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| The Acceptable Sacrifice by Larner | 14 Review(s) |
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| Queen Galadriel | Reviewed Chapter: 50 on 1/28/2014 |
| Hello again after eight months! I've been revisiting Middle-Earth lately and rereading some favorite fanfiction works, and just had to reread this epic. I was going to wait until the end to review again, but it's so long and complex I thought the halfway point was a good place. I certainly remember now why I checked every day for story updates when you were writing this. But at the time, I focused so exclusively on the hobbits that I don't think I fully appreciated what life you gave to Minas Tirith and the people in it. It's mind-boggling! I've thought of trying to finish my long-abandoned fic called Renewal, but I hardly need to...I can just point to this one! I'm enjoying my reread very much. Author Reply: Oh, but my Lady, it is so good to hear from you again! I may have focused this on Frodo, but there is no question that all of our beloved characters from LOTR are encompassed within, save, of course, for Boromir. But in many of my later stories even Boromir is now represented. But we would love to see Renewal finished, too. You have your own tales to tell. Thank you so much for letting me know you are revisiting! | |
| grumpy | Reviewed Chapter: 50 on 12/20/2005 |
| Arwin's coming, yeh!!! And Aragorn is as nervous as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs. Sam is right on, there. I love it! You write it so well. I can just see, Aragorn with his chest full of money, to pay for his wedding feast. There is poor Galador, being floored by the king once more. Author Reply: I'm glad that the way I write so many say they can imagine just how it looked. I know that as I begin to describe it I, too, find myself seeing the inside of the banker's office, then the vault with the two witnesses in the background, and the faces of the vendors as they receive the funds to purchase food to give out at the feast. As for Galador, the poor man is always gonna be floored by the King, I think! Heh! | |
| Radbooks | Reviewed Chapter: 50 on 12/20/2005 |
| Every dish made out of mushrooms... where does Pippin come up with these ideas? :) I do remember that story from King's Comm., and it's still funny, though I personally do not like mushrooms... I guess I wouldn't make a good Hobbit! I enjoyed Frodo's interaction with the little boy, he always loved children so much and it just makes it more bittersweet that he cannot have any. But his sacrifice has made it possible for little boys and girls to grow up free of the shadow and have families of their own, but I doubt if he sees that. I imagine it would take a lot of money to pay for all of the people of the city to have food and drink for Aragorn and Arwen's wedding! But I hardly think that Aragorn is very concerned about the cost at this point. I have loved all of your descriptions of Aragorn's expressions of longing and love as he is waiting or now when he sees Arwen. It has been such a very long time for them, I do not know how they could do that. Nicely done! Author Reply: Well, Sam had just observed that it was hard for Frodo to turn down anything with mushrooms, so I guess it just sprang out of that, and that sparked the one-food meals contest detailed in "The Ties of Family." And it was fun to consider. As I'd said it was just before the arrival of the Elves, I had to work ONE of those meals into the story, after all. I wish Frodo could have had children of his own; I think he'd have made a terrific dad, myself. But you are right, that because of him Fargillion will live a far freer life than he'd known so long. At the moment Aragorn is intent on making certain that all the city will rejoice with him, and I don't think he cares how much it costs. He's not had the chance to spend much money frivolously, after all, and this is his first chance to use his money freely for his people. Am so glad you appreciate how I write his desires expressed; and I don't see how they managed that long, either. | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 50 on 12/19/2005 |
| A shining and joyous event, Larner! And I particularly enjoyed this meeting: “My beloved Lord Frodo,” the Elf said, returning the bow to the Hobbit. The spots of color could be seen on Frodo’s cheeks, but this was one even he would not seek to correct. Gildor came before Frodo and knelt to look into his face. “You won through, enduring beyond all hope,” he said softly. “I greet you and offer you and Lord Samwise and your kinsmen ever the honor of my people.” He gently took Frodo’s hands, and the embarrassment the Hobbit felt faded as a fierce and unexpected joy filled him. Author Reply: Thank you, Shirebound. Thank you very much. | |
| French Pony | Reviewed Chapter: 50 on 12/19/2005 |
| Oh, boy. Is Aragorn going to make his wedding a gigantic potluck? That would be so cool. I love all the preparations for it. It's a good buildup to the main event itself. Frodo remains a source of wisdom, especially for young people. I guess they find it easier to connect with him, since he's more their height. Pippin's mushroom feast was brilliant. Imagine if Elrond hadn't sent him along, where would Frodo be now without that mushroom-themed meal? I'm guessing that the wedding song was part of the classical repertoire of Gondor and learned but not played as a matter of education? Because, without recording technology, that would be the only way anyone would recognize a song that hadn't been performed in a thousand years. Author Reply: Yes, this would be in the educational repertoire of the peoples of Gondor. (And of course you had to catch me out in that one, you sly thing!) The meal and three others that followed it are described in "The Ties of Family," so of course I had to work at least one of them into this story. That's been a challenge--keeping the various stories consistent with one another. And Frodo as I've depicted him has always had a particular connection with children. | |
