December 31, 2001 (New Years Eve, Continued)

“What? What did you say?” Erin slowly approached Orlando, disbelief and anguish raging across her dark brown eyes.

“You heard what I said. Even if you don’t feel it back for me. Before I leave New York, you had to know that. It was the very purpose for my being here, to tell this to you. I needed you to know my heart, for whatever you might believe.” For wherever it may lead. Orlando cleared his throat, refusing to yield his will against her fathomless eyes which were alive with doubt and questioning.

Erin stood before him, a thousand thoughts rampaging through her mind as her lips fumbled to find the emotion she wanted to express. You snub me and then you say you love me. You play with my heart and I turn around to find you are engaged…but now you are saying you love me. At every turn, you have run away from me…but still you claim to love me. You don’t even know me…you live on another continent..your some shining Hollywood star with thousands of women ready to genuflect at your feet..but you love me…Oh god Orlando…

Orlando sighed softly, watching a world of thoughts pass like a convulsive cloud through Erins eyes. “Say what you need to say, love. I am ready to accept the consequences of all my actions, of everything I have said.” I can feel the doubt in her heart, I can breathe it like smoke. This is the moment everything has been building for. For Glory, wrath, ruin and the red dawn.

Erin bit her lip softly, blinking back every emotion as it welled within her eyes, each feeling threatening to spill over the rim like a chalice overflowing..a formation of tears like rain gathering to the torrent of a raging river. The gentile lull of his voice, the soft acceptance in his eyes, the tense and yet relaxed nature of his stance…Its almost too much. “I…don’t know what will come of all of this, Orlando. My heart is crying, my mind is racing alarms. I…” Erin paused, her gaze holding his with a tenacious grip. “I know that I feel the same. I know I am petrified because I feel the same. I cant say anymore than that, not yet…”

Orlando smiled softly, bittersweet and suddenly aware of his vulnerability. The emotion was clear in her almond shaped, sable eyes. Fear and longing. I cant say I blame her for either. Orlando opened his arms to embrace her, grasping her tightly to the beating of his heart. His lips formed the words softly, feeling his breath like a tidal wave through her burgundy mane. “Its alright, love. We will see what comes of everything in time. What I said to you stands. When you are ready to give it back to me, I will be here waiting. For now, we will be Yet, Untitled.”

The Fellowship shuddered on each breath which passed between Erin and Orlando. Amy clasped tightly to Billys hand, unsure whether to cheer for the next step in this bitter circle or prepare to console the injuries which seemed more apparent than ever before. Nothing was clearer than it had been moments and months before…it all seemed so much more complicated. Orlandos words were a tourniquet over a profusely bleeding wound. Amy knew her best friend well enough to know a simply over dramatized band- aid would not suffice, would grant no salvation. Each tear that sparkled from the edge of Erins eye was a concern, fear and hope. Every salty lamentation Erin did not release was a story only a best friend could decipher and understand.

Erin broke from Orlandos grasp, holding his eyes with delicate intimacy. “I know my feelings but I am afraid of you, afraid of you changing your mind and breaking my heart. I do love you, Orlando. I need time to brace myself from the fear. I am a little more delicate than I might appear to be.”

Orlando smiled once more and kissed her forehead, softly. He lowered his eyes amidst the caustic strobes, as if shielding himself from the harsh reality of his own fear and vulnerability. Regret for his brash statement instantly resounded through his being, acidic in his throat. I said too much too soon…Nothing has been gained and my weaknesses have been exposed. She is stronger than she might believe, strong enough to withstand me…strong enough to give me fallow response to deeply imbedded words. What am I going to do now? Play it cool, mate. Too many eyes are witness to what was said. I cant let them on but damn if it doesn’t hurt. Mournfully, a part of his heart thought of Jemma. Even in her shallowness and self centered, all imposing vanity…Jemma never would have refused an offering, a word or kind glance from him.

