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
[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.
[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.
[Artwork] 2024 Potluck Doodles by silmalope
Assorted prompt fills for the 2024 Potluck bingo boards, to varying degrees of completion! :)
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
Beyond the Circles of Middle-earth
Create a fanwork that places a Silmarillion character into a fictional setting from our real-world literature 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
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
Tears on the Battlefield by Alassante
Some of the House of Finwë prepares for The Final Battle.
| Major Characters: Amras, Amrod, Caranthir, Celebrimbor, Celegorm, Curufin, Fëanor, Fingolfin, Fingon, Maedhros, Maeglin, Maglor, Mandos, Sons of Fëanor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General, Humor | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 617 |
| Posted on 22 March 2010 | Updated on 22 March 2010 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (6) |
Heavy The Crown by downtide
Maedhros, recently returned from his ordeal on Thangorodrim, abdicates the crown, but it's not only a new king he makes on this day.
Slightly slashy.
| Major Characters: Celegorm, Fingolfin, Fingon, Maedhros, Maglor, Turgon |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, Slash/Femslash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Sexual Content (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 849 |
| Posted on 12 March 2010 | Updated on 12 March 2010 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (1) |
Speaking in Tongues by downtide
My Maedhros muse is a Quenya snob, and refuses to use Sindrin names. One day he told me why, and this very short story tells the reason. It was meant to have another part to it but once I'd written it, I realised that this part stood better on its own. Slightly slashy with very slight bad language (one instance, not particularly graphic)
| Major Characters: Fingon, Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Humor, Slash/Femslash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Sexual Content (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 364 |
| Posted on 12 March 2010 | Updated on 12 March 2010 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Brother of Mine by downtide
An exploration of the relationship between Maedhros and Maglor, told in the aftermath of the Nirnaeth Arnoediad. Warning for consentual (but not graphic) incest between brothers.
| Major Characters: Maedhros, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Slash/Femslash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Incest, Sexual Content (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 737 |
| Posted on 12 March 2010 | Updated on 12 March 2010 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
On Cold Thangorodrim by downtide
The captivity of Maedhros on Thangorodrim, and his subsequent rescue by Fingon. This is actually part of my modern AU - the elves are living in the modern world and the events in Middle Earth are told as a flashback.
Warnings for rape/non-con, torture.
| Major Characters: Fingon, Maedhros, Melkor, Thorondor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Rape/Nonconsensual Sex, Torture, Mature Themes, Sexual Content (Graphic), Violence (Graphic) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 5, 325 |
| Posted on 12 March 2010 | Updated on 12 March 2010 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (1) |
Behind a Locked Door by downtide
Written for Theatrical Muse, on the subject of Fun.
Warnings for slash but it's very much implied and off-camera.
| Major Characters: Fingon, Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Humor, Slash/Femslash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Sexual Content (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 221 |
| Posted on 12 March 2010 | Updated on 12 March 2010 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
The Oddest Gift by downtide
Written for Theatrical Muse. The famed Dragon Helm of Dor-Lomin comes into Maedhros's posession. And he can't wait to get rid of it.
| Major Characters: Amras, Amrod, Azaghâl, Fingon, Maedhros, Maglor, Túrin |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Humor | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 670 |
| Posted on 12 March 2010 | Updated on 12 March 2010 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (1) |
The Ninth Wave by downtide
Set in Valinor during Maitimo’s youth. He is a young adult, his cousin Findekáno is perhaps just past adolescence. Maitimo’s mother is expecting the birth of the twins Amrod and Amras
This story is inspired by a painting by the wonderfully talented Jenny Dolfen, and her accompanying quote; “I wondered about Maedhros referring to his friend Fingon as "the Valiant" after the flight of the Noldor. How could an Elf who had grown up in the bliss of Valinor earned such a name, in a time when danger, strife, enemies, war, even weapons were unknown? There was only one possible explanation: Fingon liked dangerous sports. So, obviously, he and Maedhros often went cliff-diving off the coast of Valinor, and Fingon constantly chose the more dangerous spots.”
I could not pass up an idea like this, (nor could I resist a hint of slashiness between two semi-naked cousins, hence the warning.)
| Major Characters: Fingon, Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Adventure, Slash/Femslash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Sexual Content (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 149 |
| Posted on 12 March 2010 | Updated on 12 March 2010 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (1) |
Babes In The Wood by downtide
After the Battle of Sirion, the children Elured and Elurin are taken to the forest and abandoned. The guilt weighs heavy on Maedhros, and he cannot rest until he finds them.
Rated teens for general mature themes, and for violence. Character deaths: those of Celegorm, Caranthir and Curufin are referred to and the deaths of Elured and Elurin implied.
| Major Characters: Amras, Amrod, Maedhros, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Character Death, Mature Themes, Violence (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 019 |
| Posted on 12 March 2010 | Updated on 12 March 2010 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
The Scent of Old Books by downtide
This is a modern-setting AU featuring Maedhros and Fingon, the spawn of a plotbunny I swiped from Lalaith. The setting is not named but it is actually based on Lincoln, England. There is indeed a cosy second-hand bookshop on the hill leading up to the Cathedral, but it is owned by neither a red-haired elf nor a lady named Edith.
Names: All in Quenya as usual. My Maitimo muse is a snob and he will not permit the use of Sindarin names.
