The Making of…

Chapter 22

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

I yawned and shifted my travel pillow from one side of the small aeroplane seat to the other, trying to find a comfy spot, whilst attempting to ignore the irritating businessman who was continuously tapping away at his laptop beside me. My third flight since I’d left from home yesterday… Or should that be today? Or was it the day before? The time difference was frazzling my brain as I made my way back to New Zealand. Over eleven hours flying, six hours spent traipsing around airports, and only about half an hours sleep. My original cheery mood had slumped to neutral and plummeted to dismal over the past few hours. I wanted to be back in New Zealand. I missed everything. The scenery, the weather… Even small things like my trailer, and the battered leather interior of Viggo’s Jeep… Most of all, I missed my friends.

‘Good Lord girl! If a week away does this to you, how the hell are you going to cope when filming is over?’ I asked myself, before rolling over and shaking my head. I’d tackle that hurdle when I came to it.

Eventually, the plane landed, and I dragged my half-asleep body across to the arrivals terminal, just like I had done all those months ago when I had first arrived. I shook myself awake as I made my way through the airport, searching for the familiar face who’d promised to be here.

“Kira!”

I turned and smiled at the sound of his voice.

“Viggo!” I cried, running into his open arms and dropping my baggage at my feet. He hugged me tightly as I laughed, a feeling of strange sense of relief washing over me. Suddenly, he lifted me by my waist and spun me around – mimicking Aragorn and Rana's reunion from our very first scene together. “Hi.” I smiled breathlessly as he set me on my feet.

“Hey.” He grinned, “You look rough.” He commented.

“No sleep.” I sighed, “I don’t like sleeping on planes.” I stared at him for a long moment, taking in his appearance. Something was different. “Vig?”

“Hm?”

“What the hell have you done to your hair?”

“Do you like it?”

“No.”

“Ouch.”

“It’s… Blonde.” I said, still staring dumbly at his light crop of hair.

“And… You don’t like it?” He asked, suddenly seeming self-conscious.

“I liked your dark hair.” I murmured shyly, reaching up and ruffling his blonde locks.

“Don’t worry; I’m dying it back later for filming. I just felt like a change.” He smiled, lifting my bags and linking arms with me as he lead me out to his familiar Jeep.

“I missed the sunshine.” I sighed as I settled down in the passenger seat and closed my eyes. “It’s bloody freezing back home.” I heard Viggo laugh softly as he climbed in beside me and started the engine.

“It’s good to see you again.” He said quietly; I turned my head and opened my eyes to look at him as he focused on the road ahead. I knew what he had said, but I sensed what he really meant.

“I missed you too.” I whispered with a smile, closing my eyes again as the urge to sleep crept up on me.

***

Filming resumed as if we had never been away, only instead of gallivanting around the beautiful country of New Zealand, we were confined to Stone Street Studios and Weta Workshops. Not that I minded, it meant we had to move around less, and got to sleep later, as we were already on set! Our first week of filming consisted of The Council of Elrond. It would be a relatively short scene on the movie, but it was estimated to take around ten days to film!

Once I set foot on the Council set, it was like we’d never left Rivendell back in the forest. It had been perfectly continued and represented here in the studio. Luckily, I had very few lines in this scene, so for several days, I got to sit in a chair in full costume and makeup, doing pretty much nothing except reacting to what others said, and pretending that the Ring was causing me physical pain. Not a particularly strenuous week, but an ass-numbingly boring one nonetheless. I even caught myself falling asleep once or twice! Luckily, no one noticed, as I had to keep my hood up for most of the scene. Finally, after nine days of sitting in a circle, talking and adjusting camera angles, we finished the scene. There was a resounding applause and cheer from pretty much everyone on set as Peter declared that he was pleased with the final take. A few cast members whooped (mostly Orlando and Sean!) as I stood and stretched.

“Well, what’s next?” I smiled in a joking tone.

“Party!” Billy cried, “I’m not working another day until we’ve had a party!”

