The Lord of the Rings Secret Santa 2025 Masterlist!
On January 1st, the stories created for the 2025 round of The Lord of the Rings Secret Santa prompt meme were posted!
This time around, we had twenty-four stories! Thank you to all who participated! ❤️ Of special note was that everyone who posted a prompt also filled someone else's, and (while we adore them) we did not need to call on our pinch hitters to help us make sure everyone had something to look forward to.
Below is the Masterlist for this year's offerings. All links go directly to the work on AO3. Go read and enjoy, and please don't forget to leave kudos and/or a comment! And if you received something (or more than one thing), please thank your writer!
• Bird, Caged or Freed? (Explicit; Eönwë/Gothmog; locked to archive) by ingenious_spark for I_did_not_mean_to
Summary: Eönwë's marriage to Gothmog is arranged in a bid for peace between the houses of the great lords Manwë and Melkor. He will submit to the wills of his Lord, even as he does not want to marry Gothmog, the sting of a relationship broken off souring him to the thought. But Eönwë is, as ever, bound by duty.
• Border (Explicit; Adar/Elrond) by slight_nettles for apo_mekhanes
Summary: Elrond and Adar part and meet again by the river Glanduin.
• Carrion (Mature, Graphic Violence; Sauron, Fingon) by FiammaGalathon for sugar0with0tea
Summary: Mairon takes a stroll across the battlefield to search for pretty things.
• Don't Worry (Mature, Graphic Violence, Major Character Death; OMC) by Anonymous for sugar0with0tea
Summary: It can be much harder than one would think to find just cause to worry on the battlefield. The Battle of the Pelennor Fields, as observed by a cavalryman on the northern flank.
• Eldest (Teen and Up; Maedhros, Maglor, Fëanor, Melkor, House of Finwë, Valar; locked to archive) by gilliethesad for Luuuappp
Summary: Kanamíriel Makalaurë is born the eldest granddaughter of Finwë. This changes some things.
• Growth Spurt (Teen and Up; Legolas, Thranduil) by emma_and_orlando for gilliethesad
Summary: Legolas hits the dreaded growth spurt about a month shy from his 50th nameday. Thranduil receives the troubling reports of his sleepless nights, plagued with aches and pains, crying and miserable with no salves nor massages that offer any relief for the stretching joints and tired muscles. It is a common phase amongst elflings, and nothing — as the physician emphasizes in his report, for his Highness to concern himself over. (Or the story of how Legolas got drunk for the first time.)
• He'll come around (Teen and Up; Gimli/Legolas, Thranduil, Glóin) by I_did_not_mean_to for emma_and_orlando
Summary: It took all of Legolas's self-control not to rock on his heels, which might have given his father the feeling that he himself wasn't entirely sure of his decisions.
• A healer's hands (General; Elrond, Erestor, Glorfindel, Lindir, One Nameless Troll) by mittens_unofficial for onereyofstarlight
Summary: Snowfall had come overnight from the Ered Luin, covering all of Ossiriand in a thick white blanket.
• A Higher Duty (Teen and Up; Beregond, Pippin, Faramir; locked to archive) by onereyofstarlight for ChillinbytheFire
Summary: "Well, you must choose between orders and the life of Faramir," said Pippin. "And as for orders, I think you have a madman to deal with, not a lord. I must run. I will return if I can." - The Return of The King. Three vignettes exploring Pippin and Beregond's friendship in the light of what they each chose to do to save Faramir.
• I just want you for my own, more than you could ever know (Teen and Up; Ori/OFC, Bilbo/Thorin, Thranduil/Thranduil's Wife, Fíli, Kíli, Primula Brandybuck) by I_did_not_mean_to for daughter0fdurin
Summary: "A little to the right," Bilbo commanded, unmindful of the undeniable danger his step-nephew was braving in order to hang yet another festive decoration at exactly the right height and angle.
• Minhiriath (General; Elrohir, Elladan, Drúedain; locked to archive) by octopus_fool for onereyofstarlight
Summary: Elrohir and Elladan explore a region they once knew.
• Negotiations (General; Bilbo, Thorin, Thranduil) by rebornflameofthenoldor for Lithdraug
Summary: Bilbo Baggins convinces Thorin Oakenshield to find common ground with the Elvenking, Thranduil.
