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The Acceptable Sacrifice by Larner	14 Review(s)
Antane	Reviewed Chapter: 55 on 1/2/2006
I think I already reviewed this chapter, but here's for Frodo directly: This is breaking my heart to reach your slow decline. I know what's going to happen and I know I'm powerless to stop it, but I must say something! You are beautiful, darling, and it is such a joy to see you dance so wonderfully. Don't give up! Everyone gets tired if they dance a lot. It doesn't mean they never dance again. The Ring stole so much from you, but you can fight to get it back. I know you are tired of being sick, but don't let that steal what joy you can still have. Please, darling. Namarie, God bless you, Antane :) Author Reply: I'm certain Frodo would be touched by the sentiments, Antane. Namarie.

grumpy	Reviewed Chapter: 55 on 1/1/2006
So Galador might have had something to do with matchmaking for Eomer, good for him. I think one of the things the ring robbed from Frodo, was the thought to dance a shorter dance, if he could no longed dance the hard one's. I like it that everyone wants to ask the Valar, for Frodo to go in Arwin's place. Author Reply: I think the petition in the end would have been pretty universal, and rather wish they'd discussed it with the Hobbits as well. But, that didn't happen in the original, and I won't go quite that AU. It's fun to think that Galador managed to score a success with his intent to introduce Lothiriel and Eomer. I loved a story here in which Lothiriel had come to Minas Tirith with her father and agreed to work in the Houses of Healing in order to remain during the war; in that story she met Eomer as he came to check on his sister--a lovely, well done depiction, I thought; but as I didn't have time to develop that long a thread, I chose this way. Perhaps Frodo could have danced a slower, shorter dance; I suspect that was specifically why Galadriel asked him to dance with her to demonstrate he hadn't lost all; but we are dealing with a stubborn Baggins, after all.

Antane	Reviewed Chapter: 55 on 12/31/2005
And I add my petition as well... But to have him never dance again, oh no! Author Reply: He does eventually dance again, but not until he's been in the Undying Lands for some time. He dances in "The Ties of Family." I'm glad they granted it, too.

Baggins Babe	Reviewed Chapter: 55 on 12/30/2005
It was so beautiful to see so many beg for Frodo's easing, and I loved the fact that Gimli was there and added his request. If only Frodo could realise how so many love and care for him. Another wonderful chapter, as usual. Author Reply: So glad you appreciated it. I think all would wish for Frodo to have this grace offered him. Thank you for your comments.

Radbooks	Reviewed Chapter: 55 on 12/30/2005
The Master of Protocol finally got something right - even if Aragorn was annoyed for a moment there! :) At first I was amazed that Eomer would feel free enough to make those kind of comments about Arwen to Aragorn even though they are close friends. But then in that society and in that time (unlike ours unfortunately) not everything is about base desires - at least that's what I'm assuming here. :) As I was reading the part where they were all agreeing to petition the Valar to allow Frodo into Valinor, I started wondering about something. Was there no one to watch out for men? Were the Valar truly ONLY interested in elves? I know that mortals could not usually go to Valinor, but did Tolkien never set up any kind of help for men? I guess the Valar didn't really help the elves much either except at the end of the first age when they came and threw down Morgoth. I don't know it just struck me as strange for some reason. Author Reply: Am behind with responses--last week's work schedule was a MESS. I like to think that Galador was allowed to have at least one success, and that in the end even Aragorn approved, even if he found the means questionable. Gimli's fascination was the epitome of Courtly Love, and was the more poignant that the one who bore it was not the graceful elf or the noble man, but the supposedly uncouth dwarf. That Eomer became similarly fascinated but felt no desire in spite of his fascination seemed to follow--we now have two examples of the medieval ideal of worshiping the perfection of beauty from afar, one devoted to the Morning and one to the Evening, in actuality, in many ways, the opposite presentations of the same ideal. And that Eomer would freely admit this to Aragorn seemed also logical--after all, he expresses clearly he has no desire to act on that fascination. Tolkien indicated in one of his letters that the Valar are there, but really didn't have much to do with anyone. They weren't regularly invoked by Men, had no regular rites in their honor. They were respected but were seen as distant observers more than present helps. Quite different from our idea of angels who are in many cases activists and guardians. The Elves, being able to approach them physically, did invoke them and placed petitions before them at times; but it appears only Manwe had much authority to actually intervene or warn or offer guidance.

harrowcat	Reviewed Chapter: 55 on 12/30/2005
He is currently less than he was, and knows not enough 'any more' of Iluvatar to appreciate that he might well become more if he has patience--and sufficient endurance and time. Two small words stood out like beacons in this sentence, Larner. I hate depression. It closes you in, blinding you to beauty and the loving support offered. And the plea by all these people is breath-taking. It reminds me of the biblical parable of the paralysed man. 'When he saw their faith' (NRSV) This passage is ofte of great comfort to me and also a great spur. So, three days of withdrawal symptoms but the two chapters were worth the wait! Author Reply: Yes, those two words are intended to be the beacons you indicated, and the tie to the Biblical tale is very beautiful and appropriate. Work was odd during the weeks preceding and after Christmas, and I have been fighting the exhaustion of the schedule changes intended to allow some of our more tolerant folks (including me) to step in for regular staff on vacation. Am SO glad not to have to work extra days and nights in the next few weeks.

Linda Hoyland	Reviewed Chapter: 55 on 12/29/2005
Poor Frodo is such a perfectionist as many others would be glad simply to have survived to see such times and accept an ordeal like his takes many years to come to terms with. I don't think there is anyone in the Shire who could help him as he doesn't want to burden Sam as he begins life with Rosie and his children. Author Reply: Yes, in his attempts to spare others, all too often Frodo pushed away some of the love, comfort, and aid which he might have had if he'd been able to be more open. But in our pride often we try to do things ourselves we ought to allow others to help with.