“I do believe its my turn at last.” Viggo cleared his throat from the taste of bittersweet justice and the thought of his good friends impending defeat at such delicate hands. Viggo hated to be right. Taking his tequila shot in hand, Viggo offered it outward to appease the gathered fellowship, distracting them from the unfolding train wreck. He could tell, instantly that the attention which shifted from the spectacle of Orlando and Erin was simply a placating gesture. “I love the opportunity I have had to get to know some of the best guys and gals in the world through working on this trilogy. Each of you have a place in my heart. I love that the Rings is one of the most important works in the history of literature and cinema combined. I love the vision and hard work of every dedicated member of every faction and unit I had the pleasure of filming with.” Viggo paused with a thoughtful smile. “I love my son and the look in his eyes when he watches the first completed film and his hero, Aragorn, is me. It’s a great feeling to know you are a hero to your children, even without the sword play and cleverly scripted words. Lets not forget I love a good cigar and the ambiance to create poetry, art…”

Viggo was cut off by a laughing Scottish brogue. “Yeah, yeah we know, lad. Ya love the birds and the bees and the flowers and the rain. Git on with it, already…me throat is thirsty fer a drink!”

Viggo laughed and took the shot, minus the salt and lemon. Gearing up for the next noxious draught, he continued. “I hate being interrupted.” Viggo laughed and took the shot, glancing over to Orlando and Erin, still holding one another as if afraid that letting go means awaking from a dream.

The gathering cheered at the completion of the campy game of rounds Viggo and Liv had concocted for the pleasure of passing the time before the start of the New Year. Billy, at his most obnoxious, broke the sudden sense of silence which befell the fellowship, leaving only the blaring club music to fill their senses. “Right, well, time is running out and the new year is at our door. Anyone have any resolutions we can drink over, or should we let the two game masters decide what we should take another round to?”

As Billy concluded, the waitress removed the tray of empty shot glasses and used lemons, replacing it with another. Billy could not help but chortle. “Right on time, it seems.”

“That would be the first time you hit your mark since you started the filming. That deserves a round of applause.” Viggo snickered amidst the wicked glance from his Scottish compatriot.

“Want to step outside and catch a smoke before we are called back for the celebration?” Orlando asked, slipping his hand into Erins. Without hesitation, the two departed, looking back to the group with a smile, slinking away beneath the cover of laser lights.

Dom laughed, his arm about Samantha. Viggo and Liv certainly had a way about them of trying to make a drunken mind work when it should be swimming in libations. “I’ve got one, mate.” With that, Dom stood up, running a hand through his short cropped auburn mane. “I resolve never to let that crazy bastard talk me into any life threatening feats of courage. Ya might need an adrenaline rush to prove your alive, Orli, but I have a healthy fear of death and heights!” Dom paused. “OB? Where did that bloody wretch run off to?”

Lij cleared his throat as Dom took another shot. “Alright, I will play your game, rogue. I will make my resolution to steal that second ‘one’ ring they gave to Andy Serkis after we completed principal filming of the Towers. And I am just crazy enough to do it.” Lij, already drunk, gave a pointed finger around the gathering.

Shannon laughed, hefting a shot glass as she pulled Lij down to the couch by the back of his jeans. “I am..umm..staying out of this one.”

Sam shook her head, also taking a shot. “Same here. I don’t want any involvement in this kind of insane revelry.”

Amy pursed her lips, unable to locate Erin in the midst of the VIP area. She nudged Billy to hand her a shot and her pack of cigarettes. “I have a resolution, damn it. I am going to stop smoking. That reminds me, anyone got a light?” To her drunken mind, the irony was hilarious. Oddly enough, no one else seemed to get it.

Viggo smiled. “I am not playing this game.”

Billy rose with a start, “Ohh yes you are, mate. Take it like a man.”

Liv cleared her throat, beginning to skulk away. Viggo grasped her by the waist, pulling her back to the entourage. “Oh no you don’t, vixen. If I have to do this, so do you.”

Erin shivered softly as she retook her former position, holding up the wall, outside of the club. Her cigarette trembled in her hand as her fingers fumbled through her jacket pocket for a lighter.

Orlando brought the flame before Erin, his dark eyes glimmering with the crisp orange glow of fire reaching for the white cylinder. “Just call me Prometheus.” He smiled, watching the flint of the inhaled embers warm Erins face to a subtle crimson.

