Stories of Arda - Lord of the Rings Fan-Fiction Archive


	About Us News Resources Login Become a member Help Search

The Acceptable Sacrifice by Larner	16 Review(s)
storyfish	Reviewed Chapter: 21 on 9/7/2006
Hello, Larner! Just thought I'd drop another review in here to say that I'm still enjoying your story! It's taking me a while since I'm busy, but I do manage to sneak in a chapter here and there between my other stuff. ;-) Your knowledge of all things Middle Earth is impressive, to say the least. There's just so much wealth of detail here, concerning history and families and customs. I especially appreciate the original characters--like Galador. He's wonderful! (and FUNNY!) The description of the different colored chairs, court politics, and even the clothing everyone's wearing is very vividly drawn. I'm excited that this story is so long...I'm enjoying just soaking in all these details and of course, I'm avidly watching Frodo as he takes small steps forward in his healing process. applause for the author! Author Reply: /Larner ducks her head somewhat diffidently to the applause. Much of what I describe is simply my own version of what I think folk would wear and do, based on my knowledge of medieval societies, technology, and so on. You'll find others who write the same time period very differently, of course. And that you appreciate my original characters is heartening. Galador has only been peripherally touched on in other stories, particularly in "Lesser Ring," and here I felt we should actually meet him. The different color tiles used to indicate where families or affiliations should sit is based on a color scheme I once used in making a seating chart for a classroom I had control of for a few memorable months. I was trying to visualize how to separate certain elements and yet keep them alongside students whose presence might serve to steady them somewhat. It didn't do the full trick for me, but I try to make it work for Gondor, at least. (Grinning.) Yes, this is a long one. It has more chapters than "The King's Commission," but in actuality I think they're about even in length, although I'll have to check them both again to see. So glad you're continuing to follow the story. And thanks for the feedback along the way.

Inkling	Reviewed Chapter: 21 on 2/14/2006
It’s fun to see men not embarrassed to preen for a change! Very cute how they all compliment each other… Nice moment at the end, with the Steward and the King both missing their moms. I’ve always felt that Tolkien himself never really got over the death of his own mother when he was just 12, and kept writing that trauma over and over in killing off all the parents of his characters. Frodo was 12, too… Author Reply: Yes, Tolkien definitely projected himself and his experiences into the story. Of course, many stories are more interesting when they involve orphans finding their way and building homes and families for themselves. There was a time when men dressed colorfully and as attractively as their mates when it was safe to do so. And we do need to see the dour Ranger from the wilds of the North finally arrayed as King, in the full glory of his new calling. And in realizing one another's loss of parents, they are finding still more ways in which they can build and strengthen the relationship between King and Steward. Good to hear from you again.

Grey Wonderer	Reviewed Chapter: 21 on 11/19/2005
I loved hearing what everyone was wearing. Such work it is to look proper for such things. Poor Sam and Frodo not wanting to wear their circlets. Good thing the Shire doesn't actually have any kings or queens. I also like the image of Rose Cotton and her brothers traveling to Minas Tirith to take Frodo to task for keeping Sam away from the Shire! I think a lass who was able to have that many children just might make it to Minas Tirith on her own. She has to be a very strong lass! Author Reply: Being royalty took a good wardrobe throughout the Middle Ages, and Aragorn is lucky to be getting ready to marry the greatest embroiderer in all of Middle Earth! And Frodo and Sam would so much rather be just ordinary again, a fate which is not theirs to enjoy. But I agree--Rosie was an extraordinary lass, and a strong one, and one who would have moved mountains to have her lad return to her once she was aware he was still alive. There's still a matter of a kiss of promise between them that he bestowed upon her before he left, and that she will need to return to him all too soon.

Radbooks	Reviewed Chapter: 21 on 11/9/2005
Quite the procession of dressed up lords... and one lady! :) I'm assuming that Aragorn's robes were made by Arwen and Faramir's comment about meeting the embroider and having new robes made was funny. Ah, if he only knew. :) I was glad that Merry and Pippin got to actually participate in the feast instead of serving, they needed to be able to enjoy it, too. I know that the original Elendilmir was found by Gimli in Orthanc sometime later, but do you know how much later that was? Author Reply: According to Unfinished Tales the original Elendilmir was found "not long" after Aragorn became King--but how long "not long" was is anyone's guess--and I'm considering exploring that one soon, as the Nuzgul won't leave my jewelry box until I do, I suspect.

