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
End Is the Beginning
Take the ending of a story from "The Silmarillion" and use it as the beginning of a 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.
[Writing] Partners in Craft by elennalore
Annatar realises that he might like Celebrimbor too much.
[Writing] Staging a Battle by StarSpray
He and Diamond were visiting, though Pippin had been disappearing every afternoon, and taking Frodo and Elanor and most other lads and lasses in the neighborhood with him—though why they couldn’t use Pippin’s own pony, Sam couldn’t imagine.
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
Something New by Grundy
It's an important day for the royal family of Gondolin.
| Major Characters: Glorfindel, Idril, Írimë, Maeglin, Tuor, Turgon |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: Archetypes, Laws and Customs |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 820 |
| Posted on 5 July 2020 | Updated on 5 July 2020 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (7) |
Breaking Point by Himring
Amandil is pushed by developments into rejecting his loyalty to Ar-Pharazon.
(drabble)
| Major Characters: Amandil |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: Laws and Customs |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 100 |
| Posted on 5 July 2020 | Updated on 5 July 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
Fit for a Prince by Narya
In which some Elves of Dorthonion learn a thing or two about cheese-making, and about Eldalótë.
| Major Characters: Eldalótë, Original Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 363 |
| Posted on 4 July 2020 | Updated on 4 July 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Gather the Roses by Idrils Scribe
The tale of a perfectly ordinary day in the life of Elrond Peredhel. A day without grand councils, dark lords or epic battles. Nothing about today will be remembered in song and story, but the Lord of Rivendell still has his hands full: he is a husband, father, ruler, teacher ... and healer.
Accidents happen, even on ordinary days.
A giftfic for Anoriath. Many thanks to Firstamazon for the beta read!
| Major Characters: Arwen, Celebrían, Elrond, Glorfindel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Family, General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 123 |
| Posted on 1 July 2020 | Updated on 1 July 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (3) |
Upon a Painted Ocean by StarSpray
“It is said that Amandil set sail in a small ship at night, and steered first eastward, and then went about and passed into the west. And he took with him three servants, dear to his heart, and never again were they heard of by word or sign in this world, nor is there any tale or guess of their fate." - The Silmarillion, “Akallabêth”
| Major Characters: Amandil, Elwing, Original Male Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General, Hurt/Comfort | Challenges: Laws and Customs |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Character Death, Mature Themes |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 160 |
| Posted on 30 June 2020 | Updated on 30 June 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (5) |
Home from War by Himring
Cirdan and his people return from the War of the Last Alliance to Mithlond.
It is not an easy home-coming, after what they have been through.
| Major Characters: Círdan, Elves |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: Block Party |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 993 |
| Posted on 28 June 2020 | Updated on 28 June 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (6) |
Returning Home by Sairina
When Maglor son of Fëanor surrenders to Eönwë at the end of the War of Wrath, no one expects him to reveal the secret of the Silmarilli. And yet... However, he still participated in the Kinslaying, and Námo isn't known to be merciful...
| Major Characters: Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Hurt/Comfort | Challenges: Laws and Customs |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 448 |
| Posted on 25 June 2020 | Updated on 25 June 2020 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Downfall: A Triptych by Himring
The downfall of Numenor, from three different points of view: Sauron, Uinen, and Elendur, son of Isildur.
| Major Characters: Elendur, Sauron, Uinen |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: Archetypes |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 3 | Word Count: 1, 077 |
| Posted on 16 June 2020 | Updated on 16 June 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (9) |
All Unveiled Secrets by Ellynn
Sequel to "Lunatic Idea". Six years after reading about Erwin Schrödinger's hypothesis of parallel universes, which Maglor of all people on Earth knows to be true, he finds himself in the unique opportunity to meet the old physicist.
| Major Characters: Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 235 |
| Posted on 10 June 2020 | Updated on 10 June 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Full Moon Magic by Talullah
Tindómiel is a pretty girl who has vague dreams and not many certainties... until she meets her teacher.
| Major Characters: Tindómiel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 514 |
| Posted on 6 June 2020 | Updated on 6 June 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Wildflowers by Talullah
Mairen and Yávien, Yávien and Mairen, that had always been so...
| Major Characters: Mairen, Yávien |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 870 |
| Posted on 6 June 2020 | Updated on 6 June 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
The Light That Forms Us by Talullah
Yávien suddenly sees her deepest wish being fulfilled, but what will it mean for her life?
