| Fanworks | Gallery | Favorites | Stamp Collection
Preferred Name: Shadow
Preferred Pronouns: they/them
Member since .
About Me
Loves Tolkien, Physics and the stars.
Blanket permission on all of my works here, but please contact me once you post stuff! I'd love to listen to/read/look at what you do with my works!
If anything is ever exempted from the blanket permission, it will be explicitly stated here.
Fanworks by daughterofshadows
The Most Important Ingredient is Love by daughterofshadows
A story about stew and how many people cook the same dish across the years. Spanning all the way from the Adanel and her family to the wedding of Aragorn and Arwen.
Across millennia, people come together to share food and good company.
| Major Characters: Adanel, Andreth, Beren, Lúthien Tinúviel, Dior, Isildur, Anárion, Elendil, Elros, Dúnedain, Belemir |
| Major Relationships: |
| Genres: Family, Fluff | Challenges: |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 3 | Word Count: 5, 945 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
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.
| Major Characters: Bilbo Baggins, Boromir (Fellowship), Aredhel |
| Major Relationships: |
| Genres: | Challenges: |
| Rating: | Warnings: |
| Posted on | Updated on |
Light of the World by daughterofshadows
Across the ages of the world, darkness was always overcome by Light.
| Major Characters: |
| Major Relationships: |
| Genres: Ficlet, General | Challenges: |
| Rating: General | Warnings: |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 210 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
Arisen by daughterofshadows
Ereinion becomes Gil-galad, the king, but never disappears. Three episodes from the life of a king.
| Major Characters: Gil-galad |
| Major Relationships: |
| Genres: Ficlet, General | Challenges: |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Character Death, Violence (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 315 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
History has its eyes on you by daughterofshadows
Gil-galad, Hamilton lyrics and three poignant events in his life.
| Major Characters: Gil-galad |
| Major Relationships: |
| Genres: | Challenges: Musicals |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Character Death |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 203 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
Twinkle, Twinkle, Silmaril - Podfic by daughterofshadows
A reworking of Twinkle, twinkle, little star, featuring Eärendil. Originally written by Anérea.
| Major Characters: |
| Major Relationships: |
| Genres: Music , Podfic | Challenges: Dark Matter |
| Rating: General | Warnings: |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
Return to the Sea by daughterofshadows
Cúrandil knows the stories, knows how their people first awoke in the water. How they came to walk the land and how the sea has called them back ever since.
It is their turn to follow the call now.
| Major Characters: Original Nonbinary Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: |
| Genres: Adventure, Alternate Universe | Challenges: Birthday Bash |
| Rating: General | Warnings: |
| Chapters: 3 | Word Count: 1, 194 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
Tolkien through an Aromantic Lens by daughterofshadows
A collection of my Meta on Tolkien and aromanticism
| Major Characters: |
| Major Relationships: |
| Genres: | Challenges: |
| Rating: | Warnings: |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
The Stewards of Gondor & their heirs by daughterofshadows
A meta work that looks into trends and correlations about the ages the Ruling Stewards of Gondor had their heirs.
Initially started to see whether the maths supports aromantic Boromir readings for my Mereth Aderthad presentation, but it got out of hand XD
| Major Characters: |
| Major Relationships: |
| Genres: Nonfiction/Meta | Challenges: |
| Rating: General | Warnings: |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
Tolkien through an Aromantic Lens by daughterofshadows
Let's look at some aromantic headcanons for Meta week!
| Major Characters: |
| Major Relationships: |
| Genres: Nonfiction/Meta | Challenges: Tolkien Meta Week |
| Rating: General | Warnings: |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 979 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
Interview with Shadow by Himring by daughterofshadows, Himring
Aromanticism is a topic not often covered in Tolkien scholarship, but many Tolkien characters can be read as aromantic. In this interview, Himring talks with Shadow about their upcoming Mereth Aderthad presentation "The Aromantic in Tolkien."
