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] One Flesh, One Soul. Part I by FellFireFan
As beautiful as he is dangerous, Aegnor, an elven prince, stands against the looming shadows of Angband. Brother to Galadriel, he commands the siege with a fierce intensity, a duty that exacts a heavy toll on him. Beneath the iron walls he has built lies a broken soul, haunted by a devastating…
[Series] Instadrabbling, 2026-Present by SWG Moderators
We get together from time to time on the SWG Discord and produce spontaneous fanworks based on randomly chosen prompts. This collection includes drabbles, ficlets, and other flash fanworks produced as part of our instadrabbling sessions beginning in 2026.
[Writing] A meeting at the Trees by ethanray
Nerdanel goes to the Two Trees after Fëanor is banished and meets Indis there
For March 2026 Instadrabbling
[Writing] Grief is not the only geography I know by Himring
Indis explains how she took to wandering around Valinor.
[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] In Early Spring by Serinquanion
In what Maedhros was re-embodied early and was sent back to Middle Earth on his volition with Glorfindel.
This isn't about what happened right then but years after Fall of Sauron when he still refused to return to Valinor.
He found a strange sapling at the shore of what remains of…
[Writing] Umnenyalië by Serinquanion
He was going to die. The molten rocks would burn him just like the cursed gem in his palm did. Maybe less painfully but still being burnt hurt and Maedhros knew it. He intimately knew it from his time in Angband where Þauron burnt him often in frustration and to toy with him and his master…
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
Inventions
Consider an item or technology and use a fanwork to describe or explain its invention by the people of Arda. Read more ...
New in References
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.
The Aromantic in Tolkien by daughterofshadows
Presented at Mereth Aderthad 2025, this paper makes the case thata, although the term "aromantic" had not yet been coined in Tolkien's day, many of his characters can be read as aromantic. The paper takes a closer look at Aredhel, Bilbo, and Boromir as three examples of characters who can be read as aromantic.
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
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.
New and Updated Fanworks
Include Beyond the Silmarillion Fanworks
Thangorodrim by ford_of_bruinen
Fingon rescuing Maedhros. Prequel to Vodka and Unhingedf
| Major Characters: Fingon, Maedhros, Thorondor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 4, 664 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (3) |
The Seeing by Levade
Erestor has an unsettling encounter with Elwing not long after the fall of Doriath.
| Major Characters: Elwing, Erestor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 790 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (8) |
This Game We Play by theeventualwinner
As the Siege of Angband takes hold, Mairon and Melkor must find ways to occupy their time. But how far does Mairon dare push his master, and will he like what he finds?
| Major Characters: Melkor, Sauron |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Slash/Femslash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Sexual Content (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 3 | Word Count: 6, 575 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (1) |
Another Future by Keiliss
A chance encounter at a ball leaves Glorfindel with a deeper understanding of himself and the world he lives in.
| Major Characters: Ecthelion of the Fountain, Erestor, Glorfindel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, Romance | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 7, 425 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (12) |
The Present Circumstance by LadyBrooke
Indis has been friends and sometimes lovers with Míriel and Finwë for a long time, from the forests of Middle-earth to the palaces of Valinor and in spite of deaths and family members.
Eventual Finwë/Indis/Míriel threesome, in the course of the story every combination of two of those possible.
Written as a late birthday gift for Indy, posted here with her kind permission.
| Major Characters: Finarfin, Finwë, Indis, Míriel Serindë |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Het, Romance, Slash/Femslash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Sexual Content (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 563 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Unhinged by ford_of_bruinen
Sequel to Vodka.
Another conversation between brothers (Maedhros and Maglor)
| Major Characters: Maedhros, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 711 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
O Sollemn Rose by Erurainon
Feanor parts ways with his wife, reflecting on the nature of their love.
| Major Characters: Nerdanel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Poetry | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 75 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Without a War by Erurainon
A man of Numenor meets a woman of the Faithful ere the deluge and reflects upon war and peace.
| Major Characters: Men |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Poetry | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 108 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (1) |
Charged With Want by Erurainon
Maglor comes to terms with his curse and the dark glory of Middle Earth.
| Major Characters: Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Poetry | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 78 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
To See The Cherry Hung With Snow by Himring
Maedhros and Fingon and a cherry tree: first in Mithrim and later in Valinor, outside the gates of Lorien.