“I could call you a few other things, among them…surprising.” Erin licked her lips of the nicotine, watching him with a sense of astonishment and fear.

“Your not so bad in that department yourself, love.” Orlando clipped his zippo, setting it back in the confines of his pocket. “So, are you running off never to be heard from again?”

“Well its pretty apparent now that I should not make that same mistake twice over. Should I bother to ask how you found out what happened with John or should I just assume it traveled the grape vine and the entire group is in on this dirty little secret of mine?” Erin tried to bite back the bitter taste playing across her words.

“I never should have let you go that night.” Orlando said candidly.

“If we wanted to be technical, a lot of things should not have happened that night.” Erin narrowed her eyes to accentuate her point.

“Ouch, love. That was a big ouch.” Orlando shuffled his foot across the ground, kicking an abandoned cigarette butt on the icy concrete.

“I didn’t mean it like that…well, maybe I did. I don’t know. My head is in a whirl and my heart doesn’t know if it should break or beat twice the faster.” Erin sighed, watching him. The pain and recroachment in his gorgeous eyes made her feel like blending into the shadows and disappearing from his line of sight.

“You meant it like that. The things that happened that night were better saved for another time…but then I think we both concerned ourselves that a time such as that, might never come again. Impetuosity is one of my most endearing traits.” There was a hint of self loathing in his words.

“Well, you weren’t exactly dancing alone that night, you know? What happened between us has kept me awake at night wondering if something that was, at the time, so wrong, should have felt so right. Was it desire or was it spite?” Erin inhaled deeply, watching the confusion play across Orlandos features.

“Spite?” He answered, perplexed.

“Yeah, Jemma was here..on your arm for the premiere just as I was here with Sean. Look, I was probably reading too into things, you know? And for what it is worth, I knew I wanted you, even under the question of spite..” Erin exhaled, glancing to the ground as if her words were somehow shameful. “Orlando, I really would have rather you heard what happened with that night…after the limo, from me and not the grapevine.”

“And would you have told me?” Orlando made fierce contact with Erin, forcing her to look up, her breath catching against her lips.

Erin paused. “Probably not. That is kind of a personal thing and at that time it wasn’t really right for me to come crying to you with my circumstances. I am not that kind of damsel in distress. But don’t mistake you, I would not have minded being saved by a knight in shining armor. Unfortunately, they don’t exist anymore.”

“That isn’t fair, Erin. Not in the least. Do you know what hearing this did to me? To my heart?” Orlando became visibly animated. “Not to impune the agony you must have gone through..but the guilt of that night was incredible for me to bear. I wanted to rush to you to be at your side and I should have.”

“Then here is a fair question to ask you, Orlando. Would you be here tonight, with these declarations, if you never knew the situation that unfolded.” Erin watched him guardedly.

Orlando narrowed his eyes dangerously, clearing his throat with ferocity. “Did Sean rush to your side after he found out? Is that when the two of you started talking so intimately? Was he your shoulder to cry on?”

“That is just fucked up. Why are you making what happened to me all about you? My relationship to Sean is none of your god damn business.” Erin stood up from her leaning position on the wall, her nails digging into the flesh of her palms as rage boiled through her veins like gasoline. “And for your fucking information, Sean doesn’t know at least not by me or Amy. But I am sure the grapevine fellowship has spread it all along like a bad game of telephone. Despite what you might have filling that bean of yours, the world does not stop and go…the sun does not rise and set on Orlando Bloom. I don’t care what status you have in this bullshit world of ours, it holds no weight with me.”

Orlando reached out, bracing a hand on Erins shoulder. His words instantly haunting him. “I am really sorry. Your really getting the full tilt of the tosh I consider my most endearing qualities. I have no right to question you or make nasty comments like this. My heart is hurting Erin. You are here in my grasp but I feel like you are sand through my fingertips. Its driving me to distraction, love. What is done and past is just that. I cant fix it, I cant make it all better…but I am here now and you are still here, even when my dialogue gets jaded and morose. For what it is worth, I know the orbit of the sun.”

