Char saves him in time but hands him to Ella.
Certainly, if one were to over-analyze the plot one could come up with innumerable ideas based on the idea 'if she must always obey, why doesn't this happen? This was true of Ella Enchanted, as O'Haver that the original cut of the movie had darker, scarier scenes that ended up on the cutting room floor.
Director Tommy O'Haver in the end it came down to Ireland or Prague, and there are two compelling reasons they chose Ireland.