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
Leaf and Branch, Water and Stone by StarSpray
Galadriel sat at her loom and began to weave. As she passed the shuttle through the warp she cast her thoughts to the natural world, to the many varying hues of grey of the stones, of the myriad greens of the trees and the grass, of the uncountable shades of brown in between.
| Major Characters: Galadriel |
| Major Relationships: Celeborn/Galadriel |
| Genres: Ficlet | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 455 |
| Posted on 14 June 2024 | Updated on 14 June 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
White Water Flowing by StarSpray
In Valinor and homesick for Imladris, Celebrían decides to build a new one.
| Major Characters: Original Character(s), Original Female Character(s), Caranthir, Celebrían, Celegorm, Curufin, Finrod Felagund, Idril, Nerdanel, Nimloth, Tuor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Family, Fluff, General | Challenges: Meet & Greet |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 6 | Word Count: 19, 491 |
| Posted on 12 March 2024 | Updated on 12 June 2024 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (16) |
A New New Home by Tehta
"Oh no, I just had a horrible thought. Does the new city have a name yet? And is it ‘New Vinyamar’?”
A decades-long saga about the naming of the hidden city of Gondolin.
| Major Characters: Penlod |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Humor | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 385 |
| Posted on 11 June 2024 | Updated on 11 June 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
The Strands that Bind by AdmirableMonster
Merry Brandybuck and Estella Bolger named their first child Boromir, after the hero of the War of the Ring. But the young hobbit's dearest secret is the name she wishes she had. One quiet day, after finding an unusual necklace in the cellar, she begins to see visions of an ancient past that whisper to her of ways she might heal a poisoned pond that has never recovered since the Scouring of the Shire. Can she unlock the secrets of a long-ago chemister and his lover and find the courage to stay true to herself along the way?
| Major Characters: Original Character(s), Unnamed Canon Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: Unnamed Canon Character/Original Character, Original Character & Original Character, Sauron & Original Character |
| Genres: Science Fiction | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 11 | Word Count: 26, 554 |
| Posted on 9 June 2024 | Updated on 10 June 2024 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Quite Ready To Go On Another Journey by Grundy
The Straight Road is barred to mortals. But he's not a mortal anymore...
| Major Characters: Other Fictional Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Crossover | crossed with Indiana Jones | Challenges: Crossroads of the Fallen King, Tengwar |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 679 |
| Posted on 9 June 2024 | Updated on 9 June 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
Oh where is the sun by AdmirableMonster
Lilóteo, the erstwhile Royal Physician of the Númenorean court, is waiting to be sacrificed when he receives a strange visitor.
Written for the prompt "And the Empire grows, the seeds of its glory, for every five tanks, plant a sentimental story" + manekimi's OC Death and Sauron or others
| Major Characters: Original Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: Original Character & Original Character |
| Genres: Hurt/Comfort | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 063 |
| Posted on 9 June 2024 | Updated on 9 June 2024 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Truth to tell by clotho123
Maeglin tells of his role in the Fall of Gondolin. His version is rather different from the histories.
| Major Characters: Maeglin |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 052 |
| Posted on 1 June 2024 | Updated on 2 June 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (6) |
Too Long a Winter by clotho123
Mid-winter at Himring was never going to be all peace and goodwill
| Major Characters: Original Character(s), Erestor, Maedhros, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: Fanon Inverted, History of Tradition |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 3, 779 |
| Posted on 4 July 2011 | Updated on 2 June 2024 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (9) |
The Sundelions of Arien by cílil
Mairon has a favour to ask of his former lover.
| Major Characters: Arien, Sauron |
| Major Relationships: Arien/Sauron |
| Genres: Crossover, Drama | crossed with Legend of Zelda | Challenges: Crossroads of the Fallen King |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 388 |
| Posted on 2 June 2024 | Updated on 2 June 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
Breaking Into Light by StarSpray
Glingaereth meets the crown prince of the Noldor by chance, if chance you call it.
“All the same, sister, be careful.”
“Me?” Glingaereth said. “Careful of what?”
“Of that prince.”
“What, Fingon? If you are worried about the Noldor’s feuds, he is the one who brought them to an end.”
