A series of original fan fiction novels set in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth.
Celebrating Nineteen Years
November 14, 2004 - November 14, 2023
***
IN MEMORY OF ANGMAR He may have passed beyond the Circles of the World,
but his memory lives on through his writings.
n an alternative universe set in the Third Age
of Arda, the West was defeated at the Battle of Pelennor Fields
and the war swept over Southern Gondor. To the dismay of all the
Free People of Middle-earth, the Dark Lord Sauron regained the
One Ring, His rising power threatening to plunge the world into
a Second Darkness.
In the midst of this, two young maidens,
twins Elfhild and Elffled, are captured by orcs in a preliminary
raid against Rohan. Their world destroyed, their fate uncertain,
they face the bleak prospects of slavery at the hands of cruel
masters.
The Witch-king of Angmar and his fellows
struggle and suffer to serve a mad God who both loves them and
seeks to destroy them. In truth, they are no more fortunate than
the lowly thralls of Mordor, for they, too, are in bondage, locked in
a silent war for the freedom to live and love as they see fit.
The Dark Lord Sauron, a victim of His own
lusts, wishes to possess Arda and encompass it in His twisted
love. Obsessively, He craves the worship and adoration of all
mankind, but His thirst for total dominion of mind and soul twists
and perverts all His designs. His spirit weighed down with the
frustrations of the ages, still He strives against the Valar to
possess the world that He loves.
A tale of peasants and Powers; of masters
and slaves; freedom and bondage; of adventure, mystery and intrigue;
of wars and bloodshed; of love and loss; of spirits and magic
and the unquiet dead.
Come journey
to the exotic lands of the East and South - Khand,
Harad, Nurn, Rhun and Umbar... and beyond.
July 21, 2024
Chapter 5, "At Home with the Family," has just been added to Book 9.
After a long absence, Esarhaddon enjoys his first morning back at his
villa and happy reunions with the various members of his family.
Angmar was never satisfied with the initial backstory that he had
created for Esarhaddon, and he always wanted to go back and revise
it. He had envisioned Esarhaddon as a man in his mid-thirties, but he
had given the character such a complicated life that it was difficult to
reconcile his age with everything that had happened to him over the
years. I have gone back to Book 2 and revised Chapter 18, "A
Tempting Dish," which is the chapter which Esarhaddon discusses
his past with Goldwyn.
I have also gone back through other chapters in Book 2 and made a
number of small revisions. This book was written in 2006, and at that
time Angmar had not yet imagined the School of Industry. Instead of
operating a training facility for slaves, Esarhaddon would choose a
select number of slaves to be educated in his household, so that their
value might increase when he finally sold them. I have updated these
chapters to reflect the shift to the School of Industry.
I also made some characterization changes to Book 2 as well. When
Angmar first created the character of Esarhaddon, he imagined him
more of a villain. However, as Angmar wrote for the character, this
perspective shifted over time, and Esarhaddon became more of an
anti-hero. Therefore, I have softened some of Esarhaddon's bad
behavior in Book 2 to reflect this change. Angmar did not write a
redemptive arc for Esarhaddon, so I do not believe that any
inconsistencies in Esarhaddon's character are the result of
intentional character development.
If you'd like to get in touch with the author of
"The Circles," write to Elfhild.
***
June 15, 2024
Chapter 4, "The Merchant's Household," has just been added to Book 9.
Meet the members of Esarhaddon's household: Nobo, the chamberlain
who ensures that all runs smoothly at the manor; sultry Shumeeren and
sweet Anúrnissa, the merchant's two wives; and Guli, scholar, storyteller,
and treasurer of the School of Industry.
This was quite a challenging chapter to write! Not only does "The
Merchant's Household" introduce four major supporting characters, but
it also introduces two new countries, one in Near Harad and one in Far
Harad.
When Angmar and I collaborated on fanfiction stories and roleplaying
scenarios, we always used The Atlas of Middle-earth as our reference
book. While working on this chapter, I frequently referenced the map
of Second Age Middle-earth that is found in the Atlas. (I do feel that
Third Age Arda would look a bit different than it did in the Second Age,
however. My personal theory is that, when Arda was made round,
Eru added more land to the east of Rhun. For more information about
my theories, see my essay entitled
"The Topography of Second Age Arda Before the World Was Made Round".)
