New Challenge: Crossroads of the Fallen King
Cross "The Silmarillion" with a second text or fandom in this month's crossover challenge.
SWG News
A Sense of History: Thálatta! Thálatta!
While he never climbs the stairs of this Elf-tower, in Lothlórien Frodo Baggins descends a flight of steps to look into Galadriel’s Mirror, wherein he first sees the sea. This post examines the view.
Choose a Name for Our New Column!
Our temporarily titled "location bio" will focus on the landscapes and locations of Middle-earth. We need your help naming it!
New Challenge: Tengwar
Each day for thirty-six days, we feature a randomly chosen letter from the Tengwar as a prompt.
New & Updated Fanworks
[Writing] On a night of stars, a bird by Quente
Nimloth and Dior meet, and he is naked.
Alternatively,
Melian travels south to visit her daughter, and meets a familiar looking bird.
Written for the Tengwar prompt, Quessë (feather).
[Writing] Apprentice by Quente
Dior is in Menegroth learning to be his grandfather's heir -- but his grandmother decides to take him as apprentice too.
Written for the Tengwar Challenge, May 15: Súlë (spirit).
[Writing] Tengwar: To The Letter by cuarthol
For the Tengwar prompt challenge.
All 36 prompts plus bonus chapter
[Writing] A blip on the radar by daughterofshadows
Humanity took to the skies. Eärendil and Ilmarë adjust.
[Writing] History abandons us by AdmirableMonster
During his incarceration in Roderick Burgess' basement, Dream receives a strange, ancient visitor.
[Writing] Tengwar Acrostics by Himring
Responses to the Tengwar Challenge in which first letters spell out the name of a tengwa.
1) Early Encounter (Nerdanel, Indis)
2) Numenorean Lullaby (Almarian, Aldarion)
[Writing] Tengwar Drabbles by cílil
A collection of Silmarillion-centric drabbles written for the Tengwar Challenge. Short and sweet!
Current Challenge
Crossroads of the Fallen King
Create a fanwork that crosses with a second text or fandom. Read more ...
Tengwar
A daily prompt of a Tengwar letter per day. Read more ...
Random Challenge
Songs of Arda
Create a fanwork about music. Read more ...
New in References
Thálatta! Thálatta! by Simon J. Cook
[]While he never climbs the stairs of this Elf-tower, in Lothlórien Frodo Baggins descends a flight of steps to look into Galadriel’s Mirror, wherein he first sees the sea. This post examines the view.
[]
With Gildor Inglorion we finally climb the stairs of Elostirion and look on the view, and what we see appears to reveal a hidden thread in the story of Frodo Baggins. This post reads two annotated translations of two Elvish songs to step through a crossroads in the narrative to arrive at the tower on the margin of the story, wherein is a stone that is a window onto Valinor.
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.
Beyond the Silmarillion
[Writing] Waybread (The Waybredlik) by Himring
[]Lembas speaks out.
[Series] Apr 1st Stories by Uvatha the Horseman
[]Once a year on April 1st, a canon character from LOTR or the Silmarillion gets pranked.
[Writing] Crossing Forest River by Dawn Felagund
[]Bilbo recounts, in verse, the attempt of Gandalf, Beorn, and him to cross the Forest River after the Battle of Five Armies. Written for the Hungarian Tolkien Society's 2024 Mailing Competition.
Around the World and Web
Mythcon 53: Fantasies of the Middle Lands
Mythcon 53 will be held 2-5 August 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with the theme "Fantasies of the Middle Lands."
Teitho May/June Challenge: Joker
For the May/June Teitho challenge, you can pick ANY of our past challenges that stir your imagination and write a story or create art for it.
Monstrous May 2024
Monstrous May is a Tumblr event where, for each day of the month of May, there is a prompt involving and invoking the monstrous.
Fellowship of the Fics: Modern AU May
During May, Fellowship of the Fics offers modern AU prompt lists for setting, character occupation, and dialogue on Tumblr.
May challenge at tolkienshortfanworks
The May challenge has been posted to the tolkienshortfanworks community on Dreamwidth. Thematic challenge: name; formal challenge: acrostic. As usual, these can be filled independently and freely combined with other prompts such as the SWG challenges. New participants welcome!
The Silmarillion TV Series by AndyC
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Season 1, Episode 1, Part 5
PART FIVE
SCENE NINE
INT. UTUMNO, THRONE ROOM
[Cavernous, but shaped into a huge chamber. Darkness beyond the camera in all directions other than the defined elements here: A throne on a dais, with werewolves slinking around. Melkor sits on the throne, his chin in his hand. Terrible and huge, the Lord of Utumno regards Sauron, who is kneeling before him.
Melkor (Rufus Sewell?):
You should have held out longer at Angband. You failed me there.
Sauron:
My Lord, we held as long as we could. Tulkas was there, and Oromë, and Ulmo, and even Manwë himself – with a full Host of Maiar. We might – we might have held if we had received reinforcements.
Melkor:
You question me? You would not have held. You would have lost eventually. They would always have got through but you were supposed to make them pay more than they did!
[There is a loud boom and the throneroom shakes. Melkor arches a brow]
Your former master is throwing his weight around. Aulë was never subtle.
[Sauron continues to bow his head. Melkor’s lip turns into a sneer – he’s taking it out on someone who can’t fight back]
I hear the breeding slaves have new names for you when you’re not around.
[Sauron glances up with what might be a flash in his eye, but bows his head again]
‘Gorthaur’ is one, isn’t it?
Sauron:
I am told it means ‘The Cruel’. I think I like it.
