DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT BY ANYWAY OWN THE LORD OF THE RINGS. IF I DID I'D BE
OLD, A MALE, FLITHY RICH, AND UM..DEAD.
My Lord of the Rings Fanfic
By: Amber Martinez
Prologue The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring In ancient times the Rings of Power were crafted by the Elven-smiths, and Sauron, the Dark Lord, forged the One Ring, filling it with his own power so that he could rule all others. But the One Ring was taken from him, and though he sought it throughout Middle-earth, it remained lost to him. After many ages it fell into the hands of Bilbo Baggins, as told in The Hobbit. In a sleepy village in the Shire, young Frodo Baggins finds himself faced with an immense task, as his elderly cousin Bilbo entrusts the Ring to his care. Frodo must leave his home and make a perilous journey across Middle-earth to the Cracks of Doom, there to destroy the Ring and foil the Dark Lord in his evil purpose. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Frodo and his Companions of the Ring have been beset by danger during their quest to prevent the Ruling Ring from falling into the hands of the Dark Lord by destroying it in the Cracks of Doom. They lost the wizard Gandalf in a battle in the Mines of Moria, and Boromir, seduced by the power of the Ring, tried to seize it by force. While Frodo and Sam made their escape, the rest of the company was attacked by Orcs. Now they continue their journey alone down the great River Anduin- along, that is, save for the mysterious creeping figure that follows wherever they go. The lord of the Rings: The Return of the King As the Shadow of Mordor grows across the land, the Companions of the Ring have become involved in separate adventures. Aragorn, revealed as the hidden heir of the ancient Kings of the West, has joined with the Riders of Rohan against the forces of Isengard, and takes part in the desperate victory of the Hornburg. Merry and Pippin, captured by Orcs, escape into Fangorn Forest and there encounter the Ents. Gandalf has miraculously returned and defeated the evil wizard, Saruman. Sam has left his master for dead after a battle with the giant spider, Shelob-but Frodo is still alive, now in the foul hands of the Orcs. And all the while, the armies of the Dark Lord are massing as the One Ring draws ever nearer to the Cracks of Doom. And now. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Other Ring The world is changed. I feel it in the water. I fell it in the earth. I smell it in the air. Much that once was, is lost. For none now live who remember it. And some things that should not have been forgotten, were lost. History became legend. Legend became myth. And for two and a half thousand years the Other Ring passed out of all knowledge. Until, when chance came, it ensnared a new bearer. For the time will soon come, when Hobbits and Humans alike will shake the fortunes of all.
Chapter One The Finding of the Other Ring It was another typical day at school. Luke Sisco was in the 8th grade and was a tall and slender boy who had deep blue eyes and dark black hair that was always in his eyes. He was a huge Lord of the Rings fan. He had read all the books and he always kept his copy with him. To save him the trouble, he had gotten the one with just all the chapters in one book. He had also seen the first movie, so he knew the story. It was March 1st on a Friday afternoon. Luke was in his last period, science, and it was boring. Mr. Rickman, his teacher, had greasy black hair that came to his chin and cold dark eyes. He was a Snape wannabe, most kids said but just a younger version. He even had the cold attitude to go with it. He never called on anyone unless you were in trouble, but if you interrupted him for any reason, he'd shout at you and then give you detention. He thought Rickman wouldn't see him. Luke was getting to the good part where Gandalf and the Balrog were fighting when. "And now we will let Sisco finish off where I did," Rickman said, standing beside Luke. "What? Oh, were are we at?" Luke asked, trying to hide his book under his desk, but Rickman was too fast. "We're at the part where I come to ask you what you are reading," Rickman said as he looked at the cover. His eyes flashed suddenly but he recovered. " 'The Lord of the Rings.' Ummm.So you think this is more interesting than my science class?" Rickman asked, narrowing his cold eyes at Luke.
