21.) The Fight – written by Jenny
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Boromir confronts Aragorn about Arwen's write-in candidate scheme, which Aragorn wasn't aware of.
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Aragorn sat slumped in his seat near the back of the lecture auditorium in International Relations class. Through half closed eyes he listened to Professor Thengelson drone on regarding the Treaty of Mirkwood. Aragorn couldn't help but wonder if the Professor had ever even been to Mirkwood, much less comprehended what a joke the treaty was. Aragorn glanced around the room to see the entire class, most of which were sophomores or above, scribbling notes down madly. There didn't seem to be much concern from any of the class on the points of the treaty, which had almost caused a war between the elves and the dwarves. All the class seemed to care about was whether they'd gotten the points in the right order or, goodness forbid, they'd get a B- instead of a B+.
"Well, class, our time is just about up for today. Are there any questions before you're excused?" Professor Thengelson asked.
A woman in the front row raised her hand.
"Does our weekly essay assignment need to be turned in at the beginning of the week, or the end?" the woman asked, confirming Aragorn's worst fear that no one in the class really cared about anything besides their final grade.
"At the end of the week. The first essay won't be due until next Thursday, however," Professor Thengelson replied. "Any other questions? No? Well, then, until next week, class."
Aragorn stood up to leave, shouldering his tattered backpack. He was looking forward to his next class, mythology. The prof was an old hobbit who couldn't be more enthusiastic about his subject. On Tuesday, he and Aragorn had stood around after class discussing derivations of place names from local myths for several hours. They probably would have been there all night except that Professor Baggins suddenly realized the time and became alarmed that he might have missed the early supper. "Which would be a shame," he explained, "as the early supper is such a nice preparation for the late supper. I really don't know how a body could do one without the other. See you Thursday!" and off he went in a flurry of books and loose papers.
Smiling to himself at the memory, Aragorn headed towards the exit door for the auditorium. As he walked out the door into the mid-day autumn sunshine he found himself surrounded by a group of men who'd been talking just outside the door.
"You're Aragorn, right?" Aragorn found himself addressed by a rather burly man.
Aragorn nodded and the man stepped up to him. "I'm Boromir."
Aragorn nodded again and replied. "I know."
"Well, I'm running for sophomore class president and I'm wondering what the hell you think you're doing?"
Aragorn glanced around at the group of men that had ranged itself around he and Boromir in a rather threatening manner. Aragorn shook his head casually and shrugged, "I don't know what you mean."
"I mean, what the hell do you think you're doing with the election," Boromir clarified, looking annoyed.
"Well, I'm planning on voting," Aragorn replied.
Boromir stepped in closer to Aragorn, attempting to intimidate him, "Very funny. Well, maybe you could explain to me why you asked your little elf girlfriend," Boromir smirked, "to tell her sorority sisters to put you down as a write-in candidate for class president. Could it be that you're too lazy to hold a real campaign?"
Aragorn's jaw tightened imperceptibly at this news and he had to take a few breaths to keep his cool. What in the hell did Arwen think she was doing, was the real question, he thought.
"I don't know where you heard that rumor," Aragorn replied, "but that's all it is – a rumor. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a class."
Boromir put out a hand to block Aragorn and their eyes locked. Just as Aragorn was wondering who was going to throw the first punch, the door opened behind him and Boromir immediately stepped back.
"Hey, Professor," Boromir spoke over Aragorn's shoulder. Turning around he saw Professor Thengelson standing at the door.
"Well, what's going on here?" the professor asked, looking pointedly at Aragorn as if he'd decided Aragorn was the source of the problem.
"Just discussing the upcoming student council elections," Aragorn replied, looking at Boromir. "Unfortunately, I have to be going now. We'll finish our talk tomorrow in poli sci class, Boromir. Good luck on the election." Aragorn quickly brushed past the group and headed towards the music building. He had something to discuss with Arwen that couldn't wait.
When Aragorn arrived at the choir room, University Choir had just ended and Arwen was talking to Legolas and a hobbit that Aragorn vaguely recognized from The Golden Perk.
"I have the last two seasons here at school with me," Arwen was saying to the hobbit. "You should at least watch the last half of last season to understand what's going on now, don't you think?" she asked looking at Legolas for confirmation.
Before Legolas could answer, Aragorn stepped up to Arwen and said softly, "We need to talk. Is there somewhere private around here?"
Looking delighted to see Aragorn, Arwen smiled warmly and took his hand in hers.
Although Aragorn wasn't showing any outward sign of his temper, Legolas could tell that something was wrong. When Aragorn didn't smile back at Arwen, she seemed to catch on as well. "What's wrong?" she asked immediately, concern in her voice.
Stepping back Aragorn shook his head at her. "We need to talk now."
Arwen looked puzzled as she glanced from Aragorn to Legolas then down to Pippin. "Sure. We can talk over there," Arwen gestured to the corner risers. "I'll be back in a minute," she said to Legolas and Pippin.
"Okay," Pippin replied. Legolas watched her walk away, wondering at the tension he had felt emanating from Aragorn.
Arwen led Aragorn to the corner where she sat down and looked up at him serenely.
Aragorn took a calming breath then sat down beside Arwen and asked, "Is it true that you asked your sorority sisters to write my name in for class president at tomorrow's student council election?"
Arwen nodded readily, "Yes."
Aragorn stared at Arwen, his jaw clenched with anger while she waited patiently for his next question.
"Why?" he finally managed to get out.
"Because you would be an incredible class president," she replied matter of factly. "You just need to believe in yourself."
"But I don't want to be president," Aragorn said, beginning to lose his self control. "Which is why," here he paused for emphasis, "I didn't run for the office or campaign."
"I know," Arwen said. "But the class needs you! You could really unite everyone and get something done –"
"No!" Aragorn yelled and stood up, startling Arwen into silence, and causing both Legolas and Pippin to look over at them. "You think of me as someone out of the ordinary! As some savior who's going to prove something to the world…and to your father! But you're forcing me to be something that I'm not! Something that I don't ever want to be!"
Arwen stood up to look into Aragorn's eyes, her expression distant as she faced his anger. "So, you want me to stop believing in you?" she asked calmly.
Aragorn looked at the ceiling as he let out a large breath of frustration. "Yeah, I guess. I want you to accept that there's nothing special about me. I want you to be grateful for what makes you so special…and leave me out of it."
"I see," Arwen said, beginning to get angry herself. Even from across the room, Legolas could sense what was happening, and he felt like protecting himself and Pippin from the fallout. "You don't want my life bound to yours. Is that what you're saying?"
"Not if it's going to mean having you suddenly decide the course of my life," Aragorn confirmed.
Legolas winced for Aragorn when the slap hit his face, and Pippin looked fairly alarmed.
"Besides," Aragorn continued, ignoring the pain in his face. "No elf in their right mind would give up eternity for mortality. You know that I don't want the responsibility of taking that from you."
"Perhaps, you're right," Arwen said, turning away from Aragorn so that he wouldn't see the tears start. "You don't need me interfering in your life. And I certainly don't need to be troubled with your inadequacies. Go on. Leave."
"Fine," Aragorn said to Arwen's back, pressing one hand to his still stinging face. Then turning towards the door he noticed Legolas and Pippin staring right at him. "Fine," he repeated firmly to himself as he grabbed his backpack from the riser and left the room.
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