Mistake
However, when Elijah is asleep; when the big blue gaze goes unfocussed and finally hides behind white lids and black lashes; it's suddenly possible for other people to focus and open up. And, I am shocked to find out, once I take the time to really look, those others define Elijah just as much.
Billy and Viggo enter the tent where lunch is served, armed with loaded trays and talking animatedly. They spot me at one of the back tables and make their way over. Viggo winks at Ian and Bean at another table nearby and then he and Billy sit down with me, pick up a fork from their trays and start to eat, only to realise that next to Billy, with his head on his arms, resting on the table, Elijah is sound asleep.
Viggo looks at me questioningly and there is not much I can say. Twenty minutes earlier, when we went to sit here with our own lunch, I had looked at Elijah and just knew he was almost on his knees with exhaustion. "He just sat down, folded his arms like that and put his head down. He's been asleep ever since," I venture. Billy and Viggo stare at Elijah's sleeping face. "Pete's pushing it a bit," Viggo mumbles between bites of bread. "When was Doodle's last day off?" Both Billy and I snort simultaneously. "Day off?" I ask and stare at Viggo incredulously. "All his free Sundays so far have been claimed by some or other film-related activities. He has worked every day, non-stop, since shooting started back in October."
Viggo closes his eyes briefly, swallows his food, opens them again. "This will not do," he says to no one in particular as he gets up and walks over to Bean and Ian at the other table. I see him discuss something with both of them and Bean, always so protective of Lijah, immediately stretches his neck to take a glimpse at our sleeping Ringbearer. They talk some more and then, resolutely, Ian gets up and moves determinedly towards the other side of the lunch tent, straight to the table where Peter is having his lunch with Philippa and some technicians.
I cannot hear what they're saying, but Ian's voice is slightly raised - which is unique. Pete's face is blank, he obviously did not expect this speech he's getting from Ian, who is always so polite and considerate. Philippa does the same thing Bean did, and her face strangely softens and hardens simultaneously when she notices Elijah's sleeping form. "I suggest you think about this," is heard coming out of Ian's mouth rather loud, when he turns on his heel and makes his way over to his own table again. Pete is a bit nonplussed and then finally decides to take a peek at our table.
Bean and Viggo, meanwhile, are coming towards us, and I can hear Viggo say to his friend that "he will not be pleased at all with this" about which I wonder. How can Pete "not be pleased with this" when obviously Ian has told him something concerning Elijah's ridiculous workload. Hell, everybody claimed it was madness whenever they saw his filming schedule, but Elijah was always breezy about it and claimed he should be able to do this if he wanted to earn his name at the top of the bill. I snap back to Viggo and Bean's conversation when I hear Bean say that "he couldn't care less". I suddenly realise that Viggo isn't talking about Pete, but about Elijah, since the latter would most definitely not be pleased with the fact that Bean is now carefully lifting him off the bench.
If only Lij knew.
Bean shifts Elijah's body in his arms, the dark curly head resting against Bean's padded shoulder, his legs and left arm hanging loosely down - like a father who carries his child to bed. It is a good thing Lij is completely comatose, as he would truly explode at so much patronising. Of course Bean's actions draw attention and people are gazing at the tall Brit in his impressive Boromir outfit, effortlessly carrying Elijah - clad in full Frodo gear - in his strong arms. Bean starts walking towards the entrance of the tent, and then I hear Viggo's voice. "Go with him, Dom," he urges mildly. I scramble to my feet, and make my way over to Bean's disappearing figure. From the corner of my eye I see Pete and Philippa stand up, making their way to the exit as well. 'Great,' I think. 'People are going to gossip about this to no end, and Lij is going to hate it.'
Bean carefully walks towards the trailers which are parked at the other end of the set and behind him I see Pete, who's almost running, not daring to call out Bean's name for fear of waking Elijah. I have the distinct impression Elijah is completely out, though. Bean stops briefly to turn and look his director in the eye. I'm too late to hear any of their conversation but I can see that Bean is slightly angry. He stomps off again and disappears between the larger trailers, one of which I know keeps Elijah's warm bed.
Pete turns around and almost bumps into me. He probably sees the slight hint of accusation in my eyes. "I think we have miscalculated Elijah's workload somewhat," he says and I snort, I cannot help it. He tries again. "When the Fellowship pulls together like this, I know I'm doing something wrong." Philippa joins us now, and on hearing the last words, she nods. "You wait till word reaches Fran," she says ominously, and I can only imagine how Pete's wife will react when she hears about this. She has been very protective of Elijah from the very first day he set foot on New Zealand soil, after her long conversations on the phone with a rather worried but brave mother back in Los Angeles. After all, Elijah is still barely nineteen years old. Pete winces a bit.
I decide to say something. "Lij would walk to hell and back for you." I venture softly, immediately realising that Frodo literally has to walk to hell and back. "Even if you ask for the impossible, he would still try to comply. I hope you know you have this power over him. He wants to do this thing right, you know. He never whines, never complains much, and then only to us hobbits, only because he wants you to believe in him. Prove to you that you made a good decision in hiring such a young guy for your precious Frodo." I take a deep breath. "He worships you. Be careful with that." I hesitate before I add "I'll find you." I start walking towards Lij's trailer, leaving Pete, dumbfounded once more, with Philippa.
I reach Elijah's trailer as Bean is exiting it, silently shaking his head, then looking at me. "Will he be very angry with me?" he says anxiously. I smile softly at him. I nod, but reassure him. "He cannot stay mad at people to save his life, so don't worry about it. Lij loves you too much anyway." Not entirely reassured Bean strides back in the direction of the lunch tent, when I open the door to Elijah's trailer, make my way to the small sleeping compartment and sit next to him on the bed. He doesn't stir when I scoot closer to him and take him in my arms. Then he crawls closer and rests his head on my lap, snaking his arms around my waist, moaning and sniffling a bit, but never giving the slightest impression of really waking up.
I sit and watch him sleep, stroking the curly wig that makes him look so damn adorable, tracking the back of a lone finger across his warm, soft cheek, feeling the tiny puffs of breath on the arm I have slung around his chest.
When I realise I am sitting on top of the comforter, I fumble with the Leaf of Lothlorien a bit, and manage to unclasp it, sliding it into my breast pocket. I smooth the cape around his shoulders in an almost futile attempt to cover and warm him, since my backside is so effectively depriving him of a decent blanket.
"Sleep, baby," I whisper and cannot resist to touch his beautiful, soft face again.
They say that when people are asleep you can see who they really are. I always thought that was rubbish, but in Elijah's case I am surprised to realise it is true. Because now that the big blue gaze is covered by white lids and black lashes his eyes no longer claim all attention. And asleep, so peacefully, others unconsciously show me who he is. Make me realise what he means to me. The soft pale cheeks, relaxed brow, slightly open mouth, breathing so trustingly against the pillow that is me.
Tell me what you think...
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