Le Rouret
· 29 January 2009
· Chapter 12: We elect to leave the dell
I'll not let him fall. Reminds me of a Tobiano at my daughter's barn, who, no matter how floppy and inexperienced the rider, "scoops" with his back to prevent his charge from falling. Lovely.
Author's reply
Have known a couple of horses with this caretaker personality.
My mare was not one of these. She was something of a spitfire, but put a small child on her back and...! She'd look behind her in surprise at the light weight, and then shamble along like a placid old nag, shifting her weight to keep her back under the child, rather like riding on an easy chair, I think.
And then take the child off and put an adult in the saddle. Watch out for tricks!
(My trainer thought it likely she'd been badly used in her past. We achieved something of a truce, but she never did learn to get along well with my dh, simply tolerated him. Barely.)
Le Rouret
· 29 January 2009
· Chapter 10: We take a bite and consider
If he were a hobbit, he’d nibble absently, but being a Man he just stands there, holding the plate. How horses and ponies must wonder at our inefficiency!
Author's reply
There's a good reason they call them hay-burners. Always eating. Quite hobbity, when you think about it.
Le Rouret
· 29 January 2009
· Chapter 6: We make our way towards Weathertop
Go roll with the pony! Young marsh-stinking-hobbit had the right idea.
I really enjoy how you're writing this; it's masterful how you express Bill's thoughts, and it is very beautifully constructed.
Author's reply
Thank you! Rolling on grassy ground is a lovely way to work out the kinks after a long day.
Le Rouret
· 29 January 2009
· Chapter 4: We share and share alike
A fly mask ... he used his mother's handkerchief as a fly mask. What a dear the "master" is!
Author's reply
I remember horse-sitting, and one of our chores was to get the fly masks on first thing in the morning. Flies are nasty things!
(Yes, Master is definitely a dear. Soft-hearted, and given to pity where it is most needed.)
Le Rouret
· 29 January 2009
· Chapter 3: We enter the pathless wilderness, no longer on solid ground
Yes, still reading ... still marveling at your ability to get inside a pony's head. You must be a horse person yourself, because you've got their behavior down pat!
Author's reply
I grew up horse crazy. When I finally got a horse of my own, I got one with... um... personality.
That was probably the best thing that could have happened, for in order to learn how to deal with her, um, quirks, I had to hire a competent teacher to take me beyond the basic training I'd had. She was amazing, and taught me so very much about what goes on in the equine mind.
My knees are shot and I can no longer ride, but I am raising horse crazy children now. Wish I could indulge them. *sigh* I keep telling them horses are an expensive hobby, very difficult to make a living from, and demand harder work than they can ever imagine, but I suspect they don't believe me.
Le Rouret
· 29 January 2009
· Chapter 0: Prologue
Oh, I'm going to like this ... I can tell I will.
"My feet are killing me." Ha!
His descriptions of his former life make me want to join PETA. Poor Bill!
Author's reply
Nice to make your acquaintance!
Poor Bill, indeed! As JRRT observed, he must have been badly treated, to be looking forward to a journey into the wilderness...
cookiefleck
· 28 January 2009
· Chapter 28: We find a temporary resting place
So sorry to be sporadic with feedback and kudos for this lovely story. I love watching the journey through Bill's point of view and I smile every time I read "my Sam."
This chapter, in particular, is pure poetry. I will go to sleep tonight and dream of pony songs.
Author's reply
Well, it's always a pleasure to hear from you.
Here's hoping the dreams were pleasant ones. (Ponies only sing their songs when completely contented, after all, so such dreams would have to be pleasant!)
Dreamflower
· 27 January 2009
· Chapter 28: We find a temporary resting place
At last I got to finish this chapter! I was interrupted halfway through earlier today, and only just now got back to it.
I started over from the beginning. I love Bill's desciptions of things. This is such a nice light-hearted respite for the weary travellers, Bill included. Such a peaceful description, even of the hobbity snoring.
It's making me sleepy too. *yawn*
Author's reply
Were you affected by the ice storm? I thought of you when I read the weather news today.
Ponies are so very literal, aren't they?
I'm glad JRRT gave them that respite. And the next chapter (I think... don't have the book in front of me) ought to be lovely, too!
I'm sleepy as well, and am belated for a long discussion with my pillow. Youngest hobbit, however, is *still* awake and singing lustily, each part in turn of the Orchestra Song, first in English and now in German. *sigh* I wish I could get on so well on as little sleep as that one does.
