Tolkien Fanartics: Mapping Arda - The Second Age
In the third part of the Mapping Arda series, Anérea and Varda delle Stelle present a selection of fan-created maps of the lands of the Second Age.
SWG News
New Challenge: Potluck Bingo
Sit down to a delicious selection of prompts served on bingo boards, created by the SWG community.
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 & Updated Fanworks
[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] Seeking Sunlight by StarSpray
It was winter, and the sunlight that came into the caves was cold and pale, but Rían still sought it out, bundled up in all of the furs and blankets that they could give her.
[Writing] Primordial Daydream by Anérea
The Queen of Faery takes a little light trip down memory lane.
[Writing] Silence Under Starlight by StarSpray
In Valmar, after the Darkening and the Flight of the Noldor, Indis receives a visitor.
[Writing] Where Memory Walks by StarSpray
Neldoreth was both like and unlike the forests of Dior’s childhood and youth.
[Writing] Eä's Redemption by AaronAzrael
This is my new poetical attempt to add my own interpretation to Tolkien's Cosmology as to Eru's Creation and the Valar's minds and behind-the-scene providence reasons and mechanisms.. I often review Eä as part of our own world, just in another dimension, this is why I have always seriously…
[Writing] Collection of Potluck Drabbles by Artano
This is a collection of true drabbles completed for the 'Four Words' drabble bingo card.
Current Challenge
Festival of Lights Fest
This is a fun and low-key event meant to encourage works about or inspired by Hanukkah, running this year in conjunction with the Potluck Bingo challenge. Read more ...
Potluck Bingo
Help yourself to a collection of prompts on bingo boards designed by members and friends of the SWG. Read more ...
Random Challenge
Season's Greetings
Create a fanwork in which one (or several) of the holidays of Middle-earth plays a role. 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.
[Writing] Partners in Craft by elennalore
Annatar realises that he might like Celebrimbor too much.
[Writing] Staging a Battle by StarSpray
He and Diamond were visiting, though Pippin had been disappearing every afternoon, and taking Frodo and Elanor and most other lads and lasses in the neighborhood with him—though why they couldn’t use Pippin’s own pony, Sam couldn’t imagine.
Around the World and Web
Festival of Lights Fest 2024
This is a fun and low-key event meant to encourage works about or inspired by Hanukkah, running this year in conjunction with the Potluck Bingo challenge.
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.
New and Updated Fanworks
Include Beyond the Silmarillion Fanworks
Take Thy Brother's Hand by heget
The story of the eighth companion of Finrod and Beren to die in the dungeons of Tol-in-Gaurhoth.
| Major Characters: Finrod Felagund, Original Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General, Horror | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Mature Themes |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 3, 961 |
| Posted on 2 November 2018 | Updated on 2 November 2018 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
The Holy or the Broken by Independence1776
Nerdanel finds Maglor on a Florida beach.
| Major Characters: Maglor, Nerdanel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: B-Movie |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 687 |
| Posted on 31 October 2018 | Updated on 31 October 2018 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (18) |
His Royal Highness, Prince Celebrimbor of Doriath by elvntari
Celebrimbor was first imagined as the descendant of Daeron. I decided to run with it.
Celebrimbor was the heir to the kingdom of Doriath before his father decided to vanish into thin air, leaving naught but a hastily scribbled note for a messenger to hand to him. In a difficult position as the black sheep of the royal family, Celebrimbor decides to leave for Nargothrond hoping not only to find a place where he fits in, but perhaps even word on the mysterious figure that was his mother.
| Major Characters: Celebrimbor, Daeron, Maeglin, Narvi, Original Female Character(s), Original Male Character(s), Sauron |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, Experimental, General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Character Death, Expletive Language, Mature Themes |
| Chapters: 2 | Word Count: 1, 608 |
| Posted on 17 October 2018 | Updated on 29 October 2018 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Lingering in the Hither Lands by bunn
Thangorodrim is broken, and the Elves believe that Evil has ended forever. There's a certain amount of tidying-up to be done.
