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mereth aderthad 2025

Admin Post: Mereth Aderthad RSVP for Meals Needed No Later Than June 22!

If you are attending Mereth Aderthad in-person and want to join us for dinner on Saturday and/or breakfast on Sunday, Mr. Felagund and I are working on getting reservations made and need a headcount.

Please use this form to RSVP no later than Sunday, June 22 if you would like to join us!

Dinner: Saturday, July 19, 6:00 PM at the Farmhouse Tap & Grill in Williston

Breakfast: Sunday, July 20, 9:00 AM at The Pour House (scroll down to Sunday Brunch Menu)

You are responsible for the cost of your own food and drinks at these gatherings.

We will have additional gatherings that do not require reservations and where virtual attendees can join. The schedule will be posted within the week!

Visit Mereth Aderthad 2025 for more information and to register for the event.

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mod post

That's a wrap!

2025’s Tolkien Ekphrasis Week has come to a close! Many thanks to everyone who participated in exploring the arts and material culture of Tolkien’s worlds.

The grand total is a round 30 fanworks in 2 Tolkien fandoms and media including prose, poetry, garments, and song. Everyone’s enthusiasm, engagement, and joy in creation made this a wonderful fourth (!) year.

Moving forward, all 30 fanworks can be found on this Dreamwidth and on the Tumblr in the round-up posts, and 29 of them can be found in the AO3 collection.

One last THANK YOU for an awesome and artistic week!

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mereth aderthad 2025

Mereth Aderthad Interview: Interview with fish by Shadow

Mereth Aderthad 2025 Interview with fish by Shadow. Featured artist for "Cherished antagonist, despised protagonist - a defence of Elu Thingol."

Fish is creating the art for Stella Getreuer-Kostrouch's presentation "Cherished antagonist, despised protagonist - a defence of Elu Thingol" for Mereth Aderthad 2025. Shadow spoke with fish about his creative process, the importance of both tragedy and eucatastrophe to Tolkien's works (and to keeping his fans forever in the fandom), and the appeal of "greyness" in Silmarillion characters like Elu Thingol.

You can read Shadow's interview with fish here.

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round-up post

Day 8 (Amnesty/Free-For-All) Round-Up

Please note: these round-up posts will not contain the same warnings and/or ratings as the linked fanworks. Click through advisedly.

A Capelet for the Gwaith-i-Mîrdain, by below_et_almost and bunn. Garment, embroidered cape. 

A capelet with carved holly buttons, representing the Gwaith-i-Mirdain for the Ekphrasis week prompts for fiber arts and collaboration.

The Woven Cloth at Meduseld, by Flora_lass. Poetry, 160 words.

A poem written in haste for TEW 2025 Amnesty Day (but really for the Textiles prompt - pain theme). Inspired by the tapestry (and the poem) featured in Chapter 6 of The Two Towers.

And that’s a wrap! Thank you all so much to every participant; this was an amazing event thanks to your efforts!

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Day 7 (Lapidary & Hardstone Carving) Round-Up

Please note: these round-up posts will not contain the same warnings and/or ratings as the linked fanworks. Click through advisedly.

their like, by asterisq. One-shot, 1,226 words.

Sure, the silmarils can’t be remade, but why can’t we just, like, make new ones??

[podfic] Stone and String and [podfic] The Making of the Second Elessar , by Chestnut_pod. Podfics, 3:30 and 2:05 minutes.

An ordinary sort of letter, sent from Dwarrowdelf to Imladris, by one of the survivors of Ost-in-Edhil.

Celebrimbor makes the famed Elfstone.

A Most Enjoyable Garden Party, by Sallysavestheday. One-shot, 2,063 words.

Gimli encounters Maedhros and Fingon at Mahtan’s Midsummer festivities.

Thanks to all the participants, and looking forward to tomorrow! Remember that if you have any last-minute, late, or non-prompt works, you should post them to the AO3 collection now so I can reveal them on Amnesty Day tomorrow.

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Day 6 (Textiles & Fashion) Round-Up

Please note: these round-up posts will not contain the same warnings and/or ratings as the linked fanworks. Click through advisedly.

A respectful distance , by Asterisq. One-shot, 1,030 words.

“A museum displays some of the works of Míriel Serindë.”

Star in the Darkness, by StarSpray. Ficlet, 799 words.

"Now a great crowd of spirits, both Elves and lingering Men, were gathered before the newest tapestry as it fell open down the wall, luminous, gold and silver threads glittering in the pale light of Mandos.”

lavender and silk and A heart, twice-burned by OlaTheClown. Art, digital paintings.

