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| The Acceptable Sacrifice by Larner | 13 Review(s) |
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| Armariel | Reviewed Chapter: 43 on 12/14/2005 |
| Welllll, I got a little behind....ok, ok, I've got a BIG behind...heheh.....but I think I finally got some of the bugs worked out of my puter and can start catching up, if my cat will just leave me alone long enough now, pesky little beast! Phew, Aragorn was MUCH too merciful--I'd have had the man drawn and quartered! Frodo's drawing sounds wonderful. Art is so therapeutic, yes? As artist, writer, poet and composer, I know this well! Well, now I gotta take a break and go make a fruit salad for the party tomorrow....later! ~~~{~@ Author Reply: Perhaps he was too merciful, but I doubt he'd order the execution of someone for whom redemption is still possible. And I know what you mean about art being therapeutic, for I, too, have been artist and writer. Have set a few poems (most of those in LOTR) to music, but am no true composer--know enough about music and dance to appreciate what others do so MUCH better than I do. Thanks so much for letting me know you are still around--been quiet since your computer started giving you fits. | |
| Antane | Reviewed Chapter: 43 on 12/11/2005 |
| So here I am playing catch up again - nice to see Frodo happy surrounded by books and having joy drawing. I wonder if he feels the same way I do - so many books, so little time! :) Namarie, God bless, Antane Author Reply: Oh, I know--I have a few books I've not read yet, although that is in the vast minority, of course. I read and write obsessively. As for Frodo--I've always felt he was artistically inclined, and have ascribed to him the talent I wish I had more firmly in my own grasp. And having been raised by Bilbo, of course he'd revel in books. The library there in Minas Tirith must have felt like heaven to him. | |
| grumpy | Reviewed Chapter: 43 on 12/10/2005 |
| I am a little behind on my reviewing, I was laid low with a bladder infection. Could have used the healer Aragorn. Anyways Aragorn seems to be lead low too, waiting for Arwin to come to him. Love the part about the tree and Frodo, that the tree is waitng for it's child to come. A visit to the library was a good idea of Faramir's, even if it took them two tries to get there. Author Reply: Ah--bladder infections--NASTY things. I, too, wish you could have been attended by Aragorn--it would have helped, I'm certain. Glad you like Frodo's perceptions about the Trees, and the visit to the archives. I think Frodo needed that. | |
| Radbooks | Reviewed Chapter: 43 on 12/10/2005 |
| A just sentence for the man that abused his wife, although the damage is already done and even if he changes the children's lives have been so hurt and they will mostly be grown by the time he returns that any change on his part will not effect them. Though I suppose that some sort of reconcilation between them would still be possible. I certainly would hate to have to come before Aragorn having committed a crime, though I do know he would be just! :) But dang, he's scary, intense here. Although as we discussed when this man was in the story a few chapters ago, the fact that he was abusing the very things that Aragorn longed for made him even more stern. I loved the talk between Aragorn and Frodo under the tree and the analogies they were making - it was well done. I've always wondered why Tolkien didn't have Aragorn tell his friends about Arwen. They had been seen together in Rivendell and at this point I wonder why he kept it a secret. Perhaps it is for the very reasons you are writing here. Then nice to see Frodo drawing the picture of the Citadel, White Tree, and Arwen and yet he doesn't really know what they all meant and why she is even in them. Author Reply: Yes, I think being tried before Aragorn as King would be highly intimidating. And you are right--by the time this man comes home his children will have little if any memory of him, will have grown up without him. We can only wonder why the relationship between Aragorn and Arwen was kept secret; we know that as Tolkien originally thought out the story Aragorn was to have fallen in love with Eowyn; but he left off writing for a time, and when he came back to it it was with the knowledge that Aragorn wouldn't return Eowyn's regard, but would be promised already to an Elven alliance. And so this became one of the best kept secret romances in literary history. All we can do is speculate, unless we want to try breaking out the Ouija boards--a process I'm certain the Master wouldn't appreciate at all. And glad you love the drawing process. I WANT that drawing now, and have considered trying to do it. | |
| Linda Hoyland | Reviewed Chapter: 43 on 12/9/2005 |
| I think that man got off far too lightly with murder,he derserved to hang !Poor Aragorn,he must worry that Arwen will not come as I put in my story though some readers didn't agree but his fears are in the text. It is nice to see Frodo enjoying himself. Author Reply: Yes, the man probably does deserve to hang; but as Gandalf put it, can we give life to those who deserved to live who did not? I think Aragorn would try to give the Man a chance to redeem himself. And it is a joy ever to see Frodo enjoying himself--he had little time to do so after Aragorn recalled him to life. | |
| Andrea | Reviewed Chapter: 43 on 12/8/2005 |
| Great chapter, Larner! Frodo had not only terrible visions of the future, but also visions of a blooming White Tree and new life in Gondor - and of another White Tree far away! He knows in his heart that all these visions are connected to one person, and that is Arwen Undomiel. Though he doesn't know yet what Arwen will offer him someday, I think. I loved it that he was able to express these feeling in a drawing, which was satisfying even to *his* critical eyes. Iorhael showed, that he knows what this picture is worth! Frodo seems to have accepted his aching shoulder and the trouble with his hand, he's at peace for the very first time. But I think it would only need one single, unexpected event, another vision, maybe, to make him wanting to return to the Shire immediately! Why do I have the feeling that this peace is only momentarily? Author Reply: Yes, the foreknowledge that Arwen is necessary to the renewal of Gondor is making itself known to Frodo, and he's beginning to have a foreshadowing, perhaps, that it will be another White Tree he will find peace under eventually. Always the White Tree from this day forward will be his physical tie to Aragorn, although there will be a moment of joyful communion in a glade surrounded by mallorn trees.... We know that Frodo felt there was a need to go home; and that this was strong in him the day he went to receive his gift from Arwen. I hope that when I get to that point it doesn't disappoint.... As for the feeling this peace is momentary, unfortunately you know this is true. | |
