New Challenge: Title Track
Tolkien's titles range from epic to lyrical to metaphorical. This month's challenge selected 125 of them as prompts for fanworks.
SWG News
Our Annual Amnesty Challenge: New Year's Resolution
Start 2026 off with creativity! If you missed a challenge or didn't get to finish or post a challenge fanwork, complete any 2025 challenge before 15 February to receive the stamp.
"The Fëanorian Zine" Available to Read and Download
We are pleased to be able to offer "The Fëanorian Zine" to read and download on the SWG for free.
Call for Artists for the 2026 Challenge Stamps
We are soliciting help from artists who want to help create the stamps we award to challenge participants.
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] The Last of the Old Gods by AdmirableMonster
Two members of the crew of the starship Vérië land on the planet Andúnië, investigating a location of interest called The Sleeping Garden.
(Introducing: a Space Opera Númenor AU. Let's be real, it was only a matter of time.)
[Writing] Amid the Wrack by Isilme_among_the_stars
After Ancalagon is cast down Eärendil seeks out his sons and Elrond grapples with the feelings the meeting brings.
Written for Tolkien Sea Week 2026: Day 5 - family
[Writing] The Tale of Tar-Ciryatan's Daughter by Kaylee Arafinwiel
Ailinel, orphan of Numenor, is one of the poor girls dowered by Tar-Ciryatan and titled a "King's Daughter", encouraged to sail East to his colonies and find herself a husband.
It doesn't take her that long.
But even after she and Shipman Gaerondur find love, life in the colony isn…
[Writing] A Hundred Miles Through the Desert by StarSpray
“Come on.” Maedhros grabbed his hand and pulled him along down the path, both of them quickening their pace now, until the trees opened up into a wide meadow filled with flowers, bright yellow celandine and dandelions and sweet-scented pale chamomile mingling with cornflowers and irises. On…
[Writing] A Gift by Elrond's Library
Findekáno sets out to retrieve Maitimo.
[Reference] 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…
Current Challenge
Title Track
Create a fanwork using our collection of 125 titles from Tolkien's books, chapters, essays, poems, and fragments as inspiration. Read more ...
Random Challenge
All Good Beasts
Create a fanwork featuring an animal. Show how important a beloved animal is to a character or tell a story through the eyes of an animal. Read more ...
New in References
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.
Tolkien, Lunatic Physicists, and Abnegation by Cynthia (Cindy) Gates
This presentation for Mereth Aderthad 2025 discusses the parallels between the concept of abnegation in the scientific work surrounding the atomic bomb and in The Silmarillion. The relinquishment of self-interest in favor of the interests of others, abnegation was identified by Tolkien as a powerful act of spirit and reason. The legendarium has many examples of the complexities of abnegation, which parallel similar discussions held by physicists during and after World War II.
Twilight, Child Of: Comparisons Between Tinúviel, Lómion, and Undómiel by JazTheBard
This presentation for Mereth Aderthad 2025 discusses the many similarities between Tolkien's three "twilight children," Tinúviel, Lómion, and Undómiel (Luthien, Maeglin, and Arwen) in terms of appearance, plot, and cultural background. Yet these three characters play very different roles in the text.
Featured Themed Collection
Beyond the Silmarillion
[Writing] here you will dwell, bound to your grief by Elrond's Library
Arwen grieves, and loves.
[Writing] Faramir's Verse by losselen
“Come, Faramir. Let us not stand in ceremony. I think words are due between you and I, and not only those between a King and his Steward.”
Faramir has speech with Gandalf and his King.
[Writing] In a Hole in the Ground... by StarSpray
“There’s a goblin hiding in the taters, Dad!” Pippin hefted the pan, which was much too big for him to carry, let alone wield.
Around the World and Web
Feanorian Week 2026
A week dedicated to celebrating to the Sons of Feanor (and their parents) on Tumblr
March Challenge - Tolkien Short Fanworks
Tolkien Short Fanworks is running a challenge for the month of March to create a Back to Middle-earth Month themed challenge.
Tolkien Fashion Week 2026
This two-week-long Tumblr event is dedicated to honoring the world of fashion and textiles Tolkien wrote about in his books.