Now added: Take Two: The Fell Winter
| Major Characters: Fingon, Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Mature Themes |
| Chapters: 2 | Word Count: 724 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (11) |
The Last Whose Realm Was Fair and Free by Dwimordene
Gil-galad was an Elven King. We all know what this means, right?
Political economy does Second Age Elven (and other) kingdoms. Features Gil-galad, Galadriel, Celeborn, Celebrimbor, and Aldarion, primarily. Gives the other side, in a way, of Atalantë.
| Major Characters: Celeborn, Celebrimbor, Círdan, Gil-galad, Tar-Aldarion |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 3, 067 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (1) |
Five Ways from One by clotho123
Five different paths the history of the Noldor might have taken if Fëanor had sworn a different Oath
| Major Characters: Noldor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Alternate Universe, Experimental | Challenges: Canon with a Twist |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Character Death |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 3, 455 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
| Major Characters: Elrond, Eärendil |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 3, 452 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (9) |
Sparks by Independence1776
Short stories, ficlets, and drabbles set at many points in the RAFA 'verse, from the Years of the Trees to RAFA itself. Each story has a separate rating.
| Major Characters: Arwen, Celebrían, Elladan, Elrohir, Elrond, Elros, Elwing, Fëanor, Maedhros, Maglor, Nerdanel, Original Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet, General | Challenges: B2MeM 2009, B2MeM 2010, B2MeM 2012, B2MeM 2013 |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Mature Themes, Violence (Mild) |
| Chapters: 11 | Word Count: 6, 087 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (20) |
The First Day of my Life by mangacrack
In which Maglor is proud to be self confident enough to hold a grudge and refuse an offer in order to keep watching TV.
| Major Characters: Eönwë, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 575 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (1) |
Fame to fill the Void by mangacrack
Everything I'll never ever tell you.
| Major Characters: Celebrimbor, Elrond, Galadriel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Character Death |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 583 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Tenn' Ambar-metta by Almare
AU in which the Ainur are a powerful magically/technologically advanced species and Ilúvatar was an invention to aid them in controlling the elves. Nothing that happened before the Awakening is necessarily true.
| Major Characters: Elwing, Eärendil |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Alternate Universe | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Suicide |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 469 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (12) |
Sacrifice by Erurainon
The evil of the dark lord lives on in the wrongs the peoples of Arda commit against each other. This song is not one of light, but of dark horor.
| Major Characters: Sauron |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Poetry | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 68 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
God's Song by Erurainon
The love of Eru for his people.
| Major Characters: Noldor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Poetry | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 106 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Death at the Havens by Erurainon
The madness of one of Arda's most hated and powerful Noldor and the Eldar perspective on his kin-Slaying.
| Major Characters: Fëanor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Poetry | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 94 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
At the Bidding of the Minstrel by Himring
Maglor's brothers: a kind of ghost story.
Alternative text for Elleth's powerful artwork At the Bidding of the Minstrel, written as a gift fic for her some time ago but not previously archived here.
| Major Characters: Sons of Fëanor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Alternate Universe, Humor | Challenges: Gift of a Story |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 202 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (6) |
A Poet's Curse by Elisif
A piece of somewhat AU Maglor insanity; dark.
| Major Characters: Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: Color of ... |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Character Death, Mature Themes, Sexual Content (Mild), Violence (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 778 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (3) |
Anon He Sleeps by Erurainon
A weary soldier comes upon the place where Huor and the men of Dor Lomen were slain to guard the retreat of Turgon.
| Major Characters: Huor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Poetry | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 106 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Straight Road by Strawberry Mongol Elf
Written by my OC, Rochëru, son of Olwë, during his oh so long banishment in Middle-Earth.
I might write more about him some time soon.
| Major Characters: Olwë, Original Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Poetry | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 90 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Stages of Longing by Strawberry Mongol Elf
After being re-embodied, Ecthelion learns that his beloved has sailed back to Middle-Earth. How is he supposed to understand it? And more importantly, how is he supposed to carry on now?
| Major Characters: Ecthelion of the Fountain, Glorfindel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, Romance | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 990 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