Melkor:
How about the one about your smell? Are you as fond of that? ‘Sauron’. The Stench. Stinker.
Sauron (even with his head bowed, he scowls):
No, Master.
Melkor:
I think your original name is long gone, my apprentice. Not even Aulë would call you Admirable now. Although I still may find you so. May.
[Booming and more violent shaking. Sauron glances up and looks worried. Melkor notices]
Fear not, apprentice. My servants above are doing well. The Valar haven’t broken through as yet, and even if they ever do, they will have to face me directly.
[His expression becomes a leer]
I’d like to see what that oaf Tulkas can do without the benefit of surprise.
[Sauron looks unconvinced, but Melkor doesn’t notice his expression]
Sauron:
Master – why do you not help with the battle directly?
Melkor (laughs):
Sometimes I forget how limited lesser beings can be. I am helping. Every moment. You didn’t think even the Balrogs had as much power as I’m expending up there? I’m holding off the combined power of all the Valar simultaneously – which will leave them without much in reserve when the counterattack begins!
[His expression becomes more serious]
Apprentice – your projects are still not mature enough to help.
Sauron (quickly):
Your projects first, master. I’m just helping with them.
Melkor:
Not quickly enough, though. Maybe if we hold for a few more years of their Accursed Trees you’ll have accelerated another generation to adulthood – but their numbers are still far too few.
[He looks thoughtful – pensive for the first time]
No – if they do get through, and even, unthinkably, defeat me, they will not destroy me. I will return. Somehow. Your role will be to prepare against that day. If they come close to breaking through, do not join in the fight. If the Balrogs cannot turn the tide, you will not make the difference. Hide. And prepare.
--
SCENE TEN
EXT. CUIVENEN.
[The flashes of light, blasts of fire, booms, rumbles, and shaking earth are near-constant. Finn, El, and Ingar are walking silently among their people, trying to keep them calm with their presence]
CUT TO
EXT. UTUMNO.
Mountains under twilight levels of light, blasted and thrown down. Snow and ice explosions. The camera pans out, backwards and upwards, high, high up. We see the Host of Valar and Maiar from a tremendous distance, encircling the hugeness of Utumno, a train of flames leaping towards the centre-most point: a sapphire dot. The flames can be resolved into seven point sources, with further dark points trailing them. Pits of fire and devastation are widespread, more opening, as Utumno convulses and pits are unroofed.
Close up of Manwë looking calm and slicing horizontally with his sword. A blast of wind and sheets of lightning destroy the Balrogs
CUT TO
INT. UTUMNO, THRONEROOM
Sauron:
Master. They are breaking through. The Balrogs have been withered and swept aside by the Sword of Manwë and Aulë is forcing the Gates of Utumno at last.
Melkor:
Flee and hide, my servant. I will confront them.
[Pauses]
Wait. Take this. If the Balrogs have fallen, they will need help.
[He hands Sauron an ugly, twisted metal-and-crystal rod]
Sauron:
Yes, my Lord.
[He stands, takes the rod, bows, and steps back, fading into the darkness]
CUT TO
EXT. CUIVENEN, WATERFRONT
[The Elves have all assembled and are silently waiting. Ingar, Finn, and El are standing in front of them. Finn and El exchange nervous glances]
Ingar (softly, in a voice that carries only to Finn and El):
I have the feeling that this is the moment of truth.
CUT TO
INT. UTUMNO, THRONEROOM
[Melkor sits motionless, staring at the massive doors.
A long beat, and then the loudest booms and explosions yet are heard. The doors shudder and burst in.
We see Manwë first, tall and stern, standing in the now-open doorway. He is flanked by Ulmo and Oromë. Behind them, we can make out Aulë, Mandos, Tulkas, and other figures.
There is a long pause]
Melkor:
My brother. I would welcome you, but you seem to have made yourself welcome. Nevertheless, there are proprieties to be observed. When you are in front of the King of the World, you will kneel.
[There is another long pause. Manwë’s expression changes to one of mild surprise, with possibly a tinge of relief.]
Manwë:
Are you perhaps unwell, my brother?
Melkor (angrily and louder):
You will KNEEL!
Manwë:
No. I will not.
[He looks unworried and unpressured. Melkor looks confused]
Mandos (from behind, moving forwards and gazing at Melkor, before speaking in an emotionless voice):
He has lost his power to daunt. He has let too much of his own essence out of himself and into the world, and especially his servants and tools. He is lesser than before. Far lesser. No greater than you.
Melkor (shocked):
I am – what? This – no!
[He shakes his head, thinking quickly, and rises]
So – I am now one of many, if Namo is correct. And you are many against my one. Will you claim your right to judge me by force – and the force of several against one? Is this the vaunted justice of Manwë
Mandos:
Justice is not what you would wish it to be.
Manwë:
Nevertheless, we can meet his request. One of us, against him alone.
Tulkas. Will you stand for us?
Tulkas (pushes to the front and flexes his muscles):
Gladly.
CUT TO
EXT. UTUMNO, THE RUINED GATES
[The Valar issue forth, Melkor in their midst – bound with a massive chain]
CUT TO
EXT. CUIVENEN
[Silence. It drifts on, and on. The Elves look at each other, anxiously. Finally, Finn speaks in an undertone to El]
Finn:
Do you think the War is finally over?
El (just as softly):
Either that or we all died just then and didn’t notice it. If so, the afterlife looks rather similar to before.
END OF PART FIVE
Chapter End Notes
This is possibly the most Valar-action of the entire series. Repeated cuts to and from the Elves to keep the viewer "grounded" and to not become too much on the Valar.
At least, that's the theory.
