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
[Artwork] Halls of Mandos maze by wisteria53
Created for TRSB 2026, art 45 features the various paths and areas of Námo's halls. The fic written for it will be posted in the TRSB 2026 collection after 5 September 2026.
[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.
Current Challenge
Random Challenge
New Beginnings
Create a fanwork that celebrates new beginnings. 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
Fair Ithil by Himring
Photo of moon in the night sky with surrounding clouds, captioned “Fair Ithil".
| Major Characters: Tilion |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Artwork Type: Photography |
| Genres: General | Challenges: Holiday Party |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (0) |
firelight by hanneswrites
Mairon & Melkor get married and have an overall fluffy time.
Featuring Wedding Fluff & Wedding Night Shenanigans.
| Major Characters: Melkor, Sauron |
| Major Relationships: Melkor/Sauron, Sauron & Original Character |
| Genres: Erotica, Fluff, Romance, Slash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Mature Themes, Sexual Content (Graphic) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 5, 179 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (1) |
Misty Mountains Tall by StarSpray
The road of the High Pass is blocked by boulders, but an attempted negotiation with the stone giant responsible goes unexpectedly sideways.
| Major Characters: Eluréd, Elurín |
| Major Relationships: Eluréd & Elurín |
| Genres: Adventure, General, Hurt/Comfort | Challenges: Arda on Ice |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 3, 904 |
| 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) |
Might As Well Dance by Grundy, polutropos, daughterofshadows, Anérea
Beren, Lúthien, and Huan circling each other, love, and doom.
| Major Characters: Beren, Huan, Lúthien Tinúviel |
| Major Relationships: Beren/Luthien, Beren & Huan, Huan & Lúthien |
| Genres: Ficlet | Challenges: Arda on Ice |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 4 | Word Count: 610 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Breathe Again by Lferion
Breathing as an exercise of Fea and Hroa both; three drabbles.
| Major Characters: Fingon |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: Arda on Ice |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 310 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
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Coming home by daughterofshadows
Gondolin is finally ready to welcome its people.
Among the buzz of moving in, a long awaited reunion takes place.
| Major Characters: Original Character(s), Original Female Character(s), Original Male Character(s), Original Nonbinary Character(s), Rog |
| Major Relationships: Rog & Original Character, Rog/Original Character |
| Genres: Family, Fluff | Challenges: Arda on Ice |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 762 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Gravity Is a Harsh Mistress by Grundy
Three drabbles on a theme for Arda On Ice.
| Major Characters: Curufin, Finrod Felagund, Turgon |
| Major Relationships: Curufin & Finrod & Turgon |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: Arda on Ice |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 3 | Word Count: 309 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (11) |
Arda on Ice stamp art by Lyra
You've heard of Lay of Leithian, the rock opera - now get ready for Lay of Leithian, the ice skating show. Well, not really. But when we were setting up the challenges for 2022, I couldn't help envisioning characters from the Lay of Leithian as skaters for the Arda on Ice challenge.
| Major Characters: Beren, Finrod Felagund, Lúthien Tinúviel, Orcs, Thuringwethil |
| Major Relationships: Beren/Luthien |
| Artwork Type: Drawing/Painting |
| Genres: Crossover, Humor | Challenges: Arda on Ice |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (14) |
Four times the Tirion Assistant Civil Registrar sighed at a name, and one time she nodded in approval by Chestnut_pod
Contrary to Luimiel’s nemesis, public opinion, it was not illegal to reuse names. How anyone ever thought a policy of strict non-repetition could work was beyond her. Sheer coincidence essentially guaranteed that there were multiple Sea Lovers or Green Jewels or Happy Women striding about Arda, blissfully unaware of their nominal compatriots across the continent, in the Halls, up a mountain retreat somewhere, or even, in these recently troubled times, beyond the Sea.
One very much could give one’s child a name that had been used before, and, frankly, Luimiel thought, looking across her desk at the unfortunate infant first in line to be registered today, she wished more people would.
| Major Characters: Original Female Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General, Humor | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 3, 925 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
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Reverse Death Spiral by Himring
Beren and Luthien.
| Major Characters: Beren, Lúthien Tinúviel |
| Major Relationships: Beren/Luthien |
| Genres: Poetry | Challenges: Arda on Ice |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 44 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (7) |
Whims of Time and Fate by QuillAndInkWrites
Towards the middle of the Second Age, a young Dwarf of the Longbeard royal line seeks out answers to the mysterious visions and memories she has begun to see over her waking sight — the answer may be right in front of her, written plainly in the histories of Durin I and his reincarnation, Durin II, but does she have the strength to follow the thread and accept the truth?
| Major Characters: Original Female Character(s), Original Male Character(s), Durin I, Durin III, Dwarves |
| Major Relationships: Durin III & Original Male Character, Durin III & Original Female Character |
| Genres: Family, General, Hurt/Comfort, Mystery | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 3 | Word Count: 10, 610 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (1) |
A Web of Stars by Idrils Scribe
Thranduil never forgave Elrond for Oropher's death at the Last Alliance, and a thousand years of diplomacy have failed to repair the rift between Rivendell and the Greenwood.