Limbeleth shook her head. “I can’t explain it. It isn’t that you need worry about him, but—I have an uneasy feeling about them all, and I feel also that you will be bound up in their fate somehow.”
| Major Characters: Original Female Character(s), Unnamed Canon Character(s), Unnamed Female Canon Character(s), Fingon |
| Major Relationships: Fingon/Unnamed Canon Character, Fingon/Original Character |
| Genres: Het, Romance | Challenges: Middle-earth Is Multitudes |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 4 | Word Count: 6, 905 |
| Posted on 6 April 2023 | Updated on 2 June 2024 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
Valiant and Dauntless by Himring
Fingon and Hurin: I. A Common Root
| Major Characters: Fingon, Húrin |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: Tengwar |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 103 |
| Posted on 1 June 2024 | Updated on 1 June 2024 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
March of the Noldor by Himring
A poem about the Noldor. (See Story Notes.)
| Major Characters: Noldor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Poetry | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Creator Chooses Not to Rate | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 64 |
| Posted on 26 May 2024 | Updated on 1 June 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
The road to the Estolad by clotho123
A kind of follow up to "The Debate of Finrod and Andreth". Finrod left a few things out of his talk with Andreth, which led me to wonder what a member of a different Noldorin House might have to say.
| Major Characters: Amrod, Andreth |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 5, 805 |
| Posted on 1 June 2024 | Updated on 1 June 2024 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (9) |
All The Heart's Orthographies by sallysavestheday
A perfect drabble for each of the Tengwar, for the Tengwar challenge.
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: Tengwar |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 3, 757 |
| Posted on 31 May 2024 | Updated on 31 May 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
"Tengwar" ficlets by chrissystriped
Fics written for the "Tengwar" challenge.
| Major Characters: Original Character(s), Arien, Azaghâl, Celebrían, Celebrimbor, Celegorm, Círdan, Ecthelion of the Fountain, Elrond, Elros, Eönwë, Fëanor, Finrod Felagund, Galadriel, Glorfindel, Gothmog, Haleth, Idril, Lalwen, Mablung, Maedhros, Maeglin, Manwë, Melkor, Narvi, Nerdanel, Oropher, Ossë, Pengolodh, Sauron, Thranduil |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Ficlet, General | Challenges: Tengwar |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 35 | Word Count: 6, 178 |
| Posted on 18 April 2024 | Updated on 30 May 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (33) |
Uin's Delivery Service by Kaylee Arafinwiel
Uin ferries the Elves to Valinor because Ulmo asked. If he has to hear "are we there yet" one more time, he might just dump the lot of them off the island. Or maybe not.
| Major Characters: Uin |
| 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 25 May 2024 | Updated on 26 May 2024 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (2) |
Hans the Peacock King by Kaylee Arafinwiel
The King of the Peacocks has passed away. Who will come to mourn his passing? Manwe will surely send his emissaries...
https://archiveofourown.org/works/47759956 This poem goes with the artwork.
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Artwork Type: No type listed |
| Genres: Poetry | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Creator Chooses Not to Rate | Warnings: Character Death |
| Posted on 25 May 2024 | Updated on 25 May 2024 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (2) |
Third of January (for Larner) by Kaylee Arafinwiel
Inspired by Larner's story "Transformation". http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterview.asp?sid=5312&cid=27860 Every third of January, Arda returns to its pre-transformed state. Who can see it happen? Why does it happen?
| Major Characters: Arien, Tilion |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Artwork Type: No type listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on 25 May 2024 | Updated on 25 May 2024 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (2) |
Super Craban Birb by Kaylee Arafinwiel
He's a craban. He's up to something. He mostly looks super confused...
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Artwork Type: No type listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on 25 May 2024 | Updated on 25 May 2024 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (2) |
Elwing and the Silmaril by Kaylee Arafinwiel
Elwing carries the Silmaril to Vingilot.
| Major Characters: Elwing |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Artwork Type: No type listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on 25 May 2024 | Updated on 25 May 2024 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (2) |
Losing Something (or Someone) Precious by Kaylee Arafinwiel
Morgoth lost the Silmaril. Elrond lost his parents because of the Silmaril (and that was just to start with). Sauron lost the One Ring. All have lost something, or someone precious to them.
| Major Characters: Eärendil, Elrond, Melkor, Sauron |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Artwork Type: No type listed |
| Genres: Crossover | crossed with Lord of the Rings | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on 25 May 2024 | Updated on 25 May 2024 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (2) |
A blip on the radar by daughterofshadows
Humanity took to the skies. Eärendil and Ilmarë adjust.
| Major Characters: Eärendil, Ilmarë |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Crossover | crossed with Star Trek | Challenges: Crossroads of the Fallen King, Tengwar |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 138 |
| Posted on 18 May 2024 | Updated on 25 May 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (19) |
Where's Osse? by Kaylee Arafinwiel
The adventures of Wally the Walrus...or Osse the Maia, in walrus form?
| Major Characters: Ossë |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Artwork Type: No type listed |
| Genres: Poetry | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on 25 May 2024 | Updated on 25 May 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (2) |
Fanfiction and the Serious Business of Writer's Craft by Dawn Walls-Thumma
Tolkien Fanfiction Survey data shows that while most authors self-identify as taking their craft seriously, a growing subset of authors may be pushing that norm.
Darkened paths by daughterofshadows
Aredhel walks a dark path.
| Major Characters: Aredhel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Poetry | Challenges: Tengwar |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 64 |
| Posted on 25 May 2024 | Updated on 25 May 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (8) |
