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The Acceptable Sacrifice by Larner	11 Review(s)
grumpy	Reviewed Chapter: 70 on 1/24/2006
Loved Aragorn's trip to see the home for children, and to collect Arwin, so Aragorn can sleep at night. Maybe it was Gimli's axe that made the boy think he would like to see the woodpile. What a great reaction from Legolas, when he learned that Gimli could sail with him. Author Reply: Now that Aragorn finally has his queen by him, I suspect every night spent away from her is welcomed grudgingly, and he'd do anything to have her by him again. She's now a part of his life in the relative peace to have followed the War of the Ring. And I do suspect that it was the axe that would spark the boy's determination to show Gimli the wood pile. After all, what other reason does the child know for carrying axes? And I suspect Aragorn is just as glad this is true for the child. And I've long suspected the allowance of Gimli into Aman was done as much for the comfort of Legolas as for Gimli in the end. So glad you approve.

Antane	Reviewed Chapter: 70 on 1/20/2006
Now that's interesting - pointing out that Saruman was a fallen angel, his heart and will corrupted by the Ring though he never even touched it and our dear, mortal hobbit, who wore it against his heart for months, was not corrupted by it as this angel was. Very cool! Namarie, God bless, Antane :) Author Reply: It is quite the contrast, isn't it, Antane? Yet Frodo felt he was corrupted by it, although his behavior afterwards shows this wasn't true. So glad you appreciated that.

Radbooks	Reviewed Chapter: 70 on 1/19/2006
I'll bet Aragorn missed Arwen for an overnight - they haven't been married that long! :) I enjoyed having Legolas and Gimli with Aragorn and them all riding together and talking about various things that were happening. Then the images in the children's home were wonderful... especially the boy wanting to show the woodpile to Gimli! That made me grin. I loved both Gimli's and Legolas's response to the news that the eagle brought. Stunned and disbelieving on the part of Gimli and joyous and disbelieving on the part of Legolas... maybe hopeful on his part too. Very nice! Author Reply: It would be difficult for Aragorn when he must be apart from Arwen, particularly when it's HIS turn to stay home. As for what the children would wish to share--was writing from my own experience with those children who've been drawn to me over the years. And surely someone who carries an axe must feel an affinity for woodpiles, don't you think? As for the reactions to Gwaihir's news--I have long felt that this might indeed be intended more for the comfort of Legolas than for Gimli himself, although the fact he's the first Elf-friend among Dwarves in ages of the world also must have played a part in it. So glad you approve!

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 70 on 1/19/2006
Gimli seems rather staggered. It must be hard to understand - and, at this point, I wonder if he really thinks he will want to take up the offer. He might still have some illusion that life will be back to normal again one day. They all seem very happy to get their letters. Author Reply: Well, I'd be staggered to learn I was being allowed exclusive admittance to the retirement community of my people's longstanding enemies or rivals, wouldn't you? But life will never be the same for any of them. And I do think all of them, and particularly Lasgon, would be pleased with the letters, even if Aragorn finds his disconcerting.

Kitty	Reviewed Chapter: 70 on 1/19/2006
Legolas and Gimli feel very alike to me about the happenings in the Shire. The difference between Frodo and Saruman is really astonishing, isn't it? Legolas' reaction to the news Gimli was admitted to Tol Eressea, too, was so touching! The poor elf will have a difficult future, I fear. He has made so many mortal friends and will have to watch them age and die, one after the other - certainly a very trying time for him. For him, there is no hope to see them again after he himself dies, as he is the one immortal among them. And when all of them, save Gimli, are dead, he has to leave the land of his birth and his beloved woods in Eryn Lasgalen and Ithilien forever. Surely it is a bit easier for him to be able to take Gimli with him. I am truly glad they are so very good friends! Author Reply: Yes, the contrast between Frodo and Saruman, who was created to be a being of highest good, couldn't be greater. Certainly Gimli would feel most protective of the Hobbits, while Legolas would see the irony and strange contrast of the situation. And you are right on how touching it is that Legolas and Gimli have been granted this gift of being allowed to go together, once Aragorn is himself gone. Once Gimli too has left the bounds of Arda, Legolas and Gandalf are all who are left, until the end of the world, at which time they all find themselves able to be together once more. I, too, am glad that Elf and Dwarf have become most strange of brothers of the heart.

shirebound	Reviewed Chapter: 70 on 1/19/2006
What a lovely chapter; but I especially enjoyed the end, where we learn that Legolas had a fear of being left alone by all he loved... and now has one more gift of the Valar to look forward to. Author Reply: Yes, that had to be one of the greatest gifts offered to him, and a wonderful reward to both for their part in the Fellowship. And that this came jointly from Valar and Creator would mean even more, I think.

harrowcat	Reviewed Chapter: 70 on 1/19/2006
And there is so much healing offered to both in not being alone. Of course, Galadriel will be there to greet Gimli too - to his heart's delight and healing. The orphanage sounds as delightful a place as one could be and I like how people so soon become comfortable with all these notable people. How is Aragorn getting on with those Nobles of Gondor who are full of their own importance? I know that they are not integral to this story but we are seeing how the ones in the Shire fare with Frodo guiding the Shire as Deputy Mayor. Above all, te comparison of Frodo and Saruman was great, especially the lapse into quenya. It was a nice touch. Jet is at the vets today to have a small lump/cyst removed fom near his tail. The vet thinks that it is benign but after losing Bess to Cancer in August both my Dad and I are understandably anxious. So Jet sends a small yelp! Author Reply: It must have been such a wonder to both to have been granted that grace, to go together to Tol Eressea for the remainder of Gimli's life. Neither was left in the Mortal Lands alone at the last. As this is focusing more on Frodo's acceptance of his own role, I felt that looking at Aragorn's interactions with the nobles of Gondor wouldn't necesarily be as apropos, although I, too, loved the glimpse of the two royals and their companions in a village in Lossarnach. I felt the lapse into Quenya most proper, for I don't think that Legolas would wish to discuss Saruman's origins within hearing and understanding of Men at arms he didn't even know. So glad you approve. Oh, dear, a cyst already? Very young, but not uncommon among labs in my experience. Don't know about Jet's genetic tendencies, however. Laddie had four removed and another which had formed just before he died of congestive heart failure. Praying for Jet.

