Dreamflower
· 19 February 2009
· Chapter 31: We meet hope unlooked for, aid unexpected
At last, poor Bill has someone to talk to and confide in. I love the Elvishness of the Elven steed--your Asfaloth is not merely a horse that belongs to an Elf, but he has an Elven air about him as well. His concern for Bill, and his praise of Bill's courage was lovely.
And of course, he knows his own Master will be putting Bill's The Master (I also love Bill's distinction between Frodo and Sam) on his own back.
But I am sure that Bill will not hold it against him.
Author's reply
Oh, good, I was hoping that Elven air would come out and wasn't just knocking around in my brain.
Ah, yes, "mine" and "The Master". Significant difference. *g* (I find myself the prize possession of a Giant Schnauzer these days...)
Thanks!
shirebound
· 19 February 2009
· Chapter 31: We meet hope unlooked for, aid unexpected
"Little one of the great heart", awwww. What a lovely, gentle, hopeful meeting.
Author's reply
Asfaloth is as great-hearted as his Rider, I think.
Thanks!
harrowcat
· 19 February 2009
· Chapter 31: We meet hope unlooked for, aid unexpected
This is an absolutely brilliant chapter Lindelea. I love the interaction between 'the White One' and Bill. And now Bill must give way to a steed of greater stature but not greater heart.
Author's reply
Thank you! I find myself pondering the names that horses and ponies might use to each other...
Larner
· 18 February 2009
· Chapter 31: We meet hope unlooked for, aid unexpected
Ah, this meeting is wonderful, and so needed at that moment. And love Asfaloth's conversation with Bill, and how even this humble pony has fallen under the spell of love and loyalty borne by Frodo Baggins!
Beautiful, Lindelea!
Author's reply
Well, I fell under Frodo's spell decades ago, on my first full reading of FOTR, when he stood up to the Witch King, so it's no wonder to me that Bill would do the same.
It has been a relief to reach this point of the story. A few difficult bits to get over yet, before Rivendell, but we're making our way there at our best pony's pace.
Thanks!
Larner
· 16 February 2009
· Chapter 30: We travel upon the Road once more
And he doesn't quite remember about the Black Riders? Proper for a pony indeed! And they at last receive the aid they need, although they don't know it yet.
At last! And again so well done!
Author's reply
Yes, they can have long memories, but they can also be quite forgetful (especially of things you've been training them to do). They can also seem to forget something, but the memory's buried until prompted by something that reminds them, and then the memory (the terror of puddles, for example) comes back full force. Whew.
Glad you made it safe home.
Thanks!
Jay of Lasgalen
· 15 February 2009
· Chapter 30: We travel upon the Road once more
Ah - but it's Glorfindel and Asfaloth, isn't it? I hope so!
Having just read a wonderful story where Bill describes Asfaloth as a 'narcissistic nag', I wonder what they'll make of each other?
Author's reply
You must be right. This isn't an AU, after all!
Hah, I think I might have read that story, too, at least the first two chapters. It certainly presents Bill as a pony-with-attitude! (I've known some Shetland ponies that would fit the bill perfectly, pun not intended.)
You'll get to meet Asfaloth in the next chapter, I'm happy to say. Let me know what you think!
Thanks!
shirebound
· 15 February 2009
· Chapter 30: We travel upon the Road once more
What an exhausting, seemingly endless journey for all of them!
Author's reply
Yes, but the end is (nearly) in sight, now. I was reminded, in working on the draft, that they had some long marches ahead of them even after meeting Glorfindel and Asfaloth.
Thanks!
Dreamflower
· 15 February 2009
· Chapter 30: We travel upon the Road once more
Oh yay! Glorfindel and Asfaloth are on the way!
Poor hobbits! Trying so hard to keep up with Strider. Pippin's not about to admit when he's nearly done in. But thankfully Merry is keeping his own eyes open.
I do love this story so much!
Author's reply
Hurrah! I'm so glad we know whose hoofs we're hearing!
I'm glad Merry was there to catch Pippin when the poor lad stumbled. Whew.
Thanks!
harrowcat
· 15 February 2009
· Chapter 30: We travel upon the Road once more
Wow! That tanks up the fear value, especially that last sentence. Bill is definitely hurrying towards the ford.
Author's reply
Yup, but sadly Bill has no idea what he's afraid of, at least, not yet!
Thanks!
Le Rouret
· 10 February 2009
· Chapter 29: Well-rested, we return to our journey
"It seems the Master doesn't hold with keeping stolen gold." That's a rather ominous way to end the chapter!
Well done! Looking forward to an update.
Author's reply
Yes, and Bill has no idea...
But brighter things are around the corner, in a manner of speaking.
