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
Canon with a Twist
Choose a single moment in Tolkien's canon, have a character make a different choice, and create a fanwork about how the history changes. 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
Flames and Moths by HannaGoldworthy
Vignettes of relationships between Elves and Men, with the addition of one small detail.
| Major Characters: Caranthir, Haleth |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Alternate Universe, Drama | Challenges: In Rare Form |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Character Death |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 042 |
| Posted on 10 October 2019 | Updated on 10 October 2019 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
My Dearest Makalaurë by StarSpray
Before he departs for Middle-earth, Gandalf takes pity on Nerdanel and offers to carry a letter for her.
| Major Characters: Gandalf, Maglor, Nerdanel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Family | Challenges: In Rare Form |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 2 | Word Count: 3, 016 |
| Posted on 8 October 2019 | Updated on 9 October 2019 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
Let Me Play Among The Stars by Grundy
Elves in space. Or at least, elves on a space station.
| Major Characters: Fingon, Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Science Fiction | Challenges: In Rare Form |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 973 |
| Posted on 8 October 2019 | Updated on 8 October 2019 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
Without a Word by Independence1776
Haunted by the past two years of his life, Maglor returns to the home he vanished from. Maglor in history.
| Major Characters: Maglor, Original Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Family, General, Hurt/Comfort | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 3, 379 |
| Posted on 8 October 2019 | Updated on 8 October 2019 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Under strange stars by Idrils Scribe
Barely a long-year after the Last Alliance all is not well in Imladris. Elrond's household has been dealt a crippling blow: a very young Elrohir has disappeared. After decades of false leads he is found in the Far South of Middle-Earth. Can Glorfindel find and rescue the descendant of Earendil once more? There is just one problem: Elrohir has no memory of who he was, and little interest in leaving his people's fight against the Black Nùmenoreans of Umbar...
A huge thanks to my beta, the irreplaceable Dawn Felagund, who made this tale at least twice as good as it was originally. All remaining mistakes are mine.
| Major Characters: Celebrían, Elladan, Elrohir, Elrond, Erestor, Glorfindel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Adventure, Drama, Suspense | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Violence (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 11 | Word Count: 29, 826 |
| Posted on 28 April 2018 | Updated on 2 October 2019 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (8) |
The Art of Ending by Idrils Scribe
“I'll never see them again. I know that. And they know that. And knowing this, we say farewell.”
Haruki Murakami, Kafka on the Shore
When Elrohir left Harad to go home to Rivendell, what -or who- did he leave behind? Glorfindel never noticed anything unusual about Elrohir's companion, but Mortal loves are strange to the Elves ...
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 519 |
| Posted on 2 October 2019 | Updated on 2 October 2019 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (1) |
A Song of Staying by Himring
In the far future, in a galaxy far, far away, a few lines from the Silmarillion still serve as inspiration.
| Major Characters: Finrod Felagund, Original Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Science Fiction | Challenges: In Rare Form |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 3 | Word Count: 913 |
| Posted on 30 September 2019 | Updated on 30 September 2019 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (6) |
Bits of Elven Glass by Himring
This is an attempt to weave the different accounts of the making and the history of the Elessar into a coherent narrative.
Now added: intervening chapter on Gil-galad.
| Major Characters: Celebrían, Celebrimbor, Enerdhil, Eärendil, Fingon, Finrod Felagund, Galadriel, Gandalf, Gil-galad, Idril, Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: B2MeM 2012, B2MeM 2013, B2MeM 2015 |
| Rating: Creator Chooses Not to Rate | Warnings: Mature Themes |
| Chapters: 10 | Word Count: 5, 827 |
| Posted on 12 April 2012 | Updated on 29 September 2019 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (40) |
| Major Characters: Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: In Rare Form |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 101 |
| Posted on 24 September 2019 | Updated on 24 September 2019 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
The appeal of an ending by Tyelca
Fëanor writes a letter to Nerdanel.
| Major Characters: Fëanor, Nerdanel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: In Rare Form |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 100 |
| Posted on 24 September 2019 | Updated on 24 September 2019 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Blood on Bone for a Lover's Burial by heget
After the Dagor Bragollach, Wise-woman Andreth demands that their dead be buried. Her great-nephews, Baragund and Belegund, escort her to the ruins of Barathonion, to search for bones.
| Major Characters: Andreth, Baragund, Barahir (Fourth Age), Belegund, Beren, Men, Urthel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Family, Romance | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Mature Themes |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 200 |
| Posted on 21 September 2019 | Updated on 21 September 2019 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Band of Gold by Keiliss
On a request meme pandemonium_213 asked for: The War of Wrath has ended, and Beleriand is no more. Refugees, scattered due to the cataclysm, now reunite, including Galadriel and Celebrimbor who have not seen one another for...well, you tell me. :^)
Or: Galadriel and Celebrimbor have some catching up to do.
