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'''Bill 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=[[Image:Bill Ferny from Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings.jpg|250px]]
|name=Bill Ferny
|othernames=
|birth=Late [[Third Age]]
|death=
|gender=Male
|height=
|hair=
|eyes=
}}
'''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]].
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 Penny|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>


[[Category:Men]]
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==
'''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.
 
'''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.
 
{{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 18:03, 11 December 2012

Bill Ferny
Man
File:Bill Ferny from Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings.jpg
Biographical Information
BirthLate Third Age
Physical Description
GenderMale
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.

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.[1]

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.[2] 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.[3]

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.[4] Ferny is a reference to the plant, as many surnames of Bree were botanical in nature.[5]

Portrayal in Adaptations

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.

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.

References