Reviews (336)

Author's reply

You've hit the nail quite accurately. Bill is out of his head, and Shadowfax is nearly frantic with worry. Luckily, the great horse remembered a riverbank where clay could be found, and he knew that clay can draw out toxins and reduce heat and swelling. He also knows that it's not enough... but it will have to do for now. Thanks!

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I think the clay will help. It's not a cure, but it will help keep him going a bit longer. Every step he can manage is one step closer to where they need to be. (((hugs)))

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I'm so glad to hear from you, especially that you've been enjoying the story! While combing through the book and Tale of Years, I was excited to find that several of the solutions I'd come up with would work within Tolkien's timeline. A helpful Ranger is indeed one of the possibilities, along with Shadowfax and some other surprises. However, I'm going to try not to give away any spoilers while at the same time hoping readers will find Bill's story both plausible and enjoyable. You are most welcome. In turn, let me thank you for reading and taking time to post your thoughts and impressions!

Author's reply

That floaty, foggy feeling is interesting, to say the least. I remember one bad bout with pneumonia where I found myself waiting to see if the next breath would come. I wasn't afraid, and the feeling didn't resemble suffocating. I probably should have been in hospital, but I truly didn't realise how sick I was. Pippin's imaginary dog would certainly come in handy about now! (Ah, Panda, my love; yes, she'd be tall enough to reach Bill's shoulder easily. Or Zoe or Jiffy, perhaps. Both of them were motherly creatures. Thanks!

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Boromir is/was a wise Captain. He knew all too well that an army could not travel far without the beasts that carried burdens or pulled the supply waggons. I envision him as being kind to Bill, not only because of the need to keep the pony healthy, but because some real affection and respect grew between the two of them as they travelled together. What Shadowfax lacks, it seems Bill's memories and love for his hobbits are supplying. At least, I hope it reads that way. Thanks!

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Bill has learned a lifetime of lessons in a few short months, I think it's safe to say. Thanks so much for reading and pausing to share your thoughts!

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Thanks! I really appreciate your taking the time to share your thoughts. (((hugs)))

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Exactly! As you and Shirebound noticed, his memories are a large factor in his persistence, carrying him onward and reinforcing his stubborn will to continue. Thanks!

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It may not be clear enough in the previous chapters, but Bill's injury from the wolf attack has been steadily growing worse. The river crossing aggravated things, and he's in real trouble now. Good thing Shadowfax is with him. I think his love for Sam would have kept Bill going right up until his final breath, even without Shadowfax. That said, I'm so glad I can follow JRRT's narrative. I couldn't have written this story if I knew Bill wouldn't make it to Bree. Thanks!

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Poor Bill. I don't know what he'd do without the memories of his hobbits to sustain him! Though I must say Shadowfax is a good travelling companion. Thanks!

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Yes, Bill suffered an injury in the fight with the wolves, and all the travelling is starting to take its toll. Shadowfax will do what he can, of course. Alas, poor Bill. Thanks!

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Hobbits captured me long ago, and I remain firmly in their clutches... On second thought, it's not a bad place to be. Thanks!

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It was a good thing that Shadowfax was intelligent enough to position himself downriver from Bill as they crossed so that he could try and "catch" Bill if the river were to sweep the pony off his feet (as it did). The great horse was not completely sure he could pull it off, but he was going to try his best. Thanks so much for reading and pausing to share your thoughts. I need to get back to reading your story! It's high on my list when I have the energy again to read as long as I'd like to.

Author's reply

I can imagine Pippin reciting songs and poetry and other scraps of remembered lore to divert himself from the journey – when he wasn't posing an unending string of questions to his companions, that is. Bill learned so much from all the companions he travelled with, Sam not the least. Thanks so much for your words of encouragement! Author Reply: (I think I meant to say "distract" rather than "divert" here, but I'm sure you caught my drift.)

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You're right! Keeping one's head above water... that's the ticket. Thanks!

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Shadowfax is a definite asset. I was reminded recently that he was able to keep his wits about him in the presence of the Nazgûl. Whenever I read about ruins, I want to explore them and know more about them! (Writing about them is not much different.) Thanks so much for reading and taking the time to share your thoughts!

