New Challenge: Potluck Bingo
Sit down to a delicious selection of prompts served on bingo boards, created by the SWG community.
SWG News
Bingo Cards Wanted for Potluck Bingo
Our November-December challenge will be Potluck Bingo, featuring cards created by you! If you'd like to create cards or prompts for cards, we are taking submissions.
Tolkien Meta Week, December 8-14
We will be hosting a Tolkien Meta Week in December, here on the archive and on our Tumblr, for nonfiction fanworks about Tolkien.
New Challenge: Orctober
Orcs on a quest for freedom seek a place sheltered and safe from the Dark Lord. Fulfill prompts to gather the clues needed to bring them to freedom.
New & Updated Fanworks
[Artwork] 2024 Potluck Doodles by silmalope
Assorted prompt fills for the 2024 Potluck bingo boards, to varying degrees of completion! :)
[Writing] Ransom of the Fairy Twins by Rocky41_7
Maglor and Maedhros trade Elrond and Elros to King Gil-galad in exchange for a Silmaril, but they have miscalculated.
[Series] Pennas Pengolodh by AdmirableMonster
The majority of the Silmarillion was penned by a single Elf--an Elf who was so thoroughly written out as to appear only through the ways in which their perspective shaped the stories we see. This is their story, the historian's history, the Pennas Pengolodh.
[Writing] Havens by AdmirableMonster
The Exiles of Gondolin come to Sirion. The residents of Sirion welcome them, and friendship blossoms between the last remaining loremaster of Gondolin and a young poet of Sirion.
[Writing] Collection of Potluck Drabbles by Artano
This is a collection of true drabbles completed for the 'Four Words' drabble bingo card.
[Writing] Hurting Tyelpë by elennalore
Sauron has taken Celebrimbor as a prisoner in Ost-in-Edhil. Whump happens.
[Writing] On a Night of Snow by Elleth
Fingon returns to Barad Eithel after a late-autumn hunt, finding someone unexpected with his wife. The night takes an even more unexpected turn for all three of them.
Current Challenge
Potluck Bingo
Help yourself to a collection of prompts on bingo boards designed by members and friends of the SWG. Read more ...
Random Challenge
Major Arcana
Select a Tarot card and use any aspect of the card or its description to inspire your fanwork. Read more ...
New in References
Mapping Arda, Part III: The Second Age by Varda delle Stelle, Anérea
A series of articles featuring fan-made maps of all the lands of Arda. Part III explores the island of Númenor and mainland Middle-earth during the Second Age.
Doom and Ascent: The Argument of ‘Beowulf: the Monsters and the Critics’ by Simon J. Cook
Simon reads 'Beowulf: the Monsters and the Critics' to conclude his account of the Anglo-Saxon tower of its allegory.
Why People Don't Comment: Data and History From the Tolkienfic Fandom by Dawn Walls-Thumma
A reworking of the 2018 article for Long Live Feedback that includes data from the 2020 Tolkien Fanfiction Survey, pointing to a lack of comments as related to skill, confidence, and community connection.
Featured Themed Collection
Part of our Themed Collection series for our newsletter, this collection features fiction, artwork, and essays that transcend the idea of Orcs as the enemy, instead considering their humanity.
Alliterative Verse for Arda by Rhunedhel
Part of our Themed Collection series for our newsletter, this collection features alliterative poems about Middle-earth.
Beyond the Silmarillion
[Writing] Homage to the Song of Durin by Flora-lass
Legolas is inspired by Gimli's song - and by Gimli himself.
[Artwork] Long-tressed Wingildi by Anérea
"... the long-tressed Wingildi ... spirits of the foam and the surf of ocean."
~ a painted sketch for Scribbles and Drabbles 2024.
[Writing] Partners in Craft by elennalore
Annatar realises that he might like Celebrimbor too much.
Around the World and Web
Fluffcember 2024
Fluffcember is a Tumblr event with daily fluffy prompts during the month of December.
Hidden Paths 2025
Hidden Paths, an event dedicated to the celebration of smaller Tolkien canons, has released their early prompts for the 2025 event.
Teitho November/December Contest: Healing
The theme for Teitho's November/December contest is healing.
Lord of the Rings Secret Santa 2024
LotR SESA has been ongoing for twenty-one years and is running again this year as a prompt meme hosted on AO3 for all genres of Tolkien-based fanfiction.
Kiliel Week 2024
Kiliel Week is a Tumblr event for fanworks about the Kili/Tauriel pairing.
Truly All Fanworks
This page includes all fanworks from the main SWG archive and the Beyond the Silmarillion section.