For his final, desperate attempt to seal the breach, Celeborn brings an unlikely ambassador: Arwen Undómiel.
Tauriel doesn't care for this foreign lady. Legolas begs to differ, and Arwen ... Arwen just wants an Adventure.
| Major Characters: Arwen, Legolas Greenleaf |
| Major Relationships: Arwen/Legolas |
| Genres: Adventure, Romance | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 12 | Word Count: 24, 005 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
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Maedhros by oshun
Maedhros is one of the most popular—and controversial—characters in The Silmarillion. The first part of this two-part biography considers his early years, before his capture and torment by Melkor, and how he was shaped by his years in Aman, his impetuous father, and the mediating influence of Nerdanel.
Go On As Three by Elwin Fortuna
Beren falls down a ravine and breaks his leg, but that's just the start of his good fortune.
| Major Characters: Beren, Celegorm, Lúthien Tinúviel |
| Major Relationships: Beren/Celegorm/Luthien |
| Genres: Adventure, Poly, Romance | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 5, 903 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
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I Choose a Mortal Life by Uvatha the Horseman
Elrond and Elros, who are Half-Elven and therefore able to choose whether to be mortal or immortal, choose very different fates.
| Major Characters: Elrond, Elros, Gil-galad |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, Humor | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 10 | Word Count: 4, 419 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
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The Loss of Tol Sirion by Uvatha the Horseman
Sauron battles Luthien the great hound Huan for Tol Sirion and loses everything but the shirt on his back. No, make that everything.
| Major Characters: Huan, Lúthien Tinúviel, Melkor, Sauron, Thuringwethil |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Humor | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Rape/Nonconsensual Sex |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 999 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
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The Battle of Sarn Ford by Uvatha the Horseman
In SA 1700, Sauron swept across Middle Earth on a mission to take the three Elven Rings from Gil-Galad. He was just as quickly swept back.
| Major Characters: Gil-galad, Sauron |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Humor | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 4, 835 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
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Sofa City by Uvatha the Horseman
After losing Isengard, Saruman has to sleep on a relative's couch.
| Major Characters: Saruman, Sauron, Witch-king of Angmar |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Humor | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 3, 609 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
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Our Most Beloved Star by Uvatha the Horseman
Six-year old Elrond and Elros are kidnapped by the Sons of Feanor and held for ransom in exchange for Luthien's Silmaril.
| Major Characters: Elrond, Elros, Maedhros, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, Humor | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 11 | Word Count: 5, 056 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
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Fëanor, The World's Worst Son-In-Law by Uvatha the Horseman
In which the sons of Feanor watch funny cat videos on the Palantir
| Major Characters: Ainur, Amras, Amrod, Aulë, Caranthir, Celegorm, Curufin, Maedhros, Maglor, Mahtan, Maiar, Nerdanel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Humor | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 12 | Word Count: 6, 908 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Diplomatic Relations by Uvatha the Horseman
50 years before the War of the Ring, the Mouth of Sauron is pranked by the Nazgul on his first day as Chief Ambassador for Mordor.
| Major Characters: Nazgûl, Sauron |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Humor | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 908 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
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Another Man's Trash by Uvatha the Horseman
The Ring has been destroyed, yet Barad-dur still stands. Saruman goes inside to search for anything Sauron might have left behind that will tell him how to make a Ring.
| Major Characters: Elrond, Gríma Wormtongue, Saruman, Sauron |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Humor | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 11 | Word Count: 12, 493 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
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Writing by Candlelight by Himring
Maedhros writes to Fingon.
| Major Characters: Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: Fingon/Maedhros |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 100 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
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Becoming Bookverse: Jackson's Films as an Initiation Point for Tolkien's Book Fandom by Dawn Walls-Thumma
As the debut of Amazon's Rings of Power series approaches, fans wonder how their Tolkien fandom communities will be changed by the new show. Using Tolkien Fanfiction Survey data, this article makes the case that, while Tolkien-based media franchises bring new fans to the fanfiction fandom, the stories those fans write become almost wholly book-based.
Starlight, Moonlight, light my sky tonight by Himring
Celeborn and Tom Bombadil watch the moon above the Ered Luin.
For the first time, Celeborn begins to have faith in the Second Age.
| Major Characters: Celeborn, Tom Bombadil |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 100 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
