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
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
✓ Seen by polutropos
Present day. Daeron has a boring office job, Maglor works for a children’s theatre school. They read dirty slash about themselves. Rated for the dirty slash.
| Major Characters: Daeron, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: Daeron/Maglor |
| Genres: Humor | Challenges: Also Appearing |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Expletive Language, Sexual Content (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 886 |
| Posted on 21 June 2022 | Updated on 22 June 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (10) |
gold & burgundy by hanneswrites
“Forgive me,” Finrod muses, the ends of his lips twitching up in a teasing smile as he ties a delicately embroidered burgundy sash around Maglor’s waist, “I had forgotten that you only hang out with me for the fashion advice. No other reason.”
Years of the Trees Gen Slice of LIfe fic
| Major Characters: Finrod Felagund, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: Finrod & Maglor |
| Genres: Ficlet, Fluff | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 523 |
| Posted on 21 June 2022 | Updated on 21 June 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
In Dreams by grey_gazania
Fingon visits Maedhros before the Third Kinslaying. Is he a dream, or is he a ghost?
A fixed-length ficlet.
| Major Characters: Fingon, Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: Fingon/Maedhros |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: Also Appearing |
| Rating: Creator Chooses Not to Rate | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 036 |
| Posted on 21 June 2022 | Updated on 21 June 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (8) |
Gil-Galad Was No Elven-King by kimikocha
An elven conspiracy theorist discovers the truth about Gil-galad's parentage. The results of their inquiry are here written in verse.
| Major Characters: Original Character(s), Gil-galad |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Humor, Poetry | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 168 |
| Posted on 21 June 2022 | Updated on 21 June 2022 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
Touch The Stars by cuarthol
Sacrifices must be made, but there seems to be some lingering disagreement on exactly who it is that is going to be making them.
| Major Characters: Celebrimbor, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: Celebrimbor & Maglor |
| Genres: Alternate Universe | Challenges: Also Appearing |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 174 |
| Posted on 19 June 2022 | Updated on 21 June 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (8) |
Steppe Ghost Story by Lferion
Love endures, and nothing is truly forgotten if even one person remembers it. A triple drabble.
| Major Characters: Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, Fixed-Length Ficlet, Mystery, Slash | Challenges: Also Appearing, Pride |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 306 |
| Posted on 21 June 2022 | Updated on 21 June 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (7) |
World Turned Upside Down by grey_gazania
A Fëanor/Nerdanel fanmix.
| Major Characters: Fëanor, Nerdanel |
| Major Relationships: Fëanor/Nerdanel |
| Genres: Music | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on 20 June 2022 | Updated on 20 June 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (0) |
A Favor for the Prince by Rocky41_7
Feanor has a proposal for Nerdanel.
| Major Characters: Fëanor, Nerdanel |
| Major Relationships: Fëanor/Nerdanel |
| Genres: Erotica, Het, Romance | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Sexual Content (Graphic) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 4, 448 |
| Posted on 19 June 2022 | Updated on 19 June 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Cauldron of Fanfic: The Use of Jackson's Films in Constructing Tolkien-Based Fanfiction by Dawn Walls-Thumma
Peter Jackson's film trilogies become one of several text that writers of Tolkien-based fanfiction use in constructing their stories. This article considers how they select and use details from the films as inspiration, the reconcile the films and books, and to critique the films.
Pavane for a Horned Queen by Himring
An encounter far in the East.
One of the Kine of Araw responds to Daeron's music.
| Major Characters: Daeron, Kine of Araw |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Humor, Hurt/Comfort | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 807 |
| Posted on 18 June 2022 | Updated on 18 June 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
The Library of Mandos by kimikocha
FIRST NOTICE: Library records show the following item(s) overdue. Please return or renew them as soon as possible to avoid further charges. Note that late fees for Dark Lords accrue at the rate of one (1) Silmaril per day.
Fëanor starts a library in Mandos. The question of the day: Which member of the Arda Evil League of Evil borrowed Twilight and forgot to return it?
| Major Characters: Fëanor, Fingon, Melkor, Sauron |
| Major Relationships: Melkor/Sauron, Fingon/Maedhros |
| Genres: Alternate Universe, Crackfic, Humor | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 5, 501 |
| Posted on 18 June 2022 | Updated on 18 June 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
A System of Messages by AdmirableMonster
A wandering storyteller meets with a group of cowboys and tells his family's history around a fire; the mysterious Center (of the system of messages, perhaps) features prominently.
For the "Western" prompt of the Also Appearing challenge with a slight admixture of something akin to "uranium mine" or perhaps "pyramids"
| Major Characters: Halbarad, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: Maglor/Halbarad |
| Genres: Alternate Universe | Challenges: Also Appearing |
| Rating: Creator Chooses Not to Rate | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 824 |
| Posted on 16 June 2022 | Updated on 17 June 2022 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (6) |
Antarctica by elennalore
Thou shalt lead and I will follow. Saying those words, Nolofinwë had not guessed that his brother would lead him all the way to Antarctica.
| Major Characters: Fëanor, Fingolfin |
| Major Relationships: Fëanor & Fingolfin |
| Genres: Alternate Universe | Challenges: Also Appearing |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Animal Abuse |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 458 |
| Posted on 17 June 2022 | Updated on 17 June 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (6) |
But Not Always Sweet by Grundy
A collection of short responses, both drabbles and ficlets, to the prompts for the Vintage challenge.
