a/n: Hey, here's the next chapter.

Romen

Disclaimer: Please see chapter one's disclaimer. Or, to make it easier for you, I don't own them. Everything "unfamiliar" is mine, though.

Chapter Two

The Spring Festival

"And there's even a man who can blow fire."

"Really?" Paris breathed, wide-eyed. "Does his face get burnt?"

Hector shook his head. "No, he's trained not to."

"Stop telling those things to your brother," Hecuba chided gently, pulling a tunic over the three-year-olds head. "You're going to give him nightmares."

"It's not scary," Paris protested.

She sighed, ignoring the youngest and glancing at Hector. "Either way, that's enough on the matter. You'll be going to see it soon enough."

Hector grinned. This was the first time that he was allowed to go to the spring festival on his own. He was going with his friends, of course, but this was the first time that he could attend without the company of a caretaker. His father had still warned him to be careful, and keep with his group at all times, but Hector didn't need to be told twice.

"But that's not fair!" Paris whined, pulling away from Hecuba's long, slender hands. "I want to go too!"

"Paris, you're too young," she explained, running her fingers through his dark hair.

"Hector gets to go! Why can't I go? I want to go."

"Because he's nine and you're only three."

"But I want to go!"

Hecuba shut her eyes, massaging her temples. "Please, Paris, stop..."

"No! I want to go!"

"Paris, please stop yelling..."

"I want to go!" he shrieked, lugging his pillow and tossing it as far as he could before letting out a very loud sob and rolling back and forth on his bed.

Hector hastily stood, realizing that this was going to be one of Paris's ongoing tantrums. Just before he left the room, he gave one more pitying look toward his mother, who was gently trying to calm Paris, who in his turn was kicking away from her.

(Space)

"Hector!"

He looked up. His friend, Zoticus, was hanging from a balcony, his hands gripping the railing. Below him were Alexius and Nikias, two of Hector's other friends, and Alexius's older sister, Melissa. They both had pointed chins and dazzling green eyes. He hurried over, sitting down on the wall next to them.

"Where have you been all afternoon?" Nikias asked, sitting down on the ground and leaning back against the wall. "We've been looking all over for you."

Hector yawned. "I had to play with my younger brother."

"Oh really?" Melissa smiled. "How old is he now?"

"Three."

Zoticus and Alexius shared a meaningful glance.

Alexius cleared his throat. "Anyway, Hector, you're still able to go, right?"

Hector nodded. "Yes, but there's something you should know. I might have to bring..."

But he wasn't able to finish. At that moment, Gaea strode out on the very balcony that Zoticus was hanging from, a continuously sobbing Paris in her arms. He raised his tear-stained face to look at Hector, pointing at him in an accusatory manner. Fortunately, she wandered back inside shortly, Paris crying harder than ever.

Zoticus dropped from the balcony, landing nimbly on his feet, his mouth shaped in a small 'o'. "What has him going on like that?"

Hector ran one hand over his face. "That was what I was just saying. I might have to take him with me. He's been crying all afternoon."

Melissa frowned. "Surely a few tears won't push your parents to the limit."

Hector looked at her sadly. "It doesn't start out that way. He can throw a very big fit."

Alexius patted him on the back. "Cheer up. He'll forget about it soon. Babies are like that, you know. Besides, he'll probably be asleep by the time we leave anyway."

(Space)

Alexius was right, Hector thought to himself as he hurried down the steps toward his friends, who were all gathered at the bottom. When he had gone back inside, he had listened for Paris's cries, but there weren't any. Hopefully he had cried himself to sleep, or something else had caught his interest. At any rate, it seemed that he wasn't going to have to take him along after all.

"No Paris!" Zoticus noted gleefully, breaking into a grin. "Come on, let's hurry. I want to see the soothsayer before there's a crowd..."

"Hector! Hector, wait! Hector! Wait!"

Hector grimaced, reluctantly turning around to see Paris rushing down the steps, his arms flailing in excitement.

"Hector," he wheezed, grabbing onto his brother's arm. "I get to come too!"

He could hear Alexius let out a particularly loud groan.

"Paris, you're too young," Hector muttered under his breath.

"Uh-uh. Mother said that you had to take me with you. She said that you had to, Hector! She said!"

"Calm down, all right?" He bit his lip in frustration. "Don't worry, you're coming with us."

"Good-bye, Gaea!" Paris called to his nanny, waving at her as she watched them leave from the top of the steps.

"You have to stay with me," Hector said firmly. "Do not wander off on your own. All right?"

"Yes, yes, yes." Paris waved him away impatiently. "Look at that! What is that, Hector? Let's go there!"

At first it seemed that Paris wanted to visit every stall they passed, every single stall, no matter what the attraction was. Needless to say it wasn't long before Hector and his friends began to grow increasingly bored. It was only when they were looking at women's jewelry when Hector decided that it was time to give Paris some kind of distraction while they went to see what they wanted.

"Why don't we get something to eat?" he suggested.

In a few minutes they were rushing off to see Zoticus's soothsayer, Paris in tow, chewing on a sweet bread.

Paris frowned. "What is this?" he asked, taking in the long line distastefully. "This is not fun."

Alexius chewed on the inside his cheek, giving Paris a dire stare. "We waited too long to get here."

Nikias shrugged. "It looks like the line is moving fast. I don't think we'll have to wait very long."

Despite Nikias's positive outlook, Hector was growing nervous. It wasn't long until Paris was finished with his treat, and looking very bored.

"I want to go somewhere else," he complained, observing at the other stalls.

"No, Paris. You've already gotten to see the things that you wanted to see. Now it's our turn."

The three year old obviously didn't care for Hector's explanation. "That's not true! I didn't get to see everything that I wanted!"

Hector drew in a deep breath. "Paris, it's our turn now. After this we can see something else that you want to look at then it will be our turn again."

"That's not fair! Mother said that you had to take me to see whatever I want!"

"Yes Paris, and you will get to see the things that you want, but right now it's not your turn."

"I don't want to see this! I want to go somewhere else!"

Hector's jaw clenched. He grasped Paris's shoulders sharply, getting down to eye level. "Listen," he hissed. "It's not your turn."

"But Mother said"-

"I don't care what Mother said. I'm your older brother, and you have to do what I say." He stood, facing Zoticus, who looked amazed.

In truth, the line did move quickly. It wasn't long before they were near the front. Zoticus went first.

"He's insane," he whispered to Hector when he was finished, referring to the soothsayer. "Doesn't know a thing he's talking about. It's great!"

"Paris can go before me," Nikias, who was up next, called over.

"Good idea," muttered Hector. He pitted on his heel. "Paris"-

Hector's heart skipped a beat. He blinked, wondering if he had seen right.

Paris wasn't there.

TBC...