A/N: Hey guys! Sorry for the wait. I've got so many ideas for this story, but too much of anything is never a good thing. So I've been trimming and weeding this story, hoping to cultivate a beautiful story garden. I believe I will be posting more than this one chapter today. You've waited long enough. As always, thank you all for the feedback! I anxiously await more!

~Return of the King~

The knock on the door startled her, she jumped spinning toward the noise, nearly dropping the book. The quick action made her realize how sore she was. She must have sprained something in her back in order for it to feel that sore. She set the book down carefully, placing a spare piece of paper between the pages to ensure the place would not be lost before looking down at herself to ensure she was fully dressed. Why had she gone to bed in her clothes? She was still sore from both training sessions, perhaps she fell asleep while standing. Falling into bed.

She pushed down the pain stabbing down her back as she called out, "I'm decent." The door opened to reveal the slightly greying, sandy haired King. "Papa!" She squealed and ran over to him, giving him a giant hug. "What a surprise!"

He laughed. "What do you mean?"

She squeezed once more before letting him go. "What else? You're a day early! I've missed you. I felt so bad I didn't get to say good-bye. Has mother seen you yet? She's going to be thrilled."

He looked confused. "No, I came here first. I wanted to give you something… But I'm not a day early."

It was Emma's turn to look confused. "You were meant to be gone four days and three nights, and it's only been three days."

He shook his head. "Have you been so busy without me that you forgot a day? I've been gone four days and three nights, as planned, and right on schedule."

She shook her own head. "I must have miscounted. Does that mean today is the ball?"

He laughed. "Now I see, this is just another ploy to get out of it. Really, Emma? It was a clever attempt, I'll give you that, but enough. Your mother has put in the work and I expect you to be on your best behavior tonight." He handed her a package wrapped in plain, brown paper. His eyes twinkled, and a smile graced his lips. "Happy birthday."

Emma was too confused to argue. She sat down at the end of her bed with the package, glancing up slyly. "Is it a pony?", earning a chuckle. Upon opening, she saw a beautiful pair of gold shoes with small rubies sewn into each. "Oh, papa. They're beautiful."

"You can thank your mother. She found an old lady who needed the work, and paid her handsomely for them. I only picked them up. Will they match your dress?"

"I haven't seen it yet, but I imagine so if mother had them made." She gave him another hug. "Papa, you've missed a lot."

"Oh?"

"I'll let mother tell you." He kissed the top of her head before leaving.

Had she miscounted the days? She thought back, counting each individually, going as far as writing it down on paper. She could only remember three days of his being gone. A curious thing. It would sort itself out. She was sure of it.

Her lady-in-waiting arrived to help her get dressed, or redressed, for the day. It was there that Emma was made aware of the massive bruise on her back, from her right shoulder blade all the down to her hip. It covered half her back, and part of her right side. Grotesque shades of purple.

The maid couldn't remember more than three days since the King left. Emma was, at the very least, pleased she wasn't alone in that.