Embrace by chrissystriped
Melkor is in a rare gentle mood and grants his slave a wish.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Original Male Character(s), Melkor |
| Major Relationships: Melkor/Original Character |
| Genres: Slash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings, Sexual Content (Graphic) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 071 |
| Posted on 3 October 2018 | Updated on 4 December 2022 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
The way he needs me by chrissystriped
Melkor is angry and Mablung knows it is going to be a hard night. But if his pain is what his Master needs to feel better, he'll bear it for him.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Original Male Character(s), Melkor |
| Major Relationships: Melkor/Original Character |
| Genres: Slash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings, Sexual Content (Graphic), Violence (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 186 |
| Posted on 6 October 2019 | Updated on 4 December 2022 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
In the Mirror of your Eyes by chrissystriped
Celebrimbor wants to show Maeglin how beautiful he is. Maeglin has a hard time believing it.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Celebrimbor, Maeglin |
| Major Relationships: Celebrimbor/Maeglin |
| Genres: Hurt/Comfort, Slash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: In-Universe Racism/Ethnocentrism, Sexual Content (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 115 |
| Posted on 26 November 2022 | Updated on 4 December 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Hearken Still Unsated by polutropos
When the Noldor return to Middle-earth to make war on Morgoth, only rumours reach Menegroth of their reasons for coming, but Doriath's minstrel experiences their loss and longing through his connection to Music and the gift of his Queen. Years later, he is sent to the Feast of Reuniting and meets the Elf whose grief he felt. A story about the Eldar returning home, their connection to the land and to each other, and their relationship to Music and fate, love and free will.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Daeron, Maglor, Melian |
| Major Relationships: Daeron/Maglor, Daeron & Melian |
| Genres: Podfic | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Sexual Content (Mild) |
| Posted on 4 December 2022 | Updated on 4 December 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (4) |
In After Days by StarSpray
Something out near the entrance to the bay caught his eye. It was a small, dark shape on the water, slowly growing larger. As it passed into Eldamar out of Belegaer, Eärendil felt his breath catch. “Elwing,” he said.
“I see it.” She leaned farther out of the window, as though those few inches might grant her a better look. She had one hand raised to shield her eyes from the sun’s glare. “It looks like—”
“Yes, but it can’t be.”
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Eärendil, Elwing, Idril, Tuor, Voronwë |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Family, Fluff, General | Challenges: Manwë's Mailbag |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 358 |
| Posted on 4 December 2022 | Updated on 4 December 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (13) |
Lords of Amon Ereb by JazTheBard
Maedhros and Maglor have stolen the Silmarils and disappeared. Beleriand is sinking. Finarfin, Gil-Galad, and all the people moving east pay a visit to Amon Ereb, assuming that the Sons of Fëanor returned there.
Instead, they find Elrond and Elros.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Elrond, Elros, Gil-galad, Maedhros, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: Elrond & Elros & Maedhros & Maglor |
| Genres: Family | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 4 | Word Count: 11, 138 |
| Posted on 3 December 2022 | Updated on 3 December 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Guards! Guards! by JazTheBard
Maglor is once again skulking around Rivendell to hear news of Elrond, but this time the guards catch him and drag him to see his... estranged son? former hostage? Angst ensues.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Elrond, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Family, General, Hurt/Comfort | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 881 |
| Posted on 13 September 2022 | Updated on 3 December 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Yávië by AdmirableMonster
The queen of Númenor reflects on her past and future with a strange companion.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Sauron, Tar-Míriel |
| Major Relationships: Sauron & Tar-Míriel |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: Manwë's Mailbag |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 298 |
| Posted on 3 December 2022 | Updated on 3 December 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (3) |
Starsong by Gabriel
A little Elf child has her first taste of the horrors that lurk in Beleriand and learns what it is to be Fëanorion.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Original Female Character(s), Amras, Caranthir, Celegorm, Curufin, Maedhros, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 210 |
| Posted on 6 May 2018 | Updated on 30 November 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (6) |
A Promise Kept by chrissystriped
Mablung leaves Doriath on the eve of the Nirnaeth Arnoediad.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Mablung, Thranduil |
| Major Relationships: Mablung & Thranduil |
| Genres: Ficlet, General | Challenges: Manwë's Mailbag |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 542 |
| Posted on 29 November 2022 | Updated on 29 November 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (13) |
The Time of Moths and Warm Evenings by Maggie Honeybite
Voronwë leads Tuor across Beleriand and into Gondolin, and then faithfully serves and protects him and his family through all that follows. Which is just the natural order of things, isn’t it? All part of Ulmo’s grand plan, nothing much to see here, move along. Right? One day Tuor begins to suspect there might be more to it.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Tuor, Voronwë |
| Major Relationships: Tuor/Voronwë |
| Genres: Adventure, Drama, Romance, Slash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Mature Themes, Sexual Content (Mild), Violence (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 3, 153 |
| Posted on 26 November 2022 | Updated on 27 November 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Initiation by chrissystriped