Erin inhaled deeply, trying to calm the fight or flight sensation rising in the pit of her psyche. The mixture of dejection in Orlandos eyes and the need to explain her inner thought processes became overwhelming. “Fear makes me react in ways that place other people in opposition. Its safer for you to be away from me than put myself at the risk for you hurting me again. I hide under a tough exterior because I have been battered and bruised too many times to count. I have lived, fed on a steady diet of lies, from the very people that I have loved and have claimed to love me back. You now have the brunt of that and I can not leven your load.” Erin placed her hand over Orlandos, still nestled comfortably on her shoulder. “I am sorry for that, Orlando.”

Orlando leaned closer, placing his forehead against hers, his lips a breath from her own. Lowering his eyes and voice, he spoke softly. “You have nothing to be sorry for, love. Does the moon apologize for causing the tides to course the length of the land?” The sun does not rise and set with me and yet I know her words ring truth. What was it Billy once said to me? Orlando could hear Billys impressible Scottish voice ringing through his ears. “Though ya might be thinking how fabulous it’s going to be when every beautiful lady in the room turns her head to ya, lookin’ at ya with those big doe eyes. But there comes that wonder, pretty elf boy, are they lookin’ at ya ‘cause yer good to look at, a handsome and friendly chap or are they lookin’ at ya ‘cause yer a star? Probably makes no mind to ya now, Orlando...but it will.”. In an instant, the words of Ian flashed through his thoughts from the fated return to the United Kingdom via Concorde. “when it all comes around, dear boy. Life is too short for regrets. Do not suffer needlessly for fear of good taste. Honor is not staying beside a bad decision. Honor is finding a new course and facing the challenges thrown at you. Erin is a nice girl. Remember that.”

Erin watched Orlando, his forehead pressed gently against hers, his eyes locked tight at the lids as another world played across his thoughts. “Have I confused you so much that you have to look inside yourself for answers?”

Orlando opened his eyes quickly, clearing his throat once more. “Just taking a moment to dare to dream a path through the thicket. You challenge me, Erin. That makes you a blessing. You render me powerless with your honesty and no nonsense approach to the way things really are. I have spent all my time reveling in hard work and coasting by on charm that it is refreshing to have to pay the piper for every note I play. I promise you this, even when the waves become overwhelming, I wont go down no matter how hard you try to sink the ship and I wont run up the flag of surrender.”

Erin laughed softly. “Spoken like a true Pirate. Taking the contract for the Pirates of the Caribbean movie and practicing already?”

Orlando laughed despite himself. “Something like that, love.” Erin raised her fingertips, tenderly tracing them over the soft and angular features of Orlandos cheek. Her skin sought to memorize every curve of his flesh before he disappeared once more from her life like an amateur Illusionists on stage performance. Slowly, Orlando placed the pads of his fingers beneath her chin, tilting her lips to meet his own.

With the most gentile motion, Erin felt her lips parted by the soft velvet of his tongue as if it sought its mate with longing and desire. The very taste of him was like a fine wine to be sipped slowly to fully enjoy the delicate aroma and exquisite vintage. Erin yielded with such tenacity, she swore time swirled past them, threatening to abandon them forever.

Orlando tilted his head slightly, receiving the full bouquet of her tranquil rose red lips. The maelstrom of angst and fear within his thoughts calmed to a soft lullaby, drawing him further into the siren song that could lead him to shipwreck in uncharted waters. My soul be damned, the world be damned…this is the moment…the decision…I have faced wrath, near ruin at her hands and now, I will taste glory from the tender kiss of her lips. Such perfection of emotion threatens to toss me into the oblivion, headlong. Save me or damn me, I love her…I cant, I wont surrender.

Erin softly broke from the kiss, her face heated and flushed beneath his gentle almost mind blowing sense of eroticism. Her breath came in soft gasps as she smoothed her fingertips through his mane of mahogany tendrils. “So, what is your resolution for this coming year?”

“To soothe your fears and forever put them at rest, my love. Might try to quit smoking, but only after I have figured you out, implicitly.” Orlando smiled with boyish charm.

“Hmm..I like the sound of that even if I cant be any assistance in the matter.” Erin smiled, licking over her lips for another guilty taste of him.

