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The Acceptable Sacrifice by Larner	10 Review(s)
Grumpy	Reviewed Chapter: 93 on 3/6/2006
Very smart of Sam to hide all the rope, except for the elvish rope. Must be frustrating for Aragorn to see all sorts of things in the Orthanc stone, but what he really wants to see. So glad that Frodo is going to try and take the ship, Bilbo will want his company. Author Reply: Sorry to be so delayed in responding, but the last few days have been the days from the nether regions. At least Frodo at the last moment can find nothing BUT the hithlain rope, which helps him realize he'd best not follow through on what he'd been attempting. As for Aragorn, I agree thoroughly. I'm just glad Bilbo didn't go alone to Tol Eressea. Thanks so much for your comments and your patience.

Andrea	Reviewed Chapter: 93 on 3/2/2006
Wow! What else can I say as to totally agree to the lovely reviews of Dreamflower, for this chapter and the previous one! Those reviews were simply brilliant. It is really true, whenever I think that chapter cannot be topped, you do it again! Amazing! I'm relieved that the only rope available at Bag End was the hithlain rope - and it simply refused to do the job. I can understand that Frodo saw no other way. The constant pain and the recurring dreams must have been horrible! But then there is the voice again: Tol Eressëa. Reach to Tol Eressëa. But I’m a Hobbit! And Tuor was a Man. And finally even Frodo Baggins has to agree with the voice! There is a second way out of all the pain. And the following dream shows him that it is really possible. To know that the ship will be waiting for him, whether he takes it or not, will be a great relief. Author Reply: Yes, Frodo is finally realizing he CAN reach actively for the healing, and puts the thoughts of self-destruction behind him. Dealing with the death of one who is beloved is difficult enought--the scars I've seen in survivors of relatives' suicides have been horrid past bearing. All of them tend to feel so guilty. And I, too, am glad that when he went looking for rope it was the hithlain alone he found available to him.

Raksha The Demon	Reviewed Chapter: 93 on 3/2/2006
Shivery comparison between suicidal Frodo and Denethor - and it would scar Sam for life if he came upon dead Frodo hanging at the end of a rope. Thankfully, Frodo finally seems to see another option. Sad chapter, with a ray of hope at the end. Author Reply: This would have been a thought in Frodo's mind, I think, remembering what he's been told of Denethor's end, knowing how close the man came to killing his son and how his actions led to the tremendous load of shock and guilt which led Hilargil to have a stroke which left him totally paralyzed on one side. There are right and wrong ways to accept death, and Frodo's just been powerfully reminded of that fact. Glad so many see the hope.

Kitty	Reviewed Chapter: 93 on 3/2/2006
It is fascinating how people can learn to use hearing and feeling when they're blinded, isn't it? For me it is the other way around, my eyes have replaced the hearing. Loved the bit with the oliphaunt. It seems "when the King comes back" is not the only saying that is now a bit problamatic! And I'd have loved to see Sam returning to the Shire with an around twenty-five feet tall pet oliphaunt grin why women among Men might wish to wear shoes that raised them taller than they really were. giggle That's something I often ask myself. It's so terribly uncomfortable! This time Paladin and Eglantine made an effort to behave, at least. Good. And Frodo got to talk about Aragorn - it makes him always happy, doesn't it? He needed it, poor guy, considering how his way home went. The hithlain rope is an amazing thing. It was intriguing how it - can I say behaved? - in the Emyn Muil, and it is fitting to use this interesting trait here. Well, this episode is so dark and sad, but it seems in the end it helped Frodo to accept that he was allowed to sail West. So it had something good in hindsight. Author Reply: As one who has lived and worked with blind individuals for the past thirty-eight years or more, it is natural for me to think in terms of what one must learn to rely on in order to function successfully as one who cannot see or at least not do so clearly. It would be easier for me at this point to go deaf than blind--or at least I think so, as I can partly do speech reading, although I'm not proficient at it. But losing my vision wouldn't be that great a challenge, as I KNOW it can be done properly. But you are right that one needs to learn to use other sensory input for that which has been lost. I really doubt Sam was alone in his fascination about Oliphaunts--and learning they are real and so immense must have caused a stir among many hobbits, particularly young ones, much like dinosaurs do with our children. Shoes would be another novelty, as well as a "safe" subject for them to indulge in with Frodo, able to explore his experiences outside the Shire without as much danger of touching directly on those subjects the Thain and Eglantine fear. And I agree about high heels in shoes--haven't worn them or wanted to for years. And Aragorn is a reassuring subject for Frodo to discuss, this Man with whom he has forged such an unusual relationship. As for the hithlain rope--that it would unknot itself in the Emyn Muil has led several of us, including Lindelea and me, to consider it to have very high moral precepts. Heh! And that it would help Frodo realize suicide is not an acceptable option, but that going West by one of the proper means would be such seemed proper to me. He's been offered the grace, and now at last he's actively accepting it and knows the offer won't be withdrawn on a whim.

