Mereth Aderthad Interview: Interview with Dawn Felagund by Shadow
In our series of interviews of creators for Mereth Aderthad, Shadow spoke with Dawn about her story, written for Savannah Horrell's "By Guile Committed: Comparing Tolkien’s Thieves to Beowulf" presentation, the balance of planning an event and creating for it at the same time, and the intersection of Tolkien and Beowulf.
SWG News
Mereth Aderthad Interview: Interview with Cindy Gates by Grundy
Cindy Gates' upcoming Mereth Aderthad 2025 presentation "Tolkien, Lunatic Physicists, and Abnegation" considers the ethics of science in the legendarium. Grundy spoke with Cindy about her research, her own experience as a professional scientist, and her long-running fascination with the Manhattan Project.
So You Want to Present at a Tolkien Conference? Actually Presenting!
Part of our ongoing series to support fans who want to present at Mereth Aderthad and other Tolkien conferences, this session will share strategies for delivering a presentation at a conference.
Mereth Aderthad Interview: Interview with Azh, Admirable Monster by Shadow
As a physicist themself, Azh confronts the issues around the ethical use of science in both the professional and creative realms. Shadow spoke with Azh about their story "Lightborn," written to accompany Cindy Gates' Mereth Aderthad 2025 presentation “Tolkien, Lunatic Physicists, and Abnegation,” its real-life inspirations, and the importance of fallibility in Tolkien's world.
New & Updated Fanworks
[Reference] Interview with reese by Dawn by halethleia, Dawn Felagund
Reese is the featured author for polutropos's presentation "'Kidnap Fam' and the Living Legendarium" at Mereth Aderthad 2025. Dawn spoke with reese about the silences storytellers leave, mythology, and the appeal of alternate universe fanfiction.
[Writing] One In the Fires of the Heart of the World by Isilme_among_the_stars
Maedhros finds that regret and pain do not end with death. But it does at last bring release from the oath and he can at last embark upon the long, hard road toward redemption.
[Artwork] A Bedu Hobbit tent-hole by Anérea
A Hobbit home in the desert of Harad
[Writing] High in the Clean Blue Air by StarSpray
They passed out of Lhûn and the wider coastline of Middle-earth opened up before his eyes. He had wandered those shores for centuries, and even now he felt the pull of that same wanderlust, and knew he would miss them for the rest of his life. Their wildness, the untamed waves, the rocky…
[Writing] The Root of Light by Anérea
In the years before Arien bore the fruit of Laurelin aloft, just how did Yavanna's olvar grow?
[Reference] Interview with Kai by Shadow by Kai, daughterofshadows
Kai is the featured artist for Maglor's Mereth Aderthad 2025 presentation, "Gil-galad was an Elven King: Kingship and Personhood in the last High King of the Noldor." Shadow spoke with Kai about his wide range of interests and inspirations in the legendarium and why Maglor's presentation so…
[Writing] Athrabeth Eönwë ah Elros by Hiranya
Melkor was once the mightiest of the Ainur. Why then was he unable to mar the stars of Varda, whom he hated most? Eönwë explains.
Current Challenge
Period Drama
A Matryoshka challenge where prompts are inspired by common tropes found in period dramas and historical fiction. Read more ...
Random Challenge
Opposites Attract
Prompts for this challenge are a pair of opposites. Read more ...
New in References
Interview with reese by Dawn by halethleia, Dawn Felagund
Reese is the featured author for polutropos's presentation "'Kidnap Fam' and the Living Legendarium" at Mereth Aderthad 2025. Dawn spoke with reese about the silences storytellers leave, mythology, and the appeal of alternate universe fanfiction.
Interview with Kai by Shadow by Kai, daughterofshadows
Kai is the featured artist for Maglor's Mereth Aderthad 2025 presentation, "Gil-galad was an Elven King: Kingship and Personhood in the last High King of the Noldor." Shadow spoke with Kai about his wide range of interests and inspirations in the legendarium and why Maglor's presentation so intrigued him that he finished the art for it the first night.