"No, no sir," Luke said, although he was burning to say yes. "Well, obviously you do, seeing as how you are reading it in my class. Now did I just hear you tell me a lie?" Rickman asked, smiling coldly at Luke. "No, sir," Luke said again. "I didn't? So you're trying to say I'm lying? Is that what he's saying class?" Rickman asked as the class was silent. "Well, is it?!" Rickman asked, raising his voice. Half of the class said yes while the other half muttered it. "Well, that settles it then. Sisco, for lying to me and while reading something that does not involve science, I'll see you after school for two hours of detention," Rickman said as he walked back to his desk, still carrying Luke's book. "And to make sure you don't try and read again, you can pick it up at the end of detention." Luke was silent. He would have wanted to shout at Rickman to give his book back, but thought that two hours of detention was enough. For the rest of the class, Luke felt Rickman's eyes on him all the time while someone else read. Finally, the bell rang, but Luke stayed where he was. Detention was always held in Rickman's room. Rickman waited before saying anything as if waiting for anyone else to come. They waited a minute or so and it appeared to be that Luke was to be his only 'victim' today. "Get a dictionary and start on the s. Once you get to the word 'science', stop and begin writing science and its meaning six hundred times. "Six hundred times?!" Luke exclaimed. "You won't say another word or it'll go up to one thousand!" Rickman said as his eyes flashed angrily. Luke got up and got a dictionary. He glared at Rickman as he sat down. Luke should have expected something like this from Rickman anyway. He was always getting on Luke's case for something. He started copying the first page of the s. At exactly five o'clock, Luke stopped. He got up, put the dictionary up, and started going to Rickman's desk. "All six hundred, eh? Next time you get detention, you'll have to be neater with your handwriting. It's nothing but chicken scratch," Rickman said, looking at Luke's papers. After looking at the papers, Rickman held Luke's book in his hand. Luke felt his face grow hot. "So you believe in this fairytale stuff? I guess it's okay when you're a little kid. Best better keep you nose outta nonsense like this. The real world's waiting for you," Rickman said coldly, still holding Luke's book and still wearing that smirk on his face. Luke's face was growing hotter. "Just shut up, okay?" he said before he could stop himself. That sure did ripe the smirk off Rickman's face. Luke would have gladly asked why Rickman told him not to read fairytales when he himself looked very much like Snape from Harry Potter. "What did you tell me boy?" Rickman asked, glaring at him. "I said shut up about what I read. Don't say anything unless you've read it. And you're wrong, you Snape wannabe, I'm not a kid anymore!" Luke shouted, grabbing his book from Rickman's hand. He ran out of the classroom and slammed the door in Rickman's face. He heard the door open with a loud bang and Rickman yelling behind him. Luke was so mad when he left the school that he didn't feel that someone was watching him. He began to cool off and he finally felt it. Thinking it was probably Rickman wanting to give him a good talking to, Luke began running. He ran and ran and got lost in one of the many crowds. He cut through an alley and was alone again. He felt at once that someone was watching him still. He kept looking over his shoulder as he trotted at a steady pace. Finally, while looking behind him, he ran into someone. "Oh, I'm sorry," Luke said. "Is that the Ring?" the stranger asked. He was tall and was dressed in a travel-worn cloak with a hood covering his face from sight. "The what?" Luke asked. The stranger pointed to his necklace; at a gold ring that Luke kept on a chain. He wore it all the time. "What, this? Oh no, my dad gave this to me when I was real young," Luke said. "Tis not the Ring?" the stranger asked again. "You mean the One Ring? Ha, no, it's not. It does look like it though, doesn't it?" Luke asked, looking at the stranger. He caught a glimpse of the stranger's face as the wind blew. Luke stepped back some. "So, what's your name, stranger?" Luke asked slowly. "My name? Well, I am known by many names. But you may called me Aragorn," the stranger said. "A-A-Aragorn?" Luke said breathlessly. He stepped back once more, dropping his book. The book fell near the stranger's mud-caked boots. The stranger looked at the book. The wind blew the stranger's hood from his face as he picked the book up. "Has it really been that long?" he muttered almost as if to himself. "So, Frodo and Bilbo were successful in making their book, although, I thought it would be called 'There and Back Again'." "Did you say Frodo?" Luke asked, his voice coming out in a squeak. "What? Frodo? Oh, yes, yes. I did. What year is it?" Aragorn asked. "It's um.2002. What year did you think you were in?" Luke asked. "Tis been a long