Liberty had been trudging along, down the hallway towards her apartment, when she heard her phone‘s shrill loud-as-it-could-go ring. Lately, she hadn’t been getting many phone calls and never from the one person she really wanted to talk to. So this sent her into a tizzy and she immediately jumped into a sprint and raced for the door.

As she got inside, she threw her keys aside and her purse hit the wall with a large thump. She made a significant trail of tiny puddles all the way to the living room. When she finally got to the phone and picked it up, she was breathing very heavily and water was dripping into her eyes, obscuring her vision. Her hair was splattered across her face in a drenched mess and she did what she could to pry it out of the way. She shivered from the cold as water dripped down her back.

When she said hello and didn’t get a response, she plopped into her overstuffed chair and sighed heavily. She said hello once more and took her sneakers off. She could hear the squelch as they came away from her socks and she made a very unhappy face. The phone’s connection didn’t seem to be too strong, and she could hear static clinging to her every word.

“Liberty?” Came a familiar voice on the other end.

She sat up so quickly that a rush of blood went to her head, but she didn’t notice for she was in too much shock. “Elijah?”

It had been seven months since she’d talked to him; seven months ago when she met Sean on the plane. It was December now, had been April then, and she hadn’t heard from them since her plane had taken off from the LA airport. She had all of their phone numbers, but hadn’t attempted to make contact; they hadn’t either.

Busy was an understatement when recalling the last seven months. It was all a big blur to Liberty. She had taken over extra shifts at the bookstore in order to save up for her dream camera. While in LA, she had discovered a huge fondness for photography and had dropped beautician school in order to pursue this new venture. Viggo, the only one of them she had talked to, had been a huge help in discussing camera angles, film development and even the subject of the photo. They had corresponded quite a bit through email but had never spoken of the other guys or of filming.

The love of photography had started when Viggo had slipped her a framed photo of herself, Dom, Elijah, Sean and Billy laughing hysterically at something. The picture said so much without even saying anything at all and she had realized that it was something she could really get into.

That picture helped her through some rough times; when she felt lonely and she missed them terribly, she would just look at it and a smile would creep onto her face. She was so busy that she didn’t have much time to think of them, but when she did it was like an arrow to her heart.

The Fellowship of the Ring was scheduled for release at the end of the month, just before Christmas, and she was really looking forward to seeing it…and them, at least on screen.

“Elijah?” She repeated, “What’s wrong? What happened? Is Dom okay?”

Elijah chuckled lightheartedly, “Yeah, I’m sorry. He’s fine. Except for a splinter he got last week. Cried like a baby. Especially when Billy drew blood when he poked with the tweezers once. Dom said he wished you were here…it got me thinking.”

“About?” Liberty prompted, settling back into the chair in her wet clothes, minus the sneakers and now the socks were being thrown off.

“You, obviously,” he replied, “I miss you, they miss you. We all miss you. I feel like such a jerk, not having called until now. We’ve just been really busy. I heard from Viggo that you have been, too. He hasn’t talked about you much, just showed me one of the pictures you faxed him. It was beautiful.”

“Thank you. Elijah,” Liberty laughed, “Calm down. You’re talking like someone’s chasing you.”

“Oh, well I don’t have much time. I’m on lunch, but I have to get back to the set in five. Anyway. Congratulations on the gallery show. When is it?”

“June, but---”

“Cool. June. Uh Liberty? I have to go. It was so nice hearing your voice. Check your mail…and then call me back with a decision. Okay? Okay. Bye.”

She heard a click, a dial tone and then hung up the phone looking and feeling confused.

*

It was the next day, after one of her photography classes, when she finally stopped being confused. The rain had finally let up and it was a beautiful sunny day in Michigan when she hopped up her front steps and unlocked her mailbox.

A large manila envelope spilled out as well as a photography magazine which Viggo had gotten her a subscription to as a gift and an official looking letter from the gallery owner.

The letter, which she opened first, was a basic note telling her that she needed to have several of her pieces matted, framed and ready to go by May the twenty fourth at 9pm. Her gallery show’s opening, as stated in the letter, was on June the eighth at 7pm. She was expected to be there that entire week to help set things up. Viggo’s photographs were being shown on the same night, in a different room. It was through him, and with his encouragement, that she had gotten the show.

Liberty sighed heavily and flopped onto her huge sofa. The letter fell from her fingertips and floated to the floor as the manila envelope landed on her chest and the photography magazine slid to the floor. She made herself comfortable and took a second to look at the return address of the envelope. There was none.

Perplexed, but excited, she tore it open and pulled out the contents. Inside was a piece of paper torn from a yellow legal pad, another, smaller white envelope with her name in loopy scrawl on the front in black ink and a postcard.

