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 ...
Random Challenge
Orctober
A mysterious map points to locations used by escaped Orcs who seek to live in freedom. For this month's challenge, use elements from that map and those quests to create your fanwork, with a bonus puzzle to solve for those who dare attempt the ultimate escape. 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…
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A very evocative look at the time just after the sinking. How desperate and alone and devastated Maglor must fell at this point. (Actually he's probably been feeling desperate and devastated for a long while, but it's different in company.)
This was written as an insta-drabble, so I did not have much time to think about when exactly it is set. But I vaguely imagined this as not being immediately after the sinking although it is his first return to this particular area. He is still very desperate but I suspect he would not have managed to be defiant quite in this way right after Maedhros's death. (Also, immediately after the sinking, this area may have been quite dangerous to be in, given the changes on the map.)
Oh gosh, yes, reading it again I realise my sleepy brain missed the ample clues you provide that it's set some time after (wandering Maglor returns, decay (not just collapse) of the tunnel, and the more subtle one of his state of mind.
Although they both receive literal sweetness, the contrast of her nephew's experience of the comfort he receives with her experience with Caranthir is stark.
Haleth badly needs a hug, of course, but the two people she needs to hug her the most are dead. Being able to hug her nephew and to bark at Caranthir is not enough but is better than nothing...
This atmospheric drabble makes me think of the long life of Elves, and how they must have visited the same places in different times, hit by strong memories like Maglor here. They thought they were desperate on that day, when they had not yet reached the bottom of their despair. Angsty and good. I hope he’ll find shelter in Carathir’s keep.
Yes, that would be similarly true of Celebrimbor as well, of course, if he ever returned to the Ered Luin!
I am afraid that Maglor won't find shelter in Caranthir's keep, at least not if this piece is in the same timeline as my story "The Sea Comes for Helevorn". I wrote there that "The remains of Caranthir’s house are obliterated, as well as anything else that still endured there."
Comments on Survivors: A Pair of Drabbles
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.