Angmar didn't get a chance to do as much worldbuilding in Harad as he
initially planned, but he did have some ideas he was playing around with.
He imagined that there would be various nomadic tribes in Near Harad,
some neutral and some loyal to Sauron. He also made reference to a kingdom
with a sultan, implying that there was at least one stationary kingdom or
city state in Near Harad. Using Angmar's ideas for inspiration, I created the
kingdom of Harûnak, which borders the Eastern Sea (the "Inner Seas" from
the Second Age map found in the Atlas). Angmar mentioned this region of
eastern Near Harad several times throughout the story, with at least one
reference to fishermen dwelling along the Gulf of Harad. Now I have given
this location a name - the Kingdom of Harûnak.
As for Far Harad, I created the kingdom of Kha'savay, which is located
south of Umbar in western Far Harad. For a long time, I have wanted
to write about a prosperous, possibly technologically advanced civilization
in Far Harad, a kingdom which developed independently of Numenorean
or Sauronic influence. Perhaps Kha'savay will be this kingdom. The "Silver
Mountains" of which Anúrnissa speaks are the "Grey Mountains" of Tolkien's
earlier drafts. Tolkien would ultimately decide to give this name to a mountain
range in Rhovanion, so it would be too confusing to keep the "Grey Mountains"
name for this range in Far Harad. As an homage to Tolkien's original name,
I decided to call this range the Silver Mountains.
When Angmar wrote the original drafts that would later become Book 9,
he took much inspiration from One Thousand and One Arabian Nights and
its "story within a story" format which emphasized oral storytelling traditions.
In Book 9, there are quite a few chapters which veer away from the main
plot while a character tells a fanciful tale in the style of Arabian Nights. I
decided to introduce a book called "One Hundred and One Tales of the
South and East" which the storyteller could refer to when telling these tales.
I thought that this was an appropriate and amusing way to pay tribute to
Angmar and his many interests and inspirations.
As for those Numenorean air ships and the lost technology of the ancient
world - this interesting bit of trivia is taken from Tolkien's discarded
drafts, which can be found in The Lost Road and Other Writings.
If you'd like to get in touch with the author of
"The Circles," write to Elfhild.
***
June 2, 2024
Chapter 3, "New Friends, New Knowledge," has been added to Book 9. Although their lessons in the
School of Industry have not officially started yet, Elfhild and Elffled are already learning much about
life in Nurn, from extracurricular sports practiced by their fellow students, to the political situation
of the distant region of Rhûn, to the bathing practices of the lands of the south.
Because so much of the series has focused on the journey to Mordor, we have never really gotten
to see what abilities that Elfhild and Elffled possess. They could be amazing jugglers and acrobats
(they're not), but the reader would never know it because there was no logical place to showcase
these abilities during the journey. In a school setting, however, the twins will have plenty of
opportunities to explore their talents and learn new skills.
In the 2006 version of the story, Rufina was one of many servants living at Esarhaddon's villa, and
one of the first characters to befriend the twins. Angmar always wanted Rufina to become an
important character in the story, but she didn't have much personality development in the original
drafts. In the 2013 rewrites, Angmar tried to develop Rufina's character by expanding upon her
background as a potter's daughter and making her a new slave who arrived at the School of
Industry at the same time as the twins. In my opinion, depicting Rufina as a new student took
away from the twins' experience of being outsiders, so I changed Rufina's backstory to make her
a student who had been living at the school for a year. That way, she can serve as an occasional
guide to the twins, even though the customs of Nurn are still strange and unfamiliar to her.
Nurma is another character who serves as a mentor of sorts to new students. Having been born
in Nurn, she is very knowledgeable about the intricacies of life in Mordor. She also possesses
more than one sort of knowledge, as will be revealed in future chapters.
If you'd like to get in touch with the author of
"The Circles," write to Elfhild.
