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| The Acceptable Sacrifice by Larner | 12 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 68 on 1/16/2006 |
| “Why don’t you tell folks?” “Brendi--that’s true for out there, not here in the Shire.” “Nonsense, Frodo Baggins. Aren’t Hobbits part of the Free Peoples of Middle Earth?” “Part of what makes us Hobbits is that we’re not given to having lords and such.” What a perfect summation of the difference between the Shire and... everywhere else. Let simple folk remain simple, if that's what they wish, and may the Wise labor to keep it so. Oh, I love that last sentence. Brendi is very, very perceptive, isn't he? Author Reply: Yes, the simple may indeed do well to remain simple; yet Brendi is also right, for no longer is the Shire so hopelessly isolated from the outer world. Sam and Frodo do deserve to have their stories told and their accomplishments recognized, after all. And, yes, Brendi is VERY perceptive. He can appreciate that Frodo is totally changed and will not fully find his place there in the Shire. | |
| Dreamflower | Reviewed Chapter: 68 on 1/16/2006 |
| This chapter is wonderful, from Frodo's stern treatment of Timono--who deserved every bit of it--to his confiding in Brendilac. Two things appear to enable him to open up--cold anger, as at Timono, where he told him of his imprisonment in Cirith Ungol--something which normally I do not think he would ever speak of. But his fury enabled him to get beyond his usual reticence and tell it like it was to the greedy idiot. The second thing is trust--he clearly trusts Brendilac to keep his confidence, and so is able to be more open with him, although he still cannot bring himself to speak too much of certain things. For although he mentions "seeing the demon" he does not describe the encounter or name the Balrog, and he also fails to mention Gandalf's fall, which had to still be traumatic, even after knowing Gandalf had returned. But I was really intrigued by *this* bit: Although once they saw Pippin they knew precisely what he was and started calling him the Ernil i Pheriannath, which means Prince of the Halflings. He was terribly embarrassed at first, but after we came he’d occasionally try to order us around when we were in public. You know Sam--he’d do about anything any of us asked; but if Pippin would try it with Merry or me we’d just sit on him and tell him to get his princely fingers doing it for himself. One poor woman in the Fifth Circle was most aghast. Now *that* snippet is just *dying* to be expanded upon. What I wouldn't give to see that anecdote told in *full* with all the details. *hint*hint* Author Reply: Marco did manage to raise Frodo's ire, and you're right at the anger bringing out the story, although it may also have merely been Frodo trying to get across that, as prisons go, Shire prisons are the height of luxury and consideration. Doubt Marco would have liked the prison in the Citadel of Minas Tirith, much less the gaol in Bree. It's a rude awakening for the fool. The trust that draws part of the story from Frodo between the deputy Mayor and his cousin Brendi is quite the contrast; and you are right on the details that AREN'T spoken and their import. As for the tale of the Prince of the Halflings and the woman in the Fifth Circle--heh! Hadn't thought yet of expanding that story, but will consider it now. And it will be all your fault, you know! | |