Maitimo ('Timo) = Maedhros
Findekáno (Káno) = Fingon
Atarinkë = Curufin
Ambarussa = the twins, Amrod & Amras.
| Major Characters: Fingon, Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Alternate Universe | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 139 |
| Posted on 11 March 2010 | Updated on 11 March 2010 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (3) |
Stupid Stories for Irreverent Elves by darthfingon
A collection of stupid stories, most of which make little sense, bunged up here together because they're too small to be out on their own. Set in my dubious fiction-verse. Sexual content implied in some.
| Major Characters: Fëanor, Fingolfin, Fingon, Gil-galad, Glorfindel, Maedhros, Maglor, Oropher |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Humor | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 13 | Word Count: 14, 448 |
| Posted on 9 March 2010 | Updated on 9 March 2010 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
A Bridge in Dor-lomin by Himring
Maedhros thinks that he's had time enough to get over his feelings for Fingon. It turns out that he has not. At first he's disappointed, then he makes a discovery.
Told from Fingon's point of view.
For Oshun, because I re-read her biography of Fingon and realized I'd left something out.
| Major Characters: Fingon, Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Romance, Slash/Femslash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Expletive Language, Mature Themes, Sexual Content (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 3, 090 |
| Posted on 7 March 2010 | Updated on 7 March 2010 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (5) |
A Walk in the Forest, an Evening by the Fire by Himring
In East Beleriand: Elrond gets upset and runs away. Maedhros comes and finds him in the woods. Maedhros ends up being given a new name. Later, Elrond and Elros learn lessons and pretend not to--why? Finally, Elrond, now in Gil-galad's camp, learns of Maedhros' death by his own means.
| Major Characters: Elrond, Elros, Maedhros, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Suicide, Character Death, Mature Themes |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 767 |
| Posted on 27 February 2010 | Updated on 27 February 2010 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
A Long Time Falling by Himring
Maedhros and Maglor decide to surrender to Eonwe to be put on trial back in Valinor. And then, at the last moment, they don't. Framing Maglor's memories of the Nirnaeth Arnoediad and the attacks on Doriath and the Havens of Sirion (or rather, mostly, the discussions among the brothers that led up to those attacks).
Maedhros/Fingon slash (very mild here). Definitely not Maedhros/Maglor slash; however, the subject is raised and the (false) accusation made by others in the story, so if this worries you, please regard yourself as warned.
Also, Maedhros's suicide isn't explicitly told, but strongly hinted at, so has been marked.
This story has been nominated for the MEFAs 2010 by Lyra. Thank you very much!
| Major Characters: Caranthir, Celegorm, Fingon, Maedhros, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General, Slash/Femslash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Suicide, Character Death, Expletive Language, Mature Themes, Violence (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 5 | Word Count: 9, 115 |
| Posted on 27 February 2010 | Updated on 27 February 2010 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (14) |
Praying for Lightning by Himring
A bit of pillow-talk between Maedhros and Fingon, framing memories of Araman, the Helcaraxe and Mithrim.
Fingon has to struggle to re-define himself twice, once when he learns what was really going on at Alqualonde, the second time when he realizes that their deepening love means that Maedhros and he have become mutually irreplaceable to each other and what that might entail. Each time, Maedhros turns out to be part of the solution as well as part of the problem.
P.S. In the last update I changed the title, summary and notes. No changes to story.
| Major Characters: Fingolfin, Fingon, Finrod Felagund, Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Romance, Slash/Femslash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Character Death, Mature Themes, Sexual Content (Moderate), Violence (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 3, 935 |
| Posted on 27 February 2010 | Updated on 27 February 2010 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (6) |
I seek answer by ford_of_bruinen
'The petition to Manwe to allow the banned elves to return'
| Major Characters: Eärendil |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Poetry | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 131 |
| Posted on 18 February 2010 | Updated on 18 February 2010 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Nargothrond by ford_of_bruinen
Curufin and Celegorm arriving at Nargothrond
| Major Characters: Celegorm, Curufin |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Poetry | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 42 |
| Posted on 18 February 2010 | Updated on 18 February 2010 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Lost by ford_of_bruinen
Glorfindel is reborn
| Major Characters: Glorfindel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Poetry | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 47 |
| Posted on 18 February 2010 | Updated on 18 February 2010 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
A little jewel by ford_of_bruinen
Mahtan is watching is daughter.
| Major Characters: Mahtan, Nerdanel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Poetry | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 98 |
| Posted on 18 February 2010 | Updated on 18 February 2010 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Regrets by ford_of_bruinen
Mahtan and nerdanel thoughts.
| Major Characters: Mahtan, Nerdanel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Poetry | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 98 |
| Posted on 18 February 2010 | Updated on 18 February 2010 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
A letter at the twilight of my days. by ford_of_bruinen
Aegnor is writing a letter to Finrod.
| Major Characters: Aegnor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Poetry | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 88 |
| Posted on 18 February 2010 | Updated on 18 February 2010 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (3) |
After the war by ford_of_bruinen
Glorfindel in conversation with idril.
| Major Characters: Glorfindel, Idril |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 98 |
| Posted on 18 February 2010 | Updated on 18 February 2010 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Drabble: Only ice and sea by ford_of_bruinen
Maglor post silmaril.
| Major Characters: Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 99 |
| Posted on 18 February 2010 | Updated on 18 February 2010 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Drabble: Amusement and awkwardness by ford_of_bruinen
short conversation between two lovers.
| Major Characters: Ecthelion of the Fountain, Erestor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Slash/Femslash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Sexual Content (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 95 |
| Posted on 18 February 2010 | Updated on 18 February 2010 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
The Coimas War by Russandol
Several years after the War of Wrath the tension between Noldor and Teleri over the Exiles in Tol Eressëa provoked a most unexpected war in Valinor, of which later chronicles never spoke.
MEFA 2010 - Third Place in Genres: Humor: General
| Major Characters: Eärwen, Finarfin |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Erotica, Humor | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Sexual Content (Mild) |
| Chapters: 3 | Word Count: 6, 982 |
| Posted on 17 February 2010 | Updated on 17 February 2010 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (10) |