“What about you, love? What is your resolution for the coming year.” Orlando inhaled her perfumed scent with every fiber of his being.

“To be a pain in your ass…and maybe take off a few pounds. Good thing you wont be around for that, I can be a real bitch when I go on one of my over the top diets.” Erin laughed.

“Not that you need it love. But you already knew I would say that. Despite my affection for the feminine persuasion, a real woman has shape and you are most assuredly a real woman. And it’s a good thing I wont be around, I am be quite the insolent fop when it comes to having a nic-fit. Could be a deadly combination of my shoveling sweets while you smoked a cigarette.” Orlando laughed uproariously at the notion much to Erins delight.

Erin flicked her wrist to bring the face of her watch toward the light, never breaking contact with Orlando. “We should probably return. They might start looking for a body and a suspect if we keep out here any longer.”

“Right love, I will be just behind you, enjoying those sumptuous curves before you try to rid yourself of them in some attempt to become a glorified stick figure who looks more like a prepubescent boy than an actual woman.” Orlando gave a cockneyed snigger, his hand reaching down to feel the curve of her behind.

Erin shot him a bemused glance, shaking her head with the futility of fighting his stand point on the issue. “With a silver tongue like that I am surprised you didn’t get the part of Aragorn.”

“Who wants to play a filthy bloody human when you can live forever and remain beautiful?” Orlando winked an eye as Erin turned, her hand braced on the door to the hallway leading to the VIP entrance.

“I think Pantene commercials might definitely be in your future.” She laughed as Orlando patted her firmly on the rear. “Ohh, don’t do that, you’ll excite me and I just might flood the entire VIP section.”

“A good wench likes it rough.” Orlando laughed as Erin raised her brow suggestively. “Don’t tempt me, love.”

Erin ran down the corridor to the VIP area chanting, “TEMPT TEMPT TEMPT.”

Orlando chased after her, yelling and laughing. “It’s on!”

The fellowship had not moved much since Erin and Orlandos hasty departure some time ago. The entire assemblage was tossed on tequila shots and recanting various tales of woe and pain from the filming of the trilogy.

“..and that scream is the scream you will see in the Two Towers when it is released next year. Can you imagine having the moment when you broke two of your toes captured forever for the world to see!” Liv laughed as she completed the tale all the while Viggo puffed on his cigar.

“Well, looky whose back fer the next tellin’” Billy gave a wicked, shit faced grin as his eyes spied Orli and Erin making berth through the crowd.

Orlando shook his head. “Who would have thought the Scotsman would show the effects of liquor so early in the evening.”

Erin slipped a hand into Amys. “Everything is alright, don’t worry.” Amy glanced at her with relief, nestling her swimming head to Erins hip.

“Erin, lass, let me fill ya in on a bit part ‘bout OB here. Sit ya down, girl, Billy will spin ya a yarn.” Billy motioned to the cushion between both he and Lij. Erin shrugged her shoulders and took her place as indicated. She cracked a smile, watching as Lij shifted uncomfortably on the verge of being sick.

“Alright, let it rip, Billy.” Erin laughed, never noticing Viggo and Liv begging not to hear the story recanted again.

“That’s the spirit, lass. Now, the Prissy Elf here, that would be your boyfriend or whatever he is to ya. Well, during filming of the Two Towers he came down with a spot of clumsiness, I chalk it up to the blonde wig…” Billy paused to glance at Amy who had not heard a word he said. “Right on, so, while all of us were separated…Lij and Sean with Andy, Dom and I and of course John, Viggo and OB…well it seems OB did not hit his mark and came off the horse he was astraddlin’. Cracked a rib, I hear tell it. Well, poor priss that he is and all told us about it that night over a pint. Of course, we were terribly sorry for his injury, concerned, might be the better of the words.” Billy slurred his speech, yet his animated expressions gave hilarity to the telling of his yarn. “Well, it so turns that every day for near 3 weeks we heard about this terrible affliction and OB would play it up, grasping his sternum like a boy does to a cut knee. After a while we all just shrugged it off and it seemed without the sympathy the wound healed much faster.”

Orlando laughed darkly. “That really hurt, you know Boyd.”

