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The Way Home  by Lindelea 324 Review(s)
Lady ForlongReviewed Chapter: 85 on 9/13/2026
At this rate, I'm guessing he'll see the end of it all, but I'm wondering what he'll make of it.

KathyGReviewed Chapter: 85 on 9/13/2026
Hey, how did that happen??!! I start to type a review, and it gets posted before I've even gotten past the first word!

Is this it, then? Is this the victory, when the Ring is destroyed, and Sauron, too? Or is that still pending?

KathyGReviewed Chapter: 85 on 9/13/2026
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shireboundReviewed Chapter: 85 on 9/12/2026
I see my Sam look up as if he hears my warning

I love that idea.

Ohhhh, the glorious end to the Darkness is nearly here! I wonder if Bill will be able to soar with the Eagle carrying his Sam.

Lady ForlongReviewed Chapter: 84 on 9/7/2026
Just another day indeed! March 25 -- Today is the day. Always darkest before the dawn. It's going to be interesting to see if Bill feels anything when it finally happens.

The best part is that Bill's beloved Sam will be on his way home now.

Author Reply: Today is the day! I want to shout the news from the rooftop, but since I'm leery of heights, that's not going to happen. (My neighbors would also be quite puzzled, I'm sure.) That said, Butterbur gave no indication to the returned Travellers that anything special had happened the previous spring. I don't think he even knew that Saruman had arrived in the Shire about a month earlier, or that the Shire's problems were actually much worse than Bree's troubles! (I wonder if Saruman passed through Bree on his way to the Shire, or did he come up through the South Farthing?)

As I mentioned in another review reply, Bill may well be the only Bree-lander to be aware of unusual happenings on this noteworthy day. (Will any of the other ponies or horses believe him if he tries to tell them about it? I wonder.)

Thanks!

KathyGReviewed Chapter: 84 on 9/6/2026
Hmm!! Will Eagles be sent to tell Bree of Sauron's passing, as they were sent to Minas Tirith to give the same message?


Author Reply: I had actually considered that possibility, but on re-reading what Butterbur told the Travellers on their return to Bree, I don't think such a noticeable thing happened. Thus, as you'll read in the next chapter, the signs of Sauron's fall are subtle. It's quite possible that Bill (because of his connection to Sam and Frodo through the power of the Ring, as well as his connection the Gandalf through the Voices) may be the only creature who has a clue as to what is happening elsewhere in the world, and even Bill does not know the whole story.

I also considered the possibility of a messenger arriving from Dale with word of the attacks on Mirkwood, Dale and Erebor. But I couldn't make the timing work. So the Bree-landers are on their own, pretty much, with little idea of what is going on elsewhere. And of course, since that fits with Butterbur's conversation with the Travellers, I think Bill's story will continue to fit into the original story fairly well, and I won't have to label it "AU". Whew!

Thanks!

shireboundReviewed Chapter: 84 on 9/4/2026
How delightful that the Voices are still with our stalwart Bill, who grows more insightful every day.

Author Reply: In the Professor's mentions of Bill after the Travellers' return, the pony sounds both wise and humble. Thus, "insightful" fits, I think!

Thanks so much for reading and pausing to leave your encouraging thoughts.

Lady ForlongReviewed Chapter: 83 on 8/30/2026
He deserves to be in the "lap of luxury" (even though it took him a while to figure out what that means) until "his" Sam comes back for him.

They take very good care of him. One little stumble and he gets off early.

Author Reply: "One little stumble..." Haha. Rather the opposite of life with Ferny. But then, just as you remarked, our Bill certainly deserves it.

Thanks so much for reading and pausing long enough to share your thoughts!

shireboundReviewed Chapter: 83 on 8/29/2026
Pippin would be amused and delighted to know how many of his sayings and songs stayed with Bill!

Author Reply: I hadn't thought of that! But you're right, Pippin must have made a great impression on Bill for the pony to think of him so often.

Thank you again for coming along on Bill's journey and stopping long enough to leave some encouraging words.

KathyGReviewed Chapter: 83 on 8/28/2026
Aww, poor Bill's missing his Sam! He's glad to be reunited with his mother, I can tell, but he still misses Sam.


Author Reply: I can hardly wait for their reunion! (While Bill's heart is large enough to love more than one person, Sam is the one he loves the most, of course.) It has been fun to imagine Bill's conversations with his mum, seeing how often he thought of her – and the lessons she taught him – while on his journeys.

Thanks for reading and taking the time to share your thoughts.

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