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The Acceptable Sacrifice by Larner	9 Review(s)
Radbooks	Reviewed Chapter: 87 on 3/5/2006
That storms can bring on their nightmares seems totally real and very sad. A storm can be an enjoyable thing to watch... if it's not too terribly wild! :) I liked watching lightening storms anyway, not so much the wind storms I get now that I'm a homeowner! :) Anyway, I was glad that Sara got to see all of them having nightmares... he needed to see that. I only wish Pal had been there, though I know his own awakening won't come for awhile. I loved Viola talking to Budgie about him thinking that complaints that a woman had might not be real. That is a universal problem! :)

Andrea	Reviewed Chapter: 87 on 2/25/2006
But I don’t want to leave my identity as a Hobbit. You are more than just a Hobbit, Iorhael. You are a Lord of all the Free Peoples of Middle Earth. But I belong to the Shire! Why do you not accept a marriage with one of Hobbit-kind who loves you in return, then? That was brilliantly countered. I love "the voice". But Frodo is far too stubborn to listen to it's advice! I was amazed by the knowledge Rosie has now about the quest. And the way she told about it shows that she believes her Sam every word. Saradoc experiences the same problems as the other hobbits. His rational thinking is disturbed by the reappearance of Gandalf as the White. On the other hand he tries to help his son as best he can and he accepts it, when Merry refuses to tell him of his nightmare. Budgie's reactions are also very interesting. As a healer he knows of kingsfoil, of course. But like the herb master in Minas Tirith he does not know the true value of it and does not believe there is any value - simply because there is no proof! But he found out immediately about Frodo's weak heart. He is a good healer, but he could improve his skills, if he listened more to experience, not only to science. I studied physics, but in my current job I have learned that experience is really a treasure! Author Reply: Yes, the Voice does try to advise, but never forces, finding ways around the stubbornness in the end. So glad you appreciate Rosie's knowledge of the quest, for I think that Sam would have shared most of it with her early on, both out of consideration for her need to know as his closest family now and as he'd undoubtedly have his own nightmares she'd have to deal with. Sara doesn't quite know what to believe, but won't disagree even when he finds his credulity strained--he's realized the Travellers have seen far more of what CAN happen out there in the world than he has, after all. As for Budgie--he's a decent healer, but needs a bit of the pride in his training and expertise knocked out of him by experience. You are certainly right about how important that is in truly understanding the world.

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 87 on 2/23/2006
I loved Rosie here. She shares a lot of Sam's practical good sense and generosity of spirit. All those gentlehobbits must be looking at this Lord of the Free Peoples and his lady and registering that they are not the rustics they might have thought a few years before. Frodo, maybe, knows he's rather sicker than others choose to think. Although Budgie needs to listen to Viola and not be quite so sure of himself, he's seen something Frodo is doing his best to hide. Author Reply: Class at birth is never an indication of what the individual is limited to, and this is particularly true of Sam and Rosie. They are individuals in their own right, and quite intelligent ones with tons of Hobbit sense to spare. Budgie is keeping his own counsel now, not certain if saying too much might push Frodo into a faster decline. After all, he's already convinced that Frodo is suggestible as he uses kingsfoil. But here I'll admit in some ways Budgie reflects the attitude of some very nice doctors I've met who nevertheless pooh-pooh comments made by their patients if they don't agree with their own suspicions, and tend to think of complaints more common to women as not worth bothering and possibly psychosomatic in nature. I've really liked a couple of these, but quit one when he stopped listening to what I said about my own condition. Yet Budgie does see truly that Frodo's condition isn't the best at the moment.

Kitty	Reviewed Chapter: 87 on 2/23/2006
“And how,” demanded the young Took, “am I supposed to forget a question like that, Frodo Baggins?” Very valid question! I doubt Pippin can truly forget this ... Well, Saradoc makes progress. He took quite well what Rosie was telling him. But it is about time Merry is able to open up and talk about his own experiences and nightmares. As for Budgie, maybe you should send him to Gondor for some months to learn first hand not only about kingsfoil, but what more the healers there know. I’m sure he would be amazed and interested to learn a bit more. Viola is so right – the fact Budgie doesn’t know something isn’t the same than to mean it doesn’t exist at all! Author Reply: No, it's not quite the type of question any thoughtful individual could forget. That Frodo is already thinking of himself as fading would be a shock to Pippin at this point. Getting Merry to talk is taking more doing than getting Frodo to do so. Frodo is obviously in worse condition, and so people will probe more; but Merry seems to be whole, and so people back off more when he first tells them to do so, and so he's not getting it out in the open as he needs to do. As for Budgie going to Gondor--well, he does so in "The King's Commission" and "The Ties of Family," and I'm certain comes home a far more capable healer in the end.

