Stories of Arda - Lord of the Rings Fan-Fiction Archive


	About Us News Resources Login Become a member Help Search

The Acceptable Sacrifice by Larner	9 Review(s)
demeter d	Reviewed Chapter: 90 on 2/27/2006
...bur you were not alone, child, then or ever... at the heart of the whole tale. There were always short times of trial, but in the end and always, love comes back. Poignant. Author Reply: This is a hard thing for many who are in a lot of immediate pain have difficulty keeping in focus--that they aren't alone. And I think this would be very true for Frodo at that point. But the fact remains he wasn't alone and that he was surrounded by love both there in the Shire and beyond as well as beyond Middle Earth. And I'm glad he was.

Antane	Reviewed Chapter: 90 on 2/26/2006
I'm glad the Ring hasn't been able to rob him of all joy and that the Voice is there to comfort him even as the memories torment him. Namarie, God bless, Antane :) Author Reply: No, the Ring can't quite conquer him, even now when he tends to feel so very empty. And he has his little Elanorelle to love and care for, and to help him remain grounded.

Queen Galadriel	Reviewed Chapter: 90 on 2/26/2006
Well, I'm glad nothing terrible happened at the banquet; that's a relief. But oh, Odo is so obnoctious! sigh It seems funny, maybe, buit I can't help feeling a sort of maternal frustration over Frodo's not having proper care. Marigold and Widow Rumble didn't mean any harm, but goodness! For the poor hobbit to go looking for something to eat and find nothing? shakes head I can't help laughing at myself though, because my nickname since I was seven has been "Little Mother," and I'm unconsciously living up to it. Loved the moment with Elanor at the end! God bless, Galadriel Author Reply: Yes, the old Proudfoot remains a bit too outspoken and definitely obnoxious. Silly old Hobbit. And I know the feeling of maternal caring and frustration. And of course Frodo isn't going to bother anyone by trying to point out he slept through dinner; Begonia thinks Marigold took the plate to him, and Marigold thought it was intended for Rosie, who undoubtedly welcomed it by the time they realized this was still but a practice bout. And so Frodo finds himself trying to fend for himself in a kitchen which temporarily isn't even his. And now he's holding the long awaited baby born to the smial for the first time, rejoicing she comes whole and wholesome.

Kitty	Reviewed Chapter: 90 on 2/26/2006
The kitten was a nice little detail. And it was so sweet of Frodo to cook and to do everything he could to help, so Sam and Rosie could concentrate on the baby. Poor Frodo, the burn must’ve been quite embarassing. And I don’t like it how it went with his tea and food and all, even if Marigold meant it well. Well-meant isn’t the same as well done, isn’t it? sigh Why couldn’t he tell Marigold to leave his tea there, even if it’s cold?? And on top of all this the nightmares ... :( The only comfort is that Frodo was still in Middle-earth when little Elanor was born, so he got to know at least one of Sam’s children and had one child to fuss over for the last few months. Author Reply: Well, that kitten has wound its way into the story before and had to find itself made more manifest in this one. So glad you like it. I think Frodo would want to do what he could, but isn't quite up to it right now, of course; and then the smial is full of women's business and not enough attention left over for the poor old bachelor Hobbit hiding out in the study. And it's hard to focus on other matters when such a blessed event looms. And, we and Frodo all have that comfort--that he was granted the grace to know one of Sam's children, was able to love her as he'd so long desired.

French Pony	Reviewed Chapter: 90 on 2/26/2006
I like all these little mentions of communications from Bilbo. It really ties in to the sense you get at the end of the book, that Frodo and Bilbo both know what they're planning to do, even though Bilbo is just venturing forth from Rivendell for the first time since leaving the Shire. That's a nice little bit of background you're filling in. And Frodo's dreams are getting stronger. They're big, powerful dreams, that's for certain. And it really works the way you wrote them, that Frodo is starting to lose his ability to distinguish between dream and waking life. Author Reply: Bilbo's losing more of his time to sleeping now, and can't write much, but I think he'd want to do his best to send encouragement to Frodo as he could, through Elladan and the book of hymns. So glad you feel this is so right. And as he finds his own hold on health failing, the nightmares do get worse and more frightening as he begins confronting just what he realizes he might have done had the Ring not been taken from him, as he weaves together barely perceived impressions with what he remembers. And you know how it is when you're feverish anyway--the dreams can be awful and totally confusing as well as all too often terrifying.

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 90 on 2/26/2006
Poor Frodo - Sam is too distracted to give him proper attention and, kind as everyone else is, they don't really understand what it going on. Fingers crossed that Elanor will be able to provide him with a reason to carry on a bit longer. And, while she's in his arms, at least everyone else's attention will be on Frodo. Author Reply: The baby's coming, and of COURSE everyone is focussed on that. I suspect Frodo would have preferred that he be able to do so undistracted by his own concerns as well. We have reason to believe that Elanor was an important part of the last few months Frodo remained in the Shire, and I choose to believe she did help him keep as grounded as was possible for him at that point.

harrowcat	Reviewed Chapter: 90 on 2/26/2006
No time to appreciate this this morning Larner but the argument in the mountain was great - and so is all the rest for that matter.! Author Reply: Another chance to look at precisely what MIGHT have happened within Frodo as It took him at last, whether he was actively wanting to participate in Its plans or not--and I think that even the Ring might have found It underestimated both Frodo and Gollum. I certainly like to think so. So glad you appreciated it.

Linda Hoyland	Reviewed Chapter: 90 on 2/26/2006
Congratulations to Sam and Rosie ! What lovely gifts from Gondor.Typical of Sam to get a kitten. Author Reply: Yes, the blessed event is come, and once more there is the promise of new life and love and family in Bag End, finishing the wiping away of the years of bachelorhood it housed for so long. And so glad you liked the gifts, and the kitten!

Dreamflower	Reviewed Chapter: 90 on 2/25/2006
This chapter is just heart-wrenching. Frodo has become so full of despair, so lacking of any hope for himself. He's always been one who counted his greatest happiness in the happiness of others, but now he realizes that his own happiness seems to be out of his reach forever... Author Reply: Watching oneself degrade can be terrifying, frustrating, humilating, and infuriating; and I suspect Frodo felt every one of those emotions and more in those last few months, doing his best to hold onto the happiness he could know through Elanor's birth as he could.

Return to Chapter List