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: Vintage |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 4 | Word Count: 2, 014 |
| Posted on 15 June 2022 | Updated on 16 June 2022 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (8) |
Ilverien by Lferion
Maedhros, Ilverien, and infant Erien are due to return, after having been away for two months. Fingon prepares for his spouses' arrival.
| Major Characters: Original Character(s), Erien, Fingon, Littleheart, Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: Fingon & Maedhros, Fingon/Maedhros, Fingon/Littleheart/Maedhros |
| Genres: Erotica, Family, Fixed-Length Ficlet, Fluff, Het, Poetry, Poly, Slash | Challenges: Vintage |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Sexual Content (Mild), Sexual Content (Moderate), Sexual Content (Graphic) |
| Chapters: 5 | Word Count: 3, 424 |
| Posted on 15 June 2022 | Updated on 15 June 2022 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Meanwhile by Lferion
Life among the Noldor, in the Fourth Age, Elrond musing on custom, courting, popular songs and other such matters.
| Major Characters: Elrond, Gimli, Legolas Greenleaf |
| Major Relationships: Celebrían & Elrond, Celebrían/Elrond, Gimli & Legolas, Gimli/Legolas |
| Genres: Family, Fixed-Length Ficlet, Fluff, Poetry, Romance, Slash | Challenges: Vintage |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 6 | Word Count: 1, 400 |
| Posted on 15 June 2022 | Updated on 15 June 2022 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (6) |
SWG Vintage Challenge by Lferion
25 chapters assembled into five stories. Each chapter fills four prompts, one from each of the four cards in the SWG May 2022 Vintage Bingo Challenge, for a total of 100 prompts filled.
The five stories are not all in the same continuity/universe -- for one thing, Ilverien and Red Crow cannot coexist, though there are elements they have in common -- but all of them can be read as part of an overall set of ideas.
| Major Characters: Elrond, Elwing, Fingon, Gimli, Legolas Greenleaf, Littleheart, Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, Family, Fixed-Length Ficlet, General, Poetry, Poly, Slash | Challenges: Vintage |
| Warnings: No warnings apply | |
| Posted on 15 June 2022 | Updated on 15 June 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (0) |
Free Press by Lferion
Four colleagues work together on increasingly complex challenges in storytelling.
| Major Characters: Original Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Comic Strip, Drama, Fixed-Length Ficlet, General, Poetry | Challenges: Vintage |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 3 | Word Count: 1, 542 |
| Posted on 15 June 2022 | Updated on 15 June 2022 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (3) |
Red Crow by Lferion
Glimpses of life in Aman, after the events of arriviste's void junk and Idrils_Scribe's Wings of White and Silver-grey.
| Major Characters: Elrond, Elwing, Fingon, Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: Fingon & Maedhros, Fingon/Maedhros |
| Genres: Drama, Family, Fixed-Length Ficlet, General, Poetry, Slash | Challenges: Vintage |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Violence (Mild) |
| Chapters: 4 | Word Count: 2, 467 |
| Posted on 15 June 2022 | Updated on 15 June 2022 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
| Major Characters: Original Character(s), Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet, General, Poetry, Science Fiction | Challenges: Vintage |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 7 | Word Count: 1, 931 |
| Posted on 14 June 2022 | Updated on 14 June 2022 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Candles and Confidences by grey_gazania
Elrond and Gil-galad play a game and discuss some painful truths about their families.
| Major Characters: Elrond, Gil-galad |
| Major Relationships: Elrond & Gil-galad |
| Genres: General | Challenges: Vintage |
| Rating: Creator Chooses Not to Rate | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 479 |
| Posted on 14 June 2022 | Updated on 14 June 2022 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Music for the Breaking of the Heart by StarSpray
Daeron first fell in love beneath the dark tree-shadows of Neldoreth, not far from the starlit waters of the Esgalduin.
| Major Characters: Daeron |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Ficlet, Fluff, General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 581 |
| Posted on 14 June 2022 | Updated on 14 June 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Down to the Harbor by grey_gazania
A Círdan fanmix.
| Major Characters: Círdan |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Music | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on 13 June 2022 | Updated on 13 June 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (1) |
Wrapped Up in Books by grey_gazania
Scenes from the lives of Caranthir and his wife Parmacundë.
| Major Characters: Original Character(s), Original Female Character(s), Caranthir |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Warnings: No warnings apply | |
| Posted on 7 March 2021 | Updated on 13 June 2022 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (0) |
Wrapped Up in Books: A Fanmix by grey_gazania
A fanmix for Caranthir and Parmacundë, his wife.
| Major Characters: Unnamed Canon Character(s), Caranthir |
| Major Relationships: Caranthir/Unnamed Canon Character |
| Genres: Music | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on 13 June 2022 | Updated on 13 June 2022 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (1) |