“I suppose we were scheduled to still be filming this scene tomorrow…” Peter mumbled, “Yeah sure, let’s take tomorrow off!” He grinned as Billy and Dom already began making plans for tonight. They claimed that it was going to be ‘The Christmas Party that we never got a chance to have’, not exactly an epic or dramatic title, but it sounded fun all the same!

*

For the evening ahead I dressed in a cute, strapless blue dress that came down to just above my knees, coupled with my sandal style high-heels – I was really enjoying getting to use my summer clothes all the time!

The party was being held in the large room where the Council scene had been set up. Amazingly, everything that had been there earlier in the day was gone, and had been replaced by long tables piled with party food and drinks. The whole place looked like a nightclub! There were lights everywhere, and a few shabby Christmas trees here and there – reminding us that this was technically a Christmas party. Everyone was there, from the cast to the crew; I even saw a few of the Stunties and makeup artists!

“How on earth did you pull this off?” I asked Billy, having to yell over the blaring music.

“I’ve had most of this up my sleeve for a few weeks.” He winked, handing me a drink. I laughed and went off to find Liv, who’d apparently arrived yesterday, but instead I bumped into Viggo talking to none other thanChristopher Lee!

“Kira!” Viggo smiled, “Have you met Chris?”

“Um, no… Hi.” I smiled shyly, feeling dwarfed in the presence of the legendary actor. He shook my hand with a warm smile. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” I finally managed to say.

“And you.” He replied, “I’ve heard a lot about you from Viggo here.”

“Well then half of it probably isn’t true!” I laughed as Vig punched my arm and I flicked his forehead.

“It’s been almost entirely complimentary.” Christopher assured me as I blushed.

“Almost?” I enquired.

“Well I hear you’re a little on the clumsy side.” He smiled.

“Oh… Well that is certainly true!” I laughed, “I’m still not sure how they trust me to wield a sword!”

After a few minutes of chatting with Christopher and Viggo, I excused myself and went to find Liv, who instantly dragged me onto the makeshift dance floor that had been set up. I tried to dance and talk with her at the same time, but found it mostly impossible so I just gave up and joined her as she jumped around to the deafening music. Suddenly, I was grabbed from behind and found myself being spun around by Orlando. I said ‘Hi’, but I wasn’t sure if he could hear me over the noise. He seemed to be having a good time anyway. I then got dragged off by Elijah to dance, and as he spun me around, I crashed into someone’s chest. “Sorry!” I cried, looking up to see Viggo grinning at me. “Hey!” I smiled as he grabbed my hand.

“Mind if I cut in?” He asked Elijah, who had already started dancing madly with Dom. I laughed as Viggo twirled me in and out of his arms.

“Just warning you, I can’t dance to save my life!” I shouted over the song that was playing.

“Don’t worry, I can!” He smiled.

“Is there anything you can’t do?” I muttered.

“What?” He asked.

“Nothing.” I smirked as he twirled me again and I nearly bumped into someone else. He pulled me back to him before I could do any damage though. “I’m getting dizzy.” I laughed as the song ended. Viggo smiled and pulled me off the dance floor to where some chairs had been set up behind the food tables. It was quieter away from the music and the crowds, so we could talk more.

“You look really nice.” He smiled as I blushed and straightened my dress.

“Thanks.” I murmured, “You look nice too… Now that your hair’s back to normal.” I added with a smirk and he playfully shoved me.

“You really hated it that much?” He asked, pretending to be hurt.

“I didn’t hate it… I just love your normal hair.” I smiled, “I mean… would you like it if I dyed my hair blonde?”

“Now that you put it that way…” He grinned, tousling my hair as I batted away his hand.

“I just straightened that!” I huffed.

“I prefer it wavy.” He retorted, coaxing a smile from me as I shyly glanced at the ground and subconsciously curled a strand of hair around my finger.

“Alright, I get your point.” I sighed, looking up to meet his piercing gaze. I knew that I would loose myself in those eyes if I looked for much longer, so I tore my gaze away and stared at the dance floor, smiling at the antics of the people I’d missed so much whilst I was away.