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The Acceptable Sacrifice by Larner	10 Review(s)
Grumpy	Reviewed Chapter: 62 on 1/13/2006
Love the names the people of Bree come up with for the Rangers: Black Glove, the Scribe wonder what thet would have come up with for Eregiel. Maybe now the townsfolks will respect the rangers more. Glad that the hobbits now have a handle on the trouble in the Shire. Author Reply: Yes, I suspect the folk in the Breelands are beginning to understand just how important the Rangers have been to their safety and comfort. And of course the Hobbits are beginning to have a handle on the trouble in the Shire--the Travellers are back and have lit up the hollows of their hearts and have let loose the native courage and gumption of Hobbits to see to their needs.

Linda Hoyland	Reviewed Chapter: 62 on 1/10/2006
I hope the people understand now,just what the rangers have done to protect them over the years.It is ice to think that some did go to the Shire after the Hobbits returned to see what was happening and offer help.

Kitty	Reviewed Chapter: 62 on 1/9/2006
It’s quite satisfying that Barliman and probably the others in Bree finally begin to understand what they owe the Rangers. It was not right they thought so less of them while they in truth prevented them from a lot of harm. Ah, Bedro again! I’m glad I know already he got his comeuppance in the end. And I am glad the Rangers are going to at least try and catch the ruffians the hobbits threw out of the Shire. I found it always too good a fate for them to only been thrown out. And it is interesting to see how the exchange between Hobbits and Rangers started after the Shire couldn’t remain so insular any longer. Author Reply: Yes, the land of Bree also is having to move into the dawning Fourth Age, which means coming to an understanding of WHAT and WHO the Rangers really are as well as what they've been doing for the past thousand years since Arvedui Last-King died in the snows of the far North. It would only make sense, I thought, for the returning Rangers to want to learn more who these ruffians were, who recruited them for certain, how they got into the Shire, what others might be headed toward the Shire and the Breelands, and so on. What they might be able to tell of communication between Saruman and Lotho might also be important right now.

Radbooks	Reviewed Chapter: 62 on 1/9/2006
Ah, it was good to see Lord Gilfileg again! I'm not sure why I like him so much, his courage and what he endured and overcame in Rhun, perhaps. His quiet dignity and honor. For some reason he has just struck a cord with me and he is one of my favorite of your minor original characters and so it was good to see him again. :) It's funny how some characters stick with you. It was good that the rangers were there to go and see what was going on in the Shire and to be able to send back word to Halladan and to Aragorn who is going to be heartsick when he hears what has happened. I liked Barliman finally taking his courage in hand and going and asking the 3 rangers where they had been and what had happened. It was good that someone had finally realized how important the rangers were to the safety of Bree and the other areas of Eriador. I was glad that the hobbits ended up trusting Gilfileg enough to let him in to talk to Saradoc and Brendi. They needed to hear from each other what was going on both inside the Shire and outside the Shire. It was all nicely done. By the way, I think you may have had the name wrong for the ranger with the dog. Isn't it something like, Eregiel or something ending in an 'l'? The name you have, Eregion, is the name of the area also known as Hollin. I told you I've read your stories numerous times! At least, King's Commission, Ties of Family, & Lesser Ring. :) Author Reply: You are correct--will correct that now. Man, posting on Sundays between shifts is perhaps something I shouldn't do. I liked having Eregiel and Gilfileg join Berevrion here, too, and that Gilfileg strikes a chord with you is pleasing to me as well. But I'm certain once they realized what had happened in Bree and the Shire the Rangers would go to check it out, and that Halladan would send down several of his most experienced and senior Dunedain to do this. And what Gilfileg and Berevrion have to say is so similar to what they've heard from Merry and Pippin that Saradoc takes a chance with them, and they are able indeed to establish a working relationship with one another. It is nice to see Butterbur getting a clue, isn't it? Yet Gandalf had told the Hobbits that Butterbur was said to be able to "see through walls" at need, so of course he'd be the first in Bree to take the chance to believe what they'd been told of the new King and his people is true. So glad you approve.

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 62 on 1/8/2006
It must have been terribly disconcerting to Barliman Butterbur to have those scruffy dangerous Rangers turn up - and know they were Lords of the Realm and kin to King Strider. Yes the Rangers would have turned up at the borders of the Shire once they learned what had been going on. And discovering Saruman had been there would be more than worthy of interest. Good to know that the hobbits coped without them, though. Author Reply: The Rangers can report to their King and kin that the Hobbits managed this one on their own, with guidance from those who'd been to Gondor. But I do believe they'd have felt responsible, once they heard the rumors, to check things out as thoroughly as they could so as to be able to report similarly. And certainly Saruman's presence in the Shire would be of interest to all. I'm going to have to look one day at the ending of Saruman from Gandalf's point of view, I think. As for Butterbur, well, if the Hobbits and Gandalf are right, he'd best begin paying a bit more attention to those who prefer that corner table--they just might be important, you know! Heh!

