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| The Way Home by Lindelea | 182 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| KathyG | Reviewed Chapter: 47 on 1/13/2026 |
| Aww, I was hoping that Shadowfax would see Bill safely to The Prancing Pony! But if the Voices have returned, then it doesn't matter; he will make it there safely. Bree must be pretty near, then! Will one of the Rangers take him there, then, and deliver him to Butterbur? | |
| Lady Forlong | Reviewed Chapter: 47 on 1/9/2026 |
| “… I am as relaxed as someone can be, holding a sword and anticipating an attack!” “Youngest” has a point LOL Good thing Bill is with the Rangers now that Shadowfax has to leave him. At least he won't be alone. I'm sure the Rangers will take good care of him until they get him to a safe place. Author Reply: I, too, can certainly see Pippin's point of view! "Relaxing" is not the first word that comes to mind when swinging a sword or engaging in any vigorous physical activity, I should think. I learned over my years of jogging/running for exercise that if I didn't run relaxed, I tired much more quickly. Your assessment of the Rangers sounds quite accurate to me! Thanks for reading and taking the time to share your thoughts. I appreciate it. | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 47 on 1/9/2026 |
| What instructive, patient, and wonderful lessons Aragorn taught his hobbits. Oh my goodness, what an unexpected joy for Bill and Shadowfax! I'm as thrilled as they are! Author Reply: It was such a relief to come to this chapter! (And here we have the explanation of why Bill ended up in Bree and did not go to "Elrond's house" as Gandalf seemed to foresee. It was an itch I needed to scratch.) (Actually, Boromir was the schoolmaster for this particular lesson, but it could as easily have been Aragorn. Does it sound too familiar in tone? It's not their first training session but one in a series. I had the thought that Boromir saw the need to begin training the hobbits soon after Pippin and Merry were added to the Company, and used the same training techniques he'd honed with raw recruits during his time in Gondor. I admit to being heavily influenced by the memory of film-Merry and Pippin tackling him in the middle of a practice session which conveyed a warm feeling that had grown up between the Man of Gondor and the Hobbits in the Company.) Thanks so much for reading and taking the time to share your thoughts. Your thoughtfulness is much appreciated. | |
| Lady Forlong | Reviewed Chapter: 46 on 1/9/2026 |
| So now they're playing a little game of who-can-be-the-most-polite-to-who LOL. Walk together. An elegant solution. Author Reply: Ah, yes, Bill has picked up a variety of games from his hobbits! And Shadowfax has picked up some of those games from Bill... I think the great horse would be likely to feel right at home in the Shire, much like his Rider. Thanks! | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 46 on 1/6/2026 |
| "Not-quite-but-mostly-Elves"... I like that. Bill's names for everyone (especially Merry's ever-changing one) are delightful and perceptive. Author Reply: His names are as pony-ish as I can imagine, LOL. Thanks for reading and pausing to share your thoughts! I do appreciate it. | |
| Lady Forlong | Reviewed Chapter: 45 on 1/3/2026 |
| I like the way Bill and Shadowfax defend each other. Roheryn doesn't stand a chance LOL Author Reply: LOL. They make a dynamic duo for sure! Thanks! | |
| KathyG | Reviewed Chapter: 45 on 1/3/2026 |
| So, the dark horse that now lives with the Rangers knew Aragorn? Interesting! And he used to be Aragorn's horse? It sounds as if take it that he wants to know how Aragorn is! Author Reply: Yes, Tolkien described the Grey Company as bringing Aragorn's horse with them when they rode to Rohan to meet him. So I did some searching and found his horse's name was Rohyren, and was apparently a gift to him from Arwen. (I don't know if that's stated anywhere or merely implied by the meaning of the horse's name.) Thanks! | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 45 on 1/3/2026 |
| How wonderful that Roheryn recognizes Bill and can get news he's been longing for. And how wonderful that Shadowfax and Bill have full tummies at last and can sleep without fear of wolves or other dangers. Lovely chapter. Author Reply: It was very satisfying to give them this respite and safe place to rest. And poor Roheryn has been separated from Aragorn even longer than Bill has been separated from Sam! It's no wonder that he demands news of his Rider as soon as he realizes who Bill is! (Thanks. Happy New Year to you and yours.) | |
| Lady Forlong | Reviewed Chapter: 44 on 12/29/2025 |
| "This will I allow." It appears that Shadowfax is still in charge. Author Reply: I have the feeling that Shadowfax is in charge where ever he finds himself. Even Gandalf simply tells the horse where he needs to go and what needs to be done, and Shadowfax takes care of the rest – at least the transportation-and-watching-out-for-his-Rider aspect of the business. Thanks! Happy New Year to you and yours! | |
| KathyG | Reviewed Chapter: 44 on 12/27/2025 |
| It's not going to be long now till Bill's in Bree, staying in the Prancing Pony's stable, is he? And until Shadowfax is needed by Gandalf. I'm so glad that Bill will be in good hands first! Author Reply: It is not going to be long at all! Just two or three chapters after this one, depending on how a certain conversation fits into the flow. I'm also very glad that Bill's story is looking up. Whew. It has been a long and challenging journey for the pony, but he's almost there. (At least, he's almost to Bree. And then there's something to be said about his time in Bree, waiting for Sam, and then SAM! And then the scouring of the Shire, and life in the recovering Shire, and the journey to the Grey Havens... The draft goes all the way to the point where Sam tells Rose, "Well, I'm back." But perhaps the story ought to end with his reunion with Sam in Bree – that would certainly be a high point.) Happy New Year to you and yours! And if you're in touch with Dreamflower, please convey my warmest New Year wishes to her, too. Thanks! | |