The Making of…

Chapter 26

Meet the Family

One morning, Viggo and I were sitting in our makeup bus, getting ready for our scenes for the day. We were beginning work on some of the Lothlórien scenes, which meant Craig Parker – who played Haldir – was back. We would be doing a few shots with him today, and tomorrow Cate was coming back to do her scene. I was half-asleep in my chair as Lou dabbed mud on my face, when Viggo pulled me out of my sleepy haze.

“Oh, I forgot to tell you,” He began as I sat up in my chair, “Remember how I said my son was going to fly over for a few days to watch us film?”

“Yeah… Henry, right?” I murmured.

“Right,” He smiled, “Well, he’s arriving tomorrow.”

“Great.” I grinned, casting a glance at the ever-growing collection of photos that Viggo kept around his mirror, spotting the few of him and his son.

The day of filming passed quickly, and before I knew it, I was perched in my makeup chair the next morning, being heftily abused by Lou and her supply of fake blood.

“Easy on the gore Lou!” I laughed, “It’s just supposed to be a head injury, it’s not meant to look like my brain is about to fall out!” For some reason, this only seemed to encourage her… As soon as she was finished, I dashed off to get my costume on, and afterwards, hauled myself into the studio.

“Morning Ki!” Peter called as I collapsed into my chair with a yawn.

“Mm?” I mumbled through my yawn.

“What’s gotten you so sleepy?” Orlando asked.

“Well apart from the fact that it’s 7am…” I muttered, “Viggo wasn’t in the bus this morning, which meant he couldn’t bring me my morning coffee.”

“And you couldn’t just go get it yourself?” He asked, I fired him as sceptical glance.

“Do you really think I’m in any condition to get off my ass at this ungodly hour and handle hot liquids? I could end up causing a worldwide catastrophe. Quite easily.” He laughed and went of to talk to Pete whilst I dozed in my chair.

“Morning sleepyhead.” I heard Viggo say as he gave me a nudge and I looked up at him.

“Meh?” I mumbled, rubbing my bleary eyes.

“Severe lack of caffeine? He questioned with a smile.

“Severe.” I repeated.

“Good thing I brought this then.” He laughed, handing me a steaming polystyrene cup.

“Where the hell would I be without you Vig?” I sighed happily, sipping my coffee.

“Probably still asleep in the makeup bus for most mornings.” He replied, sitting down beside me.

“Om nom nom caffeine…” I mumbled blissfully.

“You can’t om nom nom a drink.” Viggo commented with a smirk.

“I can om nom nom whatever I damn well please.” I retorted, downing the last remains of my coffee as Pete appeared.

“Will you two stop yakking gibberish and get onto the set?” He smiled.

“Aye, aye captain.” I mock-saluted as I stood and we made our way over to the gigantic wooden Elvish leaf that we were supposed to be standing on. “So where’s Henry?” I asked Viggo as we prepared for the scene.

“Asleep.” He smiled, “He’ll turn up at some point… Probably.” I grinned as Peter called us to attention and began explaining the scene to us.

Around lunchtime, Viggo disappeared to go find Henry, and I was left sitting reading the script to myself. Without really realising it, I was reading the lines out loud, so it probably sounded like I was having a schizophrenic conversation with myself!

“Talking to yourself again Ki?” I heard Viggo scoff as he approached me from behind.

“How else am I supposed to amuse myself when you’re not around?” I grinned as he appeared in front of me, flanked by a young boy who looked around the age of eleven. He had a light crop of hair, and I could see that his facial features vaguely resembled Viggo. “You must be Henry.” I smiled, extending my hand; he shook it timidly and smiled.

“Hi.” He murmured shyly.

“You two should get along well,” Viggo smiled, “You’re both total Tolkien nerds! Although I don’t get how you can obsess over it so much…”

“Tolkien had one of the greatest imaginations of all time.” I retorted, realising Henry’s hand and turning to Viggo, “And don’t argue with me on this one, because you will lose.”

“I wasn’t arguing!” He grinned, holding up his hands in surrender. I looked at his seemingly innocent expression for a moment before replying.

“I’ll have you nerdified before long.” I smirked.

“Nerdified isn’t a word.”

“It is now.” I shot back, raising an eyebrow, as if daring him to argue further. He shook his head and smiled as I sat back in my chair. “So what does Peter want us to do this afternoon?”

“Uh, the scenes where the Fellowship are bedding down for the night in Lórien.” Viggo replied as I noticed Henry begin to look interested.

“Meaning I have to cry.” I sighed, anticipating the predictable lame mood that always followed a crying scene.

“Yep,” Vig smiled as I pouted, “Have fun with that.”

“You’re so sympathetic.” I muttered sarcastically.

“Hey Vig!” Peter cried, jogging over, “We need you for your scene with Sean.”

“Sure Pete.” He smiled as our director scurried back to his chair. Viggo turned to Henry, “Will you be ok here?” He asked.

“Yeah.” The boy smiled, hopping onto Viggo’s chair, which sat beside mine.

“Don’t get into any trouble.” Viggo smiled, and turned to me. “That goes for you too.”

“Yes sir.” I smirked, titling my chair onto its back legs and balancing precariously as he walked off.

Henry and I sat and watched his first two takes in silence; he seemed to be totally absorbed in what Sean and Viggo were doing, until one of our language coaches came over and started talking to me.

“Hey Ki,” She smiled, “Pete wants us to put some Elvish lines into your scene, do you think you’ll be ok with them?” She held out a photocopied page from the script with a few notes scribbled on it and I quickly scanned it. The Elvish was easy, a few phrases, nothing too strenuous.

