Archive Software Upgrade and Downtime on April 19, 2025
Expect site outages on Saturday, April 19, 2025 as we perform a major software update on the archive.
SWG News
Mereth Aderthad Interview: Interview with cloudyhymns by Shadow
Dragons are one of the most familiar creatures in Tolkien's world and one of the least understood. In this interview, Shadow spoke with cloudyhymns about his Mereth Aderthad presentation "The Design of Dragons and the Doom of the Dwarves," the nature of dragons and their connections with Dwarves, and the musicality of Tolkien's works.
Instadrabbling Sessions for April, May, and June
The first Saturday of each month, we will be hosting instadrabbling on our Discord server.
Mereth Aderthad Interview: Interview with polutropos by Dawn
"And love grew after between them"—those words have fascinated a fandom intent on revealing the how and why of the "kidnap fam" plot point in "The Silmarillion." In this interview, polutropos discusses her upcoming Mereth Aderthad paper on the topic, “'Kidnap Fam' and the Living Legendarium."
New & Updated Fanworks
[Writing] High in the Clean Blue Air by StarSpray
They passed out of Lhûn and the wider coastline of Middle-earth opened up before his eyes. He had wandered those shores for centuries, and even now he felt the pull of that same wanderlust, and knew he would miss them for the rest of his life. Their wildness, the untamed waves, the rocky…
[Series] Instadrabbling by SWG Moderators
We get together from time to time on the SWG Discord and produce spontaneous fanworks based on randomly chosen prompts. This collection includes drabbles, ficlets, and other flash fanworks produced as part of our instadrabbling sessions.
[Series] I made loving you a blood sport by atlantablack
In which Fëanor & Fingolfin are re-embodied in 4th age Aman, are nowhere near as healed as everyone believes them to be, and decide to pretend that sleeping together will fix their relationship instead of causing more problems.
[Writing] evidence of a love that transcends hunger by atlantablack
Fëanor does not even get a chance to finish being annoying before Fingolfin’s eyes flash with something far too dark to be only fury and his hand snaps out to grab a handful of Fëanor’s hair. He wrenches Fëanor’s head back in a move that is so surprisingly painful it throws him off balance. In…
[Writing] Not Going Without You by StarSpray
Daeron is caught by orcs in the shadow of the Ephel Dúath, but is rescued by someone entirely unexpected.
[Writing] April Fancies by AdmirableMonster
A series of short responses to instadrabbling prompts on Sat, Apr 5, 2025.
[Writing] She Hath My Love (Drabbles about Women) by Elrond's Library
A collection of drabbles about women in Tolkien's Legendarium.
Current Challenge
Birthday Bash
Daily word, image, and poetry prompts are loosely structured around events and milestones leading up to our 20th birthday. Read more ...
Random Challenge
When the Storm Breaks ...
Create a fanwork about storms, whether literal or figurative. Read more ...
New in References
Interview with cloudyhymns by Shadow by cloudyhymns, daughterofshadows
Shadow spoke with cloudyhymns about his upcoming presentation for Mereth Aderthad 2025, "The Design of Dragons and the Doom of the Dwarves," where he shares his theory about how Dwarves and dragons are connected in the legendarium, a topic full of implications for fanworks.
Interview with polutropos by Dawn by polutropos, Dawn Felagund
Dawn spoke with polutropos about her upcoming presentation for Mereth Aderthad, “'Kidnap Fam' and the Living Legendarium," including the appeal of kidnap fam, the appeal of Maglor's character, and how The Silmarillion as an incomplete, complex word makes it ripe for both fanworks and scholarship.
Maglor by polutropos
As one of the most beloved Silmarillion characters, Maglor is a bundle of contradictions undergirded by a complex textual history. Warrior, musician, wanderer, and survivor, Maglor brings to the fore key themes in Tolkien's early legendarium, such as the role of music, oaths, and exile.
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] Paradox of the Fourth Age by Alassante
One wrong decision can make a world of difference. When one of the Fellowship makes the mistake, the consequences are so severe that only the Valar can repair it. But will they?
Glorfindel daughter's life is in Elrohir's hands and only she remembers th eir love for each other. The fate of…
[Writing] By Mirrormere by bunn
A new Age dawns, and Moria is retaken at last.
[Writing] Beneath the Bitter Rain by bunn
The Gardens of the Entwives are fallen, but two Entwives remain.
Around the World and Web
Silmarillion Epistolary Week 2025
Silmarillion Epistolary is a challenge dedicated to creating fanworks to tell the story of the Silmarillion in the style of an epistolary novel.
April Challenge at tolkienshortfanworks
The tolkienshortfanworks challenge for April has been posted to the Dreamwidth community. The thematic prompt is: wood. The formal challenge is: linnod (Gilraen's canonical verse form). These can be filled separately and freely combined with other challenges and prompts that allow this.
Celedriel Week 2025
Celedriel Week is a Tumblr events for fanworks about Galadriel and Celeborn.