Andrea	Reviewed Chapter: 55 on 12/29/2005
Again, a fascinating chapter! Maybe Frodo was reluctant to meet with Galadriel, because he knew very well that he eventually would speak and tell her all his thoughts. But in the end it helped both of them, I think. It helped Frodo to speak with someone who knows and feels the Sea Longing and it opened Galadriels eyes to perceive that Frodo is very special - even more special than she had thought at first. "Just what was it that Iluvatar had wrought, allowing this one to be born into the body of a Hobbit of the Shire?" What is it indeed? Only Iluvatar knows! The conversation between the Elves, Aragorn, Gimli and Gandalf was intriguing. There's no doubt that the wounding with the Morgul knife was intended to start a transformation - of evil kind. There is a scene somewhere in FotR, where Gandalf observes that Frodo indeed has changed. I thought Elrond had stopped the process. Now I see, that this transformation is still in progress but it's aim was changed after the desruction of the Ring: it is evil no more! I like the idea of giving Frodo the time he needs to appreciate that gift at last. And I love it that Gimli came to the same conclusion as Arwen. Author Reply: It was while Gandalf looked down at Frodo in the bed in the House of Elrond that he saw a transparency about Frodo, and foresaw that he might in time become as a vessel of glass filled with light was with water, for eyes to see that could. I took that observation and used it to entitle my first two stories, in fact, and have seen others who have done much the same. Morgoth lost the ability to create of himself, and Sauron, as a Maia, never had that ability to begin with. So, orcs were twisted from Elves and probably later from Men as well, and so on. That there might be some blessed transformation process that Eru had made available in Arda that was twisted to evil purposes in the creation of the Morgul blades seemed logical; that now that the wraithing process has been halted Frodo would have reverted to Eru's original transformation seemed logical and would explain Gandalf's vision of Frodo becoming in some way a Being of Light. Am so glad you like the idea that going to Tol Eressea would give Frodo the chance not only to accept the metamorphosis but would come to embrace it as it allowed himself to be fulfilled where had the Morgul blade been successful he would have undergone a rending from Iluvatar instead and would have been debased and possibly destroyed. And it appears that as this chapter wrote itself (it was one of THOSE chapters) all were coming to basically the same conclusion--that Frodo needed that time.

Kitty	Reviewed Chapter: 55 on 12/29/2005
Now I am glad Frodo told Galadriel of his troubles! It was about time for him to talk to someone who can understand it. It is so depressing to hear what he thinks of his return to the Shire, though interesting how much he has foreseen for the future. And he dreamt so early on of Tol Eressea? Even before the Quest? Interesting. Maybe Aragorn has to have some words with Galador about matchmaking! This man is hopeless! And now he thinks probably it is his doing when Éomer weds Lothíriel and tries it even more! It was good to see how much all these great elves care for Frodo and want to help him to heal. That is one of the gap-fillers I always wanted to read – it wasn’t fair that Tolkien told us nothing about the way how Frodo and Sam got the leave to go to the Undying Lands. Not to mention Gimli and the delayed choice of the twins. I always wanted to know more about this! To be able to write it is one great advantage of fanfiction, don't you agree? Author Reply: If you remember the Bombadil chapter, Frodo first dreams of the rain curtain rolling back there in Bombadil's house in the Old Forest--so, yes, his foresight was kicking in there. He also dreamed of Gandalf on top of the tower of Orthanc, if I recall correctly. And now Galadriel is getting the idea that perhaps he is meant to go to Tol Eressea, I think. But Frodo did need to talk to someone else who understood his own discomfort; as a mortal, he's not understanding the Sea Longing all too well as yet. And some folk like Galador are either hopeless romantics or are hoping to somehow manage to wangle good political matches for their unwed nobles, and I doubt Aragorn's ever going to be able to fully break Galador of the practice. I explored the subject of how Frodo and Sam and Gimli were granted dispensation to go to Tol Eressea in "The Choice of Healing" but wanted to explore the simple mechanics of how it was done in this story. And that Glorfindel, who lives between the mundane and the blessed realm, would be able to make his plea directly as would Gandalf while others must find an intermediary such as Gwaihir or Gandalf, seemed a fun idea to explore. He's already made his plea, and is pleased as Punch that the rest are coming to the same conclusion without him having to do more than ask one little question.... Wiley Elf, isn't he?

Queen Galadriel	Reviewed Chapter: 55 on 12/28/2005
Poor Frodo. I've thought about how darkness and certain locations and reminders of his journey might affect him, but I never thought of such things as the caress of a breeze or the sound of thunder. Such ordinary things, and yet it seems realistic that they would be disquieting to him. sigh I'm so glad there were so many to make the petition for him. He deserves it. God bless, Galadriel Author Reply: A friend counsels veterans with PTSD, and their lists of what sets off flashback moments is pretty amazing: a car backfiring; flickering lights (one guy found he had to avoid any marquees with fancy light displays during his first trip to Reno); certain songs on the radio which had been playing when they drove into a mine field; someone standing up from behind bushes; the smell of gunpowder in fireworks or capguns. Rape victims often can't bear to go past the site of where they were grabbed and/or raped, or will become stressed if someone stands in an attitude reminiscent of the rapist at the moment the realization was made this guy's going to hurt me. Holocaust survivors also found certain triggers--the sound of German being spoken; not having bread or clean water handy (Frodo's need to have water at hand is based directly on Holocaust survivor stories); certain songs associated with selections (watched Schindler's List again the other night, and the playing of records through loudspeakers or orchestras was often used by the Nazis to mask horrible processes). And so I've chosen some of the possible triggers that Frodo might have responded to or does respond to in the story as I've written it. And, yes, Frodo deserved such a blessing.

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