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The Acceptable Sacrifice by Larner	15 Review(s)
Radbooks	Reviewed Chapter: 86 on 3/5/2006
This was a wonderful, if bittersweet chapter, knowing as I do what happens between Brendi and Narcissa. But it truly was a special and wonderful time between Frodo and Brendi. I am hoping that Brendi was able to actually make Frodo see how vain he was about the fact that he didn't destroy the ring on his own... but we'll see. I loved the descriptions of the garden as Brendi walked up the hill and the seat that Frodo sat in. All nicely done.

grumpy	Reviewed Chapter: 86 on 2/28/2006
I do like your discription of the gardens, and beds of plants, plus the path of blue stones leading up to the hill. Sounds like a wonderful place to spend the day. Loved Brendi's thoughts on the distroying of the ring. Author Reply: So glad you appreciate it all, too, Grumpy. Brendi is one of the few in the Shire who knows almost the full story before it's all over, having heard bits and pieces from this one or that. And he's one who has to care for what happens to Frodo, as friend, relative, and personal lawyer. Plus, he receives, in his way, a special bequest from Frodo in the shape of a second love he didn't expect to find, and a family to go with it.

demeter d	Reviewed Chapter: 86 on 2/22/2006
Another lovely chapter! Brendi trying to do as so many others have tried, to get Frodo to see that he was only one part of the Quest, and really did do all he could have. I too, am enjoying your new characters, Brendi, Narcissa, Mina Whitefoot... Just a note to Lady Saruman. Frodo's sadness and that attitude of just never being happy again comes right out of Tolkien's books. They allow us, the readers, to deal with our own griefs. And I do not see his dreamings about Narcissa as neccesarily "perverted." Had he dwelt on this, or done the kind of things the ring wanted him to, yes, I would say that. Instead, I see him as paying loving tribute to a dream that he sees he could never have. Sensuality kept within bounds, used with love and reapect, is one of life's most beautiful gifts. Best wishes to both of you. Author Reply: It's taken a time to get to your lovely review, and I fear I can't do it justice. You've expressed precisely what I wanted to show through those three pictures, and particularly the third. Our culture has been so brainwashed to see sexual innuendo everywhere, including places it's not intended or where nudity is primarily intended to be a reflection of love of form or even spiritual awareness rather than titillating; and it's a hard image to fight. By insisting on this interpretation of nudity, we end up forcing our children to be sexualized at early ages, adding to our problems instead of relieving them. I am very pleased people enjoy my original characters; but Frodo certainly didn't live in a world in which he had a limited number of relationships and no more--I just wanted to give more scope for Frodo to relate in different ways with different people, and with those who didn't have preconceptions about what was done and how it was done and who was to blame and who was not. In this way our characters have a means to broaden their own understandings of what they did as well as allowing us know a more full a more rounded understanding of just how important or unimportant some of the actions and choices commited can be seen to be in the long run. I don't know if I'm making any sense right how--I'm up WAY too late right now!

French Pony	Reviewed Chapter: 86 on 2/21/2006
Brendi is such a good friend. He's got that logical mind of a lawyer, and an infinite supply of patience when helping Frodo put things into perspective. Frodo is definitely lucky to have such understanding people around him. And Brendi's poking at Frodo's ego was a welcome touch of comedy. I think I'm all caught up now. . . Author Reply: Getting someone to laugh at their own foibles is sometimes the first step to accepting them emotionally as well as rationally, which is one thing Frodo needs to do. So glad you appreciate the friendship between these two, which is quite different from that seen in his relationships with Merry and Pippin, which is different again from that with Sam, or Aragorn. And you are right we need such folks around us!

Linda Hoyland	Reviewed Chapter: 86 on 2/21/2006
I enjoyed this chapter of how we come to know about Aragorn's coronation. I liked Brendi here as he voices excellent and true arguments to Frodo,though the poot Hobbit will always blame himself. I just checked the back of ROTK and it says Earnur vanished in 2050 but the WHite Tree didn't die until 2852. I loved the atmosphere you created with the flowers. Author Reply: Yes, Frodo does blame himself, which is foolish, particularly as in doing so he ends up denying himself and Narcissa a possible wonderful time together. And thinking of how Frodo might have worked on the Red Book and how once in a while he gets out of order as just being up there brings to mind the coronation I, too, found likely and appropriate. And I'm wrong, but it won't be the first or the last time, I'm certain. Why the eight hundred years, I wonder? Tolkien's logic wasn't always easy to follow. Thanks for the correction.