time," Aragorn said, ignoring Luke's question. "Many years have gone by indeed." "Indeed they have, Aragorn. Now, let us get to the business at hand," a voice said from the shadows. Out came an old man with a grey beard, pointed hat, and a long stay. He too, was also covered in a cloak, a grey one to be exact. "Gandalf?" Luke choked out, barely believing it as he tripped on his foot and fell to the ground. "Yes, indeed. It is I, Gandalf. But, I am curious young one. How do you know my name?" Gandalf asked kindly. "He may have gotten it from this," Aragorn said, showing Gandalf Luke's book. "I see." Gandalf said as he took the book from Aragorn's hand and flipped through it. "You need not tell me your name, young one; for I know much about you already," he said with a twinkle in his eyes as he looked up from the book. He then put out a hand to help Luke up. Luke took it with a trembling hand. "Y-You do?" he managed to stammer out. Gandalf gave his book back to him with a nod. "Yes, and I ask you, you say the ring on your necklace is not that of the One Ring. Are you quite sure?" Gandalf asked. "Well, yeah, I guess. I mean, I can't become invisible or anything," Luke said. "Are you sure?" Gandalf asked again. "Well.no. I haven't tried it on really. It was too big for me when it was given to me and I've never wanted to try it on. But how can it be the One Ring if it was destroyed--" Luke started. "To see if it is, why don't you try it on?" Gandalf suggested. "Yeah, but isn't that what you're not suppose to do?" Luke asked. "This one has read well!" Gandalf chuckled. "Yes, you're not suppose to try it on. There is another option. But I am quite sure people cannot make fire come out of nowhere yet. They would be quite disturbed to see an old man with fire on a staff. So there is only one choice. If it isn't the One, then there's nothing to worry about." "Well, okay, here goes," Luke said, taking a deep breath, but still having doubt in his mind. Slowly, he put the ring on his index finger. Immediately, everything became foggy. Luke only saw the black outlines of Gandalf and Aragorn, but he did hear them gasp out. He slipped it back off and saw that they were astonished. "Gandalf, it's.it's," Aragorn drifted off. "But.but.how?" "Yes, I see it Aragorn. I do not know but, Luke? Would you mind coming with us?" Gandalf asked. "What, you mean now? I can't. I at least have to go home and, and." Luke drifted off. "Yes, but if you were to know the business at hand, you wouldn't have a second thought about it," Gandalf said. "Then please, inform me," Luke said. "Not now young one! Not now! I will when the time comes for it. Come, hurry along with us so we may be on our way," Gandalf said. "Where are we going?" Luke asked. "To Middle-earth," Gandalf answered. "You've got to be kidding me! Middle-earth?! You really expect me to believe that?" Luke asked in a high voice. "Well.yes," Gandalf said. "How do I know you're not some creeps from school who just bought costumes to trick me? A lot of the people at school know I like Lord of the Rings and they like to make fun of me about it. Middle-earth is, is like a fairytale anyway! What makes you think I won't put the ring back on and run away from you?" Luke asked. "Because you have read too much. You know what will happen if you put the Ring on too many times," Gandalf said. "I can't believe that I'm actually believing this! Okay, okay, let's go to Middle-earth," Luke said, finally giving up. "Knew we would get there somewhere," Gandalf said. "Follow me!" Aragorn and Luke followed Gandalf through alleys that Luke had never been down before. Luke could feel the eyes of many people on them. Whenever the people thought he wasn't looking their way, they gave him a strange look and starting whispering to whoever was near them. Luke didn't half blame them. He would be talking and looking strange too if he had seen someone with two men in traveled-worn cloaks, and one sporting a long grey beard and staff. That would turn anyone's head. Finally, they came upon one alley that was covered in total darkness. Gandalf stopped halfway down and away from any crowd. He raised his staff while he said, "Mornie utulie. Mornie alantie." A small light appeared on the upper end of his staff. "If you want to know, he just said 'Darkness has come. Darkness has fallen'," Aragorn whispered to Luke. "I know what he said," Luke said as Aragorn looked at him. "I heard it in a song," Luke said, not wanting to explain what a CD was. Gandalf began tapping on the wall. "It's here somewhere.Ah! Here it is!" Gandalf said as he tapped a bright read brick. A portal opened up. "Everyone in!" Gandalf said. Aragorn went first, then Luke, and finally Gandalf. Luke felt as if he was falling from a bridge until all of a sudden he fell on a field of grass. Aragorn was standing beside him. He helped Luke up as Gandalf appeared. Luke noticed that none of them had fallen except him and felt a little awkward, but he looked around and the awkwardness faded instantly.
