Ella and Char took their time on the journey home. They stopped by all the places Char had visited in his journey, to let all their friends know that Ella was, indeed, all right. There was a welcome back party at all the places, so it did take awhile to return. This gave Char some time to think.

He thought about all the places he had been, all the words of comfort he had heard.

"If anyone could prevail, it's Ella."

"Ella, above all others, could survive."

"Surely, such a nice girl will come back to you."

Not to mention calling on Ella's strength to save himself from the ogres.

He had dismissed all these things, not believing they were truly clues to find Ella.

But they were.

Ella, in the end, had not needed Char to find her. Ella had found him. Char did not stop to remember how much his wife had gone through, how much strength she had.

He had fulfilled the prophecy without realizing it. Only by being reminded by all these people close to Ella of Ella's strength could he remember.

But now he did. And he would never underestimate Ella's strength again.

Nor would he underestimate her intelligence, after the punishment she had thought of for Sir Bowen.



"Yes, I do."

Sir Bowen wished he could bite his tongue, take back the words, do something. But the magic controlling his actions was too strong.

The chancellor looked smugly blissful. "Then I pronounce you husband and wife."

Bowen wished that he wouldn't. He cursed the day he had ever made a deal with Sir Peter. He cursed himself for not letting it go, and kidnapping Ella. But most of all he cursed Ella, for subjecting him to this eternal punishment.

Well, the deed was done, and there was no undoing it now. He was married. He looked forward to his marriage with a mixture of dread and disgust.

However, his new bride, Hattie, was just pleased she was married to a real, live knight.





And, one of these couples at least, lived happily ever after.