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The Acceptable Sacrifice by Larner	8 Review(s)
Linda Hoyland	Reviewed Chapter: 64 on 1/12/2006
The changes must be very hard for the Hobbits to understand,especially as some sound like fairy tales. Pippin's words are very wise. Author Reply: Well, before the coming of Aragorn southward with such a party, Elves, Dwarves, and Hobbits were themselves almost the stuff of fairy tales in Gondor; now all are getting an education in how the rest of the world lives. And Pippin is no longer just that "Fool of a Took!" Thanks so much for the comments.

Antane	Reviewed Chapter: 64 on 1/10/2006
Glad that Pippin pointed out that Gollum would have died no matter what when the Ring was destroyed. Hope Frodo really heard that. Doesn't mean Gollum was saved, since not even the professor was sure about that, but interesting conversation between the two and then the one between Frodo and whoever. Namarie, God bless, Antane :) Author Reply: Gollum, after all, recognized that when the Ring was destroyed he would "die into the dust"; I think that Frodo needed this pointed out to him again; hearing it repeated by the one who argues with him AND by Pippin hopefully helps him accept it better on all levels. As for whether Gollum was saved--I suspect it helped him turn back to the Light at least some and may eventually help him return to the Presence--or at least I would hope so. Pax Vobiscum.

Kitty	Reviewed Chapter: 64 on 1/10/2006
Aster’s teeth clenched. “If Lotho Sackville-Baggins is ever found alive, I’ll kill him myself.” “You’ll be standing in line,” advised her father Well, I suppose Will is only too correct! And it would be a very long line. “You mean as there really is a Gondor?” grin For most hobbits Gondor is probably something like Atlantis is for us, I'd think. So, Will doesn't believe in the existence of elves? Then he will get quite a surprise at the Free Fair, when Elladan and Elrohir turn up there! Anyway, all what they hear must be absolutely confusing for Will and his family, and for Hildibrand as well. Dear Pippin, he came just in time to help Frodo explaining at least a bit and to try and comfort Frodo! And he is absolutely right, no matter what Frodo himself thinks. If Frodo had jumped in the Sammath Naur, Sam and Gollum would've died, too - and I can't imagine he would kill Sam, if he could avoid it. Author Reply: Lotho has left the entire Shire in turmoil, and I think a lot of folks would now wish they had access to him, although I think all grieve for the fate already bestowed upon him. Again, throughout Middle Earth there's a reassessment going on of the structure of the world as so matters of legend have been shown to be true and far more complex, mundane, and glorious than told in those legends. At least Will is now coming to accept there are such things as Elves, although the coming Free Fair will be a shock seeing the legends in the flesh. And indeed Pippin is showing himself to be far more than just that "Fool of a Took." His growing wisdom is being honed for the time he will follow his father. And I agree about Frodo's thoughts about Sam's possible demise--he needed this dual reminder of this fact.

harrowcat	Reviewed Chapter: 64 on 1/10/2006
Oh I do like this 'all growed up' Pippin. So mature and wise and it shows in everything from his choice of clothes, g to his words to both the Shire folk and, above all, Frodo. In a way his Mum an Da are, or have become, the barometer for the acceptance of change within the Shire. I see a link between the way that the Shire-folk need to have the Story confirmed by several people independently and Frodo needing to hear the truth again and again, forthrightly and clearly from his 'inner voice' and those who know the truth and/or believe in him implicitly. Oh, and I am glad that it was the taters and not the eggs that got dropped! Taters bounce and roll, not break. Author Reply: Pippin is less worried about image than Frodo--but having had to accept himself as the one seen as that "Fool of a Took" for all those years has probably helped him accept himself as he is better than Frodo does. Yes, both the Shire and Frodo need the knowledge from several sources to begin to accept it fully, emotionally as well as intellectually. And I, too, am glad it wasn't Dianthus who dropped the load carried. Hate cleaning up eggs, myself.

