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Ferny spied on [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] in [[Bree]]. He was noticed relaying details of the [[Hobbits]]' adventures at the [[Prancing Pony]] to one of the [[Nazgûl]], this event witnessed by [[Meriadoc Brandybuck]].
{{men infobox
| image=[[File:The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring - Bill Ferny.jpg|250px]]
| name=Bill Ferny
| pronun=
| othernames=
| titles=
| position=
| location=[[Bree]]
| affiliation=[[Saruman|Sharkey]]
| language=[[Westron]]
| birth=Late [[Third Age]]
| birthlocation=
| rule=
| death=
| deathlocation=
| age=
| notablefor=
| house=
| parentage=
| siblings=
| spouse=
| children=
| gender=Male
| height=
| hair=
| eyes=
| clothing=
| weapons=
| steed=[[Bill the Pony]]
}}
'''Bill Ferny''' was a man of [[Bree]].


After the attempted murder of the four hobbits in the raid of the Prancing Pony Inn by the Nazgûl, the travellers had to buy a pony, since during the raid all the ponies and donkeys were let loose from the Inn's stable. Bill's pony - whom [[Sam Gamgee|Sam]] afterwards also named Bill - was the only mount left available for sale in the town, so [[Strider]] and the hobbits had no choice but to buy this mistreated, miserable looking creature for 12 silver pennies (apparently a most unfair price). The Hobbits then left Bree with Strider, taking the main street. Bill Ferny jeered at Strider, who merely nodded in response. [[Sam Gamgee|Sam]], however, was not so reticent, hitting Ferny in the face with a quickly-thrown apple. Sam, who took a liking to the pony, later named it [[Bill the Pony]].
==History==
Bill Ferny lived on the last house of Bree, and was an opportunistic backstabber, who was little liked by respectable folk of the town. He served as a spy for the [[Nazgûl|Ringwraiths]], and relayed information about Shire-hobbits to them.


When the four hobbits returned to the Shire in ''[[The Return of the King]]'', Bill Ferny was the man guarding the locked gate at the [[Brandywine]].
Ferny was at [[the Prancing Pony]] on [[September 29]]th when his colleague, a [[Squint-eyed Southerner]] joined him. The two of them saw "[[Mr. Underhill]]" ([[Frodo Baggins]]) vanish into thin air. They reported the information to the [[Nazgûl]], and the Ringwraiths came to attack that night.<ref name="UT10">{{UT|10}}, "Concerning Gandalf, Saruman, and the Shire"</ref>


[[Category:Men]]
After the Ringwraiths raided ''The Prancing Pony'', Bill and his allies went to the inn's stables and set all mounts loose. There was only one pony left in all of Bree: [[Bill the Pony|Bill's mistreated one]]. He sold him for twelve [[silver pennies]] to [[Aragorn|Strider]] and the [[Travellers|Hobbits]]. As a parting gift, [[Samwise Gamgee]] threw an [[apples|apple]] at his head.<ref>{{FR|Strider}}</ref>
 
The Squint-eyed Southerner was spotted inside Bill Ferny's house when the company set out to [[Weathertop]].<ref name="FRI11">{{FR|I11}}</ref>
 
When trouble came up the [[Greenway]] from the South, Bill Ferny and several others opened the gates to them, and left with them after a short battle.<ref>{{RK|Homeward}}</ref> He joined [[Saruman|Sharkey]], and guarded the gate at the [[Brandywine Bridge]]. His command over the local Shirriffs was hard, but he was no match for the [[Travellers|four Hobbits]] who tried to break in. He fled into the night, but not after his old pony had kicked him in the back.<ref>{{RK|Scouring}}</ref>
 
==Etymology==
''Bill'' is a name Tolkien used to represent the [[Westron]] name '''Bil''', which was a short for names as ''Arambil'', ''Bildad'' and ''Bilcuzal'', all of unknown meaning.<ref>{{PM|Languages}}</ref> ''Ferny'' is a reference to the [[wikipedia:Fern|plant]], as many surnames of [[Bree]] were botanical in nature.<ref>{{HM|N}}, p. 757</ref>
 
==Portrayal in Adaptations==
 
===Radio series===
'''1981: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|BBC Radio's The Lord of the Ring]]'':'''
:[[Graham Faulkner]] provided the voice of Bill Ferny.
 
