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| The Acceptable Sacrifice by Larner | 15 Review(s) |
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| Antane | Reviewed Chapter: 47 on 12/18/2005 |
| I am intrigued by that voice that is giving Frodo some desperately needed spiritual direction, though I know of course I'll have to wait until it is ready to reveal itself. My guess would be Iluvatar Himself, but don't tell me! :) I love what it said this time. Namarie, God bless, Antane :) Author Reply: So glad you're willing to guess, Antane. You may be right, of course; or it might be a part of Frodo himself.... But the advice has always been good. | |
| estelnalissi | Reviewed Chapter: 47 on 12/17/2005 |
| Larner, you have the courage and conviction to address the hard questions raised by The Lord of the Rings. Tolkien chose not to slow the pace of his narative by exposing the deliberations and psychological scars of his numerous participants in the battle to save Midddle-earth. He raised questions that are complex and painful for the thoughtful reader to identify and more so to confront and contemplate honestly. He provided the food for thought without pressuring his readers to taste every dish or go beyond sampling. Your understanding extends beyond the deed to the individual intent and personal cost As your characters make moral decisions and cope with the consequences of their choices, I find myself reviewing my own stance on the issues they have dealt with and still struggle to resolve. Your Frodo and Aragorn have an elevated pressence, both stirring and inspiring. I begin reading a chapter as I would any fanfic, tale or novel. I finish by adding a new parable to the many which define my conscience. Author Reply: I have been working on my response to your last message, but have been interrupted by the obsession to work on this story and the needs of work and Christmas coming. Please forgive me. Yes, Tolkien raised so many questions for us to answer; and I've tried to explore them where they've led my own conscience. Aragorn and Frodo and Sam are the heart of Tolkien's story, always have been and always will be. Their spiritual brotherhood has meant a great deal to me over the years. Almaros is the example of all those who had only a vague idea of what they were getting into who went to fight for the protection of their people and all others. To fight should NEVER be an option lightly considered and followed through upon. As with Frodo, he was unprepared for that which he faced, and he suffered greatly for it. But in the end his scars were far shallower than those of Frodo, and he was able to heal here in the mortal lands; and his grief for Frodo as expressed in "The King's Commission" was the greater for that. And Frodo is beginning to appreciate that he didn't have to die to sacrifice himself, and is beginning to understand just what being a living sacrifice entails. It isn't always comfortable, but it IS blessed. | |
| Armariel | Reviewed Chapter: 47 on 12/16/2005 |
| Oh...........beautiful. Better than the last chapter, even. You see, Iorhael, how just the willingness to spend yourself for others was itself a sufficient sacrifice at the time? Indeed! ~~~{~@ Author Reply: Yes--if only, however, he could believe this as much in his heart as in his mind--if he truly believes it at all. | |
| Radbooks | Reviewed Chapter: 47 on 12/16/2005 |
| I'm enjoying these stories that Ruvemir only heard about before... to see them as they happened and how Frodo and Aragorn experienced them. And of course to better understand what the man was feeling and why he was acting the way he was. Always so much tragedy in any war and to stand there and have your father killed next to you would be among the worst I would think. Bad enough to have a friend killed, but a father or a brother or other relative would be truly horrible. You often hear about survivors guilt and I'm sure it's especially bad when the one that is left alive has no experience with fighting, etc. I really liked how Aragorn talked to Kendrion about those feelings of guilt and related it to Frodo, who, as we know, is suffering from that quite strongly. I also really enjoyed Aragorn's talk with Almaros about the same thing and how Aragorn had to learn to honor those that sacrificed themselves for him instead of feeling that guilt. I hadn't considered that before. Nicely done. Author Reply: I've talked to a few who have suffered this condition, and have read many Holocaust survivor stories of the same thing. It's terribly pernicious and debilitating. And those who have lost others close to them often feel horrible beyond telling. To me it seemed only logical that, as a young man particularly, Aragorn would have known such feelings at times. It could not have been easy, watching others go out when he was held back. But he would have had to come to terms with such a situation; and it seemed only logical that he should here counsel both Almaros and Frodo. | |
| Andrea | Reviewed Chapter: 47 on 12/16/2005 |
| Survivors guilt - I've never heard that term before, but it's very fitting! It's a large part of Frodo's feeling of guilt. More than once in your story he wished he had died right there at the Cracks of Doom. I think there is no-one else in Minas Tirith who understands Almaros better than Frodo. And Frodo *felt* that his help was needed. Dreamflower is right, it's a sad paradox that Frodo is able to help those people who suffer from the same diseases as he does, but cannot apply this help to himself. However, I think Almaros helped him a great deal! He showed Frodo that he's not alone with such feelings and that what he did was noticed, appreciated and supported by the men of Minas Tirith. "You see, Iorhael, how just the willingness to spend yourself for others was itself a sufficient sacrifice at the time?" Even a stubborn Baggins cannot argue against such a statement! "The voice in his heart" you say? When that voice has reached his heart, I'll take it as a good sign! Author Reply: It's starting to sink in, of course--the voice which has been arguing with him since he awoke. But he's still fighting it. It's an uphill battle. Survivor's guilt is often a part of PTSD, particularly when the individual has watched others die around him or her and can't find a logical reason why he or she has been spared. It can be pernicious. And the more gentle and imaginative the individual was ahead of time, the more strongly PTSD and survivor's guilt tend to set in. | |
