New Challenge: Allusive
Literature and art constantly refer back to each other using allusions, and this month's prompts are inspired by allusions to literature, myth, art, and history.
SWG News
Cultus Dispatches: "The Rings of Power" Is a Ripple (So Far)
Tolkien Fanfiction Survey data for 2025 shows that "The Rings of Power" TV series has not had the same impact on the fandom as the film trilogies did ... so far.
New Challenge: Building Middle-earth
Let global architecture be your inspiration in this challenge, where you will work with a prompts that are architectural styles, locations in Arda, or both.
Cultus Dispatches: Six Demographic Takeaways from the 2025 Tolkien Fanfiction Survey
Ten years of demographic data from the Tolkien Fanfiction Survey show consistencies in who reads and writes fanfiction, as well as a few key demographic shifts.
New & Updated Fanworks
[Writing] House of Finwë by softmoonlightmelody
One drabble per Finwëan. Currently on first and second generations.
[Writing] The Mirror Crack'd by AdmirableMonster
Rescued from a brutal Angband hunt, an ex-thrall with a strange and powerful artifact embedded in his spine is brought to Himring, for it is one of the only places in Beleriand which welcomes such folk. Though he has no memories of his life before, Anniavas slowly becomes accustomed to his new…
[Writing] From That Rubble by StarSpray
Fëanor shrugged, studying the contents of his wine glass. “Something must be done about that house. It will fall down eventually.”
“It does not follow that it must be you that tears it down single-handedly. Are you sure you do not want help?”
“It’s not as though I…
[Writing] A Thousand Winds that Blow by StarSpray
When uneasy dreams bring him back into Beleriand, Daeron finds a pair of twins who have lost their home, and an enemy who has lost himself. The Shadow's reach is growing ever longer, and if they are to survive, they must do it together.
[Writing] Into the West by Grundy
Dawn does not call sailing off into the unknown with a guy they've only known a few days a great plan.
[Writing] Explain This by Elrond's Library
Melkor demands an account of Mairon’s failures.
Current Challenge
Random Challenge
Jubilee
This January, for our annual amnesty challenge, any challenge from January 2017 onward is fair game! Read more ...
New in References
"The Rings of Power" Is a Ripple (So Far) by Dawn Walls-Thumma
The Lord of the Rings and Hobbit film trilogies mark perhaps the most influential events in the history of the Tolkien fanfiction fandom. As the Rings of Power show approaches its third season, data from the Tolkien Fanfiction Survey shows that it is not even close to matching the impact of the films ... yet.
Six Demographic Takeaways from the 2025 Tolkien Fanfiction Survey by Dawn Walls-Thumma
Data from the 2025 Tolkien Fanfiction Survey shows demographic changes in participant gender, age, and education and new revelations about neurodiversity.
Featured Themed Collection
Beyond the Silmarillion
[Artwork] A Memento of Faery by Grundy
TRSB26 art 144 - an artifact brought back from Faerie by a Starbearer.
[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…
Around the World and Web
Forgotten Ground Regained Features Tolkien-Inspired Alliterative Poetry
The quarterly journal "Forgotten Ground Regained" publishes alliterative poetry and, in Issue 11, turns to focus on poems written about Tolkien's world, including several pieces by SWG poets.
Sindar Week 2026
A Tolkien event week for the Sindar, the Grey-Elves, from the Years of the Trees to the Third Age.
Finwean Sibblings Prompt Fest 2026
A prompt-based fandom event aiming to focus on celebrating Finwë's children: Fëanor, Findis, Fingolfin, Lalwen, & Finarfin - ships, gen relationships, or character-centric
Tolkien Sapphic September
Tolkien Sapphic September is a month long event focusing on Sapphic relationships and characters in Tolkien and adjacent materials.
Gigolas Week 2026
Gigolas Week is a tumblr event focusing on the relationship between Legolas and Gimli
New and Updated Fanworks
Include Beyond the Silmarillion Fanworks
Cauldron of Fanfic: The Use of Jackson's Films in Constructing Tolkien-Based Fanfiction by Dawn Walls-Thumma
Peter Jackson's film trilogies become one of several text that writers of Tolkien-based fanfiction use in constructing their stories. This article considers how they select and use details from the films as inspiration, the reconcile the films and books, and to critique the films.
