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
Heroes
Create a fanwork about a hero, whether the typical saves-the-world type or the unlikely, unsung, and accidental, those who have been forgotten or perhaps were never noticed at all, who made their worlds a better place. 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
Stars of the Lesser by Dawn Felagund
Young Pengolodh meets his first Fëanorian beside the sea, as Celebrimbor attempts to replicate Fëanor's greatest accomplishment: harnessing light. MEFA 2008 nominee.
| Major Characters: Celebrimbor, Pengolodh |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General, Science Fiction | Challenges: Gift of a Story |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Mature Themes |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 648 |
| Posted on 29 November 2007 | Updated on 29 November 2007 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (14) |
Why by Tarion Anarore
In answer to the question, "Maglor, why didn't you rescue Maedhros; why did the poor chap have to wait for cousin Fingon to go get him?" posed by Jillian Baade at the LiveJournal site.
My response to the "Ask a Character" challenge, from the beginning of days (before monthly newsletters, even!).
| Major Characters: Fingon, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 520 |
| Posted on 26 November 2007 | Updated on 26 November 2007 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (5) |
True Gift by Tarion Anarore
An old, old Celebrimbor drabble, written once upon a time ago for the HASA Word of the Day challenge.
| Major Characters: Celebrimbor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Character Death, Violence (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 104 |
| Posted on 5 November 2007 | Updated on 5 November 2007 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (6) |
Maglor's Harp by ford_of_bruinen
Maglor makes the perfect harp.
| Major Characters: Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Horror | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Mature Themes, Violence (Graphic) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 524 |
| Posted on 30 October 2007 | Updated on 30 October 2007 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (13) |
Vodka by ford_of_bruinen
Maglor's and Maedhros' first conversation after maedhros has been saved from Thangorodrim.
| Major Characters: Maedhros, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Expletive Language, Mature Themes |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 552 |
| Posted on 30 October 2007 | Updated on 30 October 2007 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (10) |
The Consuming Darkness by Isil Elensar
It is written that Tar-Miriel was too late to reach the supposed safety of the Meneltarma when Numenor sank into the sea. But why was she late? What was so important that she would risk her life, knowing she would not survive?
| Major Characters: Anárion, Original Character(s), Tar-Míriel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Character Death |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 3, 133 |
| Posted on 29 October 2007 | Updated on 29 October 2007 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (1) |
Young Fëanáro Makes A Stone by oshun
A Birthday Story for gandalfs_apprentice on the Elessar and is also a bit of take-off on the Sorcerer’s Apprentice in honor of her penname.
| Major Characters: Aulë, Fëanor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General, Humor | Challenges: Gift of a Story, Inspiration |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 860 |
| Posted on 20 October 2007 | Updated on 20 October 2007 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (6) |
Harvest Dance by oshun
Birthday story written in response to a solicitation of a request from minuial_nuwing. A mild slashy romp. Nothing serious. (All your fault, Min: When you challenged me to give you Arakáno/Amrod, you must have known it would come with footnotes.)
| Major Characters: Amrod, Argon |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General, Humor, Slash/Femslash | Challenges: Gift of a Story |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Sexual Content (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 374 |
| Posted on 15 October 2007 | Updated on 15 October 2007 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (5) |
Elves in Manhattan by oshun
A fanfic writer meets two of her favorite Silmarillion characters.
| Major Characters: Fingon, Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: Elf Falls into Modern-earth |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 617 |
| Posted on 9 October 2007 | Updated on 9 October 2007 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (14) |
House of the Setting Sun by Robinka
No hope, no regrets. An AU take on Mablung's coming to terms with the passing of Melian and the consequences thereof.
| Major Characters: Mablung, Melian |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Het, Romance | Challenges: Anniversary Contest, Gift of a Story |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 5, 945 |
| Posted on 1 October 2007 | Updated on 1 October 2007 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (6) |
| Major Characters: Elrond, Elros, Maedhros, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: Anniversary Contest |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Character Death, Mature Themes, Violence (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 3, 895 |
| Posted on 1 October 2007 | Updated on 1 October 2007 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (10) |
A Greater Fire by Elleth
For the Anniversary Contest: An AU of the what-if persuasion.
