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
[Writing] The Reckless Hearts of Mortal Men by mouse
Two years before the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, Húrin and Huor journey from Dor-lómin to Eithel Sirion for a war council with their new allies from the East. A story about the stirring of hope and foreshadowing of woe. Well-peppered with humour.
[Artwork] Valier & colours by daughterofshadows
Semi-abstract arts representing the queens of the Valar.
[Writing] An End to All Things by Thorveig
Mairon stood in utter stillness for it seemed to him that the voice of his master mocked him from afar...
[Writing] Collection of Potluck Drabbles by Artano
This is a collection of true drabbles completed for the 'Four Words' drabble bingo card.
[Reference] 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.
[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.
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
Breaking Boundaries
Create a fanwork that shows a meeting between characters of two or more cultures. 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.
The Road to the Havens: The First Step by Himring
Andvir later supplies information about Turin to the poet who wrote a poem about him, but what does it mean for him, personally, to be the son of one of the most agressive of Turin's outlaws and nevertheless end up at the Havens?
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Andvír |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: Restoration and Rebuilding |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 100 |
| Posted on 6 September 2022 | Updated on 6 September 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
A Soul like broken Wings by chrissystriped
Reviahûn managed to flee from Angband when his body died, but he lost all sense of who he is. Eonwe tries to make his beloved remember, but when he finally does, it raises even more problems.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Original Male Character(s), Eönwë, Manwë |
| Major Relationships: Eönwë/Original Character |
| Genres: Hurt/Comfort, Slash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings, Sexual Content (Graphic) |
| Chapters: 4 | Word Count: 9, 107 |
| Posted on 11 September 2019 | Updated on 6 September 2022 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Atanatari: Of the Three Houses of the Edain by Himring
A collection for stories about the Edain.
Recently added: The chair (Sador Labadal)
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Original Character(s), Original Female Character(s), Aerin, Beldis, Beleg, Brandir, Dírhavel, Finduilas, Galdor (Edain), Glóredhel, Haleth, Handir, Hareth, Hathaldir, Hunleth, Hunthor, Huor, Húrin, Imrahil, Lalaith, Men, Morwen, Rían, Sador Labadal, Tuor, Túrin |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet, General, Poetry, Romance | Challenges: B2MeM 2015, Hidden Figures |
| Rating: Creator Chooses Not to Rate | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 16 | Word Count: 7, 348 |
| Posted on 21 June 2014 | Updated on 6 September 2022 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (12) |
Galadriel: There and Back Again by Himring
A series of three vignettes from the life of Galadriel.
Home is behind, the world ahead (First Age): Shortly after her arrival in Middle-earth, Galadriel visits the beach of Losgar.
Does not apply (First Age): Galadriel in conversation with her eldest brother Finrod Felagund.
The world behind and home ahead (Third Age): Galadriel leaves Middle-earth, boarding ship at the Grey Havens.
Now added: an extra double drabble: "Star-glass", on the making of the phial of Galadriel
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Bilbo Baggins, Fingon, Finrod Felagund, Galadriel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Mature Themes |
| Chapters: 4 | Word Count: 1, 811 |
| Posted on 14 September 2012 | Updated on 6 September 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (18) |
Caged Bird by chrissystriped
Reviahûn is guarding the Trees when Melkor comes to kill them but what can a Maia do against the mightiest of the Valar?
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Original Male Character(s), Eönwë, Melkor, Sauron |
| Major Relationships: Eönwë/Original Character, Original Character/Sauron |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Rape/Nonconsensual Sex, Torture, Violence (Graphic) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 215 |
| Posted on 19 November 2019 | Updated on 6 September 2022 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
What Brings Us Together by Aipilosse
crossposted on AO3
Life in Fourth Age Valinor is good for Celebrimbor. He has his students, he has his projects, and if life is a little less exciting than it was in Middle-earth, that’s probably for the best, right? So when a series of events conspires to bring Sauron the Dark Lord back into all of their lives, he must decide if he will help him regain his memories or if some things are better left in the past.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Celebrimbor, Galadriel, Sauron |
| Major Relationships: Celebrimbor/Sauron |
| Genres: Adventure, Drama, Humor, Romance | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Sexual Content (Moderate), Torture, Violence (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 25 | Word Count: 133, 541 |
| Posted on 24 April 2021 | Updated on 5 September 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
With Daisies in Her Hair by StarSpray
Sam has just settled himself on Tol Eressea when Galadriel comes to call.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Galadriel, Samwise Gamgee |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Ficlet, Fluff, General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 897 |
| Posted on 5 September 2022 | Updated on 5 September 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Apple Pies for Welcome by StarSpray
"Haven’t you heard what Cousin Bilbo’s gone and done? He’s fetched Cousin Frodo back from Buckland, to live with him at Bag End! And he’s going to adopt him as his heir, all formal-like."