Andrea	Reviewed Chapter: 62 on 1/8/2006
A really interesting chapter! To see the story we all know so well from different viewpoints makes it sound as if it was a brandnew tale. And it helps to understand the reactions of others towards the returned travellers. When you see it through the eyes of Barliman Butterburr, the Breefolk must indeed have had suspicions when first all the Rangers left and then the ruffians arrived. A bad coincidence! But the three Rangers were able to gain Butterburr's trust again, I think. And when he trusts them, the rest of Bree will follow suit :) Author Reply: You already know I love looking at the story from different viewpoints, and it would impact each so distinctly. I'd not thought of suspicions toward the Rangers as perhaps a catalyst for the arrival of the ruffians, but it's a distinct idea to consider. But after the news given by the Travelers and Gandalf, I think even Butterbur would be getting the idea that perhaps he might need to give more thought to the Rangers and what they mean to the safety of the lands of Eriador. And you're right--where Barliman leads, the Breelands will eventually follow, and probably pretty quickly now.

shirebound	Reviewed Chapter: 62 on 1/8/2006
It's wonderful for some of the Shirefolk to be reintroduced to Men who are not only respectful, and show compassion for the Troubles. And oh, what a great line: "But until the last year no one had ever given thought to the possibility that the Rangers were actually good for anything." What a long, thankless job those Rangers had. Author Reply: At least some of the Shirefolk besides the Travelers are going to be able to see the contrast between Lotho's and Sharkey's Big Men and the true Men of the Dunedain who serve the King. And so glad you appreciate that line--because it's true. The Ranger who said in ROTK that it was worthwhile to labor so just to know simple folk like Butterbur don't have to worry about such things always had an impact on me. Well, now Butterbur is beginning to appreciate just what others are doing for his land, and will begin showing his appreciation in more than a drink on the house in the future, I think.

harrowcat	Reviewed Chapter: 62 on 1/8/2006
Yes thanks be indeed or things would be a lot worse now. You have a great gift for telling The Story from the view point of so many different people and often all at the same time. It makes it so much fuller and more rounded. The anger of the Rangers at the scouring of the Shire is almost palpable. Just a minor suggestion: would this paragraph, By the time the interview was over Saradoc and Brendilac were both feeling drained. But the two of them were beginning to realize that what little they’d been told was true, that the four Travelers had indeed been to Gondor and had done extraordinary things, and that all there held the four of them, and particularly Frodo, in great esteem. Also, the chronology of how Lotho had managed to gain control of so much was now much clearer in the minds of all. fit just a little better after Saradoc's description rather than before? But I admit to reading quickly again! And, yes, yesterday was a frustating day all round! Author Reply: You are probably correct about the placement of that paragraph, but I'll have to check it tomorrow--have to go do quick bath and general feeding and get to work. Hate night duty sometimes. And you know I love multiple points of view. Glad you find it helps make things feel more well rounded rather than redundant. Thanks.

demeter d	Reviewed Chapter: 62 on 1/8/2006
As i read other's reviews of Chapter 62, found some comfort, if you will, in seeing that i am not the only strange person who stays up waaaay late at night reading these things, or has to really think about getting to work and other every day life activities, because i would rather be reading! I enjoy this little secondary world . It is interesting to see the story now shifting back and forth between locations and points of view of various characters. We have now seen bits of what happened both from inside and outside the Shire. It was fun to watch Mr. Butterbur and Merry's Father learning that the unbelievable things they have been hearing from the outside world were true. If the Master had had any trouble believing what Merry had told him about his doings the last year, I am sure that he no longer does. He and Mr. Butterbur stand as ordinary people swept up into extrordinary adventures, involving people who seem to have stepped out of legends. And, Tolkien's tales and these tributes to them allow us to do the same thing, stand aside and watch legends touch everyday life. Author Reply: The Hobbits who went on the quest themselves represented those normal individuals who got swept up into extraordinary circumstances and met or exceeded the needs of the situations; and now others are learning to appreciate just how important those events are seen by those who know what they were about. And I don't think Saradoc will question his son's stories so much as wish to see more of the bad along with the good. Eglantine is the one who doesn't want to believe the bad; Merry is the one who doesn't want to tell it, and Frodo wishes he hadn't had to live it.

Queen Galadriel	Reviewed Chapter: 62 on 1/8/2006
Wow, this really ties into "The Ties of Family." I obviously have a lot of reading to do before I'll fully understand all of this story...and I can't wait. Ha! I'm glad I'm not the only one to be confused by hobbit family history and such! Good grief, I wonder they kept up with it! :-) It's good to see the "simple" folk finally learning what's been going on all around them all these years, what they've been protected from. And it's even more satisfying to see the wiser learning from the less learned. As I was reading this, it dawned on me anew that all four of our travellers were really necessary in the restoration and healing of the Shire. I remember thinking, when I read ROTK for the first time, "I can't blame Frodo for not wanting to fight. But if he didn't, what did he do?" Duh! He was needed to put the records and twisted contracts back in proper order; Merry and Pippin, as the two wariours, were needed to stir the Shirefolk and then to clear out the ruffians; and Sam was the only one right for the job of seeing to the Shire's physical healing. I guess I ought to have thought of all this before, but it really came home to me just now. Can't wait to see more of this! God bless, Galadriel Author Reply: Sorry not to have responded till now, but with weather changes my connection is being sporadic, and I keep getting knocked offline. Yes, I tie my stories together, and wrote an entire story that's in "Moments in Time" about the Baggins family book, called "Stricken from the Book." As Tolkien told us of Hobbit fascination with family ties and genealogies, and in one writing he tells of Old Yellowskin, the Took family book, it made sense to me all the families would have them to keep the family records in. Frodo was important to keep the reins on his folk to keep them from giving into the temptation to indulge in vengeance as well, and to see to it the Men had better tales to bear away of their treatment by the Hobbits than the Hobbits had to tell of them. He was important for keeping alive the spirit of tolerance and forbearance, the will to forgive and the gift of compassion that is central to Hobbit nature. And afterward, he helped sort out what he could within the Shire, again leading by the example of integrity and caring, showing his long intimate knowledge of the entire Shire and showing in the first glimpses of the outer world the Hobbits must now interact with. Yes, each had a job to shoulder in the healing of the Shire; but those who sit in offices to sort out the paperwork aren't often remembered as well as those who are riding around with mail and swords and helmets or replanting the Shire in sight of all.

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