| Major Characters: |
| Major Relationships: |
| Genres: | Challenges: |
| Rating: | Warnings: |
| Posted on | Updated on |
Sounds of War by daughterofshadows
An army marches to the War of Wrath.
| Major Characters: |
| Major Relationships: |
| Genres: | Challenges: Dark Matter |
| Rating: General | Warnings: |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 100 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
Call to the West by daughterofshadows
A drabble about sea longing without ever using the word sea. Or longing.
| Major Characters: |
| Major Relationships: |
| Genres: | Challenges: Dark Matter |
| Rating: General | Warnings: |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 101 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
Shadow's Instadrabbles by daughterofshadows
The home of my insta-drabbling pieces!
(and the odd drabble of undetermined origin)
| Major Characters: Original Character(s), Amarië, Anairë, Arwen, Bilbo Baggins, Celeborn, Celebrían, Eärwen, Elladan, Elrohir, Elrond, Elu Thingol, Finarfin, Gil-galad, Mahtan, Melian, Nerdanel, Thranduil, Rog, Eärendil, Celebrimbor, Ilmarë |
| Major Relationships: |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: Festival of Lights Fest, Holiday Party, It Comes in Threes, Jubilee, Middle-earth Olympics, Orctober, Potluck Bingo, Restoration and Rebuilding, Strength and Beauty, Taboo, Teen Spirit, Vintage, Zingers |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 41 | Word Count: 4, 145 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
In the deep dark forest by daughterofshadows
Escape attempt from Nan Elmoth
| Major Characters: Maeglin, Aredhel |
| Major Relationships: |
| Genres: Experimental | Challenges: Bestiary of Arda, Jubilee, Vintage |
| Rating: General | Warnings: |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 178 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
Tomber dans les pommes by daughterofshadows
Celebrimbor fainted. Narvi worries about her friend.
| Major Characters: Celebrimbor, Narvi |
| Major Relationships: Celebrimbor & Narvi |
| Genres: | Challenges: Idiomatic, Jubilee |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 187 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
A bit of mischief by daughterofshadows
Elrond and Celebrían sneak out one evening. Set pre-relationship in Lindon.
| Major Characters: Elrond, Celebrían |
| Major Relationships: |
| Genres: Ficlet | Challenges: Jubilee |
| Rating: General | Warnings: |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 666 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
Freed by daughterofshadows
Fingon rescued Maedhros from Thangorodrim. In the dungeons of Angband, a flicker of hope is lit. If they can escape, perhaps so can others. If nothing else, they must try.
| Major Characters: Original Female Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: |
| Genres: Adventure | Challenges: Orctober |
| Rating: General | Warnings: |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 801 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
Winter on Tol Himling by daughterofshadows
Winter has come to Tol Himling.
| Major Characters: |
| Major Relationships: |
| Genres: | Challenges: Orctober |
| Rating: General | Warnings: |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 66 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
Our son and king by daughterofshadows
Three perspectives on Ereinion Gil-Galad.
| Major Characters: Círdan, Elrond, Original Female Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: |
| Genres: | Challenges: Kings & Queens |
| Rating: General | Warnings: |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 126 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
Co-Created Fanworks
Interview with Kai Janik by Shadow by Kai Janik, daughterofshadows
Kai is the featured artist for Maglor's Mereth Aderthad 2025 presentation, "Gil-galad was an Elven King: Kingship and Personhood in the last High King of the Noldor." Shadow spoke with Kai about his wide range of interests and inspirations in the legendarium and why Maglor's presentation so intrigued him that he finished the art for it the first night.
| Major Characters: Gil-galad |
| Major Relationships: |
| Genres: | Challenges: |
| Warnings: | |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters |
Interview with fish by Shadow by fish, daughterofshadows
Fish is the featured artist for Stella's Mereth Aderthad 2025 presentation "Cherished antagonist, despised protagonist - a defence of Elu Thingol." Shadow spoke with fish about his creative process, the importance of both tragedy and eucatastrophe to Tolkien's works, and the appeal of "greyness" in Silmarillion characters like Elu Thingol.