| Kitty | Reviewed Chapter: 43 on 12/8/2005 |
| Knowing for what he is waiting, it is no wonder Aragorn gets moody, poor guy. The demands of his new rank, all the thousand things which have to be done and to be decided, are bad enough, and his worries about Arwen do add to the pressure considerably. Aragorn has an interesting way to make people as the abusive man see and even admit loud their faults – even then when they’ve it not even admitted to themselves up to now. He forces them to understand why they are punished, I’d say. How nice to see Frodo drawing the picture of the White Tree with Arwen’s face in its branches and gifting it to Iorhael! Author Reply: Glad you appreciated the picture of the White Tree with Arwen's face. And I see that Aragorn would, whenever possible, seek to strip away the self-deception and the lies folks tell themselves to justify what they do, and that when it happens it helps, perhaps, people like this abusive husband to realize just what he's done and starts the change process to get them beyond it and hopefully into a more healthy relationship in the future. As for Aragorn, I suspect that those last weeks for him would be like the last month of a pregnancy--"When is it ever going to come to BE! I've done everything expected of me--it's time for some action now!" I like to see a bit of Aragorn angst now and then, I think. (Do I enjoy seeing our favorite king suffer now and then? Am I guilty of mindless Dunedan torture? Heh!) | |
| French Pony | Reviewed Chapter: 43 on 12/8/2005 |
| As always, I loved Frodo here. The bit where he called Aragorn "tall brother" amused me muchly; I was wondering if Aragorn's nickname of "small brother" was beginning to get to him somehow. And Frodo's artistic adventures are lovely to see. The art seems to provide him with a healing that even Aragorn and the Elessar stone can't give him, and Master Iorhael seems like a good and true friend. Frodo really needs a good friend like him, and I'm glad they've found each other. I have to say, though, that I didn't quite buy the opening scene with the abusive husband in court. I've known people like that, and I've watched plenty of police interrogations and trials of such men. I just don't buy that a stern talking-to from Aragorn would make him see the error of his ways. The thing with abusers is that they have these nasty, clever justifications for why they abuse their wives. They don't admit that what they're doing is wrong nearly that easily -- sometimes they don't ever admit it. Aragorn may be the promised King, but that scene went far too easily for him. Author Reply: Yes, I think that Frodo's also beginning to acknowledge verbally the feeling of fraternity here, and he'd beginning to reach out beyond the Fellowship, realizing he is able to have relationships with others who share interests with him. And expressing himself artistically is, as in my first story, "For Eyes to See as Can," proving an emotional release he desperately needs. I do understand precisely what you mean about abusive spouses and parents. My daughter's birth parents were caught in such a nightmare, and her birth father was worse than what I've pictured here. Getting the abuser to admit the abuse he's done is the hardest thing of all, and I've always hoped that in the case of Aragorn there was ONE who could actually break through the denial at least most of the time, who could evoke the honesty necessary to start the process of change, which as you've noted in reality happens so rarely. Oh, well, this is, unfortunately, a fantasy, after all. | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 43 on 12/8/2005 |
| Oh Larner, how interesting! A bit of your chapter captures something of the theme of my next story -- I've already started writing a story about how visiting a room at the top of the Tower of Ecthelion reminds Frodo so intensely of his imprisonment that he decides to go back to the Tower of Cirith Ungol to recapture some lost memories. I hope to start posting it in January. It's wonderful to see that I'm not the only one who's thought about this. Oh yes, it's definitely time for the White Tree to be renewed, and Aragorn's most secret and fondest hope to be fulfilled. I find it most interesting that Frodo's memories are so clear that he can expertly draw people without having them in front of him. It's somewhat like how Elves' memories work, isn't it? He's becoming ever-more Elvish... Author Reply: Yes, Frodo's mind's eye has a clear image of what he remembers, I think. He's always been Elvish, but you're right that he's becoming more so over time. And Aragorn must be frustrated not to have the promised hope there in his arms right then--he's done his part, but must wait for riders to come from the north, and waiting can be difficult when you know you've kept your part of the bargain. And am looking forward to your story. Sounds intriguing! And I think we just both recognize that there will be triggers for the memories. | |
| Queen Galadriel | Reviewed Chapter: 43 on 12/8/2005 |
| Oh, a wonderful chapter, as always, Larner! There's something so...peaceful about it...maybe it's just that nothing is very wrong and my two favourite hobbits seem so happy! :-) Well, in the latter part of the chapter, that is. Keep it coming! God bless, Galadriel Author Reply: Yes, there is the time of peace as the surface healing solidifies. That cannot last long, unfortunately, but it will be there to tide them through the bad times. Frodo is learning how he can at least partly deal with the bad dreams and disturbed sleep, and is coming to appreciate much about his current environment. | |