Andrea	Reviewed Chapter: 86 on 2/21/2006
“What are you laughing at, Brendilac Brandybuck?” he demanded. “At you, Frodo Baggins, at you and your absurd vanity. Oh, my beloved cousin--you are the best--and the most conceited--Hobbit the Creator ever saw born into the Shire. You don’t want to have had to have shared the glory of destroying Sauron’s Ring--you want to have done it all yourself, even though you know, and probably knew from the moment you offered to carry It further than Rivendell--you couldn’t do it alone. Oh, Frodo, I love you past bearing--you know that, don’t you?” That's it, exactly! Brendi calls it later "Baggins pride and stubbornness" - and Frodo is the most stubborn of all, but I'm quite sure that pride is also largely concerned. Frodo has always thought that he alone would be capable of dealing with the Ring to drive away all danger from his friends and family. And he has not yet truly accepted that this was impossible, even for him. You know what I think about Frodo and Narcissa, and Brendi is right, even a short time together would have given them the chance to experience true love and fulfillment. I thinks it's quite telling that "the voice" calls him "Frodo Baggins" and not by his Elvish name. This matter has nothing to do with the quest, it's quite private and hobbity. And it's spoken like a mother or father would have to a stubborn child - maybe the last attempt to convince him! The outcome makes me always sad. Thank you, Larner, this chapter was really great! Author Reply: Yes, it was definitely as a parent the voice seeks to reason with Frodo this time. Tolkien indicated Frodo's pride was one of his greatest faults in many ways, and his pride gets in the way of emotionally accepting he couldn't have done it alone, gets in the way of accepting he had made enough of a sacrifice in doing what he did, now gets in the way of the marriage he might have known and enjoyed because he won't deliver "damaged goods" with a distinct "pull date" in the not-to-distant future to a possible bride. And so he denies himself and Narcissa what they might have known for what time was granted to them. And thank you for your comments.

Dreamflower	Reviewed Chapter: 86 on 2/21/2006
I do love Brendilac! He cares so much for Frodo--you have created a wonderful OC in him, and I'm so glad I know how his story turns out, though I find it ironic that it is he who encourages Frodo to try and find happiness with Narcissa. And he must have been a very good lawyer--his cross-examination of Frodo was masterful, getting his reluctant "witness" to part with a story he usually does not care to tell, and to draw the correct conclusions from them. Sadly, of course, Frodo does not follow through in his heart--but at least in his head he understands. But he is still clinging to the remains of his pride and guilt, a lasting legacy of It. But my favorite part was the beginning, as you describe all the beautiful plants and flowers in the garden, and how it has all begun to be renewed and fruitful again! I love this whole chapter! Author Reply: So very glad all seem to have enjoyed this chapter, as it was obviously intended to be quite moving. Imagining how the gardens of Bag End would be renewed is fascinating, and am so glad I managed to convey my image of it to so many others. Brendi sees what Frodo could have that he's already seen done; Frodo is being all too noble and all and is missing out on one joy he wanted more than any other, and he'll regret it, but accept the choice he made as he finally knows the healing he mist know. As for the irony--as I say elsewhere, in ways it is Frodo who brings Brendi and Narcissa together, gifting them to one another, two he cared deeply for and whom he felt he couldn't fulfill himself, so he gave them to one another to fulfill one another, if that makes sense. Thanks so much for the detailed response.

