We all love to read - or write - stories about our favourite men in peril. In Tolkien's world, the male heroes are center stage. But what about the sidelines? What about the heroines? What about the women?

It's time to explore their role in the story, so the theme for the July Challenge is Maidens of Middle Earth. If you look closely, you will find quite a few canon characters worth writing about: Arwen, Eowyn, Galadriel, Gilraen - to only name a few. But of course you are also invited to come up with original characters. Haven't we all wondered about Legolas' mother? Or whether he had any siblings? There are many possibilites: women who stay faithfully at home, women who ride into battle, women who tend the wounded, women who keep the lore of their people.

And before I totally forget: Thank you Shica for suggesting this theme!

Here are the winners:

Against the Odds by Sivan
All That Remained by Allee 3rd place
"Arwen" by Beth 1rst place
Ripples by Nieriel Raina 2nd place
The Dinner by Ithilgael
The Weaver's Duty by Ria
To Keep Hope for Myself by StarLight
Words of a Wise Woman by Ainu Laire

Your Teitho-moderators,
Alina & Michelle