The Student

Chapter 16 - Dinner and an Elf

I twirled in front of the mirror. This red dress was simply stunning. It was like the proverbial 'little black dress', but it wasn't because it was red, and it flowed. I guess I could say I had a penchant for flowey dresses, but this one was great. It was short, a few inches above my knees. And, it was a halter-top that was practically skin tight until it reached my hips. I looked down, smoothing my dress front and frowning at the slight stomach I had always had. Shrugging, I smiled. Orlando didn't seem to care that I wasn't a size 2.

It was my last night in Wellington, and I didn't want to go. I had even gone as far as to look into the University of Wellington as my college of choice. My scholarship didn't care what college I went to, just as long as I kept a B average and studied Latin. I had run the idea past both Orli and Vigg, and they were both positive, but I didn't know. Auckland was so much prettier on the waterfront.

It was a decision that I would have six weeks to decide on, and I wasn't rushing it.

There was a knock at the door, and I called for the knocker to come in. Viggo entered, all dressed up in a suit with his hair ties back even. He always looked so debonair.

He walked up behind me and smiled at me through the mirror. I smiled back. "How do I look?"

"Beautiful . . . as always. You must get it from your mother." We both laughed. "Are you ready to go?"

"Is Orli here yet?"

"Yeah, he's waiting in the living room with American Sean and Billy." I smiled fondly at the use of the 'American' in front of Sean. Many times I had heard someone call for a Sean, then an answer of 'Which one?' followed by either 'The English' or 'The American' Sean. Unfortunately, the English Sean was leaving too, only a day after me. He wouldn't be coming back. They had wrapped up the final shooting for 'The Fellowship of the Ring' the day before.

That was mainly why I had wrangled much of the cast, and some of my new friends on the tech crew out to dinner. It was a sort of 'Farewell' party for both Sean, who I now viewed with as much affection as my uncle, and myself.

Turning, I smiled up at my uncle before slipping my arms around him for a quick hug. "Thank you so much Uncle Viggo. For everything. You know, you're like a father to me, and for that I am eternally thankful."

He smiled down on me, much as he had my whole life. "Yes, I know. And you're as much of a daughter to me as Harry is a son." I beamed at this compliment and we quit the room to join our other limo mates for the evening.


In honor of every fancy French restaurant I suppose, we chose Francis's as our eatery of choice. The choice was actually mine. I was a big French-food fanatic back then, and I had sorely missed the bistro down the street from my apartment Georgia.

When we arrived, many of our 'guests', as it were, had already arrived. The Ians and The English Sean were seated at a table with Cate Blanchette, who was the most amazingly beautiful and talented woman I had ever met, and Christopher Lee, who I couldn't look at without cringing and running away from. They, along with Vigg, formed the 'older' members of the cast while Elijah, Orli, Dom, Billy, and Liv were the 'younger' members. John and Hugo were both MIA, assumed out with family and the like. Viggo took his reserved seat next to English Sean.

At the table next to The Ians and everyone there was a placard that read 'Laura's table' and I smiled as I took one of the most important seats. I had an Orli on my right hand and a Billy on my left, who I had learned was absolutely hilarious and totally amusing . . . especially in hobbit feet. Dom and Lij were on Orli's right and on Billy's left there were two places reserved for Liv and Peter.

We had one other table for seven reserved for the rest of the crew who should be there shortly.

I was only half listening to the conversation Billy and Orli were having about their surfing expedition that morning that I was too lazy to participate in. It seemed that they had a competition and Orli beat Billy hands down, which cracked Dom up because Billy was the one who taught Orli in the first place.

There were discussing this in detail while I was having a very moving and violent internal conversation about moving to Wellington. I earned a funny look from those closest to me when I started talking to myself. Looking around in embarrassment and surprise, I laughed at their comical expressions. "I'm sorry. Just fighting with myself." I looked around, and noticed a couple of people making their way through the restaurant. "Hey, it's Liv and Peter." The men all rose as Liv joined our table as well as Peter.

"Sorry we're so late. The limo had some issues with Liv's driveway." This was an inside joke, but I laughed along with everyone else as the final guests drifted in and got situated.

Viggo was very kind and ordered for everyone. I was amazed at the way he knew each person's personal choice from the menu. He ordered vegetarian when the occasion called for it, i.e. Ian M., and even soy when it was needed, i.e. Orli. For me he ordered a fillet mignon and some Brussels sprouts. He always was saying that they were good.

Over appetizers the film was a big discussion piece. It seemed that amid the gently clinking of glass on glass and silverware on plate, our three tables were completely immersed in The Lord of the Rings. I decided this would be a good time to go and power my nose. Even after bonding for four days with these people, I still felt like an outsider. Making my excuses, I rose and made my way to the 'Power Room' as it was so tactfully called.