harrowcat	Reviewed Chapter: 86 on 2/21/2006
What a fantastic chapter Larner - so much lovely detail, lots of unexpected twists and so much to comment on. A really key chapter. Where to start? Hm..Ah yes.... Concerning hobbit gardens g lots of delicious detail. Fat bumblebees blundered from blossom to blossom I could see, smell and almost touch those flowers. And I liked Brendi's reaction to the Kingsfoil - including the fact that he spotted different varieties! The way we travel from flowers to herbs to fruit to wild flowers is great. I assume that the veg garden is the other side of Bag End? Concerning hobbit thrones... I found this a little harder to visulise & imagine but what a clever idea and the comparisons were wonderful, even the linking image of Aragorn with his sword and Frodo with his pen! What a shame that it has to be cut down but then I got a funny picture in my head of the stump beginning to grow again and the 'throne' ending up in the air like one of the Flets in Lothlorien.! A lovely opportunity for more of the Tale to come out and Brendi's 'education' to continue. And then you change the mood as swiftly as a Nazgul flying over... Concerning pictures... Quoting that sentence and juxtaposing the picture of Sam as a 'Lord of the Free Peoples ' was very clever. I am glad that it is Brendi that you have discussing the studies ofNarcissa. He is such a lovely character. In many ways he seems to 'inherit' a lot from Frodo like Sam. I could see him as Mayor after Sam or deputy to him. (Has anyone written anything about this?) Lots of people seem to have Frodo and Narcissa's best interests at heart. The way Brendi accepts this picture is very healing for Frodo even though he will not be able to act on it. Brendi was shocked not so much by Frodo’s assertions as his vehemence. He could hear the self-loathing in Frodo’s voice, and knew it wasn’t deserved. Finally he said, “That’s not true, Frodo Baggins, and you know it. If you were as bad as you say, Samwise Gamgee wouldn’t be as devoted to you as he is. There’s not an ounce of guile in the Hobbit--he’s always loved and respected you, and that’s only grown in the time you were gone. So you aren’t perfect? You find anyone who is, Hobbit, Man, Elf, Dwarf, or any other race you know of, and I’ll show you a prodigy incapable of compassion because he can’t appreciate what life is about and how we rise to overcome our mistakes. I bet even your friend the King has made mistakes and has regretted them a time or two.” Frodo’s eyes again shifted away. “Isn’t that true, Frodo?” The way he drew the story of the destruction of the Ring out of Frodo and faced his guilt head on with the true facts was brilliant. Still a case of Frodo being able to realise the truth with his head but not accept it fully in his heart unfortunately. We are truly known by the quality of our friends and the friendship we offer. I think that Frodo dying with the ring would have killed or maimed beyond earthly healing far more than just Sam and Smeagol. Aragorn, at the very least. I really hadn't realised the symmetry between Elrond and Sam as supporters of the Ring-bearers. I would be interested to hear a conversation between to two of them on this topic. The idea that pride and vanity are behind Fodo's inability to accept what happened are so true but beyond my words to talk about! The fact that Saruman was plundering the Shire in order to find the Ring was a new idea to me! Very exciting. You have snuck that one in over the last few chapters haven't you Larner? It really fits in the time line you use. Of course, Saruman must have realised quite quickly that it had left the Shire and, certainly, by the time Sharky reached the Shire personally the ring was destroyed but, heck, you don't countermand orders which are at least bringing in a little wealth and adding to the misery of the people who defended It and It's Keepers for so long. And 'thugs' wouldn't know when to stop anyway! Oh the last bit is so beautiful! “Even as hurt as you’ve been, there’s still more of you to offer someone who loves you than there is in the average Hobbit.” As he watched Frodo solemnly shake his head Brendi again sighed. “Oh, Frodo--don’t you remember when it was Merilinde and me? They’d told us that she had no time left, that she’d be dead in three months. She lived three times that, able to do so because at last she was happy, and when she died she died easily. Just knowing--knowing I loved her enough to marry her anyway helped her hang on long enough to know fulfillment before she went on. I don’t regret a single moment of it all, you know--not even the grief of losing her. There you go again with another similarity between these two. (They are individuals as well I know). If only Frodo could have accepted Narcissa's love and healed in the Shire!!! I was grabbing for the hankies by this time. I hesitate to say say that you can guage my reaction to a chapter by the length of my review as there are many other factors at work - such as time of day I read but in this case..... Author Reply: Yes, it was a long review, and I rejoice it managed to spark so many thoughts. The idea of the stump "throne" somehow growing high in the air like a wood-Elve's flet is indeed an intriguing one, and might indeed rival Aragorn's one day in sheer audacity. I see the vegetable gardens being toward the "back" of the smial, and the orchards on the opposite side of the Hill from the windows, and at the foot of the Hill on the door end a small wood with a stream running through it, once a rich wooded place and now looking a bit ragged because Sharkey's folks cut down the larger trees toward the lane. I have found Brendi growing more and more real, if you would, with each story he appears in. And that he would want to see Frodo know the same type of happiness Merilinde was able to experience would be important to him, particularly as it was Frodo who helped those involved make certain she had the chance to find that fulfillment with him. I have had a lot of enjoyment and intellectual stimulation figuring out what all Saruman might particularly want to find in the Shire. Well, he wanted the Ring and knew it had been there; and his guys were on their way before he'd be certain it had left there. He'd want to preempt the Black Riders, not realizing the Ring and Its bearer were already out of there until his folk were entrenched. And, as you pointed out, orders are orders, and no one told them to stop, so EVERY ring found was saved for Sharkey to examine, even if by that time he'd know it was in vain. Later, after his power has been stripped from him, I see him wanting information, and the more esoteric the better. Elrond has established relationships with some in the Shire sending books? Of course he'd want such things, as one can never be certain when a detail in a book from and Elf's library might JUST turn out useful in regaining power. But by then those with the types of libraries he'd be most drawn to would have hidden their books, so he lost out, poor dear! (I love seeing Sharkey stymied, you might have gathered.) And the pictures--they were just the right ones for the situation, with the indication Frodo is recovering his sexuality at last and is thinking of what he MIGHT have had if chances had allowed. Could he have found healing had he remained? I think he'd have known a more "normal," mortal kind of healing had he married and stayed in Middle Earth, and that he'd still need more afterwards, but not as much as if he'd been denied the right to go to Elvenhome altogether. Anyway, it grows VERY late and I'd best get to bed. Rest well.