Celegorm and Curufin Week 2026
Celegorm and Curufin Week is a Tumblr week celebrating the relationship between Celegorm and Curufin Feanorion
Back to Middle-earth Month 2026
Back to Middle-earth Month is returning for it's 20th year with many prompts and archival efforts.
Truly All Fanworks
This page includes all fanworks from the main SWG archive and the Beyond the Silmarillion section.
An Intense Dislike of Elves by Himring
Amlach seems to be the only one of the early Edain who is explicitly said to have entered the service of Maedhros, so he may have been the first of Men to do so and he may have gone to Himring alone. This story imagines the feelings of an Adan who originally opposed the Eldar and now finds himself spending his life among them, all on his own.
It also tries to answer the question why he picked Maedhros specifically as his prospective leader and whether Maedhros fulfilled his expectations.
I decided it might just about fit the Follow the Leader challenge.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Amlach, Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: Follow the Leader |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Violence (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 5 | Word Count: 6, 385 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (10) |
Master of Mischief by Kitt Otter
Círdan gives a commentary on the Noldor princes, Lúthien has an idea, and Thingol throws pillows.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Círdan, Elu Thingol, Lúthien Tinúviel, Melian |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 879 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Voiceless by Noliel
A young Fëanor is called from sleep by a voice he's almost sure was real. Almost a double-drabble, posted in honour of Míriel Serindë's bio this month.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Fëanor, Míriel Serindë |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 218 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
The Colors of Elvish: A Linguistic Exploration by Fiondil
Color is a basic category of language. Every culture has terminology denoting color, but they do not all 'see' the same colors. This is a look at the color terms that Tolkien translated into Quenya and Sindarin and what might be the sociolinguistic implications for these.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Nonfiction/Meta | Challenges: Color of ... |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 3, 709 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (1) |
Spherical by Himring
Whether it was a vision, a dream or a flight of lunacy—its significance seems to Maedhros too obvious to need discussion. But that is not quite how it is...
Maedhros/Fingon
Intended for last month's revisited Challenge but I was a bit slow.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Fingon, Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General, Romance, Slash/Femslash | Challenges: Olórë Mallë |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 344 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Cost by grey_gazania
In the aftermath of the Fifth Battle, Maedhros reaches a conclusion about his brothers, but the Second Kinslaying forces him to reconsider. A triple drabble
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Creator Chooses Not to Rate | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 293 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
Ulmo’s Palace by oshun
Written for the prompts: Curufin and Ulmo's Palace; for the Probably AU Genfic Swap at Elffetish. One of those cute 'lil elfing stories which contains dark undertones and/or is blasphemous to the Valar.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Celebrimbor, Curufin, Original Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: Ankle Biters, Canon with a Twist, Sea Voyages |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 2 | Word Count: 2, 516 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (7) |
Red Wool by Elfique
"It was her labour to see it recorded, and so she would see it done." Vairë weaves the Battle of Unnumbered Tears.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Vairë |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Violence (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 325 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
The OTHER Lays of Beleriand by Aiwen
The Lays JRR Tolkien did not write for very good reasons. Part Eight: The Harp and other poems. MEFA 2010 nominee.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Celebrimbor, Glorfindel, Sauron |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Humor, Poetry | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 8 | Word Count: 1, 414 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (38) |
Leaflets by Raksha The Demon
An anthology of ficlets, mostly in multiples of 100 words, here all together for the first time. (Forbidden Fruit makes its first appearance at a public archive) Open-ended.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Anárion, Carcharoth, Celeborn, Elrond, Eöl, Finwë, Galadriel, Huan, Melkor, Míriel Serindë, Nerdanel, Nienor, Sauron, Tuor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Violence (Mild) |
| Chapters: 11 | Word Count: 3, 842 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
A "natural" disaster by Yirth-kaio
"Natural disaster" is such a broad term... ;)
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Manwë |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Humor | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 220 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (6) |
The Eyes and Ears of Melkor by Chilled in Hithlum
The tale of the Children of Hurin seen through the father's/enemy's eyes
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Original Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: Another Place in Time |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 19 | Word Count: 49, 697 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (6) |
The Walls on Amon Ereb by Himring
After the Fall of Doriath, the surviving sons of Feanor retreat to Amon Ereb. Maedhros is haunted by memories of Caranthir and a promise he made to Nerdanel. Amrod persuades him to leave.
