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| The Acceptable Sacrifice by Larner | 14 Review(s) |
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| PIppinfan1988 | Reviewed Chapter: 18 on 7/22/2006 |
| I really enjoyed this chapter! Its nice to see Sam and Frodo feeling a lot better, eating and drinking without becoming ill. Of course that would happen initially after waking, being deprived of solid food for as long as they were, but it is nice to see them getting on again. LOL, that Orange jest at the beginning was cute. :-) Poor Eomer--it's natural that he's protective of his little sister, especially after Grima Wormtongue, but I hope he comes to trust that Faramir is not like that at all. His intentions are honorable. Pippinfan Am so sorry to be so delayed in getting back to you. Home system still down, and all funds are being deflected elsewhere in a series of crises I still have difficulty appreciating. No problem--I figured you were busy. I'm just sorry to hear about all the trouble you've been having--RL was kicking me for a bit, too. I'm slowly coming back. :-) Author Reply: Sam is recovering indeed, but it is unlikely Frodo will truly recover on this side of the Sea. But at least Frodo is able now to appreciate life again. And Eomer is indeed coming to see that this time the caring is mutual as it never was between Wormtongue and Eowyn; and certainly the caring Aragorn showed for Eowyn was of a different sort than that she held for him. He'll come around pretty quickly, I think. And life is beginning to relax--barely.... | |
| Grey Wonderer | Reviewed Chapter: 18 on 11/19/2005 |
| “They name their feast halls here?” Sam shook his head. “It sounds like a good idea to me,” Merry commented. After that exchange I have a feeling that Merry may return to Buckland and set about naming all of the feast halls within Buckland! LOL Author Reply: Yes, it is an idea! It's a wonder that Hobbits haven't done this before, I think. You have me giggling: The Banquet Chamber of Fortinbras.... | |
| Dreamflower | Reviewed Chapter: 18 on 11/4/2005 |
| Another chapter of delightful details. One thing I loved in this was the banter between Aragorn and his foster brothers--that line about people having trouble keeping up with two generations, LOL! And then reminding Aragorn of falling asleep with his face in his plate. Yet I think at this point, Aragorn is *almost* in danger of falling into the trap of micro-management--the insistence that he rest and the little jabs from his foster brothers, will I think, help head some of that off at the pass, so to speak. On to the next chapter... Author Reply: Yes, older brothers have the habit of remembering embarrassing details we wish would go on unspread, while they remind us that we do need to rest from time to time, and are surrounded by love and caring even when we think we're doing what needs to be done. And am so glad you like the details. | |
| grumpy | Reviewed Chapter: 18 on 11/4/2005 |
| Forgive me for not doing this sooner, I had a cat on my lap. Can't do much when he trys to play with the keyboard. Anyways, loved the signing of the scrolls, bet Aragorn stayed up many a night arround the campfire trying to memorise names and dates. And the twins only had to know two genorations. Great paart about the two marks indicating deaths. Wonder if Aragorn will put then in once he figures it out. Cat is back. Author Reply: My blue-point loves to try to get in on my computer time when I'm on the desktop, and the tortoise-shell cats keeps getting on the laptop when I'm actually writing my stories, so know about feline intervention. Yes, having to learn his genealogy back to Beren and Luthien, Idril and Tuor must have taken him a good deal of rehearsal. And the twins get to give him a hard time, made worse by the fact they knew a good number of them. As for Aragorn adding in the ones left out--he has to learn their identities first, and that won't be for quite a while. Love to the kitty. | |
| Pernauriel | Reviewed Chapter: 18 on 11/4/2005 |
| I love reading this story. I am intreaged with the two dots indicating two unknown deaths. I am sure there is an entire story reagarding those two dots. Author Reply: Yes, there is one. Am basing this on my previous writing, and particularly on the story "Fostering." Others who've read that, "The Ties of Family" and "Lesser Ring" are already gloating as to the identities of those two dots. And it will be in the last chapters. | |
| Kitty | Reviewed Chapter: 18 on 11/4/2005 |
| Aragorn must be a fresh breath of air to the servants in the Citadel, and a pleasant surprise as well. I doubt Denethor would have even remarked the cloth over the stool, much less thanked a servant. No doubt the household staff will soon come to love their new master! Well, we know for whom the odd marks in the roll of Arnor were, don’t we? I’m a bit surprised Aragorn didn’t ask Elrond before he left Middle-earth,but then there was so much more important to do and he has probably forgotten about this. I loved Éomers comment about the length of a chant with the names of all the Kings and Stewards. And imagine the Hobbits could do this with their Thains, too. Although the Shire hadn’t existed for so long as the line of Kings, they would sit for months considering their countless cousins and the need for so many breaks for meals! Another lovely part was the exchange between Aragorn and his brothers about memorizing their family trees. It certainly isn’t fair the elves who have known so many of these men and would be able to remember them have only two generations to memorize, while poor Aragorn, who not even truly knew his father, has to remember so many he never knew. These little friendly insults are fun! The visit of the Umbaris sounds interesting. At least it is clear Aragorn is under no illusions what to think of them and is taking some precautions. I look forward to know what this means. Author Reply: Yes, Aragorn notes when instructions are exceeded by what is further offered to the comfort of others, and the staff is going to love him for it, I think. Yes, I suspect we do know the reason for the two death marks, those who've read my previous works. And the idea of the Hobbits taking meal breaks when considering how many cousins of the Thain need to be included in the chant of the names of the Thains is a lovely one. Thanks for the giggle! Yes, for Aragorn the only one of his forebears he remembers is his mother, although his uncle and aunt and cousins are counted in the Rolls just to keep folk aware there are at least two side lines that might be utilized at great need. I just like Aragorn being able to jibe back at the twins from time to time. And for those from Umbar--they've been a thorn in the flesh of Gondor for quite some time, and so it must be pleasing to all, including Aragorn who as Thorongil fought them before, to make them cool their heels. | |
