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] 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…
[Writing] Winter Warmth by Serinquanion
A winter night in Himring. But inside the quarters where fire blazed in hearth was warmer, and not only from the fire or quilt.
[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] Who Will Hear Me? by XirinOfArvada
A lonely elf finds a flute half buried beneath the sand and wonders if its owner will hear him when he calls.
[Writing] Loyal, Faithful by Himring
Late in the Second Age, one of the Faithful reflects critically on past developments. (Free verse.)
[Writing] East Away! by Flora-lass
Aldarion storms off towards Middle-earth. For the Title Track challenge.
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
Utopia/Dystopia
To reflect both the idealistic beginnings and the dark endings that are so frequent in the Legendarium, we invite you to create a fanwork inspired by utopian or dystopian prompts from novels, songs, artworks, or films. 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
Till Fire Purge All Things New by pandemonium_213
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!
| Major Characters: Sauron |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: B2MeM 2009 |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 196 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (25) |
My Greatest Fear by oshun
A ficlet in which Fingon visits Maedhros at Himring Hill and they confess their greatest fears to one another. (Fingon/Maedhros: soft R, at the highest.)
My entry for day 13 of the SWG Back to Middle-earth Month challenge. The prompt: Write a story where the characters have to confront their greatest fears.
| Major Characters: Fingon, Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Romance | Challenges: B2MeM 2009 |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Mature Themes |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 606 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
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That's Not Funny! by oshun
In their youth in Valinor, Maedhros has a secret crush on Fingon, his younger half-cousin, and Maglor loves to tease him about it.
A ficlet of 550 words in response to the SWG Back to Middle-earth Month challenge, day 11, humor misunderstood. (R-rated for language and implication only.) Also, translation of Quenya names at the bottom for those who want them.
| Major Characters: Celegorm, Fingon, Maedhros, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Humor | Challenges: B2MeM 2009 |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Mature Themes |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 550 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
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If I were a wood elf... by Robinka
A poem in response to the 2009 Back to Middle Earth Month, Day Seventh: "In the woods".
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Poetry | Challenges: B2MeM 2009 |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 104 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
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The Far Side of the World by SurgicalSteel
During the reign of Tar-Ancalimë, a group of Númenórean mariners find something that surprises and alarms them in their explorations.
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Adventure | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 434 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
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A Real Beauty by oshun
A double-drabble in response to the SWG Back to Middle-earth Month challenge, day 8, “contrast beauty/ugliness.”
It’s a story of young Finwean firebrands in love (Aredhel/Celegorm). I knew I would eventually get around to writing something like this. I’ve always imagined that Aredhel and Celegorm shared a youthful romance in Valinor.
| Major Characters: Aredhel, Celegorm |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Romance | Challenges: B2MeM 2009 |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 201 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
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As Little Might Be Thought by Marta
"For Maglor took pity upon Elros and Elrond, and he cherished them, and love grew after between them, as little might be thought; but Maglor's heart was sick and weary with the burden of the dreadful oath."
| Major Characters: Elrond, Elros, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: B2MeM 2009 |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 878 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
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Breath of Forgiveness by IgnobleBard
Maglor thinks over old regrets.
| Major Characters: Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: B2MeM 2009 |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 441 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
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To My Father by oshun
Response to prompt for Day Four: March 4 of the Silmarillion Writers Guild observance of Back to Middle-earth Month. Relating to role models, I chose to write a drabble about feelings that Maedhros might have wanted to communicate to his father.
MEFA 2009, Third Place in First Age and Prior: Drabbles
| Major Characters: Fëanor, Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: B2MeM 2009 |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 100 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
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| This fanwork is complete. |
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Three Wishes by Noliel
Fingon musing while facing off against Gothmog. Almost-tribble.
| Major Characters: Fingon |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: B2MeM 2009 |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Character Death |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 312 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
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Happiness by Angelica
B2MeM day 3.
I'm at the other end of the continent where summer has been deadly. A storm last Sunday was one of the happiest moments in the week.
