I don't have anything to say about this chapter, except for a warning about extreme sap towards the end. I think the little prince is adorable. Sorry this chapter is so short.

Sometimes Finnian considered throwing violent temper-tantrums. In his imagination, he would scream as loud as he could, throw everything he got his hands on, and completely refuse to comply with anything. He wondered if that would make his father pay more attention to him.

But Finnian was a good boy, and he didn't want his father to be angry with him. If he threw a tantrum he would worry his father, and anger his stepmother, which would further upset the king. It wasn't fair.

His stepmother was wandering the gardens again, probably going to the Grand Duke's house, like he'd seen her do before. His father was off hunting, most likely having forgot that today was his son's seventh birthday. Finnian understood that his birthday brought back painful memories for his father, since it was the same day his first wife died, but he still thought that the king should at least make an effort to wish him a happy birthday.

The only people at the party were some noblewomen, his nurse, and a couple of children who were making money for their parents by being there. The garden was decorated in beautiful blues and whites, and an enormous cake sat on a table, surrounded by gifts, but Finnian wasn't happy. He didn't want the cake or the presents, and he certainly didn't want to play with children he didn't know.

Just as Finnian was about to start crying, Wylie jogged into the party.

"Wylie! You made it!" Finnian ran to Wylie and jumped into his arms. "I thought you forgot. I though you weren't going to come." He didn't quite cry.

"Of course I came, silly," Wylie assured him, "I told you I would, didn't I? My uncle would skin me alive if I lied. Men in my family keep our word." He rubbed the prince's back soothingly.

Some of the noblewomen were insulted that a common huntsman would come to the party, while others were enchanted by his gentle way with Finnian. After his arrival, Finnian perked up and the party's atmosphere lightened. The nurse thanked him profusely in the brief moments when he wasn't playing with Finnian.

Then it began to rain, and the guests panicked and ran inside. Wylie grabbed the wrapped presents off the table and rushed them inside before he noticed that Finnian was nowhere to be seen. He asked the nurse.

"I didn't see him come in," she said, looking a little worried, "Do you think he's still outside? In the rain?"

"I'll go find him. Don't worry," Wylie smiled confidently, making her relax. Then he ran back outside, looking for white skin and black hair.

"Prince Finnian! Prince Finnian? Where are you?" He jogged down the garden paths, beginning to worry. He drew up short when he saw Finnian standing with his face upturned, arms out, and face joyous.

Finnian turned to Wylie and smiled. "Hi Wylie."

"Why are you still out here? You're soaking wet," Wylie demonstrated this by tugging on a soaked black lock of hair. The rain made Finnian look even more ethereal than usual, changing him from a seven year old boy into an ageless fairy.

"I like the rain. Father told me that when it rains, Mother is letting me know that she's watching," his pink lips formed a wistful almost smile.

"She's probably very proud of you," Wylie managed to say, "You're a great prince, and you'll make a great king someday. You'll be just like the kings in the storybooks—handsome and kind and noble. Just you wait."

"Will you think I'm handsome, Wylie? Will you be my huntsman when I'm king?" The questions were asked with a perfectly serious face. Wylie had a vision of what Finnian would look like grown, with his already impressive looks and a strong, kingly frame. The older boy's heart fluttered unfamiliarly.

"Of course I will," he knelt in front of Finnian and rested his hand on the frail shoulder. "I'll always be there for you."

Finnian's smile was the most beautiful thing Wylie had ever seen. Wylie took Finnian's small, soft, pale hand in his dark long-fingered work-roughened one, and they walked inside together.