The Making of…

Chapter 57

Life in Technicolor

I slipped my emerald-green contact lenses in for what would be the last time… Until post production anyway. I couldn’t help but think back to the first day, over eighteen months ago, when I had had my makeup applied for the very first time. I remembered how startled I’d been over the painstaking details that Lou and the other makeup artists took to make sure we looked authentic. Day in, day out. I thanked her quietly as I stood and made my way out of the bus to get my costume on. I loved my costume… It was almost like a second skin. I smiled as I slipped my arms through the sleeves of the tunic and went to look in the tall mirror. I wasn’t wearing my full costume today, just a simplified, yet slightly more elegant version. My last scene was to be the scene where Rana admits her feelings for Aragorn; Peter had been saving this one for last. I smiled as I ruffled my hair and made my way onto the set. The upper level of Minas Tirith had been recreated in the studio, and I went and leant against the fake white stone wall as I waited for Viggo. He would be taking a while because he had to get his coronation armour on. This wasn’t his last scene – his would be the very last… Tomorrow. We were into the final twenty four hours of filming; the wrap party was tomorrow night. I smiled as I spotted a crowd gathering behind the cameras. Orlando, Elijah, Billy, Dom and Erin, Sean and his family, Ian, John, Sean and Raven, Bernard, Miranda and Karl and Rylee – My Fellowship. I waved at them and then spotted Viggo walking towards me, dressed in his silver ceremonial armour and elaborate crown.

“Nice crown.” I smiled as he jogged up the steps to join me on the raised set.

“Thanks.” He murmured softly, gently kissing my forehead. He knew how upset I was inside, and how hard I was trying to hide it.

“Alright guys, are you ready to start?” Peter asked quietly.

“As ready as I’ll ever be Pete.” I sighed, feeling Viggo gently squeeze my shoulder as he disappeared out of shot. The cameras had been set up so we didn’t need to stop and start the scene, we could just run through it. The lighting dimmed until it looked like the light that would be cast off the sunset that would be added in via CGI later, and Peter gave me a nod as I took a few steps back so I could make my entrance.

“Action.”

I walked slowly along the avenue, until I almost reached the end. I kept my facial expression one of contemplative sadness as I leant on the wall and pretended to watch the sunset. I pretended to be deep in thought, as I heard Viggo approach me from behind.

“Rana?” He murmured quietly, and I feigned surprise at his appearance as he leant against the wall beside me, but I did not look at him, as I was supposed to be trying to hide my feelings. “There is something bothering you.” He stated.

“It’s nothing.” I mumbled.

“Rana, I know you too well, something is wrong.”

“I’m fine.” I insisted, and he replied with his line, and we moved through the scene, building up the tension until we came to the confession.

“Why do you think our relationship would change for the worse?” Viggo asked.

“Because I’m in love with you!” I cried tearfully, stepping away from him to make it look like I was about to run back along the avenue, but he caught my arm and pulled me back.

“Rana…” He murmured softly, pulling me gently towards him. I looked down at the ground, refusing to meet his gaze. “Did I prove nothing to you when I kissed you?”

“I-I thought…” I stammered as he pulled me closer towards him.

“That it was only because we faced death?” He finished my sentence quietly. “No, it was because I regretted not telling you of my feelings sooner.” I allowed my eyes to widen in shock, as I thought back to my bewilderment the moment Viggo kissed me for the first time.

“We can’t…” I whispered sadly. “You’re the King of Gondor and I’m… Nothing.”

“Rana you are everything.” He contradicted me with his line. “Everything to me, anyway… Think of everything you have done. You have saved my life countless times since we met, in more ways than on the battlefield.” He said as I stared down at the ground.

“But we can’t be together.”

“What gave you an idea like that?” He whispered with a smile. “Things like titles and bloodlines don’t matter to the heart. I love you. That is all that matters.”

I let my eyes grew even wider as he put his hand to my face and tilted my chin upwards. I looked into his eyes for a moment before he closed them and lightly brushed his open lips against mine. I allowed my eyes to flutter closed as his arm slipped around my waist and he pulled me closer. My arms curled around his neck as I kissed him back, pretending to be timid and unsure, when in reality, kissing Viggo was as natural as breathing to me. He moved his lips away from mine to my ear, so he could whisper his next line. “Le melon…”

“I love you too.” I murmured breathlessly as he leant his forehead against mine, moving his hand away from my waist so he could take one of my hands and hold it in the gap between our two bodies.

“Le no an-uir nîn?” He tenderly whispered the line that meant ‘Will you be mine forever?’ and I nodded against his forehead. He slipped the Ring of Barahir onto my finger and I looked down, smiling a little as he lifted my hand and placed it over his steadily beating heart. I reached up with my free hand, gently tracing his jaw line with my fingertips, before pulling him down so our lips met again.

“And… Cut.” Peter murmured behind us as I broke away from Viggo’s lips and heard the thunderous applause behind us. I smiled weakly as I felt real tears gather in my eyes, and Viggo gently kissed me. It was over. I gave a shaky, almost relieved laugh as he pulled away, and suddenly, he lifted me by my waist and span me around. I couldn’t help smiling as I clung to him.

“You’re amazing.” He grinned, setting me down on my feet as people crowded around to congratulate us. I felt someone tap me on my shoulder, and I turned around to see Peter smiling at me.

“Thank you Kira.” He grinned as I slipped out of Viggo’s embrace.

“Hell no,” I sniffed, “Thank you Pete!” I cried, pulling him into a hug, “Thank you so much.” I clung to our director as he hugged me back, “Thank you for giving me the opportunity of a lifetime.”

“Thank you for making Rana a reality.” He replied.

“Thank you for bringing me to New Zealand.” I retorted, determined to make sure he knew everything he had done for me.

