Founded in 2005, the Silmarillion Writers' Guild exists for discussions of and creative fanworks based on J.R.R. Tolkien's The Silmarillion and related texts. We are a positive-focused and open-minded space that welcomes fans from all over the world and with all levels of experience with Tolkien's works. Whether you are picking up Tolkien's books for the first time or have been a fan for decades, we welcome you to join us!
Character of the Month: Marach There are few details in the texts about Marach, but he is noteworthy for his allegiances and his descendants, who would become pivotal to the history of Middle-earth and the eventual defeat of Morgoth and Sauron.
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.
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.
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…
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…
Of course, she knew that in the Blessed Land, true harm was unlikely to come to him. The Valar watched over them all, and the lesser spirits were everywhere. It was a great hound of Oromë who had found him happily splashing in the creek, in fact. But anyone could drown in mere…
Across three surveys and ten years, the Tolkien Fanfiction Survey has document when authors began writing. These data reveal trends in how film promotions, the films themselves, the books, and other historical contexts have influenced not only who writes but how long they stay.
Current Challenge
Allusive
Choose from our list of allusions to history, literature, mythology, and art to create a fanwork. Read more ...
Across three surveys and ten years, the Tolkien Fanfiction Survey has document when authors began writing. These data reveal trends in how film promotions, the films themselves, the books, and other historical contexts have influenced not only who writes but how long they stay.
There are few details in the texts about Marach, but he is noteworthy for his allegiances and his descendants, who would become pivotal to the history of Middle-earth and the eventual defeat of Morgoth and Sauron.
A dissenting voice in Marach's alliance with the Elves of Beleriand, Amlach experiences a change of mind after a mysterious twist in the story reorients his priorities toward enmity with Morgoth.
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…
The Silmarillion Writers' Guild is more than just an archive--we are a community! If you enjoy a fanwork or enjoy a creator's work, please consider letting them know in a comment.
This is lovely, Himring, I like the travel toward Himring very much. Seems an arduous and difficult way to travel now, but must have given people time to think, which sometimes one can feel is lacking the way we live now.
"‘It would be a worse fate not to be allowed to love him’, answered Fingon silently."
Such a simple line and so beautiful. Beautifully satisfying story, my dear!
I'm so glad you found it satisfying! I was afraid it might be a little too fragmentary.
And I'm happy you like that line!
We have lost our feeling for distances, rather--until the inevitable moments when technology fails or breaks down. Yes, it would have given people a lot of time to think.
There are occasions when clearly Fingon and Maedhros would have been very happy to be able to move more quickly or at least communicate by telephone--although Morgoth no doubt would have had the lines cut or blocked or at least hacked!
Ah, indeed these can be read as "a story on their own"... and the thing that makes them bearable for the reader is knowing that someday there will be Tirion again for Fingon and Maedhros,. But of course they can't know that, can they?
At this time they are not even sure that they will be with each other in Middle-earth again, depending on whether Morgoth is already planning another attack--not even Fingon dreams of Tirion, let alone Maedhros. But nevertheless, they will be there together, one day...
This was so lovely! Everything with Fingon is, because he is a darling. I can see why Maedhros fell in ove with him.
But as usual, you never lets us forget about the danger they face: from Morgoth, form the Oath, from being found out. That always makes little happy snippets like this one stand out.
Oh, these two. *sniffle* This really makes me ache for them, all those miles and centuries of separation. So glad you did give them this one week at least!
There is a lot of separation, yes--and I guess this story makes it sound particularly bad.
That one week seems a bit cruel, in retrospect, although it's been a feature of the series from the start. The underlying idea is that, while Maedhros can leave Himring in Maglor's care at a pinch, Fingon doesn't seem to have anyone he can safely delegate Hithlum to in the insecure situation after the Bragollach. That is, assuming that Hurin doesn't usually command Noldor--which for some reason I have the impression he didn't. So Fingon can't afford a long absence at this stage and for the political purposes a week is just about enough.
This being a short time after the Bragollach, a traumatic time for both of them, they're not relying on anything at this point, but in fact, Maedhros is going to manage to make the trip to Hithlum a couple more times before the Nirnaeth.
Before the Bragollach, during the Siege, it had always Maedhros who went west to take part in his uncle's councils--and he had been oddly shy about inviting Fingon east--which explains Fingon's reaction at finally being invited.
Of course, all that still adds up to a great deal of separation...
I so love the little detail of the head resting on the shoulder, especially when it comes back at the end. So many times, a seemingly insignificant gesture can be the most important part of a relationship.
Comments on The Stars over Aglon
The Silmarillion Writers' Guild is more than just an archive--we are a community! If you enjoy a fanwork or enjoy a creator's work, please consider letting them know in a comment.