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The Acceptable Sacrifice by Larner	15 Review(s)
Inkling	Reviewed Chapter: 23 on 2/28/2007
Am finally returning to this story after a long interruption…I’d hoped to finish it in time for the MEFAs, but it was not to be, unfortunately. It may take me a while, but I never leave a good story unfinished! Having just read this chapter and re-read the preceding one, I’m struck by the contrasting story threads you’ve woven together--the intrigue of the embassy from Umbar, the pageantry of the court, and the intimacy of Frodo’s struggles and frustrations. It was nice seeing him here in the role of Sam's protector and comforter. It was surprisingly easy to pick up the threads again, and I’m hoping for no more interruptions! Let’s see, just 77 more chapters to go… Author Reply: I'm so glad you're back to it at last, Inkling, before we start on the next round of MEFAs. I think all the Hobbits would have taken turns comforting one another during this time as they began actively pulling together all that had happened to them and trying to tie it together into one final bundle. Yes, just a few chapters left to consider! Heh!

Grey Wonderer	Reviewed Chapter: 23 on 11/21/2005
Poor Frodo. None of the answers or explanations to his questions hold much hope for anything in his future. He must have felt as if he were still being weighed down by the ring even though it was gone. I was surprised that Sam was not in the same room with Frodo as he seems to need to watch Frodo at all times in order to feel at ease himself. This is such a wonderful story. I am having a grand time catching up to everyone else. Author Reply: We know that PTSD weighed increasingly on Frodo as time went on; I think that the first signs that all was not well physically as well as emotionally would start being made manifest early. Sam has his own healing to do, and is trying to see to that through physical labor in gardens or however else he can serve. Unfortunately, he can't be there with Frodo twenty-four/seven no matter what he might wish. So glad you're enjoying catching up.

Baggins Babe	Reviewed Chapter: 23 on 11/11/2005
Finally I have some time to review. I have always thought the Ring must have been working on Frodo during those years in the Shire, albeit in a sneaky and low-key insidious manner. The fact that he couldn't bring himself to throw it in the fire when Gandalf asked him to was proof that it already had it's claws in deep. Horrible to think how it might have warped this beautiful, innocent character though. I love the way you depict the relationship between Frodo and Gandalf, and how typical of Frodo to want to protect Sam and others from the evil. Author Reply: Yes, that moment when he couldn't throw it into the fire showed the Ring was already working its way into Frodo's psyche there in the Shire. That it would have automatically tried to do some things such as cause him to abuse others because that was its nature, that it would try to disrupt his established relationships, and that it would begin looking at those around him to cause problems there all seemed logical. And Gandalf saw it happening and realized his former fears were that much closer to being proven; now he is trying his best to find out how to prove this is (or hopefully isn't) Sauron's Ring. Glad you appreciate how I have Frodo seeking to protect others early on. Thanks so much for the feedback.

Antane	Reviewed Chapter: 23 on 11/11/2005
Another great chapter, Larner! I like these most as Frodo begins to deal with what's happening to him as opposed to all this 'setting up shop' that Aragorn has been doing in becoming king. The nightmares were very interesting - the need of Frodo to be the one chased, to protect those he loved with his Light. I never saw Sam looking to Frodo as a father, but definitely as a brother and later on as a child and how hard it was for him to watch his dear one degrade so. I hope you do more with them because in this story it seems to me they are little more than polite acquaintances instead of two people sharing the same heart and soul that your other masterpieces have shown so clearly. Thanks for your response to my comment about how wonderful it was to see Frodo dancing - I, too, would have loved to have been at that birthday party, to see him so happy. And now at the risk of sounding very stupid and ignorant, something I've been wondering about, being still very new to the LOTR, in another chapter you spoke of Frodo being well named - what does his name mean? What does Iorhael mean? Namarie, God bless, Antane :) Author Reply: Iorhael and Frodo both mean "Wise One." Iorhael is the Sindarin translation, and I believe Conin, which I'm certain he's called in the Field of Cormallen, is the Adunaic translation. Samwise, Perhael, and Berhael as Sam is called in Cormallen, mean "Half Wise." Part of this is discussed by Christopher Tolkien in his descriptions of his father's writing process in specifically his evaluation of the epilogue scenes his father had written but which he eventually decided not to include in the final version of The Return of the King. I first learned about them on the Internet, but then got my set by CT which describes the writing of LOTR, and this is in the fourth volume, "The End of the Third Age." Aragorn sends a letter addressed to "Perhael who ought to be known as Panthael"--Panthael being a translation of "Fully Wise." And it was for this that I had Gimli inscribe Pantheal on Sam's circlet of honor, and had this written on his memorial stone in "Filled with Light as with Water." I decided that in ways Sam thought of Frodo as a father figure as well as brother and son due to the wisdom he felt Frodo held, undervaluing his own wisdom, of course. Hope that doesn't disturb you that I included this as well as the son and child views. I do tend in this story to focus more on Frodo's relationship with Aragorn and himself, and so I am sorry to say that perhaps the relationship between him and Sam tends to suffer. It is not done intentionally. Anyway, am glad you are keeping up with the story. Hope that it gives you a chuckle now and then as well.

