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] 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! :)
[Writing] Ransom of the Fairy Twins by Rocky41_7
Maglor and Maedhros trade Elrond and Elros to King Gil-galad in exchange for a Silmaril, but they have miscalculated.
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
Night Magic by Rhapsody
Aearwen, elf of Nan Elmoth, looks back on her past and key moments with those she loved and are lost to her.
| Major Characters: Aredhel, Eöl, Maeglin, Original Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Het, Romance | Challenges: Gift of a Story |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Mature Themes, Sexual Content (Graphic) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 3, 277 |
| Posted on 22 May 2007 | Updated on 22 May 2007 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (3) |
Requiem by Rhapsody
Celegorm and Huan: once companions until Huan left his side. Requiem tells the tale after what happened after Huan's passing. This is a story about pain and grief, foregiveness and redemption.
| Major Characters: Celegorm, Huan, Oromë, Vána |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Character Death, Violence (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 6 | Word Count: 3, 551 |
| Posted on 22 May 2007 | Updated on 22 May 2007 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (1) |
Mercy by Tarion Anarore
A drabble on the death of Caranthir Fëanorion.
| Major Characters: Caranthir |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet, General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Character Death, Violence (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 100 |
| Posted on 22 May 2007 | Updated on 22 May 2007 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (10) |
When the Stars Smile by Dawn Felagund
A romantic comedy about how Caranthir met his wife and developed his disdain for the House of Finarfin.
| Major Characters: Amarië, Caranthir, Celegorm, Finrod Felagund, Maedhros, Maglor, Original Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Humor, Romance | Challenges: Gift of a Story |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 4, 514 |
| Posted on 21 May 2007 | Updated on 21 May 2007 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (12) |
Statues by Dawn Felagund
Lost in grief over her husband and sons, Nerdanel begins to construct statues to ease her loneliness. Discovered in her pursuit by Eärwen, Nerdanel's exceptional skill might be used to offer some consolation to the Teleri.
| Major Characters: Eärwen, Fëanor, Finarfin, Nerdanel, Sons of Fëanor, Teleri |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, General | Challenges: Gift of a Story |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Violence (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 4, 619 |
| Posted on 23 March 2007 | Updated on 23 March 2007 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (3) |
The Tapestries by Dawn Felagund
Shortly after his death, Fëanor discovers in the halls of Mandos the tapestries his mother has woven about his life. Seen through Míriel's eyes, the tapestries look back at the time from the kinslaying at Alqualondë, to the Fëanorians' arrival in Middle-earth, to his untimely death at the hands of the Balrogs. Fëanor is faced with both the weight of his deeds, as seen through another's eyes, and his contributions to the Noldor.
| Major Characters: Fëanor, Mandos, Míriel Serindë, Sons of Fëanor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, Experimental, General | Challenges: Gift of a Story |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Torture, Character Death, Mature Themes, Violence (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 11 | Word Count: 18, 240 |
| Posted on 9 November 2006 | Updated on 9 November 2006 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (3) |
The Choices of Spirits by Dawn Felagund
Unlucky in love, Caranthir has settled into his lonely life in Middle-earth when love comes from the most unexpected of places: a mortal woman leading a band of refugees upon his land. In the love that grows between Haleth and Caranthir, the two cannot quite overcome the expectations of their people to be together fully, as they wish, and they face the inevitability of separation after death.
| Major Characters: Caranthir, Haleth |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Romance | Challenges: Gift of a Story |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Character Death, Mature Themes, Sexual Content (Moderate), Violence (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 8, 015 |
| Posted on 9 June 2006 | Updated on 9 June 2006 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
Forgotten Lore by Dawn Felagund
Nerdanel's life told as the lessons she has learned, in a series of eight double drabbles. Written for a birthday challenge for allie_meril, who asked for stories about students.
| Major Characters: Fëanor, Nerdanel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet, General | Challenges: Gift of a Story |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Mature Themes, Sexual Content (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 528 |
| Posted on 29 March 2006 | Updated on 29 March 2006 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Constellation by Dawn Felagund
In Aman, an unexpected friendship forms between Caranthir, the misunderstood son of Fëanor, and Rúmil, the Noldorin loremaster who survived the dungeons of Utumno. The two see each other as others cannot, but their friendship is tested when the Darkening of Valinor leads to a string of atrocities that try both their spirits.
| Major Characters: Caranthir, Rúmil (Valinor) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, General | Challenges: Gift of a Story |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Torture, Mature Themes, Violence (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 3, 249 |
| Posted on 23 March 2006 | Updated on 23 March 2006 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
Mercy by Dawn Felagund
Celegorm fell first at Doriath and heard not the call of Mandos. He watches his two brothers fall in turn, and then his spirit finds two children in the forest, where he will realize his final purpose.