Thanks!
Author Reply: (Not to give you the wrong impression; we sent that wee hobbit to bed over an hour ago, and the singing is coming from the bedroom, at top volume!)
Author Reply: Well, the next chapter is not the lovely scene I was thinking of, but it wasn't too angsty, at least.
Ah, hobbits.
eiluj
· 27 January 2009
· Chapter 28: We find a temporary resting place
A rare time of peace.
Tthe song is a nasty one, of trolls and bones and gnawing. I switch my tail in disapproval" -- The realistic pony point of view; another reminder of Bill's hard life.
"If there are no more trolls about, I would not mind staying here for a day or two, at least until I've finished my mowing" -- Ah, but he's headed for a better place.
Where I'm living now, I have two horses as next door neighbors, but I'm not well acquainted with them. It had never occurred to me that equines sing. I'll have to keep that in mind.
I'm sure Bill will sing when he reaches Rivendell.
Author's reply
They grunt and groan as they roll on the ground, scratching their backs; and there is music in their grazing, a rhythmic pull-and-tear of grass, chomping of their teeth, interspersed with a softly blown breath. I also love to listen to them eating in their stalls. It's hard to describe the medley of sounds, clinks-of-a-chain, muted thud of a hoof, softly grinding jaws, all mixed together in a homely way with the occasional whicker or snort. Sort of a sleepy, comfortable sound.
Rivendell sounds like a very song-inspiring place! I'm so looking forward to it.
Thanks!
harrowcat
· 27 January 2009
· Chapter 28: We find a temporary resting place
The last bit of this was so soothing I was almost ready to join them in a nice doze too.
Author's reply
To be truthful, I could use a good nap myself. Thanks!
Larner
· 27 January 2009
· Chapter 28: We find a temporary resting place
So good to see this moment of peace for them all, and love it from Bill's POV. He is such a wonderful character!
Author's reply
Thank you! I find that immersing myself in his POV is a good distraction.
shirebound
· 27 January 2009
· Chapter 28: We find a temporary resting place
I find myself singing a pony song as I twist and scratch, rolling back and forth, ahhhhhhh.
Awwww. What a lovely, peaceful interlude.
Author's reply
I'm so glad JRRT gave them this time of rest, aren't you?
Amazing, how in the middle of this desperate time, they can still find time and heart for a comical song. How hobbity!
Larner
· 19 January 2009
· Chapter 27: We encounter... trolls at close quarters
Oh, so perfect! And of course poor Bill doesn't appreciate what has heartened Master so, nor what Aragorn means. Poor pony--not in the know on this one. But his supposition is a good one considering what he DOES know.
And still love the titles he attaches to Pippin and Merry here! Heh!
Thanks so.
Author's reply
Bless you. And I bet nobody would think to explain it to him, or expect him to understand. *sigh* Sort of like being told "you'll understand when you're older" as a small child.
harrowcat
· 19 January 2009
· Chapter 27: We encounter... trolls at close quarters
I love your description of Strider's suppressed laughter. Poor Bill. You cleverly show the necessity for knowing facts and history that a simple animal will not have had access to. P.s. Hope the birthday was a great day.
Author's reply
Yes, Strider must have smelt peculiar to Bill, especially contrasting with the hobbits' fear.
Poor Bill, he does the best he can with the facts he has.
Thanks! Wee hobbits have resolved to get their work done unprompted (well, with a minimum of prompts) and so I can take some time for writing. Hoorah!
Dreamflower
· 18 January 2009
· Chapter 27: We encounter... trolls at close quarters
Poor Bill! And of course no one will think to explain to him. I love his thought that three stone trolls would be easier to deal with than three large toads! LOLOLOL! What an image that is!
This is so much fun!
Author's reply
Why is it nobody thinks to explain things to our loyal four-footed friends?
Bill is so very logical. He reminds me of some small children I used to know.
shirebound
· 18 January 2009
· Chapter 27: We encounter... trolls at close quarters
'Well!'
I wait. He chuckles, a lovely sound
Awwwww. :)
Author's reply
Couldn't resist throwing that in. Don't you think "fairer than most" had several applications?
Elena Tiriel
· 18 January 2009
· Chapter 27: We encounter... trolls at close quarters
LOLOL! Those two-legged creatures just never explain themselves properly to an inquiring pony mind, now do they?