• Of snow and childish Kings (General; Thorin/Thranduil, Bilbo, Bard the Bowman, Fíli, Kíli, Thorin's Company) by Lithdraug for octopus_fool
Summary: Bilbo loves three things: He loves to meddle. He loves snow. And he loves seeing his friends happy. And so, it comes, that on one day in winter, he gathers Bard, Thranduil and Thorin to revive an old hobbit-ish tradition of the Shire. It is meant to strengthen the bonds between them as individuals so that the allyship between them may also prosper. However, Bilbo would not be Bilbo Baggins, if he didn't have another, slightly more selfish reason to call upon the so unlike kings. For the things Hobbits yearn for the most, are peace and joy, and Bilbo is no different in that aspect.
• Our Hobbit in Need (Teen and Up; Bilbo/Thorin, Thorin's Company, Dwalin; locked to archive) by daughter0fdurin for Lithdraug
Summary: After the events of the Battle of Five Armies, Bilbo finds himself experiencing PTSD. At a loss for what to do, Thorin turns to Dwalin for advice and together they enlist the help of the whole company to aid in Bilbo's recovery.
• A Quiet Walk (General; Durin IV, Elrond) by rebornflameofthenoldor for mittens_unofficial
Summary: Elrond and Durin IV take a nice walk in the woods and talk about life.
• The Shape of Water (General; Celebrían/Elrond) by Isilme_among_the_stars for Babblecat3000
Summary: Celebrían will not stand among the crowd when Elrond arrives in Valinor, for their private griefs are theirs alone to share.
• únótimel (General; Maglor, OMCs, OFCs; locked to archive) by Serinquanion for Minsungssecretlovechild_and_Irisse
Summary: Maglor wasn't a soldier, he never had been. But he could be the strength behind one. In modern days, he kept himself hidden. In modern days, Songs of Power meant almost nothing. But the stars were still innumerable and he still had the heart of a gentle poet.
• Uprising (Teen and Up, Graphic Violence, Major Character Death; Marhwini, Forthwini, OCs) by Himring for octopus_fool
Summary: It is the year 1899 of the Third Age. Calimehtar of Gondor and Marhwini of the Northmen have made plans together to foil a major attack the Wainriders are planning, in a two-pronged campaign. Marhwini is in contact with some of his people who remain behind in Rhovanion, enslaved, after an earlier attack by the Wainriders. An uprising is planned to coincide with the upcoming battles. Unfortunately for the Northmen, these plans succeed only in part.
• Warp, Weft and War (Teen and Up; Vairë the Weaver, Námo) by Empy for Minsungssecretlovechild_and_Irisse
Summary: She has woven since the world was new. Vairë the Ever-Weaving is her name and kenning. This war, though it is named by those fighting in it The Great War, is only one war among so many in her tapestry.
• water hot is a noble thing (Mature; Boromir/Faramir) by quothhh for Empy
Summary: Boromir returns home. Faramir draws a bath.
• we want presents (General; Elrond, Elros, Maglor, Maedhros) by ChillinbytheFire for gilliethesad
Summary: Elrond learns of a Atani legend and adorably makes it everyone else's concern.
• What is between them? (General; Frodo/Sam, OCs; locked to archive) by Minsungssecretlovechild_and_Irisse for Handlemewithcare
Summary: "What is between them?" - a "Telltale" exclusive report about the relationship between Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee.
• You make no sense (General; Glorfindel, Maegli) by Aprilertuile for ingenious_spark
Summary: Glorfindel stood on the deck of the ship. He was aware of the bustling of the busy mariners around him, but what held his attention was the silent presence in the back. The one he tried to speak to, before they left Valinor, and again once on the ship, but who was avoiding him with absolutely unbelievable and mildly irritating skill.
• the young loves, the true loves that come from the sea (General; Gimli/Legolas, Frodo/Sam, Merry, Pippin, Esmeralda Took; locked to archive) by Handlemewithcare for daughter0fdurin
Summary: Gimli and Legolas arrive at Brandy Hall to celebrate Yuletide in true Shire way. Merry and Pippin take them under their wings to include and show many traditions.