Tweaks to canon (compare end-notes).
Although the death of Caranthir and the battle of Menegroth precede the events described in the story, they are remembered in some detail and so have been marked in the Warnings.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Amrod, Caranthir, Maedhros, Nerdanel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Character Death, Mature Themes, Violence (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 197 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Quoth the Raven by Noliel
It's his call, this time, and it lifts a burden from her shoulders as heavy as the roots of the mountains. But that doesn't mean Miriel has to like it.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Finwë, Míriel Serindë |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, Romance | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 400 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
The Last Ship by clotho123
The Last Ship is about to sail from the Grey Havens and an unexpected encounter an unexpected encounter leads Celeborn to ponder some new questions.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Celeborn, Círdan, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 076 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (3) |
Flying Free by Keiliss
Maedhros and rock.
MEFA 2010: Genres: Character Study: The Silmarillion, Third Place
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 464 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
A Plain, Simple Love Story by Keiliss
The king and the archivist. Respect, friendship, misunderstanding, making up - all the good things that build a forever kind of love.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Erestor, Gil-galad |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Romance | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Sexual Content (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 9, 798 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
In Durin's Day by Marta
Durin's thoughts, on history and his people's place in it. A ficlet of exactly 250 words.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Durin I, Dwarves |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 255 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (3) |
Pride and Prejudice by Marta
Aragorn, as the first Gondorian king in nearly a thousand years, chose as his wife an unknown lady from an Elven kingdom. Certainly this would create some friction between Arwen and certain elements of Gondor's stratified society. Imrahil has an idea for how to help her, but to put it in motion, he needs help from an unlikely ally - the new queen's father.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Elrond, Imrahil |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 2 | Word Count: 2, 638 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Endless… by Yirth-kaio
Feanor's soul is lost in the Halls of Mandos and in its own faded memories.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Fëanor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Experimental | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Character Death |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 539 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (1) |
Strange Land by Elfique
From the flimsy boughs of a dying tree, a dark figure listens to the chaos of night unfold around him. He strives to do all that he can, knowing that it is already too late. Luck, however, does not always favour the wicked, and this he knows well.
ALEC March 'Feeling Lucky?' 2nd Place
MEFA 2010 Honourable Mention
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Alternate Universe, Drama | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Violence (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 285 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Lover of Fire by Encairion
"Aulë friend of the Noldor and lover of Fëanor" -Morgoth's Ring
Pairings: Aulë/Fëanor
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Aulë, Fëanor, Nerdanel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General, Slash/Femslash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 930 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (3) |
The Harp by Himring
Was a harp required equipment for Noldorin rescue missions? In other words: Fingon sets out for Angband to rescue Maedhros—but why is he carrying a harp?
For Angelica, who raised the question.
In terms of the series pre-slash, but unobtrusively so.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Fingon |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 850 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (6) |
Kinslayer by Russandol
Another kinslaying may have taken place in Aman, within the very gates of Ilmarin, the mansion of Manwë Súlimo and Varda Elentári at the peak of Taniquetil.
MEFA 2010 - Second Place - Genres: Humour: Parody or Black Humour
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Manwë |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Humor | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Sexual Content (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 453 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (8) |
A Copper Band by Himring
The copper circlet that Maedhros wore in Valinor had been made by Curufin. After their arrival in East Beleriand, Curufin offers to replace the lost circlet by a new one. The ‘copper band’ is also Maedhros himself, trying to tie people together with varying success.
From the viewpoint of Curufin, because in previous stories I’d basically written him off as ‘hard to read’. He and Maedhros agree to disagree about the abdication business.
With a brief glimpse of Celebrimbor and some foreshadowing of later events.
This story has been nominated for the MEFAs 2010 by Hallbera. Thank you very much!
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Curufin, Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 425 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (6) |
