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!
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.
During a visit to Círdan, Finrod discovers a new hobby involving tying ropes around various objects. Now, he's ready to take it to the next level, but there is a small kink in the plan - he wants a spotter to make sure everything goes well. Fortunately, Edrahil is available.
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.
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…
Data from the 2025 Tolkien Fanfiction Survey shows demographic changes in participant gender, age, and education and new revelations about neurodiversity.
Expanding on my 2018 article "Why People Don't Comment," comment data from the SWG underscores community as an essential component to a robust commenting culture.
By definition, fanworks fandom does not draw a lot of boundaries, but community archives and events have taken a strong stance against AI-generated fanworks due to ethical considerations and member input.
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…
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I was swayed by the mystery of the music and the emotions evoked as if I was a hidden spectator.
Who is this mysterious silvery fluet player? Will Maglor ever see him again? or will he be a passing moment of katharsis? Whichever, it is a precious moment.
thank you, glad you liked it. The mysterious flute player is Tinfang Gelion (Warble), but the name was not yet in the list. Well, Maglor at least has no clue who this mysereious elf is. They will meet again, not in this story but in one set several years later. This ficlet will be a kind of prequel. I plan to write a second chapter nevertheless, with the focus on Tinfang's thoughts and emotions, as I had to keep a certain word limit, so I focussed on Maglor.
I'll echo Scarlet's words. This is enchanting. Your prose is gorgeous and riveting, and I felt myself immersed in the realm of Faerie when reading this. You've taken a rather obscure character from BoLT and brought him to life. Tinfang Warble comes across as elvish but Other, too, and that is just perfect. The build-up of sexual and aesthetic tension is conveyed beautifully through the imagery of music entwined with humanity. Very, very nice, Lintalómë a.k.a. Amaranth!
Thank you so much for your kind words. I think my mind was floating in the realm of Faerie when I wrote this; I had an exact picture of the scene in mind and tried to capture it with words. I found the ficlet a bit difficult to write, I had a word limit of 2000 words and never before had to keep a word limit, so I had to make the descriptions short yet wanted them to convey as much of the emotions and the magic of the moment as possible.
I really fell in love with Tinfang when I read the few details Tolkien mentioned in BoLT and he is spooking my mind ever since. That Tolkien played with the thought of Tinfang being a half-Maia and the few things he mentioned about the magic of Tinfang’s flute play makes him even more special and mysterious…it is so inviting to take those few details, add own ideas and make Tinfang come to life.
The Book of Lost Tales has always had a raw, ethereal magic to it that JRRT's later writings lost, in my opinion. It is rare when I read a story or find a writer who can capture the unique feeling of that book, but you do that here. This story is breathtaking; Maglor's first sight of Tinfang was such that I nearly gasped along with him. The synesthetic imagery, where music unleashes memories and perception, is very effectively done and maintains that magical quality to the end. Very beautifully done--thank you! :)
Thank you, glad you liked it. And thanks for adding Tinfang to the name list, I might need him again in future. I had a rather detailed picture of the scene in mind, Tinfang with his pale hair and skin bathed in moonlight while he dances and plays. And the magic that hung in the air, inspired by the remarks in BoLT where it says that the stars come out too soon when Tinfang plays and that the people who hear him play feel a strange longing, I think this was roughly what BoLT said. And I thought it interesting to let two musicians of such skill express themselves with music instead of words, music that evokes vivid pictures in the mind and conveys their emotions and thought with far more depth as any spoken word could.
I love picking BoLT, opening one of the books at a random page and then having a look what new mysteries I encounter. Whenever I do this, I find something new and interesting that I seemingly overlooked or that did not draw my attention at first. Tinfang was one of the cases where I purposefully researched after I encountered him in the Lay of Leithian, but only after reading what was written about him in BoLT, I became totally hooked.
Faerie indeed! The atmosphere is magical and your description of Tinfang conveys his otherwordliness (even for a Valinor elf). The way tension builds up (both music and sex) is wonderfully described.
Thank you, glad you enjoyed it. Tinfang enchanted me when I read about him in BoLT, he has something special about him and I tried to get this across as best as I could. I think trimming and tightening it because I had to keep a word limit of 2000 words added greatly to the tension, yet it was challenging to say everything I wanted to say in those few words and keep a certain level I thought pleasing.
Sorry for the late reply, I had a hell of a week and was too tired to spend additional time at the computer in the evening. Thank you for your review, I am glad you liked the story. I always try to be descriptive when it comes to the emotions of the characters, trying to give a certain depth.
Sorry for the late reply, I had a hell of a week: second week at the new job, a rather nasty cold and looking for a new car; I collapsed into bed like a stone each evening. Thank you for your review, I am glad you liked the story. It really amazes me how well it was received and it is very encouraging. It was a hard piece of work, it always is, as I often think too German and have problems to word my thoughts in English…I try to think in English to make it easier.
Tinfang is a rather inspiring little muse; he is so enchanting and always sets my mind in motion.
Comments on The Dance of Flute and Harp
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.