The postcard was homemade, she could tell. It was a real live drawing on the front and a quick glance at the signature told her it was drawn by Viggo. She awed over it for a bit; it was a picture of Hobbiton and said, “Greetings from Hobbiton” across the top in a postcard-like font. The other side had a short note: ‘Please say you’ll come.’ -Sean

She knitted her eyebrows in confusion and set the postcard on her coffee table. She’d put it up somewhere later. Liberty tore the small white envelope open next and an airline ticket flew out. It had her name on it; said she had an aisle seat in first class and it was a direct (surprisingly) flight to New Zealand. She gasped as she read it and put a trembling hand to her mouth.

“What on earth---” She trailed off, staring at it; then she smiled affectionately at the ticket. The flight was tomorrow at noon.

Taking the legal pad paper in her hand she began to read the letter. It was from Elijah, she could tell this by his distinguished (and barely legible) handwriting.

It was a long letter, written in rush, probably from his trailer at 5 o’clock in the morning. The main theme of the letter was how much everyone wanted to see her and how if she didn’t come, they’d all go into hobbit depressions the size of Saruman’s army. The ending was short and sweet, and worded something like, “Take some time off, you need it just like anyone else. There’s nothing stopping you.” It was signed “Elijah, etc.” but she wasn’t sure what that meant.

She set the letter down and let her head fall back on a pillow. She did have winter break coming up next week so she’d only be missing a week of classes and work. And even then only about two classes since most of them had been postponed until after break due to professors wanting to get a head start to the warmth of Florida.

There was no reason why she shouldn’t go. Except maybe one. The letter had made no mention of Dom. It was as if he’d stopped existing. This worried Liberty because it would be awkward when she got there and saw him, especially if he didn’t know she was coming. More over, what if he didn’t want her there?

* * *
“OWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW,” Dom moaned, dropping into the makeup chair. His Merry wig was astray, halfway off his head and his makeup was running down his face due to the sweat mixed with rain water. His clothing was half on, half off, all of it soaked and he looked ready to crawl into a hole and die.

“Did you step on a splinter again?” Billy asked, leaning over from his chair to have a look at Dom’s outstretched foot.

Dom gave him a look, nearly growling at him, and yanked his foot out of reach. “No. My back is killing me. I slipped and I fell and it was really wet, and cold, and hard.”

Billy clucked in a motherly way and gave him a sympathetic look, “I’m sorry, Dommy. What can I get you?”

“Stop moving Billy,” the foot woman said from the floor. She was shoving a stick-like thing in between the prosthetic and Billy’s own foot, trying to work the prosthetic off. It was the end of the day of shooting; or rather very early the next morning. They were doing night shooting at the moment and it was quite detestable.

Billy righted himself in the chair and sighed. “Poor, poor, Dominic.” He looked very mournful. Dom ignored him. The younger man was obviously in a brooding mood and everyone else knew better than to annoy him. Billy knew better too, it just wasn’t in his nature to stop teasing.

Elijah skulked in soon after, looking wetter than Dom (if possible), carrying a few pieces of paper stapled together under his hobbit cloak. “More script change. We gotta do that scene again.” He fell into his chair and set his feet up so his foot person could immediately get to work. The makeup woman bustled in with wool blankets for all of the hobbits.

Dom leaned his head back, groaning, and groaned some more when the trailer door opened and Sean flounced in with everyone’s rewrites. Sean was going on about how great it was but no one was really listening.

Elijah was off in another world as his feet got poked at. He was thinking about when and how to tell Dom that he’d invited Liberty to NZ for a bit of a vacation. He also wanted to mention that she’d be there for the New Zealand Fellowship of the Ring premiere; he wanted Dom to have a chance to process all the information. Elijah was really curious to find out what Dom’s reaction would be. Dom hadn’t mentioned Liberty to Elijah very much and when he had, it had been in a wistful, almost sad voice. Elijah knew his friend and he knew Dom wanted to see Liberty, he knew he missed her, but Dom wasn’t the type to moan about lovelorn things all the time like some might.

“Hello, hobbits!” Liv greeted, entering the trailer and closing her umbrella. “I have some interesting news.”

Three of them muttered random hello’s and Sean was the only one to wave and look enthusiastic. The hobbits were not normally the dampened spirited bunch, but this had been a very long day.

“There’s question of the sexual preference of the hobbits…and of the hobbit actors,” Liv laughed, throwing a printout of an article to Sean.

“Dom?” Sean asked, a few silent moments later, “When did you say we showered together?”

Dom burst out laughing, “They PRINTED that?”

Billy let out a big guffaw, “Bloody hell, now the adoring public will think we share more than just our lembas.”

