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The Acceptable Sacrifice by Larner	12 Review(s)
French Pony	Reviewed Chapter: 68 on 1/17/2006
(the image of Daisy in Woody Allen's "Everything you Wanted to Know about Sex" sort of pushed itself into my awareness, and I had to find a way of accommodating it into this story) Oh, good. I'm glad that I wasn't the only one who thought of that. It seems we share similar taste in movies. Author Reply: First saw that WAYYY long ago at the Paramount in Seattle. Big Bro came up for my birthday and took me to see it, IIRC. We laughed so hard we stayed and saw it again. A hilarious evening it made.

Kitty	Reviewed Chapter: 68 on 1/17/2006
One of the ruffians stole small clothes for lasses? That is certainly quite odd! I know there are men who are fascinated with it, but it is still odd, and I suppose for the hobbits it's even more odd. Frodo examined Marco as if he were a highly interesting-looking insect he intended to order Samwise Gamgee to poison because it was eating the rose leaves. Oh, I love that! What a wonderful way to put it! eg This Marco should be ashamed to complain in this way! It was wonderful and very satisfying how Frodo dealt with him! It is so true - Marco has really nothing to complain about in comparison to Frodo's own time in prison in the Tower of Cirith Ungol. Marco is not even mistreated as Frodo was. You know, I'd love to know what Marco would say after even fifteen minutes of prison in the hands of orcs! It would give him an entirely other perspective. From what Frodo told Brendi, I loved particularly the part about Gimli and Legolas. They're quite an odd pair, but is is so good to see they were able to overcome the long emnity of their people. Author Reply: We are speaking of Men here, and the kind of Men who would be drawn to follow Saruman doesn't strike me as being the most honorable sort. That we'd have some with odd fetishes seemed likely, and I'll admit I had for some reasons scenes from an old Woody Allen film (see above) running through my head. Gene Allen as the doctor who fell for a patient's sheep and ended up in the gutter drinking Woolite just had to find a way of slipping into this one. And glad you appreciated the matter of describing Frodo's examination of Marco. As for the description of how Legolas and Gimli went from bickering, reluctant allies to friendship and mutual respect--that would, I think, be one of the most deeply appreciated positive effects of the quest in Frodo's mind, I think. Glad you were happy I highlighted how it came to be.

demeter d	Reviewed Chapter: 68 on 1/17/2006
This chapter and the previous one: tales out of legend coming alive to an astonished ordinary hobbit listener. Again, wonderful. Author Reply: The stories are beginning to be told--and believed, if not yet fully understood. Thanks for the vote of appreciation.

Linda Hoyland	Reviewed Chapter: 68 on 1/16/2006
I loved hearing Frodo's account of his healing after Moria,I often wondered how he felt about the Mithril shirt being discovered. Author Reply: Glad you liked it, although I didn't exactly indicate how he felt about Aragorn realizing how he'd survived the spear thrust.

Queen Galadriel	Reviewed Chapter: 68 on 1/16/2006
That Marco Smallburrow is nothing less than appalling! "Frodo Baggins gets a warm bath whenever he pleases..." Oh! I can't believe him! But even while I would like to take him aside and shout at him, I pity him. He doesn't really know all, and though he'd be hard to get through to even if Frodo wanted to try, he might wish to give Frodo far more than the simple pleasure of a warm bath if he really understood the vollume of what Frodo went through, what he did. On a lighter note, I really enjoyed the conversation between Frodo and Brendi. It's nice to see Frodo trying to concentrate on the good memories. Maybe if he could just do that more, it might make the bad a tiny bit easier to bear. God bless, Galadriel Author Reply: Marco is a dense, self-centered Hobbit--no question of that! The chances he'll ever fully appreciate what Frodo's been through, though, are pretty slight, I suspect. So glad you like how Frodo opened more to Brendi, although he glossed over the harder, more frightening bits as much as he could. But just speaking of it is, in part, healing, as you note.

Baggins Babe	Reviewed Chapter: 68 on 1/16/2006
Mixed reponses to this chapter - I was almost rolling at the description of the laundry-raids, and the sheep, not to mention Frodo's bafflement and disbelief. Not the usual sort of incident in the Shire! Marco should be ashamed, especially after hearing what had happened to Frodo himself and the suffering of other hobbits, but he appears to lack a conscience altogether. The contrast between his prison and Frodo's was appalling. I just love Brendilac! He is so sensitive and encouraging when he listens to Frodo, just drawing out some of the tale. And I'm glad that Frodo was able to laugh over some of the stories and enjoy an evening with a friend he trusts. Author Reply: It was fun trying to think of what truly odd things some Men do that would totally baffle Hobbits, and so glad you find the two incidents hilarious. You are right--Marco has no conscience, and fails to accept anyone could have been worse off than he was. To realize he is in the height of luxury as far as prisons go in the world of Middle Earth was needed. It does make an appalling contrast to the Tower of Cirith Ungol, doesn't it? And Brendi is wanting to understand and willing to listen. That he can trust Brendi is important, and I, too, love seeing him laugh at least a little, as he tells some of his story.

