Quote Originally Posted by Radagast View Post
So let's look at this word mathematically :

Paying a costly price for something held dear + a pound of flesh + giving up something to another person + a few nuts = ?

Could the word you are looking for be "sacrifice" ?

If I'm correct , as a reward I would like to gain a bit of future kindness maybe ?
In the ball park here. But a sacrifice would be a dear price to pay for something you wish (often the sacrifice is someone or something else). My search is something you must pay but in most circumstances you would wish to avoid. You have done or achieved something you desired despite what it will now cost.