Liv caught up with me just as I was about to enter the room with a hand on my arm. "Hey, wanna come and have a smoke with me?"

I turned and looked at her, standing there with a pleasant smiled on her face. She looked actually nice. I wasn't a smoker, but I nodded and followed her out just to find out what was with the nice-ness.

We left through a discreet door marked 'Smoking Room' and entered a small annexed room. It had three or four very comfortable looking couches and a couple of stuffed chairs. The smell of smoke and cheap perfume was heavy in the air.

Live reached into her purse, and with an excited and relieved sound, pulled out a cigarette and a lighter. Putting the cig up to her mouth, she lit it and took in a deep, deep drag immediately. Letting it out slowly, she collapsed into a chair. Looking up at me, she motioned for the chair next to her. I took the couch slightly farther away. Chuckling, she brought the cigarette to her mouth once more before saying anything.

"I guess I deserved that. After all, I've been a real bitch huh?" I didn't say a word. Instead, I became extremely interested in my skirt and an invisible stain that I was determined to scratch out. "You know, as an American girl, I was really excited when Vigg told me that you would be coming over. You know, it's hard to talk about 'American' stuff when you're one of two women in the whole cast, and the other has just arrived. I miss home, which is why I don't have much longer to go."

I shot her a questioning look and she raised her eyebrows at me. "I'll be done shooting in a month. Thank God. I miss my house and my parents." I laughed, completely sympathizing with her. She continued. "I should probably apologize for being mean." Her face turned dark now, and she puffed away meaningfully at her cigarette. "When I found out that the great, all-knowing horse trainer Kat Lee was your friend, I guess I turned red with anger.

"Orlando talked to me about the whole situation." My head popped up and I looked into her eyes in surprise and perhaps with a bit of defiance. "He told me that you believe that Kat and Joaquin weren't intimate. Well, perhaps they weren't, but you must understand what it feels like when you're boyfriend is gone for months on end, and when you come and visit, you find him alone with a beautiful woman." She frowned again and looked down and away, the cigarette hanging between two uncaring fingers.

"I was so jealous. I couldn't even see straight." Sighing deeply, the cigarette came back up to her lips and the sound of the air being pulled through the burning tobacco was the only sound, besides the beating of my heart, that could be heard. When she laughed, sharp and clear, I jumped in surprise. "I was jealous. I see this now, only after one of my newest friends comes to me because his girlfriend happens to be the best friend of the beautiful horse trainer and tells me that I was wrong all along." She looked up despairingly at me. "I think I knew all along, but I didn't want to accept it. I used Kat, and now, she and Joaquin aren't talking anymore."

Waving her hand dismissively, she rose, snuffing out the cig in a tray next to the chair. "It's alright. I was there to dump him anyway. He had been gone for months, and he had talked about breaking up right before he had left for Morocco." She turned a thoughtful glance to the wall. "Maybe that's why he wasn't as upset as I would have thought when I told him good-bye." She turned back to me, a smile on her face. "Silly men." She held out a hand for me, and I took it, rising to my feet. "So, can you forgive me for being cold. I feel like I've been living a lie, and now that you're here, I can finally see my error, and the solution."

I nodded, if not a little than very much so, creeped out by her whole change of heart behavior. Perhaps this is what she was really like. It didn't matter. Her apology was heartfelt and sincere. "Yes. And forgive me too, for thinking you were cold-hearted and mean."

We both laughed before turning and making our way back into the dining area.


"And what about you Laura? What was your take on the whole 'Y2K' deal?" We had gotten back into computers, much to Orli's dismay, and Mark Ordesky's delight. Peter cocked his head to the side and the whole group waited patiently to hear my answer.

"Um, I think that it was just a ploy by the entrepreneurs of America trying to make a couple of bucks. It reminded me of this one episode of this cartoon named The Simpson's where the card industry completely makes up a holiday for the lull from Easter to the Fourth of July, our Independence Day, I think. They made it up so they could make money. I think in many ways, this is comparatory to Y2K, because the computer companies were looking for a way to make more money by giving people a reason to but Y2K compatible computer software. It was blown way out of proportion, by the press and even the public, and I think that the computer companies preyed on the weakness of the public."

Everyone was silent for a few seconds and I nervously played with my fork, clinking it lightly on my plate. No one ever liked that Anti-Y2K speech. They thought I was un-patriot, which couldn't have been farther from the truth.

Mark wasn't happy with my answer, being in the computer industry himself, but he was thoughtful of my idea. The rest of the group was pretty receptive to my weird idea, and Orli gave my hand a gently squeeze under the table.

