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] The Last of the Old Gods by AdmirableMonster
Two members of the crew of the starship Vérië land on the planet Andúnië, investigating a location of interest called The Sleeping Garden.
(Introducing: a Space Opera Númenor AU. Let's be real, it was only a matter of time.)
[Writing] Amid the Wrack by Isilme_among_the_stars
After Ancalagon is cast down Eärendil seeks out his sons and Elrond grapples with the feelings the meeting brings.
Written for Tolkien Sea Week 2026: Day 5 - family
[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] 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] A Gift by Elrond's Library
Findekáno sets out to retrieve Maitimo.
[Reference] Grief, Grieving, and Permission to Mourn in the "Quenta Silmarillion" by Dawn Walls-Thumma
In a book as full of death as the Quenta Silmarillion, grief and mourning are surprisingly absent. The characters who receive grief and mourning—and those who don't—appear to do so due to narrative bias. Grief and mourning (or a lack of them) serve to draw attention toward and…
[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.
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
All Good Beasts
Create a fanwork featuring an animal. Show how important a beloved animal is to a character or tell a story through the eyes of an animal. Read more ...
New in References
Grief, Grieving, and Permission to Mourn in the "Quenta Silmarillion" by Dawn Walls-Thumma
In a book as full of death as the Quenta Silmarillion, grief and mourning are surprisingly absent. The characters who receive grief and mourning—and those who don't—appear to do so due to narrative bias. Grief and mourning (or a lack of them) serve to draw attention toward and away from objectionable actions committed by characters.
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.
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
An unexpected journey - getting into the Tolkien fandom by daughterofshadows
A short exploration of my time in the Tolkien fandom: How did I get here, why did I stay, what did I learn.
For the Middle-earth Olympics Diving prompt.
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Nonfiction/Meta | Challenges: Middle-earth Olympics |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 871 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
Stars Less Strange: An Analysis of Fanfiction and Representation within the Tolkien Fan Community by Dawn Walls-Thumma
Originally presented at the 2021 Tolkien Society Seminar "Tolkien and Diversity," this paper considers the historical and current use of fanfiction to address issues of representation in Tolkien’s canon.
The tragedy of Sirion by Aprilertuile
The feanorians attack Sirion.
This story follows oath awakened
| Major Characters: Amras, Amrod, Elrond, Elros, Elwing, Maedhros, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Adventure | Challenges: Middle-earth Olympics |
| Rating: General | Warnings: In-Universe Racism/Ethnocentrism, Violence (Mild) |
| Chapters: 2 | Word Count: 2, 628 |
| 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) |
[podfic] The foam like flowers on the shore by Chestnut_pod
They have no choice but to build a life together.
| Major Characters: Idril, Nimloth |
| Major Relationships: Idril/Nimloth |
| Genres: Podfic | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings, In-Universe Racism/Ethnocentrism |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (0) |
Desmemoria by UnnamedElement
How does one explain to one’s children the horror of what one has seen and done? Thranduil wrestles with how to tell Legolas about the history of their folk and, with his wife’s encouragement, he revisits the testimony of the Sindarin refugees collected by Oropher, in preparation. Locked away in secret archives or not, the past is never really past, and even children can outsmart memory.
| Major Characters: Original Character(s), Original Female Character(s), Legolas Greenleaf, Maglor, Oropher, Thranduil |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, Family | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Character Death, Mature Themes, Violence (Graphic) |
| Chapters: 2 | Word Count: 7, 165 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Then and now, Maglor's thoughts on Celegorm by Aprilertuile
Maglor observes his brother Celegorm, and can't help but think of the differences now, after Nargothrond, compared to before, in Aman.
| Major Characters: Celegorm, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: Middle-earth Olympics |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 188 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (7) |
Breakfast with Sparrow by chrissystriped
An elf shares his breakfast with a sparrow.
| Major Characters: Original Male Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Alternate Universe, Ficlet, General | Challenges: Middle-earth Olympics |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 160 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (6) |
Feast of the Hunter by chrissystriped
In the Greenwood a contest is held each autumn to choose the Leader of the Hunt.
| Major Characters: Thranduil |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Ficlet, General | Challenges: Middle-earth Olympics |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 566 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (6) |
A harpist's injury by Aprilertuile
Child Makalaurë is just learning to play the harp, and as all students do at times, he overdid it...
Inspired by a real-time event, harp strings are pure evil.
| Major Characters: Fëanor, Maedhros, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Family | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 028 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Vengeance is Mine by chrissystriped
An elf escapes from Angband and earns himself a new name.
| Major Characters: Rog |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Ficlet | Challenges: Middle-earth Olympics |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings, Violence (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 705 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
last made but first planned by Chestnut_pod
That was how it had begun, that hope for a tangible reminder of the past, of victory and hope against the odds. Two candles then for what was lost, and wine and bread for those still living.
| Major Characters: Eärendil, Elwing |
| Major Relationships: Eärendil/Elwing |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 754 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
The Teleri Times. by hennethgalad
Controversy rages at the Games as the House of Fëanor is accused of using performance enhancing drugs.
| Major Characters: Elves, Fëanor, Finarfin, Fingolfin, Fingon, Ingwë, Míriel Serindë, Nerdanel, Sons of Fëanor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: Middle-earth Olympics |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 441 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
Death of the Last-King by Kaylee Arafinwiel
Arvedui Last-King found second love in the frozen lands of the North. Now, though, he has determined to go home, despite his lover's misgivings. Is braving the Ice Bay worth the risk when Angmar's sorcerer King is on the move?
