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.
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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.
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.
[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] An Alluring Offer by octopus_fool
Tata is offered a solution to a grave problem, at a very low price...
[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] most days I don't recognize me by annarobots
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…
[Series] Eat, Pray, Love by AdmirableMonster
The Darkest Timeline AU for my Steampunk Númenor series.
In which the Mouth of Sauron is originally a Númenorean chemister rescued from Ar-Pharazôn's intimate attentions by Sauron himself.
[Writing] Rise from the Ashes by AdmirableMonster
In the wake of Sauron's death, his Mouth remembers Númenor.
Allusive
Choose from our list of allusions to history, literature, mythology, and art to create a fanwork. Read more ...
Also Appearing
Choose from 120 alternate universe prompts, both settings and genres, to inspire a fanwork. Read more ...
Speak Friend and Enter: Trends in Fandom Entry Year by Dawn Walls-Thumma
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.
[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…
LotR Week 2026
A week-long event for The Lord of the Rings
Finwëan Ladies Week 2026
Finwëan Ladies Week will run from September 21-27, 2026!
Fingon x Finrod x Maedhros Day 2026
A day to celebrate the relationship of the three eldest princes.
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.
Sometimes one can get lost in Tolkien's world and have it feel very much like our own and permit oneself to accept its magical element as plausible and reasonable. With this tale, you fly off into the realm of pure fairie--nothing ordinary or day-to-day about this setting. And yet you touch emotional truths that one can understand.
"Still, between her, Tilion and Eärendil there was nothing going on on Arda’s surface that at least one of them did not know about."
This is a very entertaining concept and interesting part of their interactions with the world and one another.
What I really like about Tolkien's world is that it is so enormous and immersive and it feels like anything's possible without the characters themseves being omniscient and emotionally so distant that they become unavailable.
The Sun and the Moon are visible to everyone, so why shouldn't everyone also be visible to the Sun and Moon? That was basically my reasoning. I'm glad you liked the idea!
I really like the idea of those three beoming friends--that Earendil's arrival helped to resolve the tension between Arien and Tilion.
It does seem to be the kind of task for which even a Maia might need some emotional support.
Such a sad glimpse of Nerdanel, coming to enquire after Maglor--and yet it's almost a comforting thought that at least she had Arien to ask about him.
Thank you! Three people dissolve the tension that can exists between two, and with time Eärendil's arrival calmed down the tempers of both Arien and Tilion. I think that once Tilion's crush (can we call it that?) faded, his behaviour returned to 'normal' and Arien saw the person underneath the nuisance.
Haha, I personally don't think the Ainur in gener are all that skilled when dealing with emotions, which was how Melkor was able to manipulate so many of them. (Part of Melkor's rebellion consisted of being in touch with his feelings and acting on them, I imagine).
Yes it is, isn't it? Despite being hailed as Cursed and Dispossessed Fëanorians, they are her children, as well and I think that is something people forget once they arrive in Beleriand. Arien feels Nerdanel's grief, and by extension empathizes with Maglor.
Oh, I loved this! Firstly, it's great to see Tilion and Arien interact (beyond his silly attempts to chase her and get his beautiful vessel burnt!) and also befriending Eärendil, but moreover because it gave so much thought to how this would work out in the long run! I never thought about how they might cope with everything they get to witness from above. The thought of Eärendil and Tilion as gossipers was as amusing as Nerdanel asking Arien about Maglor was heartbreaking. Loved the description of Arien's mansion and the thought you gave to the physical reality of the Maiar, too!
Thank you! It makes me so happy when people like my stories. Haha, with the phases of the moon and all I don't think Tilion will ever truly stop chasing Arien ;) It was the idea of Tilion and Eärendil as Arda's finest gossipers that made me choose Arien as a subject for this challenge! One day I will write a story about the two of them! I think that Tilion and Eärendil became really close; when Eärendil joined them in the sky, Tilion acted as his mentor, since they most often sailed together. Eventually that morphed into a brotherhood, and when Tilion and Arien made up, she joined them too. I don't think Eärendil would've been able to bear the weight of his duty without Tilion. I don't think that even the Valar can truly comprehend what an impact that can have, which made them find comfort with each other.
The interaction between Arien and Nerdanel almost wrote itself and I can't deny it made me shed a few tears as well ;)
oh, this is wonderful! A gentle, yet sad tale in its own way, but the friendship between Tilion and Earendil made me smile. And of course Tilion is still chasing Arien *wry grin* as though he could do anything else!
Arien feeling Nerdanel's pain made me cry for them both though. The things these Watchers of Arda must see...*wishes I could hug Arien, if she wouldn't burn me that is*
Donut: *perches on his Kaylee's shoulder and offers Arien a fish* Mine?
Hm :) silly seagull. but Donut has an interest in Earendil and Elwing, so that explains him poking in on my review, lol. *giggles*
Thank you for posting this wonderful story! :)
Thank you for the review! Arien, Tilion and Eärendil are the new trinity ;) and with the phases of the Moon being what they are, Tilion can hardly stop chasing her, now can he?
Arien is not really a people person, but nonetheless is deeply empathic. And you can hug her! As long as she's wearing her physical form, you are fine!
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Comments on Sunset to Sunrise
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