Kitty	Reviewed Chapter: 21 on 11/8/2005
shakes head It's so very typical of Sam to offer to take the blame for their secret leaving of the Shire! And it was certainly not his fault Merry and Pippin decided to follow Frodo! And Sam is right - without Merry and Pippin some things would have turned out very bad. It must be a splendid sight to see them all in their finery. Although I have to admit, in the movies I did like Aragorn in his scruffy ranger outfit more than in the fine clothes of the King. And it is fun to see men so fond of clothes - in my family nearly solely the women are caring about this! (I'm the only one exception in this, feeling most comfortable in jeans and t-shirt!) Author Reply: The King should look magnificent for his own Coronation feast, so I wanted to have a proper outfit for him; and of course the rest should also look like the fine lords they are. I, too, usually wear jeans any more, but my shirts are often quite nice--if I can find what I want when I go looking for them. And both Frodo and Sam would try to keep the younger Hobbits out of as much trouble as possible with their families, particularly Frodo, who is so close to Saradoc and Esmeralda. Yet every one of those in the Fellowship had his own contribution to fighting Sauron, and each one was supremely necessary to defeat Mordor. Now they are, as Gandalf points out, all grown up and ready to go back home and deal with the relatively petty stuff that's there. Thanks so much for the review, and hope all is going well with you.

Armariel	Reviewed Chapter: 21 on 11/7/2005
Alas, poor Faramir, all alone in the world! So glad he has his friends, at least. Gorgeous descriptions of the garments. ~~~{~@ Author Reply: Faramir begins to have friends and has found love, and the renewed family comes. And he is surrounded by honor and respect, including the honor and respect given by the people of the city, who know and love him well. Am so glad that folk like the descriptions of the garments, seeing I actually described only two of them in depth in this chapter. Obviously it was enough to get imaginations going, for which I'm glad.

grumpy	Reviewed Chapter: 21 on 11/7/2005
I like that part about, if Aragorn has to wear his, then the hobbits have to wear their's. Hey a little head gear is good for them. So the orginal Eldendimir was lost, hmmm how did that happen. Great scene with Aragorn on the keel on the great rock. Maybe all of the people can not fit in the feast hall, but they can party in the street. Author Reply: According to Unfinished Tales, the original Elendilmir was lost with Isildur's body, and was found by Gimli and Aragorn in a hidden closet in Orthanc, not long after Aragorn became King. How long "not long" might be, of course, might be relative. So glad the showing forth of Aragorn of himself upon the keel has been so appreciated--and I can see the great block party taking place within the city that night.

Andrea	Reviewed Chapter: 21 on 11/7/2005
“Well, you can tell ’em as it was all my fault if you wish.” “When it was really Merry’s? No, I’ll take the blame. I’m the oldest and ought to have insisted they stay behind.” That's very interesting! Of course, Frodo knows, that Merry was the head of the conspiracy, but - as always - he feels responsible for all of them! His statement "I'll take the blame" is characteristic for all his actions and makes it much more difficult for him to heal. And I have to agree with all the others here, their mothers would have been proud of all those Lords and Stewards and Kings if they had been there to greet them. Author Reply: Yes, responsibility born in the body of a halfling, taking all blame to himself and thus sabotaging himself as often as not. Am so glad you appreciated this exchange and its implications. And I, too, would have loved to have seen those families intact at that feast, with parents and siblings all rejoicing to be together and at the accomplishments of these so-well-beloveds. Thanks so much for the feedback.

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 21 on 11/7/2005
Very nicely dressed. Their mothers would be proud of them! I like the way Sam is grudgingly prepared to wear his circlet of honour because Aragorn wants him to. Author Reply: I so wish that Tolkien had been more gentle to more of the mothers--allowing apparently all but two of our heroes' moms to have died or withdrawn prior to this date was not kind. But I think that Aragorn's, Faramir's, Eomer's and Eowyn's, Frodo's, and Sam's would all have been busting buttons that night to see their beloved children coming into their own at last--not to mention their fathers, of whom only the Gaffer remained. Sam would ONLY put himself forward, as he saw it, for Frodo and Strider, I think. So glad you appreciated that.

TithenFeredir	Reviewed Chapter: 21 on 11/7/2005
It is too bad that Gilraen didn't live to see her son achieve his destiny. I imagine Faramir would have wished that Denethor and Boromir could see that everything turned out well in the end. ~TF Author Reply: This is one of the great tragedies these folk have known--losing so many dear to them over the years, and only hoping they are watching from the next life to share in the glory of it. Thanks so very much for the feedback.

First Page | Previous Page | Next Page | Last Page

Return to Chapter List