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The Acceptable Sacrifice by Larner	23 Review(s)
Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 10/24/2005
Very ingenious. And I'm glad they are offering help to their former enemies too. This is just the kind of activity that will help Frodo psychologically. And then there will be the knock-on physical effect. Author Reply: Through all of his self-doubt, yet Frodo continues doing the right thing, being the catalyst for positive change, encouraging all to become more positive in outlook and to seek solutions, even when he himself is overwhelmed from time to time with pain and regret. And thanks so very much for the feedback, as you know how much it is appreciated. Am looking forward to seeing if you've updated Arwen's Heart while I've been working the last couple days.

TithenFeredir	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 10/24/2005
It was wonderful that Frodo unwittingly set in motion such a positive project even though he doesn't seem to allow himself to feel good about it yet. To help others is always therapeutic, and perhaps talking to the wounded soldiers allowed Frodo to realise he was not the only one whose life was so altered in the cause of saving Middle-earth. I think it is very intereating as well that you address the unglamorous aftermath of that type of warfare, with the details of so many maimed and crippled and the prospect of mercy killing in the more harsh cultures. ~TF Author Reply: Tolkien began most actively creating Arda during his time in the trenches in France in WWI, and continued writing during his rehabilitation in hospitals in France and England. It grew from that over the years to the rich environment we know through his writings. He himself glossed over the aftermath of the battles, although you know it was there; you see only a chosen few of the injured; you hear that Aragorn, Elrohir, and Elladan labored among the wounded in the aftermath of the battle of the Pelennor; you know that Frodo, Sam, and Pippin have followed Faramir, Eowyn, and Merry under the healing hands of the King. That others wounded before the Black Gates must have also known the skill of the descendants of Earendil and Elwing seems most probable. I'm trying to look at that aftermath that was so understated in Tolkien's own work, and how it affected Frodo and how he affected it; and so we see what the real effects the battles had, the probability that due to the presence of Aragorn and the sons of Elrond many were undoubtedly saved who otherwise would have been expected to die. It was this environment after WWI and WWII that led to the creation of the Veterans Administration rehabilitation programs, which are some of the most effective in the world, with so many talented and self-confident young men realizing that they didn't have to sit in a corner and vegetate--that they still had the ability to contribute to society, with just a few accommodations. And what has been learned through the experiences with those disabled soldiers has trickled down today throughout society--one of the cases where there is indeed a true "trickle-down" effect. Sorry--the disabilities advocate in me tends to come out in my stories, as you will find.

Lotrgirl1415	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 10/24/2005
I love this story and can't wait to read more of it. I love angst :) well.... i have to go hide in the bathroom..i live in FL and the hurricane is upon us.. so if i dont review for a few chps..my electric will probably be out,and i wont be able to read em till it comes back on.. love ya! xoxoxo --Katie Author Reply: Wilma appears to have been far less devastating than Katrina was, for which I'm certain we are all grateful. I'm just glad you are safe, although I know the cleanup is going to be pretty tremendous. Angst is rife in this story, although it's not straight angst, I hope. So glad you are following it. Thanks for letting me know how much you appreciate it, as it keeps me writing.

grumpy	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 10/24/2005
Good to see Frodo feeling better. I love how they all came up with a wheelchair and improved it. Sam was great at the council, a very wise hobbit. Author Reply: I love to see Frodo and Sam causing others to think more productively and with greater humanity--it is undoubtedly one of their greatest gifts. And I, too, found myself proud of Sam's contributions at the Council. Once I realized that once again he'd been right there by Frodo's side and couldn't keep from speaking out when he realized just how Sauron would have affected those he dominated, it seemed only natural he'd speak out. He's becoming more confident. Thanks for continuing to follow the story.

Inkling	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 10/24/2005
This chapter was a real delight, Larner! You bring such a great perspective to the problems of the wounded soldiers, grounded in your own professional experience. I especially loved this line of Sam’s: you can’t just kill folks just ’cause they’re in the way... Loved this whole scene, in fact--hobbits once again the voices of reason at the Councils of the Great. Reminded me a bit of Sam lecturing Faramir at their first meeting... And Frodo! He truly is the greatest kind of hero: one who leads without seeming to, or even realizing that he is doing so. And now I’m all caught up again…we’ll see how long it lasts! :) Ps—I saw your author’s note about Lalia Took, and whether her wheelchair accident was fanon or canon. It’s from Letters, though I couldn’t tell you which one without looking it up. “Accident” may have been a euphemism, however…there was some suspicion about the circumstances under which Pippin’s sister Pearl let the wheelchair fall down the steps. All in all, quite an interesting little incident… Author Reply: I'm still aghast that Tolkien, who insisted that Hobbits don't have steps in their homes if they can avoid it, indicated that Lalia's chair fell down some of them. I really need to get his book of letters and read it all. I'd seen this mentioned in a fanfiction story or two a year and a half ago when I first started reading at HASA and FFN; that it was inpsired by the Master himself is what's surprising. And Pearl is implicated, eh? Interesting.... Anyway, much of this chapter was inspired by research in Nazi Germany's T4 project, which was the precursor to genocide. The first truly systematic mass killings were not of Jews, but of the disabled, those the Nazis considered "useless eaters." That Sauron would encourage similar sentiments just seemed natural. And this is where I try to show the close relationship of personality between Frodo and Aragorn--except that Frodo remains perhaps purposely naive about his personal contributions to the healing and rehabilitation of others, while Aragorn has purposely raised to do the same, but with full awareness as he is intended to be the King. Thanks for the feedback and the inspiration to obtain a copy of the letters when I can afford it. It's on my Christmas list, I think.

