NotesI figured I'd start uploading some little drabbles and one-shots about the brothers, since I love writing them and there is nowhere near enough fic about the two! These are not in any sort of order. They're completely random and take place at different times in their lives.
Title Caught In A Robbery
Ages Hector - 18, Paris - 13
SummaryHector has stolen a lamb for reasons unknown to his younger brother, but Paris is still willing to help out.
"Paris! Over here!" Hector hissed from the alleyway, not wanting to be seen by anyone else. Luckily he'd caught his brother on his way back to the palace from the stables, otherwise he'd have been in a world of trouble.
"Why are you hiding?" Paris asked quietly as he walked into the alley, taking care not to seem suspicious. It was unlike Hector to hide.
"You're not going to believe this," Hector replied, looking back down the alley in the opposite direction. "It's all Eiriodos' fault!" The elder prince said, which got the younger one curious.
"That's your training captain, right?" Paris asked, looking around as well.
"Yes," Hector said, pausing when he heard the bleating of a sheep. "Oh crap!" He said, before running to a pile of blankets a few feet away.
Paris watched on in curiosity as Hector pulled the blanket back, exposing a lamb. His eyes widened in shock as his brother tried in vain to silence the baby animal, finally just throwing the blanket back over it again.
"How do I get this thing to shut up?" Hector asked, looking fearfully back to the main street.
"Are you going to tell me why you have a lamb?" Paris asked, walking a bit closer.
"Later, Paris! Right now you need to help me! What do I do for it? Why won't it be quiet?" Hector asked, in a bit of a panic. "I can't get caught, I just can't..."
Paris couldn't help but grin. "Maybe it's hungry," he suggested, still wondering why Hector had it to begin with.
"I know that! How do I get it to shut up?" The older prince kept his eyes on the entrance to the alley, a worried look on his face.
Thirteen year old Paris knelt down by the pile of blankets, peeling them back until he could see the head of the lamb. He reached out to pet it, and suddenly the little animal quieted down. "Maybe you just frightened it, Hector," he said, smiling as the animal closed its eyes.
"Well, can you help me get it to the barracks?" Hector asked, still looking around. "I need to have it to Eiriodos' office before dinner," he said, speaking quietly.
"Are you going to tell me why?" Paris asked again, wondering how they were supposed to get a lamb through the city streets unseen.
"Later, after this is done," Hector replied, crouching down again to join his brother. "It is imperative that we are not be seen, Paris."
"Where did you get the lamb from?" The younger prince asked then, wondering why Hector was being so wary about the whole thing.
"The less you know, the better," Hector said.
"You stole it, didn't you?" Paris replied, a grin finding its way back to his lips. "Who did you steal it from?"
"Trust me, you don't want to know," Hector replied, his face looking grim.
"Tell me, or I'm not helping you!" Paris said, removing his hand from the lamb's head. The little animal opened its eyes again, looking for the comforting hand that had just removed itself from its fur.
"Paris, please, not now!" Hector replied, his eyes back on the lamb. "Just help me, please."
Paris stood up then, and the lamb let out another bleat. "Tell me."
Hector surged forward, patting the lamb with his hand, trying to silence it. Though he worked wonders with horses, it seemed that Priam's eldest son was no comfort to lambs. "Paris please! I beg you!"
"Tell me on the way there," Paris replied, unable to refuse Hector's pathetic pleas for help. He knelt down again and put his hand back on the lamb's head and suddenly the animal quieted. He flipped the blanket back over it before picking it up.
"Fine, just be careful and follow me," Hector replied, moving down the alley. Paris followed, holding the little lamb in his arms. Unfortunately for the both of them, the moment Hector walked out into the street he came face to face with his father – who was in the midst of a heated discussion with a farmer.
"Ah Hector, what are you doing out in this part of the city? I thought you'd be training?" Priam asked, his eyes straying from his eldest – whose look of shock and desperation set off an alarm in his head. "Paris?" Priam looked beyond his eldest to his youngest, who was carrying a bundle in his arms.
"There! I bet he has it!" The farmer yelled, his stubby finger pointing at Paris. "Check that bundle he's carrying! I knew I heard bleating a moment ago!"
While Hector still stood in shock, Paris soon realized that this farmer must have been the one his brother had stolen from. Looking down at the ground, Paris did his best to look apologetic, waiting for Priam to approach him, his mind busy thinking of an excuse for holding a lamb in his arms.
"Father, it's my fault-" Hector began, never able to lie to his father's face.
"What?" Priam asked, looking from one son to the next, thoroughly confused.
"It's not Hector's fault, father," Paris quickly said, "It's my own fault." He stepped forward, looking meekly at the farmer. "I have your lamb," he said softly, clutching it close to his own body in the hopes he'd look far more pathetic that way.
"Paris," Hector began, looking at his younger brother in shock.
"And why do you have the farmer's lamb, Paris?" Priam asked, not entirely sure he believed it was Paris' fault, but unwilling to challenge the brothers in front of the farmer. He'd deal with them later.
"I came across it out in the fields, it was on its own, and it seemed frightened," Paris said, hoping the story couldn't be easily shot down by the farmer's facts. "I was not sure to whom it belonged, as it was not in a marked pasture. So I thought to bring it home, and when it was recognized as missing, I would then return it to its owner."
He looked at the farmer, who was eyeing him suspiciously, as though he knew it was all a lie – yet he had no proof of the dishonesty.
"I did not intend to cause you any trouble, good sir," he went on to say, "But I could not leave the animal on its own. I feared wolves might attack it." He forced himself to maintain eye contact with the farmer, who grumbled quietly to himself.
"Well it certainly sounds as though my son was only looking out for the animal's welfare," Priam commented, still not convinced. "He does have a rather big heart when it comes to animals."
"Mm, I suppose. Well then boy, give it here and we'll call it a day, no harm done," the farmer said, though he clearly was still bothered. But he could not berate a prince, especially not in front of the king. Paris brought the lamb forth, hoping the farmer would not think of asking where the blankets had come from. Paris had a sneaking suspicion Hector had found them at the farm – but he'd just have to hope that the farmer wouldn't notice.
"Well, that matter's resolved then! I believe we all have places we need to be?" Priam said, looking pointedly at Hector, who nodded and barely said a word in acknowledgement before quickly losing himself in the crowd down the street. The farmer hobbled off with his lamb, who had resumed its bleating after being given up by the younger prince. Paris turned to his father then, wondering if he would be spared.
"Well then, I should be getting off to classes," he said, though in reality he actually had nowhere to go at the moment.
"Paris," Priam said slowly, not moving from his spot. "That was a convincing story, but I know you were covering for your brother."
Paris glanced up at his father, knowing that it would be unwise to protest. Even though he was a much better liar than Hector, Priam still had a way of knowing when his youngest wasn't telling the truth.
"It was an honourable thing, son," Priam said, "Though I would wish to know the whole story."
At this Paris grinned. "So would I," he said, "But he refused to tell me."
Priam laid a hand on Paris' head, ruffling his hair. "Leave that to me, and when I get the story, I'll let you know." Leaning forward slightly, the king pressed his lips to his son's forehead. "You are a good brother to Hector, Paris." With that Priam left, heading back toward the palace, and Paris remained in the alley, leaning against the wall with a smile on his face.