Mereth Aderthad Interview: Interview with bunn by Shadow
Bunn's work is beloved in the Tolkien fandom, where they are both an author and an artist. Along those lines, they will be creating both a story for Mereth Aderthad 2025 and a work of art for a different presentation. Shadow spoke with bunn about their Mereth Aderthad works, the appeal of Dwarves, and the many fruitful connections between Beowulf and Tolkien's own work.
SWG News
Mereth Aderthad Interview: Interview with chrissystriped by Dawn
In our series of interviews of creators for Mereth Aderthad, Dawn spoke with chrissystriped about her story, written for Shadow's "The Aromantic in Tolkien" presentation, her process as a writer, and the importance of representing aro-ace characters in fanfiction.
Mereth Aderthad Interview: Interview with Dr. Zara Ashkenazi-Khan by Saelind
The third kinslaying is one of the Silmarillion fandom's favorite topics of discussion because of its moral complexity. In our latest interview for Mereth Aderthad 2025, Dr. Zara Ashkenazi-Khan discussed her paper "Exile, Ruin and Resistance: Beleriand as Postcolonial Palimpsest" with Saelind, the application of postcolonial theory to the most challenging and violent moments in "The Silmarillion," and where scholarship and fanworks each take their place in understanding them.
Mereth Aderthad Interview: Interview with Silmalope by Dawn
Silmalope is the featured artist for Shadow's Mereth Aderthad 2025 presentation, "The Aromantic in Tolkien." Dawn spoke with Silmalope about their approach to making art, what inspires their work, and the importance of diverse representation in fanworks.
New & Updated Fanworks
[Reference] Interview with Dawn Felagund by Shadow by Dawn Felagund, daughterofshadows
In our series of interviews of creators for Mereth Aderthad, Shadow spoke with Dawn about her story, written for Savannah Horrell's "By Guile Committed: Comparing Tolkien’s Thieves to Beowulf" presentation, the balance of planning an event and creating for it at the same time, and the…
[Reference] Interview with bunn by Shadow by bunn, daughterofshadows
Bunn is the featured author for for cloudyhymn's presentation "The Design of Dragons and the Doom of Dwarves" and the featured artist for Savannah Horrell's presentation "By Guile Committed: Comparing Tolkien’s Thieves to Beowulf." Shadow spoke with bunn about the mystery of dragons, the appeal…
[Writing] High in the Clean Blue Air by StarSpray
They passed out of Lhûn and the wider coastline of Middle-earth opened up before his eyes. He had wandered those shores for centuries, and even now he felt the pull of that same wanderlust, and knew he would miss them for the rest of his life. Their wildness, the untamed waves, the rocky…
[Writing] The First Age 503 Football Finals by myrtaceaae
Nogrod vs Doriath, in the first match of the F. A. 503 finals season. Will Doriath at the top of the ladder beat Nogrod, currently at third on the ladder, or will Nogrod's strong side be victorious?
[Writing] Elrond's Dream by bunn
A dream that Elrond never mentioned to Maglor son of Fëanor.
[Writing] One in the Deep Waters by Isilme_among_the_stars
Maglor finds himself alone with only sorrow and song for companions. But lamentation can neither undo the sorrows of which it tells, nor turn new hardships aside.
[Reference] Interview with chrissystriped by Dawn by chrissystriped, Dawn Felagund
Chrissystriped is the featured author for Shadow's Mereth Aderthad 2025 presentation, "The Aromantic in Tolkien." Dawn spoke with chrissystriped about her story for Mereth Aderthad, her process as a writer, and the importance of representing aro-ace characters in fanfiction.
Current Challenge
Period Drama
A Matryoshka challenge where prompts are inspired by common tropes found in period dramas and historical fiction. Read more ...
Random Challenge
New in References
Interview with Dawn Felagund by Shadow by Dawn Felagund, daughterofshadows
In our series of interviews of creators for Mereth Aderthad, Shadow spoke with Dawn about her story, written for Savannah Horrell's "By Guile Committed: Comparing Tolkien’s Thieves to Beowulf" presentation, the balance of planning an event and creating for it at the same time, and the intersection of Tolkien and Beowulf.
Interview with bunn by Shadow by bunn, daughterofshadows
Bunn is the featured author for for cloudyhymn's presentation "The Design of Dragons and the Doom of Dwarves" and the featured artist for Savannah Horrell's presentation "By Guile Committed: Comparing Tolkien’s Thieves to Beowulf." Shadow spoke with bunn about the mystery of dragons, the appeal of Dwarves, and the many ways Tolkien's work connects to Beowulf.
Interview with chrissystriped by Dawn by chrissystriped, Dawn Felagund
Chrissystriped is the featured author for Shadow's Mereth Aderthad 2025 presentation, "The Aromantic in Tolkien." Dawn spoke with chrissystriped about her story for Mereth Aderthad, her process as a writer, and the importance of representing aro-ace characters in fanfiction.
Featured Themed Collection
Part of our Themed Collection series for our newsletter, this collection features fiction, artwork, and essays that transcend the idea of Orcs as the enemy, instead considering their humanity.
Alliterative Verse for Arda by Rhunedhel
Part of our Themed Collection series for our newsletter, this collection features alliterative poems about Middle-earth.
Beyond the Silmarillion
[Writing] The Wondrous Tale of the Bee-wolf by bunn
Once upon a time, JRR Tolkien wrote a fairy-tale retelling, an attempt to reconstruct an alternative version of the ancient poem called Beowulf, and he called it Sellic Spell: 'strange tale' or 'wondrous tale'.