Pavane for a Horned Queen by Himring
An encounter far in the East.
One of the Kine of Araw responds to Daeron's music.
| Major Characters: Daeron, Kine of Araw |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Humor, Hurt/Comfort | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 807 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
The Library of Mandos by kimikocha
FIRST NOTICE: Library records show the following item(s) overdue. Please return or renew them as soon as possible to avoid further charges. Note that late fees for Dark Lords accrue at the rate of one (1) Silmaril per day.
Fëanor starts a library in Mandos. The question of the day: Which member of the Arda Evil League of Evil borrowed Twilight and forgot to return it?
| Major Characters: Fëanor, Fingon, Melkor, Sauron |
| Major Relationships: Melkor/Sauron, Fingon/Maedhros |
| Genres: Alternate Universe, Crackfic, Humor | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 5, 501 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
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A System of Messages by AdmirableMonster
A wandering storyteller meets with a group of cowboys and tells his family's history around a fire; the mysterious Center (of the system of messages, perhaps) features prominently.
For the "Western" prompt of the Also Appearing challenge with a slight admixture of something akin to "uranium mine" or perhaps "pyramids"
| Major Characters: Halbarad, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: Maglor/Halbarad |
| Genres: Alternate Universe | Challenges: Also Appearing |
| Rating: Creator Chooses Not to Rate | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 824 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (7) |
Antarctica by elennalore
Thou shalt lead and I will follow. Saying those words, Nolofinwë had not guessed that his brother would lead him all the way to Antarctica.
| Major Characters: Fëanor, Fingolfin |
| Major Relationships: Fëanor & Fingolfin |
| Genres: Alternate Universe | Challenges: Also Appearing |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Animal Abuse |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 458 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
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But Not Always Sweet by Grundy
A collection of short responses, both drabbles and ficlets, to the prompts for the Vintage challenge.
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: Vintage |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 4 | Word Count: 2, 014 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (8) |
Ilverien by Lferion
Maedhros, Ilverien, and infant Erien are due to return, after having been away for two months. Fingon prepares for his spouses' arrival.
| Major Characters: Original Character(s), Erien, Fingon, Littleheart, Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: Fingon & Maedhros, Fingon/Maedhros, Fingon/Littleheart/Maedhros |
| Genres: Erotica, Family, Fixed-Length Ficlet, Fluff, Het, Poetry, Poly, Slash | Challenges: Vintage |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Sexual Content (Mild), Sexual Content (Moderate), Sexual Content (Graphic) |
| Chapters: 5 | Word Count: 3, 424 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
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Meanwhile by Lferion
Life among the Noldor, in the Fourth Age, Elrond musing on custom, courting, popular songs and other such matters.
| Major Characters: Elrond, Gimli, Legolas Greenleaf |
| Major Relationships: Celebrían & Elrond, Celebrían/Elrond, Gimli & Legolas, Gimli/Legolas |
| Genres: Family, Fixed-Length Ficlet, Fluff, Poetry, Romance, Slash | Challenges: Vintage |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 6 | Word Count: 1, 400 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
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| This fanwork is complete. |
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SWG Vintage Challenge by Lferion
25 chapters assembled into five stories. Each chapter fills four prompts, one from each of the four cards in the SWG May 2022 Vintage Bingo Challenge, for a total of 100 prompts filled.
The five stories are not all in the same continuity/universe -- for one thing, Ilverien and Red Crow cannot coexist, though there are elements they have in common -- but all of them can be read as part of an overall set of ideas.
| Major Characters: Elrond, Elwing, Fingon, Gimli, Legolas Greenleaf, Littleheart, Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, Family, Fixed-Length Ficlet, General, Poetry, Poly, Slash | Challenges: Vintage |
| Warnings: No warnings apply | |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
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Free Press by Lferion
Four colleagues work together on increasingly complex challenges in storytelling.
| Major Characters: Original Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Comic Strip, Drama, Fixed-Length Ficlet, General, Poetry | Challenges: Vintage |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 3 | Word Count: 1, 542 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (3) |
Red Crow by Lferion
Glimpses of life in Aman, after the events of arriviste's void junk and Idrils_Scribe's Wings of White and Silver-grey.