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: B2MeM 2009 |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 101 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
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Compromised by spookystoy
When you need a stealthy archer, who you gonna call?
| Major Characters: Celegorm, Curufin |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Violence (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 96 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
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Fairest by spookystoy
Yeah, yeah, Celegorm's the fairest of the Sons of Fëanor, but how many times does he need to hear it? Curufin cannot resist tweaking his brother's vanity.
| Major Characters: Celegorm, Curufin |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet, Humor | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 102 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
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Of Lúthien and Huan by Moreth
For Huan, consenting once more to be her steed, had borne her swiftly hard upon Beren's trail.
A grittier and more macabre version of the 'fairystory'. Warning: Contains some rather grotesque imagery.
| Major Characters: Beren, Huan, Lúthien Tinúviel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Humor | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Expletive Language |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 695 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
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The Well by Independence1776
Post Fourth Age. Maglor meets someone unexpected. Nominated in the 2009 MEFAs.
| Major Characters: Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 601 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
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Seven Falls by Dawn Felagund
Melkor and Finwë battle in Formenos after the Darkening of Valinor. A sestina.
| Major Characters: Finwë, Melkor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Poetry | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Character Death, Violence (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 368 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
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Forlorn by Levade
What secret hides in the forests that once sheltered Menegroth? Two elves go to see, directly after the War of Wrath.
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Mystery | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 3, 589 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
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Cat's Paws by pandemonium_213
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.
| Major Characters: Celebrimbor, Sauron |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General, Horror | Challenges: Forbidden Lore |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 2 | Word Count: 9, 020 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
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Stones of Seeing 3. Elrond Peredhel by clotho123
Concluding a trilogy of stories about the history of the palantirí. After his journey into the West Elrond makes a visit and returns a gift.
| Major Characters: Elrond, Nerdanel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 038 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
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Arkenstone by clotho123
Where did the Arkenstone really come from, and why does it seem so strangely familiar? (Despite the subject most of this story is set in the Silmarillion period)
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Alternate Universe, General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 770 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
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Will Overruled By Fate by oshun
Haldir meets Beleg in Valinor and each comes to terms with his past. Slash. (Warning: Could conceivably be called a LotR/Silmarillion crossover, although it is primarily based upon The Silmarillion.) Written in response to a request by Kenaz for the Ardor in August 2008 fic swap: “ . . . an encounter between an Elf recently released from the Halls of Mandos and an Elf who has recently come to Valinor from Middle-earth. . . . struggling to acclimate themselves to a new place and time, and trying to relate to each other . . . . love to see Haldir meet Beleg.” Betas: Pandemonium, IgnobleBard and Lissa
* * * *
MEFA 2009, Second Place - Elves: General
| Major Characters: Beleg, Celeborn, Elu Thingol, Finrod Felagund, Galadriel, Haldir, Túrin |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Romance, Slash/Femslash | Challenges: First Meetings, Strangers in Strange Lands |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 9 | Word Count: 20, 649 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (23) |
Pivot Point by Aiwen
Celebrimbor and Annatar meet for the first time.
| Major Characters: Celebrimbor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 220 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (14) |
By Stars' Light by Erfan Starled
Finrod expects to hunt Morgoth and finds himself on a very different journey. He has company along the way.
| Major Characters: Edrahil, Fingolfin, Fingon, Finrod Felagund, Galadriel, Glorfindel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Adventure, Drama, Erotica, Romance, Slash/Femslash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Character Death, Mature Themes, Sexual Content (Moderate), Violence (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 14 | Word Count: 26, 744 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
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After the Fall by clotho123
After the Halls of Mandos some reunions are bittersweet
| Major Characters: Finduilas, Gwindor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 736 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
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Stones of Seeing 2. Tar Míriel by clotho123
Second in a trilogy telling the history of the palantiri. In the dying days of Númenor the stones come into the pkeeping of Elendil's line
| Major Characters: Amandil, Ar-Pharazôn, Elendil, Sauron, Tar-Míriel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Sexual Content (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 956 |
| 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) |