| Canon Source: Lord of the Rings |
| Major Characters: Bilbo Baggins, Frodo, Hobbits |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Family, Fluff, General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 669 |
| Posted on 5 September 2022 | Updated on 5 September 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Mountain Blooms by StarSpray
“Oh, what a beautiful day!” Belladonna skipped out into the sunshine, breathing in deeply. The Dwarven cities beneath the Blue Mountains were wonderful, but it was always a relief to emerge into the world again, to see the sky and the grass and the flowers and trees that grew on the mountainside. “Dís, look at all the flowers!”
| Canon Source: Hobbit, Lord of the Rings |
| Major Characters: Belladonna Took Baggins, Dís |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Femslash, Ficlet, Fluff | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 630 |
| Posted on 5 September 2022 | Updated on 5 September 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (1) |
The First Time - Ever I Saw Your Face by Gabriel
After an age of sorrow, Erestor has a new chance at love and with someone he did not expect. But can Imladris' resident Councillor let go of the past and of heartbreak to allow something new to blossom.
| Canon Source: Lord of the Rings |
| Major Characters: Historical Character(s), Elrond, Erestor |
| Major Relationships: Elrond/Erestor |
| Genres: Drama, Romance, Slash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Mature Themes |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 571 |
| Posted on 25 January 2021 | Updated on 5 September 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Dearest Cousin by StarSpray
Ioreth's cousin writes to her not long after she has gone to Minas Tirith to study healing.
| Canon Source: Lord of the Rings |
| Major Characters: Original Female Character(s), Ioreth |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Family, Ficlet, General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 598 |
| Posted on 4 September 2022 | Updated on 4 September 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
"The House of a Friend" & other drabbles by Himring
The friendship of Narvi and Celebrimbor: Narvi and Celebrimbor work on the Doors of Moria and other scenes.
Now added: Exploring Upwards (extra double drabble)
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Celebrimbor, Dwarves |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: Akallabêth in August |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 8 | Word Count: 953 |
| Posted on 10 August 2013 | Updated on 4 September 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (22) |
Answering Light by Anérea
Inspired by Surfacing, Into Light by Maggie Honeybite featuring Keiliss' Erestor and Gil-galad from Answers in the Dark, the sequel to Burning Bright: The Road.
- - -
Music: Come Back to Us · Thomas Newman
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Erestor, Gil-galad |
| Major Relationships: Erestor/Gil-galad |
| Artwork Type: Character/Portrait, Drawing/Painting, Illustration |
| Genres: Romance, Slash | Challenges: Restoration and Rebuilding |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on 23 August 2022 | Updated on 4 September 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (20) |
Runaway Horses by Himring
A runaway conversation about runaway horses.
Early in the Fourth Age, some of our heroes meet at Bree, including Merry, Elrohir, Faramir and Eowyn.
In the evening, the conversation takes an unexpected turn; stories are told and the stories range widely...
A Tale for the New Year (originally written in January 2019).
| Canon Source: Lord of the Rings |
| Major Characters: Éowyn, Faramir, Hobbits, Men, Merry |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 142 |
| Posted on 30 August 2022 | Updated on 3 September 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Stupid Sexy Gil-galad by bunn
In which the mysterious manner in which Gil-galad obtained the power to banish Galadriel to Valinor is revealed.
