A/N: Here you are! The finale!

Chapter 37

Paige was a mess beyond all comparison. She sobbed inconsolably in her cousin's arms, staining her pale green muslin spencer jacket with her tears.

"There, there," Amanda consoled, eying the wetmark with some disfavour. "But do use a Kleenex, by God. Although I never do laundry myself at Pemberley, I hear muslin's impossible to keep clean! And then it needs to be starched, and ironed, and I have no dislike of giving my maids work, but I'd just as soon keep them in my good graces."

"Sorry," Paige sobbed, and then cradled the box of tissues as though it were a baby.

"He's a nasty bastard. You're better off. Not every book has a happy ending."

Paige simply nodded her head, sniffling, and then looked up at the third person in the room who up until this moment, had remained silent. She was tanned, wore distinctly masculine clothes which had a military-feel to them, and her hair had been cropped to a short, neat crew cut. A shield-maiden no longer, Éowyn now stood tall and intimidating, and yet her eyes softened to see Paige's tears. "I am sorry for your grief, Paige. My brother..."

But her voice trailed off, and a moment later she gasped, as did everyone else, for at that moment Éomer burst into the room, a look of shock on his face to match theirs.

His eyes surveyed the modern living room a moment. "I fear I am dreaming..."

"No, you are awake!" Paige cried, throwing the box of tissues, and leapt into his arms. Their arms clasped tightly around each other, but Éomer's eyes continued to scan about the room. "What is this place?"

"This is where I'm from," Paige replied. "Sort of. Actually, this is my cousin Amanda's apartment."

"Pleased to meet you," Amanda said, rushing up, thrusting her hand in his, and bobbing a quick curtsey. "I've longed to meet you. I say! You are a manly-man, aren't you. You look like you belong on a cigarette commercial, or perhaps a whisky advert."

Éomer's brow furrowed. This must indeed where Paige is from, for here too people say the strangest things, he thought.

"Ignore her," Paige advised.

"Hello, Brother," Éowyn said, standing quite still.

At once, his attention was captured but his eyes could not grasp what they saw. Ahead of him was not, could not be his sister! And yet that voice, those eyes proved otherwise. "Éowyn? It cannot be..." He stepped closer, and so did she until they embraced tightly, for it had been long since they had seen one another, and each faced many perils. "What did they do to you?"

"It is not so," she smiled. "Nothing that I did not wish. Here, this is how a soldier looks."

"A soldier? Can that truly be your wish?"

"Yes, and I tell you brother, these months I have spent here, I have never felt freer, or more happy in my entire life."

"But surely, their fight is not your own."

"I have organized an army. We will work with a local government in a land called Nigeria and attack an enemy called Boko Haram. They are true villains, brother. This cause has struck a chord in me. I must do what I can to help free their captives."

"But...you are a woman," Éomer said without thinking, and at once all three were up in arms, and correcting his mistake. "Aye, aye, peace!" he cried, holding his hands up in submission. "I see women can be warriors, too!"

"Yes," Éowyn replied, "and can be as fierce and brave as any man. This is my calling, Brother. I fear neither death nor pain."

At this, Éomer sighed. "Then, I wish you well sister. A speedy victory, and a safe return."

Then, taking Paige's hand, he led her over to the window and looking out, gazed upon a new world he could never have imagined. It was mid-day, and the street was busy with walkers, cars, and all the bustling noise that comes with such traffic. "I see," he whispered, half to himself. "I see."

But Paige was nonplussed. "What do you mean?"

Éomer simply nodded his head in final understanding. "I can at last make reason of it. Of you. You are not of my world. That is why you knew of such things I could not understand. You are a mystery solved, Paige. I hope you do forgive me for being of fickle heart, and having no faith. I fear I have been proved wanting."

"I understand! Honestly! If our roles were reversed, I don't think I'd have believed me, either. I just hope you can forgive me."

"What ever for?"

"For not fighting harder to make you understand."

But Éomer merely shook his head and pulled her in close, for he knew without uncertainty that never would he have truly believed her if he had not seen with his own eyes.

"Soooo, what do you mean to do now, Paige?" Amanda asked hesitantly. "Are you to go back to Rohan, or are you going home?"

With questions in their eyes, Paige and Éomer stared at one another, as though trying to hear the answers in one another's minds. At length, they both smiled.

"I'm going home," Paige said, smiling broadly. "To Rohan."

Exclamations were then made, and wishes for joy and happiness, until Amanda said, "But what about Théoden? I thought you said he had settled his mind on Miss Fancy-pants?"

For this arguement, Paige had no answer. She looked longingly at Éomer, when he suddenly said, "Marry me. Here. Today!"

"What?!" Paige exclaimed.

"He cannot argue when the deed is done. He shall be angry, to be sure, that his permission had not been sought, or freely given, but I shall choose my wife for myself - if she shall have me."

Paige felt as thought she might burst like Violet Beauregarde in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and splatter everyone with blueberry juice. "OKAY!" she shouted, unable to contain her excitement any longer.

"An elopement..." Amanda said longingly. "Darcy and I should have done that... As it was, Catherine de Bourgh was there and made such a stink face, you cannot imagine!"

"But how shall you get married?" Éowyn inquired. "Where?"

"There's a vicar down the street," Amanda suggested. "It's not so late after church. If we run, we might catch him!"

And so they all ran, hand in hand, looking like a Halloween parade gone wrong, but all as jovial and light-hearted as children as they romped down the street to church and happiness.

Luck was on their side, for the vicar, an older man in his sixties, was just locking the door.

"Thank God we caught you!" Amanda exclaimed. "Would you mind terribly performing a wedding?"

"I beg your pardon?!" the vicar exclaimed, looking at the people of various periods of dress before him.

"Oh please, sir," Paige begged. "We haven't got a license or anything, but we just want to get married."

"I'm afraid I cannot possibly marry you today if you haven't a license! It would not be legal!"

But Amanda would not so easily be defeated. "Oh, we don't care a fig about that! It's not a matter or legality, it's more a matter of love."

The vicar, however, shook his head as though trying to wake from a nightmare. "I feel as though I have fallen through the rabbit hole..."

"I pray you, good sir," Éomer said, placing his hand on the man's shoulder. "Kindly grant me leave to profess my love and faithfulness to this woman, who makes me a better man simply by knowing her."

After nearly a full minute's consideration, the vicar replied, "I must be mad..." and the four cheered for they had won. "Come in, come in," the vicar invited, and they followed him into the church.

People properly positioned, another warning given about legality, and then he began. "Dearly beloved. We are gathered here together..."

In less than ten minutes, it was done. Walking back from the church, much more soberly and reverently than how they had come to it, Paige and Éomer felt more as though they were floating on air as their hearts were so light and full of joy.

More farewells given both to Amanda and Éowyn, as well as promises to come back soon for visits in a month's time; it was now time to go home. Now Paige truely felt as though she were returning to the place she was meant to be.

"Paige," Éomer said as he led her through the gateway back, "what now? What do you know of our future?"

And Paige smiled. "Absolutely nothing," she replied, closing the door firmly behind her.

THE END

A/N: Read on. Epilogue to follow!