Chapter 17

'Says who?'

Wyatt whipped around and saw standing there in slightly charcoaled clothing Piper, Phoebe, and Paige. Piper was grinning.

'You didn't think they could get rid of me that easily did you?'

Wyatt ran forward and hugged his mother. He didn't need to tell her about the prophecy. For some reason they hadn't die, whether it was because Gollum interfered or because he came to Middle Earth at the right time or what. Personally, he didn't care. He had his mom and that was all he needed right now. Paige cleared her throat.

'Come on people. We got a coronation to attend.'

Piper broke away from her husband.

'Coronation?

'Yeah... Aragorn, King, remember?

'Right', Piper said with a forced laugh. 'Let's go.'

Piper concentrated on Gondor but found she couldn't orb.

'Um... why can't I orb?

'Because it isn't your power anymore', said Thalion. 'You were only meant to share your powers for a certain amount of time and now that time is over. And speaking of over, our part in your lives has ended for the time being.'

Thalion, Alasse, and Caran stepped away from the five and as they stepped farther away, Piper, Paige and Phoebe felt their muses leaving their soul.

'We will be here in Middle Earth', said Caran, 'waiting for you should you ever return. And if not, we will see you one day. Whether it is sooner or later I do not know.'

'Do not forget us', said Alasse.

Piper shook her head.

'We won't.'

Paige touched Piper and Phoebe lightly on the shoulder. Wyatt was still holding Piper and Frodo was holding on to Phoebe's hand. In a flurry of blue orb lights, they left Mount Doom behind them.

Everyone was at Aragorn's coronation. Denethor was not at all pleased in being shunted aside so the lost king could be crowned. He left Gondor. Aragorn was named King Elessar. Before the ceremony, Aragorn asked Piper if she wished to be his Queen. She softly told him once again that she had to go back to her own world. So instead he married Arwen and she became Queen of Gondor. But she could tell something was wrong with Aragorn.

The fellowship gathered one last time together in the Kings Hall.

'We must go back to our own world', said Piper to a very sad group. 'But we cannot leave you all here remembering three witches who once helped you on a great quest to destroy the Ruling Ring of Power.'

'What is it you mean', asked Legolas.

'I don't know how to put this gently so I'll say it point blank', Paige said in a rush. 'We have to wipe your memories clean of us.'

'No memories of the magic we saw you use?' Frodo asked sadly.

'No memories of that blender I tried to use?' Sam piped up.

Everyone looked at him and he blushed.

'You got to admit, using something like that doesn't happen everyday. In fact it was kind of fun.'

Everyone laughed.

'My lady', said Aragorn slowly. 'If it is your will, let it be done.'

He bowed very stiffly. Piper stepped forward.

'I don't want you to suffer knowing that you could still have me', she muttered in his ear. 'This is the greatest gift I can give you.'

Piper gently lifted his head by gently pushing up his chin. She looked into his eyes.

'I'm sorry Aragorn, but my love is something I cannot give you. I love Leo and I don't ever want to leave him.

She gently kissed him on the cheek.

'Goodbye.'

She stepped backwards and together her sisters and her recited the spell they had made up.

We traveled together so long and so far,

The wish to be together made upon a star.

We'll remember you as our hearts are entwined,

Remember us no more as we leave you behind.

Paige walked into the living room with a cup of coffee and sat down on the sofa. Piper was finishing a bowl of cereal and Phoebe was looking for something in the desk.

'It's too bad we had to leave the muses behind', Paige said stirring her coffee.

'Yeah it is', said Piper quietly. 'But fate is fate.'

'Too bad I wasn't able to hit it off with Legolas.'

'You know we couldn't stick to them', Piper reminded her. 'Although, I would have liked to stick around for a few more days.'

'So why didn't you', called Phoebe from the desk.

'And leave you guys in charge of the house? I don't think so!'

'Come on', Paige pressed. 'Part of you wanted to stay, didn't it?'

Piper looked down at her coffee cup.

'Well, yeah...'

'AH HA!'

Phoebe marched over to the sofa and sat down with a thump. In her lap was a copy of the Lord of the Rings. Piper stared.

'What? We're not still in there are we?'

'Nope!' she said happily. 'Whatever we did in Middle Earth, it worked. The book is back to normal. There is no mention of us in any part of the book that I've seen.'

Piper grinned

'I guess the pain was worth it.'

'Plus, Piper got to go to a place she's wanted to go to since she was a kid', Phoebe squealed.

Piper wrapped an arm around her sister.

'We may have had a few setbacks, like leaving crushes and our muses in Middle Earth. But we got each other and I think that's all we need to survive.'

Paige lifted her cup of coffee.

'I drink to that.'