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 ...
Sea Voyages
Create a fanwork that about or including a sea voyage. 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.
I cannot say how much I loved this. Caranthir and Haleth, whom I already shipped, were perfectly matched to one another. Their interactions and the slow slide into being husband-and-wife were believable and very cute. The difference in culture was just a detail that enriched the story enormously (especially when Fingolfin was scandalized at the very thought of half-Elven children ;).
I also like how, even despite it being a 'happy ending', not everyone survives. At first, of course, poor Maedhros, who only meant best, and second Celegorm and Curufin. I adore them (yes, I'm a huge Fëanorion apologist). I honestly thought at least Celegorm would not attempt to take the Silmarils, and I hoped Celebrimbor would calm his father enough for him to at least not jeopardize Maedhros' life.
Thank you so much for reading and for reviewing! So glad you enjoyed.
Yes, I too have a big thing for characters who are the least romantic and sentimental people in a story finding each other: but to be true to their business-like nature, it took them a while! And I like exploring the Edain/Noldor culture clash.
Ah the ending: I was very influenced by a series of posts that a user (http://lintamande.tumblr.com I think) did, making the case that whatever scenario you play out with the Silmarils and the Curse, something bad happens: you can't save some without dooming others!
This version is a worse case scenario for Curufin, and he takes Celegorm down with him. In this world, Maedhros, too, hopes that none of his brothers will make this choice: but he plans for the worst. Who can blame him?
I liked how things happen differently in your story but the results are more or less similar-ish: the Valar only listen to a half-elf, the army from the West comes to save the day, the Silmarils are retrieved, Maglor says his best words ("the less evil..."), Celegorm and Curufin do their bad thing and, of course, the Oath cannot be broken without dooming the oathbreaker. Poor Maedhros! He cannot seem to have a happy ending! Let's hope the twins' ship makes it to Valinor.
things happen differently in your story but the results are more or less similar-ish
Thank you so much for such a good comment: yes, exactly, the pattern reasserts itself!
And indeed, let us imagine the twins sailing hom to safety, where Nerdanel, at least can get some consolation from their return!
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Comments on Defiant Hope, Take Wing
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