Reviews (336)

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Bill probably has no idea of what "hair of the dog" means, though no doubt he's heard various people say the phrase. Since there never seems to be a dog around when someone says it, it's quite possible that he thinks it's a saying used to refer to a dog that was around but has gone away, leaving only some hair behind. (I can relate to that. Our Labradors and Alsatian and Blue Heeler mix all left hair behind constantly!) Pippin confused Bill (who was listening fairly carefully but not following the discussion well, considering he'd only been with them for two days or so at that point), as well as his older cousins (who were only half-listening to him, as is so typical of older cousins and older siblings). Thus, only Aragorn (who pays close attention to everything around him, at least in my mind's eye) realized that Pippin was talking about the Road on the map he'd sketched in the dust (comparing it to a dog, that is) and not a real dog. For an added layer to the anecdote and his cousins' reactions, in my head canon (I think that's what it's called?), Pippin easily makes friends with dogs, and during his tween years before this point in time, when he was allowed to wander by himself, dogs often followed him home. Thanks so much for reading and pausing to share your thoughts!

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I have to think that his thoughts constantly went back to his hobbits, and that they were the motivating force behind his determination to keep going in hopes of finding them in the end. Thanks for reading and taking the time to share your thoughts. (((hugs)))

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Luckily, Bill is not wearing shoes! And he wasn't wearing shoes when he arrived at Rivendell, so there are no nail holes in his hoofs that might cause some kind of structural weakness. In addition, all the travelling he's doing is filing his "nails" down nicely and keeping his hoofs from overgrowing. Somehow I don't think Shadowfax is shod. (A creature after my own heart: I always used to kick off my shoes the moment I got home from wherever it is I had gone.) He probably has superior hoofs along with everything else – speed, stamina, intelligence, etc. Thanks!

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Blast. I hope you find the story easily. I'm so glad you liked the chapter! I discovered early on in the process of writing draft chapters from the outline that the story demanded regular inclusions of hobbits. Or something to that effect. Thanks!

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Definitely an improvement! (Thanks!)

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Bill's heart is with his hobbits, so it's no wonder that they help him on his way in turn, courtesy of his memories and perhaps with a little boost from the Voices (part of that whole "guard and guiding" business). Thanks!

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I figured that Gandalf would not befriend just any horse. It made sense to me that Shadowfax would be wise and courageous and able to inspire courage and confidence in his fellow beasts. (I probably got the idea from Shadowfax leading the other horses to Gandalf and Aragorn and Legolas and Gimli in Fangorn, if I'm remembering the details right. It's been a long day.) Thanks!

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Yes, poor Shadowfax never quite forgets his Rider. Part of him is always listening for Gandalf's voice. Thanks so much for reading, and for taking the time to share your thoughts. I really appreciate it.

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I have found myself contemplating the qualities and characteristics of time lately, and some of that has crept into the latest stories. But isn't that the way writing so often works? It can be like a vehicle for pondering life. Hmmm. I wonder what happens when they don't all agree? For some reason, I had a flash just now of that Mork & Mindy episode where Mindy explains democracy to Mork, and Mork brings an immigrant (a Russian guy? I can't remember) home and "plays democracy", with the two of them outvoting Mindy when there's a disagreement of some sort. Robin Williams was such a brilliant man. Thanks!

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Yes, that was a deliberate echo of Sam's despair. Just as Bill would follow Sam to the ends of the Earth, so would Shadowfax follow Gandalf if he could. Glad he knows that the Wizard is still falling. Yes, but that comes with a flip side; what will happen when Gandalf dies?

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I really think that travelling with such excellent company, as well as his time in Rivendell with the Elves, had a lot to do with Bill's growing understanding and maturity. Thanks!

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It is really too bad that Bill didn't go back to Rivendell. When I was drafting the story, I kept asking myself why he'd go back to Bree? After all, his life with Ferny was so miserable. So part of figuring out Bill's journey involved finding the answer to that question. Thanks so much for reading and pausing to share your thoughts.

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The more the merrier, which is quite a hobbity idea when I think about it. Considering how far they have to go, and not knowing what difficulties they may face along the way, resting seems like a wise as well as practical decision. I'm glad Shadowfax was able to persuade Bill that a night of rest would pay for itself going forward. Thanks!

