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Our May challenge will be a Matryoshka built around a scavenger hunt. If you'd like to hand out prompts (and receive comments on your work for doing so!), you can sign up to do so.
SWG News
New Challenge: Everyman
Create a fanwork about an ordinary character in the legendarium using a quote about an unnamed character as inspiration.
Cultus Dispatches: Fanworks, AI, and Resistance by Dawn and Grundy
The fan studies column Cultus Dispatches returns with a history of how Tolkien fanworks fandom has reacted and resisted generative AI by drawing strong boundaries in a way that is not typical for the fandom.
Instadrabbling Sessions for April, May, and June
Instadrabbling continues on the first Saturday of each month on our Discord server.
New & Updated Fanworks
[Writing] How Tolkien Presents Ordinary People in "The Silmarillion" by Dawn Felagund
Inspired by collecting the prompts for the Everyman challenge, this essay considers how ordinary people are subsumed and silenced in The Silmarillion, which begins a three-book arc that ends with the rise of the humble and ordinary.
[Writing] Blessed are the Leave-takers by Isilme_among_the_stars
As prince Curufinwë Fëanáro makes an historical speech from the high court of the King upon Túna, those at the back of the crowd strain to hear.
A silly little scene inspired by Monty Python's "Blessed are the Cheesemakers" scene from The Life of Brian, written for …
[Writing] After the Kinslaying by Deborah Judge
A Teleri fishing boat captain turns to farming on abandoned Noldor lands after her ship is stolen. A Noldor farmer returns with Finarfin to find that his land belongs to the Teleri now.
[Writing] I Sit and Think of Times There Were Before by Erdariel
In his old age, Isildur's former esquire Ruinamacil, known to later histories only as Ohtar, writes his own account of his escape from the ambush at Gladden Fields and journey to Imladris, and the history of his friend whom Isildur ordered to flee with him.
[Writing] Until the Stars are All Alight by Dagstjarna
Reembodied in Aman, Celebrimbor decides to return to Middle earth to help heal the darkness and hurt wrought by the ring.
[Writing] a riot of shadow and shine by Elrond's Library
These were simply flashes, a hint of a wider, greater world. A tantalizing glimpse of more, always at the edge of awareness, never within reach. Míriel would grasp it, if something as intangible as the concept of color could overflow in bounteous wonder over her hands.
But…
[Writing] The Exchange by Elrond's Library
An exchange is made during the Great Journey
Current Challenge
Everyman
Create a fanwork about an ordinary character in the legendarium using a quote about an unnamed character as inspiration. Read more ...
Random Challenge
Orctober
A mysterious map points to locations used by escaped Orcs who seek to live in freedom. For this month's challenge, use elements from that map and those quests to create your fanwork, with a bonus puzzle to solve for those who dare attempt the ultimate escape. Read more ...
New in References
Fandom Draws the Line: Fanworks, AI, and Resistance by Dawn Felagund, Grundy
By definition, fanworks fandom does not draw a lot of boundaries, but community archives and events have taken a strong stance against AI-generated fanworks due to ethical considerations and member input.
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.
Featured Themed Collection
Beyond the Silmarillion
[Writing] Down the Long Years by Isilme_among_the_stars
Bilbo, the strange old hobbit with the wandering feet, senses something special in young Frodo the first time he sees the lad; as they become close, they find in each other a cameraderie not well understood by other hobbits. Five poignant moments between Bilbo and Frodo Baggins over the course…
[Artwork] The Mirror of Galadriel by skywardstruck
Smoke rises from the Mirror, where the Lady of Lothlórien awaits to share its visions.
[Writing] Bar-en-Eladar by Gabriel
Out of the shadow, light is born anew.
A Chieftain is dead. And whilst the events surrounding his death are unclear, a son tries to come to terms with his loss.
Around the World and Web
Week of Kiliel
A Tumblr event dedicated to the relationship between Kili and Tauriel.
Aspec Arda Week 2026
This week-long event celebrates asexual and aromantic spectrum interpretations and headcanons of Tolkien’s Legendarium.
