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
Fanon Inverted
Take a fanon you feel passionately about and turn it on its head, creating a fanwork that goes against the fanon norm. 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
In Song Unsung by sabcatt
Fragmentary sections of two poems, dealing with the friendship of Fingon and Maedhros, and a brief scholarly introduction thereto. (AKA: a media fic of the most pretentious flavor.)
| Major Characters: Fingon, Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: Fingon & Maedhros |
| Genres: Experimental, Poetry | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 442 |
| Posted on 1 October 2022 | Updated on 30 December 2022 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
The Sound of Lightning by sabcatt
Ñolofinwë’s eldest has always been flighty. Early in the First Age, Findekáno disappears three ways.
Written for the fan_flashworks challenge “storm”.
| Major Characters: Fingon, Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, Family, General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 015 |
| Posted on 11 December 2022 | Updated on 29 December 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
A Light (Verse) In The Dark by sabcatt
A collection of comedic poetry about The Silmarillion.
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Humor, Poetry | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Warnings: No warnings apply | |
| Posted on 19 November 2022 | Updated on 29 December 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (0) |
A Very Silmarillion Alphabet by sabcatt
A is for Aegnor who burned with his land.
B is for Barahir, robbed of his hand…
| Major Characters: Historical Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Crackfic, Humor, Poetry | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Character Death |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 220 |
| Posted on 24 August 2022 | Updated on 29 December 2022 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Who Told Me Time Would Ease Me by sabcatt
Maedhros cuts his hair off for the first time after Losgar, and never quite shakes the habit.
Or: Five hundred years of haircuts, give or take.
| Major Characters: Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: Fingon+Maedhros |
| Genres: Drama, General, Hurt/Comfort | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings, Mature Themes |
| Chapters: 2 | Word Count: 4, 257 |
| Posted on 8 June 2022 | Updated on 29 December 2022 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Find Your Way Home by sabcatt
Idril loves Maeglin. He knows this is true, because she tells him it is. He loves her, too.
| Major Characters: Idril, Maeglin, Sauron |
| Major Relationships: Maeglin/Sauron, Idril/Maeglin |
| Genres: Drama, Horror, Romance | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 827 |
| Posted on 26 October 2022 | Updated on 29 December 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
To See Our Enemy Coming by Himring
Edhellos has escaped, with a handful of others, from the battle in which her husband Angrod died. She has a request to make.
| Major Characters: Círdan, Eldalótë |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 2 | Word Count: 305 |
| Posted on 29 December 2022 | Updated on 29 December 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (5) |
Listen to the sky by Anérea
Arvedui decides to sail, despite warnings to wait. (As told by a woman of the Lossoth.)
(The fate of Fíriel, wife of Arvedui, was never recorded; I like to think she was a tough cookie and had fought and fled with him to the Ice-bay of Forochel.)
| Major Characters: Original Female Character(s), Arvedui, Fíriel, Lossoth |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Ficlet, General | Challenges: Zingers |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 331 |
| Posted on 16 August 2022 | Updated on 28 December 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (13) |
Matters of Choice by kimikocha
There are many who wander in the lands of Middle-Earth. Some of them are lost, sojourners searching without knowing what they seek; some of them are only a little lost, knowing what they search for but not knowing how to find it. A few of them are very fortunate, not being lost at all. Many more are those who search in vain: not understanding the nature of the mirage on the horizon, they lose themselves in its pursuit.
One of many wanderers encounters Death upon a precipice.
| Major Characters: Original Character(s), Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Alternate Universe, General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 630 |
| Posted on 28 December 2022 | Updated on 28 December 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
White Horn Tower by Himring
After the fall of Dorthonion, Edhellos (originally named in Quenya Eldalote), Angrod's wife, has chosen to move to Barad Nimras, the tower that Finrod built in the Falas on a headland west of Eglarest.
| Major Characters: Eldalótë |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: Manwë's Mailbag |
| Rating: Creator Chooses Not to Rate | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 121 |
| Posted on 27 December 2022 | Updated on 27 December 2022 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (13) |
All That Is Gold by cuarthol
Túrin struggles to protect Níniel and slay Glaurung, but which has he done?