HoME canon in which Maglor is among the Elves in the early second age and Elrond is with him rather than published Silmarillion canon.
| Major Characters: Elrond, Elros, Galadriel, Gil-galad, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 4 | Word Count: 13, 582 |
| Posted on 23 October 2018 | Updated on 23 October 2018 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Echo of the Music by janeways
"It is said by the Eldar that in water there lives yet the echo of the Music of the Ainur more than in any substance that is in this Earth; and many of the Children of Ilúvatar hearken still unsated to the voices of the Sea, and yet know not for what they listen."
Finrod writes of love and nightingales (until all he can hear is the sound of water flowing).
| Major Characters: Aegnor, Amarië, Andreth, Finrod Felagund |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Het, Romance | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 230 |
| Posted on 20 October 2018 | Updated on 20 October 2018 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (6) |
Step Into Starlight by StarSpray
The door out of which Elves stepped into new life was a small one. It opened into a glade of grass and ferns and fragrant flowers. It swung open on silent hinges one quiet evening, when the sky in the west was purple and the sky in the east night-dark, and the stars burned bright overhead. A cricket hid in the grass and chirped. An owl swooped overhead on silent wings.
| Major Characters: Eluréd, Elurín, Elwing |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 958 |
| Posted on 17 October 2018 | Updated on 17 October 2018 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Fields and Mountains Ever Blessed by StarSpray
Celebrían has not been idle while waiting for Elrond to come west.
| Major Characters: Celebrían, Celebrimbor, Círdan, Elladan, Elrohir, Elrond, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General, Het | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 5, 460 |
| Posted on 16 October 2018 | Updated on 16 October 2018 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
And in the End by Ivare
Maedhros and Maglor realise the price they have paid for the Silmarils.
| Major Characters: Maedhros, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, Suspense | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Suicide, Character Death |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 315 |
| Posted on 14 October 2018 | Updated on 14 October 2018 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
In the River Valley by StarSpray
"Ah!" The strange man peered more closely at them. "Elves coming east!" He seemed to find the idea funny, and sat down with them on the grass to laugh. "And what are your names, little elf children?"
| Major Characters: Eluréd, Elurín, Nellas, Tom Bombadil |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 286 |
| Posted on 13 October 2018 | Updated on 13 October 2018 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Shame and Grief by LadyBrooke
Maglor has always talked in his sleep.
| Major Characters: Maedhros, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: Sitcom |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Violence (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 303 |
| Posted on 11 October 2018 | Updated on 11 October 2018 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
What A Tangled Net We Weave... by Grundy
Young Artanis, Irissë, and Ambarussa were left to amuse themselves while their fathers were in a meeting at the palace. What could possibly go wrong?
| Major Characters: Amras, Amrod, Aredhel, Galadriel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: Sitcom |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 3, 119 |
| Posted on 9 October 2018 | Updated on 9 October 2018 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (9) |
Agley. by hennethgalad
Gildis hopes that Írimë will cheer her up.
(free space, sitcom bingo !)
| Major Characters: Lalwen |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: Sitcom |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 769 |
| Posted on 9 October 2018 | Updated on 9 October 2018 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Little Comfort to be Found by Independence1776
During one of Númenor’s last years, Tar-Míriel makes a decision.
| Major Characters: Original Female Character(s), Tar-Míriel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 206 |
| Posted on 7 October 2018 | Updated on 7 October 2018 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Absinthe-minded by Sleepless_Malice
At a party, Maedhros meets Maglor’s (awful) artist friends and is quite shocked by their openly displayed brazenness.