Author's reply

That's an interesting question. I think Bill is quite a truthful creature overall. His trembling really does come from remembering that other ford and the Black Riders. He might well be wondering if the Black Riders will pop up as they start to cross this ford, for example, but he doesn't quite have enough information yet to be afraid of this ford with any specificity. One of the horses I used to know had a negative association with puddles. I have no idea how it started, but it was well-established by the time we were introduced. What might have happened to him the first time he encountered a puddle (or perhaps another time, not the first time, and yet forging a strong enough memory that he approached puddles with suspicion and downright fear by the time I knew him)? I'll never know. Perhaps the first time he came to a puddle and balked to try and figure out what it was, his rider hit and kicked and shouted to force him through it, confirming his suspicions that puddles were hazardous. Alternatively, some other frightening occurrence might have happened at the same time as that earlier puddle encounter, such as an attacking dog or a blowing sheet. Author Reply: p.s. Thanks for reading and taking the time to share your thoughts! Your question made me think more deeply on Bill's reactions, which I find very helpful in turning draft chapters into finished chapters.

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I think you're right. I've based Bill's memory mechanism as tied to his emotions, and the incidents where the Black Riders crossed his path were most likely connected to strong emotions that left deep impressions. That fits well with PTSD, I should think. Thanks for coming along for the journey and pausing long enough to share your thoughts!

Author's reply

It has been fascinating to do the research for this one, to try and bring it as closely as possible into line with the Professor's original vision. And even so, I probably diverge in places without meaning to do so. But like Bill, I am doing my best... Thanks for reading and taking the time to share your thoughts, my friend.

Author's reply

Part of the fun of putting this story together was reading everything I could find on Shadowfax and the Mearas! I'm not sure if all Mearas can understand human speech, but it may be so. Éomer says at one point, For the sire of their race was the great horse of Eorl that knew the speech of Men. In Appendix A, Tolkien tells the story of Léod, "a tamer of wild horses", his son Eorl, who became the first King of the Mark, and the great horse Felaróf, the first of the mearas to be tamed. Here, too, Felaróf is described as understanding the speech of Men, and he and his descendants are said to be as long-lived as Men and that they would bear no rider save the King of the Mark or his sons. From Gandalf's interactions with Shadowfax, the horse appears to be highly intelligent and seems to understand human speech like his forebear. According to the Tolkien Gateway website (apparently summarized from a list of sources): Shadowfax was described to have a silvery-grey coat which was only visible by day, and seldomly visible by night. He was capable of understanding human speech. As chief of the Mearas, and by extension all horses, he possessed unrivaled speed, strength, intelligence, and endurance, capable of running faster than the wind in comparison to all other steeds, outrunning the Nazgul's horses and equaling the speeds of the winged Fell Beasts, as well as outrun an arrow in flight, and travel over great distances almost entirely without need for rest, and as mentioned above, he had immensely strong willpower and courageousness, enough so to stand up to The Witch-King of Angmar before the gate of Minas Tirith. (https://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/Shadowfax) (I am astonished at his being able to "outrun an arrow in flight" and would love to know what source that bit of information came from!)

Author's reply

Sometimes life just seems to work that way. Pippin has the right of it, in remembering to count his blessings even in the midst of troubles. And as you have observed, Bill still has a long way to go. Thanks so much for reading and taking the time to share your thoughts!

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I love the idea of a thorough brushing! He will definitely need one, being shaggy as an old dog on his arrival in Bree. Thanks!

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I'm glad Bill's farewell to the stream worked. He is definitely a product of the company he keeps/has kept. (Even belonging to Bill Ferny provided many valuable lessons, such as patience and perseverance and problem-solving; that said, I firmly believe that people like Ferny shouldn't be allowed to own animals.) Thanks!

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I was also thinking of Merry's 'We are horribly afraid – but we are coming with you; or following you like hounds.' That's definitely a thought worth contemplating! Thanks so much for reading and pausing to share your thoughts! I am devoting tomorrow (Saturday) to fanfic-reading. What fun!

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Bingo. You got it. Pippin saw the Road winding along in the same direction as the Travellers, and his brain made the connection to a dog following behind. Rather like Lop, the sheepdog and his frequent companion in his earlier years, who followed him everywhere and, when scolded, followed him anyhow but kept out of sight to avoid more scolding. Thanks so much for reading and taking the time to share your thoughts.