Tolkien Ekphrasis Week 2025
This is a Tolkien-fandom-wide event dedicated to the art of ekphrasis in Tolkien's worlds. Its goal is to illuminate the artistic surroundings of the places, people, and stories we love, in as many media as possible.
Teitho March/April Challenge: Mothers
The Teitho Contest theme for the months of March and April is mothers.
New and Updated Fanworks
Include Beyond the Silmarillion Fanworks
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.
A Collection of Maps Exhibiting the Changing Political Landscape in Beleriand by Artano
Created for the 'Geography/Maps/Places' prompt on the "Tolkien meta" bingo board, this is a collection of maps marked with the various people groups showing how they arrived and moved about Beleriand. This collection focuses specifically on the time from the arrival of the Teleri, Vanyar, and Noldor before they went to Aman up to the distribution of the various kingdoms after the Flight of the Noldor, when they arrived in Middle-earth and settled there.
| Major Characters: Sindar, Noldor, Vanyar, Petty-dwarves, Dwarves, Orcs, Falathrim, Doriathrim, Laiquendi, Ungoliant, Green-elves |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Artwork Type: Landscape |
| Genres: General | Challenges: Potluck Bingo |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on 18 November 2024 | Updated on 18 November 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (6) |
The Curious Case of Peregrin Boffin by simon
This story was penned some years back as a way of marking the Peregrin Boffin of the 1939 drafts of The Lord of the Rings. Boffin was a Hobbit who walked to Moria but vanished from the story in summer 1940, when his character, Trotter, the Ranger met in Bree, became Aragorn, heir of Elendil.
On the Nature of the Sindar’s Hunting the Petty-dwarves by Artano
This is an analysis on whether the Sindar ate the Petty-dwarves during the years they hunted them, completed for the 'Literary Analysis' prompt on the "Tolkien Meta" bingo card.
| Major Characters: Sindar, Petty-dwarves |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: Potluck Bingo |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Mature Themes |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 458 |
| Posted on 17 November 2024 | Updated on 17 November 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
Indeed the Everlasting Darkness shall be our lot by Erdariel
Maglor sings. He wanders. Slowly, a shadow comes over his sight and mind, deepening little by little
| Major Characters: Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Ficlet, General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 492 |
| Posted on 17 November 2024 | Updated on 17 November 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Survivors: A Pair of Drabbles by Himring
Written for an Insta-drabbling challenge for Orctober prompts, but not horror (or fluff either): two drabbles about survivors, Maglor and Haleth.
| Major Characters: Haleth, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: Orctober |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 2 | Word Count: 202 |
| Posted on 15 November 2024 | Updated on 15 November 2024 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (8) |
know that all my love will be your breath by Zdenka
Rían falls unconscious at the Mound of the Slain and hears Huor's voice telling her to live.
| Major Characters: Rían |
| Major Relationships: Huor/Rían |
| Genres: Alternate Universe, Fixed-Length Ficlet, Het | Challenges: Orctober |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Mature Themes |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 103 |
| Posted on 12 November 2024 | Updated on 12 November 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Annatar in Mandos by AdmirableMonster
Annatar in Mandos, as described by Fingon in Chthonion's masterful Harrowing series
| Major Characters: Sauron |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Artwork Type: Abstract/Pattern, Character/Portrait, Drawing/Painting |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on 11 November 2024 | Updated on 11 November 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (6) |
Freed by daughterofshadows
Fingon rescued Maedhros from Thangorodrim. In the dungeons of Angband, a flicker of hope is lit. If they can escape, perhaps so can others. If nothing else, they must try.
| Major Characters: Original Female Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Adventure | Challenges: Orctober |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 801 |
| Posted on 10 November 2024 | Updated on 10 November 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Laughter and Mourning by silmalope
Laughter and Mourning, the daughters of Húrin. An illustration for the 2024 Orctober challenge prompt “eyes”.
| Major Characters: Nienor, Lalaith |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Artwork Type: Character/Portrait |
| Genres: Family, Horror | Challenges: Orctober |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on 10 November 2024 | Updated on 10 November 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (10) |
Remembering Serech by Himring
A short history of the Fen of Serech, from happier times until the bitter end.
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: Orctober |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 855 |
| Posted on 5 November 2024 | Updated on 9 November 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (6) |
Winter on Tol Himling by daughterofshadows
Winter has come to Tol Himling.
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: Orctober |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 66 |
| Posted on 7 November 2024 | Updated on 7 November 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (6) |
Shadow's Scribbles 2024 by daughterofshadows
My collection of Scribbles & Drabbles Arts for 2024!
| Major Characters: Círdan, Belladonna Took Baggins, Fëanor, Celegorm, Lúthien Tinúviel, Nerdanel, Rog, Penlod |
| Major Relationships: Fëanor/Nerdanel |
| Artwork Type: Mixed Media, Moodboard/Collage |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on 7 November 2024 | Updated on 7 November 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (1) |
Orctober Drabbles by Grundy
Drabbles for the Orctober challenge, done in an impromptu instadrabbling session with Cuarthol. (Four words were selected at random from Orctober prompts. Chapter titles give the prompts.)