harrowcat	Reviewed Chapter: 87 on 2/22/2006
It's midnight again Larner and I just have to go to bed as I have a 9am start! So I had better not leave you another 'bumper' review even though this chapter truly deserves it. I liked the nightmare scene the best including Rosie's matter-of-fact recounting of the Tale. Hope the migrane is subsiding and not making you feel too sick. Virtual cold cloths, Kingsfoil tea and many hobbity hugs being sent your way dear friend. Author Reply: I am not a morning person, and when I have to do a day shift right now must be there at 7:00 am, which doesn't make for a competent worker, I fear. So glad you love Rosie's description of how Frodo and Sam ended up marching with orcs. That would be a shock to someone like Saradoc, I think, realizing this "simple" lass knows more of what happened to his kinsman than he does, and that she sees it somehow as something that needed doing. Migraine is gone, but still have multiple points of frustration right now. Am about to fall on some heads again. Hate tenants!

Queen Galadriel	Reviewed Chapter: 87 on 2/22/2006
sigh Oh, dear me! Poor hobbits--and that includes Freddy this time. If I were in their place I'd be ready by now to scream something about, "If I hear 'how am I to believe that' one more time, I declare I'll go mad!" I do know something of what it is to be doubted, as a writer and in other matters. But it usually just eggs me on--and I'm wondering when I really will do something insane. (I once could have done myself real injury trying to do some stupid, fancy move off the diving board after overhearing a couple of boys three years younger than I saying "the blind girl" couldn't do it. smirksOh, I repented all right, when I came out of the water with big sore spots where the water had slapped me so hard it hurt. It was really very silly to be angry and show off like that, but I can't help laughing at it now.) Anyway... I really love how you portray Saradoc here; kind and fatherly, as I've always liked to imagine him. And that bad weather would stir up memories, even, maybe, subconsciously, seems a likely thing. And I absolutely love Pippin's way of showing Frodo what he still has to give-excellent and very true! One question though. When you were describing the gifts Frodo sent to the rest of his family and friends on his birthday, you said "Dora and Griffo." Didn't you mean "Daisy and Griffo?" Or am I just the one who's confused? As to something you said in your reply to one of my other reviews, yes. Looking back over the four Gospels themselves, Jesus does sometimes use Peter and sometimes Simon. And really, now that I think about it, that's very telling. It seems almost fatherly. I think i can make a pretty good guess by now that this voice belongs to Iluvatar. I'll be sad to see this story end, but I know how it goes when trying to work on fanfic and originals. For me it does not work. Well, off to finish a gift and try to think of just one of the myriads of things a king and a stubborn Baggins can argue about. :) Say, does it have to be just one? :) God bless, Galadriel Author Reply: I, too, tend to get frustrated when told such things, and I'd think Freddy and the travelers would all get tired of it. But Budgie is competent as a diagnostician, and is noting Frodo is NOT in good condition. But that he's not the first or only one with this knowledge, and that his patient is far more knowledgable about his own condition than he supposes isn't something he yet realizes. Needs a bit of stretching for his mind. (And being told "You can't do that" was the best way on earth to get me to try it when I was younger.) Saradoc is a decent Hobbit and father who may overdo it as far as overprotecting folk goes, but is actually very perceptive and competent, and capable of learning from his own mistakes. He WILL work out in the end. Pippin is perceptive, also, which will add to his effectiveness when he's Thain. Thanks for the correction--have seen to it. As for Douglas--do check out some of his books, such as The Robe (read the book--the first two thirds of the movie version is tripe!), The Big Fisherman, and Forgive Us our Trespasses. He was also a minister, and from what I can tell from reading his collected sermons, an excellent preacher. Author Reply: P.S. You can have as many elements to the argument as you wish, and resolve it as you see fit as well. Have fun!

