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
True Leader
Create a fanwork using one of our quotes from a woman in leadership. 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
Blood Amongst The Lilies by Kaylee Arafinwiel
Miriel of Numenor, King's Heir, has a premonition while taking a painting lesson from her paternal grandmother. It ends up making her painting one of foreboding.
It isn't wise to paint while foreseeing prophetic visions, that's for sure...
(For Zimraphel/galadhremmin on the SWG Discord, written to the "Marathon Swimming" challenge - two things that are unwise to do at the same time)
| Major Characters: Ar-Pharazôn, Inzilbêth, Tar-Míriel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Family | Challenges: Middle-earth Olympics |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Violence (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 514 |
| Posted on 11 August 2021 | Updated on 11 August 2021 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Red Thread and Thorns by Lferion
A look at a single life in Angband, a study in hope.
| Major Characters: Original Female Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, Experimental, Fixed-Length Ficlet, Poetry | Challenges: Middle-earth Olympics |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 624 |
| Posted on 11 August 2021 | Updated on 11 August 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Watch by Lingwiloke
Túrin has been pushing the king to give up on Nargothrond's policy of secrecy, and now Orodreth comes to a decision.
| Major Characters: Orodreth |
| Major Relationships: Orodreth & Turin |
| Genres: Drama, Ficlet | Challenges: Middle-earth Olympics |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 504 |
| Posted on 10 August 2021 | Updated on 10 August 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
The Tale of Gull-galad by Kaylee Arafinwiel
Elrond brings a new friend to a council meeting. His foster-brother the King is somewhat amused. But will everyone be?
| Major Characters: Original Male Character(s), Elrond, Gil-galad |
| Major Relationships: Elrond & Gil-galad |
| Genres: Crackfic | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: In-Universe Racism/Ethnocentrism |
| Chapters: 2 | Word Count: 535 |
| Posted on 10 August 2021 | Updated on 10 August 2021 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Tennis With An Elf and A Dwarf by Grundy, Raiyana
An exchange of letters in the First Age, written for the Middle-earth Olympics Tennis prompt.
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: Middle-earth Olympics |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 11 | Word Count: 7, 949 |
| Posted on 9 August 2021 | Updated on 9 August 2021 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (3) |
Birds, brothers, and a harp by Aprilertuile
Tyelkormo learnt to talk to bird. Tyelkormo is an overactive older brother. Makalaurë wasn't impressed.
| Major Characters: Celegorm, Maedhros, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: Middle-earth Olympics |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 517 |
| Posted on 9 August 2021 | Updated on 9 August 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
First crush in Amon Ereb by Aprilertuile
A few years after the kinslaying of Sirion, the twins are now 16 and well at the age they start to find people attractive.
Young Elrond seems to have his first crush, Maglor finds it hilarious, Maedhros is utterly horrified by the whole thing and so is Elros, but not for the same reasons.
| Major Characters: Elrond, Elros, Maedhros, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Slash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Creator Chooses Not to Rate | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 2 | Word Count: 1, 583 |
| Posted on 8 August 2021 | Updated on 8 August 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Leaving Sirion by Aprilertuile
After the Sack of Sirion, the remaining two feanorian brothers are leading their people back to Amon Ereb, taking the twin children of Elwing back with them.
This story follows : The tragedy of Sirion
| Major Characters: Elrond, Elros, Erestor, Maedhros, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Adventure | Challenges: Middle-earth Olympics |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Child Abuse, Expletive Language, In-Universe Racism/Ethnocentrism, Violence (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 3, 612 |
| Posted on 2 August 2021 | Updated on 8 August 2021 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Sweet Violets and Golden Cowslip by StarSpray
Lalwen has dug too many graves. After the attack on the Havens of Sirion, she digs another.
| Major Characters: Celebrimbor, Lalwen |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, Family, Femslash, General | Challenges: Middle-earth Olympics |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Character Death, Check Notes for Warnings, Mature Themes |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 635 |
| Posted on 7 August 2021 | Updated on 7 August 2021 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (3) |
Back at Amon Ereb by Aprilertuile
Finally the journey ends, and Maedhros, Maglor, their people and the kidnapped twins arrive in Amon Ereb.
| Major Characters: Elrond, Elros, Erestor, Maedhros, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 354 |
| Posted on 6 August 2021 | Updated on 6 August 2021 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Annual race and a new friend by Aprilertuile
The summer festival had started, and Tyelkormo spent it with the Hunters of Oromë. Every year was a bit different, but the activity that Tyelkormo enjoyed that year was a race.
| Major Characters: Celegorm, Huan, Oromë |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: Middle-earth Olympics |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 674 |
| Posted on 20 July 2021 | Updated on 5 August 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
At the Eleventh Hour by AdmirableMonster
After a fall, Elros goes into labor too early. An unexpected visitor provides succour.
| Major Characters: Unnamed Female Canon Character(s), Elros, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: Elros & Maglor |
| Genres: Drama, Family | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Violence (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 879 |
| Posted on 4 August 2021 | Updated on 4 August 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Alive at the Wake by herenortherenearnorfar
"Now Celebrimbor was not corrupted in heart or faith, but had accepted Sauron as what he posed to be; and when at length he discovered the existence of the One Ring he revolted against Sauron, and went to Lórinand to take counsel once more with Galadriel. They should have destroyed all the Rings of Power at this time, "but they failed to find the strength.""
