Disclaimer: the usual All Tolkien's ideas

Chapter 4-Harmless Flirting

The buzz around the entire district was all about the play. Starting tomorrow all the students would have their combined classes together for history and weaponry and depending on their performances each of the heads were to pick which of the students would play the famed characters of the War of the Ring.

As usual Ivrin was in the library reading feverishly ahead for any War of the Ring history books she could find. As she was reading she once again didn't notice time passing. It was her one day of break after all. Afterwards she'd decided she was going to visit Zlatan and his family as well as discuss some ores she'd researched.

It had been 4 hours since breakfast and her attention was waning slightly. Tolkien one of Gondor's most famed writer's and responsible for most of the written archives dating back to Middle Earth's legends had written what seemed like endless volumes. The fellowship, the two towers and the return of the king as well as the hobbit, the Silmarillion and the Unfinished tales. All of which, sadly, were boring her to death. She hated to admit it but his writing about going up hills spanned 20 pages. Who honestly had that much attention to detail? Shutting the fellowship resolutely she rubbed her tired eyes. Mithrandir was going to have his work cut out for him if he was going to turn this rubbish into something students could actually recite and memorize. She could practically see that idiot from yesterday attempting to memorize his lines. A small smile graced her face, at the thought.

She had no heavy book bag today and felt strangely weightless. Making a quick decision she left to visit the blacksmith in the Garrison district. Maybe he could give her some combat tips as at the moment those lessons were somewhat daunting.

Sitting in the esteemed citadel hall of Minas Tirith the second King of the fourth age was seated in his throne alone with the 3 Heads of Minas Tirith's prized school's of learning. It seemed that there was some dispute as to which of the best students would play which role. Each student was known to demonstrate the highest achievements in terms of grade point average from each school. While nothing had been fully decided potentials for each important role had been somewhat decided on. Drawing from a hat of the 30 or top students all was based on "chance". Here was the list so far,

By some divine miracle Aragorn would be played by the King's own son, Elphirion. All 4 personages gave satisfied nods. The ring bearer was then drawn as young Walford who despite his struggle with ducking from hand to hand combat in Sarrai's class was actually quite smart and dedicated. His companions Samwise, Pippin and Merry would be played by Meleth, Paladin, and Sam respectively.

Mithrandir frowned as all three were part of a giggling ensemble of girls in their first year at the academy. Wouldn't that become confusing what with Sam not playing Sam? Still he had to admit that despite their silliness they would fit the parts perfectly. He could still recall one of the many acts of idiocy Pippin and Merry had gotten into. Particularly that incident with the fireworks.

Moving on down the list was Legolas which would be played by Erkenbrand of the Institute and his interspecies pal Gimli would be played by Ecthelion of the Academy. A long pause ensued from the three heads as they stared at that choice. It was well known that Erkenbrand was Elphirion best friend and by proxy hated the young actor. (Courtesy of Mithrandir during the tattle tale episode) Before Mithrandir could voice his doubts a grunt and stern look from the king caused him to bite his words. They'd firmly decided in drawing the names and not picking in order to avoid arguments and bias.

Quickly drawing another name Mithrandir muttered to himself "At least their animosity will be genuine. Makes for a good performance." Sarrai couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. The roles of Boromir, Elrond as well as filler for the Council were all announced. The final decision however for the role of Gandalf was given to quite surprisingly to a girl, Ivrin from the Healing Houses. The only remaining were Galadriel and Arwen. Which were consecutively drawn as Windriel and Hurin. A chuckle from the king surprised the heads. Only Tomlinson knew why. He explained " Hurin is a boy". He shot the king an almost rebuking look for the act of immaturity of the King.

These names would decide the roles for the first part of the play only titled The Fellowship of the Ring.

Mithrandir heaved a sigh echoed by the rest of the adults at the meeting. It was all said and done. The first hurdle had been by passed all that remained was getting down to pulling all three school together. All three were well aware of the stereotypes represented from each school. Well, except perhaps Tomlinson. Shaking hands all three as well as the king prepared for the long months of work ahead.

Oh yes, it was going to be quite daunting.

The following morning

Elphirion was falling asleep. His mouth was open and his hands were propped halfhazardly on his desk. Next to him Erkenbrand was no better. He'd propped the heftly Tolkien Text using it as a sort of shielding screen to which really he was snoozing behind. Across the aisles of the auditorium in the Healing Houses University the scene was repeated with many of the students found in 3 general states of stupor. Some, mostly the newbies from the King's institute were just as the prince and his companion were. Hiding behind books or not even bothering to hide at all, but sleeping outright. The second were fighting yawns struggling to stay awake by sudden jolts of consciousness. These were mostly from the academy. And finally the third consisting of the Healing students were all staring straight ahead. A look of dream reticence on their faces that if not observed to closely could be mistaken as intense concentration. Ah yes, the wonders of the Tomlinson experience.

