Choose a Name for Our New Column!
Our temporarily titled "location bio" will focus on the landscapes and locations of Middle-earth. We need your help naming it!
SWG News
New Challenge: Tengwar
Each day for thirty-six days, we feature a randomly chosen letter from the Tengwar as a prompt.
A Sense of History: Crossroads
In the ongoing series on towers in Tolkien's work, a thread runs through "The Lord of the Rings," revealing the divine assistance of Varda in the travails of the Fellowship.
Cultus Dispatches: Canon Deviations, Multifandoms, and Original Content
Tolkien Fanfiction Survey data gives some insight into what connections, if any, exist between fanfiction and original fiction.
New & Updated Fanworks
[Writing] Tengwar (working title) by cuarthol
For the Tengwar prompt challenge. To be updated as new prompts are completed.
Current up through 'Anca'
[Writing] I Stood Aside by Flora-lass
Maedhros' horror at the burning of the ships. Inspired by a painting (see notes).
[Reference] Thálatta! Thálatta! by Simon J. Cook
While he never climbs the stairs of this Elf-tower, in Lothlórien Frodo Baggins descends a flight of steps to look into Galadriel’s Mirror, wherein he first sees the sea. This post examines the view.
[Writing] Words of Wisdom by AdmirableMonster
One or more drabbles about Pengolodh and his babysitter Salgant.
[Writing] Les Mots de Sagesse by AdmirableMonster
Plusieurs petites histoires qui parle de Pengolodh et Salgant pendant des moments differents.
[Writing] "Tengwar" ficlets by chrissystriped
Fics written for the "Tengwar" challenge.
[Writing] Upon Cirith Thoronath by StarSpray
A horrid cacophony of cries erupts ahead of them, as orcs appear—up the cliff on hidden ledges, on the path, with bows and swords. And behind them rises a figure of darkness and flame. The heat rolls down the path over them, bringing the smell of burning flesh and bitter fear with it. Someone…
Current Challenge
Tengwar
A daily prompt of a Tengwar letter per day. Read more ...
Random Challenge
Noegyth Nibin
Create a fanwork about the Petty-dwarves. Read more ...
New in References
Thálatta! Thálatta! by Simon J. Cook
[]While he never climbs the stairs of this Elf-tower, in Lothlórien Frodo Baggins descends a flight of steps to look into Galadriel’s Mirror, wherein he first sees the sea. This post examines the view.
[]
With Gildor Inglorion we finally climb the stairs of Elostirion and look on the view, and what we see appears to reveal a hidden thread in the story of Frodo Baggins. This post reads two annotated translations of two Elvish songs to step through a crossroads in the narrative to arrive at the tower on the margin of the story, wherein is a stone that is a window onto Valinor.
Grief, Grieving, and Permission to Mourn in the "Quenta Silmarillion" by Dawn Walls-Thumma
[]In a book as full of death as the Quenta Silmarillion, grief and mourning are surprisingly absent. The characters who receive grief and mourning—and those who don't—appear to do so due to narrative bias. Grief and mourning (or a lack of them) serve to draw attention toward and away from objectionable actions committed by characters.
Beyond the Silmarillion
[Writing] Waybread (The Waybredlik) by Himring
[]Lembas speaks out.
[Series] Apr 1st Stories by Uvatha the Horseman
[]Once a year on April 1st, a canon character from LOTR or the Silmarillion gets pranked.
[Writing] Crossing Forest River by Dawn Felagund
[]Bilbo recounts, in verse, the attempt of Gandalf, Beorn, and him to cross the Forest River after the Battle of Five Armies. Written for the Hungarian Tolkien Society's 2024 Mailing Competition.
Around the World and Web
Monstrous May 2024
Monstrous May is a Tumblr event where, for each day of the month of May, there is a prompt involving and invoking the monstrous.
Fellowship of the Fics: Modern AU May
During May, Fellowship of the Fics offers modern AU prompt lists for setting, character occupation, and dialogue on Tumblr.
May challenge at tolkienshortfanworks
The May challenge has been posted to the tolkienshortfanworks community on Dreamwidth. Thematic challenge: name; formal challenge: acrostic. As usual, these can be filled independently and freely combined with other prompts such as the SWG challenges. New participants welcome!
May 2024 Calls for Papers
Conferences and publications that have open calls for papers in May 2024.
Angbang Week 2024
All new, unpublished fanworks about the Angbang (Melron) ship are welcome during this Tumblr event, running 6-12 May 2024.
Beyond the Silmarillion
Our Beyond the Silmarillion section exists for our creators to archive their non-Silmarillion fanworks. Works in this section are based on Tolkien's other texts or adaptations of Tolkien's writings. Find out more about eligibility to post in this section here.