| Dreamflower | Reviewed Chapter: 50 on 12/19/2005 |
| I remember the anecdote about Pippin and the mushrooms in one of your other stories! It was very cute to see the full story. 8-) But of course, best of all was seeing Aragorn shocking everyone with sudden news of a wedding, and his nervousness--"long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs" is a familiar old saying that has the ring of Gafferishness. I could easily see Sam saying that, LOL! You had Thranduil coming to the wedding--I think that is a first for me to see! And of course, the moment Aragorn greets his bride--beautiful! I have to say, I am surprised that Frodo had not guesssed, as insightful as he usually is. But altogether a really lovely chapter! Author Reply: I've read only one other story in which Thranduil attended the wedding, one in which Legolas is described as Thranduil's adopted son from among Elven folk who lived in the East and were under Sauron's command, but whom Thranduil found and saved when the rest of his tribe had been destroyed for not following Sauron's orders, and adopted by the Lord of Mirkwood at the dying request of his queen. I think Pasha wrote it. I know he wasn't on the guest list, but felt it right he should be there as a supporter of Arwen's plea to the Valar. I think, as I said to one other person, that Arwen as Aragorn's bride was one of the open secrets which almost everyone seemed to overlook save those who'd been around long enough to know of it--Arwen's family, of course, most of the Elven Lords would come to know, and Gandalf, and then Aragorns' own closest kinsmen. Other than that, the fewer who knew, the harder it would be for the Enemy to learn of it and perhaps focus his attention on Rivendell to rob the possible heir to Isildur of his hope and therefore his heart to fight for the rest of Middle Earth. Glad you liked the way the chapter played out. | |
| Baggins Babe | Reviewed Chapter: 50 on 12/19/2005 |
| What a fantastic chapter! You filled in so many of the gaps - I think we were a bit short-changed in the book, with that brief line about the wedding. You have put so much thought into the preparation which muct have preceded such an event. Even down to Aragorn withdrawing the money to pay for all the celebrations - not just the feasts in the Citadel but the food and drink for the people. I feel as though I was there! How marvellous too, to finally read about the meal with mushrooms in every course! You have mentioned it in other stories but I was hoping it would appear in detail. Hopefully we will hear about the other meals which were prepared with a specific ingredient in every dish? Author Reply: It's fun to imagine how Aragorn might have planned for his own wedding. He'd managed to keep it a secret from all but Gandalf and possibly Legolas, so how would he have kept the mystery for his friends and yet have prepared for a proper celebration throughout at least Minas Tirith? Well, he DOES have a substantial bank balance, I've already established; so.... As for the other three meals, you'll have to imagine them, I fear. It was fun to fit in the one I described in "The Choice of Healing," but would have slowed the story WAYYYY too much to do all four, I felt. | |
| Amy | Reviewed Chapter: 50 on 12/19/2005 |
| *jumps up and down in party hat, arms flailing* At last! Looking forward to crying at this wedding! *loosens belt for feast* Author Reply: My lass, even I cry when I read this wedding. Heh! | |
| Kitty | Reviewed Chapter: 50 on 12/19/2005 |
| “Can you tell my big brother to stop tousling my hair?” That was cute! Nice little boy, and I think he was good for Frodo, although Frodo surely didn't approve of his fascination of swords. Well, he is a boy ... Ah yes, the cooking contest! insists he has produced the meal of meals *snickers* And it made Frodo laugh - wonderful! What a enjoyable task for Aragorn to prepare his wedding! He's quite generous. But Galador ... “It is important?” ... *LOL* That wasn't his intelligentest question, wasn't it? Why would Aragorn see to the seat arrangements himself and with so noble help, if it weren't *very* important? I'm impressed Galador didn't faint after seeing the names on the slate, though. Author Reply: No, not the most intelligent of questions at all, I MUST agree. And it was fun to place that meal into the context of this story, and then to find still another child to distract Frodo for the moment. So glad you appreciate it. | |
| harrowcat | Reviewed Chapter: 50 on 12/19/2005 |
| Aww! *heaves deep and very satisfied sigh!* No words at all for the Arrival as no words would do it justice but - I am glad that Frodo balanced out his sorrow with the talk with the boy (and mushrooms!). And 'nervous as a cat in a roomful of rocking chairs'. *silly grin appears on face which will stay all day!* Now for the wedding! Glad to see it is paid for. So how did our custom of the Bride's Father coughing up start? But then I suppose that the money Aragorn is drawing on started being accumulated so long ago that Elrond's side of the family may have had a hand in it somewhere! Author Reply: So very glad you approve of the arrival, for it's been a while in working its way into the tale. Yes, between Pippin and the child Frodo's depression and grief lighten. The expression "As nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs" is a folk expression here in the States, and I just felt it fit here, and sounded very much what the Gaffer might say. As for the Bride's Father paying for the wedding--my stepdad did nothing of the kind for either of us girls--we had to finance our own. But as Elrond wasn't there to pay or plan, I felt Aragorn would do his best to plan things as well as he could. And you're very possibly right--Elrond and his sons and their people might have found ways to bolster Aragorn's bank account against this day! Thanks for the chuckle! | |