Radbooks	Reviewed Chapter: 23 on 11/10/2005
Sad and moving chapter... poor, poor Frodo and the things he had to deal with. I'm glad that you write about the affects of the ring on Frodo. I was on a message board and someone was making comments about how he had 'failed' in his duty because he had put the Ring on at the end and claimed it. She seemed to totally ignore the fact of what the Ring had been doing to him for months (and years!) before that. (She had some other issues too, but I won't go into that! :) I just couldn't see how she could discount the power of the Ring and so I appreciate seeing some reality here. Anyway, enough of that. It was interesting how Gandalf had seen Frodo use his light to defend himself against the effects of the Ring at different times and that was one of the reasons that he had started searching for answers to what the Ring was. What is going on with the healing energy that Aragorn and the elves pour into him? Is Frodo able to direct it in some way to where he really needs it? Like his heart in this chapter? Like he was able to tap into the Elessar? Maybe you will answer that down the road, but I was curious. And the nightmares... sigh. So horrible for them. Those are never fun to deal with. Author Reply: I keep hearing how Frodo "failed" myself, and get so frustrated. Those who see Frodo as failing are missing the point of the thing, I think. Of course he "failed"--as would anyone in the same situation. No one else could have carried it that far! Gandalf was reportedly suspicious of the Ring from the beginning, but became moreso after seeing Its effects on Bilbo at the Party, at which time he had Aragorn double the guard on the Shire, and they made their first attempts to find Gollum. Then, after four years of visiting with Frodo off and on, suddenly he disappeared for thirteen more, leaving Frodo concerned and I would think feeling cut off from the outer world. I wanted to explore what could have caused that break in Gandalf's "routine." Seeing Frodo's nightmare and how he used his own Light to protect others seemed logical. As for the diversion of the healing, I suspect Eru himself is taking a hand in making certain that what needs strengthening at the moment is strengthened. Aragorn and the Elves are mostly responding to symptoms; yet the most obvious symptoms are perhaps not reflecting where the most serious damage was done. And, as Aragorn pointed out--no normal mortal could have gone through what this fellowship, and particularly what Frodo and Sam, have gone through without having nightmares. Thanks so much for your responses to this chapter.

grumpy	Reviewed Chapter: 23 on 11/10/2005
Poor Sam, this time it was him having the nightmare and Frodo at his side when he woke up. Glad that Frodo is going to hang up his wind chimes, nice music. And that he plans on rebuilding his ability to do things, like taking long walks. I imagine the city is a good place to start. Author Reply: They are all going to have nightmares; and yes, the wind chimes do get hung up. And Frodo is going to work on rebuilding his stamina, and will learn such things take time. But he's definitely in the place to practice on hills, isn't he? Heh!

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 23 on 11/10/2005
I like Frodo's determination to recover some aspects of his life from the ruin. But the Ring has been tormenting him for so long. The company of Gandalf is very good for him - his strength and understanding are needed. Poor Aragorn, though. Stuck in the Citadel being kingly while the rest of the Fellowship get to be together to offer each other support. And it's a couple of months before Arwen arrives to relieve his worries and share his burden. Author Reply: I like to think that here, too, Frodo is able to accept that healing must be worked for just as protecting the Shire and his people had to be worked for; and that Frodo would look at the one to know and ask, "What must I do?" Yes, the Ring tormented him for a long time; but he will continue fighting it as he can. As for Aragorn--for a time at least even getting away he must do so in a "kingly" manner as often as not. He'll do his best to slip off to the house of his companions when he can, or have them join him; but he has lost their close companionship as he takes up his duties--which was why I enjoyed adding in my own addition to the Dwarf language to give him a chance just to be a guy among guys for a time.