They find the strength.
| Major Characters: Celebrimbor, Sauron |
| Major Relationships: Celebrimbor/Sauron |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings, Sexual Content (Moderate), Torture, Violence (Graphic) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 26, 565 |
| Posted on 2 August 2021 | Updated on 2 August 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Queen Mother's Arrival by Kaylee Arafinwiel
Elwing, flying in bird form above the Star Isle, ventures a little too close and takes a tumble. She ends up bruised for her trouble, but gets more than she bargained for...
| Major Characters: Elros, Elwing |
| Major Relationships: Elros/Original Character |
| Genres: Family | Challenges: Middle-earth Olympics |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Violence (Mild) |
| Chapters: 2 | Word Count: 996 |
| Posted on 20 July 2021 | Updated on 2 August 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (10) |
Short stories of Valinor by Aprilertuile
My answers to some recent instadrabbles, featuring wild noldor in their natural habitat and disaster siblings.
| Major Characters: Fëanor, Maedhros, Maglor, Nerdanel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 8 | Word Count: 1, 671 |
| Posted on 2 August 2021 | Updated on 2 August 2021 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Olympics 2021 Instadrabbling by Lindariel
Instadrabbles from the SWG Discord server sessions on 31 July-1 August 2021, with Olympics-flavored prompts.
| Major Characters: Angrod, Caranthir, Celeborn, Finrod Felagund, Galadriel, Huan, Lúthien Tinúviel, Maedhros, Oropher, Samwise Gamgee, Thranduil, Turgon, Yavanna |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Adventure, Family, Fixed-Length Ficlet, General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 10 | Word Count: 1, 023 |
| Posted on 1 August 2021 | Updated on 1 August 2021 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Once Upon A Time And Long Ago by AdmirableMonster
When the twins' fathers finally leave them to go after the Silmarils, Elros and Elrond decide they don't deserve to be orphaned a second time. In the midst of a great storm, though, strange magics are unleashed, and they wake up five hundred years earlier in an unsullied paradise. But dark things are stirring in Valinor, and the twins are told to tread lightly, lest they unweave their very existence.
Can they find a way to save their fathers and return to their own time, or will it all play out the same way and end in fire?
| Major Characters: Original Female Character(s), Elrond, Elros, Fëanor, Fingon, Finrod Felagund, Finwë, Maedhros, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: Elrond & Elros & Maedhros & Maglor, Fingon/Maedhros, Finrod/Maglor |
| Genres: Alternate Universe, Family, Hurt/Comfort | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 2 | Word Count: 6, 811 |
| Posted on 21 July 2021 | Updated on 1 August 2021 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
And the nightingales sing by daughterofshadows
After her mother has left, Arwen struggles to sleep.
She seeks comfort with the nightingales singing in the gardens and meets someone unexpected in her dreams.
| Major Characters: Arwen |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Family | Challenges: Middle-earth Olympics |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 605 |
| Posted on 30 July 2021 | Updated on 30 July 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (9) |
An unexpected journey - getting into the Tolkien fandom by daughterofshadows
A short exploration of my time in the Tolkien fandom: How did I get here, why did I stay, what did I learn.
For the Middle-earth Olympics Diving prompt.
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Nonfiction/Meta | Challenges: Middle-earth Olympics |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 871 |
| Posted on 29 July 2021 | Updated on 29 July 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
Stars Less Strange: An Analysis of Fanfiction and Representation within the Tolkien Fan Community by Dawn Walls-Thumma
Originally presented at the 2021 Tolkien Society Seminar "Tolkien and Diversity," this paper considers the historical and current use of fanfiction to address issues of representation in Tolkien’s canon.
The tragedy of Sirion by Aprilertuile
The feanorians attack Sirion.
This story follows oath awakened
| Major Characters: Amras, Amrod, Elrond, Elros, Elwing, Maedhros, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Adventure | Challenges: Middle-earth Olympics |
| Rating: General | Warnings: In-Universe Racism/Ethnocentrism, Violence (Mild) |
| Chapters: 2 | Word Count: 2, 628 |
| Posted on 27 July 2021 | Updated on 27 July 2021 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
[podfic] The foam like flowers on the shore by Chestnut_pod
They have no choice but to build a life together.
| Major Characters: Idril, Nimloth |
| Major Relationships: Idril/Nimloth |
| Genres: Podfic | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings, In-Universe Racism/Ethnocentrism |
| Posted on 21 July 2021 | Updated on 26 July 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (0) |
Desmemoria by UnnamedElement
How does one explain to one’s children the horror of what one has seen and done? Thranduil wrestles with how to tell Legolas about the history of their folk and, with his wife’s encouragement, he revisits the testimony of the Sindarin refugees collected by Oropher, in preparation. Locked away in secret archives or not, the past is never really past, and even children can outsmart memory.
| Major Characters: Original Character(s), Original Female Character(s), Legolas Greenleaf, Maglor, Oropher, Thranduil |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, Family | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Character Death, Mature Themes, Violence (Graphic) |
| Chapters: 2 | Word Count: 7, 165 |
| Posted on 25 July 2021 | Updated on 26 July 2021 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Then and now, Maglor's thoughts on Celegorm by Aprilertuile
Maglor observes his brother Celegorm, and can't help but think of the differences now, after Nargothrond, compared to before, in Aman.
| Major Characters: Celegorm, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: Middle-earth Olympics |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 188 |
| Posted on 25 July 2021 | Updated on 25 July 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (7) |
Breakfast with Sparrow by chrissystriped
An elf shares his breakfast with a sparrow.
| Major Characters: Original Male Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Alternate Universe, Ficlet, General | Challenges: Middle-earth Olympics |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 160 |
| Posted on 25 July 2021 | Updated on 25 July 2021 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (6) |