| Major Characters: |
| Major Relationships: |
| Genres: | Challenges: |
| Warnings: | |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters |
Interview with Idrils Scribe by Shadow by Idrils Scribe, daughterofshadows
Idrils Scribe is the featured author for Stella Getreuer-Kostrouch's Mereth Aderthad 2025 presentation, "Cherished antagonist, despised protagonist - a defence of Elu Thingol." Shadow spoke with Idril about her story for the event, about the disproportionate criticism Thingol tends to receive in the fandom, the endless layers of the legendarium, and the arc of fandom history that makes inclusive communities essential for creators to thrive.
| Major Characters: Elu Thingol |
| Major Relationships: |
| Genres: | Challenges: |
| Warnings: | |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters |
Interview with Anérea and Shadow by Anérea, daughterofshadows
Anérea and Shadow are the respective featured artist and featured author for Zhie's Mereth Aderthad 2025 presentation, "How To Make a Star From a Tree: The Science of Telperion and Laurelin," and they are both interviewers for Mereth Aderthad as well. They spoke to each other about their projects for Zhie's presentation, the symbolism and physics of light, and the magic of Tolkien and fandom.
| Major Characters: |
| Major Relationships: |
| Genres: | Challenges: |
| Warnings: | |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters |
Interview with Varda delle Stelle by Shadow by Varda delle Stelle, daughterofshadows
As the featured artist for cloudyhymn's Mereth Aderthad 2025 presentation "The Design of Dragons and the Doom of the Dwarves," Varda delle Stelle describes her idea for this presentation as springing fully formed as Athena from Zeus's head. Varda chatted with Shadow about what drew her to this presentation, her approach to painting, and her hopes for her Mereth Aderthad work.
| Major Characters: |
| Major Relationships: |
| Genres: | Challenges: |
| Warnings: | |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters |
Interview with Grundy by Shadow by Grundy, daughterofshadows
Long fascinated with the Manhattan Project, Grundy was naturally drawn to Cindy Gates' Mereth Aderthad 2025 presentation “Tolkien, Lunatic Physicists, and Abnegation" and is making a work of glass art to accompany it. Shadow spoke to Grundy about her inspiration on the project and long love of Tolkien.
| Major Characters: |
| Major Relationships: |
| Genres: | Challenges: |
| Warnings: | |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters |
Interview with Azh, Admirable Monster by Shadow by AdmirableMonster, daughterofshadows
As a physicist themself, Azh confronts the issues around the ethical use of science in both the professional and creative realms. Shadow spoke with Azh about their story "Lightborn," written to accompany Cindy Gates' Mereth Aderthad 2025 presentation “Tolkien, Lunatic Physicists, and Abnegation,” its real-life inspirations, and the importance of fallibility in Tolkien's world.
| Major Characters: |
| Major Relationships: |
| Genres: | Challenges: |
| Warnings: | |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters |
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.
| Major Characters: |
| Major Relationships: |
| Genres: | Challenges: |
| Warnings: | |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters |
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.
| Major Characters: |
| Major Relationships: |
| Genres: | Challenges: |
| Warnings: | |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters |
Interview with Zhie by Shadow by SWG Newsletter Staff, daughterofshadows
There are rewards in considering the scientific roots of aspects of the legendarium typically considered mythic or folkloric. Shadow spoke with Zhie about the challenges of investigating such a topic as a non-scientist for Zhie's upcoming Mereth Aderthad paper "How to Make a Star from a Tree: The Science of Telperion and Laurelin."
