A/N: Alright, here's where things start to get a bit more complicated. It's another longer one! Please read and review!

Chapter 10

To Paige, the day began as any other in Middle Earth. Wake up, wash her face and pits, brush her teeth with a rough cloth, spend half an hour getting tight-laced into one of Éowyn's gowns, breakfast in the Great Hall, and then exploring the palace while trying to avoid a lovesick (and somewhat irritable as of late) Wormtongue.

She had grown pretty accustomed to King Théoden's library. The books were sadly of no use to her, as they were all filled to the brim with runes, but she loved to sit and pour over the various maps he had in his collection.

They were inked on thick parchment, and showed the vast regions of all Middle Earth. She noted the distance to the various places she had read about time and time again.

But this was no sightseeing holiday. No, 'Oh, let's just pop over to Rivendell and visit Lord Elrond for tea and crumpets.' She wasn't sure what the hell a crumpet even was, but she was pretty sure Elrond didn't know either, much less serve them with tea.

This was a place she had best get out of as fast as she could. Here, there was serious danger. Here, there were wars. And trolls. And scary things, like giant spiders, orcs, and Ringwraiths. She really didn't want to see any of those things, and had the sobering knowledge that if she didn't get Éowyn's ass back in Middle Earth soon, things were going to fall spectacularly to pieces.

'Cause one thing Paige knew pretty much for certain: she may be a girl, but she was more likely to stab herself with Badass than kill the king of all the scary-ass Ringwraiths with it.

"Lady Paige?" a voice called at the door. A servant entered. "You are summoned to the Great Hall."

"Oh yeah? By who? Wormtongue? Tell him...I'm out shopping... "

"Nay, my lady. It is the King who wishes to see you."

Paige groaned. "He hasn't set the date for my wedding, has he?"

"I know not," the man replied, and led her through the labyrinth of passages until they entered the Great Hall.

Immediately, Paige sensed something was strangely afoot at the Circle K... There stood strangers in the room, and she giggled upon guessing their identities. Gandalf, clad in white, Aragorn, tall and looking mighty sexy while covered in dirt, a fierce looking Gimli, and Legolas whose eyes appeared to glow even in daylight.

Her eyes then turned to the raised dais where the King stood. Once old and weakened, he had been healed to a man anew. Tall and handsome, he appeared wise and strong. His eyes were no longer clouded with misjudgment. Gandalf had done his job.

Beside the king stood Éomer, tall and stately, but he wore a worried expression. At his feet, cowering and trembling, lay Wormtongue.

"Lady Paige daughter of Harold," the king began, his voice clear and serious, "you are a stranger to this land, and no daughter of Rohan. Is this true?"

Uh oh, Paige thought. It felt like she'd been called to the Principal's office. "Yeah, that's right," Paige replied with a stinking suspicion that she was in deep, deep trouble...

The king nodded. No spark of humour showed on his face. "Grievous charges lay at your feet."

"Whoa, wait. Charges? Like, criminal charges? What have I done?" She looked to Éomer for aid. He would not meet her gaze.

"One thing I wish to know," the king said.

"Anything," Paige replied immediately. She'd even have handed over her PIN number for her ATM card at that moment.

A pregnant silence ensued before the king at last spoke. "Where is Éowyn?"

Oh shit... Paige thought. Not that... Anything but that. "Uh... If I'm being completely honest with you, your majesty...I have no idea where she is."

It was true, Paige justified to herself. It had been nearly two weeks. Éowyn could be anywhere by that point. It was pretty unrealistic to expect Éowyn to be sitting in the apartment, too scared to leave.

Paige watched as the king turned to Éomer, who nodded. "I believe her, Sire."

Finally! Some support that she wasn't a usurping hussy!

But Théoden seemed unmoved. "I am distressed; I am grieved. Not only my son have I lost, but my sister-daughter as well. And whom do I have in her place? A girl who aligns herself with a man who sought my downfall?"

"Whoa, wait. What?" Paige prayed that she wasn't following the conversation properly. That he didn't mean what he was insinuating. "Are you blaming me for being engaged to him?"

"Just as you say," the king confirmed, and Paige could feel her eyes bug out of her head.

"But, that's not my fault! I never wanted to marry him! It wasn't even my idea! He asked your permission before he even asked mine, and when he did ask me, I said, NO! Right, Wormy? Tell them that I'm right!"

Wormtongue, the wretch, who appeared so small upon the floor, stared into her eyes. His own were filled with tears. Though his voice was weak, it also rang clear, and all in attendance bore witness to it. "She agreed to be my wife."

Horrified, Paige could only let out a small squeak and stand with her mouth agape.

"My lord," Éomer began, but was cut short by his lord and master.

"I have heard enough. Paige daughter of Harold, you are no friend of Rohan. I bear you no ill will, but henceforth you are banished from my kingdom, never to return."

Hands were clasped onto her arm, leading her out before she realized what was happening. "Éomer!" she cried, but he appeared torn, and made no reply.

Out of the Golden Hall. Out onto the street, and down to the stables. If people ogled, she had no realization. All she could think of was the pure horror that had just befallen her.

Banished... Banished! Never allowed to return. Penniless in a completely foreign land where monsters run rampant trying to rip out your throat. No friends. No allies. Lost. She was utterly lost. And she was never allowed back in Edoras, to the portal, to her way home.

She cried, and she didn't give a flying crap who saw.

