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
A Crate of (Not Very Many) Anchovies by Kaylee Arafinwiel
A brown (seemingly wooden) crate of anchovies (or other similar small, silver-y fish) lying on a bed of green kelp. Most of the fish are gone, only six or so remain. Where did they go? Who possesses this crate, if anyone? Where did they get it? Did they catch the fish? Buy them? Sell them? Steal them? It is a mystery for now...
(or until someone adopts this prompt, of course. Drawn for Scribbles & Drabbles 2024).
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Artwork Type: No type listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Creator Chooses Not to Rate | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on 4 August 2024 | Updated on 4 August 2024 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (2) |
The Noldolantë (Sirion verses) by Tehta
The third kinslaying, as a musical.
Please do not take this too seriously. The writer certainly doesn't.
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Humor | Challenges: Bollywood |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Character Death, Violence (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 934 |
| Posted on 3 August 2024 | Updated on 3 August 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (3) |
Fandom Voices: Using Fanon in Fanworks by Dawn Walls-Thumma
Sixteen Tolkien fans contributed their definitions of and experiences with fanon or fan-generated theories about the legendarium.
Knight Roland's guts, strewn all over the marble ground by Angamaite
Orcs: a treatise on dissection.
| Major Characters: Original Male Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: Celegorm & Original Character |
| Genres: Drama, Experimental, Horror | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Character Death, Check Notes for Warnings, Expletive Language, In-Universe Intolerance, Mature Themes, Rape/Nonconsensual Sex, Sexual Content (Moderate), Suicide, Torture, Violence (Graphic) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 3, 631 |
| Posted on 29 July 2024 | Updated on 29 July 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Funky Haikus by Himring
Haikus for prompts of the Funky 70's challenge.
| Major Characters: Lúthien Tinúviel, Noldor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Poetry | Challenges: Funky 70s |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 3 | Word Count: 39 |
| Posted on 28 June 2024 | Updated on 28 July 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (17) |
Though I keep this from my children by Himring
Morwen, whose view of the world has been permanently darkened by past sufferings, is concerned for her children.
| Major Characters: Morwen, Túrin |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 151 |
| Posted on 28 July 2024 | Updated on 28 July 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
The Dyer's Vat by Himring
A minor incident during the Fall of Eregion: no, this is not about the Gwaith-i-Mirdain or Celebrimbor, it is about the Dyers' Guild. Not one for the history books, but the Eldar remember...
| Major Characters: Original Male Character(s), Original Female Character(s), Elrond, Elves |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: Bollywood |
| Rating: Creator Chooses Not to Rate | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 913 |
| Posted on 20 July 2024 | Updated on 28 July 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (20) |
Grass is Still Growing by StarSpray
When he spoke his voice was as sweet as a nightingale’s song and his words were thoughtful and kind, and Celebrían thought to herself even as he bowed over her hand, I am going to marry him.
| Major Characters: Celebrían, Elrond, Galadriel |
| Major Relationships: Celebrían/Elrond |
| Genres: Family, Fluff, Het | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 236 |
| Posted on 27 July 2024 | Updated on 27 July 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
The Merchant of Valinor by Tehta
A series of acrostics based on the letters provided in the Tengwar challenge, telling the story of one enterprising Telerin merchant.
| Major Characters: Original Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Humor | Challenges: Tengwar |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 16 | Word Count: 1, 992 |
| Posted on 21 May 2024 | Updated on 26 July 2024 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (6) |
My thoughts on Finwë by Aprilertuile
Just developping here my thoughts on Finwë, king of the noldor of Tirion.
| Major Characters: Finwë |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Nonfiction/Meta | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 791 |
| Posted on 25 July 2024 | Updated on 25 July 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Ulmondil by mouse
Tuor finds creative ways to deliver Ulmo's prophecies and convince the people of Gondolin that The End Is Near. Voronwe tries to keep Tuor out of trouble while coping with his own traumatic experience of being chosen by Ulmo. Humour, mostly.
| Major Characters: Ecthelion of the Fountain, Glorfindel, Gondolindrim, Maeglin, Tuor, Turgon, Voronwë |
| Major Relationships: Tuor & Voronwë |
| Genres: Humor | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 5 | Word Count: 13, 248 |
| Posted on 14 June 2024 | Updated on 24 July 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
The Cheese Stands Alone by Grundy
The twins thought Arwen would enjoy the lesson on Beren and Luthien. They were rather surprised...
| Major Characters: Arwen, Elladan, Elrohir |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: Holiday Feast |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 613 |
| Posted on 31 December 2018 | Updated on 22 July 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (5) |
No Time Have I by Flora-lass
A Silmarillion acrostic.
