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| The Acceptable Sacrifice by Larner | 22 Review(s) |
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| AspenJules | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 8/23/2006 |
| Fascinating concept that one of the reasons Frodo could resist it was because it wasn't *tuned* to dominate Hobbits like it was Men, Elves or Dwarves. I'm glad Frodo has so many people there to help counteract the negative thoughts he's having. I especially love the glint of anger in Legolas at his suggestion that it would have been better if he hadn't been 'brought back.' WTG Elfboy! hehehe Author Reply: Nice to see you reading! In the case of the Ring, it was indeed intended to dominate Men, Elves, and Dwarves, as it was for these that Celebrimbor and his folk created the other nineteen. It did give one additional reason for the Creator and the Valar to set the Ring in Frodo's way at the end. | |
| storyfish | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 8/22/2006 |
| Wow, I've been reading these past few chapters going, "a-ha!" I really like your take on the events in LOTR, this gap-filler is doing wonders for answering questions I'd thought about--and doing so in a way that just makes sense! (The part about virginity and innocence was just heart-breaking, as was Frodo's admission of what the Ring had done to his mind even before the quest...) I loved Legolas in this last chapter, especially here: Legolas stood most still, his eyes glinting in the light entering from over the fabric walls. When at last he spoke, his voice was as sharp as the tips of his own arrows, as sharp as the edge of his white knife. “Do not say that to me again, Frodo--ever. It would be poor recompense to me to know you died, and still enslaved in part to that. No, let you examine those times and then let them go so that you may be able to be filled once more with joy and peace as is right and proper before you leave the bounds of Arda. It was for that the King called you back from the Gates.” Frodo really has no chance--he won't be able to continue in his depression with such good friends. Author Reply: Oh, that you feel this story does fill in the gaps both properly and logically means a great deal to me. Yes, Frodo would be one to wonder just why his sexuality was repressed for so long, and why he never followed through on marrying anyone. To learn just how much of an influence the Ring had on him, and how he learned to suppress some things to protect others from his basest desires must have been in some ways reassuring, I'd think. And am glad you appreciate Legolas's advice so. He needs the others so much. | |
| PIppinfan1988 | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 5/23/2006 |
| This story truly is a labour of love--so much is in this story to absorb! I've been (re)reading this tale for the past week--and I went over the parts that I previously read. But as I told you to expect reviews "soon", I figure I better get on the stick, lol. I am taking my time, though, making sure I don't miss a thing. Right now, I am happily engrossed in watching Frodo and Sam come out of their sleep and start the recovery process. Pippinfan Author Reply: Now that it's finished, I hope you continue to find it engrossing, Pippinfan. And glad you're following through on your intent to read the whole thing. I just reread it last week as well as rereading "Lesser Ring" as well--just finding what I can that might need correction. | |
| Iorhael | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 3/13/2006 |
| What a marvelous job! You have it till 100 chaps already. One day I will day dedicate myself to read them all. Author Reply: Yes, a hundred chapters and author's notes and introduction of sorts. Thanks so much for indicating you intend to read them. Hope you enjoy them thoroughly. | |
| Elf Friend | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 3/3/2006 |
| "You must realize, Frodo--you took the Ring, and in so doing you saved the rest of us from doing so." This is an interesting point. Frodo thinks that he's brought nothing but death and destruction to those near him, but he really does need to consider his initial action of taking the Ring in the first place. Especially by separating himself from the fellowship when he did, he saved all the others from the corruption that claimed him at the end. “As for Boromir--It would have swallowed him whole once he actually touched It--swallowed him then spat him out as an owl regurgitates mouse pellets." Nice imagery, there! A perfectly disgusting and horrifying way to describe how the Ring treats those it ensares. This is a great story! I'm so glad I started to read this! Author Reply: Yes--even the first step of taking the quest upon himself served to save others, even at the cost of himself, a fact Frodo can't quite embrace as yet. And the idea of Boromir as owl pellets just insisted on being included. All too obvious Farley Mowat's "The Dog Who Wouldn't Be" and "Owls in the Family" have been working on me. | |
| Grey Wonderer | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 11/16/2005 |
| For some reason I had never thought of the ring calling to Legolas. I don't know why but I didn't think about it. In fact, I believe I left both him and Gimli out of the mix on that. I enjoyed Legolas's talk with Frodo, an eye-opener, as Sam might say. Author Reply: The only ones we truly see the Ring working on are Frodo and Boromir, and then Sam when he carried it. But I would think the Ring would be working on any and all around it; we know that it was working on Saruman from a distance, even, after all. That the others didn't speak out doesn't mean they weren't fighting its call as well, and then be trying to hide it so as to spare Frodo further guilt; this is what I figured it would do. | |
| Pearl Took | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 11/2/2005 |