Prologue The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring In ancient times the Rings of Power were crafted by the Elven-smiths, and Sauron, the Dark Lord, forged the One Ring, filling it with his own power so that he could rule all others. But the One Ring was taken from him, and though he sought it throughout Middle-earth, it remained lost to him. After many ages it fell into the hands of Bilbo Baggins, as told in The Hobbit. In a sleepy village in the Shire, young Frodo Baggins finds himself faced with an immense task, as his elderly cousin Bilbo entrusts the Ring to his care. Frodo must leave his home and make a perilous journey across Middle-earth to the Cracks of Doom, there to destroy the Ring and foil the Dark Lord in his evil purpose. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Frodo and his Companions of the Ring have been beset by danger during their quest to prevent the Ruling Ring from falling into the hands of the Dark Lord by destroying it in the Cracks of Doom. They lost the wizard Gandalf in a battle in the Mines of Moria, and Boromir, seduced by the power of the Ring, tried to seize it by force. While Frodo and Sam made their escape, the rest of the company was attacked by Orcs. Now they continue their journey alone down the great River Anduin- along, that is, save for the mysterious creeping figure that follows wherever they go. The lord of the Rings: The Return of the King As the Shadow of Mordor grows across the land, the Companions of the Ring have become involved in separate adventures. Aragorn, revealed as the hidden heir of the ancient Kings of the West, has joined with the Riders of Rohan against the forces of Isengard, and takes part in the desperate victory of the Hornburg. Merry and Pippin, captured by Orcs, escape into Fangorn Forest and there encounter the Ents. Gandalf has miraculously returned and defeated the evil wizard, Saruman. Sam has left his master for dead after a battle with the giant spider, Shelob-but Frodo is still alive, now in the foul hands of the Orcs. And all the while, the armies of the Dark Lord are massing as the One Ring draws ever nearer to the Cracks of Doom. And now. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Other Ring The world is changed. I feel it in the water. I fell it in the earth. I smell it in the air. Much that once was, is lost. For none now live who remember it. And some things that should not have been forgotten, were lost. History became legend. Legend became myth. And for two and a half thousand years the Other Ring passed out of all knowledge. Until, when chance came, it ensnared a new bearer. For the time will soon come, when Hobbits and Humans alike will shake the fortunes of all.
Chapter One The Finding of the Other Ring It was another typical day at school. Luke Sisco was in the 8th grade and was a tall and slender boy who had deep blue eyes and dark black hair that was always in his eyes. He was a huge Lord of the Rings fan. He had read all the books and he always kept his copy with him. To save him the trouble, he had gotten the one with just all the chapters in one book. He had also seen the first movie, so he knew the story. It was March 1st on a Friday afternoon. Luke was in his last period, science, and it was boring. Mr. Rickman, his teacher, had greasy black hair that came to his chin and cold dark eyes. He was a Snape wannabe, most kids said but just a younger version. He even had the cold attitude to go with it. He never called on anyone unless you were in trouble, but if you interrupted him for any reason, he'd shout at you and then give you detention. He thought Rickman wouldn't see him. Luke was getting to the good part where Gandalf and the Balrog were fighting when. "And now we will let Sisco finish off where I did," Rickman said, standing beside Luke. "What? Oh, were are we at?" Luke asked, trying to hide his book under his desk, but Rickman was too fast. "We're at the part where I come to ask you what you are reading," Rickman said as he looked at the cover. His eyes flashed suddenly but he recovered. " 'The Lord of the Rings.' Ummm.So you think this is more interesting than my science class?" Rickman asked, narrowing his cold eyes at Luke.
