DISCLAIMER: I do not own Sofia the First nor do I claim to. I just like the show and wanted to write a little something for it. However, I do own the OC Zwick as well as the concept of the Rune Mage I'll be using for this story.

_[ STORY ]_

On the other side of the castle nestled away from the busy ball and throne room, sat the Enchancian medical wing. After Eric had handed over his superior to the care of Doctor Zwick, he had retreated to the ballroom to help finish cleaning up.

"I can't believe you, the right hand to the King, would be so stupid as to have come here on your own," Zwick reprimanded as he slowly cut away the fabric of Baileywicks jacket and shirts from around the arrow.

"I admit it bled more than I anticipated," the older man said looking at the needle secured in a vein of his left hand.

"That sedation should be kicking in any time now," the doctor said, "then I can get started."

"I must say…'yawn'...I didn't think an operation like this would be performed here of all places."

"Ya well I trust my cleaning skill more so than the Dunwiddie hospital," Zwick said, 'decontamination charms don't hurt either,' he added to himself.

A light snore was the reply the doctor received, he smiled, a few more snips and the area was clear of cloth, Zwick put the scissors down and summoned a golden rune, "let's see...standard single cast iron arrow partially embedded into the coracoid process bone with slight tear to one of the minor tendon. Did the guy even have a full draw? The severed vein is more of a threat then this arrow ever was," Zwick said aloud, the rune turned red and the arrow shaft dissolved into dust and the arrowhead turned into a liquid that he pulled from the wound. Zwick placed it in a bowl and moved it away; he finished cleaning and stitching the wound before wrapping it.

"There now to wait for the sedation to wear off," Zwick said aloud picking up a book and pulling a chair over beside the Steward.

The royal family spent a sleepless night confined to the windowless room, Violet had brought a snack for the children the night before, and now she had provided breakfast, Sofia noted the change, "Dad," she called.

"Yes Sofia," Roland answered reading through reports Miles had brought him for the third time he was

"Where's Baileywick?" she asked, Roland, flinched.

"Ya we haven't seen him since the party," James said between bites.

Miranda and Roland exchanged looks, "after last night he's probably busy getting things cleaned up," Miranda said turning back to the three siblings.

"Mother we are not that foolish," Amber said pushing her plate away, "we know someone interrupted the party last night, then we are kept here overnight, and Baileywick is not with us. What is going on?"

Roland sighed, "children it's nothing to worry about, Baileywick is...taking care of a few things for me, in regards to the party," he lied hoping they didn't notice the hiccup in his voice.

"Alright," Amber said pick up the book she had been reading, "it's just odd is all."

"Poor Baileywick I hope things didn't get too badly damaged," Sofia said, "people were in a real panic."

"What exactly happened last night, dad," James asked, "I remember someone shouting then everyone ran, a guard brought Sofia and me here then another came with mom and Amber."

"Oh well, it was a...a…"

"Roly, tell them they are old enough to know when something like this happens," Miranda said.

Roland took a deep breath before putting his papers down on the side table, "children," he sighed, "last night there was an intruder, an assassin with me as their target."

The looks of shock and worry and maybe even a bit of anger crossed the royals faces, "the shout you remember James was Baileywick. By some grace he had spotted the attacker and not only warned the guests but pushed me aside before the arrow found its mark," Roland told them he still couldn't bring himself to say to them about who the arrow did find.

A tense silence engulfed the room, a clock ticked from the mantle of the fireplace as the fire cracked below, it stayed this way for several moments before it was broken by the entrance of Constable Miles with news for the King.

"Sire," Miles greeted with a bow before handing over a sheet of paper.

Roland read over the note, before picking up his quill and jotted down a few things; he handed the paper back to Miles, who departed after reading the instructions over.

"The would-be assassin has been captured," Roland told them, "so it's okay to move around the castle, but to be safe I would like you all to stay in sight of the guards and no going out after nightfall. Just until we can confirm there isn't an accomplice" he said, making to rise, "before you three leave I...I...oh my head," Roland groaned rubbing at his eyes as he sat back down.

"Roland are you alright?" Miranda asked grasping his shoulder as Amber, James, and Sofia rushed from the coffee table they had been using for breakfast.

"Daddy, what happened? Are you okay?" Amber asked her voice quivering.

"I'm fine, was a bit dizzy for a moment there," Roland told them, moving his hand to look at his children, "I promise I'm alright, go on now, we can talk later," he said shooing them away.

The guards at the door exchanged glances the Queen and children were not the only ones worried.

"Everything looks good, it was a shallow injury," Zwick said to Baileywicks removing the IV, "take a week to rest, then you can go on light duty."

Zwick picked up a tray with old bandages and tools, he brought them over to a bin, and dumped them in, "the wound needs to be cleaned and changed twice daily, so I expect you here after breakfast, and dinner until I say so," Zwick instructed.

"I can certainly do that," Baileywick agreed his voice a bit horse.

"And take in plenty of fluids you lost a lot of blood for someone your age, so you need to replenish it. IV fluids can only do so much," Zwick added having moved over to a shelving unit, he brought back over a small bottle and sling with him.

The Steward glanced at the man, he knows Zwick didn't mean anything malicious by his statement, but Baileywick was displeased with the remainder of his advanced years.

"Alright here's some pain meds, take one every six hours and have a snack with it, this stuff on an empty stomach sucks, flat out sucks," the doctor said.

Baileywick was slightly taken aback by the language, but he accepted the bottle and pocketed it without a word; someone had been kind enough to bring him a change of clothes which Baileywick had been most grateful.

Once his arm was situated in the sling he was allowed to leave the medical ward, he immediately headed for the ballroom, 'I may not be able to do anything, but that doesn't stop me from supervising.'

_[ TO BE CONTINUED ]_

Note: So someone in the comments pointed out that I had a line of dialogue that said, "First Cedric, now Baileywick" and they asked what I meant by this, I should have said in the first chapter that if you hadn't read "Secret of a Royal Sorcerer" this would not make as much sense. This story is not meant as a stand-alone, my apologies to Jolly Roger Brat for the confusion and as I don't want to spoil anything there is a list on my profile of the Sofia the First stories I have written and there are in chronological order. Hope you all enjoyed!