Once upon a time, on the long road home from the Lonely…
[Writing] Dáin's Saga by bunn
The tale of Dáin Ironfoot, told loosely in the style of a saga of Iceland (in English translation).
[Writing] Saying Goodbye by StarSpray
Frodo spent his last summer in the Shire much as he had the one before he’d gone on his journey.
Around the World and Web
Joyful June 2025
Joyful June is a fanworks event on Tumblr and AO3 where the goal is to let our favourite characters be happy.
Numenor Week 2025
Numenor Week is a Tumblr event created for fans of the tragic and beautiful story of the Land of the Gift, from its birth to its downfall.
Monster Fucker May 2025
This is an 18+ Tumblr and AO3 event for smutty fanworks involving monsters from the legendarium, put on by the Tolkien Pinup Calendar.
May Challenge at tolkienshortfanworks on Dreamwidth
The May challenge has been posted at the tolkienshortfanwork community on Dreamwidth. This month it is a number of prompts containing "may", including "May It Be", by Enya.
Teitho May/June Challenge: Weddings
The theme for Teitho's May/June contest is "weddings."
Fanworks Tagged with Teens
Brothers by Dawn Felagund
Two brothers face their father's death and the differences that have arisen between them, for one is of the King's Men and the other of the Elf-friends.
Tenn’ Ambar-Metta by Fiondil
Elrond receives a final letter from his brother.
Anadûnai by darthfingon
163 years after their parting in Middle-earth, Elrond travels to Númenor to see his brother again.
Never Look Back by Independence1776
Elrond has difficulty coming to terms with Elros' choice and their impending separation.
Blood and Fire by Clodia
Fragments of falling Doriath, centred on Oropher. Dior will not give up the jewel... MEFA 2010 First Place (Races: Elves: General).
Sylvanlight, Book I by slflew
What if Feanor's accusations to the Valar were correct?
What if everything you hoped for was a lie?
Valinor is not the paradise expected to be; Earendil's star has fallen - is it the beginning of Dagor Dagorath?
In Sylvanlight the stories of the Silmarillion are turned over and inside out, mysteries and dark intent surfacing if one simple fact is truth.
Comes the Dawn by Ithilwen
Maedhros enters the Halls of Mandos, and his final fate is revealed. Adult themes.
Chance's Strange Arithmetic by Ithilwen
In the trenches of a French battlefield, two young British officers and a forgotten figure from the dim past have a fateful encounter. Violence, character death.
No title yet. by ladyoflight
Written to cheer up JDav/JDE who is going through a tough time in RL.Pairing:Gil-Galad/ElrondDrabbleSummary:I know this is one of the most common pairings. JDE will groan on seeing this. Her novel pairings and dizzying epic plot twists in the Sunset AU is panoramic. Genres:Crackfic, AU, slash, fluff, romance, bad language. Humor, fluff, 4 letter explicit language and predictable happy ending, all things that JDE hates.
Brother Mine by wind rider
They say, even in the darkest of times and nightmares there is always a light, a silver lining, a hope… It comes in many forms and often in the most unexpected places, events and situations.
It was well known by Erestor and Ereinion, as they were struggling to find their places and roles in the dying society and stay alive in the end of the First Age to the time beyond.
Ceremonies of Innocence by Ithilwen
Sequel to "Nightfall". After the death of Finwë, Fëanor and his sons return to Tirion, and Maedhros makes a fateful decision.
Alliance by SurgicalSteel
Míriel considers her options to avert civil war in Númenor as she prepares for her father's funeral.
Voices in the Wilderness by Ithilwen
How does Fëanor's banishment from Tirion affect the Noldor?
Goldilocks and the Three Balrogs by Clodia
Ca. 1000 TA, Glorfindel finds himself unexpectedly alive and on a ship to Middle-earth in the company of five not-quite-Men. Where next? Imladris, of course...
MEFA 2010 Second Place (Genres: Character Study: Silmarillion).
A Matter of Cultural Differences by Lissas Elves
A Most Proper Elf gains insight in some of the vices of mortals and learns a little about himself in the process.
Warnings are for graphic language.
MEFA 2009 - First place, Genres: Humor: Elven Legends
The Coming of Twilight by Ithilwen
The meeting of Aredhel and Eöl, and the birth of Maeglin. Adult themes.
True Journey is Return by Ithilwen
Fingon has successfully brought Maedhros back from Thangorodrim. In some ways, that rescue was the easy part.
Judgement by Independence1776
AU. After the War of Wrath, Maglor surrenders to Eönwë. Nominated in the 2009 MEFAs.
Falling to a Low Place by Ithilwen
The surviving sons of Fëanor attempt to regain the Silmaril from Elwing. Warnings for violence and disturbing themes.
Easy is the Descent by Ithilwen
The sons of Fëanor attempt to regain the Silmarils from Dior. Warnings for violence and disturbing themes.
The Dweller in the Dark by Ithilwen
The Elven laws of marriage can require unpleasant choices. Warning for mature themes.
Courage, Honesty and Strength by Esteliel
During his youth in Valinor, Glorfindel becomes aware of how his desires seem to differ from those of others...
Three ficlets written for the B2MEM 09 challenge.
Learning to make a fire by Lyra
Young Maedhros learns more than just one lesson on a soggy camping trip - and remembers these lessons much later.
Written for the B2MeM 2009 prompt, "learning to make a fire".