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Poetry | Challenges: Funky 70s |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 70 |
| Posted on 15 July 2024 | Updated on 22 July 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (8) |
Do you cut down down blossoming trees in the spring for firewood? by Himring
In western Numenor, there is an area famous for its trees and plants. But the Faithful have been banished to the east. And in the last days of Numenor, on the coast an army assembles...
| Major Characters: Amandil, Lindórië, Númenóreans |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: Tengwar |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 204 |
| Posted on 25 April 2024 | Updated on 19 July 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (14) |
Unforgotten by daughterofshadows
Carrying the Silmaril for millennia has consequences.
| Major Characters: Eärendil |
| Major Relationships: Eärendil + Ilmarë |
| Genres: | Challenges: Bollywood |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 135 |
| Posted on 19 July 2024 | Updated on 19 July 2024 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (13) |
Reflections by AdmirableMonster
A story of three friends in Númenor, one of whom attracts the attention of the High Priest. What does friendship mean in the shadow of the Black Temple?
| Major Characters: Unnamed Canon Character(s), Original Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: Original Character & Unnamed Canon Character |
| Genres: Science Fiction | Challenges: Bollywood |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 3, 802 |
| Posted on 18 July 2024 | Updated on 18 July 2024 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (11) |
An exercise in music... And patience by Aprilertuile
Makalaurë was sitting at the harp in his music room. He was holding a dark blindfold in his hands and was looking at it with much scepticism.
| Major Characters: Maglor, Fëanor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Family | Challenges: Bollywood |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 755 |
| Posted on 16 July 2024 | Updated on 16 July 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (10) |
I called it Fate that I should fail by AdmirableMonster
Nimruzimir, a natural philosopher recently out of his apprenticeship, hardly considers himself very important to anyone, least of all his colleagues. When his strange, prophetic fits bring him to the attention of the High Priest, however, he may find that his existence is less superfluous than he had originally thought.
| Major Characters: Original Character(s), Unnamed Canon Character(s), Sauron |
| Major Relationships: Unnamed Canon Character/Original Character, Original Character & Unnamed Canon Character, Sauron & Unnamed Canon Character |
| Genres: Hurt/Comfort, Science Fiction | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Expletive Language, In-Universe Intolerance, Mature Themes, Torture |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 10, 225 |
| Posted on 9 June 2024 | Updated on 15 July 2024 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (1) |
All of you by chrissystriped
Elrond and Celebrían celebrate their anniversary with their family.
| Major Characters: Elrond |
| Major Relationships: Celebrían/Elrond |
| Genres: Family | Challenges: Funky 70s |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 471 |
| Posted on 15 July 2024 | Updated on 15 July 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (11) |
Lament for the Singer by daughterofshadows
A short thing about Maglor, death and grieving.
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: Funky 70s |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 64 |
| Posted on 15 July 2024 | Updated on 15 July 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (13) |
Cosmological Poems of Arda by AaronAzrael
I would like to share my revelations of Tolkien's Universe in the form of narrative and emotional poems.
| Major Characters: Aegnor, Ainur, Angrod, Aredhel, Aulë, Barahir (First Age), Bregolas, Celebrimbor, Elu Thingol, Eöl, Eru Ilúvatar, Fëanor, Finarfin, Fingolfin, Fingon, Finrod Felagund, Finwë, Gil-galad, J.R.R. Tolkien, Maeglin, Maglor, Manwë, Melian, Melkor, Noldor, Oromë, Sauron, Sons of Fëanor, Tulkas, Turgon, Ulmo, Valar, Varda, Yavanna |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Adventure, Mystery, Poetry | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Creator Chooses Not to Rate | Warnings: Character Death, Mature Themes, Violence (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 35 | Word Count: 16, 823 |
| Posted on 13 April 2021 | Updated on 15 July 2024 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Map of Valinor by Aprilertuile
My newly drawn map of Aman, as complete as I could make it.
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Artwork Type: Drawing/Painting |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on 14 July 2024 | Updated on 14 July 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (8) |
Feanor is in a foul mood: test story by Orodreth
Some random text to test.
| Major Characters: Fëanor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 9 | Word Count: 493 |
| Posted on 17 December 2008 | Updated on 13 July 2024 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (8) |
Fair as the First Snowdrop in Spring by StarSpray
The first time Elrond saw Celebrían he forgot how to breathe.
| Major Characters: Elrond, Celebrían |
| Major Relationships: Celebrían/Elrond |
| Genres: Fluff, Het, Romance | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 332 |
| Posted on 13 July 2024 | Updated on 13 July 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Temper, temper... by Aprilertuile
Maglor hit some musical difficulties and snaps.
| Major Characters: Maglor, Maedhros, Celegorm, Fëanor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Family | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 534 |
| Posted on 12 July 2024 | Updated on 12 July 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
