A/N: Today's chappie for your enjoyment! Tomorrow is the last one!

Chapter 36

Paige's ass was tired, not to mention black and blue from being bounced around from here to kingdom come. She loved Aróf, but was heartily glad to get off her broad back. Upon that last dismount, however, Paige couldn't help but hold her bridle close, looking into Aróf's large brown eyes, and cry.

"I'm going to miss you, Aróf," Paige whispered while stroking her long face. "I couldn't have asked for a better horse. You took a chance on me when I was banished and hopeless, and was with me through everything. I really hate to say goodbye."

Aróf whinnied a reply, and Paige could not help but smile through her tears.

"I'd take you with me - I would, but I have much farther to go, and I don't think you'd fit through the door, much less on a plane home."

Letting out a great huff, Aróf could only stomp her hoof in protest.

"I know. I'm sorry, but I think it's time for me to go. You've been the most faithful horse I've ever known, and I'll never look at another horse without thinking of you, for as long as I live. I'll miss you." Paige wiped away her tears, but more quickly took their place. "I love you."

At this, Aróf could only blink her love and goodbyes, and sadly looked on as Paige gave her one last hug, and slowly walked away.

Meduseld! What sore eyes did see it, for Paige was nearly tired beyond death. Her emotions had run her quite thin, and with all these final farewells, she now felt raw to the bone. She had been putting off the last one, Éomer's, with the deepest of dread. She felt kind of like Rachel saying goodbye to Ross when she was moving to Paris, and how she totally skipped him because she couldn't bear the thought of actually saying goodbye.

Except, Rachel was only moving to Paris. Paige's goodbye was more of the indefinite kind.

In truth, she was chicken shit, and she knew it. She'd just as soon slip away. Never actually say goodbye, and just - vanish. Like a figment of his imaginations. Something to haunt his dreams. Was she truly real? He would never know... Yes, she could spin it to herself that it was better that way.

The hallway was long and empty, for the servants were busy greeting their lord and King in the Great Hall, upon his most triumphant return from victory. She thought of going to Éowyn's room and changing her dress, but in the end, she didn't see the point. She'd be back in her own clothes in just a minute, and no need to steal any more of Éowyn's clothes, pretty as they were.

There was the door. It was closed, but Paige was sure it wasn't locked. This time it would open, and her long journey would be at an end. She reached up her hand.

"Paige."

Turning her head, Paige saw Éomer. He stood solemnly fifteen feet away from her, seemingly reluctant to draw too close. Her hand fell to her side.

"Hey," she replied.

He did not speak. He appeared at a loss for words. "How do you fare?" he said at last, though it seemed odd, as though he had not seen her in a long time.

"I'm okay. I'm tired. Exhausted, really. I'd pretty much commit murder for a bath."

"Murder need not be committed. I shall fetch a servant to draw you one directly."

"No, don't bother."

"Why not? You said you wished it."

Paige struggled for the right words. How much to say? "I'm not going to stay. I think I'll head home soon."

"Surely not!" he said, taking a single step toward her. "At least, not tonight after such a long ride and journey! You cannot wish to travel farther still! Aróf will be in need of rest, as will you!"

"No, I won't trouble Aróf. This is her home, and she should stay here."

He closed his mouth, and his face appeared sad. "You were to leave, then? Slip away without so much as a farewell, breaking your promise?"

"I thought it better, Éomer. We've been through a lot together, you and I. I don't know about you, but I'm not one for long goodbyes. It's like a band-aid. You just gotta rip that sucker right off, and move on with life."

At once, Éomer's eyes flared in anger. "Move on? Is that what you say? Move on?! You do so so easily, then? Move on and out without me or without a care? Is it so? Are you so heartless that you feel nothing to me that you should rip me off and out of your heart and carry on as though you felt nothing at all?" Though angry, he wept openly and did not attempt to hide his tears.

At once her heart melted, and she was about to run to him, beg him to forgive her, that she didn't mean any of it. It was simply her way of coping with unsurmountable grief. The grief of losing the best thing she had ever had.

Except then his tears turned to malace, and he spat, "Then be on your way, if it must be so! Begone! For I banish you now from both my uncle's kingdom and my heart. Never to return."

Paige felt like she'd be kneed in the balls, if she had any. With those hateful words, he turned and began to walk away.

Only to stop. He was shaking his head, and he knew not why. Why had he spoken such hateful things to this mad, lunatic girl whom he loved most in the world? She had hurt him, and the dagger had gone deep. Was he such a child to strive to wound her, too?

He whirled around. "Paige, I..."

But she was gone. Without a footfall or a farewell, she had simply disappeared.

"Paige?" he repeated, stepping closer to where she had been.

"Paige!"

But no sound did he hear, save the echo of his own voice down the empty passageways.

He stopped and screamed her name louder still. "PAIGE! I AM SORRY! PAIGE! FORGIVE ME!"

Succumbing to his knees, he wept openly at his own folly. It was not until opening them did he espy a door.

'In Meduseld, there is a magic door,' she had said.

'Indeed? A magic door, you say?' he recalled replying, skeptically.

'Yes. And that's where I'm from.'

Éomer heard the words echo from his memory, and they seemed to radiate the walls and tremor the floor beneath his feet. He rose up and reached out his hand.

"This is madness," he said, but regardless of reason or right, he lifted the latch.

A/N: Well, what did you think? A bit of a cliffhanger, I know. It just felt right to end it there, and save the last for tomorrow. Please review!