| Legolas placed a shapely hand on the side of Frodo’s face. “Know this, Frodo Baggins, It would have taken anyone who was near It, there in the Sammath Naur itself. How do you think one such as Isildur should have been taken by It, or one such as Lord Elrond compelled to allow him to leave with It still in his hands?” A wonderful point to be made :) "Sauron knew the minds of Elves as well as any who is not an Elf can, and the Ring was keyed to allow him to learn more from those who wore the Three, as It was keyed to learn of those who wore the Seven and the Nine as well. But no one thought to make any ring of power for Hobbits, for there are no lords as such among you; and so he had not prepared that which you bore to rule your people. Perhaps none but a Hobbit could have carried It to the last to Mordor, much less through it and into the heart of the Mountain itself." Yes, no 'rings for Hobbit kings'. They aren't totally immune to the desire for power though, Tolkien says they aren't but then tells of Lotho Sackville-Baggins and Lalia Took both who seemed to want power over other hobbits. I think it perhaps wasn't as prevelent among them. Well Done :) Author Reply: There are always exceptions to any generalization, and Lotho and his accomplices and Lalia are examples of such exceptions among Hobbits. Most Hobbits don't care about that type of power at all, for which we can be grateful. But the realization no rings of power had been made for Hobbits was shared with me on an email discussion group to which I belong. So glad you appreciate the thoughts here. | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 11/1/2005 |
| But no one thought to make any ring of power for Hobbits, for there are no lords as such among you; and so he had not prepared that which you bore to rule your people. Perhaps none but a Hobbit could have carried It to the last to Mordor, much less through it and into the heart of the Mountain itself. (You know, I never thought of this either, that all the other races of Free Peoples had rings, except for the Hobbits. Legolas' assessment of the alternatives was very interesting. I'd never imagined him claiming the Quest. I thought the Elves were too wise even to imagine such a thing. Author Reply: A fellow member of the CouncilofRivendell email group commented on this fact, that Hobbits were among the few races that had no rings made for them, and so I've managed to work it into a couple of stories now. Of course, no rings were made for the great Eagles or for the Ents, either; but I can't see an Ent entering Mordor, much less approaching the mountain; and the great Eagles are on a slightly different plane, apparently. Had Frodo not taken it, who would have been left? They are already aware that the Ring is working on Boromir and he's not a good candidate; who is left? Doesn't give us a great deal of room for other possible Ringbearers. I really can't see Gimli with the Ring; but I can see Legolas considering it. Yes, he's an elf; but he's not from Lorien or Rivendell; he's been fighting the Enemy steadily for centuries now; he's actually pretty savvy about the Enemy. I can see him considering it and believing he'll be wise enough to counter the Enemy's arguments used by the Ring. One can be overconfident of just how wise one is. I truly doubt Aragorn would accept it, no matter what; he already knows how easily it took his ancestor and doesn't wish to repeat the experiment; and he has to be aware that if he didn't touch the Ring itself Elrond yet was induced to allow Isildur to walk out of the Sammath Naur with it in his hand. I think Aragorn has all too likely an idea of what the Ring might do to himself. And so it goes. Glad the tale as I tell it is inspiring new thoughts. Certainly many of the responses have sparked more in me! | |
| Inkling | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 10/22/2005 |
| Uh-oh, I’m falling behind! Well as I’ve said before, Larner, you write faster than I read! ;) But no one thought to make any ring of power for Hobbits…and so he had not prepared that which you bore to rule your people. Perhaps none but a Hobbit could have carried It An interesting idea…I’d never thought of it that way. Yet even among Hobbits, I wonder how many others could have done what Frodo did? Author Reply: This insight came from a member of the Councilsofrivendell email discussion group from one of the members there; and that member has been very glad to see it incorporated now into fanfiction. We get our inspirations from so very many different sources! As for falling behind--I certainly can understand how that happens. | |
| Periantari | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 10/21/2005 |
| SUch lovely interaction between Frodo and Legolas... but did Legolas know that Boromir claimed the RIng at the end? I thought Aragorn was the only one who knew. I really liked this: ¡§Frodo, some inherit their titles of nobility. Others earn them, as you have. You are far more worthy to wear this than any other I have known.¡¨ Of course Frodo earned nobility. <3Frodo so much. Always cool to read also about Frodo thinking Sam earned as much or rather maybe more than he. I think both shall be thought in the highest esteem for what they did. Author Reply: Legolas might not have known that Boromir had tried to claim the Ring, but he was several thousand years old and had an understanding of psychology even of mortals, to a point, at least. I'm certain he noted the words spoken in the Council as much as Gandalf, Frodo, Elrond, and Aragorn did, and that he recognized the growing watchfulness of Boromir toward Frodo as they went down the Anduin. I'm certain he had an idea that the Ring was working quite hard on Boromir and that Boromir was close to cracking. And I truly think both Sam and Frodo would each think the other deserved all the glory for what was accomplished. Thanks so much for the comments. | |