The sun had long dipped behind the New Zealand mountains, casting the film set in a gentle violet twilight. Most of the crew had dispersed for a dinner break or gone back to their trailers, leaving the faux-Rivendell courtyard quiet save for the rustle of wind in the trees and the distant chatter of a few die-hard techs tweaking lights for the next morning’s early shoot.

You sat on the low stone wall at the edge of the courtyard set, wrapped in your costume cloak — one you hadn’t bothered to remove despite the break. The fabric was warm and scratchy, but comforting, and beside you sat Viggo, still dressed as Aragorn. His sword was propped against the stone near his knee, glinting faintly in the low light.

There was something about these moments — between takes, between exhaustion and stillness — where he felt more like himself than the character he played.

You had been laughing together moments before, something about a horse on set that refused to behave. But the laughter had settled into something quieter. Easier.

Your shoulder had gradually found his, just a gentle lean at first. Neither of you remarked on it. And when your head tipped slightly, resting against him, he stilled — a moment of pause, surprise... and then the slow release of breath through his nose.

His hand — calloused and warm — hovered for a moment before resting lightly on your forearm, not possessive, just grounding. Reassuring.

You hadn’t said a word, and soon your breathing had slowed. Asleep.

Viggo glanced down, watching your face soften with sleep, a stray curl of hair falling across your cheek. He didn’t move. Didn’t even consider it.

The set was quiet around him, the stars above just beginning to pierce through the dusk.

And there he sat, Aragorn sword at his side, one of the few remaining on set, not quite ready to leave this rare moment of peace — with you curled into his side, trusting him enough to rest.

He looked ahead toward the darkened hills, and under his breath, said softly, as if speaking only to the night:

"Sleep, melda. I’ve got you.”