Dreamflower	Reviewed Chapter: 70 on 1/19/2006
Another surprise change in POV--yet I like this very much, for Frodo and the other hobbits still had to be very much on the minds of their former companions. After so long in one another's company, the remaining members of the Fellowship were truly like family to one another. As Aragorn describes the troubles the hobbits had at home, I love the reactions you show of Legolas and Gimili. Gimli's fierce and lowering anger seems very much in character for him--you could well believe he would very much enjoy a chance to avenge the hurts to his hobbit friends. And I also love the astonishment shown by Legolas: Legolas shook his head in disbelief. “How is it that Frodo Baggins has in his heart more capacity for compassion and forgiveness than even the Valar?” he asked. “What, my friend Aragorn Elessar, has Iluvatar wrought in this Perian?” The Man sighed, his own face sad. “He yet blames himself, Legolas, for having claimed It at the end, and will not blame any other for how It affected them.” Legolas’s denial was intensely controlled. “Yet, once the Ring was destroyed Frodo did not go on to punish all who might have coveted it. He never sought to breed twisted souls to serve as his army. He never sought to coerce others to his will, or to lead others to corruption--or further into corruption. Saruman did all this and more, seeking to hide his own search for the thing for centuries and to convince all others that It was beyond finding. And he was created to stand before the face of Iluvatar Himself!” he added in Quenya, a language Aragorn had never heard him use before in conversation. “Yet,” he continued again in the Common Tongue, “here we have a simple Perian who is the soul of compassion. How is it that such a fragile-seeming mortal is yet better proof to Its corrupting influence than one of the Istari? Even Mithrandir feared to touch It.” And you can tell here that Legolas would love the chance to perhaps speak to Frodo, to embrace him and tell him this--to lessen his pain, or at least to try. And I like the way they react to Aragorn's news that Gimli would be allowed to go West with his friend. The notion that he will soon--for an Elf--be bereft of his closest friends must have been haunting the Elf ever sense things were over. Of course, we know that the three hobbits could not have lasted so long, to be able to greet Legolas and Gimli when they arrive, yet sometimes I wish that could have been possible, until I then realize how much harder it would have been on Legolas to lose them all over again...still, I sometimes would like to see an AU fic that would explore the idea. Author Reply: The news needed to be given to Gimli and Legolas of the special dispensation granted to a Dwarf, the first Elvellon among Dwarves in ages, and the only one I'm aware of to have been granted the right to consume lembas, much less to have become enamored no matter in how seemly a fashion with one of the greatest queens among Elves. The switch back to Gondor therefore seemed needed, if only briefly. Of the remaining companions, Gandalf, Legolas, and Aragorn would be the three to best appreciate just what the existence and then the destruction of the Ring would mean to all of Middle Earth; and after Gandalf Legolas would best appreciate just how corrupting it could be. Frodo's resistance to it must have been such a great wonder, particularly when he could contrast just how the THOUGHT of the thing affected Saruman. All Elves must have been totally amazed.

French Pony	Reviewed Chapter: 70 on 1/18/2006
The contrast in people's opinions of Frodo is a fascinating thing to see. Frodo still thinks he's guilty of a horrific crime against all people. Other Hobbits don't see him as anything special yet. And down in Gondor, he's the next thing to holy. My favorite part of this chapter was right at the end, when they hear about how Gimli gets to go over the Sea. It was so clear that Legolas had been worrying and hadn't wanted to tell anyone about it, and his relief that someone noticed his secret worry was very touching. Author Reply: Yes, different folk have different feelings toward Frodo, with him holding the lowest (and in ways also the most unrealistic highest) opinion of all, which is not the way it ought to be. Yet that is how we do tend to be as individuals, having the least realistic images of ourselves at times. And am so glad you found the ending touching. That must have been difficult for Legolas, to have developed such a close relationship and admiration for the rest, and to know he'll outlive all of them save Gandalf, who would already be beyond the sea before he would build his small ship for is own voyage. It must have been a great weight off his heart, knowing he wouldn't be either staying for Gimli's death as well, or fleeing before it.

Queen Galadriel	Reviewed Chapter: 70 on 1/18/2006
Ah, a home for children left orphaned by war. An excellent idea and one which I would be interested to see shown in more depth. “What, my friend Aragorn Elessar, has Iluvatar wrought in this Perian?" What, indeed. I wonder how often those in the story, and those who enjoy it, have wondered that. And the ending of this chapter was beautiful! I find myself becoming more and more intrigued by the friendship between Gimli and Legolas, and it's so satisfying to read of Gimli being granted the gift of departing with his friend when the time comes. God bless, Galadriel Author Reply: Aragorn and Arwen would have been intensely interested in seeing the children orphaned by war taken care of. Don't know when I'd revisit the orphanage, but it may come. Frodo's greater ability to withstand the influence of the Ring than almost all others would be staggering to those who truly know Its power; and I felt one of those who generally kept quiet on the subject would have the most impact if he commented on it. I'm so very glad that Legolas and Gimli were given that gift, that when the time came Legolas was not forced to leave all behind. The two traditional enemies who became brothers in spite of all--their relationship is a wonder to all.

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