At the beginning of class Ivrin had found her usual seat taken by a host of Weaponry students of which all were muscled and lean. She was quite surprised to see what looked like bare midriffs and long tanned legs taking over the entire front of row of her usual spot. The girls or athletes she supposed were all glaring at her stare. It kind of made Ivrin feel like the ugliest, pudgiest most awkward person alive. Feeling awkward and quite disoriented from the derailment in the usual schedule of her day she sat at the back a puzzled look on her face.

Windriel had been seated somewhere in the middle when she noticed a bushy figure in blue staring at the front row as if demented. It could really only be one person she thought. Ivrin. She had no idea what the girl had to be thinking, but decided at the puzzled look on her friends face to stand up and wave Ivrin over. The more she waved the more she felt slightly stupid. It appeared as though ivrin was ignoring her. But that couldn't be it. Ivrin wasn't mean like that. Sitting down with a huff she decided that somehow maybe Ivrin hadn't seen her. She could be dreamy like that. Instead to Windriel's surprise she noticed the tall gangly form of Ecthelion smiling at her from behind Ivrin. She groaned inwardly. Had he thought she was waving to him? Plastering a smile on her face she prepared herself. The teasing whisper from her friend Idril was promptly ignored. No, she did not like him that way. If anything it was the opposite.

Luckily at that moment Elphirion had just been jerked awake from his slumber after almost falling from his chair. But he was distracted just in time to notice the healer girl trudging up and taking the seat beside him. Raising an eyebrow the thought flashed through his mind. Before he could stop himself he found himself asking out loud " So, miss me then?"

Ivrin didn't even acknowledge the voice asking the question. No one ever spoke to her and it wasn't like anyone she knew would even ask such a question.

Elphirion had no idea what was up with this girl. She was acting like she hadn't even heard him, even thought he was sitting two inches away from her. Furthermore she was the one who had come to sit next to him.

Rubbing her eyes tiredly Ivrin pulled out her heavy textbook. She'd studied late again despite her earlier promise and was quite exhausted. Tomlinson had asked all the students to pick up the complete edition of Tolkien's works. That meant all the parts, the fellowship, the two towers and the return of the king all in one monstrous tome. It weighed 5 tons.

She made the mistake of trying to drag it out of her book bag with one hand. A combination of her weak skinny arm and her exhaustion caused her to dump the book with a loud bang that reverberated across the auditorium. With it came the clink of her quills and ink spilling out of her book bag. Groaning she bend to pick up her scattered things. She hadn't expected anyone to help her but when a large callused hand appeared in her vision picking up her quills and the dratted Tolkien tome she was quite surprised and touched.

Her eyes traveled up the long arm to the shoulder reaching the face.

When her eyes finally looked at his Elphirion thought for sure she'd acknowledge him.

Ivrin stared not comprehending the face before her. It was him. What was he doing here? Why was he sitting next to her? All kind thoughts towards the hand now disappeared at the sight of that face. She found her face heating.

Okay, now what was she doing. Why was she blushing like that? What exactly was up with this chick? Remembering suddenly that this nerd was friends with Windriel Elphirion cleaned up his act. Flashing his white teeth " Hey, miss me?"

That did it. She was not speaking to him. Not with that silly smirk on his face. Snatching her things from him she attempted to pull away her textbook from his grasp.

"Hey, hey wait a moment. Aren't you going to even acknowledge me?" keeping a firm grip on the heavy book.

She responded with a curt "No"and attempted to once again pry it from his grasp.

Looking puzzled he gave up trying to find out what was wrong with her. Just one last quip " Okay, it's just you look like you miss me, is all. Isn't that why you're sitting next to me?"

She couldn't believe it. How had she not noticed he was sitting right there.

"If you don't say anything I'm just going to take that as a yes" he smirked, as predicted she met his eyes with a glare.

Heaving a long sigh she tried gritted her teeth. It looked more like a painful grimace to him. " Thank you."

He had her, "I'm sorry what was that?"

She clenched her fists " I said, thank you" jerk. He chose to ignore that last word. Trying to hide a chuckle he placed her heavy book on the desk in front of her. "Might want to be more careful next time. You could weight lift that book with a couple of reps and you'll be ripped in no time"

He was attempting to make conversation with her. She was about to try the same when another deep voice joined his.

