The Making of…

Chapter 38

Just When Things Were Going Well…

After my night out with Viggo, things changed between us, but only very slightly. To others it would seem like nothing, but I could feel it. We were closer than ever, but I wasn’t sure what to make of it. Did it mean that he had feelings for me? I found myself asking this question often, but I could never come to a solid answer, so instead I decided to concentrate on filming.

We were on location in Poolburn in Alexandra, which were serving as the plains of Rohan. We were filming the scenes involving the Rider’s of Rohan, so we were properly working with Karl for the first time (despite his protests, we still claimed that he’d been useless in Helm’s Deep, and was just trying to steal Gandalf’s glory)! There were also loads of extras with their own horses around, who were playing the other riders. The hilarious thing was, the riders were supposed to be big, burly, bearded men, and the extras were almost all female! It was pretty surreal seeing women having beards applied in the early morning!

I was spending a lot of my free time up at the stables where the horses were kept, as we’d be bringing them on set soon. Some of the extras also kept their horses here, so I was friendly with a few of them. However, there was one girl who seemed to utterly despise me, but I hadn’t a clue why. We’d spoken once or twice, and she didn’t seem to have a problem with me, but then things started going downhill…

She was a typical girl with a mean-streak. Platinum blonde, manicured nails, tall, perfect body and clad head to toe in varying shades of pink always with a plunging neckline to show off her best ‘qualities’ – every man’s dream pin-up girl. Her name was Courtney, and she’d decided to make my life a misery.

At first, it began with only small things – brushes from Indy’s grooming kit going missing and turning up in the manure heap, his saddle being moved around the tack room, and once it had been smeared with mud after I had stayed late the previous evening to clean it. I hadn’t suspected her in the beginning, but after a while she was hardly making an effort to hide the fact that she’d been doing these things. What had I done to annoy her?

One day, Viggo and I arrived at the yard, and I immediately went to Indy’s stable to see him. I chatted cheerfully to Viggo on the way, but stopped dead when I saw the open stable door. I approached it slowly and looked in. No horse. I ran up and down the row of stables to see if he’d been moved. I couldn’t see Indy anywhere.

“Kira? What’s wrong?” Viggo asked, leaning over Uraeus’s stable door.

“Indy’s gone!” I gasped in panic.

“Gone?”

“He’s not in his stable but I left him there last night and the door was open and I can’t find him anywhere!” I cried in one breath, my heart beating frantically against my ribcage.

“You mean he got out?” Viggo asked, bolting the stable door and walking towards me as I shook my head.

“I check his door every night, he couldn’t have.” I whispered fearfully.

“Don’t worry Ki, we’ll find him.” Viggo promised, taking my arm and leading me out into the yard, where he started asking people if they’d seen Indy. I bit my nails anxiously – which was something I never did. Indy wasn’t my horse, I couldn’t lose him… What if he’d escaped and had run away? Or worse, what if he’d run out onto a road? I couldn’t bear thinking about it as tears welled up in my eyes. “Kira?” I heard Viggo approach me, and he must have seen how upset I was, as I suddenly found myself wrapped in his arms as he held me comfortingly. Over his shoulder, I could see Courtney pushing a wheelbarrow full of hay. She glared at me distastefully, as if something about me disgusted her. “Come on Ki, let’s go check the fields.” He murmured, releasing me and taking my hand as he led me towards the gate.

We checked field after field, and I was beginning to loose hope, when Viggo suddenly tightened his grip on my hand. “I think I heard something…” He said quietly, pulling me towards the next gate which lead into the very last field.

I whimpered with relief as I saw Indy grazing peacefully, wearing a headcollar with his leadrope trailing in the grass. I hadn’t put a headcollar on him last night... I ran over to Indy and wrapped my arms around his large neck, hugging him tightly. He looked up in surprise as if he couldn’t understand why I was so worked up. “See? I told you we’d find him.” Viggo murmured behind me as I picked up Indy’s leadrope.

“Thanks Vig.” I sniffed taking his hand and squeezing it, “Sorry I panicked so much.”

“It’s ok; let’s get back to the yard.” He smiled.

When we got back to the yard, Courtney was riding her white-grey mare – Honeydew - around the arena. I could hardly understand why she had a horse… Probably just another little present from Daddy.

“Oh, did you find him then?” She asked, fake concern oozing from her as she trotted past. She was obviously putting on the show for Viggo. If I’d been on my own she’d have been much less gracious. I only nodded and ducked my head as we walked back to the stable, but not before I caught sight of her narrowing her eyes at me. Realisation hit me like I’d just walked into a brick wall. I knew why she hated me, it was Viggo. It was no secret that she didn’t like how close we were, but I’d never assumed that she was interested in him…

“Are you alright?” Viggo asked as I gave Indy’s muddy coat a quick brush-down.