“The fashion of Mairien Lanyawendë, a courtier of Curufinwë Atarincë and Turcafinwë Tyelkormo.”

“No amount of threads and needles, of sweat and tears, of labour and heart poured into a piece of work can save it from the destructive mundanity of war.”

Strange Self-Flatteries, by Chestnut_pod. Fic, 27,233 words.

“The problem began the season Arwen turned thirty-five.”

Changing Colours, by Himring. Ficlet, 711 words.

Quiletirme’s craft involves textiles, not smithing or jewels. For that reason, she had no closer or more personal encounters with Annatar in Ost-in-Edhil before the revelation of his betrayal. But she has friends among the Gwaith-i-Mirdain, one friend in particular, and so that betrayal affects her very personally, nevertheless.

Thanks to all the participants, and looking forward to tomorrow!

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challenge

June Challenge: Gates of Summer

SWG Gates of Summer challenge banner - dragonflies amidst tall grass

Summer is a season of flourishing, when life is at its peak. It is a time of plenty, when the light lingers long and celebrations dot the calendar. As we prepare for our big Mereth Aderthad celebration in just a month's time—an event that celebrates the vibrant life of our group and all of the creators and members who have shaped its history—we turn to the topic of summer. Like summer, we hope the SWG and the creativity and fellowship between its members will be a light that endures for many years to come!

This month, challenge participants will select their own prompts from a collection of prompts related to summer. The collection includes quotes from the texts, canon events, events in Tolkien's life, and quotes from Tolkien's letters. As always, you can mix and match prompts if you want, and we encourage creative interpretations of prompts.

In honor of Pride Month, there is a special stamp available for fanworks that focus on LGBTQIA+ characters.

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

In order to receive a stamp for your fanwork, your response must be posted to the archive on or before 15 July 2025. For complete challenge guidelines, see the Challenges page on our website.

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Day 5 (Culinary Arts) Round-Up

Please note: these round-up posts will not contain the same warnings and/or ratings as the linked fanworks. Click through advisedly.

Hunger is the surface , by Asterisq. One-shot, 2,524 words.

"Post-Thangorodrim, pre-abdication, Fingon and Fingolfin share a meal with Maedhros and Maglor. It is a tense affair.”

Such a Tender Bite, by Sallysavestheday. Ficlet, 500 words.

"Fingon and potatoes, in 5 perfect drabbles."

Comfort food, by Tigress11. Ficlet, 763 words.

"The Fellowship discusses what foods they miss."

Falathrim Drinking Vessels of Beleriand: Social Hierarchies and Utilitarian Artforms, by angbands-last-hero. Art and ficlet, 2 paintings and 292 words.

Thanks to all the participants, and looking forward to tomorrow!

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mereth aderthad 2025

Mereth Aderthad Interview: Interview with Varda delle Stelle by Shadow

Mereth Aderthad 2025 Interview with Varda delle Stelle by Shadow. Featured artist for "The Design of Dragons and Doom of Dwarves".

Cloudyhymn's presentation The Design of Dragons and the Doom of the Dwarves posits dragons as a corruption of Dwarves, both sharing a connection to the earth but on opposing sides, similar to the relationship Tolkien sometimes described between Elves and Orcs. Varda delle Stelle, the SWG's assistant art editor, will be creating two paintings as the featured artist for cloudyhymn's presentation at Mereth Aderthad 2025. Shadow spoke with Varda about her own connections to the earth and concepts in cloudyhymn's presentation, her creative process, and her hopes for her Mereth Aderthad paintings.

You can read Shadow's interview with Varda delle Stelle here.

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Day 4 (Tattooing, Piercing, & Body Art) Round-Up

Please note: these round-up posts will not contain the same warnings and/or ratings as the linked fanworks. Click through advisedly. 

A drop of venom wasted , by Asterisq. Ficlet, 812 words.

"A Fëanorian deserter needs to cover up an impolitic tattoo.”

Yenimírë , by Vinyatar. Art, three pencil drawings.

"Ear piercing as a Noldorin coming-of-age ritual/milestone."

bear my mark, by Tigress11. Ficlet, 778 words.

"Annatar pierces Celebrimbor’s ear."

Thanks to all the participants, and looking forward to tomorrow!

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Day 3 (Painting) Round-Up

Please note: these round-up posts will not contain the same warnings and/or ratings as the linked fanworks. Click through advisedly.