"No, no sir," Luke said, although he was burning to say yes. "Well, obviously you do, seeing as how you are reading it in my class. Now did I just hear you tell me a lie?" Rickman asked, smiling coldly at Luke. "No, sir," Luke said again. "I didn't? So you're trying to say I'm lying? Is that what he's saying class?" Rickman asked as the class was silent. "Well, is it?!" Rickman asked, raising his voice. Half of the class said yes while the other half muttered it. "Well, that settles it then. Sisco, for lying to me and while reading something that does not involve science, I'll see you after school for two hours of detention," Rickman said as he walked back to his desk, still carrying Luke's book. "And to make sure you don't try and read again, you can pick it up at the end of detention." Luke was silent. He would have wanted to shout at Rickman to give his book back, but thought that two hours of detention was enough. For the rest of the class, Luke felt Rickman's eyes on him all the time while someone else read. Finally, the bell rang, but Luke stayed where he was. Detention was always held in Rickman's room. Rickman waited before saying anything as if waiting for anyone else to come. They waited a minute or so and it appeared to be that Luke was to be his only 'victim' today. "Get a dictionary and start on the s. Once you get to the word 'science', stop and begin writing science and its meaning six hundred times. "Six hundred times?!" Luke exclaimed. "You won't say another word or it'll go up to one thousand!" Rickman said as his eyes flashed angrily. Luke got up and got a dictionary. He glared at Rickman as he sat down. Luke should have expected something like this from Rickman anyway. He was always getting on Luke's case for something. He started copying the first page of the s. At exactly five o'clock, Luke stopped. He got up, put the dictionary up, and started going to Rickman's desk. "All six hundred, eh? Next time you get detention, you'll have to be neater with your handwriting. It's nothing but chicken scratch," Rickman said, looking at Luke's papers. After looking at the papers, Rickman held Luke's book in his hand. Luke felt his face grow hot. "So you believe in this fairytale stuff? I guess it's okay when you're a little kid. Best better keep you nose outta nonsense like this. The real world's waiting for you," Rickman said coldly, still holding Luke's book and still wearing that smirk on his face. Luke's face was growing hotter. "Just shut up, okay?" he said before he could stop himself. That sure did ripe the smirk off Rickman's face. Luke would have gladly asked why Rickman told him not to read fairytales when he himself looked very much like Snape from Harry Potter. "What did you tell me boy?" Rickman asked, glaring at him. "I said shut up about what I read. Don't say anything unless you've read it. And you're wrong, you Snape wannabe, I'm not a kid anymore!" Luke shouted, grabbing his book from Rickman's hand. He ran out of the classroom and slammed the door in Rickman's face. He heard the door open with a loud bang and Rickman yelling behind him. Luke was so mad when he left the school that he didn't feel that someone was watching him. He began to cool off and he finally felt it. Thinking it was probably Rickman wanting to give him a good talking to, Luke began running. He ran and ran and got lost in one of the many crowds. He cut through an alley and was alone again. He felt at once that someone was watching him still. He kept looking over his shoulder as he trotted at a steady pace. Finally, while looking behind him, he ran into someone. "Oh, I'm sorry," Luke said. "Is that the Ring?" the stranger asked. He was tall and was dressed in a travel-worn cloak with a hood covering his face from sight. "The what?" Luke asked. The stranger pointed to his necklace; at a gold ring that Luke kept on a chain. He wore it all the time. "What, this? Oh no, my dad gave this to me when I was real young," Luke said. "Tis not the Ring?" the stranger asked again. "You mean the One Ring? Ha, no, it's not. It does look like it though, doesn't it?" Luke asked, looking at the stranger. He caught a glimpse of the stranger's face as the wind blew. Luke stepped back some. "So, what's your name, stranger?" Luke asked slowly. "My name? Well, I am known by many names. But you may called me Aragorn," the stranger said. "A-A-Aragorn?" Luke said breathlessly. He stepped back once more, dropping his book. The book fell near the stranger's mud-caked boots. The stranger looked at the book. The wind blew the stranger's hood from his face as he picked the book up. "Has it really been that long?" he muttered almost as if to himself. "So, Frodo and Bilbo were successful in making their book, although, I thought it would be called 'There and Back Again'." "Did you say Frodo?" Luke asked, his voice coming out in a squeak. "What? Frodo? Oh, yes, yes. I did. What year is it?" Aragorn asked. "It's um.2002. What year did you think you were in?" Luke asked. "Tis been a long