“aye, aye, aye. We heard it lad. Thrice over, we heard it.” Billy dismissed Orlandos words with a waving of his hands.

“It sounds terrible eitherway.” Erin shook her head as the waitress approached with a tray of glasses in preparation for the New Year.

“That is the lack of libation talkin’, lass. Drink up…ohh, here comes the champagne. Dom what is the clock?”

Dom brought his wrist close to his eyes, focusing through his drunken vision. “10 of the New Year, mate.”

Each of the group accepted a flute glass of Kristal, sniffing the bouquet. In that instant it seemed a moment of quiet reflection stretched the imagination to fullest potential. Each member of the Fellowship contemplated what promises the New Year might hold for them with a sense of mixed anticipation and trepidation.

In the blink of an eye, the call for two minutes to the new year came out amongst the crowd. Erin rose to stand beside Amy as Orlando draped an arm around her. Unanimously, the words to Scottish Herald “Auld Lang Syne” sang out amongst the crowd. The club was poised at a halt, glasses raised as the one minute clock flashed on the screens filling the hallowed halls.

Billy sang the words in traditional Scottish, along with the masses feeling a sudden longing for his home shores.

“Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And never brought to mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And days of auld lang syne? And days of auld lang syne, my dear, And days of auld lang syne. Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And days of auld lang syne? We twa hae run aboot the braes, And pu'd the gowans fine. We've wandered mony a weary foot, Sin' auld lang syne. Sin' auld lang syne, my dear, Sin' auld lang syne, We've wandered mony a weary foot, Sin' auld ang syne.”

The clock wandered down to 30 seconds and the gathering grew closer together. Lij stood beside Billy, placing an arm around Shannon. Dom slid up alongside of Shannon, placing his arm around Sam. Viggo crushed Liv close to him as Liv embraced Orlando. Orlando looked into the eyes of Erin with longing and hope. Amy raised her glass to Erin with a smile before returning her eyes to Billy.

“We twa hae sported i' the burn, From morning sun till dine, But seas between us braid hae roared Sin' auld lang syne. Sin' auld lang syne, my dear, Sin' auld lang syne.”

15 seconds ticked down on the clock and the fellowship roared louder in the sheer splendor of their togetherness. The world around them stopped, locked in a moment of love and friendship. Orlando sang softly, bringing his forehead to rest against Erins.

“But seas between us braid hae roared Sin' auld lang syne. And ther's a hand, my trusty friend, And gie's a hand o' thine; We'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet, For auld lang syne. For auld lang syne, my dear, For auld lang syne, We'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet, For auld lang syne.”

Leaning softly against her as the song concluded, Orlando tasted the sweet nectar of Erins lips. The countdown came to life amidst the frenzied voices. 10...9…8…7…6…5 ... 4…3…

“I love you Erin…” He whispered into her mouth. …2…1….

“I love you to, Orlando…” Erin whispered back. Happy New Year!!

*I would like to take this moment to wish everyone a splendid New Year. May the Coming of the New Year 2004 bring each of you all the happiness your hands and hearts can hold.

For all of you reading this who have supported my works: Lady, Shannon, Grace, Jenn, Cherise and so many others... For my dearest and oldest friends:(some who are a memory to me now) Jenn and Tom S; Jenn B and Chris; Jason; RRJ-aka Elessar Telcontar; Mary and Jerry; Jenn W and Tingo; Rob B and Darren; Rox and Stuart; Becca, Alex and Heather; Bill, Melissa and Madison; Chris W; Chris F. JFM, mon angele noir. Je T'adore. I have loved you for eternity and forever is now in our grasp... may you be blessed with fortune and in the words of the old Irish Proverb..

"May you always have work for your hands to do.

May your pockets hold always a coin or two.

May the sun shine bright on your windowpane.

May the rainbow be certain to follow each rain.

May the hand of a friend always be near you.

And may love fill your heart with gladness to cheer you."

For Jenn S, Jenn B, Mary, Rob B, Jason, JFM...a Drinking Toast from the Emerald Isle:

May your glass be ever full.

May the roof over your head be always strong.

And may you be in heaven half an hour

before the devil knows you're dead.

All of my love...Now, git outta here!

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