New Challenge: Title Track
Tolkien's titles range from epic to lyrical to metaphorical. This month's challenge selected 125 of them as prompts for fanworks.
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New Challenge: Title Track
Tolkien's titles range from epic to lyrical to metaphorical. This month's challenge selected 125 of them as prompts for fanworks.
Our Annual Amnesty Challenge: New Year's Resolution
Start 2026 off with creativity! If you missed a challenge or didn't get to finish or post a challenge fanwork, complete any 2025 challenge before 15 February to receive the stamp.
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[Writing] In Early Spring by Serinquanion
In what Maedhros was re-embodied early and was sent back to Middle Earth on his volition with Glorfindel.
This isn't about what happened right then but years after Fall of Sauron when he still refused to return to Valinor.
He found a strange sapling at the shore of what remains of…
[Writing] Umnenyalië by Serinquanion
He was going to die. The molten rocks would burn him just like the cursed gem in his palm did. Maybe less painfully but still being burnt hurt and Maedhros knew it. He intimately knew it from his time in Angband where Þauron burnt him often in frustration and to toy with him and his master…
[Writing] Winter Warmth by Serinquanion
A winter night in Himring. But inside the quarters where fire blazed in hearth was warmer, and not only from the fire or quilt.
[Writing] A Hundred Miles Through the Desert by StarSpray
“Come on.” Maedhros grabbed his hand and pulled him along down the path, both of them quickening their pace now, until the trees opened up into a wide meadow filled with flowers, bright yellow celandine and dandelions and sweet-scented pale chamomile mingling with cornflowers and irises. On…
[Writing] Who Will Hear Me? by XirinOfArvada
A lonely elf finds a flute half buried beneath the sand and wonders if its owner will hear him when he calls.
[Writing] Loyal, Faithful by Himring
Late in the Second Age, one of the Faithful reflects critically on past developments. (Free verse.)
[Writing] East Away! by Flora-lass
Aldarion storms off towards Middle-earth. For the Title Track challenge.
Title Track
Create a fanwork using our collection of 125 titles from Tolkien's books, chapters, essays, poems, and fragments as inspiration. Read more ...
Swinging 40s
Choose a prompt from a list of music, films, novels, inventions, and more from the 1940s. Read more ...
Tolkien, Lunatic Physicists, and Abnegation by Cynthia (Cindy) Gates
This presentation for Mereth Aderthad 2025 discusses the parallels between the concept of abnegation in the scientific work surrounding the atomic bomb and in The Silmarillion. The relinquishment of self-interest in favor of the interests of others, abnegation was identified by Tolkien as a powerful act of spirit and reason. The legendarium has many examples of the complexities of abnegation, which parallel similar discussions held by physicists during and after World War II.
Twilight, Child Of: Comparisons Between Tinúviel, Lómion, and Undómiel by JazTheBard
This presentation for Mereth Aderthad 2025 discusses the many similarities between Tolkien's three "twilight children," Tinúviel, Lómion, and Undómiel (Luthien, Maeglin, and Arwen) in terms of appearance, plot, and cultural background. Yet these three characters play very different roles in the text.
The Aromantic in Tolkien by daughterofshadows
Presented at Mereth Aderthad 2025, this paper makes the case thata, although the term "aromantic" had not yet been coined in Tolkien's day, many of his characters can be read as aromantic. The paper takes a closer look at Aredhel, Bilbo, and Boromir as three examples of characters who can be read as aromantic.
[Writing] here you will dwell, bound to your grief by Elrond's Library
Arwen grieves, and loves.
[Writing] Faramir's Verse by losselen
“Come, Faramir. Let us not stand in ceremony. I think words are due between you and I, and not only those between a King and his Steward.”
Faramir has speech with Gandalf and his King.
[Writing] In a Hole in the Ground... by StarSpray
“There’s a goblin hiding in the taters, Dad!” Pippin hefted the pan, which was much too big for him to carry, let alone wield.
March Challenge - Tolkien Short Fanworks
Tolkien Short Fanworks is running a challenge for the month of March to create a Back to Middle-earth Month themed challenge.
Tolkien Fashion Week 2026
This two-week-long Tumblr event is dedicated to honoring the world of fashion and textiles Tolkien wrote about in his books.
Celegorm and Curufin Week 2026
Celegorm and Curufin Week is a Tumblr week celebrating the relationship between Celegorm and Curufin Feanorion
Back to Middle-earth Month 2026
Back to Middle-earth Month is returning for it's 20th year with many prompts and archival efforts.
What a sad farewell!
the chaos of the time appealed to me as well as the panic of a mother trying to mae her children as safe as she can even when she cant be with them and putting the responsibility on the oldest to look after them :) thanks for reading
Oh, wow! This was written in response to my request! I am sorry I did not see it sooner. It passed by me. I think I must not have been tracking the LJ thread and missed it when you posted it here.
My apologies and thank you so much for such a lovely fill of this prompt. It is beautifully done and devastating in its authenticity. I love the characterizations of the different sons.
Atarince and Carnistir will not leave their backs exposed but they need a steady hand. Macalaure, what will this do to that mind, enveloped in this. Do not let him lose his way, do you hear me, keep him on the right path. Tyelkormo will be lost, as a limb tore from the tree, hearing too many whispers on the wind and none of friends. And the Ambarussa, keep them close, do not let them out of sight or one will never set foot on the other side.
This entire section is convincing (of course, we are viewing it with the knowledge of what to come--but the importance is not the deeds as much as the how and the why of it. Your interpretation of them speaks to that).
The most heartbreaking part is that she feels by the time Maedhros begs her not to stay behind, the time for making a choice has already long passed and he is not the person who could have convinced her in any case. The most traumatic for her is that she wants so much to try to protect all of them, but in her desperation to hope against all hope and reason that her firstborn (and possibly best loved) son might be able to do something to help, she neglects to convey to him her love for him and take part of that last precious moment to say good-bye.
Feanor! He already burned his bridges and your short story explains that as well. When he stops listening to her, he lost his last best hope. And I am not unsympathetic to him. I see the provocations he is operating under also.
Thank you so much for writing and sharing this story filled with illuminating riches of interpretation.
I am glad you found it lol and glad you enjoyed it. as soon as i saw your prompt the story came into my head, the desperation of losing her children, the huge responsibility put on the eldest child...
there was so uch happening all at once so many decisions and farewells. it must have been a truly heartbreaking time both for those leaving and, maybe even more, for those staying behind knowing their loved ones were walking into lands where violence and death happened as in opposition to valinor. to see those you love the most go to war against a god.... i cant even imagine the horror of it which is why i concentrated on just one voice in this.
I am not unsympathetic to Feanor either LOL but writing him, not as evil nor as a hero but simply someone beyond her ability to help was a nice change (she says as if she hasnt been out of writing for years)
Thank you for reading oshun and thank you for, a always, lovely feedback xx
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Comments on Caught in the maelstrom
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