“YOU don’t share lembas,” Elijah pointed out.

“Lembas isn’t real,” Sean replied reasonably.

“If it were,” Dom said evenly, “Orly would be its spokesperson. ‘One small bite is enough to fill a full-grown man!’ He’d do wonderfully and then in post they can add some sparkling pearly whites.”

Billy laughed largely, “I can see it now. A box of Lembas at the grocer. The catch phrase: ‘Certified by Legolas, the prettiest elf in Middle Earth!’ Orly’d eat it up.”

“Yeah,” Elijah agreed, “He’d love that. They should market Lembas. I bet people would buy it.”

“I doubt one bite would fill anyone up, though. Maybe they can market it as a dieting technique.” Billy chuckled to himself.

There was some friendly chatter after that, the long day from hell forgotten, when finally they were done getting the feet off and could go and peel off their drenched clothing. All four hobbits stood at the same time, some of them (Billy and Dom) shaking their heads and spraying water all over the place.

“So,” Elijah said casually, ignoring his now soaked face, “Does everybody have dates for the NZ premiere?”

“I do,” Sean replied, pushing the trailer door opening and frowning at the rain and dark sky. He turned back to Elijah, “I’m taking Christine. I’ll see you all tonight.” He waved and then jumped down onto the ground and ran off.

Dom groaned, “Still raining.”

Billy jumped ahead of him and peered outside, “I don’t have a date yet. Might take someone from the set.” He gave the two younger men a salute and then took off.

“What about you?” Elijah asked Dom cautiously, trying to sound normal and not overly curious.

“Hadn’t thought about it,” Dom answered truthfully, “I suppose I could just go alone.” He shrugged and looked at Elijah. “What about you?”

“I think you should call and invite Liberty.” Elijah said, point-blank. His eyes were boring into Dom’s, willing him to disagree.

“I can’t do that, Lij,” Dom replied after a moment’s hesitation, “She’s busy…and I haven’t spoken with her for about seven months. I doubt she’d want to hear from me, much less travel half-way round the globe to go out.”

“You obviously do not hear yourself when you talk, do you.” Elijah chuckled slightly, “Listen to yourself. You know very well that she’d jump at the chance. Don’t you think?”

“I really don’t know,” Dom said, glancing out at the rain and sighing a little. “I guess it wouldn’t hurt to try.” He made a move to put a foot outside, but Elijah pulled him back in.

“Alright,” Elijah sighed heavily, “I know you miss her and I know you’re not good at showing that…especially in front of me. But trust me, I have no romantic feelings for her. She’s all yours. I think you know this, but I think you’re scared.”

“I’m not scared,” Dom smiled, “I’m petrified.”

“AH HA,” Elijah grinned, “I knew it. I knew this was why you hadn’t called her. You’re in love with her, aren’t you?” His voice held a largely joking tone, but Dom’s face was thoughtful and unsmiling. Elijah’s grin faded, “Oh my God, you are. I’m sorry---I didn’t realize you actually were. Dom---”

“Just leave it, Elijah.” Dom cut in, “It’s fine. Don’t worry about it.” He took his eyes from Elijah’s face, “And I’m not in love with her.”

“What is it, then?” Elijah questioned, dreading Dom’s retaliation to the inquisition.

“I’m not entirely sure, myself,” Dom responded lightly, “But when I find out, I’ll let you---and her---know.”

“You do want to see her, though, right?” Elijah asked quickly before Dom could disappear out into the rain.

Dom yawned so much that his eyes began watering, “I do want to see her, Elijah, of course I do. But…it’s complicated.”

“I’ll refrain from singing Avril Lavigne if you tell me why it’s so complicated. It seems entirely too simple to me.”

Dom leaned against the doorframe, yawning again. “I’m remarkably tired. Could you finish your questioning later? I’ll let you have twenty questions as your quota.”

“Yeah, alright,” Elijah let him go reluctantly. Dom smiled in thanks and then ran for his trailer so he could go home and get a few hours sleep.

A tall hooded figure was striding towards the trailer when Elijah finally came out of his deep thought trance about fifteen minutes later.

Elijah stepped back and Orlando stepped into the trailer, drenched from head to toe. He had a long black trench coat on and a bucket hat to cover his curly black locks. “Why haven’t you left for home?” Orlando questioned, looking curious.

“I was just having a talk with Dom about Liberty.” Elijah replied, flopping into his chair. “I’m leaving in a few.”

“How is she?” Orlando asked, glancing around the trailer. He was there often, but it always looked different. Tonight it was horribly awry probably due to the storm and people wanting to get home before coming back in about nine hours.