“Yeah…” I sighed as I removed his headcollar and hung it up outside the stable. I patted the horse’s belly with a smirk. “He must have been grazing for hours, we’ll have to work off all that fat, won’t we boy?” I smiled, scratching him behind his ears, where he liked it.

“Do you have any idea how he got out?” Vig asked and I shook my head, although deep down I knew that Courtney had something to do with Indy’s mysterious escape. The whole thing had ‘Blonde Bimbo Scheme’ written all over it.

*

A few days after Indy had been recovered; Viggo and I tacked up the horses and rode out into the arena. Nearby, I could see Courtney mucking out her horse’s stable, and every few minutes she would wheel a barrow-full of manure out into the yard towards the manure-pile. The top of the pile could only be reached by wheeling your barrow up a small concrete ramp, the top of which ran parallel with the top of the arena wall. If she was up there when I happened to ride past, she wouldn’t miss her chance to conveniently flick some dirty sawdust at me.

Hate is a strong word, and I rarely had cause to use it, but I had I feeling that she might end up pushing me too far and provoking me to use it.

I tried ignoring her as I urged Indy into a gentle canter and tried to focus on my riding, taking deep breaths to calm my temper. I wasn’t going to get angry… She wasn’t worth it. I cantered around the arena a few times, passing Viggo and Uraeus as he rode in the other direction. As I was riding towards the wall that was parallel to the muck-heap, I suddenly heard a shriek. My head jerked up and I saw Courtney at the top of the ramp ‘slip’ and shove her wheelbarrow out of her hands. It rolled across the wall and fell, landing in the arena with a loud clatter, spilling its contents everywhere. I didn’t have time to slow Indy, but I jerked back the reins nonetheless. I had to do something; otherwise he could be hurt on the upturned barrow. He spooked at the loud noise and my sudden movement, and reared up onto his hind legs.

“Indy!” I cried in alarm, reaching forwards to cling to his neck, but I was already slipping. I fell from the saddle and landed heavily on my side as Indy bolted in the opposite direction. I groaned in pain as my helmeted head collided with the ground and my ribs began to ache.

“Kira!” Viggo yelled and I heard him dismount and run towards me as I struggled to sit up. “Easy, don’t move yet.” He murmured, crouching beside me and wrapping one arm around my shoulders to support me.

“I’m fine Vig…” I muttered, half-heartedly pushing him away. I wasn’t angry at him, more at myself. I should have expected Courtney to pull a stupid stunt like that. I just didn’t think she’d sink so low…

“Are you hurt?” Viggo asked anxiously.

“No.” I replied as I attempted to stand and held back a wince of pain.

“Kira you shouldn’t-”

“Just leave it Viggo!” I cried angrily as I stood, “I’m not a kid; I don’t need to be babied by you!” His arm dropped away from me instantly, and he stared at me in shock as regret smashed into me, making the physical pain of my fall seem insignificant. I hadn’t meant to snap at him, he’d done nothing wrong.

“Alright.” He said quietly, the hurt that he was trying to hide was obvious in his eyes. Deep blue pools of hurt. I’d hurt him.

I inhaled a shaky breath as I turned away to go and catch Indy. I limped slightly from my bashed leg, but it was nothing compared to the fact that I felt like my heart was being ripped apart inside my chest. How could I say that to him? How could I take my anger out on Viggo? All he’d ever done for me was kind… And I’d thrown it back in his face. Indy stood at the opposite side of the arena, still quaking in fear as he stared at the wheelbarrow. I pulled off my helmet and gently stroked his neck to calm him, and then leant my head on his shoulder, still inwardly kicking myself. Eventually I pulled myself together and swung myself up into Indy’s saddle, not bothering to put my helmet back on, or slip my feet into the stirrups again as I rode out of the arena. I couldn’t even bring myself to look at Viggo as I re-entered the yard and left him in the arena.

“Oh Kira I’m so sorry!” Courtney cried dramatically, running up to me suddenly and almost causing Indy to spook again. If she wanted me dead that much then why didn’t she just shoot me? It would be more effective than throwing a wheelbarrow…

“Whatever… Just make sure you clean up the mess.” I muttered, all my patience with her was gone. I dismounted and walked Indy into his stable and carefully removed his tack, winching as the heavy saddle weighed down on my aching arms. I’d taken a real bashing… But I didn’t really care. Frankly, I deserved it after what I said to Viggo. As I walked out to the tack room, I cast a glance over at the arena and I saw him standing at Uraeus’s head, stroking the horse’s ears and softly murmuring to him. My stomach twisted with pure guilt and I had to look away.