Interview with Cynthia Gates, a.k.a. pandemonium_213 by Grundy by pandemonium_213, Grundy
Cindy Gates' presentation for Mereth Aderthad 2025, "Tolkien, Lunatic Physicists, and Abnegation," explores the ethics of refusal in the (mis)use of science and technology. A retired scientist herself, Cindy spoke to Grundy about her upcoming presentation and its inspiration in Cindy's fascination with the Manhattan Project.
Featured Themed Collection
Part of our Themed Collection series for our newsletter, this collection features fiction, artwork, and essays that transcend the idea of Orcs as the enemy, instead considering their humanity.
Alliterative Verse for Arda by Rhunedhel
Part of our Themed Collection series for our newsletter, this collection features alliterative poems about Middle-earth.
Beyond the Silmarillion
[Artwork] Floating through the Forest River by Varda delle Stelle
Bilbo and Thorin's Company are arriving to Lake Town floating through the Forest River with the barrels
[Writing] The Wondrous Tale of the Bee-wolf by bunn
Once upon a time, JRR Tolkien wrote a fairy-tale retelling, an attempt to reconstruct an alternative version of the ancient poem called Beowulf, and he called it Sellic Spell: 'strange tale' or 'wondrous tale'.
Once upon a time, on the long road home from the Lonely…
[Writing] Dáin's Saga by bunn
The tale of Dáin Ironfoot, told loosely in the style of a saga of Iceland (in English translation).
Around the World and Web
Celebrimbor Week 2025
A Tumblr event celebrating Celebrimbor as he is depicted in all books and media.
June challenge at tolkienshortfanworks on Dreamwidth
The June challenge has been posted to the tolkienshortfanworks community on Dreamwidth: thematic prompt: reward - regard; formal challenge: alliteration. As always, these prompts can be filled separately or combined freely with other challenges that allow it.
Joyful June 2025
Joyful June is a fanworks event on Tumblr and AO3 where the goal is to let our favourite characters be happy.
Teitho May/June Challenge: Weddings
The theme for Teitho's May/June contest is "weddings."
Tolkien Ekphrasis Week 2025
This is a Tolkien-fandom-wide event dedicated to the art of ekphrasis in Tolkien's worlds. Its goal is to illuminate the artistic surroundings of the places, people, and stories we love, in as many media as possible.
New and Updated Fanworks
Include Beyond the Silmarillion Fanworks
{podfic} Lúthad "Enchantment" by Anérea
Melian and Thingol stand enchanted for two hundred years. Why could no one find them in all that time? And what did they see in each other to keep them entranced for so long?
| Major Characters: Melian, Elu Thingol |
| Major Relationships: Melian/Thingol |
| Genres: Podfic | Challenges: Jubilee, Kings & Queens, Love Actually |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on 15 February 2025 | Updated on 15 February 2025 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (0) |
Lúthad "Enchantment" {story + podfic + illustration} by Anérea
When Melian and Thingol met they silently stared at each other for two hundred years. What actually happened between them during that time? And why could no one find them?
| Major Characters: Elu Thingol, Melian |
| Major Relationships: Melian/Thingol |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet, Het, Romance, Podfic | Challenges: Arda on Ice, Jubilee, Kings & Queens, Love Actually |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on 16 August 2022 | Updated on 15 February 2025 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (2) |
Lúthad "Enchantment" by Anérea
When Melian and Thingol met they stood enchanted, staring at each other for two hundred years. Why could no one find them in all those years? And what actually happened between them during that time?
| Major Characters: Elu Thingol, Melian |
| Major Relationships: Melian/Thingol |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet, Het, Romance | Challenges: Arda on Ice |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 2 | Word Count: 447 |
| Posted on 12 April 2022 | Updated on 15 February 2025 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (14) |
Methed e-Lúthad "Enchantment's End" by Anérea
Melian and Thingol awake from their enchantment in Nan Elmoth.
| Major Characters: Elu Thingol, Melian |
| Major Relationships: Melian/Thingol |
| Artwork Type: Character/Portrait, Drawing/Painting, Illustration |
| Genres: Het, Romance | Challenges: Arda on Ice |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on 12 April 2022 | Updated on 15 February 2025 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (19) |
{podfic} Entwined by Anérea
First Age 116: in the foothills of the Orocani Mountains—west of Hildórien and far, far east of Beleriand.
