Noegyth Nibin

Most Silmarillion stories tend to focus on Elves, Men, and the Ainur, despite the fact that Middle-earth was a racially diverse realm. This month, in honor of one of these races--and the writers who love them--we ask our members to consider one of the most neglected races in Tolkien fan fiction: the Petty-dwarves.

The Silmarillion says of the Petty-dwarves,

Before the Dwarves of Nogrod and Belegost came west over the mountains the Elves of Beleriand knew not what these others were, and they hunted them, and slew them; but afterwards they let them alone, and they were called Noegyth Nibin, the Petty-dwarves, in the Sindarin tongue. They loved none but themselves, and if they feared and hated the Orcs, they hated the Eldar no less, and the Exiles most of all; for the Noldor, they said, had stolen their lands and their homes.
"Of Túrin Turambar"

And we learned more about these mysterious creatures with the recent publication of The Children of Húrin.

This month's challenge asks writers to consider the Petty-dwarves. We know very little about them, so authors who take this challenge will have a lot of freedom to invent and create. Here's some possible story ideas that would satisfy this challenge:

• Mîm has two sons ... but what about their mother? Was Mîm married? What happened to her? What about love and courtship among the Petty-dwarves?
• "In the time that followed Túrin spoke much with Mîm, and sitting with him alone he listened to his lore and the tale of his life." (From The Silmarillion, "Of Túrin Turambar") Tell one of these tales that Túrin learned from Mîm.
• Write about a member of your favorite race or your favorite character encountering a Petty-dwarf for the first time. Finrod hears a tale about the original artificers of Nargothrond, Celegorm discovers that his quarry was a Petty-dwarf, or one of Túrin's men kills Khîm.

This challenge opened in November 2007 .