Erkenbrand had somehow not woken from the loud bang of Ivrin's textbook. He could sleep like the dead sometimes. It was the sound of Elphirion bickering to himself that woke him. "Hey mate, you talking to yourself or what?" That's when he noticed a bushy mass of dark hair perched at the end of the row by the aisle. He was always interested in any thing with a skirt. Thinking his prince pal had caught another hot looking girl he peered over Elphirion shoulder trying to get a better look.

His next words decided it for Ivrin. "Woa, what's with the four eyes?"

There were two of him she thought. Why? Oh why Oh why? She was saved from answering when Professor Tomlinson walked in what he had been wearing for a week now. The same tea stained robe and beard.

The class then promptly fell asleep.

Elphirion was sitting in his seat still upright and was no longer napping. He couldn't say the same for Erkenbrand who was still slumped behind his Tolkien screen. Listening with half an ear Elphirion was busy recounting what Tomlinson was lecturing on. " Frodo Baggins was to become the ringbearer. Though he was Halfling at a height of 3 ft and 2 inches…" What an inane amount of useless detail he thought. His own grandfather had given him his own special copy written by the ringbearer himself. He remembered being so surprised at the illustrations and lively recounting. He recalled being 6 and asking his grandfather to kick Tolkien's version to the "Mordor".

It was then that he heard the scratching of a quill. Looking next to him he saw the healer girl scratching down 3 feet and 6 inches. He couldn't help it. He whispered in her ear " You don't honestly believe he's going to test you on that do you?"

She nearly jumped in her seat. Okay so she'd been watching him all along in the corner of her eye. In fact it was a scant two seconds before he'd whispered in her ear that she'd caught herself staring at him. Like some sort of lovesick girl. She'd been half listening to Tomlinson and had already known about Frodo Baggins and more. She'd after all stayed up late reading that very same chapter they were now covering. What she'd really been focusing on was the fact that the jerk next to her wasn't asleep. She couldn't say the same for his friend. In fact to all pretenses it looked as though he was actually listening. Even thought he wasn't taking notes.

He couldn't be that smart could he? I mean…he was weaponry student. He was either extremely good at pretending or he actually knew the material.

When he'd turned towards her she'd jumped and immediately pretended to write down the last thing Tomlinson had written. Which just so happened to be 3 feet and 6 inches.

She was so afraid of having been almost caught looking at him that it took her a second to absorb what he'd whispered. She couldn't suppress a shiver at the cool hair tickling her ear.

He noticed her shiver and more. She was blushing again. Or was she just angry? He had no idea. She was so confusing. He was pretty sure she was about to say something nice to him earlier if resident Sleepy here hadn't blurted out his usual charm. A sudden snort distracted Ivrin from the jerk to the ridiculous sight of Erkenbrand's less than charming sleep induced stupor.

When she didn't respond right away he was about to lean in again. When she didn't whisper back but scribbled on his unwritten parchment.

Looking down he saw " there aren't any tests. Only the 100% essay"

Cocking an eyebrow he leaned down to whisper in her ear again when she promptly shoved a quill in his face. Trying to knock it aside Elphirion noticed she was having a mini spasm.

When he whispered in her ear like that. Well…it made her feel strange. So Ivrin was trying to shove the quill at him so they could write notes instead. She wasn't having any success thought. He was stubborn and finally slightly annoyed at her shoving the quill in his face trapped both her slender hands in his and held them on his lap.

He noticed her skin was very smooth and small as well as cold. Rubbing her hands absentmindedly he leaned in again and whispered " Well, he's wrong you know, it isn't 3 ft 6 inches. Frodo actually grew that year when he was healed by Elrond at Imladris" Seeing her puzzled looked he leaned in again " Rivendell".

Her puzzled look was actually surprise. She had been struggling from his grip when he whispered that bit of information. She wasn't sure about Frodo growing taller but she did know that he had been healed by Elrond after being stabbed by the witch king at Weathertop. And she did know that Rivendell was Imladris after all she carried around an Elvish dictionary. She couldn't help but be impressed.

She managed to ruin it all by saying " How could you know that? You couldn't have studied or read ahead, you practically can't read!" (Remembering his earlier mispronunciation of her name.)

He dropped her hands in flash and faced forward a strange look on his face. She immediately felt bad. The cold rushed back to her warm fingers. She hadn't liked it when the village kids back home teased her for being slow.

Not knowing what to say, she tried to think of a way to apologize. Unfortunately it seemed Tomlinson's lecture was over. Chairs were scrapping all around her and conversation was picking up. Feeling panicked and guilty she tried to get his attention but he stonily ignored her.

Erkenbrand woke feeling well rested and was about to say so when he saw the stony expression on the face of his companion.

Holding his hands out in the universal gesture of peace he immediately confessed "Whatever it was that I said while I was sleeping I didn't mean it."

review and tell me what you think :D