In the right light, by Asterisq. One-shot, 1,085 words.

"A half-forgotten painting reminds Idril of her mother.”

Long Art, by Chestnut_pod. Fic, 11,636 words.

"Mr. Baggins the Elder is not shy of speaking his opinions even to the great and good, of which I, a mere mastery student, am neither, so I received a deal of incisive critique which would make my professors proud. While I guided his wheeled chair through the Hurintarwa Gallery, Mr. Baggins said, “My dear young lady [Note: I am one hundred and sixty-four years his senior], pause a moment. All this heartfelt musing on the infinity of spirit makes me feel quite old, and I came to this Blessed Land to feel young again. Where can you take me to make this chair feel as though it were a perambulator, and not the donkey-cart of a decrepit old Númenórean grandee?"

Remembrance, by StarSpray Ficlet, 906 words.

"They found Elrond’s sons with Legolas and Gimli, and with Éomer King and Lady Éowyn, standing before an enormous fresco of a charging army of horsemen. 'Why, isn’t that what just happened, the way it was told to us?' Sam exclaimed, looking up at it.

'No! This is a painting of the Battle of the Fields of Celebrant, long ago,' said Lady Éowyn, smiling at them."

Thanks to all the participants, and looking forward to tomorrow! 

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mereth aderthad 2025

Mereth Aderthad Interview: Interview with Reese by Dawn

Mereth Aderthad 2025 Interview with Reese by Dawn. Featured author for "Kidnap Fam and the Living Legendarium"

Back in March, we spoke with polutropos' about her presentation on the "kidnap fam" trope and its broad appeal in the fandom. Few episodes in the legendarium provoke such fascination and range of interpretations. Reese is the featured author for polutropos' Mereth Aderthad 2025 presentation, "'Kidnap Fam' and the Living Legendarium." Dawn spoke to Reese about her story, which is an epistolary found fiction, and the appeal of alternate universe, mythology and Tolkien and the many fruitful connections they share, the kidnap fam trope—and how the silences in all of these invite storytellers to fill the gaps.

You can read Dawn's interview with Reese here.

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Day 2 (Leathercraft) Round-Up

Please note: these round-up posts will not contain the same warnings and/or ratings as the linked fanworks. Click through advisedly.

Shoes to Fill, by Chestnut_pod. One-shot, 2,206 words.
Grave allegiances, by asterisq. One-shot, 1,191 words.
Carry Him With You, by Tigress11. Ficlet, 668 words.

Thanks to all the participants, and looking forward to tomorrow!

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Day 1 (Dance) Round-Up

Please note: these round-up posts will not contain the same warnings and/or ratings as the linked fanworks. Click through advisedly.

It needn't be first to be important, by OlaTheClown. Digital art.
Footsteps, Vanishing, by Himring. Ficlet, 113 words.
all that is gold does not glitter, by septemberbells. Song, 50 seconds.
what fate chooses to play, by asterisq. One-shot, 1,020 words.
This Wordless Joy, by Sallysavestheday. Ficlet, 651 words.

Thanks to all the participants, and looking forward to tomorrow!

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mereth aderthad 2025

Mereth Aderthad Interview: Interview with Kai by Shadow

Mereth Aderthad 2025 Interview with Kai by Shadow. Featured artist for "Gil-galad was an Elven King: Kingship and Personhood in the last High King of the Noldor."

Kai is a Tolkien artist whose work captures both the dramatic moments of the legendarium and the moments of friendship and love between characters that drove these storied events. Kai's work often captures light and radiance, making him fitting as a 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." Kai spoke with Shadow about how Maglor's topic was instantly inspiring, his range of interests over the years in the legendarium, and the meaning behind the painting he made for Maglor's presentation.

You can read Shadow's interview with Kai here.

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mereth aderthad 2025

Mereth Aderthad Interview: Interview with Dawn Felagund by Shadow

Mereth Aderthad 2025 Interview with Dawn Felagund by Shadow. Featured author for "By Guile Committed: Comparing Tolkien's Thieves to Beowulf."

Dawn Felagund is the featured author for Savannah Horrell's paper "By Guile Committed: Comparing Tolkien’s Thieves to Beowulf" for Mereth Aderthad 2025. Shadow spoke with Dawn about her story for Savannah's presentation, the juggling act of creating a fanwork for the event while also organizing it, and the power of reading Tolkien as a work of history.

You can read Shadow's interview with Dawn here.