Or: Never assume.
| Major Characters: Celeborn, Celebrimbor, Galadriel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, Family | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 467 |
| Posted on 20 September 2019 | Updated on 20 September 2019 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (3) |
Trash Fire by oshun
This is a prequel (intro?) to a story of how young Fëanor and Nerdanel find an important cache of old documents. Posting it now while people are reading other entries into the Notion Club Revival Challenge--the element used herein is the Cave System Map: parchment fragment of a cave system map with labeled features. I get a kick out of the idea of Nerdanel and Fëanor, young and newly enamored with one another. Hope you enjoy it.
| Major Characters: Fëanor, Nerdanel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: Notion Club Revival |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 527 |
| Posted on 16 September 2019 | Updated on 16 September 2019 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Notes of a Song by LadyBrooke
Sauron is now Ar-Pharazôn's greatest adviser.
Tar-Míriel has a letter with notes concerning a song of power and a kinslayer to comabt this.
| Major Characters: Ar-Pharazôn, Maglor, Sauron, Tar-Míriel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: Notion Club Revival |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Violence (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 626 |
| Posted on 15 September 2019 | Updated on 15 September 2019 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (5) |
tide will dry by kimaracretak
The child Ancalimë makes plans for a kingdom.
| Major Characters: Erendis, Tar-Ancalimë |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Family, General | Challenges: Notion Club Revival |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 068 |
| Posted on 15 September 2019 | Updated on 15 September 2019 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (1) |
The Writing on the Wall by HannaGoldworthy
On an archeological expedition to Tol Himling, young Elrond and his girlfriend Celebrian encounter some First Age graffiti.
| Major Characters: Celebrían, Elrond |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Family, Fluff, General, Humor | Challenges: Notion Club Revival |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 264 |
| Posted on 14 September 2019 | Updated on 14 September 2019 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (6) |
What Once Was by Grundy
Arwen and Erestor have unearthed something interesting in the library of Imladris,
| Major Characters: Arwen, Elrond, Erestor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: Notion Club Revival |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 533 |
| Posted on 14 September 2019 | Updated on 14 September 2019 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (6) |
Alchemy in August by Lferion
Learning went on in Ost-in-Edhel year round
| Major Characters: Original Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: Notion Club Revival |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 328 |
| Posted on 13 September 2019 | Updated on 13 September 2019 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (6) |
When days were younger by Taylor17387
Melkor came to Arda to hurt it. Tulkas came to Arda to hurt Melkor. What the fighter of the Valar didn't know, is that his enemy would turn more dangerous once defeated.
| Major Characters: Aulë, Eönwë, Gothmog, Lórien, Mandos, Melian, Melkor, Nessa, Oromë, Sauron, Tulkas, Ungoliant |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, Erotica, Romance, Slash/Femslash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Rape/Nonconsensual Sex |
| Chapters: 3 | Word Count: 35, 807 |
| Posted on 30 March 2016 | Updated on 12 September 2019 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Journey to the Uttermost East by Lyra
The continent east of Middle-earth is said to be barren and empty of life. But is it, really? A group of Venturers is ready to find out.
| Major Characters: Númenóreans, Original Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: Notion Club Revival |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 096 |
| Posted on 12 September 2019 | Updated on 12 September 2019 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
The Glittering Cave by Himring
Gimli is not the first dwarf to admire an elven lady--or a cave!
| Major Characters: Dwarves, Telchar |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: Notion Club Revival |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 100 |
| Posted on 10 September 2019 | Updated on 10 September 2019 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (6) |
Letters Home from the War by bunn
Letters between Elemmírë, the great poet-singer of the Vanyar and Amárië, beloved of Finrod, and between Ingwion, Captain of the Vanyar Host in the War of Wrath, and his father Ingwë, High King of the Elves.
With the odd intrusion from Finrod, because Finrod likes to turn up uninvited and just start doing his thing. Written for Narya-flame as a gift for Worldbuilding Exchange 2019
| Major Characters: Amarië, Elemmírë, Finrod Felagund, Ingwë, Ingwion |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Violence (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 6, 051 |
| Posted on 9 September 2019 | Updated on 9 September 2019 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (3) |
Away to the Wood by bunn
If Melkor could not create, but only corrupt, might dragons have their origins with Yavanna and return to her one day? An examination of the rehabilitation of dragons.
Created for Tolkien Reverse Fandom Bang 2019, for WaywardDesertKnight whose portrait of Yavanna and Ancalagon is included and inspired this work.
| Major Characters: Ancalagon, Oromë, Yavanna |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Violence (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 5, 886 |
| Posted on 9 September 2019 | Updated on 9 September 2019 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
I Believe in Second Chances by NelyafinweFeanorion
Glimpses of Maedhros and Azaghâl ‘s friendship seen through Fingon’s eyes. From the early days of the gift of the Dragon Helm, through the creation of the Union of Maedhros, to the time following the Dagor Dagorath. Times of war, times of hope, piles of books, and days when gardening isn’t the relaxing pursuit Fingon expects it to be.
Written for the Tolkien Reverse Summer Bang based on this lovely art created by bunn as a prompt entitled “Maedhros and Fingon meet with Azaghâl.”
| Major Characters: Fingon |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 3 | Word Count: 14, 752 |
| Posted on 9 September 2019 | Updated on 9 September 2019 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
What Use an Engine of War in a Land of Peace? by Lferion
A Fingon at loose ends is a dangerous thing, though also amusing.
| Major Characters: Fingon |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet, General, Humor | Challenges: Notion Club Revival |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 510 |
| Posted on 9 September 2019 | Updated on 9 September 2019 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (6) |
