Around the Fire Challenge

[dawn_felagund]

"Tell me a story. Be my storyteller."

―Arzum Uzun

For this quarter's challenge, we wanted to try something a little different: an informal story-request challenge. Here is how the challenge is worded in our very-shortly-forthcoming July newsletter:

Be it midst of winter or summer, this is the time to gather around the fire together. Whether for warmth, companionship or simply to pass time, there is no better place to share stories together. This quarter, we are sharing stories at the fireside, and we invite you to request a story and/or write a request for someone else. If you'd like to request a story, you can do so here at our LiveJournal community (OpenID and signed anonymous comments are welcome). If you want to write a request, you do not need to sign up but simply leave a link to your story in the comment to that request once your story is finished. You are welcome to post your story to our archive or here at our LiveJournal community. If you chose to post it somewhere else, please put up a valid link for the person who requested your story.

If you want to make a request, simply comment here with the story you'd like to see told. If you want to fill a request, you do not need to do anything until you've written your story, at which point you should reply to the request you filled with a link so that the person who made the request can read it.

• You may make more than one request.


• More than one person may fill a request, and you are welcome to fill as many requests as you want.


• A friendly reminder that this is not a formal ficswap: We cannot guarantee that every request will be filled, and we cannot guarantee that every fill will be exactly to your liking.


• Please be gracious and take a moment to acknowledge authors who write something to fill your request.


• If you post your story to the SWG archive, please select Around the Fire from the Challenges drop-down when you add your story so that we can keep all challenge entries in one place.

Comments

[silver-trails.livejournal.com]

I would like a conversation between Caranthir and Maedhros, in Valinor, once they both leave the Halls of Mandos. Please don't write them at odds with each other.

[zdenka]

Isildur's wife hearing the news of Isildur's death and receiving the shards of Narsil from Ohtar.

[independence1776]

Maglor lives alone on the Isle of Himling. Someone visits the island, not knowing it’s inhabited. What happens?

[kenazfiction.livejournal.com]

3rd/4th age Valinor-- Culture clashes and unanswered questions! For example... How do the Vanyar feel about the influx of relative "newcomers" to Valinor at the end of the 3rd Age? What happens when all of the Elves who can claim right to the title "High King" are re-embodied? Are any of the sons of Fëanor ever released from the Halls of Mandos, and if so, what is the reaction from the Teleri? What happens when members of a family who left Valinor for Middle-earth reunite with family members who didn't leave? Lots of territory to explore here! :)

[kenazfiction.livejournal.com]

I would love to see a scene or read some dialogue between Beleg and Turin at the time of the Dagor Dagorath...Is Turin forgiven? How does Beleg feel when he sees Turin again? Are they ready for the battle of all battles? (Slash or Gen-- anything goes!)

[binkaslibrary.livejournal.com]

I'd like a story about Thingol, but not that maniac who ended up under a dwarf's axe, only a happy man, king, husband or father -- your pick. Thank you :)

[starbrow.livejournal.com]

I would like a story about Rían discovering her talent as a singer and songwriter as a young girl. Did she sing any songs about events we're aware of?

[silver-trails.livejournal.com]

I would like a story about a reembodied Celegorm meeting Elladan, and realizing how much he resembles Lúthien.

[hhimring]

I'd be interested in a take on the love triangle between Gwindor, Finduilas and Turin that tries to pay attention to all three points of view on their own terms, as much as possible.

[hhimring]

Hello,

I have tried to write a fill for this request. I hope you like it!
It is here:
http://www.silmarillionwritersguild.org/archive/home/viewstory.php?sid=2895

[periantari.livejournal.com]

A Maeglin fic about how he felt when both parents died.

[heartofoshun.livejournal.com]

I would like a story of Maedhros and Nerdanel before he leaves for Middle-earth or Formenos. Does she demand an explanation or might he offer one?

[heartofoshun.livejournal.com]

Someone asked for happy Thingol above. I spend a lot of time thinking about Thingol losing it. Maybe early-Thingol would be fun too. Happy and ambitious and/or what happened when he fell for Melian?

[heartofoshun.livejournal.com]

Elladan and/or Elrohir meet Maedhros and Fingon in Valinor. Any genre, any mood.

[oloriel.livejournal.com]

I wrote something: Elf-struck (http://www.silmarillionwritersguild.org/archive/home/viewstory.php?sid=927&chapter=5). When they head out to a supposedly haunted island for a dare, the Douglas twins make an acquaintance that changes them forever. A Victorian ghost story, without, as it were, a ghost. Hope you enjoy!

[independence1776]

OOH! Thank you! *goes to read*

[kenazfiction.livejournal.com]

Also left @ AO3, but just in case...:

OMG, THANK YOU!!

I am so sorry that I've been offline and unresponsive for so long-- I hate it when I write gift fics and am left hanging, so I am terribly ashamed that I have become such a horrible recipient myself.

I love that this is not a happy story. I love that even in death he cannot escape his doom, that he fruitlessly punishes himself, and that when Gurthang is returned to him, he is filled not with righteousness or surety of purpose, but with dread (and I still don't trust that fucking sword!). I love that Nienor's presence is felt here through her absence-- no comfort of closure for him there. I love that the people sent to fetch him are those who had loved him and tried to help him-- and also those he has wronged most grevioisly, and they do not offer him forgiveness or warm welcome... He is a weapon that is required. I love that Finduilas comes to him armed for war... And with a spear! Is this the spear that killed her? I love thinking of her as lovesick maiden turned badass. I'm glad Beleg didn't have much to say-- that alone speaks volumes: perhaps he has forgiven, but he cannot forget. Turin is a man with debts to pay.

I enjoyed every word, and this bit is my particular favorite:
That had all been part of the whiteness and the coldness and the silence: as if the Laer Cu Beleg had paused in its lament on one long-held note that had continued so long that the ears could no longer perceive it.

[hhimring]

Don't worry! This exchange doesn't have a set reveal date or anything like that, so it's less easy for the recipient to track whether they have fills and I was well aware of that!
I'm so happy you like the story!
I'll respond in more detail over at AO3.

[hhimring]

Not sure whether I should say anything at this point, especially as you've already got a fill, but I may be producing a second one.
I'm writing drabbles for Tolkien Weekly's Coastal Challenge. So far I've managed to get Maglor into a boat and all the way to Himling...
The drabbles are here:
http://tolkien-weekly.livejournal.com/1145342.html
http://tolkien-weekly.livejournal.com/1145475.html

[dawn_felagund]

Multiple fills are definitely allowed, so thank you for sharing the links! :)

[independence1776]

Ooh! Thank you!

[hhimring]

Thank you very much, Dawn!
I was hesitating more because this is still so incomplete (and also I'd left poor Maglor in a bad spot), but it just seemed a bit odd not to mention it, as the Tolkien Weekly posts are public.
I'll post the finished sequence (fingers crossed) to the SWG Archive, of course.

[silverstarspray.livejournal.com]

I wrote a thing!

By Way of Tears (http://www.silmarillionwritersguild.org/archive/home/viewstory.php?sid=2901)

I hope you like it (:

[zdenka]

Thank you -- that's very exciting! I'll go read it.

[hhimring]

There's a further instalment now, here, with unexpected visitors:
http://tolkien-weekly.livejournal.com/1146023.html