Woman meets Maia in four 100-word drabbles
| Major Characters: Original Female Character(s), Original Male Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Podfic | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on 19 December 2024 | Updated on 15 February 2025 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (0) |
Gorthaur by elennalore
Artwork created for Mairon 30-Day Character Study
| Major Characters: Sauron |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Artwork Type: Character/Portrait, Drawing/Painting |
| Genres: | Challenges: 30-Day Character Study, Jubilee |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on 15 February 2025 | Updated on 15 February 2025 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (4) |
Dreams Fade at Dawn by Zdenka
Annatar sets off on a journey, challenging Celebrimbor to create something in his absence. Later, Celebrimbor uses the Ring of Air for the first time.
| Major Characters: Celebrimbor, Sauron |
| Major Relationships: Celebrimbor & Sauron |
| Genres: Experimental, General | Challenges: Competition, Jubilee |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 624 |
| Posted on 7 February 2025 | Updated on 14 February 2025 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Mirrormere by Flora-lass
O Kheled-zâram fair and wonderful!
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Poetry | Challenges: Jubilee, Manwë's Mailbag |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 74 |
| Posted on 14 February 2025 | Updated on 14 February 2025 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (8) |
Burning in the Darkness by Artano
Series of snippets focusing on Finrod and written for the Restoration & Rebuilding and Jubilee challenges
| Major Characters: Finrod Felagund, Beren |
| Major Relationships: Beren & Finrod |
| Genres: Ficlet | Challenges: Jubilee, Restoration and Rebuilding |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Character Death, Violence (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 181 |
| Posted on 10 February 2025 | Updated on 14 February 2025 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Chronology of Arda's Light-forms by Anérea
An illustrated infographic timeline of the various sources of illumination of Arda from its creation to the sun.
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Artwork Type: Graphic/Banner/Icon |
| Genres: | Challenges: Jubilee, Secret Gate, Tolkien Meta Week |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on 13 February 2025 | Updated on 13 February 2025 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (7) |
Mairon: 30-Day Character Study by elennalore
Ficlets and drabbles on Mairon written for 30-Day Character Study.
| Major Characters: Sauron |
| Major Relationships: Melkor/Sauron |
| Genres: Ficlet, Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: 30-Day Character Study, Jubilee |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 4 | Word Count: 416 |
| Posted on 3 January 2025 | Updated on 12 February 2025 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (7) |
The Songs of the Stars by Flora-lass
A meeting between a visually impaired singer and a flute-playing future king.
| Major Characters: Original Female Character(s), Thranduil |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet, Romance | Challenges: Jubilee, Orctober |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 436 |
| Posted on 11 February 2025 | Updated on 11 February 2025 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
With a Shiver, Without a Word by IdleLeaves
Maedhros closes the shutters, one by one. "You're late," he says, voice low but not unkind.
| Major Characters: Fingon, Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: Fingon/Maedhros |
| Genres: Ficlet | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 784 |
| Posted on 8 February 2025 | Updated on 9 February 2025 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Gnome Tome Linguistics Meme by Artano
A meme created for the prompt: ''It is false to make Dwarves [?uncreative] or poor linguists.'' for the Gnome Tome and Jubilee challenges
| Major Characters: Fëanor, Dwarves |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Artwork Type: Comic/Cartoon |
| Genres: General, Humor | Challenges: Gnome Tome, Jubilee |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on 8 February 2025 | Updated on 8 February 2025 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (6) |
The Songs: A Story of East Beleriand by Himring
In the early days of the Noldorin settlement in East Beleriand, an ominous arrival disturbs the peace of mind of Maedhros and his people.
| Major Characters: Original Female Character(s), Original Male Character(s), Maedhros, Noldor, Sindar |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: Breaking Boundaries |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 5 | Word Count: 7, 512 |
| Posted on 17 December 2017 | Updated on 8 February 2025 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
Solstice Shenanigans by Artano
Maglor prepares for the Winter Solstice celebration, but Elrond and Elros disagree with his choice of clothing.
