From ancient times to the present, siege warfare has been used to wear down an enemy through time and deprivation. Siege tactics, defense against a siege, and humanitarian concerns from real-world sieges have analogues in sieges in Middle-earth.

Fantasy fiction is often conceived to aid escapism in a world as complex and threatening as ours is. It is also an important tool for reflecting on and critiquing our political and societal norms and deficits, serving as a great lens to understand politics, power, choice, order, and justice. Through the lens of political science, underused in Tolkien studies, this paper describes and evaluates the broad themes of the domestic and international political landscape of early Second Age in Middle-earth, examined through a framework of power and choice. With a specific focus on Númenor as a rising power, the paper will also address diverse themes of great power politics, foreign policy, technology and weaponry, ideology, and alliance systems.

In which Legolas has a bad dream.

Isildur contemplates what to to tell his wife as he writes home from the siege of Barad-dûr.

A collection of stories concerning the Númenoreans, primarily the Faithful and Elf-friends. Some are standalones, while others crossover with larger fics and other series. Think of it as the Númenorean corner of Fern's Middle-earth Cinematic Universe.

A collection of stories concerning Thranduil, the Silvan Elves, and even the Doriathrim. Some are standalones, while others crossover with larger fics and other series. Think of it as the Greenwood's corner of Fern's Middle-earth Cinematic Universe.

A collection of stories featuring characters from across my "his vision darkened", "archaic and content", and "old path to a new hell" series, all leading to "Defiance" that will depict the war itself, and which will be followed by a final fic as a coda. Think of this series as the Infinity War/Endgame of Fern's Middle-earth Cinematic Universe.

A collection of stories concerning a dark lord of many names and many guises. Some are standalones, while others crossover with larger fics and other series. Think of it as Sauron's corner of Fern's Middle-earth Cinematic Universe.

As the Last Alliance marches east through desolation, Oropher learns of what befell the Entwives.

Elendil and his wife ruminate on the fragile space between what is seen and what is true, as Númenor slips silently into shadow.

In which a certain silver-tongued prisoner worms his way into Ar-Pharazôn's mind.

In which the winds of change are sweeping through Númenor, and Míriel does her best to stand steady in the storm.

Elendur awakes one morning as the Alliance prepares to march for Mordor.

Celebrimbor learns a horrible truth.

Written for the December 2020 Instadrabbling event on the SWG server.

A moment of foreboding between a Maia and an Elvenking during the funeral of Thorin Oakenshield. 

Written for the December 2020 Instadrabbling event on the SWG server.

How the Songs of a Maia and a Vala harmonised - and then, as all corrupted things are wont to do, fell to discord and chaos.

A collection of ficlets written for the 2019 Solstice instradrabbling challenge on Discord.

Tyelperinquar knew Annatar was keeping something from him.

In which goodbyes are said, gifts are given, and promises are made.

There's a way the wind whispers through the trees in Eregion.

Númenor is sick. A lord out of the east comes bearing a cure - a leviathan that is also an ouroboros.