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
Book by Its Cover
Go ahead and judge a book by its cover! We'll send you a book cover as a prompt to inspire your fanwork. 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
Five Things That Never Happened to Sauron by Russandol
Five short scenes with a twist, in five different locations. Each of them harder to write than the previous one!
1st Place, Ficlet: Elder Days & Smaug's Treasure, MEFA 2011
| Major Characters: Ar-Pharazôn, Celebrimbor, Eönwë, Sauron, Thranduil |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Alternate Universe, Experimental | Challenges: Fifth Birthday Celebration |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Character Death, Sexual Content (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 674 |
| Posted on 14 September 2010 | Updated on 9 May 2021 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (10) |
| Major Characters: Arwen, Celeborn, Celebrían |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: Queens of the Quill |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 704 |
| Posted on 9 May 2021 | Updated on 9 May 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (5) |
Rain Washes Off All the Other Colors by Tethys Resort
“He has led us in here against our fears, but he will lead us out again, at whatever cost to himself. He is surer to find his home in a blind night than the cats of Berúthiel.” Aragorn, Moria.
The story of a woman and her cats.
| Major Characters: Berúthiel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: Queens of the Quill |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 3 | Word Count: 7, 108 |
| Posted on 7 May 2021 | Updated on 9 May 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (6) |
To Drain a Lake by Himring
Who would dream to drain a lake?
An attempt to answer this question, posed by my prompt, for Middle-earth.
A few short reflections.
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Poetry | Challenges: Queens of the Quill |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 236 |
| Posted on 9 May 2021 | Updated on 9 May 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (8) |
Ashes by Anne Wolfe
A box of ashes, and its journey back to the beginning. Featuring ithildin, Smaug, and a surprising number of dwarves.
| Major Characters: Celebrimbor, Dwarves, Fëanor, Gimli, Legolas Greenleaf |
| Major Relationships: Gimli & Legolas |
| Genres: Crackfic, General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 344 |
| Posted on 13 June 2019 | Updated on 9 May 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Jail-Crow by lonelyvisitor
Fëanor tells Melkor to get off his lawn. An imagined passage from the Noldolantë of Maglor.
| Major Characters: Fëanor, Maglor, Melkor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Experimental, General, Poetry | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 351 |
| Posted on 14 January 2013 | Updated on 8 May 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (9) |
On Behalf of the Band by lonelyvisitor
There’s an Elf climbing through the garage window.
Worse than an Elf: a Mod.
(a Maglor-in-History)
| Major Characters: Historical Character(s), Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Crackfic, General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 813 |
| Posted on 8 May 2021 | Updated on 8 May 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (1) |
Ceven i Nesta by Chestnut_pod
It happened in the days of the First Age--
Or, how Elwing got those ships.
| Major Characters: Elwing |
| Major Relationships: Elwing & Olwë |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 686 |
| Posted on 11 April 2021 | Updated on 6 May 2021 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
nothing but time and a face that you lose by Chestnut_pod
It always hurts to lose a might-have-been. But here Amarië is.
| Major Characters: Amarië, Findis |
| Major Relationships: Amarië & Findis |
| Genres: Family, General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 519 |
| Posted on 6 May 2021 | Updated on 6 May 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Upon the Branching Years by IgnobleBard
Legolas is tasked by Ulmo to travel to Gondolin to make sure history does not again deviate from Eru's plan.
This is a time travel AU wherein Legolas Greenleaf and Legolas of Gondolin are the same person.
Written for the My Slashy Valentine Swap 2021.
| Major Characters: Original Character(s), Ecthelion of the Fountain, Erestor, Galdor of the Tree, Glorfindel, Legolas Greenleaf, Legolas of Gondolin, Turgon |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Alternate Universe, Drama, Romance, Slash/Femslash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Character Death, Sexual Content (Moderate), Violence (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 14 | Word Count: 22, 301 |
| Posted on 17 February 2021 | Updated on 2 May 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (26) |
Ox Bones and Silver Ladles: The Construction of the Ainulindalë by Dawn Walls-Thumma
The deus faber and demiurgic motifs of creation mythology are used in the Ainulindalë, selected and manipulated by Tolkien to advance ideas that rest at the foundation of the legendarium.
The Divine Hour by jamcake_muses
An unseasonably large snowstorm causes Gil-galad to fret about their upcoming March to Mordor.
| Major Characters: Celebrían, Elrond, Gil-galad |
| Major Relationships: Celebrían/Elrond/Gil-galad |
| Genres: Fluff, Hurt/Comfort, Poly | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 300 |
| Posted on 2 May 2021 | Updated on 2 May 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Clearer than Clear Water by StarSpray
The world begins with starlight and clear water. The River-daughter opens her eyes to see the stars as shimmering streaks blurring together. It is such a delightful sight that she reaches for them, and gasps when her hand breaks out of the water into cool air.
The River-daughter, from her awakening to the sun's first rising.
| Major Characters: Goldberry |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 282 |
| Posted on 2 May 2021 | Updated on 2 May 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Tar-Minastir by oshun
A man of his times, Tar-Minastir perpetuated Númenórean policies of the past and foreshadowed those that would follow.
Instadrabbling at the Ribbon-Cutting Event by elennalore
Two drabbles (100 words) I wrote during the Ribbon-cutting event instadrabbling 25.04.2021.
The first is Silvergifting, prompt words daisy, riddle, sunlit, lawns
The second is Russingon, prompt words warmth, smile, memory, river
| Major Characters: Celebrimbor, Fingon, Sauron |
| Major Relationships: Fingon/Maedhros, Celebrimbor/Sauron |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 2 | Word Count: 214 |
| Posted on 26 April 2021 | Updated on 26 April 2021 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
An eye in a blue face by Himring
Arien looks down on Middle-earth and, thanks to Yavanna, she sees...