April/May Teitho Challenge
Teithio is running a prompt challenge around the theme of "heartbreak."
Tolkien Reverse Summer Bang 2026
The Tolkien Reverse Summer Bang is back for another summer of collaboration between artists and writers!
Truly All Fanworks
This page includes all fanworks from the main SWG archive and the Beyond the Silmarillion section.
Seeing Stones in Dark Towers by Simon J. Cook
As inscribed above the western doors of the Mines of Moria, that magical illustration of Elf-Dwarf collaboration, the name of the game is treachery. From Frodo’s far-seeing dream of Orthanc in his first night in the house of Tom Bombadil, the post draws in the person of Frodo Baggins the image of the Stone by which the will of the Necromancer enters a Tower.
The Peaks of Taniquetil by Simon J. Cook
In 1946, two towers appeared in Tolkien's writings. The tower found in The Fall of Númenor may shed light on the meaning of the tower analogy of "Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics."
Meet & Greet Challenge Drabbles by cílil
A small drabble collection for the 2024 Matryoshka Meet & Greet Challenge.
Ainur-centric, canonverse, various pairings.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Eönwë, Estë, Lórien, Manwë, Melkor, Sauron, Ulmo, Varda |
| Major Relationships: Manwë/Varda, Melkor/Sauron, Manwë & Melkor, Manwë/Ulmo, Estë/Lórien, Eönwë/Gothmog |
| Genres: Ficlet, Fluff, Romance, Slash | Challenges: Meet & Greet |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 9 | Word Count: 904 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (6) |
Paradigm by Chestnut_pod
In Tirion, science advances one departure across an ice bridge at a time.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Original Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General, Humor | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: In-Universe Sexism/Misogyny |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 5, 921 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Golden Lads and Girls All Must by sallysavestheday
Argon sees the world with an artist's eyes. All the way to the end.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Argon, Fingon |
| Major Relationships: Argon & Fingon |
| Genres: | Challenges: Meet & Greet |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Character Death |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 969 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (15) |
Are You Proud of Me? by MourningGlory
In his brother's final moments, Curufin must play an unexpected role.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Celegorm, Curufin, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: Celegorm & Curufin |
| Genres: Hurt/Comfort | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Character Death, Expletive Language, Mature Themes, Violence (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 805 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Awakening by MourningGlory
A very tired Maglor wakes in an unfamiliar place. There, a familiar voice gives his diminished spirit the strength to live again.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Elrond, Gandalf, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: Elrond & Maglor |
| Genres: Hurt/Comfort | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 3, 696 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (6) |
The Blue Line Between Sea and Sky by sallysavestheday
Voronwe drowns. And drowns. And drowns.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Voronwë |
| Major Relationships: Idril/Tuor/Voronwë |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 947 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
From Clamor, Consonance by sallysavestheday
Maedhros and Maglor, singing.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Maedhros, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: Maedhros & Maglor |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 818 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Let Not My Love Be Called Idolatry by sallysavestheday
Orodreth and Túrin's fascination with each other leads them to delight, and then to disaster.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Orodreth, Túrin |
| Major Relationships: Orodreth/Túrin |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Sexual Content (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 007 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Incongruity by sallysavestheday
Anaire stayed behind.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Anairë, Fingolfin |
| Major Relationships: Anairë/Fingolfin |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 401 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Stasimon by sallysavestheday
How do the Speaking People end? Maedhros reflects, in the fading of the world.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 412 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
The Marriage of True Minds by sallysavestheday
It begins as a game, in their Tree-lit, happy youth: Touch my mind, and draw what I am thinking. Is it an apple, or a pear?
Fingon and Maedhros, thinking for and of each other.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Fingon, Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: Fingon/Maedhros |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Sexual Content (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 900 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
Trip Not Over Thy Tongue in Wrath by sallysavestheday
Elwing weeps. Until there is no more weeping to be done.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Elwing |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 587 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Vincenzia by Himring
Not everyone needs a train trip to Niggle's Parish in their afterlife.