| Major Characters: Mairen, Yávien |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 4, 422 |
| Posted on 6 June 2020 | Updated on 6 June 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
The Frog Prince by Talullah
Erendis walks under the stars with her child and tells her a tale.
| Major Characters: Erendis, Tar-Ancalimë |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 621 |
| Posted on 6 June 2020 | Updated on 6 June 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Lockdown Instadrabbling by Nienna
A collection of ficlets (not true drabbles) written for Lockdown Instadrabbling on Discord.
| Major Characters: Anairë, Ar-Pharazôn, Elemmírë, Eärwen, Fëanor, Galadriel, Lalwen, Melian, Nerdanel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General, Het, Slash/Femslash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 5 | Word Count: 1, 603 |
| Posted on 4 June 2020 | Updated on 4 June 2020 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Ada by ziggy
Companion piece to Erinyator. Elrond, son and father.
But if he did not speak, then who would remember? If he did not tell them, his children would not know how much HE owed to Maglor, Maedhros. And he could not have his children think so badly of them.
So he nestled Elrohir’s head against his shoulder and began. ‘Once, long long ago, there were two small boys, twins…’
‘Like Elladan and me.’
| Major Characters: Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Family | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 3, 552 |
| Posted on 1 June 2020 | Updated on 1 June 2020 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Murmuration by Talullah
Ailinel has to make a decision.
| Major Characters: Ailinel, Orchaldor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 805 |
| Posted on 30 May 2020 | Updated on 30 May 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
With the Tide by Talullah
Tar-Telperiën is eager to enjoy her month of rest in the beautiful Summer of Nindámos, but something is not quite right.
| Major Characters: Tar-Telperiën |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 495 |
| Posted on 30 May 2020 | Updated on 30 May 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (1) |
To Bring Beauty Into This World by Talullah
Tar-Vanimeldë tries to mend a rift.
| Major Characters: Tar-Vanimeldë |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 386 |
| Posted on 30 May 2020 | Updated on 30 May 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
I Am Running Into a New Year by Talullah
Lindissë writes a letter to her cousin Isilmë to tell her some news. (Implied past relationship between Lindissë and Silmariën.)
| Major Characters: Lindissë |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 7, 656 |
| Posted on 30 May 2020 | Updated on 30 May 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Yonya by Harnatano - Lithenna
Just a short thing I needed to write, about post-Nargothrond Curufin and his painful hesitations regarding celebrimbor's decision.
| Major Characters: Celebrimbor, Celegorm, Curufin |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, Experimental, Family, General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 195 |
| Posted on 28 May 2020 | Updated on 28 May 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
Lunatic Idea by Ellynn
In 1952, one astrophysicist brings forth a revolutionary idea about the universe. It sounds lunatic – by the words of the astrophysicst himself – but Maglor Feanorion knows it to be true.
| Major Characters: Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 570 |
| Posted on 26 May 2020 | Updated on 26 May 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Erinyator by ziggy
Maedhros had not intended any of this.
The thought came to him as he watched the sleeping children snuggled under their blankets with the red light of the hearth fire against the softness of their cheeks, their dark heads just over the top of the blankets.
The smaller one snuffled and rubbed his nose in his sleep and Maedhros automatically smoothed his hand over the warm dark head and hummed the lullaby he had hummed over countless ages to other small boys. All dead now but one.
And this was not life.
No. He had not intended this.
His stump itched and he scratched it carelessly; it did that when he remembered.
| Major Characters: Elrond |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 450 |
| Posted on 24 May 2020 | Updated on 24 May 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (6) |
Forms of Water by Lferion
Nerdanel works in expressive forms of fabric and water, under very different circumstances.
| Major Characters: Nerdanel, Vairë |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: Archetypes |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 406 |
| Posted on 19 May 2020 | Updated on 19 May 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Letting Light and Twilight Mingle by StarSpray
It is Elros and Elrond's tenth birthday, and Middle-earth receives an unexpected gift.
| Major Characters: Elrond, Elros, Maedhros, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Family, General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 265 |
| Posted on 18 May 2020 | Updated on 18 May 2020 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (1) |
Niphredil by Dawn Felagund, Grundy, Idrils Scribe, Nienna
A gift is forged in Middle-earth and passes through many hands to crown a queen. Written for the Team Storytelling challenge. Author and art credits are in the chapter notes.
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: Block Party |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 4 | Word Count: 5, 018 |
| Posted on 17 May 2020 | Updated on 17 May 2020 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
