Reviews (336)

Author's reply

Butterbur is a good judge of character, most of the time, anyhow. (I seem to remember he warned Frodo about taking up with a certain Ranger.) The hobbits cannot return too soon, so far as Bill's concerned. Of course, they have a few matters of business to see to before that time comes. It was daunting when I first began to contemplate the long stretch of months between Bill's appearance in Bree – though on further consideration, Butterbur didn't exactly say when the pony returned! Bill might have had all sorts of adventures and met all kinds of people and taken weeks or months in his travels, as opposed to the course I laid out for him. Someone else might write that story. Tolkien left so much scope for the imagination! Author Reply: (I got interrupted and left out some words above. I meant to say, "between their return and Bill's appearance in Bree".)

Author's reply

The Tooks are probably the most infamous among hobbit families and clans for having that attitude, as you point out, but I think it's also plausible for other hobbits who love their work to chafe at restrictions imposed by health challenges. At least nobody's had to threaten to sit on him yet... Thanks!

Author's reply

I think it is quite possible that Bill will connect with his dear hobbits at some point or other, especially during times of intense emotions, just as in his dreams of the Golden Wood around the time that Sam and Frodo looked in the Mirror of Galadriel. I appreciate the hugs and the Light. I'm over the bug, but not quite back to writing an hour or two a day as I was earlier. Thanks for thinking good thoughts.

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Sorry, as I said in another review reply, I've missed two planned updates. A nasty virus has had me down for more than a week. Today was better, so here's hoping for an update on Monday. (((hugs))) I've known that poem since my early years, but I have to admit that I didn't know how it was spelled until I looked it up recently. Alas, poor Bob. He just wants everything to go back the way it should be (the way it was, that is). Is that too much to ask? Thanks!

Author's reply

Sorry, as I said in another review reply, I've missed two planned updates. A nasty virus has had me down for more than a week. Today was better, so here's hoping for an update on Monday. (((hugs))) Bill might go so far as to say that Sam is inside his heart. And "Master" will always mean Frodo, first and foremost, and only when it appears that Frodo is not on the spot will Bill look around for someone else who fits that name. Thanks!

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Sorry, I've missed two planned updates. A nasty virus has had me down for more than a week. Today was better, so here's hoping for an update on Monday. (((hugs))) All ought to become clearer then.

Author's reply

A winter festival sounds quite promising! However, this soon after the battle and their losses, somehow I can't see them having the heart to celebrate, even if the town has kept the tradition of a winter celebration before this time. Maybe they'll start having winter festivities after the King comes back? No, but the celebration in the stables is all for Bob's benefit on his returning to work, for it's the best way those who appreciate him can think of to honor him – through the polished appearance of "his" horses and ponies and the thoroughly scrubbed and shined and ordered stables, that is. Thanks!

Author's reply

Why, there's Tall Bob and then there's Bob, you know! And first impressions make a deep impression. Bill was introduced to Bob-the-hobbit with something like "This is Bob, the ostler" (thus, he's "this-Bob"), while I've imagined the ostler talking to Samwise and Bill afterwards, and pointing out Bob-the-man in terms of "That's Tall Bob; he's one of the grooms here. If you can't find any hobbits here and about, feel free to ask him if you need anything else. Why, I should think he knows nearly as much as I do." Also, "Tall Bob" might be too close to "Tall Hat" for Bill's taste, which is why he's stuck with "that-Bob". At least, that's my story, and I'm sticking with it. I suppose you might call the title "a spot of foreshadowing"?

Author's reply

It's so much fun to picture him this way! The thought makes me grin. Thanks!

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He's grown and changed through his experiences; and part of his transformation, I think, can be attributed to Bill leaving behind his self-limiting attitude of being "just a pony". Rubbing elbows with Rangers and Elves and heroic Hobbits and a Wizard or two has been good for him, it seems. Poor little Violet. And yet, there's a plot point, one I can't quite reveal yet, that will bring her comfort when Bill must depart. Hopefully that's enough of a hint (and not a spoiler) to set your mind at ease. We are in the midst of a long stretch of mostly-fluff, after all, the kind of thing Tolkien did not write about as a rule. Perhaps he found them boring? Now it is a strange thing, but things that are good to have and days that are good to spend are soon told about, and not much to listen to; while things that are uncomfortable, palpitating, and even gruesome, may make a good tale, and take a deal of telling anyway. (from The Hobbit) Thanks! It's good to hear from you. I like your idea of the hobbit(s) (and Bill!) travelling to Bree once in a while. Maybe, for starters, Sam travels there with Deputy Mayor Frodo (and Pippin and Merry as the Thain's and Master's representatives?) What a fun idea to contemplate!