| Baggins Babe | Reviewed Chapter: 47 on 12/16/2005 |
| I have longed to see this incident more fully described, since you first mentioned it in 'The King's Commission' and I certainly wasn't disappointed. PTSD and Survivor Guilt must have existed hundreds of years ago, and I've often wondered how many residents of Gondor and Rohan were left mentally scarred as a result of those battles. Sometimes, facing death is not the worst thing - surviving while friends and comrades fall must be very difficult to come to terms with. My father fought in WWII and although he often spoke of the amusing incidents - with a great deal of gallows humour and Gimli-type jokes - I always knew there was much he could not speak of. Good to see Frodo taking charge and offering help and comfort to one troubled soul - and in return hopefully receiving some for his own. Beautifully described - and how moving to realise that even Aragorn himself was not immune from guilt over those who died to keep him safe. Author Reply: I think most sensitive, intelligent, and imaginative individuals would be prone to survivor's guilt, and certainly Aragorn fits the bill. But he would have had to learn early to deal with it, to look at the deaths of others positively instead of allowing them to drag him down. I'm glad some have wished to see this fleshed out since "The King's Commission." It was one which definitely had a great deal of relevancy to this story; and Almaros becomes the symbol of all those who came home uncertain how they lived when so much evil broke out around them and they saw those they'd come to care for die. It would be terrifically difficult, I think, to live through such a situation. | |
| Linda Hoyland | Reviewed Chapter: 47 on 12/15/2005 |
| A very touching chapter.One wonders just how many were left with Post Traumatic Stress syndrome and Survivor's Guilt Complex. I always imagine Aragorn's touch as very warming too. Frodo is the one who can truly understand here. Author Reply: I suspect there were many who took part in this war who ended up suffering from these conditions and related one; Almaros and Frodo are two who stand for all the rest. It must have been terrifically difficult for all, especially those who volunteered at the last moment who had no experience and could not imagine what it would be like to stand against Sauron's army of horrors. | |
| Queen Galadriel | Reviewed Chapter: 47 on 12/15/2005 |
| I think this is my favourite chapter so far. I love the idea of Frodo helping this poor man. I've often thought that some of those who consider themselves wise might do well to learn from so-called simple hobbits. And what a wonderful way to end this chapter! God bless, Galadriel Author Reply: Frodo could help others, but was often trapped in his own guilt and pain, which in the end took him from Middle Earth long before his natural time. It must have been very, very difficult for him at times. But, yes, the Hobbits were all part of the healing of Middle Earth. | |
| Kitty | Reviewed Chapter: 47 on 12/15/2005 |
| Somehow I can understand why Almaros is not able to cope with his experiences. Even for trained warriors who are used to this the battles at the Pelennor and before the Black Gate must have been terrible, and for someone who is not at all used to death and destruction, to maimed bodies and all that must be an absolute nightmare! And then to be felled without the opportunity to do something for his City and Goldor, the feeling to be useless ... quite a difficult mixture. The more so as his immediate family doesn’t understand what he has gone through. I am truly glad Frodo was able to get through to him, to make him see sense in it. It was amazing to see he responded to Frodo’s command after it took so many strong men to bring him there in the first place! Aragorn’s understanding helped him, too, I’d say. And it was good in the end Frodo had to admit to himself he had done something positive, even if he didn’t see it until now. Author Reply: This chapter has obviously touched many who've read it. I met several individuals after Vietnam who suffered PTSD and survivor's guilt, and it was a pernicious combination. And to not have been able to do anything while they knew others were dying around them they reported as the worst of it, the two who would actually talk about it. I've seen similar feelings described in the literature about Holocaust survivors, which I have researched a good deal. But it would take someone like Frodo to open the door, and Aragorn to let the light truly shine in. And I see Frodo as having a good deal of personal authority which he might not have used often, but used to good effect when it was needed. | |
| Bodkin | Reviewed Chapter: 47 on 12/15/2005 |
| There would have been a lot of people around with post-traumatic shock. Almaros was lucky that he was taken to those who not only understood, but could do something to ease his mind. But then the whole letting warriors go off to Cair Andros was very sophisticated and understanding. Not like killing some of your own troops to encourage the rest to fear you more than the enemy. Author Reply: Aragorn was indeed a wise leader, not expecting men to go beyond their capabilities. He refused to become his enemy by forcing them through fear, intimidation, or trickery; and he gave them some means of still serving in a positive manner. I wish all our generals were like him. | |