The Making of…

Chapter 36

‘I Survived Helm’s Deep!’

My wrist recovered after a few days, and I was allowed back on set so we could finish the night shots. After we’d finished the battle scenes, we only had a few more daytime shots to film in the quarry before we moved on to a different location. One of the scenes Viggo and I had to do together was the scene where Aragorn returns after falling off the cliff and everyone thinks he’s dead. This meant an emotional reunion. It also meant that I had to punch Viggo in the face.

“Right guys,” Peter addressed us from his director’s chair, “When Rana and Aragorn first see each other again, there needs to be a moment where you stare at each other, so the audience thinks that you’re going to kiss, and that’s when you punch him Kira.”

“Erm… Do I really have to full-on punch him?” I asked nervously.

“Unfortunately yes.” He replied, “We need it to look real, so it has to be real.”

“Alright…” I breathed, turning to Viggo, “Sorry.”

“It’s ok.” He smiled gently as we took our positions. There were a few shots he had to do with John and Brett before I stepped in, so I spent a couple of minutes clenching and unclenching my fist, trying to think of a way to hit Viggo without hurting him.

“Ready to go, Ki?” Peter called.

“Yeah…” I mumbled, taking my place amongst a crowd of extras.

“Okay and… Action!” Pete yelled.

“Aragorn?” I whispered as Viggo looked up from where he was being hugged by Brett, who stepped away slowly as I stared into Viggo’s eyes. I walked a few steps forward and then ran the last few steps and punched him in the jaw. “Don’t you ever make me worry like that again!” I cried, forcing tears to well up in my eyes as he staggered backwards. He looked at me for a moment, and then held out his arms. I ran into them and clutched the front of his shirt, holding him to me as I cried and he hugged me tightly. He pulled back a little and looked at me.

“Where is Théoden?” He asked.

“Cut!” Peter called, “Great take guys!”

“Oh my God Viggo I’m so sorry!” I cried, pulling him back towards me and hugging him tightly.

“Hey, it’s alright, don’t worry.” He laughed, hugging me back.

“Sorry…” I mumbled into his chest.

“Stop apologising.”

“No.” I insisted stubbornly, holding him tightly.

“Right guys; are you ready to do your last scene at Helm’s Deep?” Pete asked and I released Viggo from my embrace.

“Yep!” I smiled.

“Ok, go get your blood on!” He grinned as our makeup artists hurried over to coat us in wounds. Once we were satisfactorily gory, we walked up to one of the top walls. This was to be the scene where Rana and Aragorn accidentally kiss – their first kiss that isn’t in a dream or hallucination. It wasn’t supposed to be like the other kisses, just a quick peck on the lips. We’d already filmed some of the scene a few days ago, so we just needed to get the kissing bit over with.

“Ready?” Peter asked as I leant on the wall and Viggo picked up his prop, the cloth he was supposed to be using to clean my wounds. “Action!” He shouted as Viggo carefully began to clean away some of the ‘blood’ from my face.

“There.” He sighed, setting the cloth down and gently putting his hand on the back of my head. I counted the seconds in my head as he leant forward – as if to kiss my forehead, and I looked up suddenly, just at the right moment. Our lips collided perfectly, and I paused for a moment, before pulling back quickly.

“S-sorry.” I stammered, “I didn’t mean to… I-I mean…”

“It’s alright,” Viggo murmured, “It was my fault.”

“Actually it was mine…” I replied in a protesting tone. He took my face in his hands and gently kissed my forehead.

“It was an accident.” He assured me.

“Cut!” Peter shouted, and I smiled, “That was great work guys, I don’t think we need another take!” I heard some cheering and clapping down below the wall and I glanced down to see Raven and Sean on the ground. I waved at them and grabbed Viggo’s hand, pulling him down the steps after me as I ran to meet them.

“Here come the One-take-Wonders!” Sean teased as we approached.

“Shut it.” I grinned, releasing Viggo’s hand. “What are you two doing here?”

“We just came down to see how you were doing.” Raven replied with a smile.

“Imagine how awesome Boromir would have been at Helm’s Deep?” Sean grinned.

“It’s a shame you died.” I nodded in agreement.

“Yeah, think of how much fun we could have had when I become King!” Viggo teased.

“I probably would have killed you for the crown.” Sean grinned.

“Treason!” Vig gasped dramatically as Raven and I laughed.

“Come on Sean, let’s go grab some lunch!” She smiled, taking his hand and pulling him away towards where the food marquee was, as Peter walked up to us.

“Hey guys, here’s something we’ve given to everyone who’s been working here over the past few months.” He handed Viggo and myself something that looked like a folded black t-shirt, but as I unfolded it, I laughed. Printed across the front were the words ‘I Survived Helm’s Deep’ but the ‘M’ of ‘Helm’s’ had been crossed out.

“This is awesome Pete! Thanks!” I grinned, hugging him tightly.

“No problem.” He smiled as we walked off. “Oh and one more thing,” He called after us, “You two can have tomorrow off!”

“Great! Thanks Pete!” I called back. Viggo smiled at me as we made our way back to the makeup bus. We now shared the bus with Orlando, Karl and Bernard, so some days it was pretty crowded, but today it was just us as we got our makeup removed. Once we’d returned our costumes, Viggo walked me back to my trailer.

“Hey Ki?” He caught my attention as I opened the door and was about to walk inside.