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: Orctober |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 3 | Word Count: 306 |
| Posted on 7 November 2024 | Updated on 7 November 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (3) |
Stubborn Light in a Fading Sky by Zdenka
The memories Lalwen holds to or pushes away, on each side of the Ice.
| Major Characters: Lalwen |
| Major Relationships: Lalwen/Elemmírë |
| Genres: Femslash, Ficlet | Challenges: Orctober |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Mature Themes, Sexual Content (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 364 |
| Posted on 7 November 2024 | Updated on 7 November 2024 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (1) |
Orctober Instadrabbles by cuarthol
Three instadrabble prompts for the challenge
| Major Characters: Finrod Felagund, Tuor, Original Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: Orctober |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 3 | Word Count: 304 |
| Posted on 6 November 2024 | Updated on 6 November 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
The Eyes and Ears of Morgoth by Chilled in Hithlum
I recently revisited my first submission called The Eyes and Ears of Melkor (still listed) and found it somewhat lacking. Obviously the outline was already set by Professor Tolkien and in this alone the idea holds up, so I decided to have another crack at telling the tale of Húrin's captivity from his and Morgoth's point of view.
| Major Characters: Húrin, Melkor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 5 | Word Count: 17, 586 |
| Posted on 2 October 2024 | Updated on 4 November 2024 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
in all this godforsaken dark by Zdenka
On the Helcaraxë, Fingolfin invokes his family's strength and courage rather than the Valar.
| Major Characters: Fingolfin |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet, General | Challenges: Orctober |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Mature Themes |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 100 |
| Posted on 31 October 2024 | Updated on 31 October 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (1) |
Heyr himna smiðr by Zdenka
In the wake of Nirnaeth Arnoediad, the Dwarves of Belegost mourn their dead.
| Major Characters: Dwarves |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet, General | Challenges: Orctober |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Character Death, Mature Themes |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 201 |
| Posted on 30 October 2024 | Updated on 30 October 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (1) |
The Embalmer's Apprentice by Lyra
Faced with the choice between execution or working on the preservation of dead people, young Azruhâr finds himself drawn into an increasingly political struggle between faith and power, tradition and new ideas - and a journey beyond his wildest fears and dreams.
| Major Characters: Original Character(s), Herucalmo, Tar-Ancalimon, Tar-Telemmaitë |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: Akallabêth in August, Arda Underground, Middle-earth Olympics |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings, Expletive Language, In-Universe Classism, In-Universe Racism/Ethnocentrism, Mature Themes, Sexual Content (Mild), Torture, Violence (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 69 | Word Count: 446, 721 |
| Posted on 4 February 2010 | Updated on 29 October 2024 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (454) |
What the ice tells by chrissystriped
The leader of the Lossoth contemplates her decision to help Arvedui.
| Major Characters: Orcs, Lossoth, Original Female Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Alternate Universe | Challenges: Orctober |
| Rating: General | Warnings: In-Universe Racism/Ethnocentrism |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 256 |
| Posted on 27 October 2024 | Updated on 27 October 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (5) |
Letters from Himring by Ermingarden
A selection of correspondence to, from, and within the fortress of Himring in the 62nd year of the Sun,
Compiled and edited with Westron commentary by Hithaeril of Dol Amroth, Second Assistant Archivist of the Royal Gondorian Archives, in the 196th year of the Fourth Age,
Translated into English by Ermingarden and illustrated by Frog_In_A_Pond in the 2,021st year of the Common Era.
| Major Characters: Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: Fingon & Maedhros |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings, Mature Themes |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 5, 078 |
| Posted on 5 September 2021 | Updated on 27 October 2024 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Close As Brothers by cuarthol
Ñolofin offers some brotherly advice as Arafin awaits the birth of his firstborn, and Arafin hopes the soon-to-be cousins will share a bond as well.
| Major Characters: Fingolfin, Finarfin |
| Major Relationships: Finarfin & Fingolfin |
| Genres: Family | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 768 |
| Posted on 6 October 2024 | Updated on 26 October 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
The Fall of Felagund by cuarthol
The song battle between Felagund and Sauron
| Major Characters: Finrod Felagund, Sauron |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Poetry | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Character Death, Violence (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 315 |
| Posted on 6 October 2024 | Updated on 26 October 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
The Longed For That Cometh Beyond Hope by cuarthol
Eärendil found not Tuor nor Idril, nor came he ever on that journey to the shores of Valinor, defeated by shadows and enchantment, driven by repelling winds, until in longing for Elwing he turned homeward toward the coast of Beleriand. And his heart bade him haste, for a sudden fear had fallen on him out of dreams; and the winds that before had striven with might not now bear him back as swift as his desire.
The Silmarillion
| Major Characters: Eärendil, Aerandir, Falathar, Elwing |
| Major Relationships: Eärendil/Elwing |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 801 |
| Posted on 25 October 2024 | Updated on 25 October 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