Baggins Babe
· 6 February 2009
· Chapter 29: Well-rested, we return to our journey
No, Master would not approve of stolen gold - and he must be wishing that one little bit of gold had never been found!
I love Bill's name for his companions. I'm not surprised he got on so well with the hobbits - he is a very hobbity pony, isn't he?
Author's reply
Master would not! *sigh* Bill can't read Frodo's thoughts, but he can read his body language and smell.
You're right, he is indeed hobbity!
Larner
· 3 February 2009
· Chapter 29: Well-rested, we return to our journey
Ah--they are that much closer to meeting Glorfindel now! Wonderful! And still love the descriptions used! Heh! So apt for a pony of Bill's sagacity!
Author's reply
Bill sniffs suspiciously at "sagacity" and wonders if it's a compliment or the reverse. *g* (I told him what it meant and he swished his tail and nodded.)
Hurrah, Glorfindel is coming at any time now.
Thanks! (Looking forward to seeing you!)
Kara's Aunty
· 2 February 2009
· Chapter 6: We make our way towards Weathertop
Hello Lindelea,
Another welcome chapter. Bill the Pony certainly is more like 'hobbit horse' than anything, isn't he? Or so I've always thought him. It's nice to see him and the others getting closer as the journey continues. You depict his interactions with Frodo beautifully, showing the paralells of their lives cleverly.
And I will never get tired of seeing him refer to Pippin as 'marsh-stinking hobbit'!
I'm off to bed shortly, so I'll read more later,
Kara's Aunty ;)
Author's reply
The ponies I've known remind me of hobbits... almost always eating, for one thing.
It's interesting trying to figure out what he calls Pip in Rivendell!
Thanks for your lovely comments. Very encouraging!
Kara's Aunty
· 2 February 2009
· Chapter 5: We go from uncertain ground... to uncertain ground
Hello Lindelea,
The uphill/downhill debate Bill is having with himself is great. And his dithering between how to refer to Pippin is amusing without end!
A very observant fellow he is too - pity he can't talk to the others and give them his opinion, it seems only fair, poor sod ;)
Kara's Aunty.
Author's reply
We've used the same psychology when on Volkswalks with the wee hobbits, welcoming uphill stretches for the sake of the downhill to follow. Sometimes it works, sometimes it backfires (a long downhill has them groaning, thinking of the uphill stretch we'll have to climb to get back to the finish).
Poor Bill, he can all but talk.
Kara's Aunty
· 2 February 2009
· Chapter 4: We share and share alike
Hello Lindelea,
Poor Bill - imagine not having a hand to wave the midges from your face? (Shivers in horror). I forgot to mention earlier that I very much like the way he refers to Pippn 'Apples-and-Mischief'!
Also, out of curiosity, what is 'hobbling' exactly? I've always wnndered,
HaHaHa! I've just read the bit about 'young marsh-stinking hobbit' - I like that even better than the other one!
Oh, dear Frodo! Using his mum's hankie to protect Bill's eyes - she'd be proud of him, for sure!
Very enjoyable,
Kara's Aunty ;)
Author's reply
Hello, Kara's Aunty!
When you hobble a horse or pony, you tie the "ankles" of his front legs together, leaving a little bit of strap between the legs so he can walk, sort of. It allows him to move about slowly and graze, but not run away.
Have you ever heard of hobble skirts? Those were long, thin skirts--I forget just when in history they were in fashion--and made women take little, mincing steps. I'm glad they're not the fashion now!
Dear Frodo, I'm sure his mum would be proud indeed.
Kara's Aunty
· 2 February 2009
· Chapter 3: We enter the pathless wilderness, no longer on solid ground
Hello Lindelea,
Bill certainly is in a reflective mood here, and with good cause, the further he draws form the only home he's ever known. I understand his lingering reticence to leave it, although, fortunately for him, the devil he doesn't know (Rivendell) will turn out to be far more pleasant than the devil he did (Ferny).
Nice work!
Kara's Aunty ;)
Author's reply
I am so looking forward to Rivendell! (As Bill would be, if he only knew...)
Thanks!
Kara's Aunty
· 2 February 2009
· Chapter 2: We leave the Road
Hello Lindelea,
Ah, Bill, don't fear. The hobbits and Aragorn have your back (loaded with supplies, perhaps, but they still have it)!
Kara's Aunty ;)
Author's reply
LOL!
Kara's Aunty
· 2 February 2009
· Chapter 1: We take our leave of Bree
Hello Lindeleas,
erm, perhaps I haven't read your tale before actually. I thought the first chapter seemed unfamiliar because it had been a while since I read it, but I don't remember this second one either.