Tigger	Reviewed Chapter: 64 on 1/9/2006
To quote a friend of mine, that Dear of a Took!! Sweet Pippin trying his best to comfort Frodo and make him understand. Bless his Tookish heart. If only Frodo could see that he really was only the Ringbearer. :o( Sorry I haven't reviewed in awhile and it's going to be awhile until I can review again. We were getting the Christmas stuff put away and now I'm at my sister's. Wednesday, I head for Ottawa and four days of the best skaters in Canada at our National Figure Skating Championships. I also get to see who will qualify and make up our Olympic Team. Not that I'm excited or anything about that.... ;o) I will catch up w/this wonderful story when I get back!! Can't wait!! :o) Author Reply: Between wind, rain, and power outages as well as a death in the family of a coworker requiring me to take extra shifts to cover our clients, I'm behind in posting and responding to reviews again, so believe me, I understand. Hope your trip is a nice one! And, yes, Pippin is indeed a Dear of a Took, and Frodo needs to relax and let go of a lot of his guilt, pride, and distorted self-perceptions.

Queen Galadriel	Reviewed Chapter: 64 on 1/9/2006
I do pity our four travellers. I can't imagine having to explain something of such magnitude to anyone. And I declare, what is the matter with Eglantine Took?! I never saw such a hard-head! Why should it bother her so very much that her son was in as much danger as he was, now that he's safely home? I know, she's a mother, and he's her baby, and it would be horrible for any mother to think of how near her child came to dying. But it's over, and she'd do much more good helping him heal than trying to hide herself from it all. If she really loves him, she oughtn't to shut him out-and that's exactly what she's doing! It's a shame that it took Frodo's own story, and doing almost more than he could bear, to show her that. But I suppose sometimes it takes a very loud and shocking wake-up call to show some people their mistakes. On a lighter note, I love how you portray Frodo as loving children. I've always imagined he would, and was always sorry that he didn't remain long enough to be called "Uncle Frodo" by the children of Sam, Merry, and Pippin. Can't wait to read more! God bless, Galadriel Author Reply: Galadriel, you wouldn't believe what I've seen parents do or deny about what their children have done or not done or experienced. Eglantine's behavior is mild compared to some things I've seen. You're right--she should open up and just be glad Pippin is home; but she's trying to deal with the world as she's been accustomed to doing, and in her world view Pippin is her sweet, innocent, rather thoughtless but dear child whom she will always need to protect. That he's taken the man's role and has proven able to protect others on his own responsibility is rushing things in her view. And for such people it DOES take a shock to get them to shake out the old conceptions in order to accept the reality. I've always imagined Frodo would have loved children and would be at his best with them. And I, too, wish he'd been able to hold ALL his nominal nieces and nephews.

Dreamflower	Reviewed Chapter: 64 on 1/9/2006
The bits and pieces they are hearing must be making the hobbits even more mystified--for each explanation creates a hundred more questions! And the events are so far out of hobbit experience that even if they believe Frodo and the others are telling the truth, they still don't really believe in what actually happened, because they can't even imagine it. I like the insight Pippin shows in his talk with Frodo. He truly has grown, and not just in height. Author Reply: The bits and pieces help pave the way to fuller understanding. But often in world-shattering events this is how we learn what is real--in just such bits and pieces. Yes, it's hard to take; but too many folks can't take all the facts at once, as Paladin and Eglantine couldn't. In real life each bit of real information DOES lead to more questions, and then more still. And I, too, like to see Pippin exhibiting his maturity so. Once again he's being what Frodo needs at the moment--the one he knows in the real world who reaffirms what he's being told in his very heart.

shirebound	Reviewed Chapter: 64 on 1/9/2006
“You mean as there really is a Gondor?” I love that. Gondor was as much a legend in the north as the 'halflings' and their land were in the south. three of you had to do it together, Frodo--all three of you together. Not one of you could have done it alone. What a perfect thing to say. Dear Pippin. Author Reply: Yes, the two legends are becoming real to one another, and it's a good amount of culture shock. And Pippin is fast outgrowing the foolishness of his reputation, preparing to become the great Thain he will be.

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