Viggo stood, with a wineglass in hand. "Okay, now that our political and economical discussion is done, I'd like to propose a toast before we all retire to our homes and prepare for The Two Towers." There was a large groan from the group as a whole, but Orli was grinning with the excitement of simply filming a movie. "I would like to say that it has been an honor and an extreme pleasure in working with Sean Bean, and that I think everyone agrees with me. I know you guys do, because after all, it took a whole car backseat to get all of the presents home that we gave him."

People laughed and nodded at the memory of the impromptu party that had been thrown for Sean the day before. Viggo saluted Sean. "I hope that one day we can work on another movie together and spend some more fun time with you." There was a cheer this time from almost every table an all all drank our salute to him. Sean blushed nicely and raised a hand, acknowledging our praise. Then, Viggo turned and looked at me.

"And then we have Laura. Okay, so maybe she was just an extra, in one scene, so far." He added the last two words with a devilish smile and a wink at Peter, who laughed merrily. "But, she was a great gal to have around on set for the last four days. And I hope that you do come back and visit us again." I myself blushed, looking down into my lap. Orlando squeezed my knee reassuringly. "And, I think, there are some gifts that people would like to give you." My head popped up and my eyes widened.

"Gifts? I don't need gifts." My voice was a squeak, but no one seemed to notice. American Sean was the first to rise, handing me a gaily wrapped present that was obviously a book.

"That's from the hobbits."

I shrugged at the sheer oddity of giving me a present after knowing me for four friggin' days. Tearing at the package, I gasped when a leather-bound version of The Fellowship of the Ring lay in my hands. I smiled down on the gift, remembering all the times that I had been ridiculed in good fun for not having read the books when they were up there with the Bible on holiness.

"I only gave you the first one. You'll have to come back and visit again at least twice if you want the whole series."

I smiled and thanked the hobbits, who were now like best friends.

Ian M. rose next, with an actual box in his hands. "This is from the 'older' half of the cast. Meaning myself, Ian, Cate, Hugo, John, Sean B., and Christopher." He smiled warmly, giving me a kiss on the cheek before returning to his seat. I tore at the box. Inside lay a music box which played the first twelve measures of Holst's Suite in Eb, my favorite piece of classical music." Holing the music box close to my heart, I smile warmly at the elder actors. "That's not all Laura. Look on the bottom."

It was Viggo who spoke and I eagerly dug to the bottom of the wrapping paper. There was an envelope there that had the 'Sydney Opera House' logo in the right-hand corner on it. The excitement was building side me as I gently slid my finger along the seal, breaking it, and lifted the paper from inside.

"OH MY GOD! THANK YOU!" I squealed in glee as I read 'The Sydney Symphony presents "A night of Holst" at The Sydney Opera House'. Rising, I hugged each of the members responsible for the great gift and I couldn't stop smiling. If it was at the Sydney Opera House, that meant that I'd have to go to Sydney to see it! It was my life-long dream to simply stand in front of the magnitude of the Opera House and breath in the smell of music and dreams. Now, I had tickets to hear my favorite composer.

The gift giving continued as Peter and Mark gave me a picture of myself in my whole elf costume, handing the bow and arrows to Legolas. There were actually two. A real, official photo, and one of me making 'goo-goo' eyes at Orli, as they referred to it. I smiled, and thanked them profusely too.

Liv also gave me a present. She gave me a necklace that looked suspiciously like the one Arwen gave to Aragorn, but I knew that wasn't possible because Peter would never let a prop like that slip past him. "It's like Arwen's evenstar, but I had them change it and make it ruby, in honor of your birthday." Tear came to my eyes and I got up and hugged my new friend. She laughed as I told her that it was beautiful and that she shouldn't have. "Trust me, it will look beautiful on you."

Last but not least, Orli gave me his present. His was also a piece of jewelry, but much more personal and meaningful than Liv's. It was a ring, much like the 'Ring of Power' that was actually tin plated in gold, and had Elvish written on the inside of it. I could only gaze at it in wonder, and think on what it could mean. Maybe it was an engagement ring.

"It means 'I love you' basically. It says that there, but it says 'I adore you here'." He smiled as he slipped it on my right index finger. So much for the engagement ring. Everyone clapped as he leaned over and kissed my cheek gently. I was almost overwhelmed by this outpouring of affection for me. As I mentioned before, I had only known most of these people for four days and they were giving me necklaces and symphony tickets and memories to keep forever. If only everyone could be so nice.

Viggo stood once again, and with finality, gave his last toast. "This was a great first rap everyone, and I can't wait to start the next one. Now, if everyone is okay with this, I'd like to go home and get some sleep!" The group cheered and we all rose to leave. Orlando hugged me tight and kissed me gently before allowing me to even step away from the table. Looking into my eyes with all seriousness, he said in a low voice, "I'd like you to come back to my apartment with me." I swallowed hard and nodded, not even trying to fool myself as to what would happen if I followed him home.