New Challenge: Crossroads of the Fallen King
Cross "The Silmarillion" with a second text or fandom in this month's crossover challenge.
SWG News
A Sense of History: Thálatta! Thálatta!
While he never climbs the stairs of this Elf-tower, in Lothlórien Frodo Baggins descends a flight of steps to look into Galadriel’s Mirror, wherein he first sees the sea. This post examines the view.
Choose a Name for Our New Column!
Our temporarily titled "location bio" will focus on the landscapes and locations of Middle-earth. We need your help naming it!
New Challenge: Tengwar
Each day for thirty-six days, we feature a randomly chosen letter from the Tengwar as a prompt.
New & Updated Fanworks
[Writing] On a night of stars, a bird by Quente
Nimloth and Dior meet, and he is naked.
Alternatively,
Melian travels south to visit her daughter, and meets a familiar looking bird.
Written for the Tengwar prompt, Quessë (feather).
[Writing] Apprentice by Quente
Dior is in Menegroth learning to be his grandfather's heir -- but his grandmother decides to take him as apprentice too.
Written for the Tengwar Challenge, May 15: Súlë (spirit).
[Writing] Tengwar: To The Letter by cuarthol
For the Tengwar prompt challenge.
All 36 prompts plus bonus chapter
[Writing] A blip on the radar by daughterofshadows
Humanity took to the skies. Eärendil and Ilmarë adjust.
[Writing] History abandons us by AdmirableMonster
During his incarceration in Roderick Burgess' basement, Dream receives a strange, ancient visitor.
[Writing] Tengwar Acrostics by Himring
Responses to the Tengwar Challenge in which first letters spell out the name of a tengwa.
1) Early Encounter (Nerdanel, Indis)
2) Numenorean Lullaby (Almarian, Aldarion)
[Writing] Tengwar Drabbles by cílil
A collection of Silmarillion-centric drabbles written for the Tengwar Challenge. Short and sweet!
Current Challenge
Crossroads of the Fallen King
Create a fanwork that crosses with a second text or fandom. Read more ...
Tengwar
A daily prompt of a Tengwar letter per day. Read more ...
Random Challenge
Songs of Arda
Create a fanwork about music. Read more ...
New in References
Thálatta! Thálatta! by Simon J. Cook
[]While he never climbs the stairs of this Elf-tower, in Lothlórien Frodo Baggins descends a flight of steps to look into Galadriel’s Mirror, wherein he first sees the sea. This post examines the view.
[]
With Gildor Inglorion we finally climb the stairs of Elostirion and look on the view, and what we see appears to reveal a hidden thread in the story of Frodo Baggins. This post reads two annotated translations of two Elvish songs to step through a crossroads in the narrative to arrive at the tower on the margin of the story, wherein is a stone that is a window onto Valinor.
Grief, Grieving, and Permission to Mourn in the "Quenta Silmarillion" by Dawn Walls-Thumma
[]In a book as full of death as the Quenta Silmarillion, grief and mourning are surprisingly absent. The characters who receive grief and mourning—and those who don't—appear to do so due to narrative bias. Grief and mourning (or a lack of them) serve to draw attention toward and away from objectionable actions committed by characters.
Beyond the Silmarillion
[Writing] Waybread (The Waybredlik) by Himring
[]Lembas speaks out.
[Series] Apr 1st Stories by Uvatha the Horseman
[]Once a year on April 1st, a canon character from LOTR or the Silmarillion gets pranked.
[Writing] Crossing Forest River by Dawn Felagund
[]Bilbo recounts, in verse, the attempt of Gandalf, Beorn, and him to cross the Forest River after the Battle of Five Armies. Written for the Hungarian Tolkien Society's 2024 Mailing Competition.
Around the World and Web
Mythcon 53: Fantasies of the Middle Lands
Mythcon 53 will be held 2-5 August 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with the theme "Fantasies of the Middle Lands."
Teitho May/June Challenge: Joker
For the May/June Teitho challenge, you can pick ANY of our past challenges that stir your imagination and write a story or create art for it.
Monstrous May 2024
Monstrous May is a Tumblr event where, for each day of the month of May, there is a prompt involving and invoking the monstrous.
Fellowship of the Fics: Modern AU May
During May, Fellowship of the Fics offers modern AU prompt lists for setting, character occupation, and dialogue on Tumblr.
May challenge at tolkienshortfanworks
The May challenge has been posted to the tolkienshortfanworks community on Dreamwidth. Thematic challenge: name; formal challenge: acrostic. As usual, these can be filled independently and freely combined with other prompts such as the SWG challenges. New participants welcome!
Fanworks Tagged with Indis
Unprecedented by Lyra
At Finarfin's wedding feast, young Fingon surprises his family by announcing that he intends to marry Maedhros.