Alternate Universe - Canon Divergent based on The Children of Húrin
| Major Characters: Glaurung, Gurthang, Nienor, Túrin |
| Major Relationships: Niënor/Túrin |
| Genres: Alternate Universe | Challenges: Manwë's Mailbag |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Character Death, Suicide, Violence (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 824 |
| Posted on 23 December 2022 | Updated on 25 December 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (8) |
land of bow and helm by skywardstruck
Beleg and Túrin at Dor-Cúarthol, protecting the land together. Drawn in the style of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker.
| Major Characters: Beleg, Túrin |
| Major Relationships: Beleg/Túrin |
| Artwork Type: Drawing/Painting |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on 24 December 2022 | Updated on 24 December 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (3) |
Duty, Gossip, Wine, and Buoys by Gwanath Dagnir
Newly arrived in Lindon but fast to the High King's confidence, Elrond is officially announced to Gil-Galad's court. He learns what these formal affairs are really all about. Content warning for consensual hair-braiding and maybe one drunken kiss or two.
| Major Characters: Círdan, Elrond, Gil-galad |
| Major Relationships: Elrond & Gil-galad |
| Genres: General, Romance, Slash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Sexual Content (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 5, 804 |
| Posted on 22 December 2022 | Updated on 24 December 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Through This Warm Affinity by sallysavestheday
Celeborn misses Galadriel on a snowy night in Eregion. Ósanwë helps a little.
| Major Characters: Celeborn, Galadriel |
| Major Relationships: Celeborn/Galadriel |
| Genres: Ficlet | Challenges: Manwë's Mailbag |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 641 |
| Posted on 23 December 2022 | Updated on 24 December 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (13) |
spring wine by hanneswrites
Curufin & Aredhel indulge in some spring wine.
| Major Characters: Aredhel, Curufin |
| Major Relationships: Aredhel/Curufin, Aredhel/Celegorm, Aredhel/Celegorm/Curufin |
| Genres: Erotica, Het | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Incest, Sexual Content (Graphic) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 960 |
| Posted on 23 December 2022 | Updated on 23 December 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
"Promote What You Love": An Interview with Elleth by Elleth, Dawn Felagund
After discovering an interest in female characters and femslash, Elleth used her enthusiasm for these fanworks to run multiple events that helped the Tolkien fandom undergo its transformation from dismissal of women characters to accepting and even celebrating fanworks about them.
ferns & violets by hanneswrites
Melian & Mairon meet under unexpected circumstances in Beleriand and develop an unlikely sort-of friendship over the years.
| Major Characters: Melian, Sauron |
| Major Relationships: Melian & Sauron |
| Genres: Ficlet, General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 005 |
| Posted on 23 December 2022 | Updated on 23 December 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (1) |
kindling by hanneswrites
Haleth visits Thargelion on a cold, snowy evening.
| Major Characters: Caranthir, Haleth |
| Major Relationships: Caranthir/Haleth |
| Genres: Erotica, Fluff, Het | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Sexual Content (Graphic) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 805 |
| Posted on 23 December 2022 | Updated on 23 December 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
customer service by hanneswrites
Melkor has an OnlyFans & Mairon is his #1 subscriber. Modern!AU
| Major Characters: Melkor, Sauron |
| Major Relationships: Melkor/Sauron |
| Genres: Ficlet, Humor, Slash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Sexual Content (Graphic) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 616 |
| Posted on 23 December 2022 | Updated on 23 December 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
empty halls by hanneswrites
Maedhros wakes to the warmth of Fingon wrapped around him.
| Major Characters: Fingon, Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: Fingon/Maedhros |
| Genres: Ficlet, Hurt/Comfort, Romance | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 351 |
| Posted on 23 December 2022 | Updated on 23 December 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
On Such A Night As This by polutropos
Two friends discuss their fears and hopes on the shores of Cuiviénen.
| Major Characters: Elu Thingol, Finwë |
| Major Relationships: Finwë & Thingol |
| Genres: General | Challenges: Manwë's Mailbag |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 921 |
| Posted on 20 December 2022 | Updated on 23 December 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (17) |
Laurelindórenan by Anérea
Two figures under autumn/winter mallorn trees in the golden wood of Lothlórien.
| Major Characters: Celeborn, Celebrían, Galadriel |
| Major Relationships: Celeborn/Galadriel |
| Artwork Type: Drawing/Painting, Landscape |
| Genres: Family | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on 18 December 2022 | Updated on 19 December 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (10) |
In the Elm-Woods of Ossiriand by StarSpray
Maglor and Maedhros lead the remnants of their people into Ossiriand to escape the worst of the War of Wrath.
| Major Characters: Elrond, Elros, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: Elrond & Elros & Maglor |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 305 |
| Posted on 18 December 2022 | Updated on 18 December 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Into the West by elennalore
Celebrimbor travels to Númenor and finds a new direction to his life.
| Major Characters: Original Nonbinary Character(s), Celebrimbor, Erestor, Tar-Aldarion |
| Major Relationships: Celebrimbor & Erestor |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: Manwë's Mailbag |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 5, 783 |
| Posted on 18 December 2022 | Updated on 18 December 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (8) |
Túrin, Part 2 by firstamazon
Túrin's tale is the lengthiest and one of the most tangled of the tales that make up The Silmarillion. This section considers the center part of Túrin's life, after his exile from Doriath but before he fell into utter ruin, a time defined by friendship and honor rather than ruinous choices.