Fingon is out for an adventure and asks Maedhros for an introduction to a certain club. Soon he finds himself participating in an orgy, the plaything of others, and enjoying every moment of it.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Fingon, Ingwion, Mablung, Maedhros, Penlod, Thranduil |
| Major Relationships: Fingon & Maedhros, Fingon/Ingwion/Mablung/Penlod/Thranduil/Original Character |
| Genres: Erotica, Het, Poly, Slash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings, Sexual Content (Graphic) |
| Chapters: 2 | Word Count: 6, 228 |
| Posted on 27 November 2022 | Updated on 27 November 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Love in The Woods by chrissystriped
Thranduil goes out to meet the elf he loves. If only she would let him court her properly.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Unnamed Female Canon Character(s), Thranduil |
| Major Relationships: Thranduil/Unnamed Canon Character |
| Genres: Het, Romance | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Sexual Content (Graphic) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 3, 497 |
| Posted on 27 November 2022 | Updated on 27 November 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Slowly Separating Ways by chrissystriped
After being called out by Eru in front of everyone, Melkor wants to be alone. Manwe tries to talk to his brother and make him see reason.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Manwë, Melkor |
| Major Relationships: Manwë & Melkor |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 590 |
| Posted on 27 November 2022 | Updated on 27 November 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
In the eye of the beholder by chrissystriped
After the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, Melkor decides to savour his victory by taunting a group of prisoners. Mablung, being the center of his scheme, keenly feels the elves' disdain.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Original Male Character(s), Melkor |
| Major Relationships: Melkor/Original Character |
| Genres: Slash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings, Sexual Content (Graphic) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 810 |
| Posted on 22 May 2019 | Updated on 26 November 2022 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Touch of a Vanished Hand by elfscribe
When Elendil and his group of Númenórean refugees wash up on Lindon's shores, Elrond's past comes back to haunt him.
MEFA 2010 First Place winner:Times, Second & Early Third Age
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Elendil, Elrond, Elros, Gildor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Expletive Language |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 8, 434 |
| Posted on 15 February 2010 | Updated on 26 November 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (16) |
Fandom Voices: Women in Fanworks by Dawn Walls-Thumma
The fandom has become a friendlier place for writing women, but its hostile history toward women-centric fanworks continues to exert a chilling effect for some, while other creators see potential in the legendarium and fandom's traditional lack of women characters.
Fandom Voices: Impact of the Films by Dawn Felagund
The Tolkien fandom existed long before Jackson's film trilogies were even thought about. Fans who were active in fandom before one or both film trilogies recall how the films changed (or didn't change) their fan communities and experiences.
3 Mayan/Aztec inspired Silmarillion Illustrations by cuarthol
For Tolkien Latin American & Caribbean Week
Ink (black and gold) and watercolor on cardstock paper.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Beleg, Finduilas, Gwindor, Tuor, Túrin, Ulmo |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Artwork Type: Drawing/Painting, Illustration |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on 21 November 2022 | Updated on 25 November 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (4) |
Wherefrom Tempered by Gwanath Dagnir
Elrond Half-elven is the newest addition to Gil-galad's court in Mithlond. One night separated from the fawning crowd, Celebrimbor confronts him about their pasts' unique relationship after learning something Elrond has tried to keep hidden.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Celebrimbor, Elrond |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 391 |
| Posted on 25 November 2022 | Updated on 25 November 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (1) |
Yours to discover by I_did_not_mean_to
Daeron thinks about his life in Doriath, writing letters he'll never send and wishing things were different so he could see Maglor again.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Daeron |
| Major Relationships: Daeron/Maglor |
| Genres: Romance | Challenges: Manwë's Mailbag |
| Rating: General | Warnings: In-Universe Intolerance |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 806 |
| Posted on 24 November 2022 | Updated on 24 November 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (9) |
Skipping Song by Himring
A skipping game, and how it connects the children of Hurin and how it doesn't.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Lalaith, Nienor, Túrin |
| Major Relationships: Lalaith & Túrin |
| Genres: Family, General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 001 |
| Posted on 20 November 2022 | Updated on 20 November 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Sieges in the First and Second Ages by S.R. Westvik
From ancient times to the present, siege warfare has been used to wear down an enemy through time and deprivation. Siege tactics, defense against a siege, and humanitarian concerns from real-world sieges have analogues in sieges in Middle-earth.
Power and Choice in the Second Age: A Political Primer by S.R. Westvik
Fantasy fiction is often conceived to aid escapism in a world as complex and threatening as ours is. It is also an important tool for reflecting on and critiquing our political and societal norms and deficits, serving as a great lens to understand politics, power, choice, order, and justice. Through the lens of political science, underused in Tolkien studies, this paper describes and evaluates the broad themes of the domestic and international political landscape of early Second Age in Middle-earth, examined through a framework of power and choice. With a specific focus on Númenor as a rising power, the paper will also address diverse themes of great power politics, foreign policy, technology and weaponry, ideology, and alliance systems.