time," Aragorn said, ignoring Luke's question. "Many years have gone by indeed." "Indeed they have, Aragorn. Now, let us get to the business at hand," a voice said from the shadows. Out came an old man with a grey beard, pointed hat, and a long stay. He too, was also covered in a cloak, a grey one to be exact. "Gandalf?" Luke choked out, barely believing it as he tripped on his foot and fell to the ground. "Yes, indeed. It is I, Gandalf. But, I am curious young one. How do you know my name?" Gandalf asked kindly. "He may have gotten it from this," Aragorn said, showing Gandalf Luke's book. "I see." Gandalf said as he took the book from Aragorn's hand and flipped through it. "You need not tell me your name, young one; for I know much about you already," he said with a twinkle in his eyes as he looked up from the book. He then put out a hand to help Luke up. Luke took it with a trembling hand. "Y-You do?" he managed to stammer out. Gandalf gave his book back to him with a nod. "Yes, and I ask you, you say the ring on your necklace is not that of the One Ring. Are you quite sure?" Gandalf asked. "Well, yeah, I guess. I mean, I can't become invisible or anything," Luke said. "Are you sure?" Gandalf asked again. "Well.no. I haven't tried it on really. It was too big for me when it was given to me and I've never wanted to try it on. But how can it be the One Ring if it was destroyed--" Luke started. "To see if it is, why don't you try it on?" Gandalf suggested. "Yeah, but isn't that what you're not suppose to do?" Luke asked. "This one has read well!" Gandalf chuckled. "Yes, you're not suppose to try it on. There is another option. But I am quite sure people cannot make fire come out of nowhere yet. They would be quite disturbed to see an old man with fire on a staff. So there is only one choice. If it isn't the One, then there's nothing to worry about." "Well, okay, here goes," Luke said, taking a deep breath, but still having doubt in his mind. Slowly, he put the ring on his index finger. Immediately, everything became foggy. Luke only saw the black outlines of Gandalf and Aragorn, but he did hear them gasp out. He slipped it back off and saw that they were astonished. "Gandalf, it's.it's," Aragorn drifted off. "But.but.how?" "Yes, I see it Aragorn. I do not know but, Luke? Would you mind coming with us?" Gandalf asked. "What, you mean now? I can't. I at least have to go home and, and." Luke drifted off. "Yes, but if you were to know the business at hand, you wouldn't have a second thought about it," Gandalf said. "Then please, inform me," Luke said. "Not now young one! Not now! I will when the time comes for it. Come, hurry along with us so we may be on our way," Gandalf said. "Where are we going?" Luke asked. "To Middle-earth," Gandalf answered. "You've got to be kidding me! Middle-earth?! You really expect me to believe that?" Luke asked in a high voice. "Well.yes," Gandalf said. "How do I know you're not some creeps from school who just bought costumes to trick me? A lot of the people at school know I like Lord of the Rings and they like to make fun of me about it. Middle-earth is, is like a fairytale anyway! What makes you think I won't put the ring back on and run away from you?" Luke asked. "Because you have read too much. You know what will happen if you put the Ring on too many times," Gandalf said. "I can't believe that I'm actually believing this! Okay, okay, let's go to Middle-earth," Luke said, finally giving up. "Knew we would get there somewhere," Gandalf said. "Follow me!" Aragorn and Luke followed Gandalf through alleys that Luke had never been down before. Luke could feel the eyes of many people on them. Whenever the people thought he wasn't looking their way, they gave him a strange look and starting whispering to whoever was near them. Luke didn't half blame them. He would be talking and looking strange too if he had seen someone with two men in traveled-worn cloaks, and one sporting a long grey beard and staff. That would turn anyone's head. Finally, they came upon one alley that was covered in total darkness. Gandalf stopped halfway down and away from any crowd. He raised his staff while he said, "Mornie utulie. Mornie alantie." A small light appeared on the upper end of his staff. "If you want to know, he just said 'Darkness has come. Darkness has fallen'," Aragorn whispered to Luke. "I know what he said," Luke said as Aragorn looked at him. "I heard it in a song," Luke said, not wanting to explain what a CD was. Gandalf began tapping on the wall. "It's here somewhere.Ah! Here it is!" Gandalf said as he tapped a bright read brick. A portal opened up. "Everyone in!" Gandalf said. Aragorn went first, then Luke, and finally Gandalf. Luke felt as if he was falling from a bridge until all of a sudden he fell on a field of grass. Aragorn was standing beside him. He helped Luke up as Gandalf appeared. Luke noticed that none of them had fallen except him and felt a little awkward, but he looked around and the awkwardness faded instantly.