| Major Characters: Amras, Amrod, Caranthir, Celegorm, Curufin, Eluréd, Elurín, Maedhros, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, General | Challenges: Gift of a Story |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Character Death, Mature Themes, Violence (Graphic) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 759 |
| Posted on 21 December 2005 | Updated on 21 December 2005 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
A Symphony for My Father by Dawn Felagund
Maglor is charged with an impossible task: to write a song for Fëanor's hundredth begetting day. Initially, he refuses, but his memories of Fëanor and their tulmultuous relationship eventually inspires him to the impossible and his greatest accomplishment yet as a musician.
| Major Characters: Fëanor, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, General | Challenges: Gift of a Story |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Mature Themes |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 478 |
| Posted on 21 December 2005 | Updated on 21 December 2005 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (6) |
To Dream of Fire by Dawn Felagund
Fëanor was young when he first saw Arien, the Maia who tends Laurelin. Over the years, his thoughts of her become obsessive and lead him into dreams of forbidden intellect and sensuality. Newly wed, Fëanor hopes to be rid of dreams of her but finds she still enthralls him. Arien/Fëanor
| Major Characters: Arien, Fëanor, Finwë, Nerdanel, Tilion |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Erotica | Challenges: Gift of a Story |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Sexual Content (Graphic) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 3, 224 |
| Posted on 21 December 2005 | Updated on 21 December 2005 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
The Puppet by Dawn Felagund
On the eve that Fëanor presents the Silmarils to his family, Fingolfin mourns for the inadequacy of his own accomplishments. Comforted by his sister Lalwen, he recalls the comic puppet shows that she put on as a girl, that reduced the overlarge presences in her life to decorated socks. From Lalwen and his memories of her, Fingolfin learns much about managing his anger toward Fëanor and his own sense of duty.
| Major Characters: Fëanor, Findis, Fingolfin, Finwë, Indis, Lalwen |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, General | Challenges: Gift of a Story |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 669 |
| Posted on 21 December 2005 | Updated on 21 December 2005 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
The Gift by Dawn Felagund
Once, in the blissful years in Valinor, Celegorm and Curufin loved the same woman. On the eve of the Winter Festival, Curufin makes an exchange with Celegorm that leaves him with the woman who will become his wife, but Celegorm is left wanting. Many years later, on the long march to Middle-earth, Celegorm finally finds joy in his half of the bargain.
| Major Characters: Caranthir, Celebrimbor, Celegorm, Curufin, Maedhros, Original Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: Gift of a Story |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 442 |
| Posted on 21 December 2005 | Updated on 21 December 2005 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (11) |
Discovering Love by Dawn Felagund
On his way to a tryst with his betrothed, Maglor discovers something unexpected about the relationship between Maedhros and their cousin Fingon. When Maedhros reveals his love for their cousin to Maglor, Maglor has to decide how he feels about this unconventional relationship, eventually realizing that the commonalities of love outweigh the differences. Maedhros/Fingon, Maglor/OFC.
| Major Characters: Fingon, Maedhros, Maglor, Original Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, Slash/Femslash | Challenges: Gift of a Story |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Mature Themes, Sexual Content (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 4, 329 |
| Posted on 21 December 2005 | Updated on 21 December 2005 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (6) |
Fëanor’s Mistake by Dawn Felagund
After becoming lost while on a hunting trip with Celegorm and Oromë, Fëanor discovers something unexpected about his son's relationship with Oromë ... or he thinks he does. A humor piece about double entendre and misunderstanding.
| Major Characters: Celegorm, Fëanor, Oromë |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Humor | Challenges: Gift of a Story |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Sexual Content (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 417 |
| Posted on 21 December 2005 | Updated on 21 December 2005 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (5) |
Memories of Cuiviénen by Dawn Felagund
Long ago in Aman, Finwë told his young grandsons the legends of Cuiviénen, hoping that the lessons learned by the Elves in Middle-earth would guide them morally. Many centuries later, in Middle-earth, the sons of Fëanor have lost sight of those lessons, but the rising of a new star suggests all hope is not lost.
| Major Characters: Amras, Amrod, Caranthir, Celegorm, Curufin, Fëanor, Finwë, Maedhros, Maglor, Sons of Fëanor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, General | Challenges: Gift of a Story |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Character Death, Mature Themes, Violence (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 3, 348 |
| Posted on 21 December 2005 | Updated on 21 December 2005 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (7) |
The Last Night of the World by Dawn Felagund
On the night of the fall of Gondolin, Laitameldë, the King's librarian, weds Glorfindel, lord of Gondolin. Despite what comes after, their love persists across time. Glorfindel/OFC.
| Major Characters: Glorfindel, Original Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Erotica, Het, Romance | Challenges: Gift of a Story |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Sexual Content (Graphic) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 3, 899 |
| Posted on 21 December 2005 | Updated on 21 December 2005 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
