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] 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...
At the end of the First Age, Sauron makes a choice.
[Reference] Mapping Arda, Part III: The Second Age by Anérea, Varda delle Stelle
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.
[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] Collection of Potluck Drabbles by Artano
This is a collection of true drabbles completed for the 'Four Words' drabble bingo card.
[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
One True Love
Create a fanwork about your favorite OTP. Read more ...
New in References
Mapping Arda, Part III: The Second Age by Anérea, Varda delle Stelle
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.
November challenge at tolkienshortfanworks
The challenge for November has been posted to the tolkienshortfanworks community on Dreamwidth. Thematic prompt: refuge. Formal challenge: include imitation of a sound. As always, these can be filled independently and also freely combined with SWG and other challenges. New participants welcome!
Truly All Fanworks
This page includes all fanworks from the main SWG archive and the Beyond the Silmarillion section.
Laughing Water by Himring
A glimpse of Rian after Lalaith, the little daughter of her cousin Morwen, died from a plague sent by the Enemy.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Rían |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Family, General | Challenges: B2MeM 2019 |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 420 |
| Posted on 16 May 2021 | Updated on 16 May 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
In crafts of making he had less skill by Himring
Two lessons for Turin: one with Sador, and one with Beleg.
He learns not as much as he might.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Beleg, Sador Labadal, Túrin |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: B2MeM 2019 |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 202 |
| Posted on 16 May 2021 | Updated on 16 May 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
For who, finding themselves imprisoned, would not wish to escape? by Himring
Miriel and a book.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Tar-Míriel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 203 |
| Posted on 14 May 2021 | Updated on 14 May 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Only Half-Related by chrissystriped
He should have seen it coming, Nolofinwe thought while Maitimo’s lips descended on his, hot and demanding. His nephew had stolen away to talk with him almost every time he visited Findekáno and it hadn’t escaped Nolofinwe how he looked at him – and he couldn’t deny that Maitimo was proving a hard trial for his self-control.
After Maitimo recognises Nolofinwe at a place for people of special tastes, they share a common secret. But is this a chance to have this kind of relationship with someone they care about or should they forget about it because of their close kinship?
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Fingolfin, Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: Fingolfin/Maedhros |
| Genres: Erotica, Slash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Incest, Sexual Content (Graphic) |
| Chapters: 2 | Word Count: 6, 438 |
| Posted on 9 January 2021 | Updated on 14 May 2021 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Piecing our Lives back together by chrissystriped
Findekáno brings Maitimo home, but nothing is like it was between Nolofinwe and Maedhros after his imprisonment in Angband. Maedhros feels tainted and unworthy, but Nolofinwe is not going to give up on him.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Fingolfin, Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: Fingolfin/Maedhros |
| Genres: Erotica, Hurt/Comfort, Slash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Incest, Sexual Content (Graphic), Torture |
| Chapters: 8 | Word Count: 17, 463 |
| Posted on 18 March 2021 | Updated on 14 May 2021 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Golden Flower by Raiyana
What is left behind to linger in time.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Legendary/Mythical Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Ficlet | Challenges: Queens of the Quill |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Character Death |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 295 |
| Posted on 10 May 2021 | Updated on 10 May 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (5) |
We were never meant to survive by lightofthetrees
An eagle arrives in Gondolin, bearing news of a great battle to come. Maeglin and Rog discuss their decision to march to war alongside the King.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Maeglin, Rog |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Ficlet | Challenges: Queens of the Quill |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 065 |
| Posted on 9 May 2021 | Updated on 9 May 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
Five Things That Never Happened to Sauron by Russandol
Five short scenes with a twist, in five different locations. Each of them harder to write than the previous one!
1st Place, Ficlet: Elder Days & Smaug's Treasure, MEFA 2011
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Ar-Pharazôn, Celebrimbor, Eönwë, Sauron, Thranduil |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Alternate Universe, Experimental | Challenges: Fifth Birthday Celebration |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Character Death, Sexual Content (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 674 |
| Posted on 14 September 2010 | Updated on 9 May 2021 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (10) |
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Arwen, Celeborn, Celebrían |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: Queens of the Quill |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 704 |
| Posted on 9 May 2021 | Updated on 9 May 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (5) |
Rain Washes Off All the Other Colors by Tethys Resort
“He has led us in here against our fears, but he will lead us out again, at whatever cost to himself. He is surer to find his home in a blind night than the cats of Berúthiel.” Aragorn, Moria.
The story of a woman and her cats.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Berúthiel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: Queens of the Quill |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 3 | Word Count: 7, 108 |
| Posted on 7 May 2021 | Updated on 9 May 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (6) |
To Drain a Lake by Himring
Who would dream to drain a lake?
An attempt to answer this question, posed by my prompt, for Middle-earth.
