Twenty-Five

Twenty-five years ago, Tolkien fans gathered in theaters and the lights went dark and the first haunting notes of the soundtrack to The Fellowship of the Ring crescendoed as Galadriel intoned,

"The world is changed."

Indeed, for the Tolkien fandom, the world did change in that moment. The films breathed new life into books that were nearing their fifty-year anniversary and brought them to a new generation of fans. The simultaneous rise of personal internet access created the crucible for a mega-fandom, and Tolkien fans both old and new were happy to play their part. If not for the films, it is very likely that you would not be reading this now; the SWG is but one fannish outpouring that would probably not exist but for the films.

In November and December, we will commemorate the twenty-fifth anniversary of the release of The Fellowship of the Ring into theaters. Each day, we will feature a famous quote or scene from the films—lines that did not appear in the book but have shaped Tolkien fandom and popular culture in the quarter-century since. Use one or more prompts to inspire a fanwork.

Note that all of the prompts are available in our prompt set, and you don't have to use the prompt of the day when you are creating your fanwork. You can look back or work ahead.

Remember that we are a "Silmarillion" archive. Fanworks should be substantially rooted in The Silmarillion; see our FAQ about how we define "Silmarillion" fanworks if you're not sure: How does the SWG define "Silmfic" or "Silmarillion-based fanworks"? However, our definition of "Silmarillion" fanworks is as expansive and inclusive as we can make it, and characters, settings, and details from The Lord of the Rings may well appear in a "Silmarillion" fanwork. We welcome multi-age works as well. To encourage fanworks that focus on the neglected Third Age of "Silmarillion" history, there are special stamps available for Third Age fanworks and fanworks that span multiple ages. Let a moderator know if you have earned one of these special stamps.

Thank you to silmalope for this month's banner and stamps!

This challenge opened in November 2026 .

Prompts

Choose your prompt from the collection below.

View Prompts

November 15
I don't know half of you half as well as I should like, and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve.

November 16

November 17
It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to.

November 18
That was just a detour, a shortcut!

November 19

It comes in pints?

November 20

Are you frightened? Not nearly frightened enough. I know what hunts you.

November 21

What about second breakfast?

November 22

I was there, Gandalf. I was there, 3000 years ago.

November 23

One does not simply walk into Mordor

November 24

You have my sword. And my bow. And my axe.

November 25
You need people of intelligence on this mission. Quest. Thing!

November 26
Pity? It was pity that stayed Bilbo’s hand. Many that live deserve death. Some die that deserve life. Can you give it to them, Frodo? Do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. Even the very wise cannot see all ends. My heart tells me Gollum has some part to play yet, for good or ill. Before this is over, the pity of Bilbo may rule the fate of many.

November 27
So do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.

November 28
If in doubt, Meriadoc, always follow your nose.

November 29
Drums, drums in the deep. They are coming.

November 30

You shall not pass!

December 1
Gandalf the Grey did not pass the borders of this land. He has fallen into Shadow.

December 2
The Quest stands on the edge of a knife. Stray but a little, and it will fail, to the ruin of all. Yet hope remains, while the Company is true.

December 3
In place of a Dark Lord you would have a Queen! Not dark but beautiful and terrible as the Dawn! Treacherous as the Seas! Stronger than the foundations of the Earth! All shall love me and despair! … I have passed the test. I will diminish, and go into the West, and remain Galadriel.

December 4
This task was appointed to you. And if you do not find a way, no one will.

December 5
Frodo: Would you destroy it?
Aragorn: I would have gone with you to the end, into the very fires of Mordor.

December 6
I would have followed you my brother. My captain. My king.

December 7
I am wasted on cross-country! We Dwarves are natural sprinters! Very dangerous over short distances!

December 8

They're taking the Hobbits to Isengard! (Click for the music video.)

December 9
I think we might have made a mistake leaving the Shire, Pip.

December 10

Looks like meat's back on the menu, boys!

December 11
A red sun rises. Blood has been spilt this night.

December 12
Riders of Rohan! What news from the Mark?

December 13
Darkness took me, and I strayed out of thought and time. Stars wheeled in the air, and every day was as long as a life-age of the earth. But it was not the end.

December 14
A thing is about to happen that has not happened since the elder days—the Ents are going to wake up and find that they are strong.

December 15
That is one of the Mearas, unless my eyes are cheated by some spell.

December 16
My old gaffer’d have a thing or two to say if he could see us now.

December 17
Don't be hasty.

December 18
You would not part an old man from his walking stick?

December 19

You have no power here.

December 20
Your fingers would remember their old strength better if they grasped your sword.

December 21
Look to my coming at first light on the fifth day. At dawn, look to the east.

December 22
The women of this country learned long ago those without swords can still die upon them.

December 23
You are a daughter of kings, a shield-maiden of Rohan. I do not think that will be your fate.

December 24
I want to help him, Sam. I have to believe he can come back.

December 25
You don’t have any friends. Nobody likes you!

December 26

Po-tay-toes! Boil ‘em, mash ‘em, stick ‘em in a stew!

December 27
It’s true you don’t see many Dwarf women. And in fact, they are so like in voice and appearance to Dwarf that they are often mistaken for Dwarf men.

December 28
I am mortal, you are elf-kind. It was a dream, nothing more.

December 29
I have made my choice.

December 30
If Aragorn survives this war, you will still be parted. If Sauron is defeated and Aragorn made king and all that you hope for comes true, you will still have to taste the bitterness of mortality. Whether by the sword or by the slow decay of time, Aragorn will die. And there will be no comfort for you, no comfort to ease the pain of his passing. He will come to death, an image of the splendor of the kings of Men in glory undimmed before the breaking of the world. But you, my daughter, you will linger on in darkness and in doubt, as nightfall in winter that comes without a star. Here you will dwell, bound to your grief, under the fading trees, until all the world is changed and the long years of your life are utterly spent. Arwen, there is nothing for you here. Only death.

December 31
In the gathering Dark, the will of the Ring grows strong.

January 1
Remember today, little brother. Today, life is good!

January 2
This creature is bound to me, and I to him. He is our guide.

January 3

January 4
You’re late. You look terrible.

January 5
Where is the horse and the rider? Where is the horn that was blowing? They have passed like rain in the mountains, like wind in the meadow. The days have come down in the West, behind the hills, into shadow.

January 6

Decided? No. We have just finished saying, "Good morning."

January 7
If we had time, I’d get this adjusted. It’s a little tight across the chest.

January 8

So it begins.

January 9

Gimli: What’s going on out there? Legolas: Shall I describe it to you, or would you like me to find you a box?

January 10

I am no man.

January 11
Legolas: Final count forty-two.
Gimli: Forty-two? That’s not bad for a pointy-eared elvish princeling. I myself am sitting pretty on 43.
Legolas: Forty-three.
Gimli: He was dead already!
Legolas: He was twitching.
Gimli: He was twitching because he’s got my axe embedded in his nervous system!

January 12
Here’s to dwarves that go swimming with little hairy women!

January 13

For Frodo

January 14

You bow to no one.

January 15
My dear Sam, you cannot always be torn in two. You will have to be one and whole for many years. You have so much to enjoy and to be and to do. Your part in the story will go on.