The ringing of footsteps on marble and the bubbling laughs of children echoed through the palace hallways. A freckled red head boy came skidding around the corner of the hallway. Slowing to a halt, the boy caught his breath and leaned on the sill of one of the many open sun-shaped windows that decorated the hall. Another boy, blonde, pink faced, and a bit plump, came barreling down from whence the other boy came. Before the red head had a chance to fully realize his peril, the blonde tackled him to the ground.

"I got you, I got you!" the blonde boy chirped triumphantly.

"Did not!" the other shouted indignantly.

"Did too!" the boy spat back. He grinned malevolently down at the red head and started tickling him furiously.

"Alright, ALRIGHT, you win!" the red head gasped, his sides heaving with laughter.

" Told ya so Hans, didn't I? told ya I'd beat you." The blonde boy said smugly.

" Yeah, you did." Hans sighed in submission. Grimacing slightly, he grasped the edge of the windowsill and pulled himself to his feet. Folding his arms on the sill, he placed his chin on them and closed his eyes as a breeze ruffled through his hair.

The window was one of many in the hall that opened to a lush green courtyard below with a single apple tree in the middle. The middle of the palace was a maze of open windowed halls like this one that looked down on various courtyards filled with greenery.

The blonde boy glanced at Hans.

"Hey Hans," he began.

"Hmm?" Hans opened one eye lazily.

" Whadya wanna do tommorow?"

"We could go swimming by the Sun Rays." The Sun Rays were a collection of sea spires in a quiet bay near the palace. Many children enjoyed swimming near them, especially during the summer months when it was particularly hot.

"My mum won't let me." the other boy mumbled, scuffing his shoe on the marble floor in embarrassment.

" That's silly Gunter, why wouldn't your mother let you?" Hans turned towards the other boy curiously.

" Well, she says the water's awful deep and she wouldn't want anything to happen to me." Gunter said, not meeting Hans's eyes.

"But that's stupid," Hans chuckled, "Nothing's gonna happen to you, it's just swimming, and why would she mind? You're not terribly important."

"She says it's because she loves me very much," he rolled his eyes, "She wouldn't want me to get hurt. But I bet your mother says she loves you all the time, and that's why she doesn't let you do stuff, right Hans?" he asked

Hans shifted in discomfort "Of course she loves me! Well, she doesn't say it out loud, but she's a queen, she hasn't got time for nonsense, your mothers just a washerwoman, she's got plenty of time for stuff like that." Hans finished confidently. He leaned backwards on the sill, so the soft sunlight fell on his back.

"I suppose so. Hey, what-" Gunter was cut off by the sound of footsteps approaching in a business-like manner. The boys turned in time to see as an old woman descended upon them.

"Prince Hans, it's almost time for the realm's bicentennial celebration and feast! And look at the state of you! You come with me right now young sir, tangled hair, scuffed boots, untied cravat! Well, I never!" the old woman fretted as she grabbed Hans's wrist and pulled him down the hall.

"I'm sorry Nurse Hilda." Hans mumbled. He nodded back over his shoulder to Gunter "Goodbye."

"See you tomorrow." Gunter called, as Hans dutifully followed his nurse out of sight.