In spite of weariness and stress, Tyelperinquar (a.k.a. Celebrimbor) hosts a gathering in his home:  a supper followed by what we might call a salon for the elite of Ost-in-Edhil. Musicians, rival poets, and lively conversation among the guests, which includes Erestor, the visiting emissary from Gil-galad's realm, provide the evening's entertainment.  An elven poetry slam causes Tyelpo to become immersed in deep memories  -- some poignant, some painful, and one dark and strange yet vaguely familiar.

MEFA 2011 Winner:  First Place, Elves, General

While visiting Imladris during the 20th year of the Fourth Age, Radagast overhears an elf-woman singing in the kitchen gardens of the House of Elrond. There he finds Mélamírë bending to pull weeds, but when she stands straight by a row of tomatoes, she sings a song in Radagast's mother tongue.  When the wizard observes that she has used a Song of Making, she informs him of her purpose and priorities.

Inspired by a peculiar confluence of recent discussion of Lúthien on The Heretic Loremaster and ripe New Jersey tomatoes.

MEFA 2011 Winner.  First Place, Ficlet, Later Age Elves

While leading his tribe into the deep desert to escape the inevitable war between the Zigûr and the Sea-kings, Sharif finds a woman — injured and unconscious — among the rocks.  He discovers this is not a mortal woman, but one of the immortal demons of the north. He is ready to kill her, but the tribe's priestess stays his hand, warning him that slaying the jinn would bring terrible misfortune to his tribe.  His wives care for the jinn, who recovers and aids the tribe as they journey to the East in search of a mysterious land where they hope to find sanctuary, the jinn no less than Sharif and his tribe as they flee from the Zigûr and the Sea-Kings.

Melkor considers a flower.  

Written for International Poetry Month, April 2010.

MEFA 2010.  Winner, First Place; Genres: Poetry: Drama.

After a celebration in Tavrobel at the famous House of a Hundred Chimneys, Gilfanon, one of the oldest of the Elves, proposes that he, Glorfindel and Elrond journey to the fabled Rock of Omar in the middle of the great desert of Valinor, where it is said that the Rock sings the echoes of the Ainulindalë and of lost life and love. Glorfindel procures a fabulous coach with most unusual beasts to draw it, and so the three fellows set off for an adventure in the desert where they meet Teleri who have embraced the desert and encounter a cagey Vanyarin ascetic who guides them to the Rock of Omar.

MEFA 2010 Winner: First Place; Genres: Adventure: General

Before he became Tar-Aldarion, Anardil, Tar-Meneldur's heir, sailed far and wide on the great ship, the Númerrámar.  While Captain Anardil prepares to embark on his seven year voyage, a young loremaster writes to him, eager to accompany captain and crew in search of strange flora and fauna. In letters exchanged prior to the voyage, Captain Anardil discovers that the loremaster has some unusual ideas pertaining to the origins of species.

Navin, a young boy living in a mystical land in the East of Middle-earth, a civilization as rich in lore and magic as any in the West, visits family friends while his mother prepares to give birth to a new sister or brother. There in the hills, Navin helps his elderly friend in his garden and later, his friend -- a man from a distant land now gone -- tells Navin the story of how tomatoes came to Bharat.

MEFA 2010 Winner, First Place; Races: Cross-Cultural: Gapfiller.  

A series of contributions for Akallabêth in August 2009 in response to the following prompts: 1) Sauron fortifies Mordor; 2) Sauron begins to afflict Númenórean settlements to the south; 3) Sauron convinces Ar-Pharazôn to break the Ban of the Valar; 4) storms from the West strike Númenor; and 5) Sauron returns to Middle-earth.

MEFA 2010. Winner, First Place; Genres: Character Study: The Silmarillion.

During the earliest years of the Second Age, Melkor’s great lieutenant puts the destruction of Beleriand behind him and travels to the East...with a plan.

MEFA 2010 Winner.  First Place; Races: Villains: General.

Sauron has a moment of doubt in the Sammath Naur.

For B2MeM 2009: Day 15 -- The Ides of March: "Do I dare disturb the universe?"

MEFA 2009: First Place in Genres: Ficlets: General

Update! Illustration by the fabulous Robinka now added to the story!

Olórin spies on the Doomsman of the Valar and the Master of Dreams, hoping to catch them in flagrante delicto. What he sees is terrifying yet oh, so compelling.

MEFA 2009: Honorable Mention - Humor: General 

Update! Chibis by whitewave added! Please see her Gallery of Chibis on Photobucket. Many thanks, whitewave.

Tyelperinquar/Tyelpo (Celebrimbor) and Aulendil (Annatar/Sauron) discuss brotherhood and the secret of the deep arts on an early summer evening in Ost-in-Edhil.

This fic, told from Celebrimbor's point of view, predates The Apprentice by about 240 years, give or take, but it's the same setting. Rating is Teen due to a touch of horror-lite.

MEFA 2008: Second Place, Villains, General.

Illustration by Robinka added on 14 February 2009.

When the Voice of the One names the ruler of the Guardians of Arda, the decision results in dismay and discord by another who believes he should have been chosen. A re-interpretation of the Ainulindalë myth.

MEFA 2009: First Place - Races: Other Beings: General 

It was written that Ulmo was alone, but delving deeper into the nature of the Valar and their adopted world reveals otherwise.

MEFA 2009:  Third Place - Races: Other Beings: General 

There are any number of unnamed women in Tolkien's canon who surely played important roles behind the scenes. One of these women is Elendil's wife, the mother of Isildur and Anárion. She figures as a supporting character in my WIP, The Elendilmir, but this strong woman is taking on a life of her own. So, to keep the bunnies from gnawing my ankles raw, I have been writing ficlets about Isilmë, some of which may blossom into full-fledged stories in the future.

MEFA 2008: Second Place, Times, Second and Early Third Age, General.

Sauron recounts the first human sacrifice in the temple of Armenelos.

MEFA 2009: First Place - Races: Villains: General

In the waning years of Tar-Palantír's reign, a young woman of the Númenórean nobility and a shepherdess of Hyarastorni find pleasure in one another's company. They know that they must guard the nature of their relationship, but Elerína recalls what her grandmother told her of a great queen who loved a woman.

Written for the International Day of Femslash Challenge.

MEFA 2010.  WInner, Second Place. Times: Second and Early Third Age: Fall of Númenor. 

For The Duel of Songs challenge: a counterpoint to Tolkien's Mythopoeia.

MEFA 2008: First Place, Poetry, General.

The student of Nienna takes issue with the servant of Aulë's study of light.

MEFA 2009: Second Place - Genres: Ficlets: General 

Sauron's last request of Celebrimbor. A double drabble epilogue of sorts to Cat's Paws.

MEFA 2008: First Place, Villains, Fixed Length Ficlet