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| The Way Home by Lindelea | 3 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| KathyG | Reviewed Chapter: 78 on 7/11/2026 |
| At least Bill's on his feet and on the mend now! And in his spirit, he has seen Frodo's rescue. Now to see what comes next! | |
| Lady Forlong | Reviewed Chapter: 78 on 7/7/2026 |
| It’s getting so bad that he’s even starting to forget “that blessed valley” now. Seeing Frodo lash out at “his” Sam is so heartbreaking for Bill – especially when he doesn’t understand about the Ring, even though he senses that it's evil. “All’s well that ends better.” I think that’s an improvement on that old phrase. Once again Bill is in two places at once but I’m glad he’s back for the time being. He needs a break from all this so he can recover. He’s not out of the woods yet. Author Reply: You're right; I envisioned part of the Ring's influence as oppressive. Alas, It took everything away from poor Frodo near the end. This snippet from "Mount Doom" makes me feel weepy: ‘Do you remember that bit of rabbit, Mr. Frodo?’ he said. ‘And our place under the warm bank in Captain Faramir’s country, the day I saw an oliphaunt?’ ‘No, I am afraid not, Sam,’ said Frodo. ‘At least, I know that such things happened, but I cannot see them. No taste of food, no feel of water, no sound of wind, no memory of tree or grass or flower, no image of moon or star are left to me. I am naked in the dark, Sam, and there is no veil between me and the wheel of fire. I begin to see it even with my waking eyes, and all else fades.’ In the film, Sam says, 'Do you remember the Shire, Mr. Frodo? It'll be spring soon. And the orchards will be in blossom. And the birds will be nesting in the hazel thicket. And they'll be sowing the summer barley in the lower fields... and eating the first of the strawberries with cream. Do you remember the taste of strawberries?' In both cases, Sam says something like "Best be rid of It, then" (and in the book, he casts away his precious cookware). And so, Bill's mental/spiritual proximity to the Ring during this part of the story have allowed the Ring to oppress him with impressions of his doom at the hands of orcs while suppressing the memories – like his thoughts of Rivendell – that give Bill strength (I tried to show the Ring as connecting directly to Bill's consciousness without words, rather like Gandalf's conveying of the the way home as he bestowed his gift of the Voices on Bill outside the Doors of Moria). But like Sam's love for his master helped the Gardener resist the Ring, Bill's love for and the nearness of his beloved Sam give him strength and keep him anchored. Hopefully this makes sense! I, in contrast, do remember the taste of food, and I'm overdue in cooking something or other for dinner! When I start rambling, it's a good sign I need to get up and search for protein. If only I had some lembas handy... (Thanks!) | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 78 on 7/7/2026 |
| I'm here too, I whicker deep in my throat, not caring that he will not understand what I am saying. We've come, dear Master. By life or death, we could not bear to let the orcs have you! Ohhhh, that's lovely. No one could ever deny that Bill was as much an essential and courageous part of this Fellowship as any of the others. Author Reply: No one could ever deny that Bill was as much an essential and courageous part of this Fellowship as any of the others. Even the Professor said so! In "The Ring Goes South", he wrote: The stay in Rivendell had worked a great wonder of change on him: he was glossy and seemed to have the vigour of youth. It was Sam who had insisted on choosing him, declaring that Bill (as he called him) would pine, if he did not come. ‘That animal can nearly talk,’ he said, ‘and would talk, if he stayed here much longer. He gave me a look as plain as Mr. Pippin could speak it: if you don’t let me go with you, Sam, I’ll follow on my own.’ So Bill was going as the beast of burden, yet he was the only member of the Company that did not seem depressed. And Gandalf, who was typically sparing when it came to praise, called him "a useful companion" and admitted that they would have had to travel lighter without him. Yup. Both courageous and essential; I agree! (And thanks!) | |