I really look forward to updates of this story, because I admire how completely you sink yourself into Bill's pragmatic point of view...
Very nicely done, Lindelea!
- Barbara, who is rather fond of alternative points-of-view... and just wrote a battle scene with drabbles from the PoVs of an eagle, a crow, and a horse, as well as various and sundry Men from different realms, Orcs, Peredhel... you know, the usual run-of-the-mill assortment..... ;-)
Author's reply
well, as you know I'm rather fond of alternative points-of-view as well. Got a link to said battle scene? Sounds a treat!
(Drabbles are about the right length for me at present... though the wee hobbits have proclaimed a writing day in honour of my birthday--they say they shall cook all sorts of good things in the kitchen and do their schoolwork without prodding and that I should sit here and turn out a goodly amount of hobbity tales. Oops! I need to get back to bed so that they can accomplish that breakfast in bed they insist upon when they waken! "Now, Mama, you mayn't get up until we've brought you your surprise...")
harrowcat
· 9 January 2009
· Chapter 26: We descend toward certain death
I love the image of Bill's hooves growing roots into the ground!
And thanks for following my trials and tribulations. It does help to know other people are out there.
Author's reply
I'm glad it helps. I hope the fanfic also proves welcome diversion.
Poor Bill. I suppose if he doesn't have the option of running away (being held by a rope as he is), roots are a viable alternative.
Thanks!
Dreamflower
· 9 January 2009
· Chapter 26: We descend toward certain death
Poor Bill! He really should trust his nose instead of his ears in this situation! He'd be much more confident and less frightened. Perhaps this will become a pony saying in the future. And poor Merry and Pippin. As wound up as they are, it's no wonder they made this very understandable mistake.
Author's reply
Hmmm, could be a famous pony saying. "When in doubt, smell it out!" or something to that effect.
Thanks!
shirebound
· 9 January 2009
· Chapter 26: We descend toward certain death
the younger hobbits forge ahead, as if determined to take on any danger that might offer, and leave Master a chance of escape.
I love that. Dear Bill, perhaps now he'll be cheered by Sam's song about the troll.
Author's reply
I think he will be cheered, indeed! He shows quite an appreciation of music for a pony.
Thanks!
Larner
· 9 January 2009
· Chapter 26: We descend toward certain death
Ah, but the Man has been this way before, and knows the nature of the trolls ahead of them. And I love that stick, I do! Heh!
That "only a pony" is such a testament to what we've managed to do to good beasts, and not necessarily a flattering one, I fear.
Author's reply
Poor "only a pony". And yet, Bill will know honour and respect, "only a pony" though he may be.
Thanks!
shadowfax
· 11 December 2008
· Chapter 25: Trolls!
Oh I just love this fic!!! It's so different and so cute and I love how you have shown Bill's thoughts and his pony-ish humour.
Please do update! I cannot wait to see what he thinks of Glorfindel and Asfaloth and also about his adventures in Rivendell and beyond.
Author's reply
Well, it took a month before I had time to put the next chapter together, but there is an update as I write this.
Thanks!
eiluj
· 9 December 2008
· Chapter 25: Trolls!
"I only hope they did not make a pony climb up and down, bearing a sledge of hewn stone down this slope at the end of a long and weary day" -- Poor Bill! He's been with them for less than three weeks, and is haunted by so many years of bad memories.
Author's reply
Poor Bill! I think he's going to live a lifetime in the next six months or so. Whew.
Thanks!
Dinossiel
· 9 December 2008
· Chapter 25: Trolls!
'Bones?'
Ooh! Scary. Poor old Bill, exposed to this. Wonderful to see how he becomes afraid from the reactions of the others, even though he can tell there is nothing around that will harm them.
Author's reply
Poor Bill. I'm sure he takes a dim view of bones.
Thanks!
Dreamflower
· 9 December 2008
· Chapter 25: Trolls!
*grin* I had been waiting for Bill's perspective of this event. I love the way he is being infected with the apprhension of the others, even though his nose is telling him there is no danger.
I love the constant evolution of Bill's variations on Merry's name: Merry-grown-uneasy
It's so good to see Frodo's interest at this point in time.
Author's reply
This troll-episode just keeps dragging on! I do so want to get past the trolls, but I think there'll be another two chapters or so before we meet Glorfindel and Asfaloth.
Thanks!