– written for Fëanorian Week 2018
| Major Characters: Maedhros, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Humor, Romance, Slash/Femslash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Incest, Expletive Language, Mature Themes, Sexual Content (Mild) |
| Chapters: 2 | Word Count: 7, 428 |
| Posted on 6 October 2018 | Updated on 6 October 2018 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
A Love Like Darkness, Like Light by Sleepless_Malice
In the Halls of Awaiting, Fëanor and Fingolfin meet again in exceptional circumstances.
| Major Characters: Fëanor, Fingolfin, Mandos |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Slash/Femslash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Incest, Expletive Language, Mature Themes, Sexual Content (Graphic) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 5, 606 |
| Posted on 6 October 2018 | Updated on 6 October 2018 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Comfort and Joy by Narya
It's the festive season in Gondolin, and Voronwë finds himself intrigued by the Captain of the Guard of the Secret Way.
| Major Characters: Elemmakil, Voronwë |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Erotica, Romance, Slash/Femslash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 358 |
| Posted on 5 October 2018 | Updated on 5 October 2018 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Graveyard Shift by Himring
After the First Kinslaying, Maglor's wife ends up with a grim duty.
Has she been volunteered by others?
Or maybe she did choose it herself, after all?
In the confusion of the times, that may not be an easy distinction to make.
| Major Characters: Noldor, Teleri |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: Sitcom |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Character Death |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 781 |
| Posted on 5 October 2018 | Updated on 5 October 2018 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (14) |
"The Taming of Ossë" by Nerdanel by Sasha Honeypalm
Regret is a riptide; it will drown those who stray into it.
| Major Characters: Nerdanel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General, Het | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 234 |
| Posted on 3 October 2018 | Updated on 3 October 2018 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Dispossessed For Ever by StarSpray
After Elwing casts herself into the Sea, Maglor finds her sons.
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, General | Challenges: Sitcom |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Violence (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 847 |
| Posted on 3 October 2018 | Updated on 3 October 2018 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Orcs. by hennethgalad
Fingolfin questions prisoners.
| Major Characters: Fingolfin |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 957 |
| Posted on 3 October 2018 | Updated on 3 October 2018 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (1) |
Aware. by hennethgalad
Fingolfin reads the thoughts of two prisoners to see who is telling the truth.
(reading 'Orcs' first would enrich this)
for the 'Sitcom' challenge "Sophisticated as hell."
| Major Characters: Fingolfin |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Horror | Challenges: Sitcom |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Violence (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 5, 194 |
| Posted on 3 October 2018 | Updated on 3 October 2018 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
The Hearts of the Eldar by grey_gazania
During the Kinslaying at the Havens of Sirion, one of the Fëanorian soldiers makes a choice.
| Major Characters: Original Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Creator Chooses Not to Rate | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 4, 148 |
| Posted on 29 September 2018 | Updated on 29 September 2018 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (5) |
A Trail of Things Lost by Nitheliniel
Betrayed by Feanor and his sons, Fingolfin's host must brave the Helcaraxë to travel from Valinor to Middle Earth. The Grinding Ice takes freely without anything being offered. It takes bodies and souls, smiles and warm feelings, it takes the last of their innocence, and their ability to forgive.
| Major Characters: Aegnor, Aredhel, Argon, Elenwë, Fingolfin, Fingon, Finrod Felagund, Galadriel, Idril, Lalwen, Orodreth, Turgon |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Character Death |
| Chapters: 7 | Word Count: 7, 630 |
| Posted on 26 September 2018 | Updated on 26 September 2018 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Aftermath by hennethgalad
Hador and Gildis have their first row.
| Major Characters: Hador |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: Sitcom |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 652 |
| Posted on 25 September 2018 | Updated on 25 September 2018 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Filial Piety by heget
The story of the third companion of Finrod and Beren to die in the dungeons of Tol-in-Gaurhoth.
| Major Characters: Beren, Edrahil, Fëanor, Finrod Felagund, Original Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General, Horror | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Character Death, Mature Themes |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 4, 447 |
| Posted on 24 September 2018 | Updated on 24 September 2018 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