Dreamflower	Reviewed Chapter: 87 on 2/22/2006
Oh my! A chapter with so much meat to it! I love the way Frodo's loved ones are gradually coming to learn and piece together more and more of the truth. When Pippin cornered Frodo, and then Frodo let slip his true reasons for not showing interest in Narcissa, I just wanted to hug Pippin! Frodo really does need so much to get some of his fears out in the open! That all of them were having nightmares at more or less the same time is something else that makes so much sense. And I like very much that Saradoc is witness to a good deal of it--he needs to know what happened, and, again it is happening with a little bit here and a little bit there. His conversation with the "voice" was very insightful: But I don’t want to leave my identity as a Hobbit. You are more than just a Hobbit, Iorhael. You are a Lord of all the Free Peoples of Middle Earth. But I belong to the Shire! Why do you not accept a marriage with one of Hobbit-kind who loves you in return, then? But I won’t live that long. None is guaranteed the next day, or the next after that, not even those of Elf-kind. A successful marriage is not dependent on the length of time it lasts, but on the joy shared while it lasts. I don’t wish to leave her bereft when I must leave her. Usually one or the other must go first. The Lady Arwen will know grief when her chosen Lord goes before her, yet it has not stopped her from accepting the joy of the present. But she will be able to know a hundred years with him ere that time comes. If he is not slain facing the enemy, or by an assassin. Such have been common enough endings for his kind. Very true; life comes with no guarantees. Budgie's skepticism is interesting. He admits what the wounds and scars look like, yet somehow can't bring himself to accept the explanation--I like the way both Freddy and Viola set him straight. Even though he doesn't agree, at least he has sense enough not to keep arguing. And we are now at the halfway point. It is only a few more months until Frodo's decision is inevitable... Author Reply: Yes, Pippin is showing his ability to evaluate situations is being honed and is becoming more mature; and Frodo's realizing Pippin isn't just a precocious kid any more but increasingly the adult he now is at heart; and the same is true for Saradoc, who's seeing more maturity and responsibility from his nephew than he's accustomed to seeing. His growing acceptance of Pippin as a blooming adult will help the Thain to the same position, I think. Frodo has criticized others for accepting or embracing illusions, and needs to accept this is his own tendency as well. Budgie is very like some of the doctor's I've known--very nice, competent diagnosticians, and yet unwilling to see patients as being competent themselves in their knowledge of their bodies, and tending to be skeptical of that which is beyond their own experience. Actually quit going to one doctor I liked very much for precisely that reason--he stopped listening. Had he at least stopped arguing and accepted I MIGHT have known what I was talking about, I'd probably have continued going to him for years. As it was, he ordered a medication we'd already established had very serious side effects for me that would in the end have made it harder to treat me, and he insulted my intelligence. Budgie, at least, as you noted knows when to stop arguing. And things do run more quickly from here on in, unfortunately. Author Reply: An added note--changes in weather and barometric pressure I've noted have a far stronger effect on how my students or clients will behave than any other phenomenon, particularly on those with tendencies towards sinus problems. You'll note that even Saradoc is wakeful, but not having particularly nasty memories weighing on him he has no nightmare. The other four find themselves facing the memories in their dreams.

French Pony	Reviewed Chapter: 87 on 2/22/2006
It's a tough situation Frodo's in, all right. His health is obviously precarious, and it's clear that he isn't really interested in life any more. But still, he's making a lot of decisions about Narcissa without consulting her, which I think is not his best choice. She would probably be more than happy to have him even for just a little while, and her presence might even aid his healing, as Rosie seems to have done for Sam. But, alas, we all know where that relationship is heading. Poor Frodo. Author Reply: I suspect, also, that you are right. Frodo probably wouldn't have experienced the total healing had he married Narcissa, but he could have found one path more in keeping with his own kind. And so he ends up open to an ending totally out of common for Hobbits or mortals of most sorts. The Elvish Hobbit finds in the end, by avoiding mortal and Hobbity relationships, and Elvish path to healing instead, one which isolates him somewhat, but which perhaps in the end is more thorough than what he'd have known in the Shire.

Linda Hoyland	Reviewed Chapter: 87 on 2/22/2006
The poor hobbitts,it seems they are all emotionally scarred by their experiences>At least we know that three of them eventually have long happy lives in the Shire. Author Reply: Yes, they are all dealing with the emotional effects of what they've been through, and it's not always easy. But, as you note, Merry and Pippin and Sam do have long, happy lives in the Shire, although all three, once their wives go before them, leave the Shire to find their final peace elsewhere.

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