French Pony	Reviewed Chapter: 93 on 3/1/2006
Here I am, a day late and a dollar short. Sorry. Anyway, this chapter really goes to show that the important Hobbits are far more with it and know more about the ways of the world than they let on. They pick up real quick on the identity of the Rangers, and they don't seem particularly surprised. And I love the idea that they're discussing shoes, those funny things. And Sam is, as always, quite the perceptive Hobbit. Of course there's no rope at Bag End. Sam wouldn't be that stupid. But that one bit of hithlain really did the trick, forcing Frodo to confront his real choice. Author Reply: Some of the Hobbits of the Shire have perhaps been aware of the Rangers, but not their true nature and purpose, but I agree--these do seem to accept the truth abput them with a good deal of grace. Shoes would be of interest to Hobbits, I think, for their very novelty; and with Frodo present they can at least satisfy their curiosity about the subject a bit--and it's a fairly safe subject at least. But to consider the hithlain rope would prove balky in this proposed endeavor has always felt right to me. Sam knows his Frodo and knows that if Frodo were to try such a thing he'd not wish it to be "messy"--but whether or not he hid the rest of the rope or line about the place or possibly Frodo was blinded to the rest is, of course, hard to say. And confronting the real choice is indeed what's beginning now, at long last.

Linda Hoyland	Reviewed Chapter: 93 on 3/1/2006
I always enjoy reading Frodo's thoughts about Aragorn.If only the King were there now to help the poor Hobbit ! Author Reply: Oh, our beloved Lord King Aragorn Elessar would wish that as much as we do, I think! And I still believe that there had to be a great deal of affection as well as mutual respect between the two of them.

Queen Galadriel	Reviewed Chapter: 93 on 3/1/2006
Oh, thank goodness for the nature of Elven rope! And for the common sense that finally kicked in at the end when he had one more chance. A knife-oh how horrible! Nice to see Paladin and Eglantine being kinder and more considerate, and the rest of the family being open as well. "big brother..." LOL! God bless, Galadriel Author Reply: It's hard to figure what he might try next--after all, Sam didn't think Frodo would want to try a means that was "messy"--and knives can be messy unless you know precisely what to do withthem. Maybe he would seriously consider the knife, or maybe something else. When younger the Kid had an emotional hijacking one day, and I found myself literally clinging to his leg to keep him from running off and doing something horrible to someone--most likely himself. Like Frodo contemplating the water skin he was drinking from, suddenly the storm was over and he looked down and realized just how silly the two of us looked, me sitting on the floor, clinging to his leg. He started to laugh and assured me it was now safe to let go, and I was relieved to comply at last. And the family is relaxing a bit, at least today. As for "big brother"--heh!

harrowcat	Reviewed Chapter: 93 on 3/1/2006
For a chapter so full of sorrow, depression anguish and despair that was truly beautiful Larner. Thank you for elaborating on the incident with the rope so well. And, I agree, if Frodo had tried a third time he would not have been thwarted but, oh, what an awful end it would have been. I love the glimpses in the palantir and feel for Aragorn and I enjoyed the discussion about the Rangers and the Oliphaunts. I can just imagine Sam with a pet one butr perhaps he is better sticking with the cat! And in the end comes acceptance! And with acceptance the beginning of peace. Author Reply: I wasn't certain whether or not to follow this one through so thoroughly--after all, I'd done the situation with the three vials of poppy juice in The Choice of Healing. But I found this one wanted to be followed through upon after all, and so it got itself written. I agree--Sam is FAR better off with a cat than an oliphaunt--imagine what a mumak would do to the gardens? Frodo at least accepts he must accept going West, either by ship or by a proper release rather than through self-destruction, at least. Am so very glad you found this hopeful.

Dreamflower	Reviewed Chapter: 93 on 3/1/2006
Oh. What a chapter! I didn't think you could top the last one. But while the last chapter was the equivalent of an emotional tempest, this one had the sad beauty of a battered ship coming into a safe harbor at sunset, tattered and torn and battered and blown, yet safe at last. Several things stood out for me here: Frodo's quiet talk with Ferdi, including the bit about oliphaunts, his conversation about shoes and stockings, and I was very struck with the subtle contrast between Eglantine's and Frodo's opinions of his breakfast--she, distressed that he did not eat more; he, pleased that he had eaten more than he normally managed. But the section at the end, as he finally gives up on trying to take his own life, is so beautifully melancholy. But at last, he can see his way clear, though it will be so very hard and so very sad, for those left behind. Author Reply: What a beautiful description, Dreamflower. Thank you. We tend to mix such odd things into our conversation, speaking of the sublime moments after speaking of the prosaic and before venturing into the ridiculous. And Ferdi is able to help Frodo as well as others to clear away the deadwood that obscures their perceptions. And depending on the point of view the same experience can be frightening and reassuring, as does how much Frodo has eaten for breakfast. And yes, the ending is melancholy--yet hopeful in its way--or at least it is a release of sorts from the tension he's been under. Believe me--dying is often far harder on us left behind than it is on those who actually are dying.

shirebound	Reviewed Chapter: 93 on 3/1/2006
And then a Light shone behind him, and he turned from the fire, turned to the Light. There was a clear path before him, away from the Mountain. He held the Lady’s star gem in his hand and no longer the Ring. It was no longer the scent of sulfur and brimstone that filled his nostrils but the clear scent of the Sea And so we come at last to Frodo's difficult decision; I hope time passes quickly until he can be in the company of Elrond and Bilbo once more. Author Reply: This is the beginning of awareness that Frodo can choose to go West the proper way, by ship or perhaps accepting his end when it comes rightfully. But he is turning away from the selfishness of self-destrucion, and is realizing that the healing will be there, one way or another, when the time is right. At times between now and then he will feel life has become hectic, I suspect, trying to do all before he must away.

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