BOOK ONE OF THE CIRCLES
The Triumph of The Shadow
The West loses the War of the Ring
and the proud city of Minas Tirith falls to the forces of the
Dark Lord. In these days of darkness and fear, two young maidens,
twins Elfhild and Elffled, are captured by orcs in a preliminary
raid against Rohan. Herded off with other captives, the sisters
know little of their destination, only that they are being driven
ever East towards Mordor, the dreadful land of horror and shadows.
Their world destroyed, their fate uncertain, they face the bleak
prospects of slavery at the hands of their enemies.
The armies of Mordor, driven ceaselessly
by their masters, march ever onward towards the West. The Dark
Lord Sauron sits upon his black throne, eagerly anticipating the
final victory as he watches history unfold through the palantír.
With Gondor fallen, will Rohan
be conquered at last... and then the rest of Middle-earth?
Some chapters may have violent and/or sexual themes. For mature readers only.
After arriving at the ruins of Minas Tirith, the captives are handed over to a group of Haradric slavers, led by Esarhaddon uHuzziya, one of the owners of a slave trading business in Nurn. A man of might and mastery, this handsome, rakish Southron symbolizes everything that the Rohirric women dread.
Orphaned, their land destroyed, Elfhild and Elffled struggle to remain defiant against their foes, even when faced with ghastly reminders of the enemy's might. Goldwyn, stern and proud, refuses to surrender to despair like so many others have done.
Each step on this journey of sorrow takes the Rohirric captives closer to Mordor, the Land of Shadows from which there is no return. Is there any hope of escape, or is slavery to be their doom?
Some chapters may have violent and/or sexual themes. For mature readers only.
BOOK THREE OF THE CIRCLES
To Escape a Dark Destiny
Driven by her pursuers into an old crypt in Osgiliath, Goldwyn finds herself trapped in a nightmare from which there is no awakening. But are the horrors real, or only figments of her guilt-tormented mind?
Having successfully evaded the orcs, Frodwine, Frumgar and Fritha, the three sons of Goldwyn, embark on a quest to return to Rohan. However, this is not some childish adventure - it is a matter of life and death.
Journeying through the wasteland of Anorien, Elfhild and Elffled desperately try to keep one step ahead of the slavers. But perhaps there are others who are far more intimidating than the Haradrim...
Can any of them escape the evil destiny which the enemy has planned for them, or is to attempt to do so utterly useless?
Some chapters may have violent and/or sexual themes. For mature readers only.
As the last wain in the slaver's caravan crosses the Anduin, the fate of the captives is sealed. At the mercy of her enemies and the delusions of her own mind, Goldwyn resolves to kindle her hatred into a burning passion, even if it means spurning those who might truly care for her.
Meanwhile, twins Elfhild and Elffled and the three sons of Goldwyn - Frodwine, Frumgar and Fritha - journey through Anorien, though the courses which they take vary greatly. Danger lies everywhere, but what about friends unlooked-for?
Some chapters may have violent and/or sexual themes. For mature readers only.
BOOK FIVE OF THE CIRCLES
Through the Valley of Death
Recaptured by the Haradric slave traders, Elfhild and Elffled once again find themselves
forced to resume their journey to the Dark Land of Mordor. Once they pass over the Anduin,
all hope of escape is lost, and each mile that passes brings them ever closer to the
culmination of their fears. Home is behind them; slavery lies ahead. Torn between loyalties
and tormented by grief and guilt, the twin sisters struggle to accept the fate which seems
to await them at the journey's end.
Before the twins and their captors ever reach Mordor, however, they must pass through the
ethereal mists of the Morgul Vale, a place so terrifying that even the minds of brave men
succumb to madness. In this realm of mists and shadows, nothing is as it seems, and the
boundaries between reality and illusion are blurred to obscurity. What strange sights and
experiences await them in the treacherous Morgul Pass?
Some chapters may have violent and/or sexual themes. For mature readers only.
After being freed from the dungeons of Cirith Ungol, twin sisters Elfhild and Elffled come at last
to the Plateau of Gorgoroth, where they are reunited with the rest of the Rohirric captives. The
tumultuous heart of Sauron's realm, the desolate, rolling hamada is a land of feral beauty, where
the ground trembles with the Dark Lord's might, and mountains spew forth fire.