On the Borders of Mirkwood by Himring
One of the Woodmen has a recurring problem with the wall between their apple orchard and the Forest.
| Canon Source: Hobbit, Lord of the Rings |
| Major Characters: Elves, Men |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Poetry | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 247 |
| Posted on 3 August 2023 | Updated on 3 August 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
A hidden lane, a secret gate by Himring
Schoolmaster Atkins, at the end of his life, doesn't go the same way Niggle did, but he still finds Niggle's Tree.
| Canon Source: Leaf by Niggle |
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Ficlet | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 941 |
| Posted on 2 August 2023 | Updated on 2 August 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Wreath and Leaf by Himring
Atkins (the schoolmaster who had the painting of a leaf by Niggle framed) had a wreath issue that year.
| Canon Source: Leaf by Niggle |
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Ficlet | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 495 |
| Posted on 2 August 2023 | Updated on 2 August 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
eat earth, dig deep by kimaracretak
Merry knows an awful lot about the old forest
Merry is very young
The forest misses being that young
| Canon Source: Lord of the Rings |
| Major Characters: Merry |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Horror | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 673 |
| Posted on 2 August 2023 | Updated on 2 August 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Still There Is Much That Is Fair by Arveldis
“My father says he will sail West one day, and I hope to follow him, if I can. I want more than anything to see what lies in the West,” she said. The longing for it flared in her heart, as it had ever since her father had first read to her from the Red Book of Mr. Frodo’s sailing.
“There are few ships now that can take that road,” Arwen said softly.
Elanor travels to Minas Tirith and enters the queen's service.
| Canon Source: Lord of the Rings |
| Major Characters: Arwen, Elanor Gardner |
| Major Relationships: Arwen & Elanor Gardner, Elanor Gardner & Samwise Gamgee |
| Genres: Family, General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 5, 387 |
| Posted on 19 July 2023 | Updated on 19 July 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
West, West Away by Arveldis
It was the Elvenking. He gazed at the disappearing haven and the encircling hills with a strange, sorrowful expression upon his face, as if he felt the same uncomfortable tug of uprooting that Sam did, feeling as if he had been removed from his familiar soil and planted somewhere he didn’t belong, at least not yet.
Sam watched him, feeling like he was intruding on a private moment, but he couldn’t look away. It was strange to think that a king of the Elves might feel as displaced and torn as he did, but Sam felt suddenly in that moment that he understood the Elvenking, high and lordly though he was.
Sam meets an unlikely kindred spirit on the journey West.
| Canon Source: Lord of the Rings |
| Major Characters: Samwise Gamgee, Thranduil |
| Major Relationships: Samwise Gamgee & Thranduil |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 3, 654 |
| Posted on 11 July 2023 | Updated on 19 July 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
And There Make a Garden by Arveldis
Éowyn walked through the rows of the garden that sprawled beyond the house, her hand laid over the swell of her stomach. It was high summer, and the garden grew in wild abandon, hardly distinguishable from the fragrant wilderness that rippled and tumbled over the hills of Emyn Arnen.
Éowyn walks in her garden and reminisces about all the people who helped her create it.
| Canon Source: Lord of the Rings |
| Major Characters: Éowyn |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Ficlet, General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 812 |
| Posted on 7 July 2023 | Updated on 19 July 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
An Unexpected Couple by StarSpray
The news that Mister Bungo Baggins and Miss Belladonna Took were to marry caused quite an uproar all the way from the East Farthing to the West.
| Canon Source: Hobbit, Lord of the Rings |
| Major Characters: Belladonna Took Baggins, Bungo Baggins |
| Major Relationships: Belladonna Took Baggins/Bungo Baggins |
| Genres: Ficlet, Fluff, Het | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 279 |
| Posted on 12 July 2023 | Updated on 12 July 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (1) |
Over Seas of Starlight by Arveldis
But now, sailing into the Uttermost West, Frodo wondered again about Gandalf’s nature and origin. The wizard seemed both familiar and remote now, somehow. His eyes were as bright and shrewd as ever, and at turns Frodo glimpsed in them the kindly light that he had seen at times when Gandalf was still Gandalf the Grey. And at other times, Gandalf seemed to have become more of Gandalf the White than he ever had in Middle-earth, a very great lord even among the lords and Lady that sailed with them.
On the journey West, Frodo discovers Gandalf's true nature and learns of the country that will soon be his home.
| Canon Source: Lord of the Rings |
| Major Characters: Frodo, Gandalf |
| Major Relationships: Frodo Baggins & Gandalf |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 3, 721 |
| Posted on 4 July 2023 | Updated on 5 July 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Bear's Last Autumn by Himring
Beorn's last farewell to his son.
With a coda, showing the Beornings returning to the mountains.
| Canon Source: Hobbit, Lord of the Rings |
| Major Characters: Beorn |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Ficlet | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 619 |
| Posted on 21 June 2023 | Updated on 21 June 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Moon-letters by Himring
A tiny gap-filler from Elrond's POV.
Memories of Eregion.
| Canon Source: Hobbit, Lord of the Rings |
| Major Characters: Elrond |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 182 |
| Posted on 19 June 2023 | Updated on 19 June 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Finduilas to Imrahil, with the gift of a silver bell by Himring
A poem imagined as accompanying a gift for Mettarë (1 Yule) from Finduilas of Amroth to her brother Imrahil, at a time when she was already married to Denethor and homesick for Dol Amroth.
| Canon Source: Lord of the Rings |
| Major Characters: Finduilas of Dol Amroth |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Poetry | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 111 |
| Posted on 18 June 2023 | Updated on 18 June 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Battle Harp by Himring
An early encounter between Gleowine the minstrel and the battle harp--and also between Gleowine and his future king, Theoden, son of Thengel.