 
===Films===
[[File:The Hobbit - The Desolation of Smaug - Bill Ferny, Sr.jpg|"Bill Ferny, Sr." in ''[[The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug]]''|thumb|right|200px]]
'''2013: ''[[The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug]]:'''
:A character credited as "Bill Ferny, Sr." appears in the prologue in Bree. Along with another character credited as "Squint" (loosely based on the Squint-eyed Southerner), Ferny, Sr. has seemingly tracked [[Thorin]] to the Prancing Pony (presumably to collect on the bounty put out on Thorin's head). The two Men are preparing to confront Thorin when [[Gandalf]] goes over and sits and starts talking with the [[Dwarves|Dwarf]]. When it becomes apparent the [[Wizards|Wizard]] is not going anywhere, Bill and Squint get up and leave the inn.
 
===Video games ===
'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]:'''
:Bill is one of the guests at the ''Prancing Pony'', who doesn't want to be disturbed by Hobbits. Afterward, he confronts [[Aragorn|Strider]] in the streets, and is killed.
 
===Card games ===
'''2001-2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game]]'':'''
:One of the men seen in Bree in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'' is identified as Bill Ferny.
 
{{references}}
[[Category:Bree-men]]
[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[de:Lutz Farning]]
[[fr:encyclo:personnages:hommes:3a:hommes_de_bree:bill_fougeron]]
[[fi:Bil Imarre]]

Revision as of 14:39, 28 July 2014

Bill Ferny
Man
The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring - Bill Ferny.jpg
Biographical Information
LocationBree
AffiliationSharkey
LanguageWestron
BirthLate Third Age
Physical Description
GenderMale
SteedBill the Pony
GalleryImages of Bill Ferny

Bill Ferny was a man of Bree.

History

Bill Ferny lived on the last house of Bree, and was an opportunistic backstabber, who was little liked by respectable folk of the town. He served as a spy for the Ringwraiths, and relayed information about Shire-hobbits to them.

Ferny was at the Prancing Pony on September 29th when his colleague, a Squint-eyed Southerner joined him. The two of them saw "Mr. Underhill" (Frodo Baggins) vanish into thin air. They reported the information to the Nazgûl, and the Ringwraiths came to attack that night.[1]

After the Ringwraiths raided The Prancing Pony, Bill and his allies went to the inn's stables and set all mounts loose. There was only one pony left in all of Bree: Bill's mistreated one. He sold him for twelve silver pennies to Strider and the Hobbits. As a parting gift, Samwise Gamgee threw an apple at his head.[2]

The Squint-eyed Southerner was spotted inside Bill Ferny's house when the company set out to Weathertop.[3]

When trouble came up the Greenway from the South, Bill Ferny and several others opened the gates to them, and left with them after a short battle.[4] He joined Sharkey, and guarded the gate at the Brandywine Bridge. His command over the local Shirriffs was hard, but he was no match for the four Hobbits who tried to break in. He fled into the night, but not after his old pony had kicked him in the back.[5]

Etymology

Bill is a name Tolkien used to represent the Westron name Bil, which was a short for names as Arambil, Bildad and Bilcuzal, all of unknown meaning.[6] Ferny is a reference to the plant, as many surnames of Bree were botanical in nature.[7]

Portrayal in Adaptations

Radio series

1981: BBC Radio's The Lord of the Ring:

Graham Faulkner provided the voice of Bill Ferny.


Films

2013: The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug:

A character credited as "Bill Ferny, Sr." appears in the prologue in Bree. Along with another character credited as "Squint" (loosely based on the Squint-eyed Southerner), Ferny, Sr. has seemingly tracked Thorin to the Prancing Pony (presumably to collect on the bounty put out on Thorin's head). The two Men are preparing to confront Thorin when Gandalf goes over and sits and starts talking with the Dwarf. When it becomes apparent the Wizard is not going anywhere, Bill and Squint get up and leave the inn.

Video games

2002: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game):

Bill is one of the guests at the Prancing Pony, who doesn't want to be disturbed by Hobbits. Afterward, he confronts Strider in the streets, and is killed.

Card games

2001-2007: The Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game:

One of the men seen in Bree in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring is identified as Bill Ferny.

References