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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
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
Shapes in the Mist by AdmirableMonster
A young Orc on a spirit quest walks through the memories of her people.
| Major Characters: Original Female Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: Original Character & Original Character |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: Orctober |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 2 | Word Count: 979 |
| Posted on 18 October 2024 | Updated on 22 October 2024 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (5) |
Dugbúrz's Story by Artano
Written for Orctober, this work contains the fanworks created in response to the prompts, centering around Dugbúrz, an orc who attempts to escape from Thangorodrim.
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: Orctober |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 3 | Word Count: 1, 749 |
| Posted on 21 October 2024 | Updated on 22 October 2024 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (6) |
The Children of Angband by AdmirableMonster
This is a history that has never been told. Those whom it concerns most deeply are dead now, even those who chose or otherwise received the lifespans of Elves. It is a story that has been kept hidden for more than six thousand years. Now, I believe it is past time it should be revealed.
| Major Characters: Pengolodh, Gil-galad |
| Major Relationships: Gil-galad & Pengolodh |
| Genres: In-Universe Artifact | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 252 |
| Posted on 22 October 2024 | Updated on 22 October 2024 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (1) |
Dust and Ashes by Artano
Húrin kills Mîm and wanders through the remains of a decaying city, the remnants of the peoples who once lived there and called it home.
| Major Characters: Mîm, Húrin |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Ficlet, General | Challenges: Orctober |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Character Death, Violence (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 663 |
| Posted on 22 October 2024 | Updated on 22 October 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
Against Expectations- complimenting art by PeasantPlayer
A orc and a elf. The elf hands the orc water
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Artwork Type: No type listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on 21 October 2024 | Updated on 21 October 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (5) |
Among the Trees by StarSpray
The remnants of Melian’s power stirred also, gathering around her children in warmth and comfort, bringing sleep and pleasant dreams so they could forget, until spring, the horrors of that night.
| Major Characters: Eluréd, Elurín, Treebeard |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 846 |
| Posted on 20 October 2024 | Updated on 20 October 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (1) |
The Last Queen of the North by Flora-lass
Arvedui is gone, and Firiel reflects.
| Major Characters: Fíriel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Poetry | Challenges: Kings & Queens |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 107 |
| Posted on 15 October 2024 | Updated on 19 October 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (10) |
Designs by Independence1776
Second Age 3261: Sauron prepares to respond to Ar-Pharazon’s heralds. Maglor doesn’t know how he fits into Sauron's plans.
| Major Characters: Sauron |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Alternate Universe, Horror | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 258 |
| Posted on 18 October 2024 | Updated on 18 October 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (10) |
Eyes and Ears by Zdenka
Two Orcs discuss the increased price on Beren's head.
| Major Characters: Orcs |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet, General | Challenges: Orctober |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Mature Themes, Violence (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 207 |
| Posted on 18 October 2024 | Updated on 18 October 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (6) |
Against Expectation by chrissystriped
He is dead. His heart is still beating, but he is dead.
| Major Characters: Original Male Character(s), Orcs |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Ficlet | Challenges: Orctober |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 309 |
| Posted on 18 October 2024 | Updated on 18 October 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (9) |
Birds of the Field by Zdenka
Erendis prefers the birds of Emerië.
| Major Characters: Erendis |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: Orctober |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 101 |
| Posted on 18 October 2024 | Updated on 18 October 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (3) |
Where I Cannot Follow by cuarthol
After no one returns from the Nirnaeth, those left in Hithlum must make a choice.
| Major Characters: Lalwen |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 248 |
| Posted on 26 September 2024 | Updated on 16 October 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
An lao ite i mbolg na bó by cuarthol
Before Doriath, before Gondolin, others found their way to the mouths of Sirion, fleeing the destruction of the Nirnaeth Arnoediad.
| Major Characters: Círdan, Lalwen |
| Major Relationships: Círdan & Lalwen |
| Genres: General | Challenges: Idiomatic |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 917 |
| Posted on 14 October 2024 | Updated on 15 October 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (8) |
A Fresh Wind by Grundy
Along with her newly demonstrated concept for flying, Tindomiel has to explain a few other things from California.
