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The Tenth Walker by Lindelea	7 Review(s)
Virtuella	Reviewed Chapter: 18 on 1/4/2025
I remember from a wet camping trip how disheartening it is to have nothing dry. I like that we get a real sense of this being a long journey - about three weeks from Bree to Rivendell, yes? It's easy to look at the maps and imagine it all within easy distance of each other, since there is so much emptiness between. Author Reply: Oh yes, you too? Definitely disheartening. As to "easy distance", I didn't really get an idea of distances in LOTR until I started writing fanfic, which made me peruse JRRT's maps (and the maps that others put together) and tables with travel time and distance. I remember when I first understood that it's about 50 miles from Tuckborough to the Brandywine, which would effectively cut down on Pippin casually dropping in on Merry when the two of them become Thain and Master. (I have seen fanfics that have them casually interacting as if the Great Smials is next door to Brandy Hall...) Let's see, Frodo and Pippin left Hobbiton on September 22nd, and they came to Rivendell October 20th (Frodo awakened October 24th), so that was nearly a month of travel, with only three nights in a bed (Crickhollow, Bombadil's house, and Bree). And yes, three weeks from Bree to Rivendell. In the process of outlining this story, I was astonished to realize that Bill travelled with the Fellowship for only three weeks from Rivendell to Moria. Butterbur doesn't say when Bill returned to Bree; only that he was "shaggy as an old dog and lean as a clothes-rail". As far as I can tell, "shaggy" implies that Bill returned while it was still winter, before he blew his winter coat, providing a rough idea of the time frame. Meanwhile, "lean as a clothes-rail" seems to reflect something more than the rigours of travelling with the Fellowship... It appears he must have had a long way to go to get to Bree from Moria. It's been interesting to contemplate. (Pardon me for thinking aloud here at such length and making such a long reply. I'm seriously jet-lagged and trying to get my head back into writing mode.)

	Reviewed Chapter: 18 on 10/9/2007
What a miserable journey for everyone! And I'd be surprised if Strider didn't catch a cold, what with the lack of sleep and now no cloak--I've got a horrible cold now meself, so I would sympathize. Thoroughly enjoying your writing! Author Reply: Hmmm. Interesting. Do Dunedain fall ill of such mundane maladies? I have not done enough reading to know... Would it be canonical, I wonder. (Do Elvenkind catch cold? I seem to have a memory that they are above such minor annoyances, but I don't know for sure. I don't know if I've read of Elladan or Elrohir, half-Elven as I've heard them called, suffering from colds. Broken bones, yes, near-drowning, concussion. But I get the impression that their immune systems are superior. Considering the lifespan of the Dunedain, I wonder if they also have superior immune systems? How interesting to contemplate. And makes me want to write Elessar with a cold being ministered to by Frodo and the rest of the hobbits in Minas Tirith, when the Quest is safely over...)

shirebound	Reviewed Chapter: 18 on 10/9/2007
They all must have been beyond exhaustion when they reached Rivendell. What a courageous group, and what a wonderful pony. Author Reply: Beyond exhaustion, an apt description. I never quite realized it before this story. And to think, they'd used themselves up, and still had several days of anxiety over Frodo to deal with when they got to Rivendell. (Bill thanks you for the compliment, and nudges for an extra portion of sugar as suits a wonderful pony.)

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 18 on 10/9/2007
Yes, more rain and discomfort, and poor Frodo having difficulty sleeping, perhaps hearing THEM out there in the distance. As for Bill himself--I think this is like one of the diary entries--"Dreary day--more likely in store in near future." Poor, patient pony. Author Reply: Yes, perhaps he does hear them. JRRT doesn't make clear whether he is merely imagining things, or whether it's real, at least, that's how I remember it. (The book is put away, and I must not get it out lest dinner not get started on time... LOL)

Dreamflower	Reviewed Chapter: 18 on 10/9/2007
Oh dear! Bill describes their misery so perfectly, I found myself shivering as I read. Poor wet everybody! I loved Pippin offering some of his food to Bill, and his words of sympathy to the poor wet pony! And Strider, ever watchful and vigilant--and worried... Author Reply: It has helped, perhaps, that the rainy season has begun, with its wet cold, and we're trying to delay turning on the heat so long as possible, to save on heating oil. Poor Pippin. He probably grumbled, earlier in the journey, at how dry and stiff and inedible the journeybread was, having to be soaked before one could break off a piece or even chew the stuff, and now it's even less edible in its soggy and unappetizing state--and even, possibly, subject to mold. Poor everyone!

harrowcat	Reviewed Chapter: 18 on 10/9/2007
Brrrr...I have a few memories of being that wet but I've always had a tent or a nice warm home to go back to! I think that when I next re-read FOTR I am tempted to replace this section with your wonderful tale-telling Author Reply: Ah yes, even a tent would help, though such can be very heavy to carry. And such a high compliment! Of course, the foundation and underpinning all comes from JRRT's wonderful imagining and power of description.

Pearl Took	Reviewed Chapter: 18 on 10/9/2007
Poor everyone! I've often thought how horrible it had to be to travel in the rain that way. And all of them so exhausted as well. You've caught it all well! Author Reply: Thanks! You know, I always skimmed over this part before, eager as I was to get to Rivendell. I've been cold and exhausted and soaked and unable to get warm, but I never connected that with this journey before I started contemplating these few chapters where Bill joined the Fellowship for a time.

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