“Thank you for hauling yourself all the way out here!” He laughed.

“Thank you for bringing Viggo into my life.” I whispered, unable to hold back the tears now.

“Well, I’m not sure if I can top that.” He smiled, pulling back and holding me at arms length. “You deserve each other.”

“Thanks Pete.” I smiled in return as I felt Viggo slip his arm around my waist and kiss the side of my forehead as someone handed Peter a long, white cardboard box.

“Ki, this is just a small present from everyone here.” He mumbled awkwardly, “Just as a token of our thanks.”

“Oh Pete you didn’t have too…” I blushed as he handed me the box. As I opened it, fresh tears pricked at my eyes as I saw my sword lying on a bed of tissue paper, and beside it, my Lothlórien broach, and one of the two identical pendants that had been made – the one Rana had given to Aragorn. The second one currently hung around Viggo’s neck. “Thank you.” I whispered, leaning against Viggo for support. I turned to him and he held my face in his hands, gently wiping away my tears with his thumb.

“’Don’t worry,” He murmured softly, “We’ll be back before you know it.”

“Yeah.” I nodded, smiling through my tears.

“So Vig, are you all ready for tomorrow?” Peter asked, placing his hand on my shoulder comfortingly.

“You know me Pete, I’m raring to go.” He grinned, although I could tell that he was just as sad as I was. I could see it in his eyes.

*

“You’re going to be awesome.” I smiled as I held Viggo’s face in my hands just before he was about to go out for the final scene we would be filming. He nodded nervously, leaning his forehead against mine.

“Ready to go Vig?” Peter called as I pulled away from Viggo.

“Good luck.” I whispered, releasing him. He smiled and turned to go, but turned back and stole a quick kiss from my lips, grinning mischievously as he made his way onto the set. I went and stood behind the camera - joining the hundreds of other people gathered to watch the final scene - and watched as the guys from the WETA armoury took their places on either side of Viggo. It was a fitting final scene; it was going to consist of Aragorn getting his armour on before the coronation. It was a bit of a tribute to the armoury guys, as they were the ones putting his armour on, just like they did every day before filming - of course, they were dressed as Gondorian soldiers. I laughed as Elijah and Sean appeared on the set in front of the camera, both wearing pink feather boas and Sean had his daughter Ali on his shoulders. Elijah was holding the little black and white board with the scene and take number chalked on it, and they both danced around a bit before Peter called ‘Action’ and they scurried off. I smiled as they joined me behind the camera and Elijah draped his boa around my neck and gave me a hug as we watched Viggo getting his armour put on. There were practically no lines in the scene, but it was still dramatic and I found myself tearing up as if began to hit me that in a few seconds… This would all be over.

The WETA guys finished with Viggo’s armour and walked out of shot, leaving him standing alone in front of the camera, before Peter spoke.

“Cut… And for now ladies and gentlemen, that is a wrap on The Lord of the Rings!” He grinned as people cheered and applauded. I joined in as Elijah whistled loudly and Viggo went and hugged Peter. I watched as they quietly exchanged a few words and patted each other on the back, then Peter handed Viggo a box much like the one he had given me yesterday, and I knew it contained his sword and a few other small tokens. And then Viggo looked up and smiled at me, I ran to him without hesitation and threw myself into his open arms, hugging him tightly as everyone else crowded around us in a massive group hug.

“I can’t believe it’s actually over.” He murmured sadly in my ear.

“It’s not over yet… Remember, we’ll be back before we know it, right?” I laughed weakly as he took my face in his hands and kissed me.

“Right.” He smiled, leaning his forehead against mine.

*

After Viggo had gotten changed out of his costume, we walked hand in hand back to our now virtually empty trailers. Viggo went into his trailer to change for the party, whilst I walked through the door of mine and looked at my packed suitcase sitting on my bed, with my passport and flight tickets sitting on top. Tomorrow I was flying back to the U.K, and Viggo was going back to America. It was only for a short while though, until we got sorted. We’d decided to commute, spending half of the year in Northern Ireland, and the other half in America – with visits in-between of course. It seemed like the best solution. The horses were going to stay in America, and were getting shipped out in a few days. Once I’d gotten everything sorted out back home, I’d fly out and meet him.

I walked over to my bed and grabbed the dress I’d laid out for tonight, before changing into it. I smiled at my appearance in the mirror as I smoothed the floaty, pale green fabric of the short dress. It wasn’t short enough to be risqué, but enough to maybe turn a few heads. I adjusted the thin spaghetti-straps before pulling on my low-heeled gladiator sandals and running a brush though my hair just as Viggo walked through the door dressed in an off-white shirt and jeans.

“Wow.” He breathed as he saw me, causing me to blush, “That’s attention grabbing.”

“Really? Is it too…?” I trailed off anxiously, pulling at the hem of the dress.

“No, you look amazing.” He smiled, “I’m just going to feel a little unworthy tonight when I walk in with the hottest girl in the room on my arm.”

“Shut up.” I muttered, my cheeks flushing a bright red.

“You’re so cute when you’re embarrassed.” He grinned, wrapping his arms around my waist and lightly kissing me.

“I said shut up…” I mumbled half-heartedly as he laughed and took my hand in his.

“Come on beautiful, we’re going to be late.” He smiled as I grumbled ‘Shut up’ again under my breath. On our way out the door, I grabbed my guitar case and smiled knowingly at Viggo, before he pulled me outside and shut the door.

[Eek! Not long to go now! (It’s going to drive me nuts if I don’t end on an even number of chapters… Gah, I’m so weird…) I know the chapter title makes no sense… But I couldn’t think of anything that summed up this chapter, and I was listening to Coldplay as I was writing this!]

Werewolf65

xxx