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.
SWG News
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.
"The Fëanorian Zine" Available to Read and Download
We are pleased to be able to offer "The Fëanorian Zine" to read and download on the SWG for free.
Call for Artists for the 2026 Challenge Stamps
We are soliciting help from artists who want to help create the stamps we award to challenge participants.
New & Updated Fanworks
[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.
[Writing] Don't You Ever Look Away by Elrond's Library
“They can’t just assume we’ll let them leave us behind.”
“But they are, and they will. Our fathers are the Heads of their Houses. Fëanáro is king. Defiance would be treason, beloved.”
“I am his firstborn.”
“You are his only daughter.”
“I have…
[Writing] Break Me by Elrond's Library
“You’re not going to break me,” Russo huffed, finally cracking open his eyes, which were bright with amusement. “They could not, what makes you think you could?”
For Scribbles and Drabbles 2025 SFW Slide 33
[Writing] Three Black Islands by Idrils Scribe
When Celebrimbor's attempts at forging the Rings of Power fail yet again, Annatar knows where to find the missing know-how.
For all the wrong reasons, Celebrimbor agrees to an expedition to the ruins of Angband to search Morgoth's own laboratory, deep in the icy Northern Wastes.
What…
Current 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 ...
Random Challenge
Canon with a Twist
Choose a single moment in Tolkien's canon, have a character make a different choice, and create a fanwork about how the history changes. Read more ...
New in References
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.
Featured Themed Collection
Beyond the Silmarillion
[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.
Around the World and Web
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.
Riders in the Rain by Fiamma Galathon
| | |
Warm fires
Celegorm is very narrowly hugely misunderstood and Aredhel finally gets the cuddles she deserves.
Oh, also Curvo and Tylepe are there.
TW; Implied/Referenced rape, for a milisecond Curvo and Tylepe are convinced Celegorm killed a baby
Feast my children and avoid papercuts!
With great relief Celegorm entered his rooms, glad to see the fire burning merrily in the fireplace and his brother and nephew pacing anxiously, twisting wire in their hands.
He stopped in the door for a second, amused at how similar they were. Even their expressions as they glared at the source of the sudden sound of the door opening were the same.
Now if only Feanaro was there to complete the lineup.
He swallowed the sudden sting of grief, and entered fully.
-Celegorm, what the fuck happened.- Curvo spat out, eyes burning as he looked him over. - You sent for family emergency and promptly disappeared into the healing wing.-
Tylepë nodded from behind his father, anxiously thrumming his fingers against his collarbone.
Celegorm smiled sheepishly. -Uhhhhh…. You two better sit down. I already killed the bastard.-
The silence that fell on the room was complete and absolute, two sets of silver eyes looking at him with identical expressions of shock.
He frowned, replying his words in his mind.
-Oh, fuck, no, not this way, Eru , that came out wrong as fuck.- he sputtered out as the realization dawned on him, slamming his hand against his forehead.
-I sure as fuck hope so .- Curufin muttered out, still pasty white. - Not even you would kill a child of your own blood, surely.-
Celegorm swore. -All right, stop, return to beginning. No children were killed, quite to the contrary. - he muttered and then paused, deciding this was a conversation best had sitting down, sliding against the wall to sit with his legs crossed. -Írissë? Found her, alive, in good enough shape.-
-Tyelko, if you are joking I swear to my mithril hammers…- Curvo hissed at him with vitriol, incredulous fear glimmering in his eyes, standing to his feet.
Celegorm only looked up at him, locking their eyes together. -I found Irisse.- he repeated, voice calm and steady. -I found her, or she found me, doesn’t matter. She is found, and she is there, she is safe.-
Curufin flopped back onto the bed like a marionette with cut strings, making a wounded noise. Tylepë scooted closer to his father, looking at Celegorm with eyes so wide it seemed they would pop out of his skull if they widened even a hairbreadth more. -So what…?-
-So that was the good news. You are not going to like what I tell you now.- the hunter stated, grimacing. - She has a baby. Lómion, tiny, quiet thing, sweet and very cute.-
Tylepë blinked twice and smiled widely at the news.- Why is that the bad news?- he asked bemusedly, looking between his father and uncle.