| Major Characters: Original Female Character(s), Arvedui |
| Major Relationships: Arvedui/Original Character |
| Genres: Het, Romance | Challenges: Middle-earth Olympics |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Character Death, Mature Themes, Violence (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 400 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (9) |
Of Peredhil and Seagulls by Kaylee Arafinwiel
Adolescent Earendil and Elwing have a conversation by the sea-wall, interrupted by a rather adorable friend.
| Major Characters: Eärendil, Elwing |
| Major Relationships: Eärendil/Elwing, Elwing & Original Character |
| Genres: General, Romance | Challenges: Middle-earth Olympics |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 208 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (8) |
Just bruises by daughterofshadows
In which Nerdanel tries to sneak some cookies and takes a small tumble. Luckily, Papa is there to help!
| Major Characters: Mahtan, Nerdanel |
| Major Relationships: Mahtan & Nerdanel |
| Genres: Family, Ficlet, Fluff | Challenges: Middle-earth Olympics |
| 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 (8) |
By the Lake of Lorellin by Kaylee Arafinwiel
Melian, scrying in the lake of Lorellin, sees a troubling sight - and her great-granddaughter is equally troubled by the repetition of troubles throughout her life and their people's.
| Major Characters: Celebrían, Elwing, Melian |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, Family | Challenges: Middle-earth Olympics |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Mature Themes, Violence (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 266 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
[podfic] Three times, the forge by Chestnut_pod
Celebrimbor kisses Narvi. Narvi kisses Celebrimbor. Somehow, Celebrimbor is still perplexed.
| Major Characters: Celebrimbor, Narvi |
| Major Relationships: Celebrimbor/Narvi |
| Genres: Podfic | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Sexual Content (Mild) |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (4) |
Republic of Tirion by Dawn Felagund
It is Aman. It is the Fifth Age. Finally left to his own devices, Finarfin has decided to show his own radical streak, unkinged himself, and established representative democracy in Tirion against the will of the Valar. Adding to the crazy, all his exiled, slain relatives are beginning to return from Mandos ...
| Major Characters: Amarië, Anairë, Caranthir, Finarfin, Fingon, Finrod Felagund, Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Warnings: No warnings apply | |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (0) |
[podfic] The White Tower by Chestnut_pod, Anna_Wing
Amrod and Amras, reborn in Valinor, come to see Elwing. Podfic of Anna_Wing's story.
| Major Characters: Amras, Amrod, Eärendil, Elwing |
| Major Relationships: Eärendil/Elwing |
| Genres: Family, General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 7 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
The Return of the King by Kaylee Arafinwiel
The Eglath were lost without Elwe. But eventually, they found him. What did that reunion look like? Let's find out.
| Major Characters: Doriathrim, Elmo, Elu Thingol, Elves, Mablung, Melian |
| Major Relationships: Melian/Thingol |
| Genres: Adventure, General | Challenges: Middle-earth Olympics |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 485 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (5) |
Oath awakened by Aprilertuile
In Sirion, Elwing has a Silmaril in her possession... And in Amon Ereb, The Oath is awakening in the remaining sons of Feanor.
| Major Characters: Amras, Amrod, Elwing, Maedhros, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: Middle-earth Olympics |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 356 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
Anathema by Harnatano - Lithenna
From their flight from Himlad to their flight from Nargothrond, Celegorm and Curufin have to face the abyss of their defeat, the bitterness of their broken pride, and the tempting shadows of greed. Through envy, frustration, pain and resentment, they have to choose which path to follow, not yet aware that their choices will affect all the people of Beleriand.
Curufin's pov.
Canon based, more like a personal combination between the different versions given in HoME and the Silmarillion.
| Major Characters: Original Male Character(s), Beleg, Celebrimbor, Celegorm, Curufin, Fëanor, Finrod Felagund, Huan, Orodreth |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Adventure, Drama | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Character Death, Suicide, Violence (Mild) |
| Chapters: 14 | Word Count: 58, 725 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
Museum for the Forgotten by Dawn Felagund
It's the Fifth Age. Tirion has developed suburban sprawl, and psychotherapists are in high demand. An unkinged Finarfin experiments with political radicalism and has turned the palace into a memorial of the kinslaying. Amarië composes beat poetry. And Finrod has been reembodied into a world and among people he barely recognizes. Dark humor, for Kenaz for the Around the Fire challenge.
| Major Characters: Amarië, Caranthir, Finarfin, Finrod Felagund |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, Humor | Challenges: Around the Fire |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Mature Themes, Violence (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 9, 824 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (16) |
The Sandglass Runs by Dawn Felagund, NelyafinweFeanorion
In Fifth Age Tirion, Caranthir has been reembodied into a changed world: his uncle has unkinged himself and turned Tirion into a republic, Elves live in suburbs and seek psychotherapy, and the Noldor born after his exile have invented all kinds of wondrous things. One day, Caranthir receives a letter that he is being entrusted to mentor his newly reembodied cousin Orodreth. They must not only resolve their old enmity but achieve a tenuous friendship--maybe even more?--as both seek the peace and acceptance they never found in their prior lives. Written for TRSB 2019, based on the artwork by NelyafinweFeanorion.
| Major Characters: Amarië, Caranthir, Orodreth |
| Major Relationships: Caranthir/Orodreth, Amarië & Caranthir |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Character Death, Expletive Language, Mature Themes, Sexual Content (Moderate), Violence (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 15 | Word Count: 23, 781 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
[podfic] Spin Songs for the Sea by Chestnut_pod, heget
Eärwen as a young maiden of the Swan-haven, surrounded and supported by family, and the intersection of song and spinning thread.
| Major Characters: Eärwen |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Podfic | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (0) |