| Major Characters: Laurelin, Telperion |
| Major Relationships: |
| Genres: | Challenges: |
| Warnings: | |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters |
Interview with cloudyhymns by Shadow by cloudyhymns, daughterofshadows
Shadow spoke with cloudyhymns about his upcoming presentation for Mereth Aderthad 2025, "The Design of Dragons and the Doom of the Dwarves," where he shares his theory about how Dwarves and dragons are connected in the legendarium, a topic full of implications for fanworks.
| Major Characters: Dwarves |
| Major Relationships: |
| Genres: | Challenges: |
| Warnings: | |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters |
Interview with Maglor by Shadow by maglor-my-beloved, daughterofshadows
Maglor spoke with Shadow about his upcoming presentation for Mereth Aderthad, "Gil-galad was an Elven King: Kingship and Personhood in the Last High King of the Noldor," and what makes Gil-galad such an intriguing—and mysterious—character.
| Major Characters: Gil-galad |
| Major Relationships: |
| Genres: | Challenges: |
| Warnings: | |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters |
Interview with Acha Rezak (Quente) by Shadow by Quente, daughterofshadows
Shadow spoke to Acha Rezak about her upcoming presentation for Mereth Aderthad, which reads Tolkien less as a Catholic Christian work and more as a world inclusive of many religions, especially in its focus on nature and landscapes
| Major Characters: |
| Major Relationships: |
| Genres: | Challenges: |
| Warnings: | |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters |
Might As Well Dance by Grundy, polutropos, daughterofshadows, Anérea
Beren, Lúthien, and Huan circling each other, love, and doom.
| Major Characters: Beren, Huan, Lúthien Tinúviel |
| Major Relationships: Beren/Luthien, Beren & Huan, Huan & Lúthien |
| Genres: Ficlet | Challenges: Arda on Ice |
| General | Warnings: |
| Chapters: 4 | Word Count: 610 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters |
daughterofshadows's Gallery
A collage about Nimrodel, Amroth (and Mithrellas) and their flight to Edhellond.
Art for Tolkien Reverse Summer Bang
Major Characters: Nimrodel, Amroth, MithrellasMajor Relationships: No major relationships listed
Challenge: No challenge listed
Rating: General
Warnings: No warnings listed | | |
Four art pieces for Scribbles & Drabbles 2025.
Major Characters: Elu Thingol, Círdan, RogMajor Relationships: No major relationships listed
Challenge: No challenge listed
Rating: General
Warnings: No warnings listed | | |
Semi-abstract arts representing the queens of the Valar.
Major Characters: No major characters listedMajor Relationships: No major relationships listed
Challenge: Bollywood, Jubilee, Potluck Bingo, Restoration and Rebuilding
Rating: General
Warnings: No warnings listed | | |
My collection of Scribbles & Drabbles Arts for 2024!
Major Characters: Círdan, Belladonna Took Baggins, Fëanor, Celegorm, Lúthien Tinúviel, Nerdanel, Rog, PenlodMajor Relationships: Fëanor/Nerdanel
Challenge: No challenge listed
Rating: General
Warnings: No warnings listed | | |
A moodboard for a Celegorm/Lúthien Modern AU inspired by the song You better you bet by The Who.
Major Characters: Celegorm, Huan, Lúthien TinúvielMajor Relationships: Celegorm/Lúthien
Challenge: Turgon's Rock Opera
Rating: General
Warnings: No warnings listed | | |
The gallery for my Lord of the Rings and Hobbit inspired Scribbles & Drabbles 2023 art.
Some cracky, some serious, mostly dwarves and hobbits.
Major Characters: No major characters listedMajor Relationships: No major relationships listed
Challenge: No challenge listed
Rating: General
Warnings: No warnings listed | | |
The gallery of my Silmarillion themed arts for Scribbles & Drabbles 2023. Featuring a myriad of characters and art types.
Major Characters: No major characters listedMajor Relationships: No major relationships listed
Challenge: No challenge listed
Rating: General
Warnings: No warnings listed | | |