| Major Characters: Elrond, Elwing, Fingon, Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: Fingon & Maedhros, Fingon/Maedhros |
| Genres: Drama, Family, Fixed-Length Ficlet, General, Poetry, Slash | Challenges: Vintage |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Violence (Mild) |
| Chapters: 4 | Word Count: 2, 467 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
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| This fanwork is complete. |
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| Major Characters: Original Character(s), Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet, General, Poetry, Science Fiction | Challenges: Vintage |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 7 | Word Count: 1, 931 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
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| This fanwork is complete. |
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Candles and Confidences by grey_gazania
Elrond and Gil-galad play a game and discuss some painful truths about their families.
| Major Characters: Elrond, Gil-galad |
| Major Relationships: Elrond & Gil-galad |
| Genres: General | Challenges: Vintage |
| Rating: Creator Chooses Not to Rate | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 479 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
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| This fanwork is complete. |
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Music for the Breaking of the Heart by StarSpray
Daeron first fell in love beneath the dark tree-shadows of Neldoreth, not far from the starlit waters of the Esgalduin.
| Major Characters: Daeron |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Ficlet, Fluff, General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 581 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
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Down to the Harbor by grey_gazania
A Círdan fanmix.
| Major Characters: Círdan |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Music | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
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Wrapped Up in Books by grey_gazania
Scenes from the lives of Caranthir and his wife Parmacundë.
| Major Characters: Original Character(s), Original Female Character(s), Caranthir |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Warnings: No warnings apply | |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
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Wrapped Up in Books: A Fanmix by grey_gazania
A fanmix for Caranthir and Parmacundë, his wife.
| Major Characters: Unnamed Canon Character(s), Caranthir |
| Major Relationships: Caranthir/Unnamed Canon Character |
| Genres: Music | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on | Updated on |
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| This fanwork is complete. |
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The World Is Wide by grey_gazania
A Nellas fanmix.
| Major Characters: Nellas |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Music | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
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Russingon playlist by firstamazon
I've selected these songs thinking about Fingon and Maedhros' relationship. I have tried to put them in an order that would convey how I see their growing closeness, then their separation at Losgar, Maedhros' imprisonment in Angband, and, finally, their (happy) reunion :)
| Major Characters: Fingon, Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: Fingon/Maedhros |
| Genres: Music (Bossa Nova) | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (2) |
Letters to the West by daughterofshadows
Erferil writes letters to someone who once was very dear to her.
And even if Amrûn cannot reply, the letters still comfort her.
| Major Characters: Original Female Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Ficlet | Challenges: Vintage |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 506 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
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Shadow'd from Heaven's Eye by kimikocha
Mairon is seduced during the Years of the Lamps.
| Major Characters: Melkor, Sauron |
| Major Relationships: Melkor/Sauron |
| Genres: Slash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings, Mature Themes, Rape/Nonconsensual Sex, Sexual Content (Moderate), Violence (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 959 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
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The Kids Are All Right Outtakes by grey_gazania
Scenes that didn't make it into "The Kids Are All Right", whether because I couldn't make them fit or because they were from the wrong POV.
| Major Characters: Original Male Character(s), Unnamed Female Canon Character(s), Celebrimbor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Alternate Universe, General | Challenges: Vintage |
| Rating: Creator Chooses Not to Rate | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 2 | Word Count: 1, 501 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
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A Momentary Pause in the Act of Death by grey_gazania
It wasn't supposed to end like this.
A short scene in Doriath.
| Major Characters: Curufin, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Experimental | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Creator Chooses Not to Rate | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 236 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
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Family by grey_gazania
Elrond has an uncomfortable conversation with one of Maedhros' followers.
| Major Characters: Original Female Character(s), Elrond |
| 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: 1, 657 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
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Fathoms Below by Raiyana
Uinen moves, fluid as water, sinuous as a snake, her limbs – green-webbed fingers longer than fingers ought to be, skin decorated with the lumps of pale barnacles clinging to her, a body that is thick and feels strangely nurturing in a sense he does not quite understand, ending in a mass of squid-like tentacles each thicker than his legs – flowing like she is following her own current.
Ossë laughs, high and bright, and an elf-shaped hand darts into view, gripping his shoulder. The bruise beneath flares to life, hot and painful, and the best reminder than this is no drowning-dream.
He is fathoms below, dropped into the depths of the sea.
| Major Characters: Maglor, Ossë, Uinen |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 656 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
