveness and wanting to be but a servant. Your 'foreign voice' is so wise. I am glad that Frodo listens to it - eventually. By the way, I agree about our upbringing. Perhaps it is that which helps me to appreciate Tolkien's creation, and your additions, so much. After all, the differences between Anglicans (especially High Ones,) and Catholics stem more from Royal and Papal disagreements rather than doctrine or belief. We share a common heritage. Perhaps something of this idea (Common heritage but differences in later practice, )is/could be worked into the traditions and practice of Aragorn's Kin - especially of his newly discovered ones! *Possible sound of baby Nuzgul being let loose and posted sneakily to Larner*! I certainly enjoyed seeing the sameness/differences between Gondor, Harad the Elves etc. People having the chance to value each other and recognise how much we share in common - even if we have different names for it. Gosh - where did all that come from? and before breakfast too! As Pippin would say 'Good Heavens! At Breakfast?' Author Reply: Yes, there are many similarities between our traditions, and more similarities, I suspect, than differences. The problem is we as flawed mortals keep putting too much emphasis on the differences, particularly on those that allow us to judge one another's faiths. As a result we tend to become exclusive of one another, which drives folk who ought to be standing side by side apart instead. The foreign voice is one he's lost track of while the Ring was doing its thing, and he's very wise to listen to it--I so agree. And learning to accept that he's not the omniscient one here, and that being allowed to live on for a time to seeing others on the way to their various resolutions is actually PART of his reward and his further preparation for what is to come is not easy for Frodo. As for the small nuzgul you pushed this way, I suspect it's larger brother will either swallow it up or at least take it under its wing; there is still the motherly one who peeks through bedroom doors that is insisting on being fed next. Am not certain whether or not I'll see her through or look at the small fluffy bunny that hopped in yesterday. So far on it all I see is fluff, and am not certain what I'll do with her, either. (I think it's a her--sometimes it's hard to tell!) | |
| lotrgirl1415 | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 10/17/2005 |
| wonderful update love! *hugs4frodo* *tear* love the story! --Katie Author Reply: Recovery will take time, I fear. Glad you are enjoying it so far, Katie. Thanks for the feedback. | |
| French Pony | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 10/17/2005 |
| Oh, there's more! I completely missed the "In Progress" part last time. Frodo's thoughts about Sam's heroism are interesting. It's an interpretation of LOTR that I've seen before, that Sam is the real hero of the book, and mostly I think it has some valid points. But it's kind of sad to see Frodo thinking it. I also like his observation that his lost finger was tainted and that he's glad to see it go. Author Reply: I do mean this to be a look at the beginnings of Frodo's realization that we are meant to be living sacrifices in the eyes of God, so it will go on a bit. Many feel Sam is the real hero; although in reality all three were necessary to the destruction of the Ring--Frodo, Sam, and Gollum. They are all intertwined here. Sam feels Frodo is the hero, while Frodo thinks Sam is the hero, and all would have been lost had Gollum not taken the Ring at the last. None is THE hero--we are all part of what is meant to be a cooperative effort. And glad that my idea of Frodo's thought on his finger's loss meets with your approval. Hope the story continues to keep you engaged as it progresses. | |