harrowcat	Reviewed Chapter: 68 on 1/16/2006
Where indeed? A certain conversation between Merry and Pippin comes to mind in the houses of healing. And, of course a lovely hobbit lass with a name beginning with N! Too late, too late we all sigh apart from the writers of AU stories that I rarely read. This account is great. It made me feel that I was there all over again. Jet says 'WOOF' (Imagine large teenage dog with voice breaking!) Author Reply: Yes, Frodo has lost a good deal, and is not likely to open up to a woman of his people after what he's been through and what he's seen, both the evil and the fair. And Narcissa Boffin won't have a chance to know love with the one she's been obsessed with since she was a young lass, although one day she'll appreciate the one with whom Frodo converses tonight, at least. So glad you enjoyed it. And we return the "Woof" and add in a selection of waving tails.

Andrea	Reviewed Chapter: 68 on 1/16/2006
Well, Marco certainly deserved every bit of the treatment he got from Frodo! The comparison of Frodo's prison in the tower of Cirith Ungol to the "luxurious hobbit version" was really an eye-opener! Again, I'm impressed with Frodo's storytelling abilities and Brendi's way to make him speak of his journey, gentler than the first time, more listening than asking and never demanding! That bit about Gimli falling in love with the Lady Galadriel and Frodo's love for Queen Arwen was very interesting. "Where among the women of his own people would he find her like?" Yes, where indeed? I'm looking forward to reading about Frodo's first meeting with Narcissa after the quest - from his point of view, maybe? Author Reply: The comparison between a Hobbit prison cell as planned by Frodo and accommodating Hobbit sensibilities better than the Tower of Cirith Ungol or what the Big Men inflicted on Will and Lobelia indeeds makes quite a contrast. Marco simply doesn't want to accept that he's actually pretty well off. Yes, Frodo is his uncle's cousin indeed when it comes to telling stories, and Brendi is a far less anxious listener this time. As for the first meeting with Narcissa from Frodo's point of view--that will very likely show up in future chapters.

French Pony	Reviewed Chapter: 68 on 1/16/2006
I enjoyed the first half of the chapter very much. I love the way Frodo dealt with Marco. His wisdom is really showing, and he seems to be getting his sense of humor back. It's a small but happy blessing that the Ring didn't take that from him permanently. And he will certainly need a sense of humor for the long work of cleaning up the Shire. It seems a very Hobbity thing to go to the trouble of tracking down and recording each little lost object and then returning it to its rightful owner. And I laughed heartily at the story of the Hobbit-panty raid and the ultimate destination of said panties. Even in times of woe and trouble, human nature manages to come out with some pretty bizarre things. I have to admit that I skimmed much of the rest of the chapter where Frodo was recounting his adventures to Brendi in the inn. It seemed to be mostly retelling, in abbreviated fashion, of a plotline we're already familiar with. Author Reply: Marco is having his mind opened to the fact he isn't the center of the universe, and neither is his mother; and that he hasn't the right to do what he pleases with what he pleases. Along the way a bit of the outer world he is only vaguely aware of is being revealed to him, as well as the fact he's nowhere as badly put upon as he thinks. Glad you got a chuckle out of some of the more bizarre (in Hobbits' eyes) things the Men did, including the panty raids and the sheep (the image of Daisy in Woody Allen's "Everything you Wanted to Know about Sex" sort of pushed itself into my awareness, and I had to find a way of accommodating it into this story). In Frodo's retelling it's not as much what he tells that's important as what he FAILS to tell. But I agree, this is a part of the story that we are indeed aware of.

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 68 on 1/16/2006
Marco Smallburrow is an idiot. How can he think, at this point, of attempting to justify his actions and blaming others for treating him badly? The hobbit's a fool. But he did provoke Frodo into revealing something he probably wouldn't have said under any other circumstances. And Brendi coaxed out a few more. Some of the stories of the Troubles coming out are very strange - and I'll bet the strangest ones are likely to be true! If you are making it up for the compensation, you would want to be sure your story was realistic. Author Reply: Marco's mind, like Bedro Bracegirdle in "The Ties of Family," is that of the career criminal--totally self-absorbed and certain the entire world revolves around himself. And it did shake loose some details that Frodo would not have told otherwise, and at least one Hobbit besides Marco heard and will remember; eventually adding to the pieces of the puzzle of what Frodo accomplished out there for the rest. And you are right, the strangest of the stories of what the Big Men did are indeed likely to be the most true. And so hope they gave a chuckle.

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