After returning Indy’s tack, I hurried back to his stable and shut myself in with him as he lazily chomped on his hay. I ran a brush along his back, trying to look busy as I heard Viggo and Uraeus enter the stable opposite us. Tears pricked at my eyes as the image of his face after I’d yelled at him flashed in my mind. I buried my face in Indy’s mane and sighed. I should have apologised the second the words were out. But I hadn’t. I’d let my stupid pride get in the way again… I realised now that pride, dignity or any of those things didn’t matter. What mattered was that I’d done something terrible, and I needed to fix it. Before it was too late.

I cast a glance over my shoulder at Viggo as he brushed down Uraeus. Would he even want to talk to me? I couldn’t blame him if he didn’t. Biting down hard on my lower lip, I backed away from Indy, my safety blanket, and prepared to open my mouth to say sorry, but Viggo had already gone. I looked at the locked stable door and realised that he was getting ready to leave – and then I remembered that he’d driven me here, meaning that he was my ride home. I’d be lucky if he didn’t drive off without me… But Viggo wasn’t that kind of person. He’d wait.

He was the exact opposite of me. I’d have stormed off, jumped in the car and hit the accelerator if I’d have been in his position… But then again, he’d never say anything that would hurt me… I cursed myself under my breath as I gave Indy a final pat and walked out the stable door, carefully making sure that it locked behind me. I looked over at where Viggo was sitting in the driver’s seat of his Jeep and slowly walked over, opening the door to the passenger side and climbing in without a word. The silence was dreadful as he pulled out of the yard and I stared out the window, waiting for the moment when I was able to pluck up the courage to apologise. He didn’t look at me as he drove, he just stared at the road ahead, his expression blank. I’d heard the phrase ‘You could have cut the tension with a knife’, and for the first time in my life, I was in a situation where it applied perfectly. The air was thick with unspoken words as the car left the main roads and turned onto a dirt track that led to where our trailers were, a few miles away. Suddenly, Viggo pulled over and stopped the engine.

“Kira, can I talk to you outside for a moment?” He asked quietly.

“Why?” I asked instantly, my head jerking up in surprise.

“Because I feel like I can’t talk to you in this car.” He answered and I nodded, unfastening my seatbelt and opening the door. I stepped out onto the hard, dry dirt as Viggo climbed out on his side. He walked around to the front of the car and I did the same, and for a moment we just stared at each other.

“Kira-”

“Viggo-”

“I’m sorry.” We spoke the words at exactly the same time and I looked at him in surprise.

“What?”

“I’m sorry.” He repeated.

“Viggo you-” I was about to protest when he cut me off my holding up his hand.

“Just… Let me finish.” He sighed, stepping forward and taking my hands in his. “Look Ki, I don’t want to mess things up between us because of a stupid argument. What happened back there wasn’t your fault and I know you’re angry at me for fretting, and I’m sorry. I can’t help worrying, sometimes I just need to know that you’re safe, and when I saw you fall I was terrified in case you were hurt… I’m sorry if you felt that I was making a fuss.” He had been staring into my eyes the whole time he was talking, but now he dropped his gaze to the ground as I stared at him speechlessly.

“Viggo…” I whispered, and he glanced up, “That is the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.” He stared at me in confusion, “Vig, I’m the one who should be begging for forgiveness here, not you. I should never have snapped at you or said those things when you were just trying to help. I hate myself for saying them, you didn’t deserve it. It wasn’t your fault that I fell, I was just stressed because… I don’t know.” I sighed, avoiding mentioning Courtney. Vig didn’t need to get involved in that mess. “Vig, I’m so sorry for saying those things, I didn’t mean any of it… Can you forgive me?” I looked up at him sheepishly, and then back down at where he held my hands in his. He released them slowly, and my heart fell, until he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close.

“Kira…” He breathed in my ear, resting his head on my shoulder as I hugged him tightly, relief washing over me. “I’m sorry for not being there for you.”

“What?” I asked in utter confusion.

“I’m not blind Ki, that wheelbarrow didn’t fall on its own, and Indy didn’t put the headcollar on himself and decide to go for a walk. What’s going on with you and Courtney?”

“Nothing,” I insisted quietly, “It’s nothing.”

“Ki…”

“I can sort it out on my own… Don’t worry.” I assured him, pulling back a little to look into his eyes. He seemed slightly torn for a moment, before he nodded slightly.

“Alright,” He smiled, and then leant forwards and softly kissed my forehead. My cheeks flushed red and my heartbeat accelerated dramatically, I could only hope that he couldn’t hear it. He pulled me back into his tight embrace and I sighed against his shoulder. I was going to have to do something about these feelings soon… They had the potential to mess up everything…