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The Acceptable Sacrifice by Larner	10 Review(s)
grumpy	Reviewed Chapter: 66 on 1/22/2006
I see Frodo has found a good use for the income from his properties. Gilmi was right in calling greed, Dragon Sickness, too bad that in happened in such a nice place as the Shire. Author Reply: Yes, there's one use for the income, at least. And I'm certain that Frodo would love the irony of using Men's funds to deal with Men's damage. And it is a good name, isn't it? Got it from "The Hobbit," if I recall correctly, from the descriptions of the Dwarves becoming like Dragons in the face of Smaug's hoard.

Kitty	Reviewed Chapter: 66 on 1/15/2006
Ah yes, that’s what I had hoped for what would come next: The investigations about Lotho and his questionable contracts! Frodo is very perceptive in discerning the real reasons why the lawyers did what Lotho told them. He can judge a character very well. If he’d been healed and accepted the job of the Mayor it would’ve been interesting to watch, I think. You know, that is definitely not fair that Frodo should have to pay for the prison! It was not Frodo who made Timono and the others to the bad guys they are, and it would be in the interest of all the hobbits to have a prison. Author Reply: As Frodo sees it, as it was the influence of outsiders and very much due to the presence of Men within the Shire that led to much of the excesses of the Time of Troubles, he intends to see to it the proceeds of the business of Men goes to cleaning it up. Also, he sees prisons as a Mannish idea and institution, so again it makes sense to him to use his outside funds from the world of Men. I don't think he considers those funds quite properly his anyway. And of course he'd have the discerning eye to tell who was collaborating from who was coerced; he has the King's Gift, learned from the example of the best, and knows the folk of the Shire pretty well.

Baggins Babe	Reviewed Chapter: 66 on 1/15/2006
I always enjoy seeing the day to day lives of the hobbits and it is particularly interesting to think about how the clearing up was done. I love Frodo's interrogation here - he's learned a lot from watching Aragorn, hasn't he? “Mr. Smallburrow here is going to be the first guest of the facility." Nice way to put it, I must say, but i'm glad that Frodo now accepts they have to have somewhere to put the worst offenders, even if it is a hobbity prison! Such a pity Frodo cannot bring himself to speak about what happened to him, but at least work is proving something of a distraction. Author Reply: I tried to put up the next chapter, but I apparently got timed out and didn't realize it, so it'll go up tomorrow as I have to leave shortly. So glad you approve of Frodo's investigations, and I agree he's going about it the proper way. And, yes, he learned from watching Aragorn. But what Frodo's undergone will continue coming out in bits and pieces.

Linda Hoyland	Reviewed Chapter: 66 on 1/14/2006
It is good that Frodo is finally starting to talk to those around him. Author Reply: He's speaking some, but probably not enough, really. So glad you appreciate it.

Radbooks	Reviewed Chapter: 66 on 1/14/2006
That would be such a difficult job for Frodo to do. Having to sort out all of that mess with the contracts and all of the legal stuff. It would be tough even in the best of health! But he is so discerning that he can at least pick things out and read people so that's helpful and I know it's probably good for him to be working. It's not good to sit by idly... work brings its own sort of healing I think. It's good that more and more is being told to Sara and Will, even if it is just little glimpses here and there. But it must be so frustrating for them. You would just want to shake someone and say - 'Tell me what happened!' :) Trying to put it all together from the little clues they are getting from Frodo, Merry, and Pippin (probably not much from Sam right now because he's not around) would be difficult at best. Looking forward to the next chapter! Author Reply: I do think those eight months of work helped Frodo hang on, and wish he'd not given back over to Will so quickly, myself. Maybe he would have held on longer. You are right--work itself is therapeutic, and he knew the folks involved well enough to pick up on who was lying and who was not. And you're right also on the difficulties of getting the stories in dribs and drabs, but it's probably the only way they'd get it at first. Next chapter is now up, so enjoy.

French Pony	Reviewed Chapter: 66 on 1/14/2006
Hi! I was away on an adventure for a couple of weeks, but now I am back. I decided to catch myself up on this story in one long go, and I'm very glad that I did that, since I've had the move to the Shire in one big gulp. This is an excellent shift of place. I really enjoy all the new characters you've introduced, seeing a little bit of their history and relationships to each other, and the glimpses of Frodo's own childhood. You're one of the few hobbit writers I know of who really seems to "get" the hobbit voice. They seem very much like real, adult people, with concerns of their own that they face in a direct, if simple, way. They care for each other and for Frodo, but know when to back off and give him some space. Reading about your Shire, I can very much see why Frodo would give up everything to protect it, and how it might in turn try to care for him even without fully understanding what he did. Author Reply: I am very flattered by your evaluation of my descriptions of the Shire and its inhabitants. The Hobbits haven't bothered much with history for quite some time, but that's getting ready to change. And, yes, Frodo wanted to protect his land and people, and in return they try to protect him back as they are able; but understanding will not happen immediately.

