The RAW states that "A character can use a Component pouch or a Spellcasting focus (found in “Equipment”) in place of the Components specified for a spell." So, you do need a free hand, but you don't need to access the feather. Since the component pouch is used IN PLACE of the components specified for the spell, you just need to hold your component pouch (which, obviously, made of magic-transparent materials so holding it allows you to hold all the components inside it). There is no need to retrieve the particular material component from inside the component pouch as far as I know, making it more compatible with reaction spells.ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7prrWqKmlnF6kv6h706GpnpmUqHykrc1msKitXZiutLGMn5yarJiav26ywKWjZqGWYsawwYyaqZ5lnqTBbrTOpZuippdirm6yxJqroZ2iYryzecBmnaibpah7d4STbmdtZw%3D%3D