| Bodkin | Reviewed Chapter: 18 on 11/4/2005 |
| I like the name for the orange fruit. And I'm glad Frodo enjoys it. Quite a job, keeping up those rolls - and I enjoyed the dig at Elladan and Elrohir's short ancestry. Aragorn had a lot more to learn! But at least his foster brothers can remember most of it from personal experience and correct him if he goes wrong. Good planning over the table layouts and Umbar disposal. Aragorn is showing that he knows what he is talking about, even at the simplest level. He knows his way round and understands politics and protocol. His people will be taking notes - this is not some savage from the north. Author Reply: No, not a savage at all, and Galador isn't even realizing yet just how knowledgable this new King is of the layout of the Citadel or the relationship historically between Gondor and Umbar and so on. Some things are just going right over his head. And glad you like the exchange of insults between Aragorn and his brothers--this was one time when Aragorn could jibe back. And what other name for it BUT the ORANGE fruit? I'm glad Frodo could giggle over it. | |
| harrowcat | Reviewed Chapter: 18 on 11/4/2005 |
| The rolls do interest Frodo indeed, and Faramir too! Of course I just adored the two deaths detail but I won't post a spoiler by commenting more. By the way, do you have a chronological order for your tales posted somewhere? I know how much they interweave but there must, eventually, be a best order in which to read them. Also by the way, happy anniversary for the eleventh! Author Reply: I had to check--but you're right--the eleventh is the first anniversary since I started writing here. Thanks for the reminder! I appreciate it. No, I'd not thought as yet of a good chronology for reading the stories, although I'd read "For Eyes to See as Can" and "Filled with Light as with Water" first, of course. So far this one is predating "The Choice of Healing," but there will be some overlapping in time. And many like the two death marks, although one new to my stories has asked about them. So glad you appreciate them. | |
| Radbooks | Reviewed Chapter: 18 on 11/4/2005 |
| Simply wonderful chapter! I loved this part: “Thank you for your thoughtfulness in bringing the cloth as well,” the King said, smiling at the Man, who was overwhelmed and became the King’s man from that instant. Kindness on the part of the man and courtesy on the part of the King made such a small thing something lasting. We often forget to thank people and it's so important. (I don't think I'm doing a good job here of saying what why I liked this so much, but I did like this part very much! It's getting too late!) Then the signing of the Rolls of both Kingdoms was interesting to see and how he had to name all of his ancestors and the one from Gondor. I loved when he made a comment back to Elladan about he only had to worry about two generations in the same number of years. :) I love how Aragorn takes charges of everything - now with the table arrangements with the people from Umbar coming and people are wondering how he knows so much about the feast hall, etc. Erchirion knows something is up, he's a smart one. :) The Master of Protocol is totally insensitve! Who would make a comment like that about someones mother not living to see him crowned? Anyway, looking forward, as always, to the next chapter! Author Reply: Aragorn cares about the details for comfort, and will honor those who also care about them; and thus are loyalties forged. And thus is the whole lump leavened. The exchange between Aragorn and Elladan about the difference in numbers of generations in three thousand years was fun, but also underlines how differently the two races view time. Although when we go back to the end of the first age, we are looking now still basically on three generations for Elrond's family compared to how many more Aragorn has had to memorize. It definitely indicates the relationships between Aragorn and the sons of Elrond while highlighting how much more swiftly Men must live. Yes, Erchirion is beginning to wonder, and will probably begin wondering when his esteemed father will FINALLY get a clue as to WHOM Aragorn reminds him of (in "The King's Commission" I indicated it didn't hit till four years after Aragorn was crowned). But Aragorn already has an idea of what kind of folk those from Umbar are and how he is going to deal with them. And Galador is pretty insensitive--there you are right. And I'm looking forward to your next chapter as well. | |
| Linda Hoyland | Reviewed Chapter: 18 on 11/4/2005 |
| I can understand why Frodo wants water with him at all times.I assume the marks indicate Gilraen's lost sons ?How difficult it must have been in the days before DNA tests! Luckily Aragorn's powers prove who he is ! Many thanks for your much appreciated review,the first for this chapter.I don't know either who is suffering the most. Author Reply: The nature of the death marks will be revealed in the last chapters, of course. And, yes, DNA tests might have been helpful; but you are right that Aragorn has proven his rights already through the wielding of the Sword Reforged, the passing through the Paths of the Dead, the ability to utilize the Elessar stone, and the display of the Healing Hands of the King. The fact that Elladan and Elrohir could vouch for him would mean a great deal as well, I'd think. And am looking forward to the next chapter of yours, of course. | |