How about some other trees by a rather famous painter instead?
| Canon Source: Leaf by Niggle |
| Major Characters: Original Female Character(s), Original Male Character(s), The Porter |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 579 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Beleriand in Beowulf by Simon J. Cook
Beowulf offers an Anglo-Saxon view upon the world of the old homeland, before migration to the British Isles and conversion to Christianity. The poet takes history as a process of forgetting. In the world of the poem, knowledge of heaven above was forgotten a long age before, while what is beyond the western ocean is in the process of being forgotten.
Fruit of the Family Tree by Rocky41_7
All is not as it seems when Thranduil enters the ancestral Feanorian estate, but he fails to fully comprehend the scale and nature of the risk. If he's very lucky, one day he might even get to leave.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Maedhros, Maglor, Thranduil |
| Major Relationships: Maglor/Thranduil, Maedhros/Maglor |
| Genres: Horror, Slash, Suspense | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Incest, Mature Themes, Sexual Content (Moderate), Violence (Graphic) |
| Chapters: 7 | Word Count: 27, 703 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
10 Important Moments in Tolkien Fanfiction History by Dawn Walls-Thumma
From the appearance of the first Tolkien fanfics in 1960 to the latest appreciation months, Tolkien fanfiction has weathered changes great and small—and has persisted, changed, and grown.
M&G drabbles collection by mairoff
Drabbles Content:
- Something never seen before: Arien
- A wrong interpretation: Tilion / Arien
- Being delayed: Eönwë
- Lost in memory: Nienna
- Reading a good book: Celeborn / Galadriel
- “Wait…that can’t be right…”: Melian
- Group - Follow: Eönwë
- Running - Distance - Breathless - Limits: Fingon
- Contempt: Varda
- A sentient object: the One Ring
- A fresh start: Maeglin
- Unusual weather: Cirdan
- A favourite place: Celebrian
- A minor catastrophe: Ossë
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Ainur, Arien, Celeborn, Celebrían, Círdan, Eönwë, Fingon, Galadriel, Maeglin, Maiar, Melian, Nienna, Ossë, Sauron, Tilion, Varda |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Ficlet, General | Challenges: Meet & Greet |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 899 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (3) |
With Nothing to Show by StarSpray
Of all the pieces of Beleriand to survive, Maglor would not have expected one to be Himring. He spent many years on the coast of Middle-earth nearest to it, often gazing out at the dark shape of his brother’s ancient towers on the horizon. Finally, curiosity and something else he didn’t want to examine very closely had him purchasing a small boat from an old fisherman who was too old to go out on the water anymore. With not a little apprehension, hoping to escape Ossë’s notice, Maglor pushed the boat out into the waves, and made his way with the tide out to Himling.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Family, General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 532 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (3) |
The Gap to Himring by StarSpray
Maglor makes it within sight of Himring before his horse is cut out from under him.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Maedhros, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: Maedhros & Maglor |
| Genres: Family, General, Hurt/Comfort | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Violence (Graphic) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 058 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (1) |
By Fireside by Gwanath Dagnir
Chapter 1: Círdan rehabilitates the reputation of an elf not known for his likeability by telling Elrond a humourous story about young Ereinion.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Círdan, Elrond, Gil-galad |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 771 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
The Parchment of Secret Valian Tales by SonOfMandos
Some stories of old were never to be scripted. There were tales told around a campfire or sung on tables of a festive inn. Perhaps the imagination of the Eldar knew no boundaries, or perhaps Valar were not as valiant and dignified. Manwë Súlimo, he who is the sovereign of the Gods, finds himself the unfortunate protagonist of, shall one say, perilous adventures. Here are the stories of the Very Lost Tales of Aman.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Manwë, Melkor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Crackfic, Humor | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 4 | Word Count: 13, 257 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Full transparency by Quente
Instadrabble prompt: Something never seen before
Celebrimbor spots two newcomers to Aman.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Frodo |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Ficlet | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 415 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (1) |
Misdirection: first impression by Quente
For the Instadrabble prompt: Murphy’s law kicks in (anything that can go wrong will).
What was Tuor's first week like in Gondolin?
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Idril |
| Major Relationships: Idril/Tuor |
| Genres: Ficlet | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 264 |
| 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) |
