No Discernible Villain

I'm thrilled to finally introduce my fic for the 2021 Tolkien Reverse Summer Bang ( @tolkienrsb ), in collaboration with @toastedbuckwheat. I was delighted to write with such beautiful art and ideas as my inspiration.

Who chose the stars

Rating: General Audiences Word count: ≈ 46,000 Relationships: Eöl & Maeglin, Aredhel & Maeglin, Eöl/Aredhel, Thingol/Melian, Enel/Enelyë, Eöl & Thingol, Eöl & Olwë Characters: Eöl, Maeglin, Aredhel, Thingol, Melian, Lúthien, Olwë, Enel, Enelyë, Oromë, Anguirel, Anglachel, Melkor Warnings: Implied/referenced minor character death, trauma

You can view the complete artwork here.

I am so pleased to present my collaboration with @secretlythranduil  (AO3 account) for the Tolkien Reverse Summer Bang 2021 ( @tolkienrsb ). Below is a link to their beautiful fic based on my artwork:

A silent agreement

Word count: 5,004 Pairing: Glorfindel/Maeglin Rating: General Audiences Characters: Maeglin, Glorfindel

Maeglin often runs to Glorfindel when he is upset ... This time, however, he is greatly distressed, and it is not for the usual reasons.

The final art (and a couple added bonuses) can be found here. 

Title: How the shadows fall Word count: 5,537 Characters: Maeglin, Morgoth, Turgon

Summary: Maeglin finally returns from his unexpectedly extended mining expedition, but he is no longer the same person who left Gondolin. He never will be. A character study.

Warnings: Trauma, mental anguish, treachery, and a lot of implied nastiness—mostly thanks to Morgoth—but nothing really graphic.

Title: Death and the Tax Elf: Chapter 7: Justice Without Vengeance Word count (so far): 29,012 Pairing: Dwalin/Caranthir (Dwalinthir) Characters: Caranthir, Dwalin, Balin, Fundin, Fundin’s Wife, Durin II, Durin III, Gimli, Legolas, Dwarf OCs. Warnings (overall): trauma, blood, injury, eye injury, canonical character death, war, violence.

Summary: Tales tell that Carnistir, Son of Fëanor, was slain during the Second Kinslaying, as he and his brothers attacked Doriath. Tales, however, cannot account for the unknown, and there are truths lost to history.

As it’s said among Durin’s Folk, only three things in this world are certain: Death, Dwarven Hospitality, and the Tax Elf. This is the story of how Carnistir of the Noldor lived to become a lord under the mountain. It is also a story of time, mathematics, and love.

Note: I just wanted to point out, that as this chapter features a battle, it is somewhat more violent than the previous chapters. Nothing really graphic or gory, and it remains canon-typical, but I thought I would make a note of it. Also, Dwalin will definitely show up in Chapter 10. (I still can’t stop writing fic! Help!) 

Title: Where the waters have been Wordcount: 4,652 Pairing: Queerplatonic Ulmo/Voronwë (Ulmo & Voronwë) Characters: Voronwë, Ulmo, Ossë, Uinen, Tuor, Eärendil

Summary: Ever since his return to Gondolin, Voronwë has been haunted by dreams of the sea. Emerging from the wreckage of the War of Wrath, he may find relief at last.

The sea held many mysteries, but he was suddenly certain of one thing.

Notes: I wanted to create an undefinable relationship between Voronwë and Ulmo for this, so I am tagging their relationship with a "/" and a "&", but it is probably easiest to say it's queerplatonic. Even the author isn't sure.

For @aspecardaweek

Title: Death and the Tax Elf: Chapter 6: Ancient Songs of the Elves Word count (so far): 23,348 Pairing: Dwalin/Caranthir (Dwalinthir) Characters: Caranthir, Dwalin, Balin, Fundin, Fundin’s Wife, Durin II, Durin III, Gimli, Legolas, Dwarf OCs. Warnings (overall): trauma, blood, injury, eye injury, canonical character death, war, violence.

Summary: Tales tell that Carnistir, Son of Fëanor, was slain during the Second Kinslaying, as he and his brothers attacked Doriath. Tales, however, cannot account for the unknown, and there are truths lost to history.