Tigger	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 10/23/2005
That sly cunning Ranger. That was a stroke of brilliance on Aragorn's part. Even he couldn't have known Sam would have spoken up the way our shy Gardener did though. Thank Goodness he did. Sam and his plain old hobbit sense certainly opened the eyes of the nobles of Gondor. That's one of my favourite movie quotes you know. When Faramir tells Sam that Gardeners must be held in high esteem in the Shire as he's showing them the entry to the sewers. How very, very true. :oD What an amazing chapter Larner. Looking forward as always to the next part. Author Reply: Actually, I think that quote is in the books, too, but I'll have to go through TTT to find it, of course. And wisdom from those who look at a situation and cut to the heart of it is always to be esteemed. I agree--Aragorn has reason to be proud of his decision to have Frodo (and of course Sam as well) attend this meeting. Thanks so much for the feedback.

Dreamflower	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 10/23/2005
I like how you show that through his concern for others, Frodo can for a time forget his own troubles. Indeed, hobbits would have been familiar with the use of wheelchairs, although they might have fallen out of favor after what happened to Lalia. But of course Frodo would not know how they worked or how they were made--it took Gimli and the other craftsmen to come up with those solutions. I also like Sam speaking up at the council. Sam has so grown in confidence and in wisdom--a few months ago, he'd not have dared to say anything, but now he feels free to speak up. Author Reply: As I wrote above, I'd about forgotten about Lalia and the wheelchair, and I'm going to have to invest in a copy of the letters with whatever I get for Christmas. Just serving as a catalyst for positive thought is the first step to helping others and ultimately Frodo himself to accept that what they've been through, as devastating as it was, is not the end of the world for them; that all of them can and should still look to contribute to society. And of course Sam is seeing it in practical terms, beginning to fully appreciate the type of dismissive mind Sauron had. Thanks so much for the feedback--you know how much I appreciate it!

Linda Hoyland	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 10/23/2005
I love the way that Frodo has come to help himself by helping others.How wise of Sam to say what he did at the council. You can judge a society by how well it treats its sick and disabled members. Author Reply: Yes, your own statement that we can judge a society by how well it treats its sick and disabled members is right on target! And I am so glad you appreciate how Sam and Frodo are expressed in this chapter.

French Pony	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 10/23/2005
I loved the thing with the wheelchairs. It's so fascinating to see how people might go about inventing them. From the first idea that, hey, maybe there's something better than crutches out there, to the concept of "chair on wheels" to the actual technical problems of designing and building it, you show it all. And then to describe in such detail who thinks of what bits and all the different craftsbeings involved and how they work together. And the best part is that it takes them some trial and error to get the chair right. That's the little touch of realism that crowns that scene off. Now I'm picturing in a few years Minas Tirith being rebuilt with ramps and wider doors and curb cuts, and finally the passage of the Gondorians With Disabilites Act. Looks like Frodo has found a good, if temporary, secondary career as a muse. He's easy to talk to, and he's proved inspiring. It'll also help take his mind off his troubles, and it's surely a healthier way to do so than by relying on the Elessar too much. I was a little worried that he might get addicted, and that wouldn't be good. Author Reply: What can I say, French Pony--as a special ed teacher and activist for disabilities rights, this just comes out in my stories as well. The GWDA idea has me giggling now, of course. And Frodo needs practical means to combat the depression as well as using the Elessar stone, you are right there. And the problem with the long exposure to the Ring is that it is indeed likely to promote other forms of dependency. Thanks so much for the feedback, and I'll try to respond more later, but now I have to get off here and get to work! Gaack! Almost late!

Armariel	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 10/23/2005
Holyyyy mackerel!!! I had the idea of inventing a wheelchair (for Bilbo) in my last story--I planned to have it be either Frodo's or Gandalf's idea, but I ended up not even writing the chapter so I never decided! How about that! I seem to remember you picking up another idea I scrapped in another story! The part about Sam pointing out that the Haradrim (sp?) were under Sauron's control was spot on in keeping with his thoughts in the book when he sees the dead soldier. Beautiful touch, and I was proud of him too. A lovely chapter. Author Reply: Haradrim was properly spelled, from what I can tell, and is consistent with my spelling of it, at least, so don't worry about that. So, it is said great minds often think alike, you know. Now, am I channeling you or are you channeling me, or is it spontaneous genius from both sides. But as someone else has pointed out, Thain Ferumbras's mother Lalia is supposed to have died in a wheelchair accident (but I am not certain if that is true canon or one of the accepted Fanfiction conventions after someone brilliantly wrote a story on it), so a wheelchair wouldn't necessarily be a new idea to Hobbits. However, what I chose to do was to show the kind of think-tank inspiration for rehabilitation techniques and prosthetic items that has happened often in the wake of wars, particularly in the US after WWI and WWII as more folks lived with massive disabilities who demanded not to be set off in the corner and forgotten. Figured the presence of Aragorn and the Twins would have a similar effect after the victory against Mordor.

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