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 66 on 1/14/2006
Frodo has a good eye - he can tell who has really been bullied into co-operating and who is using that as an excuse. Mind you, anyone who has the name Bracegirdle in their family tree seems to be worth a second look. A nice, comfortable, hobbity lockhole seems a wise precaution. The idea of estates in Gondor providing the money seems to cause a bit of understandable head-scratching. Timono is nothing if not predictable - I'll bet that's exactly where he is. I'm glad Frodo was able to let Saradoc and the others know a bit more about what happened. Although he makes a point of praising Merry and Pippin's contribution and making it sound as if he and Sam were on an unpleasant hobbit walking party. That resulted in the king embarrassing them. Someone needs to let out a little more about how Frodo and Sam are viewed outside the Shire. But it won't be Frodo. Author Reply: Yes, Frodo knows the players, and is able to figure out who's not quite being truthful. Yet, as you note, he's still not able to explain fully. I LOVE your evaluation of what he says, "as if he and Sam were on an unpleasant hobbit walking party. That resulted in the king embarrassing them." Oh, that is so wonderful a way to describe it! Thanks! But their story takes years to finally come out--and even then probably a good number who hear it and of it probably think much of it's but a story.

Queen Galadriel	Reviewed Chapter: 66 on 1/13/2006
Oh, poor Frodo! If I had to deal with all that paperwork and sort out all those dreadful cases, while trying to hide what needed to be dealt with even more, I think I'd lose my sanity! He really needs to tell someone what he went through-everything-that's so obvious, hard though it may be...harder than I can fathom. Writing is not going to do it this time. Can't wait to read more, as always. God bless, Galadriel Author Reply: Frodo's proving competent; but then he's watched the masters at it lately in the persons of Aragorn, Faramir, Imrahil, and probably Halladan as well. And he's letting more slip--a bit at a time. Not enough at one time, perhaps for most to have any idea what really happened, but enough to ease the pressure a bit and to express his own love. It's difficult; but Frodo will do well--until March, at least.

Dreamflower	Reviewed Chapter: 66 on 1/13/2006
Frodo's astuteness as a judge of character has only been sharpened by his experiences. I love the way the Smallburrow person started to break into a sweat at just the thought of Frodo's questions. These inquiries are an interesting take on those hobbits who collaborated with Lotho. I also like the possibilities you draw upon by comparing their behavior to that of the Dwarves who were exposed to either the Seven or to Smaug's hoard. Yet Frodo needs to realize that some of these hobbits were greedy and unhobbitlike long before the Ring awakened. I have to admit I got a little chuckle when Frodo described his ennoblement as a "public embarassment". Even without the things the Ring did to him, I have a feeling he would have felt that way about it, though not as strongly. I also like the way his reticence can be overcome by his need to make them understand what Merry and Pippin did--again, his concern for others can bring him out of his self-imposed silence. But all these hints and glimpses must be worrisome and tantalizing for those who hear--I am very sure that Saradoc had far more questions after this conversation than before it. Author Reply: I've loved looking at the collaborators in your own stories, and am glad you like seeing another point of view. I doubt Frodo believes that the dragon sickness is only due to evil influences; and I agree that in my ME, the Bracegirdles do tend to have inherited the brunt of the nastier tendencies. Frodo perhaps has more in common with Aragorn than he realizes. First, in the Shire where relationships are closer than among Men, he knows a great number of the players, particularly those through his Hobbiton, Westfarthing, Took, and Brandybuck connections. Then he has a very intimate knowledge of the Shire's geography from his walking tours by himself or with Bilbo and his younger cousins. I suspect it would be as difficult to lie to Frodo in the end as it would to be to lie to Aragorn when the King has turned the full brunt of his power on you.

harrowcat	Reviewed Chapter: 66 on 1/13/2006
It's the most he has said yet - to them - and the reason that he can't eat anything for tea! Poor Frodo. From the child comes the man. Frodo will be blaming himself for not being kinder to Timono as a tween. I guess that it was Frodo's foresight about evil in the Shire that led to the preparations/thought he made for the lockhole. He must be so sad that it needs to be expanded, even before it is built. “Oh, yes, we finally made it.” He looked down. “We made it, before I was lost.” I am glad that none of the Travellers heard this it would break their hearts yet again. BTW Am off down the motorway to take Mum's wheelchair to the hospital. She is being allowed up! - for all of 10 minutes at a time! Thank you for the prayers, they are so appreciated. Author Reply: Yes, we do see that Timono hasn't progressed spiritually from his childhood. That in part Frodo would blame himself for the way Timono turned out is, I fear, not unlikely; and he's again upset at what he sees as his failings. And I do think you're right about the other three's response to that; but Frodo still has a good deal of self-acceptance to regain, and it's not that long after the assault of the memories in October. Give your mother my love, and I continue praying for her.

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