While the captives are lost to all hope, far away in their war-torn homeland, the forces of the West
steadily drive the hordes of Mordor back towards the Mering Stream. In the Throne Room of the Eye,
the Dark Lord stares into the Palantír and witnesses one defeat after another, and the Mountain of
Doom churns with the fury of His wrath...
Some chapters may have violent and/or sexual themes.
For mature readers only.
Southern Gorgoroth can be a harsh and unforgiving land, yet both Men and Orcs call this region their home.
The greed of King Thaguzgoth, chieftain of the Kafakudraûg Clan of the Sand Orcs, knows no bounds, and not even
Sauron's caravans are safe from his goblin raiders. However, the King would be wise to look to his own household,
for there are those who would plot his downfall. When a band of Uruk-hai mercenaries arrive at Kafakudraûg Cavern,
this simmering cauldron of intrigue comes to a roiling boil.
One day, Prince Zarkfir will become the chieftain of the Dolrujâtar, a tribe of nomadic sheep and goat herders
who dwell upon the plains of Lithlad. Pressured by his family to take a wife, the prince struggles to abide by
tradition and follow the desires of his heart. Will he find happiness after a chance meeting with a stranger in the desert?
A tale of adventure set in dungeons deep and sweltering deserts beneath the Sun... in the Land of Treachery.
Some chapters may have violent and/or sexual themes.
For mature readers only.
A collection of tales set in Mordor, many of which feature various creatures that dwell within that dreadful land.
Forced to flee Mordor so they can be together, young lovers Inbir and Aeffe take sanctuary in the Mountains of Shadow,
where they find a mysterious valley inhabited by giant cats and fell beasts.
The commander of the Fortress of the Setting Sun is an eccentric man with a streak of cruelty, a twisted sense
of humor, and a deep and abiding love for ferrets.
Imprisoned in the Houses of Lamentation, the Witch-king of Angmar befriends a lowly rat named Murg, inspiring him
to lead a revolution against the cats of Barad-dûr.
Descended from the Mearas, the black horses of Mordor are famous for many things - intelligence, loyalty, an intuitive
knowledge of what their riders expect of them, and speed which surpasses that of most other horses in Middle-earth. They
can also speak, although there are few who understand what they say.
Some chapters may have violent and/or sexual themes.
For mature readers only.
Nurn: A land of pastoral beauty, of lush vineyards, fields of plenty, and a majestic sea of deepest azure.
However, despite its fair climate and idyllic countryside, a sense of dark evil permeates the realm, sometimes
barely noticeable, other times palpably oppressive.
Elfhild and Elffled are new students at the School of Industry, an elite academy dedicated to training female
servants of Mordor. The school seems an unexpected boon to them, for they have been given an opportunity to receive
an education, something which they never would have had in Rohan. Few things are free in the Land of Gifts, however,
and this education comes at a price.
When Goldwyn finds herself the concubine of a wealthy slave trader whom she loathes, she laments her miserable
existence. Her disdain for her unwanted husband carries over to every member of his household, from his other two
wives to the lowliest servant of the house. However, could she find allies where she least expects them?
Some chapters may have violent and/or sexual themes.
For mature readers only.
Delve into the history of the Nazgul...
Learn to speak Black Speech...
Peruse yellowed pages of dusty tomes penned in ages past...
Who knows what you will find in the Library?
All original characters
and their names copyright their creators and may not be used in
other stories. All Tolkien characters copyright J.R.R. Tolkien.
This fan fiction series by Angmar and Elfhild was inspired in part
by Tolkien's collective writings: The Lord of the Rings,
The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, Unfinished Tales
and the History of Middle-earth series. We derive no profit
from this venture, and write these stories out of our love for Middle-earth.
n an alternative universe set in the Third Age
of Arda, the West was defeated at the Battle of Pelennor Fields
and the war swept over Southern Gondor. To the dismay of all the
Free People of Middle-earth, the Dark Lord Sauron regained the
One Ring, His rising power threatening to plunge the world into
a Second Darkness.