| Major Characters: Olwë, Other Fictional Character(s), Original Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Ficlet | Challenges: Idiomatic |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 693 |
| Posted on 15 October 2024 | Updated on 15 October 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (1) |
Voice Like the Sea by Rocky41_7
Maglor the mighty who like the sea with deep voice sings yet mournfully.
| Major Characters: Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Music (Classical, Folk, Instrumental, Opera, Pop) | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Creator Chooses Not to Rate | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on 14 October 2024 | Updated on 14 October 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (0) |
Little Sparrow by Himring
Life as a thrall of Lorgan is not easy. Tuor's capture complicates things.
| Major Characters: Original Female Character(s), House of Hador |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: Idiomatic |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 407 |
| Posted on 13 October 2024 | Updated on 13 October 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (14) |
| Major Characters: Turgon, Curufin |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: In-Universe Artifact | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 776 |
| Posted on 5 October 2024 | Updated on 12 October 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Silenced by Rocky41_7
After Maglor is brutalized, he seeks out Daeron. Help he may gain, but comfort, little.
| Major Characters: Daeron |
| Major Relationships: Daeron & Maglor |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Mature Themes, Torture, Violence (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 308 |
| Posted on 11 October 2024 | Updated on 11 October 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
You Can't XXXX in Here, This is the War Room! by Rocky41_7
Blowjob diplomacy.
| Major Characters: Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: Maedhros/Thingol |
| Genres: Erotica, Slash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Sexual Content (Graphic) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 4, 075 |
| Posted on 11 October 2024 | Updated on 11 October 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Until the final flicker of life’s embers by Quente
Dior did not see the arrow until it pierced his own flesh, a hard thrust of a point entering his back and blossoming out of his heart. The pain of the wound, and the feeling of his body in uncertain panic around it, was almost secondary to his curiosity.
Now what?
Dior felt strangely detached, as if he had stepped out of his body. He watched himself fall over the body of the Golodh he’d slain. Dior had worn no helm nor armor that day – and he saw his hair fan out to cover them both. They died together in the dark cloak of it.
Dior’s eyes closed, and all was dark.
~
And then Dior opened his eyes.
| Major Characters: Dior, Lúthien Tinúviel, Nimloth, Elwing, Eärendil, Idril, Tuor, Olwë |
| Major Relationships: Dior/Nimloth, Dior & Elwing, Dior & Lúthien |
| Genres: Drama, Family, General | Challenges: Idiomatic |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Character Death |
| Chapters: 4 | Word Count: 19, 207 |
| Posted on 11 October 2024 | Updated on 11 October 2024 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (18) |
Meet Me In The Woods (We'll Make Beautiful Music Together) by cuarthol
Lúthien escapes Menegroth for a clandestine meeting in the woods.
| Major Characters: Lúthien Tinúviel, Daeron, Nellas, Mablung, Beleg |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Crackfic, General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 507 |
| Posted on 9 October 2024 | Updated on 9 October 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
On the Way Home by silmalope
Doriath Family Reunion AU: Túrin twisted his ankle in the woods, and big sister Lúthien is giving him a ride home. :)
| Major Characters: Lúthien Tinúviel, Túrin, Beren |
| Major Relationships: Beren/Luthien, Lúthien & Túrin |
| Artwork Type: Drawing/Painting |
| Genres: Alternate Universe, Family | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on 2 October 2024 | Updated on 5 October 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (6) |
Orcs Are People by cuarthol
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.
| Major Characters: Orcs |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fanwork Collection | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on 4 October 2024 | Updated on 5 October 2024 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (19) |
Themed Collections by SWG Newsletter Staff
Themed Collections are a periodic feature of our weekly newsletter and are intended to feature fanworks centered on a theme as a jumping off point for members to add their own recommendations to the collection. Themed Collections are open to new contributions. You can find out more about putting together your own Themed Collection here!
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fanwork Collection | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Warnings: No warnings apply | |
| Posted on 31 August 2024 | Updated on 5 October 2024 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (1) |
The Dream of Legolas Greenleaf by clotho123
In which Legolas Greenleaf dreams he is in the First Age. Time is strangely haywire and there are a lot of Noldor royalty talking about ravens. More importantly nobody has offered him a drink.
Or: a medieval Welsh story adapted with Silmarillion characters (and Legolas)
| Major Characters: Legolas Greenleaf |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Humor | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 580 |
| Posted on 23 June 2024 | Updated on 5 October 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