Which is great! It means I've stumbled over a (for me) brand new Bill story, yippee! You certainly seem to have some knowledge of the care of these lovely animals (unlike me). I'm getting a true feel for the misery he's known and the relief he's now feeling to be free of it.
And more Sam too - excellent!
Kara's Aunty ;)
Author's reply
LOL! Happens to me, too. And sometimes I'll read an unfamiliar-sounding story and leave a review and then look back through the reviews and find I wrote a review some months before and managed to forget the story in the meantime!
I grew up horse crazy, owned a horse for a time, and have access to wonderful advice from horse people, all of which has helped mightily in writing this story.
Is Sam your favourite hobbit?
Kara's Aunty
· 2 February 2009
· Chapter 0: Prologue
Hello Lindeleas,
Oh, I'm so glad to see this back at the top of the SoA homepage! I remember it catching my eye a long while ago, but lost track of it (I was a bit of a lurker back in the day - much to my shame, but we live and learn, right?).
This is a chapter that makes me want to kiss Frodo and Sam, but kick the **** out of Ferny. People who abuse animals...well, it wouldn't be christian of me to say what should happen to them. But this lovely chapter is filled with burgeoning hope and beautifully describes the initial interactions of the threesome.
Very enjoyable indeed!
Kara's Aunty.
Author's reply
Nice to hear from you, Kara's Aunty! I've seen your "Bill" story on the GFIC list and here at SoA, and it's on my future "want to read" list--the comments I've seen make me want to read it now but I can't until I finish this Bill story...
It is so nice to take Bill out of that miserable situation and put him in with upright and caring companions. (Won't say much about the situation... but the companions make all the difference!)
Thanks!
Dreamflower
· 2 February 2009
· Chapter 29: Well-rested, we return to our journey
Not quite yet the joyful meeting with a certain Elf, but I do like the way you show Frodo's rallying a bit at this point, and the sensitivity of the younger hobbits to his mood.
It seems that Master does not hold with keeping stolen gold.
And of course he's thinking of a bit of stolen gold that he wished Bilbo had never come home with...
Poor Frodo!
Author's reply
Poor Frodo. And Bill doesn't know all the details, so all he can do is nibble around the edges of his impressions.
shirebound
· 2 February 2009
· Chapter 29: Well-rested, we return to our journey
I'm so glad they're nearly to the point of meeting Glorfindel and Asfaloth. That should be quite an experience for loyal Bill.
Author's reply
O yes, and don't you imagine Asfaloth being as wise as his rider? I should think so!
Golden
· 2 February 2009
· Chapter 29: Well-rested, we return to our journey
I very much enjoy this story! Love all the names the pony gives to the Hobbits! And the characterisations are just perfect!
Golden
Author's reply
Thanks! Glad to hear your impressions.
harrowcat
· 1 February 2009
· Chapter 29: Well-rested, we return to our journey
And this is how we all learn our morals - through the reactions of those we care for. Mind you, I can't imagine Bill needing to have a conscience about gold. Stolen carrots possibly but not gold.
Loved all the reactions in this.
Author's reply
Stolen carrots! I can see where the lad might have trouble keeping himself in check. (Hmmm. An idea for Rivendell?)
Thanks!
Le Rouret
· 29 January 2009
· Chapter 28: We find a temporary resting place
Well, you've done it; I've read every chapter in your lovely fic against my logical inclination to go to bed. You capture a pony's thoughts so perfectly, his perceptions and interests! You put me in mind of Richard Adams' Traveler, getting into the equine brain. I am very impressed.
If you don't mind, I'm going to "pimp" your fic to some friends of mine on LJ, Nieriel Raina in particular. And do you mind if I save your story to my computer, to read at my whim? I promise I won't post it anywhere else.
Thank you for the time and effort it took you to construct this tale. It is enchanting, and I can't wait for more!
Author's reply
LOL, I know how that goes! I'm up past my bedtime as well.
I do appreciate your taking time to leave some good words.
I will have to look into Traveler. I think I've heard it mentioned somewhere, it rings a dim bell in the back of my brain. Or perhaps that's the dog snoring.
Again laughing, to say I don't mind at all if you mention my fic to friends. It is a high compliment!
Yes, you may keep a copy for your own reading, thank you for asking, and for the promise not to post elsewhere.
Many writers of my acquaintance find new energy in feedback, and I am no exception. It is always nice to hear I'm not talking to myself.
It was nice to make your acquaintance. Tenth Walker is one story I've been managing to update on a regular basis, so more will come soon, I hope. It is convenient that ponies have short attention spans; makes for short chapters.
Le Rouret
· 29 January 2009
· Chapter 15: We cross the Last Bridge
And as an aside, "Marsh-stinking hobbit" and "Not-so-merry" are lovely nicknames!