| Canon Source: Rings of Power (TV show) |
| Major Characters: Eru Ilúvatar, Gil-galad |
| Major Relationships: Eru Ilúvatar/Gil-galad |
| Genres: Crackfic | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 490 |
| Posted on 3 September 2022 | Updated on 3 September 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (5) |
Bookkeeper by StarSpray
Elanor sits down to make a copy of the Red Book
| Canon Source: Lord of the Rings |
| Major Characters: Eagles, Elanor Gardner |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Ficlet, Fluff, General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 627 |
| Posted on 2 September 2022 | Updated on 3 September 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (1) |
“The Burnt Hand Teaches Most About Fire”: Applying Trauma Exposure and Ecological Frameworks to Narratives of Displacement and Resettlement Across Elven Cultures in Tolkien’s Middle-earth by UnnamedElement
This two-part paper discusses different elven responses to trauma exposure and forced displacement in Beleriand and Middle-earth (absolutely not exhaustive!). The first half of the paper focuses on Elrond's response to traumatic stress, while the second half compares the impact of Galadriel and Oropher's migration into formerly Silvan realms. First given at the Tolkien Society's Diversity & Tolkien seminar in 2021.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Elrond, Elros, Galadriel, J.R.R. Tolkien, Nandor, Oropher, Sindar |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General, Nonfiction/Meta | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 2 | Word Count: 5, 961 |
| Posted on 3 September 2022 | Updated on 3 September 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (1) |
After The Fall by Grundy
A moodboard showing the path of the survivors of Gondolin.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Artwork Type: Moodboard/Collage |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on 3 September 2022 | Updated on 3 September 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (1) |
The Wealth of Yavanna's Imagining by Grundy
A Yavanna moodboard featuring her creation of birds and other flying creatures.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Yavanna |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Artwork Type: Moodboard/Collage |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on 3 September 2022 | Updated on 3 September 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (2) |
Helcaraxë by Anérea
The followers of Fingolfin Nolofinwë spent years (or decades, depending on which version of Tolkien's maths you subscribe to) on the treacherous crossing of the grinding ice between Aman and Middle-Earth.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Elenwë, Elves, Fingolfin, Fingon, Finrod Felagund, Idril, Noldor, Turgon |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Artwork Type: Drawing/Painting, Illustration, Landscape |
| Genres: Adventure | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on 2 September 2022 | Updated on 2 September 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (1) |
For Godhood is Wrought of Blood by vaecordia
The swelling influence of the Elven kindgoms caught thus the notice of one who named himself Annatar, and to Eregion he arrived with little flourish yet with much to give. He came before Celebrimbor, and bowed deep in respect, which impressed the Lord for the humility of one so great as him, as a Maia, as one of the Ainur.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Celebrimbor, Sauron |
| Major Relationships: Celebrimbor/Sauron |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Character Death, Torture, Violence (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 10, 584 |
| Posted on 1 September 2022 | Updated on 1 September 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
From the Houseless Hills by StarSpray
Carn Dûm had always been a far distant and ancient terror, a dark shadow on the most distant horizon. But with the influx of orcs into the north out of the Misty Mountains and perhaps from even farther away, there were rumors that the Enemy wanted to retake Carn Dûm and begin rebuilding the old kingdom of Angmar.
| Canon Source: Lord of the Rings |
| Major Characters: Original Female Character(s), Aragorn |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Adventure, General, Suspense | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 3, 337 |
| Posted on 1 September 2022 | Updated on 1 September 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Song of Spring by StarSpray
The war is over, and now Radagast's real work can begin.
| Canon Source: Lord of the Rings |
| Major Characters: Radagast |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Ficlet, General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 672 |
| Posted on 31 August 2022 | Updated on 31 August 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Angrod - Lord of Dorthonion by Gabriel
This artwork is a depiction of Angrod, son of Finarfin, and all that represents his life in Dorthonion. It is also a companion piece to a story I recently uploaded, 'Star In The Darkness.'
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Historical Character(s), Angrod |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Artwork Type: Moodboard/Collage |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on 30 August 2022 | Updated on 30 August 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (2) |
Storm Season by Independence1776
My first artwork for TRSB 2022. Huan washes ashore in Fourth Age Harad, where Maglor has been living for decades.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Original Character(s), Huan, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Artwork Type: Moodboard/Collage |
| Genres: Adventure, Drama | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on 30 August 2022 | Updated on 30 August 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (6) |