A few short reflections.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Poetry | Challenges: Queens of the Quill |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 236 |
| Posted on 9 May 2021 | Updated on 9 May 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (8) |
Ashes by Anne Wolfe
A box of ashes, and its journey back to the beginning. Featuring ithildin, Smaug, and a surprising number of dwarves.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Celebrimbor, Dwarves, Fëanor, Gimli, Legolas Greenleaf |
| Major Relationships: Gimli & Legolas |
| Genres: Crackfic, General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 344 |
| Posted on 13 June 2019 | Updated on 9 May 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Jail-Crow by lonelyvisitor
Fëanor tells Melkor to get off his lawn. An imagined passage from the Noldolantë of Maglor.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Fëanor, Maglor, Melkor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Experimental, General, Poetry | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 351 |
| Posted on 14 January 2013 | Updated on 8 May 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (9) |
On Behalf of the Band by lonelyvisitor
There’s an Elf climbing through the garage window.
Worse than an Elf: a Mod.
(a Maglor-in-History)
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Historical Character(s), Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Crackfic, General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 813 |
| Posted on 8 May 2021 | Updated on 8 May 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (1) |
Ceven i Nesta by Chestnut_pod
It happened in the days of the First Age--
Or, how Elwing got those ships.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Elwing |
| Major Relationships: Elwing & Olwë |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 686 |
| Posted on 11 April 2021 | Updated on 6 May 2021 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
nothing but time and a face that you lose by Chestnut_pod
It always hurts to lose a might-have-been. But here Amarië is.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Amarië, Findis |
| Major Relationships: Amarië & Findis |
| Genres: Family, General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 519 |
| Posted on 6 May 2021 | Updated on 6 May 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Upon the Branching Years by IgnobleBard
Legolas is tasked by Ulmo to travel to Gondolin to make sure history does not again deviate from Eru's plan.
This is a time travel AU wherein Legolas Greenleaf and Legolas of Gondolin are the same person.
Written for the My Slashy Valentine Swap 2021.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Original Character(s), Ecthelion of the Fountain, Erestor, Galdor of the Tree, Glorfindel, Legolas Greenleaf, Legolas of Gondolin, Turgon |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Alternate Universe, Drama, Romance, Slash/Femslash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Character Death, Sexual Content (Moderate), Violence (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 14 | Word Count: 22, 301 |
| Posted on 17 February 2021 | Updated on 2 May 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (26) |
Ox Bones and Silver Ladles: The Construction of the Ainulindalë by Dawn Walls-Thumma
The deus faber and demiurgic motifs of creation mythology are used in the Ainulindalë, selected and manipulated by Tolkien to advance ideas that rest at the foundation of the legendarium.
The Divine Hour by jamcake_muses
An unseasonably large snowstorm causes Gil-galad to fret about their upcoming March to Mordor.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Celebrían, Elrond, Gil-galad |
| Major Relationships: Celebrían/Elrond/Gil-galad |
| Genres: Fluff, Hurt/Comfort, Poly | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 300 |
| Posted on 2 May 2021 | Updated on 2 May 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Clearer than Clear Water by StarSpray
The world begins with starlight and clear water. The River-daughter opens her eyes to see the stars as shimmering streaks blurring together. It is such a delightful sight that she reaches for them, and gasps when her hand breaks out of the water into cool air.
The River-daughter, from her awakening to the sun's first rising.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Goldberry |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 282 |
| Posted on 2 May 2021 | Updated on 2 May 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Tar-Minastir by oshun
A man of his times, Tar-Minastir perpetuated Númenórean policies of the past and foreshadowed those that would follow.
Instadrabbling at the Ribbon-Cutting Event by elennalore
Two drabbles (100 words) I wrote during the Ribbon-cutting event instadrabbling 25.04.2021.
The first is Silvergifting, prompt words daisy, riddle, sunlit, lawns
The second is Russingon, prompt words warmth, smile, memory, river
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Celebrimbor, Fingon, Sauron |
| Major Relationships: Fingon/Maedhros, Celebrimbor/Sauron |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 2 | Word Count: 214 |
| Posted on 26 April 2021 | Updated on 26 April 2021 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
An eye in a blue face by Himring
Arien looks down on Middle-earth and, thanks to Yavanna, she sees...
Can you guess?
(Gollum once guessed it long ago.)
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Arien, Yavanna |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 100 |
| Posted on 25 April 2021 | Updated on 25 April 2021 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Ribbon-Cutting Instadrabbling by Lindariel
Instadrabbles from the ribbon-cutting event on the SWG Discord server, 24-25 April 2021, on the theme of renewal
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Celeborn, Fingolfin, Fingon, Galadriel, Huan, Lúthien Tinúviel |
| Major Relationships: Celeborn/Galadriel |
| Genres: Adventure, Family | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 5 | Word Count: 510 |
| Posted on 25 April 2021 | Updated on 25 April 2021 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Tattered and Split by StarSpray
The sea is huge, and grey, and loud, and Elwing hates it. She hates it and she fears it, and so once she is old enough to slip away from her nurses and her guardians, she goes down to the beach.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Elwing |
| Major Relationships: Eärendil/Elwing |
| Genres: Family, General, Het | Challenges: Queens of the Quill |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Suicide |
| Chapters: 2 | Word Count: 1, 903 |
| Posted on 23 April 2021 | Updated on 24 April 2021 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (6) |