“Should be fine.” I smiled reassuringly as she walked off.

“You speak Elvish?” Henry asked, turning to me with wide eyes.

“Yeah, a little.” I shrugged.

“Could… Could you teach me some?” He asked timidly and I grinned.

“Sure! What do you want to know?”

A few minutes later, I’d covered the basics with him, but I’d decided to teach him a few insults, just to annoy Viggo!

“Nostach be Orch gaer.” I said slowly, now sitting cross-legged in my chair.

“And what does that mean?” Henry asked, hanging on my every word.

“You smell like an orc.” I smirked as he grinned.

“So… Nostach be Orch gaer?” He repeated.

“Nice one,” I laughed, “Do you remember the other ones?”

“Yeah.” He nodded enthusiastically as I looked up.

“Here comes an opportunity to test them out.” I grinned, nodding toward Viggo, who had just finished his scene and was walking over to us.

“Mae Govannen!” I greeted him and he looked at me in confusion.

“Nostach be Orch gaer!” Henry smirked and I laughed at Viggo’s bewildered expression.

“What have you been teaching my son?” He mock-scowled, putting his hands on his hips.

“Hebin anim…” I shrugged innocently as he sighed.

“What did that mean?” Henry leant across to me and whispered.

“‘I’m keeping it to myself’.” I grinned as Viggo exhaled heavily. I raised an eyebrow at him, “Do you really think I’m a bad influence?” I asked, pretending to be hurt.

“Nai Valaraukar tye-mátar.” Henry added and I stifled a giggle.

“I have no idea what you’re saying.” Viggo muttered.

“Well I can assure you it’s nothing dreadful… Just terribly immature!” I smirked as he rolled his eyes.

“Dôl lost lîn.” Henry nodded.

“Nice context.” I smiled, giving him a high-five.

“Come on…” Viggo sighed, “I want to know now.”

“Well we might just keep it a secret.” I cooed, enjoying teasing him as he frowned.

“Ki! Vig! Let’s do your scene!” Peter called from across the set.

“Coming Pete!” I yelled, standing up.

“This isn’t over.” Viggo muttered, playfully punching my arm.

For the scene we were doing I had to sit in a tree, so of course, a tree had been brought into the studio. Not a fake tree. A real tree. Complete with leaves. I climbed up; being careful not to catch my cloak on anything as I settled on the branch Peter wanted me on.

“Ready to cry Ki?” Pete asked.

“I’m working on it…” I replied, blinking hard until the tears welled up. I gave Peter a nod and the cameras started rolling. We got through our lines without trouble and I even managed to stop crying on cue, but when it came to the part where I jumped out of the tree, I felt something snag behind me. I grasped a branch quickly to stop myself and wedged my foot against another branch.

“Uh… Pete?” I called.

“What’s the hold-up?”

“My cloak’s caught.” I wailed, “And I don’t want to rip it and now I’m stuck!” There was a round of laughter from the crew – the loudest coming from Viggo who was on the ground below me as I scowled. “Help?” I requested, and suddenly Viggo’s head popped up in front of me as he stood on one of the low branches.

“In need of assistance?” He smirked and I nodded vigorously. He moved to free my cloak, but hesitated. “One condition, if I get you out of this, you’re going to have to tell me everything you’ve been teaching Henry.” He grinned victoriously as I scowled.

“Fine,” I sighed, “Just get me down.”

He quickly released my cloak and jumped to the ground. I grabbed a branch with both hands and swung down, so I was dangling with my feet a few inches from the ground. I was about to drop, when Viggo lifted me down by my waist.

“Thanks.” I breathed, blushing with embarrassment.

“No problem.” He smiled.

“Right guys; let’s try that again, no mishaps this time!” Peter shouted as Viggo gave me a leg-up back into the tree.

After completing that scene, we had to move on to the giant tree stump where the Fellowship were supposed to be sleeping – meaning I had to cry again, and get hugged by Viggo, but we got through it without any problems.

“Cut!” Peter shouted as Viggo and I finished our lines as we knelt on the ground hugging each other. I quickly untangled myself from his arms and he stood, offering his hand to pull me up. He hauled me to my feet and we walked back to our chairs, where Henry was sitting.

“So what do you think?” Viggo asked him with a smile.

“Awesome.” He grinned and I laughed a little.

“Right, you owe me an explanation.” Viggo smirked, turning to me. “Or do you want me to put you back in the tree?”

“Chill,” I said, holding up my hands defensively, “What do you want to know?”

“All the Elvish insults you’ve been teaching Henry.”

“How did you know they were insults?” I scowled.

“I had a feeling.” He smirked. “Now spill.”

“Alright...” I sighed. “‘Nostach be Orch gaer’ means ‘You smell like an Orc’, ‘Nai Valaraukar tye-mátar’ means ‘May Balrogs eat you’,” I glanced up and saw his raised eyebrow, “And, ‘Dôl lost lîn’ means ‘Your head is empty’.” I sighed.

“That’s all?”

“That’s all.” I smiled.

“You’re such a child.” He grinned, ruffling my hair as I swiped him away.

“You’ve told me before.” I smirked.

Later on, Viggo and I were sitting having our makeup removed, whilst Henry had gone exploring.

“He likes you, you know.” Viggo murmured.

“Hm?”

“Henry.” He explained and I smiled.

“You think so?”

“He told me so.” He grinned, “Well actually I think the word he used was ‘cool’.”

“Oh yeah, I’m cool.” I smirked, leaning back in my chair as he laughed.

“Very modest.” He commented.

“Cool people don’t have to be modest.” I smiled to myself as he shook his head. He’s just jealous because I’m cooler than him.