“Yeah?” I asked, my hand hesitating on the handle.

“I was just wondering… Do you want to go out for dinner tonight?” He asked. I thought I detected a hint of shyness in his tone, which was rare for Viggo.

“Dinner? Like… A date?” I asked in confusion before I even realised that the words were out.

“If you want it to be.” He shrugged with a smile. “So, do you want to?”

“Yeah, sure.” I smiled.

“Great, I’ll pick you up at five.” He grinned as I nodded. He turned and walked off to his trailer as I walked through my door in a daze. I grabbed my phone and quickly punched in Raven’s number, whilst tossing my Helm’s Deep t-shirt onto my bed.

“Hello?” She answered on the third ring.

“Raven! I need your help!” I wailed.

“What? What’s wrong?” She asked.

“Erm… Well… I think Viggo just asked me out on a date…” I mumbled.

“A date?” She cried.

“Yes, that’s what I said.” I muttered.

“When?”

“Tonight.”

“Tonight?”

“Yeah… He’s picking me up at five.” I sighed, checking my watch. I had two hours to go.

“Hang on; I’ll be over in a second.” She hung up without another word and I slumped onto my bed, trying to hold back the imminent panic attack. A few minutes later, Raven burst through my door.

“Ever heard of knocking?” I grumbled.

“No.” She grinned, and then pulled me to my feet. “Don’t look so worried, it’s only a date!”

“Only a date?” I cried, “It’s a date with Viggo! Viggo!”

“Chill Ki, you’re freaking out.” Raven said calmly.

“I will not chill, and of course I’m freaking out!” I cried loudly.

“Are you even sure it’s a date you’re going on?” She asked.

“Well I asked him that and he said ‘It is if you want it to be’…” I trailed off anxiously.

“Well, do you want it to be?”

“Erm… Well, I… Uh… I guess?” I answered vaguely.

“But you like him, right?” She pressed for more information.

“No, well… Maybe… Kinda… Slightly…” I mumbled.

“Kira.” She said in a warning tone.

“Yes.” I answered, holding my head in my hands. “Yeah I do like him.”

“Well that makes things a whole lot easier!” She cried happily, “What are you going to wear?”

“I don’t know.”

“Where is he taking you?”

“I don’t know.”

“Do you know anything?” She sighed in exasperation.

“I’m insulted by your assumption.” I grumbled into my hands as she walked over to my wardrobe. “Raven, Raven don’t go in there-” I was cut off as she flung the door open and several jackets and other items of clothing fell onto her.

“Jeez Ki, ever heard of a little thing called tidying?” She grumbled, digging through my mess of clothes. I didn’t answer, just watched her. “Can’t wear that… Or that…” She muttered to herself, “Oh, what’s this?” She asked, holding up a silvery silk dress.

“Uh, Liv got me that for Christmas.” I answered.

“It still has the tags on.”

“I’ve never worn it.”

“Why not? It’s cute!” She cried, flinging it at me.

“Um, maybe because it’s flimsy enough to be classed under the category of nightwear?” I muttered sarcastically.

“Don’t be ridiculous.” She scoffed, “Go try it on.”

“But-”

“Go!” She commanded me, shoving both myself and the dress into the tiny bathroom. I quickly tried on the dress, whilst muttering every curse in Elvish that I knew, just to annoy her. I stepped out of the bathroom tugging at the short dress, trying to make it cover a little more of my legs, whilst fidgeting with the thin straps.

“Well?” I asked.

“Oh you look so cute!” Raven cried. I glanced at my appearance in the mirror that sat in one corner of the room. “Here, you can wear this too.” She tossed me a thin, fitted black jacket with three-quarter-length sleeves from my wardrobe and I pulled it on. The silver fabric of the dress shimmered like the moon, and I began to feel myself warming to it.

“Alright, what next?” I asked.

“Shoes.” She grinned, tossing me a pair of black ballerina pumps.

“Oh great, so I’m going to have to be a midget tonight?” I rolled my eyes as I pulled them on.

“You don’t know what you’ll be doing tonight, so flat shoes are a safe bet.” She shrugged.

“Fair enough.” I sighed, sitting down on my bed as Raven began to rifle through my hair and makeup products.

“How does Viggo like your hair?” She asked and I blushed, thinking back to the night of our Christmas party.

“Wavy.” I murmured, playing with a loose strand of hair as Raven advanced upon me.

*

“Ok! You’re ready!” Raven cried happily, turning me so I was facing the mirror. I smiled at my reflection. My hair hung in loose, wavy curls around my face, and my makeup was simple – just the way I liked it.

“Thanks Raven.” I smiled, brushing down my dress and checking my watch. “He’s going to be here any minute now…”

“That’s my cue to exit then.” She grinned, “You’re going to be fine Ki.” She reassured me, “Just don’t give him too much in the first date!” She added mischievously as I punched her lightly in the arm. “Oh, one last thing…” She mumbled, pulling off her small collection of silver bangles and slipping them onto my wrist. “Those will cover the bruise from your sprain.” She smiled and I hugged her tightly.

“Thanks.” I breathed, releasing her and she made for the door.

“Have fun!” She grinned, before opening the door and disappearing. I was left alone, so I nervously paced the floor, tidying things that didn’t need tidying and glancing at my watch every few seconds, until I heard the knock on the door and my heart skipped a beat.