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: Stars Create a fanwork using star-themed prompts presented in a bingo board format.
Cultus Dispatches: Trends in Fandom Entry Year The films inspired a lot of fanfiction, yes, but exactly how fanfiction authors interacted with them predicts who remains in the fandom for long durations.
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.
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.
This is a draft of one of nine short stories set within the Tolkien Legendarium, each recounting a possible origin for one of the Nine Mortal Men corrupted by the rings of Sauron.
On Tides of Light, Antariëarcalindalë, begins with Elwing's arrival upon the shores of Eldamar after her flight from the ruins of Sirion. After Eärendil goes alone into Valinor, Elwing is brought to Alqualondë. Rather than hurrying toward the celestial ascent of Vingilot, the core of…
Current Challenge
Stars
Construct a fanwork using star-themed prompts in a bingo card format. 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.
Thirteen years before the War of the Ring, an orcling — more intelligent and more curious than most — is born in Mordor. His curiosity will lead him to both incredible discoveries and perilous situations, all of which will shape him into a leader unlike any Mordor has ever known. But to become…
Erestor finds himself thrust into adventure when Elrond requests his company escorting Arwen to Minas Tirith after the War of the Ring is won. All too aware of the chronic illness that has bound his friend to Rivendell for the past several centuries, Glorfindel has some concerns. Erestor, aware…
Tolkien Sapphic September
Tolkien Sapphic September is a month long event focusing on Sapphic relationships and characters in Tolkien and adjacent materials.
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.
I bet my bias for Elrond is showing here. He's one of my favorites. Cannot help but think he would try to track Melian after he sailed West and I believe he is just that determined. Thank you for reading it and letting me know you liked it.
Author's Response:
I bet my bias for Elrond is showing here. He's one of my favorites. Cannot help but think he would try to track Melian after he sailed West and I believe he is just that determined. Thank you for reading it and letting me know you liked it.
I really like your strange, almost alien Melian and how Elrond's interaction with her revitalizes her spirit. Elrond is always fun to write, there are many ways to go with him with all his history. I could imagine him getting weary just trying to relate it all. The ending of his return journey is perfect for his character too. Another great character piece with unique descriptions.
Thanks! Thanks! I wrote a big long thank you and somehow think I closed it without posting. I need a nap! You were good to me when I was sick and pathetic and made me feel like even with only half of my synapses firing I could still post a little ficlet and not feel shame! You are kind and warm person--kind of like Elrond the way I like him (a little smug too sometimes! Afterall, Elrond is almost half-Feanorian--the nurture half of the old nature vs. nurture discussion!).
A wonderfully entertaining read! I'm so glad I decided to visit DW and LJ after such a long absence, to discover the entries for this challenge that Dawn had posted! Yours is the second story I've read and I intend to read all of them.
Melian is one of my favourite of JRR's characters. Because I love her I've always written her as a more or less sympathetic character and I do love the "side" of her that you've painted here. She comes across as kind of scary - a witchy woman indeed. (Thanks for putting that song in my head. I'm sure it'll stay there until I can replace it with something just as catchy.)
" In the short time he had spent in Aman, he had found a most frustrating lack of any sense of absurdity among the Ainur."
This line made me laugh so hard. I'm not up on the latest lingo, but will 'As If!!'! do, or perhaps 'I know, right?' The Ainur certainly aren't known for their humour, are they?
Anyway, I do love the conversation between Melian and Elrond that you've written here.
His words and attitude almost verge on the disrespectful, yet he does sense her arrogance - she is very self-centred and I'm sure that irks him more than a little. It must have been very tiring to talk at length with her. At least Elrond seems to have a good sense of humour and managed to get through the encounter unscathed.
As usual you have written characters that seem so real!
OMG..."The Mists of Avalon" is a book I've had for ages but have not managed to pick up and read yet. I wanted to read it so badly ages ago. I don't know what is wrong with me.
Thank you so much for reading and leaving a comment!! I am glad you enjoyed it.
I am glad I made you laugh too! I was trying very hard not to write pure crack-fic but I got very close at times! My real-life is largely quasi-tragic crack-fic so I am not always a great judge. I am able to laugh at it though. So I guess I am channeling Elrond in this story! I think he has a lot of empathy with Melian, but also has a pretty dry sense of humor. Melian also occupied a human form for a long time--up to including giving birth which is quite the essentially human experience! Nothing else quite compares to that! So I believe that Elrond went into the encounter convinced that he could reach her. And I believed it too. And he finally did!
Short-shorts are really a challenge! I don't know why people believe they are easy! They are definitely not!
Too bad you did not read Mists of Avalon earlier! It's still not too late, but it does not improve with age! It's got a decent plot and a lot of great language and some terrific scenes! But it was more ground-breaking when it came out than it is now. But I enjoyed it a lot. I definitely recommend that you find the chance to read it if you can.
Comments on Sister, Lover, Priestess, Wise-Woman, Queen
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.