As it’s said among Durin’s Folk, only three things in this world are certain: Death, Dwarven Hospitality, and the Tax Elf. This is the story of how Carnistir of the Noldor lived to become a lord under the mountain. It is also a story of time, mathematics, and love.

Note: In the Second Age, Caranthir encounters an important figure from his past, and confronts a choice he realizes he may have already made, years ago. (Also, I can’t seem to stop writing fic lately! Help!)

Title: Creative Fires (Chapter 6: Contact Metamorphism) Word count: 28,415 so far Pairing: Melkor/Mairon Characters: Melkor, Mairon, Curumo, Aulë, Eönwë, Manwë Warnings: Melkor causing various problems, unhealthy interpersonal relationship dynamics

Summary: Mairon has always been loyal to Aulë. He prides himself on behaving with the utmost propriety. He rarely makes errors, in his work or otherwise.

When Curumo asks for his assistance in solving a problem without Aulë’s knowledge, Mairon sees no harm in helping him.Yet Mairon faltered once in the past, and he is about to make another mistake. When they encounter Melkor, the consequences seem small at first, but they will increase a thousandfold.

A story about artistic expression and bad choices.

Notes: I managed to finish a chapter in time for @aspecardaweek — featuring Melkor and Mairon in a tale of queerplatonic seduction. In the context of this fic, also, which is set prior to the First War with Melkor, they are spiritual beings without sexual desires.

Title: Death and the Tax Elf: Chapter 5: Of Water and Smoke Word count (so far): 18,921 Pairing: Dwalin/Caranthir (Dwalinthir) Characters: Caranthir, Dwalin, Balin, Durin II, Durin III, Gimli, Legolas, Dwarf OCs. Warnings (overall): trauma, blood, injury, eye injury, canonical character death, war, violence.

Summary: Tales tell that Carnistir, Son of Fëanor, was slain during the Second Kinslaying, as he and his brothers attacked Doriath. Tales, however, cannot account for the unknown, and there are truths lost to history.

As it’s said among Durin’s Folk, only three things in this world are certain: Death, Dwarven Hospitality, and the Tax Elf. This is the story of how Carnistir of the Noldor lived to become a lord under the mountain. It is also a story of time, mathematics, and love.

Note: As I have written ahead, I can tell you now with confidence that Dwalin will appear in Chapter 10. The first 9 chapters make up part one: a chronicle of Caranthir in Khazad-dûm. Now with more calculations and cataclysms! 

Word count: 33,503 (so far) Pairing(s): Thranduil/Celegorm Characters: Thranduil, Celegorm, (little) Legolas, Oropher, Galion, minor OCs, possibly more to come… Warnings: Canon-typical violence, trauma, grief, implied nudity.

Summary: A mystery has come to the Greenwood: something—or someone—is slaying the great spiders with mad abandon. Thranduil is not sorry to see the creatures slain, but he must learn what force is responsible and keep it in check. For the spiders are vengeful, and the safety of his people comes first.

What Thranduil does not expect is that the identity of the killer will not only alter the very future of the Greenwood, but his own life, and that of his young son.

Notes: So far, no one has mentioned the fact that revenants is plural in my title... Just pointing that out, haha. 

Also, I eventually raised the rating to Teen purely because of Celegorm being Celegorm.

Sorry this update took a bit longer than usual—I had to pause to work out my outline for the fic as a whole, to figure out how it would progress. It’s done, now!

Title: Death and the Tax Elf: Chapter 4: Lessons in Labor and Loss Word count (so far): 14,191 Pairing: Dwalin/Caranthir Characters: Caranthir, Dwalin, Balin, Durin II, Durin III, Gimli, Legolas, Dwarf OCs. Warnings (overall): trauma, blood, injury, eye injury, canonical character death, violence.

Summary: Tales tell that Carnistir, Son of Fëanor, was slain during the Second Kinslaying, as he and his brothers attacked Doriath. Tales, however, cannot account for the unknown, and there are truths lost to history.

As it’s said among Durin’s Folk, only three things in this world are certain: Death, Dwarven Hospitality, and the Tax Elf. This is the story of how Carnistir of the Noldor lived to become a lord under the mountain. It is also a story of time, mathematics, and love.