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Leaving out "only" from what he said was probably deliberate. He was simply (and realistically) describing the ability a horse has to shut out everything else when it's concentrating on something in particular. You're right about JRRT writing Shadowfax in rather wondrous terms. Like never seeming to tire, and travelling faster than a "regular" horse, in addition to his invisibility in the darkness. (I wonder if he's mischievous enough to sneak up on people in the dark and startle them? We had a black lab when I was growing up who loved to come up behind you in the dark and then suddenly let out a loud bark. He seemed to get a kick out of making an unsuspecting person jump.) Thanks!

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It just seemed the right time for some comfort. I'm glad it felt that way. (((hugs))) Thanks so much for reading and pausing to share your thoughts.

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I remember how traumatizing Lassie Come Home was to me as a small child! Nope, I'm definitely not tempted to go that route. There is admittedly some angst in Bill's story, according to the draft version I'm editing into final form as I post, but nothing like what poor Lassie had to go through, at least as far as I remember that story. Thanks so much for your thoughts on the matter. I greatly appreciate your taking the time to share them.

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There are a few twists and turns along the way, but the ending was already laid out in the original narrative (whew! I'm certainly glad), so Bill's got that going for him. I'm glad Shadowfax is with him, too. I have trouble envisioning a lone pony managing to travel safely for hundreds of miles through abandoned lands. Even "The Incredible Journey" featured two dogs and a cat! Thanks so much for reading and pausing to share your thoughts!

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His dam would be (will be?) so proud of him! Thanks so much for coming along on the journey and pausing to share and encouraging word.

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From my experience, ponies and horses seem to have some way of telling time, though I haven't a clue as to how they do it. It may be that some of the brighter ones react to certain times of day, and the others around them follow like the herd animals they are? Or maybe they all have some sense of time? During the years I had my mare, I boarded her at a stable where all the horses (and a couple ponies) were turned out to graze and to hang out and play in a large pasture for several hours a day except when thunderstorms were in the forecast, if I'm remembering right. The stable employed someone to turn the horses out in the morning and bring them in again later in the day, as well as fill the feed boxes and hay-nets and water buckets and clean the stalls and put down fresh bedding. I can remember seeing the herd – or most of them, anyhow – cluster around the pasture gate when it was time to go in for supper and bed, and I've seen some individuals waiting at the gate when their humans (bearing carrots and other treats) were due to show up (those that showed up at a regular time, that is). But I have no idea how they kept track of what time it was. Thanks so much for reading and pausing to share your thoughts and questions!

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Quite naturally! They tell time by food, and they have all these food-related metaphors and idioms... Since I have long been fascinated by food myself, I have found Shire-folks a lot of fun to hang out with. Thanks!

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Telling time by meals seems quite characteristic for hobbits, don't you think? It reminds me of how I used to navigate by food-related locations, such as grocery stores, restaurants and fast-food places. ("Take a right two blocks past [name of pizza place]...") Thanks!

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It's definitely a good thing to have a companion when trouble makes itself known. Thanks so much for reading and pausing to share your thoughts, dear friend.

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I thought long and hard about it, and in the end I concluded that there was a connection between Gandalf and Shadowfax. Part of that was based on Gandalf's own words: Gandalf caressed him. ‘It is a long way from Rivendell, my friend,’ he said; ‘but you are wise and swift and come at need. In the book, Shadowfax seems to be in the right place at the right time, at least where Gandalf is concerned. You're right; the connection I've imagined between Gandalf and Shadowfax (and Bill, through the Voices) is a complicating factor in Bill's journey. Thanks so much for reading and pausing to share your thoughts!

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I'm glad, too. Shadowfax is a good influence. I figure he would have to be since his chosen Rider is Gandalf! (Thanks so much for reading and pausing to share your thoughts.)

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Thank you! Bill has turned out to be an example of the phenomenon of "the company you keep..." (Pardon me if I'm scrambling my words; I've muddled my brain with chocolate and probably won't be thinking clearly again until tomorrow. Ah, but it was worth it...) (((hugs))) It's good to hear from you!