Linda Hoyland	Reviewed Chapter: 23 on 11/9/2005
It is so sad to see how much Frodo lost and I also like the way you show that Sam suffers too as he is often overlooked in fanfic. The scene in the tower is the most horrifying in the book and haunted me when I first read it,so no wonder it haunts Sam.The film toned it down too much. Author Reply: That all four Hobbits would have had nightmares based on their experiences and that they would all at times have flashback events seemed logical to me. All four faced Sauron's evil directly--Sam and Frodo facing the Ring and going through his land and experiencing his creatures personally, Frodo further through the Morgul wound and having carried the Ring awakened for so long and being taken by it in the end and then losing it as he did; Merry through facing the Nazgul; Pippin by looking into the Palantir and facing the army at the Black Gate. And Frodo needs to accept that he is not the only one who has faced and survived such evil. And I agree--the fear of not finding his master must have been one of Sam's greatest nightmares, along with the fear he was dead by Shelob's poison.

harrowcat	Reviewed Chapter: 23 on 11/9/2005
Rarely do I see such things made clear in defiance save by the greatest of Elves-- When I read this my mind went back to what Frodo saw of Glorfindel's light at the ford. I read this almost as soon as you had posted it but I was at work and shouldn't have been reading but you sparked me into pondering on the nature of envy. I think there are two sorts: One is destructive for everyone as the envious one seeks to spoil the thing they are envious of. (If I can't have it then nobody is going to enjoy it). I see this as the sort of envy he felt at seeing Sam and Rosie together when he still had the ring. His personal strength was enough to keep thought from turning to action. I think Frodo is now suffering from the other type. He is not jealous of Sam's good fortune in healing more quickly. In no way would he wish it different for him unless it were be even better BUT that doesn't stop him wishing it for himself too and feeling saddened by it. I am not sure I am making much sense here so I had better stop blathering on. I had intended to come home after my meeting and spend time savouring and re-reading this and then posting a nice long review but, instead, I have spent all evening searching the streets for one of the members of our church who had gone missing after visiting her husband in the hospital this afternoon. She is getting very confused and got off at the wrong bus stop. She has been found, very cold but safe. It is now 1.30am and I do still have to be at work tomorrow morning so I had better sign off and go to bed! Author Reply: I, too, thought of Glorfindel at the Ford and Frodo's vision of him there. Frodo, too, has a Light of Being discernible to others under the right conditions, and I think he'd have unconsciously learned to use it in defense against the searching of the Eye. Lovely thoughts about the different types of envy, the destructive sort versus the one that simply grieves for what is not there. And you are NOT blathering. Sad to hear about how you had to spend your evening. I have to keep reminding one client that she hasn't sufficient cash to buy everything she sees first, which is also a hard thing to do. Having to eternally budget gets so blasted frustrating. Glad she is safe and home again. We once had a small lady who'd come to the States from Japan who suffered from Alzheimers walk into the house and sit down in my husband's chair and start enjoying the contents of the cashew jar. She was dressed in beautiful silk pajamas, a lovely pegnoir over the pajamas, a terrycloth robe over that, then a heavy coat she apparently picked up as she left the house, and scuff slippers only on her feet--in the rains of January. It was disconcerting, and took us some time to get from her the name of her family so we could return her. Her English wasn't very good, we found.

Andrea	Reviewed Chapter: 23 on 11/9/2005
Seems I've missed the previous update, so here's a review for both chapters: It was fascinating to see so well-known characters, especially the hobbits, through the eyes of a stranger. The man of Umbar realises, there's something special about Frodo, but he does not know excatly what it is. It's good to see Frodo dancing with Eowyn. As long as he was able to dance, he forgot about his sorrows and his illness, but the pain returned far too soon! The conversation with Gandalf was very insightful. "But with you shielding him as you did while you held It, how could It be ready for the defense he was able to give It when he took It from you when he thought you dead?" I think the Ring focused all his attention on Frodo for years and years, so that It knew him very well and could make out a sore spot in an instant. It is possible, that Frodo drew the Ring's attention to himself, thus shielding his friends. And when Sam put on the Ring, It was simply not able to "adjust" from Frodo to Sam in such a short time. Someone, who knew Sam would not have tried to promise him the leadership of a country. It was worth a try, but it had no effect on Sam. It's frightening to imagine how much the Ring could influence Frodo's feelings. And it's nearly unbelievable, how long he was able to resist! If he only would get rid of that feeling of guilt! Author Reply: I think you have very clearly identified many of the reasons why the Ring was unable to affect Sam negatively in the short time he held It--It was too much asleep most of the time Bilbo held it, once Dol Guldur was emptied by the White Council's efforts, to do a great deal to Bilbo; but particularly once Sauron began actively gathering his forces and calling for It to come to him so as to completely destroy his enemies It would increasingly seek to corrupt Its bearer or to induce him to take It south and east toward Mordor. Hobbits aren't very apt victims for the Ring anyway; but once the coming of the Nazgul had awakened It completely, It would undoubtedly have investigated Its bearer thoroughly--by which time Frodo already had excellent buffers in place to protect his own folk from Its influence. But to promise Sam victory over Sauron and a garden by magic was indeed a misstep--It had no understanding that for a true gardener, the labor is as rewarding as the flowers that bloom. Getting rid of the feelings of guilt is not easy, believe me--I speak from long experience.

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