b2mem | Rec List: Angst by Zdenka

B2MeM Prompt and Path: Fanworks recs: Favorite genre/art style
Format: rec list
Genre: angst, various
Rating: various
Warnings: various
Characters: various
Pairings: various
Creator’s Notes (optional): I like a good fix-it as much as anyone, but sometimes I also like to revel in the unnumbered tears and the long defeat. Here are some fics tagged with “angst.”
Summary: Six angsty fics from The Silmarillion and The Lord of the Rings.

Under the Evening Star by Himring [Silmarillion]
Format: short story (1260 words)
Genre: gen
Rating: T
Warnings: mental health issues, dysfunctional family
Characters: Maedhros, Maglor, Elrond, Elros
Pairings: none
Summary: The first sighting of Gil-Estel by the Sons of Feanor. Slightly canon-divergent.

This story has Maedhros and Maglor trying so hard to keep things together, and yet there’s that sense of gradual inevitable slippage into tragedy. It conveys so much in a few words, love and sadness mixed together. (This story was tagged with angst on MPTT, though not on AO3, which is how it came up in my search.)

Outcomes by ncfan [Silmarillion]
Format: ten alternate short stories (10,571 words total)
Genre: gen, het, alternate universe, family, drama, angst
Rating: T
Warnings: Major Character Death
Characters: Gil-galad and others
Pairings: Fingon/Canonical Wife, Orodreth/Canonical Wife, Maglor/Canonical Wife, Amarië/Finrod, Finduilas/Gwindor, Finduilas/Túrin, Caranthir/Canonical Wife, Curufin/Canonical Wife, Aredhel/Maedhros, Aegnor/Andreth, Fingolfin/Original Female Character
Summary: Ten different takes on Gil-Galad's parentage.

This is a really interesting concept -- or set of concepts -- taking full advantage of the fluidity of canon. Each of these stories draws me in and feels plausible, even the more unusual variants. (I'm curious about the potential of a Fëanorian Gil-galad now!) This being the Silmarillion, there’s tragedy in most of them, though for different reasons each time.

An Oath Fulfilled by rhymer23 [LOTR]
Format: short story (2233 words)
Genre: gen, gap filler, angst
Rating: G
Warnings: none
Characters: Original Male Characters, Aragorn
Pairings: none
Summary: Lost in the darkness, the Dead have waited three thousand years for the Heir of Isildur to come to them, and now he is come. He is come.

I love it when fanfic illuminates familiar events by telling them from a new point of view. The narrator here is one of the Dead of Dunharrow, the Oathbreakers cursed by Isildur. This is just an amazing story, beautiful and mythical in tone.

The Last Fight by valderys [LOTR]
Format: short story (3099 words)
Genre: gen, angst
Rating: G
Warnings: none
Characters: Merry, Barrow-wight
Pairings: none
Summary: On the Barrow-downs, ghosts of the past haunt the fog, as Merry faces the Barrow Wight...

This story is effective at creating a chilling atmosphere. I really like the way the memories of the fallen warriors of Cardolan are woven in. Merry’s moment of courage against the Barrow-wight feels very appropriate and foreshadows the battle with the Witch-king later.

What Happens After by The_Wavesinger [Silmarillion]
Format: short story (3088 words)
Genre: femslash, fluff and angst, emotional hurt/comfort, alternate universe - canon divergence
Rating: T
Warnings: none
Characters: Finduilas, Nienor
Pairings: Finduilas/Nienor
Summary: Finduilas and Nienor find each other again, but that is only the beginning.

This is a gorgeous story, so beautiful and sad and yet hopeful! I enjoy fluffier fix-its too, but the tone of this story feels true to Middle-earth, in how love and courage can fix some things but not everything. I like how Finduilas and Nienor's love is a constant throughout the changing circumstances and emotions of the story.

Cold Spring by Wheelrider [LOTR]
Format: ficlet (456 words)
Genre: gen, angst
Rating: G
Warnings: none
Characters: Éowyn and others
Pairings: none
Summary: Éowyn tries to prepare.

This fic shows a scene of Éowyn after Théodred’s death. It feels very true to her character, with her longing for freedom and action and her growing despair.