Written for the Art's Desire challenge at the LOTR community (February 2017).
Inspired by Rohan icons created by Oshun for the July 2012 Art Challenge: Miniature.
Oshun commented on the icons: "It is part of my own personal, perhaps AU, canon to imagine that the Rohan as an oral culture made use of harps, including battle harps."
The icons depicted riders and a harp.
| Canon Source: Lord of the Rings |
| Major Characters: Unnamed Female Canon Character(s), Rohirrim, Théoden |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 630 |
| Posted on 18 June 2023 | Updated on 18 June 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
A Morsel of Food or Two by Himring
Drabbles about food:
I: Caraway (featuring Frodo and Rosie)
II: Cheese-wright of Gondor (featuring a woman of Lossarnach)
| Canon Source: Lord of the Rings |
| Major Characters: Original Female Character(s), Frodo, Rosie Cotton |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 2 | Word Count: 206 |
| Posted on 18 June 2023 | Updated on 18 June 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Snowdrops by Himring
Valacar, prince of Gondor, is sent to Rhovanion to learn the ways of his father’s allies and falls in love with Vidumavi, the daughter of his host.
| Canon Source: Lord of the Rings |
| Major Characters: Men, Valacar, Vidumavi |
| Major Relationships: Valacar/Vidumavi |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 748 |
| Posted on 17 June 2023 | Updated on 17 June 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
I Who Am Water by Himring
Goldberry is the River-daughter.
| Canon Source: Adventures of Tom Bombadil, Lord of the Rings |
| Major Characters: Goldberry |
| Major Relationships: Goldberry/Tom Bombadil |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 111 |
| Posted on 17 June 2023 | Updated on 17 June 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Ever Northward Gaze by StarSpray
The lands of the north and the south are coming together again in friendship and alliance, and a celebration is planned, to take place on the lawn of Parth Galen. Gimli makes something particularly special for the occasion.
| Canon Source: Lord of the Rings |
| Major Characters: Boromir (Fellowship), Faramir, Fellowship, Gimli |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 864 |
| Posted on 17 June 2023 | Updated on 17 June 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (1) |
Two Rohirrim by Himring
Riddles about two female characters from Rohan, and three drabbles each about these two female characters .
| Canon Source: Lord of the Rings |
| Major Characters: Unnamed Female Canon Character(s), Rohirrim |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet, Poetry | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 3 | Word Count: 766 |
| Posted on 9 June 2023 | Updated on 9 June 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Beorn's Wife by Himring
Beorn and his son Grimbeorn the Old are canonical, so Grimbeorn's mother must be, too.
But what was she like?
| Canon Source: Hobbit, Lord of the Rings |
| Major Characters: Unnamed Female Canon Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 102 |
| Posted on 8 June 2023 | Updated on 8 June 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Boromir Drabbles by Himring
Two drabbles on the mourning in Gondor for Boromir's death.
| Canon Source: Lord of the Rings |
| Major Characters: Boromir (Fellowship) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 2 | Word Count: 202 |
| Posted on 6 June 2023 | Updated on 6 June 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Gilraen leaves for Rivendell by Himring
What the title says.
Poem in response to Rhapsody's excellent stories about Gilraen.
| Canon Source: Lord of the Rings |
| Major Characters: Gilraen |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Poetry | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 122 |
| Posted on 4 June 2023 | Updated on 4 June 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
[podfic] A Vulpine Gentleman With Business of His Own by Chestnut_pod
A brief interlude in the life of a fox with a job to do.
| Canon Source: Lord of the Rings |
| Major Characters: Unnamed Canon Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Podfic | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on 4 June 2023 | Updated on 4 June 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (2) |
in memories cast into melodies by kimaracretak
Time is old in the forest, and weary, but it is not yet winter when Goldberry sees her first. She has braved the Withywindle even this late in the year, barefoot in the water, and her feet are tinged with blue nearly to match the brooch that rests at her throat.
Or; Goldberry meets the woman who wore the blue-jewelled brooch from the Barrow-Downs. Four Second Age autumns lived, and one yet to come.
| Canon Source: Lord of the Rings |
| Major Characters: Unnamed Female Canon Character(s), Goldberry |
| Major Relationships: Goldberry/Unnamed Canon Character |
| Genres: Femslash, Horror | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 003 |
| Posted on 31 May 2023 | Updated on 3 June 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
An End, a New Beginning by chrissystriped
As the One is destroyed, Sauron defeated, an orc woman wonders what to do now.
| Canon Source: Lord of the Rings |
| Major Characters: Original Female Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Mature Themes |
| Chapters: 3 | Word Count: 1, 409 |
| Posted on 28 July 2021 | Updated on 2 June 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
The Iron Lady by Chiara Cadrich
The story of a girl who wanted a ring on her finger.
| Canon Source: Unfinished Tales |
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Adventure, Drama | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Violence (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 3, 007 |
| Posted on 26 May 2023 | Updated on 26 May 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