Lady Saruman	Reviewed Chapter: 86 on 2/21/2006
This was a great chapter. Well, now you made Frodo all perverted--imagining what Narcissa Boffin would have looked like when she prepared for her bath. The only problem with this chapter was that you always make Frodo blame himself, and so you create an unhappy background and you infect the reader(s) with it. Okay, now I hafta catch up with my homework. See you later today! ^_^ -L.S. ^_~ sigh I'm all pooped out... :P Author Reply: As Demeter D explains it, here I'm merely following both the book and Tolkien's own description of Frodo in his letters, blaming himself for not "succeeding," realizing he still wants the Ring and hating that in himself, feeling emptied, and so on. Tolkien deliberately wrote Frodo in keeping with his understanding of the condition he knew as shell shock and which we now call post-traumatic stress disorder or syndrome. It's a very nasty condition, and it is VERY, very common in Holocaust survivors, in survivors of natural disasters and mass murders, people caught in battles, rape survivors, and so on. I've purposely based many of Frodo's actions on real-life PTSD victims, like those who survived starvation diets of Nazi camps who afterward had to have water and bread available at all times--they may not have wanted to eat them, but had to know they were available just to get through the day. And in spite of consciously knowing they aren't to blame, they can't escape the emotional feelings that they are responsible for the bad things that happened. Being at places associated with the trauma can trigger the memories, as can, in many cases, anniversaries, or certain sounds or smells. There are veterans of wars who cannot bear fireworks; and others who focus on such things obsessively. You never know how the reactions will surface. Frodo, for the first time since he got the Ring, is having a normal upsurgence of his own sexuality, and the girl he left behind is catching his eye again, but he feels he can't do anything about it. So, he does what many of us who are artistically capable have done, drawn her naked in an attempt to imagine what it would be like to be able to know that intimacy. He's not done it for purposes of exciting himself, but as Brendi notes, capturing a moment of beautiful innocence in his mind. Not all nudes are pornographic, after all, and I've had to sit on some fifth-graders to get that idea through their heads. I hope I haven't destroyed your feelings of Frodo's relative innocence, for I don't think he ever lost that. I, personally, would have preferred Narcissa had been Tolkien's own character and that Frodo had married her after all.

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 86 on 2/21/2006
Frodo's ... depression ... negativity ... can't get quite the right word - is probably an effect the Ring would be delighted to see. He is determined to see himself as unworthy, even as he points out just how well everybody else managed. Blinkered. But, considering just how little time he has left, maybe it was better not to take things further with Narcissa. He might have felt unable to sail then, and wouldn't have had the time to recover his sense of proportion in the west. And Narcissa does end up happy with Brendi! I love the description of Bag End's restored garden. And the seat in the tree stump overlooking so much of the Shire. A good place for Frodo to sit and think about what was saved. Author Reply: Yes, I think the Ring would have been well pleased at many of the emotional and spiritual scars It left in Frodo. And I'm certain It trained him to see himself as unworthy. But the armor or cocoon or sarcophagus or whatever it is around him is starting to be chinked by all the attempts to crack it, so much so that at the last it will be able to fall away as is right and proper--but not, unfortunately, until he's gone to the Undying Lands. Blinkered--good description of it. What time he might have had left had Frodo accepted a love in the Shire we can't know, but probably more than he expected. Perhaps he'd not have gone to the Undying Lands to recover his sense of proportion there, but he still might have found himself on the way to such before he left his life here. I, too, was glad when I found Narcissa could be happy with Brendi and her ready-made family of the Hobbit twins she accepted for Frodo's sake. In ways the four of them were Frodo's gifts to one another. He did wish them all joy, after all. And am so glad all loved the description of the restored garden. It must have been such a relief to Sam and Frodo as well as the folk of the region of the Hill to see it come back as it did. And the tree stump just begged to be so utilized, I found.

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