“Uh...good, I guess. I haven’t heard from her.” Elijah knitted his eyebrows before realizing he’d told Orlando about sending Liberty the plane ticket. “She was supposed to call me today…with her decision. But obviously I haven’t been home.”

Orlando nodded, “What about the cell?”

Elijah’s eyes widened happily, “It’s in my trailer. Oh maybe there‘s a message from her.”

“Did you tell Dom what you did, yet?”

“No,” he admitted, then added quickly, “I’m going to eventually.”

“When?” Orlando asked, grinning, “After she gets here? ‘Oh, hey Dom, Liberty’s here. Remember her? I invited her to stay with me.’ I’m sure it’ll go over real well, Lij.”

Elijah shrugged, “I’m doing my best. I’ll tell him when she’s decided.”

“If she says yes, she’ll be here tomorrow.” Orlando pointed out. “It doesn’t give you much time.”

“I know, but I’ll have time tomorrow. Her flight doesn’t even get in until midnight. Shit, I’m supposed to be filming then. I gotta get someone to pick her up.”

“Raya’s here for a couple weeks. She could go.” Orlando suggested, watching as Elijah paced the small trailer.

Elijah stopped pacing, “When did Raya get here?”

“This morning,” Orlando replied, “Which reminds me. I should be getting home to her. She’s probably bought up all of New Zealand by now.” Orlando shuddered nervously. “Where will I put all of those teddies?”

“In a closet,” Elijah said quickly, “Wait…teddy bears?”

“No,” Orlando laughed. “Anyway. I’ll see you later.” Orlando clapped him on the back and then hopped out of the trailer.

Quickly scanning his mental schedule, Elijah realized that the only person who wasn’t filming at midnight that could possibly pick Liberty up was Dom. Elijah refused to do that; he didn’t want to spring Liberty’s arrival on Dom and immediately after, ask him to pick her up. Elijah knew, of course, that Dom would have picked Liberty up if he’d asked. It seemed, however, that Elijah was on some sort of stubborn streak.

Elijah was shuffling about his trailer ten minutes after Orlando left getting things ready to go home when his cell phone rang from the table. He made a dive for it, causing the table to nearly overturn, but he got to it before the call was moved to voicemail.

“Elijah?” Orlando said from the other end. Elijah hadn’t answered, but Orlando could probably hear the heavy breathing and random muttered-under-the-breath obscenities. “Listen, mate, Raya can’t get Lib tomorrow. She’s got a part in a movie. Isn’t that brilliant?”

“At midnight?” Elijah questioned doubtfully.

“We’re filming at midnight, may I remind you. And, no, she’s got to go back to England so she won’t be here. She’s coming back, though…” there was some muttering in the background, “…in two days.”

“Lovely,” Elijah replied blankly.

“Anyway,” Orlando said, needing to get to the point, “I can get her. I’m off at ten so I should be able to do it. We’re starting Helm’s Deep the day after tomorrow, so we’re getting time off to get rested up.” Elijah could hear Orlando rubbing his hands together excitedly. “All set, then?”

Elijah smiled, “Yes. That’s awesome. Thanks, Orly.” They hung up shortly after and Elijah made the lonely trek to his apartment.

He entered his apartment with the intention to go directly to bed, he was suddenly very exhausted, but the blinking red light on the answering machine sidetracked him.

Elijah stood above the machine with his fingers crossed, hoping that the message was from Liberty and hoping that she’d say yes.

“Hey, Elijah, it’s Liberty.” Elijah let out the breath he’d been holding, but continued to cross his fingers, and now his toes. “Thanks for the ticket. You’re incredibly insane, did you know that?” She laughed and so did he. “Anyway. I’d love to come, but---”

“LIBERTY!” Elijah groaned, dropping onto the couch.

“---Yeah, I know, I know. I’m just worried about how Dom feels about all this. Does he even know? Alright, well, call me when you get in unless you’re going straight to bed or something. I’ll come, Elijah, but I need you to promise me that he’s not going to be pissed with you. Okay. I’ll see you tomorrow. Bye.” There was a click and then the machine rewound itself.

Elijah smiled and picked up his phone. He quickly dialed her number, mentally checked the time in Michigan and then forgot it because he didn’t care. She answered after two rings.

“Liberty,” Elijah said, his voice smooth and controlled. “I’ve just gotten your message. I am headed to bed right now…but I am so incredibly happy you’re coming.”

Liberty smiled, “So am I.”

“Dom’s fine with it, Lib, just get yourself here. Alright?”

Elijah heard her breath a sigh of relief and mentally kicked himself for lying to her. He hoped he wasn’t going to make it a habit.

When she replied, she sounded massively excited, “Okay. I’ll see you tomorrow!”