Chapter One: After the Darkening, the Kinslaying and the Flight of the Noldor, Nerdanel retreats to Alqualondë. What and whom will she find there, and where will her steps lead afterwards?
| Major Characters: Eärwen, Nerdanel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, Experimental, Romance | Challenges: Anniversary Contest |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 156 |
| Posted on 30 September 2007 | Updated on 30 September 2007 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (12) |
The Fourth Station by MithLuin
Maedhros meets someone he does not expect in the Halls of Mandos.
First Place (Short Works) - SWG's Silmarillion Anniversary Contest (2007)
| Major Characters: Maedhros, Nerdanel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: Anniversary Contest, Halls of Mystery |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Character Death |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 998 |
| Posted on 30 September 2007 | Updated on 30 September 2007 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (8) |
The Making of the Werewolves by IgnobleBard
Sauron's creation of the werewolves.
| Major Characters: Sauron |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: Anniversary Contest |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 431 |
| Posted on 30 September 2007 | Updated on 30 September 2007 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (12) |
My Shining Stars by oshun
And now for something a bit controversial: Elrond stands on the deck of the ship carrying him to Aman writing notes in a journal.
MEFA 2008, Second Place, Elves: House of Elrond
SWG Silmarillion Anniversary Contest, Third Place Winner, Short Works
| Major Characters: Elrond, Elros, Elwing, Eärendil, Maedhros, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: Anniversary Contest, Sea Voyages, Wish upon a Star |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 831 |
| Posted on 29 September 2007 | Updated on 29 September 2007 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (15) |
The last stand by Rhapsody
During the final moments of the Nírnaeth Arnoediad, a captain and his men rescue two elves during their last and desperate stand.
~MEFA 2008 Second place in Times: First Age and Prior: General, thank you Pandemonium for nominating it!~
| Major Characters: Beleg, Ecthelion of the Fountain, Mablung |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Adventure, Drama | Challenges: Anniversary Contest |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Violence (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 936 |
| Posted on 29 September 2007 | Updated on 29 September 2007 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (12) |
Expecting. by ford_of_bruinen
Miriel spends a morning by the foot of Laurelin, thinking of the son she is carrying.
| Major Characters: Míriel Serindë |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: Anniversary Contest |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 199 |
| Posted on 29 September 2007 | Updated on 29 September 2007 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (10) |
Awakening by ford_of_bruinen
Iminye wakes for the first time. Poetry
| Major Characters: Iminyë |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Poetry | Challenges: Anniversary Contest |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 47 |
| Posted on 29 September 2007 | Updated on 29 September 2007 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
Innocence by ford_of_bruinen
An elf awoken at Cuivienen looks back at a simpler way of life.
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: Anniversary Contest |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 101 |
| Posted on 29 September 2007 | Updated on 29 September 2007 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (10) |
A lullaby by ford_of_bruinen
An elleth's lullaby to her child
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Poetry | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 49 |
| Posted on 29 September 2007 | Updated on 29 September 2007 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
On alien shores... by ford_of_bruinen
A poem about Glorfindel's return to life.
| 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: 90 |
| Posted on 29 September 2007 | Updated on 29 September 2007 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Begging and betrayal by ford_of_bruinen
A poem about the last meeting of Nerdanel of Feanor according to HoMe
| Major Characters: Fëanor, Nerdanel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Poetry | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 250 |
| Posted on 29 September 2007 | Updated on 29 September 2007 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
Tevildo by ford_of_bruinen
Tevildo prince of cats about chosing his people
| Major Characters: Tevildo |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Poetry | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 79 |
| Posted on 29 September 2007 | Updated on 29 September 2007 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Nienor is lost by ford_of_bruinen
Mablung returns to Doriath after losing Nienor.
| Major Characters: Mablung |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Poetry | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 86 |
| Posted on 29 September 2007 | Updated on 29 September 2007 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Early Winter at Himring Hill by oshun
Written for Dawn Felagund's 2007 birthday, in response to a request for something about Fingon and Maedhros later in their life than the period I have been covering in my Maitimo and Findekáno story cycle. Fingon visits Maedhros at Himring Hill, after the Dagor Aglareb during the watchful peace of the Siege of Angband.
MEFA 2008, First Place, Romance: Elven Lands
| Major Characters: Fingon, Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: Anniversary Contest |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 376 |
| Posted on 28 September 2007 | Updated on 28 September 2007 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (16) |
