Prompt: Upset

Title: In Vino... Part I

The celebration was in full, intoxicated swing. There was not one Greek or Macedonian who was not caught in the decadence of wine and mirth. It was loud, it was roudy; it was a gathering utterly devoid of self-control. It was fun.

But Alexander was not in the mood for merriment. He was rather displeased that he was practically ordered to attend his father's wedding celebration, and one that exalted his marriage to a woman who was not his mother to begin with. It was like being forced to drink his own bile, and left to suck on the bitter aftertaste.

"Come Alexander, drink this sadness away," Ptolemy cheerfuly cajoled, patting him warmly on the shoulder. He was drunk, of course, but the gloom that surrounded the prince did not escape him. Of his many friends, besides Hephaistion, Ptolemy was one he could count on for compassion.

"If only thirst could quench sorrow," Alexander replied.

Over the din of drunken singing, Alexander heard his father's howl as he loudly cut in, pushing Ptolemy to stumble aside.

"There's only one thing better than winning a battle, son," he growled, pulling Alexander close. "And that is the taste of a new woman. You'll find it far sweeter that self pity."

Philip's putrid breath laced with wine and sex billowed up his nose. It left Alexander nauseated, but soon grateful when his boorish drunk of a patriarch moved on to other, cheerier company.

Cleitus then caught their attention with a woman thrown over his shoulder.

"Alexander, I found you the right girl," he slurred, shamelessly patting the woman's buttocks. "What's your name, darling?"

"Antigone!" the woman giggled, and repeated it when Cleitus pretended not to hear as he put her down. Alexander could only look away in embarrassment.

Cleitus laughed. "I love you, my little imp!" He said as he laid a sloppy kiss on Alexander's lips.

"And I love you, Cleitus," was his weak reply.

He breathed a sigh of relief as he looked to the side, his eyes falling upon Hephaistion, his beautiful Hephaistion, who was smiling at him. The boy was like a well of strength for Alexander, especially in trying times like this. But at the moment, his mind was taking a different course. He wondered if the boy was drunk as well, considering how his clear blue eyes seemed to already cast a warm, dewy haze. Alexander had to stop his thoughts from venturing further into dangerous curiosities, such as if the boy looked the same when he was drunk with something else. Such thoughts were reserved for later, he thought; no, in fact, he knew that at one point he would find out, at the hour when new myths were said to be born in secluded bedchambers.

For the moment, Alexander was at least content that the boy was close by, and that his presence was reassurance enough that all was not as damned as he thought.

He looked around the room, the revelry did not show any signs of slowing down. He eventually spotted Attalus, Philip's new in-law, sharing a wild round of cheer between his peers. Alexander couldn't help but notice, however, that he always looked straight at him when he laughed. Was it by chance, or was he actually mocking him? Challenging him, even? Alexander could only grit his teeth as he restrained himself. He thought about his mother and his sister, and the shame that would further haunt him if he dared to call out the old coot in his father's presence.

It was then that he saw a horrific glimpse of his father throwing a helpless, pleading boy over a table and raping him.

All this debauchery made his stomach churn and his throat tighten. He wanted to run. He could, but he knew it would only fuel his father's belief that he was a weak little brat if he gave in to this childish urge, and that was something he would not permit himself to do.

Taking a deep drink from his cup, Alexander tried to ignore it. He again turned to Hephaistion wanting to convey his disbelief and at the same time seek a little more of his refreshing reassurance to get through the night. But what he was about to say dissolved on his lips. The boy, who up until that point had been his only comfort, seemed to find his own on the lips of a very drunk Cassander.

Alexander felt something inside his head snap. But Attalus had already begun to speak.

tbc

**Dialogue taken from the movie.

Edited. Decided to ditch the 500-word drabble limitation.