For the SWG 5th Birthday Celebration, Do Something That's Never Been Done theme.
A Kind of Poetry by Independence1776
Indis can't help but fall in love with Finwë-- and his wife Míriel. When the couple brings her into their relationship, everything changes.
Finwë/Míriel/Indis, with an emphasis on Míriel/Indis.
Copper and Flame by Araloth the Random
A sweet and light-hearted story in which a young Feanor discovers new feelings for the daughter of a craftsman. Slightly AU. Complete!
For Love or Money by Lady MSM
After an argument with his stepmother, Feanor runs away from home, adopts a new identity, and finds a new life with master craftsman Mahtan and his family. Everything is perfect...that is, as long as they don't find out who he really is.
Peculiar by Ada Kensington
Finwë is worried about Fëanor, and enlists the help of a scholar, Rúmil, to help him understand his son.
Half-brother in Blood, Full Brother in Heart by Alassante
The confrontation in Tirion between Fingolfin and Fëanor led to Fëanor being banned to Formenos.
Written for B2ME 2010: Ornisso challenged me from Formenos:
Create a story, poem, or artwork that responds to the following quote: "The only difference between me and a madman is that I'm not mad." -- Salvador Dali.
Mahtan's Apprentice by WendWriter
Nerdanel is in love with a Noldor prince with a reputation for being sullen at best, difficult at worst. Whatever does she see in him? And how will Mahtan get along with him?
Golden Days by Lyra
Nerdanel recounts the development of her relationship with Fëanor - from their first proper meeting to married life. A fantasy of manners, pride, prejudice, love and craftsmanship.
Footnote to the Akallabêth by clotho123
The results of the Downfall, from the point of view of the Noldor in Aman. Semi-serious.
The Dark Foe Wears Feanaro by whitewave
Timeline of major events in the trend-setting House of Fëanaro, the undisputed leader in the Eldarin fashion industry.
The Scented Pleasure Garden by whitewave
A very irreverent and heretical look at the Silmarillion Elves in terms of their "horticultural" potential. Has very strong sexual innuendo and adult language. You have been warned. *Complete!
***Some varieties were updated on Jan 1, 2009 to include my LJ friends' names in their particular muse's entry.
Chibis generated from this site: http://www.tektek.org/dream/
Don't Explain by Gwidhiel
Galadriel's return to Aman prompts Indis to reflect on the state of her fragmented family and defunct marriage.
The Work of Small Hands by Dawn Felagund
Valinor has been plunged into darkness, most of the Noldor have gone into exile, and the Teleri grieve for those lost in the kinslaying. The Valar have turned their backs on the remaining Noldor--left without a king--and chaos rules the streets of Tirion. Can Eärwen, the quiet wife of a third-born prince, find the courage and strength to save her husband's people? 2008 MEFA nominee.
A Gift for a King by Dawn Felagund
Just after Fingolfin's birth, Fëanor makes a gift for his father. For Oloriel.
If I Had One Wish by Ellie
Indis reveals her greatest wish.
Full Brothers in Blood by oshun
Gift story for Dawn Felagund, Christmas 2007, Fingon and Turgon as young brothers. Honorable Mention, MEFA 2008
Like Roses over a Fence by Ellie
Indis, Nerdanel, and Anairë on their grief and their duty to help in healing the Noldor.
I married for love by ford_of_bruinen
Indis reflects on her marriage...
Voices of Despair by ford_of_bruinen
A series of 18 drabbles and 3 double-drabble on the theme despair throughout the first age. Silmarillion and HomE based.
Many Journeys by Elleth
A gathering place for ficlets of varying length written in response to prompts, prods and as gift ficlets.
New (added January 2018)
Strength of Mountains: Nerdanel and Curufin's wife, through the ages.
Re-Singing: After the Darkening of Valinor, Findis and Elemmírë set out to do their part in the restoration of Valinor.
Sweeter Blessings: As summer nears harvest, Morwen and Aerin dance in the meadows. NSFW.
In Exchange: Whatever happened to the Lady of the Blue Brooch?
An Exercise: Some magic is altogether wordly. NSFW.
A Better Lot: Aerin and Rían change their stories.
The Broideress Arc by Gadira
Four-story arc, centered on Míriel the Broideress, queen of the Noldor. Those four stories have also been published separately.
We Said We'd Live Forever by Ilma
An ultimately doomed love.
The Puppet by Dawn Felagund
On the eve that Fëanor presents the Silmarils to his family, Fingolfin mourns for the inadequacy of his own accomplishments. Comforted by his sister Lalwen, he recalls the comic puppet shows that she put on as a girl, that reduced the overlarge presences in her life to decorated socks. From Lalwen and his memories of her, Fingolfin learns much about managing his anger toward Fëanor and his own sense of duty.