Curufin’s face fell, and licks of fire started to dance over his shoulders. - She is not…not…-
-She is not at any spiritual risk, as far as I could tell. Strained from the pregnancy, nothing more serious.- Celegorm kept his voice even. - As you can imagine, carrying a child alone can be quite draining. Alas, the… donor. Has been disposed of already. That’s what I was referring to earlier.-
Curvo took a shaky breath. - Good. Good. Who ?-
-Eöl of Nan Emloth. Always knew there was something fishy with that guy.- Celegrom shrugged. -But Lómion was in a mediocre shape since he had only one parent to keep him safe. I volunteered to help. Írissë agreed. So. I guess, congrats, Tylepë, you have the little cousin you always begged us for. -
******
Aredhel smiled, nuzzling her cheek into the soft fabric of Celegorm’s sleep-shirt. The fire crackled merrily in the fireplace, the rain falling like curtains behind the glass window, and she was finally dry and warm.
One warm cousin under her cheek, the other, warmer one, curled around her back, and her nephew holding her son in her direct line of sight, curled in an armchair with the baby in his hands and a book over his legs, reading something in a soothing voice.
Huan’s tail thumped methodically against the floor in the opposite corner, a sound so familiar she wanted to cry.
She curled her fingers in the soft fur of the bedding, exhaling softly. Curufin hummed right next to her ear, running his fingers gently through her hair, unbraiding the multitude of little braids she had with utmost focus. She felt a little bad about pressing her icy feet to his shins, but he hadn’t even twitched at that, and now he was being sweet.
Celegorm watched her with something weird in his eyes, glimmering and indecipherable. It didn’t escape her attention how he barely kept his fea from brushing against hers, and she wondered why.
Curvo didn’t like to hug anyone with his spirit, the exception being Tylepë, but Tyleko? Tyleko had always put his whole being into his hugs.
She missed the feeling of it. Aredhel gently nudged him with her mind, questioning.
He immediately acquiesced, his living fire sneaking around her protectively.
Oh, it was nice to be held. She sighed, content, and wiggled a bit until she could put her face into the crook of Celegorm’s neck. Both brothers only hummed in amusement, Tyleko adjusting his hold and Curvo placing a soft kiss on the top of her head.
Lómion gurgled happily from where Tylepë read him a story, and she only smiled wider. She could keep this.
The medicine the healer gave her made he mildly drowsy, but her head didn’t hurt anymore, and she was warm.
- I love you, boys.- she mumbled out, exhaling, eyelids dropping. -So much.-
Curvo’s hands stilled in her hair, and he only pressed another kiss to the crown of her head, this time holding it for a long, long time.
She felt Tyleko exhale, chest falling under her hand. - We love you too, Íri. We love you too.- he murmured, squeezing her shoulder gently.
Aredhel felt her spirit lighten, as if some layer of gunk had been wiped down. - Mine.- she whispered, not really able to put the feeling into words.
-Yours.- Curufin murmured into her ear, gentle fingers unbraiding yet another braid.
-Yours.- Echoed Tyleko, the fiery spirit around her flaring with conviction.
She closed her eyes, exhaling, and felt tears slowly roll down her cheeks.
They only held her closer, warm and steady. - We are yours.- murmured Celegorm, kissing her forehead gently.
-You are ours.- added Curufin, voice as soft as his fingers gently stroking the edge of her ear.
The fire crackled merrily in the fireplace, Tylepë’s quiet narration in the background, harmonizing well with the soft murmur of the rain outside, and Aredhel curled her hands into the shirt of her cousin and let herself weep.
Chapter End Notes
I hope you enjoyed!