Note: As the first part of the story spans thousands of years, I decided to write a series of vignettes, touching on some of Carnistir's most significant experiences in Khazad-dûm, so there are some sizable time skips between chapters.

Title: Death and the Tax Elf  Word count (so far): 10,078 Pairing: Dwalin/Caranthir Characters: Caranthir, Dwalin, Balin, Durin II, Durin III, Gimli, Legolas, Dwarf OCs. Warnings (overall): trauma, blood, injury, eye injury, canonical character death, violence.

Summary: Tales tell that Carnistir, Son of Fëanor, was slain during the Second Kinslaying, as he and his brothers attacked Doriath. Tales, however, cannot account for the unknown, and there are truths lost to history.

As it’s said among Durin’s Folk, only three things in this world are certain: Death, Dwarven Hospitality, and the Tax Elf. This is the story of how Carnistir of the Noldor lived to become a lord under the mountain. It is also a story of time, mathematics, and love.

Note: Since AO3 doesn’t do prologues, this is technically chapter two, but let’s just call it chapter three.

Title: Death and the Tax Elf (Prologue and Chapter One) Word count (so far): 6,321 Pairing: Dwalin/Caranthir Characters: Caranthir, Dwalin, Balin, Durin II, Durin III, Gimli, Legolas Warnings: trauma, blood, injury, eye injury, canonical character death, violence

Summary: Tales tell that Carnistir, Son of Fëanor, was slain during the Second Kinslaying, as he and his brothers attacked Doriath. Tales, however, cannot account for the unknown, and there are truths lost to history.

As it's said among Durin's Folk, only three things in this world are certain: Death, Dwarven Hospitality, and the Tax Elf. This is the story of how Carnistir of the Noldor lived to become a lord under the mountain. It is also a story of time, mathematics, and love.

Notes: Something came over me, and I had to write a Dwalinthir fic. I had no choice in the matter, and none can say why. The 14 projected chapters are an estimate, but I think it’ll be about that many. Click the link above to read!

Title: Fates of the Bloodstained, Chapter 3/4 Word count: 12,525 (so far) Pairing(s): The story focuses on the platonic relationship between Gwindor & Túrin, but also features Beleg/Túrin. Characters: Gwindor, Túrin, Beleg, Anglachel

Summary: Gwindor of Nargothrond learned years ago that his fate was to be a sorrowful one, but now it is entangled with a new kind of misfortune: the destiny of Túrin. While leading the Man on their long journey to the Pools of Ivrin, Gwindor faces a future more desolate and strange than any he could have imagined—and the dangers of a land in the shadow of the Enemy. 

Notes/Warnings: The concept of this fic is that Gwindor and Túrin had a “lost” adventure on their journey to the Pools of Ivrin—never recorded and lost to history. Includes canon-typical violence, grief, death, injury, thoughts of self-harm.

Title: Creative Fires (Chapter 5: Deep Caverns) Word count: 22,935 so far Pairing: Melkor/Mairon Characters: Melkor, Mairon, Curumo, Aulë, Eönwë, Manwë Warnings: None, other than Melkor causing problems

Summary: Mairon has always been loyal to Aulë. He prides himself on behaving with the utmost propriety. He rarely makes errors, in his work or otherwise.

When Curumo asks for his assistance in solving a problem without Aulë's knowledge, Mairon sees no harm in helping him.Yet Mairon faltered once in the past, and he is about to make another mistake. When they encounter Melkor, the consequences seem small at first, but they will increase a thousandfold.

A story about artistic expression and bad choices.

Notes: I made a big change in my outline, and I had to go back and edit the entire story. It is now set during the First War with Melkor, before the Years of the Lamps.

Title: To the Broken Ones, chapter 2 Word count: 9,931 Pairing: Fingon/Durin’s Bane (Balrog of Moria) Summary: How Fingon survived the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, in spite of accounts to the contrary. Warnings: Violence, war, death, blood, drinking blood, Angband, Sauron.

Note: Another chapter for this odd pairing. In time for Valentine’s Day, a story in which even Balrogs can feel love. (Also, there is a reason this is Durin’s Bane rather than any other random Balrog.)

(I was really bitten by the fic bug recently; it happens sometimes.)