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| The Acceptable Sacrifice by Larner | 15 Review(s) |
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| Kitty | Reviewed Chapter: 23 on 11/9/2005 |
| That was a bit sad. Frodo needs to talk about the ring and to realize what it did to him, but it is sad nonetheless, knowing how difficult and depressing it was for him. I was glad Elrohir could ease Frodo’s pain and it's always someone there to help all the hobbits. It was interesting to know how the ring worked even before Frodo left the Shire. No wonder Gandalf had his suspicions about the ring when he witnessed this! Author Reply: Gandalf had wondered all along; had become alarmed to see Bilbo calling It his Precious; had been reassured by Saruman, and is now beginning to wonder about Saruman's motivations, although he still mainly trusts him. I think Aragorn would want someone there able to help Frodo and Sam and the others as necessary at this time, and think that Elladan and Elrohir would agree for the few days they lingered in Gondor before they rode north to meet Arwen's wedding party. And the growing frustration as he continues to learn how long and deeply the Ring has been seeking to destroy him and his relationships must have been extraordinarily painful for Frodo to face. | |
| French Pony | Reviewed Chapter: 23 on 11/9/2005 |
| Here one begins to see how it is that Frodo's quest has left him permanently wounded. With diligent physical therapy, he might be able, in time to resume some of the activities of his normal life. And it appears that the Ring has been robbing him of normality for longer than that. Given all of this physical and psychological loss, it's no wonder that he eventually decided to go West. Author Reply: I agree, French Pony. He's been through so very much for longer than he realizes, and also realized before he even left the Shire that he was losing it as well, perhaps already had lost a good deal of his connection to it as he had been denied the right to dance publicly and as his awareness of women was suppressed, whether by himself or the Ring. In the end the decision to go to Tol Eressea must have seemed the only logical choice left, particularly as his condition began to actively decline with the anniversary attacks. | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 23 on 11/9/2005 |
| one he loves as dearly as father, brother, and child all in one person I just love that description of Sam's regard for Frodo. Author Reply: And I think this was much how Frodo WAS seen by Sam. The wise one who provides and instructs; the brother whom one has shared so much with; the dependancy of the one cared for so deeply. Am so very glad this description moved you so. | |
| Dreamflower | Reviewed Chapter: 23 on 11/9/2005 |
| This is fascinating stuff! I had often thought Frodo must have built a barrier of sorts to keep the Ring from whispering to Sam and his cousins, but I had not really thought of it beginning until he left the Shire. I had often thought the Ring did work on Frodo as you suggest--trying to close him off from a normal life--but it had not occurred to me that It might be awake enough to work on others before Frodo knew what It was. It's a shame that Elrohir's advice was fruitless. Although I tend to feel that Frodo did not begin to deteriorate physically until after his first anniversary of Weathertop, you certainly make a good case for it to be otherwise--and I never get the feeling in your descriptions of Frodo's physical suffering that you are gloating over it, that I sometimes get from a few other writers who write Frodo h/c. I feel that you are truly distressed *with* Frodo, if that makes sense? And for Sam to have the nightmare--yes, that's only right. His suffering is often neglected, but I do think his worst nightmares would have been Shelob and Cirith Ungol. A very good chapter. Did you write a story with the visit of Gandalf that you describe here? Author Reply: Elrohir's advice isn't fruitless, but his warning that Frodo is not likely to fully recover is true. Plus as yet they have no idea how the anniversaries of the worst woundings will strike Frodo, starting in a few months as they start to cross the Bruinen toward the Shire once more. I think the Ring would have affected any who lived in close proximity to It, particularly those who were emotionally close to Its bearer, and especially as Its Master's call became more obvious. The Eye was seeking It, and seeking any who might carry It. If It could draw the Eye's attention to those around the Bearer, hopefully It could better effect its own recovery; but Frodo would have been aware and sought to protect even then. Perhaps this was why he resisted earlier attempts to convince him to take Will's place as Mayor--the subconscious realization that something sought him and any under what he saw as his protection. No, I don't glory in Frodo's illness--but having seen up close and personal just how degenerative conditions gradually rob people of their feelings of competence, their positive view of self, their physical and emotional integrity, and so on, and how the temptation to embrace despair hits at odd moments, even before it is certain that the individual is in decline--I had to be true to that reality, which is NOT a pleasant one, believe me. They will all have nightmares, and Frodo, of course, will come to know those experienced by the other three Hobbits almost as well as his own in the coming months before they return to the Shire. He is in a good position now to learn particularly how the quest has struck those, while he'll have little chance to see the effects of Aragorn's, particularly as he draws physically away to try to protect him from his own problems. No, I've not detailed that nightmare before; but I've hinted at it that Gandalf was present in Bag End when Frodo suffered one of his and that this was just before he disappeared completely for years. And I agree Cirith Ungol, both the tower and the caverns, as well as fighting Shelob and the desire to fight orcs would be the most common images in Sam's dream. But I'd long ago indicated that the search for Frodo in the Tower of Cirith Ungol and the fear of his Master being lashed was a most common theme. | |
| TithenFeredir | Reviewed Chapter: 23 on 11/9/2005 |
| Oh, they have been through so much it seems very unfair that Sam and Frodo can't have a little peace. But, as everyone keeps talling them, it will take time. ~TF Author Reply: Healing does take time--but what happens when full healing is denied--when you have the hope it will come, that it IS coming--only to have that hope dashed? Frodo keeps working at it, and keeps working at it, until the illness around the time of Elanor's birth underlines the fact that he is in outright decline. He gave it more than the good old college try. But, as Aragorn said, no sane individual could have gone through what all within the Fellowship endured and NOT have nightmares. They can know peace, sometimes great stretches of peace--and then have it all apparently swept away by a small thing that triggers the memories and the nightmares. Thanks so much for the response given. | |