The soldier seemed to have taken pity on her, and led her to a horse. It was the colour of a brown stoney shore with a clean white stripe down it's face. "This is Aróf. She is gentle by nature. However, Edoras is her home. She may not wish to leave it. Make your plea worthy of her."

"I'm sorry?" Paige said, thoroughly confused.

"I know not where you are going, but it is many leagues to leave Rohan. If you wish her to take you, you must convince her."

"Okay..." Paige said, thinking that perhaps he was just playing some cruel joke on her, making her beg. But the soldier never cracked a smile, and took a step back. "Uh, hi. I'm Paige," she said to Aróf, though feeling like a complete fool. "I'm not from around here, and I have no idea where I'm going. I'm not sure if you're looking for an adventure... I'm not sure I am, either, if it comes to that. But, like it or not, it looks like I'm about to have one, and...it sure would be nice to have a friend along the way..."

Aróf stood and stared at Paige. She made no horsely reply, except for a flick of her her ear to the right.

"She's accepted," the soldier stated, and made ready the saddle.

"What?" Paige asked, skeptically. "How do you know?"

"Her movement of the ear. It would seem she is ready for an adventure."

Paige stared at the soldier. "You're having a go at me, aren't you? That's just mean, ya know. Kicking a lady when she's down..."

"Milady, I swear I am not in jest. Aróf is a fine horse. She will not lead you astray. Simply tell her where you wish to travel, and she'll find the way straight enough."

"What if I have no idea where to go?"

The soldier thought a moment. "These are dangerous times... Gondor is friendly, but close to Mordor. War is on their doorstep, I fear. You could follow the Anduin River north to Mirkwood. I hear tell of men-folk living by the Gladden Fields. But...I would not recommend it. That road would take you past Dol Guldur, a most evil place..."

"Where, then? When evil surrounds you, where do you go?"

Scratching his beard, he took a moment to reply. "Go to the Elves. Many fear the Lady of the Wood, but I rather think she might take pity on you."

"Loríen, then?"

"Loríen," he confirmed, and then finished buckling the saddle.

Just then, Wormtongue flew into the sable as though Saruman himself were hot on his heels.

Paige rounded on him, and he let out a great cry, and placed his hand over his balls just in time, for there it met with Paige's knee. "OW! My hand!"

"Oh, right! Your poor hand!" she said, sarcastically. "How could you lie like that?! You sniviling worm! You slime! How could you DO that to me?!"

"I am sorry," he gasped.

"Oh, sure! A fine thing! YOU'RE SORRY! Well, too bloody bad! I'm NOT going to forgive you! You...horse's ass!"

Wormtongue's feelings seemed genuinely hurt, and strode over to a pair of horses. "I am called Grima. I fear war, of being alone, and I am to leave this place, never to return. Will not one of you carry me hither?"

One of the pair seemed to accept Grima's terms, for it stepped forward, and Paige noticed the tell-tale sign of it's twitching ear. At once, Grima began to ready the saddle, and Paige was left in quiet contemplation as to what he had just confessed. To her, he had never seemed so...human.

When suddenly, Éomer burst into the barn, out of breath. "Ah, good. I have not missed you." He carried with him three large bundles and Éowyn's fur-lined cape, and immediately flung them over her horse. "Ah, you ride with Aróf! She is a fine horse! I could not have chosen you a better."

Paige looked up at him. What to say? She was never going to see him again. She just wanted to fall down on the ground and start crying like a two year old in a grocery store. "What are you doing here?"

He looked into her eyes. There was the smolder again... "I could not let you leave without saying farewell."

"Oh. And the bags?"

"Provisions. Food, basic supplies for outside stay, some clothes, and...I thought Éowyn would not mind...her sword."

"You packed me Badass?" she said smiling.

"I...beg your pardon?" he replied, confused.

"I named the sword," she said with a shrug of her shoulder.

At that moment, Grima mounted his horse. "Come, Lady Paige. We must be on our way."

She turned at last to Éomer. "Thank you. Guess this is goodbye."

He simply nodded his head. He flung the cloak over her shoulders, and Paige was immediately grateful for it. Not knowing what else to say or do, she climbed awkwardly onto her own horse and made ready.

"Hey," she called to the soldier, still standing close by. "You. What's your name?"

"Why, Háma, milady."

Paige smiled. "Háma. I remember you... You're an okay guy, Háma, so do me a favour."

"If I am able," he replied.

"King Théoden will need a leader. Someone he can trust. In the near future, he's going to have to make a choice: who to stay behind and protect his people, and who to go to Helm's Deep. I want you to volunteer."

"Volunteer? To stay behind? But, lady...I am a soldier."

"You are a good man," she clarified. "Honestly, you showed me kindness, and I'm trying to repay. If you want to live a long life, stay out of Helm's Deep."

He nodded, though he was not sure why, and together he and the Marshal of the Mark watched the two ride off toward the Gate of Edoras.

"Heed her words," Éomer said before leaving. "I know not how she knows such things, but I would trust her with my life."

"Then, why is she banished?"

"Because the King is blind. Once with dark magics, and now with grief. And yet, I cannot blame him. But, I do fear for her. These are dark times, and she...she does not know her own future."

A/N: So...what did you think? I'd love to know! Already have the next chapter almost done, so I hope to get it up in a couple of days. PLEASE REVIEW! Remember, you don't need an account to do so (only if you'd like a response from me!)