Can you guess?
(Gollum once guessed it long ago.)
| Major Characters: Arien, Yavanna |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 100 |
| Posted on 25 April 2021 | Updated on 25 April 2021 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Ribbon-Cutting Instadrabbling by Lindariel
Instadrabbles from the ribbon-cutting event on the SWG Discord server, 24-25 April 2021, on the theme of renewal
| Major Characters: Celeborn, Fingolfin, Fingon, Galadriel, Huan, Lúthien Tinúviel |
| Major Relationships: Celeborn/Galadriel |
| Genres: Adventure, Family | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 5 | Word Count: 510 |
| Posted on 25 April 2021 | Updated on 25 April 2021 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Tattered and Split by StarSpray
The sea is huge, and grey, and loud, and Elwing hates it. She hates it and she fears it, and so once she is old enough to slip away from her nurses and her guardians, she goes down to the beach.
| Major Characters: Elwing |
| Major Relationships: Eärendil/Elwing |
| Genres: Family, General, Het | Challenges: Queens of the Quill |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Suicide |
| Chapters: 2 | Word Count: 1, 903 |
| Posted on 23 April 2021 | Updated on 24 April 2021 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (6) |
The last gift of Oromë by SkyEventide
Celegorm, who was friend of Oromë, who often visited the Vala's house and learnt the language of all birds and beasts - but hunted them also. This is a story of the noontide of Valinor, of a hunting party and of the deities of bow and arrow, loyalty yet untarnished, gifts and wisdom, and what it means to understand and talk to the things you kill. Sometimes Snow White and the Huntsman are the same person.
| Major Characters: Original Female Character(s), Original Male Character(s), Aredhel, Celegorm, Huan, Oromë, Tilion |
| Major Relationships: Celegorm/Oromë, Celegorm/Tilion, Celegorm & Huan, Celegorm/Original Character |
| Genres: Adventure, General, Poly, Slash/Femslash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings, Sexual Content (Graphic), Violence (Graphic) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 7, 381 |
| Posted on 14 February 2021 | Updated on 24 April 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
The Burnt God by Taylor17387
Melkor has been imprisoned in the halls of Mandos for all too long. The day of the trial is approaching, and now he's willing to do almost anything to convince his jailer of his change of heart. From then onwards, everything seems to go downhill for him, and upon returning to Angband, his relationship with Sauron will turn rather tense.
| Major Characters: Fëanor, Glaurung, Gothmog, Maedhros, Mandos, Manwë, Melkor, Orodreth, Sauron, Ungoliant |
| Major Relationships: Melkor/Sauron |
| Genres: Drama, Erotica, General, Humor, Slash/Femslash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Mature Themes, Rape/Nonconsensual Sex, Sexual Content (Moderate), Torture, Violence (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 4 | Word Count: 59, 341 |
| Posted on 7 February 2013 | Updated on 23 April 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (1) |
Like a Dream Come True by chrissystriped
Fëanáro looked at the Vala whose silver hair had a slight lavender hue in the light of Telperion. He was wearing a necklace of silver birds – nightingales. Fëanáro smiled, he’d made that for him. The fire of his anger at the decision the Valar had made in regard to his mother and father still simmered in his breast, but he’d learned a lot of smithcraft from Mahtan Aulendil and even Aulë himself, and Irmo had always been a friend to him.
A story of Feanor's and Irmo's relationship before and after his death. Also a story of how even the Valar have to rethink their rulings sometimes.
| Major Characters: Fëanor, Lórien |
| Major Relationships: Fëanor/Lórien |
| Genres: Hurt/Comfort, Poly, Romance, Slash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Character Death, Sexual Content (Moderate), Violence (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 5, 200 |
| Posted on 22 January 2021 | Updated on 18 April 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Lighthouse - Váya Calacar by Lferion
Those left behind do not sit idle. Five drabbles.
| Major Characters: Anairë, Eärwen, Nerdanel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Family, Fixed-Length Ficlet, General | Challenges: Queens of the Quill |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 506 |
| Posted on 18 April 2021 | Updated on 18 April 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (8) |
Stranger in the Forest by chrissystriped
While Turukáno is grieving for his dead wife he meets a foreign elf in the woods who wants to fight Morgoth alongside the Noldor.
Rog is wary of this prince who doesn't seem prejudiced against former thralls, but he is willing to risk it for an opportunity to fight and for the safety of his people.
It turns out Rog can also help Turukáno to deal with his grief.
| Major Characters: Rog, Turgon |
| Major Relationships: Rog & Turgon |
| Genres: Hurt/Comfort | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Mature Themes, Violence (Mild) |
| Chapters: 5 | Word Count: 7, 552 |
| Posted on 10 December 2020 | Updated on 15 April 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Rewind... by Nienna
During the chaos of the Downfall of Númenor, Uinen goes back in time to relive a memory while attempting to save Tar-Míriel, her beloved.
| Major Characters: Tar-Míriel, Uinen |
| Major Relationships: Tar-Míriel/Uinen |
| Genres: Romance, Slash/Femslash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 3 | Word Count: 2, 022 |
| Posted on 10 December 2019 | Updated on 14 April 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Slippage by Lferion
Some people are Returned to life as children, not the adults they were. Fingon is one such.
| Major Characters: Fingon, Maedhros, Nerdanel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Crackfic, Experimental, Family, Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Warnings: No warnings apply | |
| Posted on 7 March 2021 | Updated on 14 April 2021 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (0) |