Or: in which the Noldor invented waistcoats
| Major Characters: Maglor, Elrond, Elros |
| Major Relationships: Elrond & Elros & Maedhros & Maglor, Elrond & Elros, Elrond & Elros & Maglor, Maedhros & Maglor |
| Genres: Crackfic, Family, Fluff, General | Challenges: Jubilee, Words of Wit and Wisdom |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 971 |
| Posted on 7 February 2025 | Updated on 7 February 2025 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (6) |
The Last Word by Alassante
Boys will be boys and the middle Feanorian brothers take it a step too far.
2nd place winner of ALEC's (A Long Awaited Contest) September challenge - 'Don't Tell Me, I Don't Want To Know'
| Major Characters: Amras, Amrod, Caranthir, Celegorm, Curufin, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Humor, Slash/Femslash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 514 |
| Posted on 29 October 2008 | Updated on 3 February 2025 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (3) |
Dancing In The Dark by Grundy
History remembers Curufin as the villain. There are a few who think better of him.
Written for the Taboo challenge - will give warnings on chapters as appropriate.
| Major Characters: Curufin, Galadriel |
| Major Relationships: Curufin & Galadriel, Finrod & Gildor |
| Genres: | Challenges: Taboo |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 36 | Word Count: 113, 907 |
| Posted on 6 February 2017 | Updated on 3 February 2025 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (31) |
A pink flamingo by wisteria53
A drawing of a pink flamingo surrounded by yellow flowers.
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Artwork Type: Drawing/Painting |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on 7 February 2023 | Updated on 2 February 2025 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (1) |
Still time by wisteria53
“We are time's subjects, and time bids be gone.” – Henry IV Part II, William Shakespeare
Erestor really dislikes being late, and Glorfindel had agreed they would enter the Hall of Fire together. So why is his golden lover behind a curtain instead of by his side?
| Major Characters: Glorfindel, Erestor |
| Major Relationships: Erestor/Glorfindel |
| Genres: Fluff, General, Humor, Romance, Slash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 491 |
| Posted on 7 February 2023 | Updated on 2 February 2025 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Telperion by wisteria53
A quote from the Quenta Silmarillion, Chapter 1 for the Tolkien Reverse Summer Bang (artwork number 45 for TRSB 2024).
| Major Characters: Telperion |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Artwork Type: Calligraphy, Drawing/Painting |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on 26 August 2024 | Updated on 2 February 2025 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (2) |
Sun flowering by wisteria53
A quote from the Quenta Silmarillion, Chapter 13 for the Tolkien Reverse Summer Bang (artwork number 19 for TRSB 2024).
| Major Characters: Fingolfin |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Artwork Type: Calligraphy, Drawing/Painting |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on 26 August 2024 | Updated on 2 February 2025 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (1) |
In Defense of Celebrimbor by AdmirableMonster
An essay on the subject of Celebrimbor, sin, and pity.
| Major Characters: Celebrimbor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Nonfiction/Meta | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 854 |
| Posted on 1 February 2025 | Updated on 1 February 2025 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (5) |
The Prisoner and the Hobbit by pandemonium_213, Dreamflower
A prisoner in the Halls of Mandos, although grateful to be alive, nonetheless finds his days to be monotonous, that is, until a most unusual person, and one whose life was affected greatly by the prisoner's masterwork, accepts an offer to begin a correspondence.
| Major Characters: Bilbo Baggins, Sauron |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, Humor | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Expletive Language, Mature Themes |
| Chapters: 9 | Word Count: 62, 072 |
| Posted on 22 October 2011 | Updated on 30 January 2025 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (42) |
Promises by Erdariel
The night before the Last Alliance leaves Rivendell, Elendil has a conversation with Isildur's wife and leaves something in her keeping
| Major Characters: Elendil, Unnamed Female Canon Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: Elendil & Unnamed Canon Character |
| Genres: Family, General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 112 |
| Posted on 30 January 2025 | Updated on 30 January 2025 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