Author's reply

It'll seem like forever, but Sam will return! (I'm so glad to have that foreknowledge!) It's been very comforting to work on this part of the story and let Bill be Bill; in other words, to allow him to live the carefree life of a well-kept, even well-loved pony. (As shown in the short story "Flower Fest", he'll enjoy much the same loving and respectful treatment when he comes to live at Bag End, of course, so this is just a taste of good things to come!) Thanks so much for reading and pausing long enough to share your thoughts. I do appreciate it.

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He will help amuse her and keep her from worrying about her poor dad, and she will return the favor, I'm sure, and help Bill not fret about his absent Sam. It's almost as if some power for Good has been looking out for the two of them! (It's nice to imagine such, anyhow.) Thanks so much!

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I still remember clearly an incident that happened when we'd had our rescued Giant Schnauzer for less than a week. We lived in an inner-urban neighborhood. McDonald's (a huge treat for the littles at the time, though their tastes have become much more sophisticated these days) was only a mile away. It was such a pleasant day, we walked to McDonald's for lunch. I gave eldest the money to order food, and I sat at an outside table with the littler ones and the dog. A nice older gentleman sat down at the next table, and we had a pleasant conversation as we ate our respective lunches, and the dog (remember, we had only had her for a few days and were still getting to know each other) was friendly and well-mannered. Then a young man sat down at another nearby table. The dog's hackles immediately went up, and she started a low growl that continued until the young man shook his head, grinned at us, and got up and walked inside the restaurant. The older man leaned in towards us, nodded subtly towards the restaurant, and then shook his head and told us we'd "got a good dog there". Our other dogs down the years have also seemed to have that ability to distinguish between harmless people and threats. My dad used to claim that dogs could smell a difference in people. I have no idea whether it's the sense of smell or some other sense, but it's amazing, no matter how it works. Thanks so much for reading, and for pausing to share your thoughts! I really appreciate them.

Author's reply

The small, mundane moments can be so comforting, especially nowadays. (((hugs))) to you, dear friend. Now that I've finished revising the next chapter from the draft of the story, and have posted it, I'm going to go and provide a lap for one or another cat for the rest of the day, most probably. We must take our blessings where we can find them... Thanks so much for reading and taking the time to share your thoughts. I do appreciate them.

Author's reply

I just find little kids so amazing and adorable, with their ready generosity, constant curiosity, and vivid imagination. Violet, who would be about five or six years old in human years, adores ponies (I think she'd be called "horse crazy" in our world) and can't think of anything better than visiting her dad and her cousin Bert in The Prancing Pony's stables. Along with the ponies and horses there, of course. In case you were wondering, Bert is orphaned; his mother was a sister to Bob and Nob, and Bob took him in when his parents died. It's in the background to the story as I fleshed out the characters named in Tolkien's narrative, but since it's not spelled out in the draft chapters, I don't know if it will come out in the story. And yes, Violet has decided that Bill's proper name is Poppet, and no one can tell her otherwise. :) Author Reply: p.s. Thanks so much for reading, and for sharing your thoughts!

Author's reply

Just as you said, if anyone had told Bill before he set out on the journey that he would be able to rise up against his cruel master, I don't think the pony would have believed it. His reunion with Sam was one of the first draft chapters I wrote when I was outlining this story (which was originally one very long story, but it had to be broken into two parts because it ended up having more chapters than SoA could accommodate in a single story). The first half was easy because it followed the book as closely as possible. The second half... realizing that Bill would be waiting for Sam in Bree for more than half a year was daunting. The easiest route would have been to bring him to Bree and then, in the next chapter, give a time clue as to the passage of time, and have Sam show up. Instead, I chose the more challenging course of imagining what might have happened to Bill during those months in Bree. Barliman Butterbur certainly didn't offer much help in that department! I think I have managed to fit Bill's dam into the story with an appropriate amount of irony and coincidence so that it doesn't sound contrived. At least, I hope it doesn't. Bill's reunion with Sam will indeed tug at the emotions, and in more ways than one. Hopefully that's not too much of a spoiler. The scene tugged at my emotions, at least. But then, I'm following as closely as I can in the footsteps of the original author, or trying my best to do so. ...even though I'm addicted to alternate visions of events, like Dreamflower's Eucatastrophe and Shirebound's "Quarantined" universe where Frodo ends up staying in the Shire and not sailing to the West. Bill's story, despite my added embroidery, will remain as true to the original narrative as possible. Thanks! I'm so glad to hear from you!